So for those of you who follow me on Twitter, you may already know how excited I am about this chapter. I hope by the end of it, you'll see why. Here's chapter 11 (lol) of Danger Zone!
El's POV
I woke up to the smell of, if it makes any sense, burnt apples. It wasn't a candle or anything. The smell, and very faint trace of smoke in the air confirmed that it was coming from the kitchen. More specifically, the stove. Seeing as it was the first full day of my holiday weekend, and I didn't want it to start off with my house burning down. I dragged myself out of bed and headed towards the kitchen.
Once there, the smoke and smell were a lot worse, but it was at least explained by seeing Jim in the middle of it all, looking so out of place.
"What's going on?" I spoke, alerting him that I was in the room.
"Good morning," Jim gruffed while holding what appeared to be the remainder of burnt apple pie in a metal tin. "I'm just uh, working on somethin'."
"Yeah, I can see," I spoke as I walked to the window and pulled it open, hoping it would clear the air out before the smoke alarm rang. "Why are you baking a pie?"
"It's Thanksgiving," he answered as if I didn't already know.
"I know," I leaned on the counter and crossed my arms. "But we always like, buy everything." I explained our usual tradition for the past few years since he seems to have forgotten.
"Right," he put the pan down on top to the stove. "I was going to tell you last night, but you were knocked out on the couch when I got home." I blinked, wondering where he was going with this. "We've been invited to Thanksgiving dinner."
"What? Where?" I stood up straight.
"You uh-," he hesitated. "You remember Joyce."
"Joyce?! Your…" I sputtered, "friend?" He let out a single chuckle.
"Yes, her."
"Well, did-did you tell her we can't go?"
"Why wouldn't we be able to go?" He asked in an uncharacteristically patient way.
"Because we already have plans!"
"El," he started, leaning against the counter next to the stove himself, "sitting on the couch, watching the parade, and then eating whatever frozen dinner we can find and store brought desert are not plans."
"Sure they are," I argued. "We do it every year."
"Very funny kid. Go wash up and come get some breakfast."
"No," I said it firmly, so I knew he could hear me.
"No?" he asked as if he pretended not to hear me.
"I don't want to go."
"Excuse me?"
Knowing I couldn't tell him the real reason, that I simply don't know this woman or her family well enough to have Thanksgiving dinner with them, nor do I care enough to try, I went with what was most logical and fair.
"You-you can't just spring plans on me at the last minute and expect me to be okay with it. I don't have to go if I don't want to. I'll just," I paused, knowing I couldn't say or imply that I was going to go out with my friends since they obviously wouldn't be available today, "stay here."
After much too long a silence, he placed his hands on the island in front of him and looked at me.
"I don't think I made myself clear." Ugh, I hate when he uses his Chief Hopper tone on me. "I didn't tell you about going to Joyce's so you can confirm it with me or not. You're going. Like it or not."
"But dad, I don't-."
"Now either you march your butt over to Joyce's house with me later or I'm going to take your car keys and you won't be able to drive until after you graduate."
Interesting that that's the life event he selected.
"If you take away my car, how am I going to get to school?" I asked, knowing I got him there.
"I'll drive you myself. Every morning," he spoke like he had that answer ready.
Damn it.
With a huff, looking and sounding like the very child I knew he thought I was being, I crossed my arms.
"Fine."
A grin, that he made no effort to hide, grew on his face. "Go get ready. We're leaving at one." Waiting until he turned back around, I rolled my eyes and stormed off into the bathroom.
This is SO stupid. Now that I have a few days off school and am I able to keep my mind off it, I didn't plan to have to worry about something like this.
There's no way in hell I ever thought we'd be going somewhere, let alone Joyce's house for Thanksgiving. It's surprising for a few reasons, but probably most importantly is that I hadn't even realized she was still around. Or at least enough for her to think it's okay to invite us to something like Thanksgiving dinner.
This means that whatever is going on with Joyce and Hop is more serious than I thought. To have Thanksgiving dinner with someone is a big deal. And while it is a day to be with family and friends, there's more than just friendship there.
At one p.m. on the dot, Hopper blared the horn from his blazer and I knew I couldn't put off leaving any longer. Grabbing my leather jacket from the back of the couch, I took the few steps needed to get out of the house, lock the door behind me, and walked, not very excitedly, to the car.
With Hawkins not being a very large town, it took less than fifteen minutes until we arrived to our host's house. Despite him being the Chief of police, I don't know how I felt that he parked in her driveway with no hesitation.
"Now look," he spoke, just after turning the car off. "I know how you may… feel about all this." All about what? "But please," he continued, "behave. Joyce didn't have to invite us but she did, so you know, keep that in mind."
"Sure," I shrugged, just wanting to get this entire day over with. "Whatever." I opened the door and stepped out, crossing my arms as I walked towards the house. With Jim a few steps behind, I reached the front door first but waited until he caught up to me since I didn't want to be the one to ring the doorbell. As he stepped next to me, he cleared his throat and reached his hand out along the door frame to signal to whoever was inside at the moment that we had arrived.
It only took less than a minute before the door opened and Joyce, looking as average as ever, smiled at seeing us.
"Oh, hi! I'm so glad you could make it," there was something in her voice, along with the words she chose to say, that made me think she wasn't sure if we were going to show up.
"Hi, Joyce. Thank you for having us," Through my peripheral vision, I saw the dopey smile Jim gave her. I also, despite the car ride over with him, just now noticed the way he was dressed.
