ONLY YOU | jim hopper x oc series.
Warnings: language and mention of injury.
18+ minors & ageless blogs dni