I can't remember the last time I've seen him in a dress shirt and a quick look at the rest of him confirmed that his pants were freshly cleaned and, of all things, ironed. His hair was slicked and pulled back, a huge difference to his normal unruliness. And despite that he didn't shave completely, he definitely did something to shape his beard up.
I don't know how I didn't notice this before, but he was holding flowers in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other.
After a few seconds of silence, which probably wasn't as long as it felt, Jim nudged me, and it pulled me out of my thoughts. Knowing he wanted me to say something, I turned back to Joyce.
"Yeah, uh, thanks Joyce," I spoke as I uncrossed my arms. "It's nice of you to invite us."
"Of course. Anytime," she smiled again. "Please, come on in."
Walking into Joyce's house, I could tell it was, simply put, one of the most comfortable places I've ever seen. The front door opened up to the living room, which seemed warmer than it was due to the dim lighting and the cozy-looking blankets that were placed on the back of the couches.
It was obvious that the room and by extension, house were tidied up before Hop and I arrived. But it wasn't spotless. There was a mug on the coffee table that looked like it was forgotten there. The cushions on the couches were crooked and the one that had a design was flipped upside down. There were three family photos of Joyce, Will, and Johnathan scattered around the room and probably more throughout the house.
It looked… lived in. Inviting and welcoming.
All that along with the scent of the turkey coming from the oven, roasted potatoes, and what I believe to be cinnamon sugar cookies that filled the air made me feel something unexpected.
It reminded me a lot of my childhood. This looked and, dare I say, felt like a home.
"You have a beautiful home." I found myself saying out loud before I could stop it.
"Thank you El," Joyce sounded as surprised as I was to say it. "Do- um, can I get you anything to drink?"
"No, not right now. Thanks," I answered casually as I turned to face the two of them.
"Okay. So, umm, dinner will be ready soon. The boys are around here somewhere-. Ah, Johnathan."
As she said it, I saw a new person enter the room, and I knew I would finally be putting a face to the name.
Joyce's older son was taller than her but not as tall as Jim, which was clearly noticed when they shook hands and Johnathan tried to make his handshake stronger. He looked more like Will than he did to his mom, but he too tried to dress up for the occasion.
The most significant part about him that I noticed though was that he, as much as he tried to hide it, didn't look as pleased to have Hopper or I here as one would think.
Hmm.
Before I could say or do anything, Will appeared from the hallway that I assumed lead to the rest of the house. I can't say for sure if Will looked extra nervous on his own or everyone else's anxiety just transferred onto him.
"Johnathan, um, this is my daughter El. Will, I think you two already know each other," Hop spoke as he reached out to me so I could be properly introduced.
"Hi," I directly at Johnathan as I approached the three of them, and just then noticed that Joyce was no longer in the room. "Nice to meet you," I spoke with a small smile, trying to express that I could relate to how he was feeling about having us over. "Hey, Will."
"Hi," he spoke, as timid as ever. "Uh, thanks for coming."
"Yeah," I shrugged, "sure."
"I'm going to go see if Joyce needs helps in the kitchen," Jim excused himself then, leaving me with Joyce's sons in their living room.
A few uncomfortable seconds passed before Johnathan spoke.
"So... it's El?"
"Elizabeth, but that's too much" I explained. "The only people that call me that are my teachers, really." At that, Will made a face like he was about to speak and if he's staying on topic, my best guess is that he would say something about me being tutored by Mike. Deciding not to let it come up, I spoke instead. "Umm, is there anywhere here that I could smoke? I haven't had one all day."
"Oh, uh," Johnathan stuttered, clearly surprised by my question.
"You can go out to the back porch. She doesn't think we know about it, but it's where our mom goes," Will spoke. I smirked, really intrigued by this new knowledge about Joyce.
Maybe she isn't as bad as I thought.
"Okay, thanks. Where is it?"
"It's just past the kitchen," Will explained, nodding his head in that direction. I nodded as I walked past him, realizing I would interrupt Hopper and Joyce when I entered the kitchen.
Before I reached it though, Joyce turned the corner holding a bowl of what looked like gravy and we nearly bumped into each other.
"Oh, sorry El," she apologized and stopped herself in her tracks. "Did you need something?"
"I was just going to go out for a smoke," I explained, making sure not to sound like I was asking her permission or if I cared about her reaction.
"Dinner's actually ready. If you could take a seat, that'd be great. Anywhere is fine." Holding the bowl in one hand, she gestured to the dining room table to the side of us, where all the places were set. Facing her again, Jim now stood by her, holding two more side plates.
"Umm," Jim, who must have heard my interaction with Joyce about where I was going, gave me a look. "Sure, yeah." Walking a couple of steps, I pulled out the chair and sat at the spot closest to where I was just standing. With Will and Johnathan doing the same, it was easier to see how many seats were set and that once Hopper and Joyce sat down, there was still an empty one left.
"Is someone else coming?" I asked Joyce, who was now placing the wine Jim had brought onto the table.
"Yes," just was she was about to continue, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Johnathan announced, looking more enthusiastic than I had seen him. It took about another minute for Johnathan to return and with him was who I assumed to be our last dinner guest.
I nearly choked on my lemonade at seeing Nancy, smiling and taking quick steps to hug Joyce. After assuring her that she was doing well, she pulled away and like magnets, or probably because I couldn't stop staring at her, our eyes met.
"Hi," she directed at me in a way I knew meant she recognized me.
What a small damn world.
And that concludes part one! Sorry to do this but I did give myself a deadline and this is the best loophole I could come up with to meet it! But this does give me more time to work on the more dramatic part of the chapter. I hope you enjoyed and please review. If you happen to be reading this prior to watching season 3, happy viewing!
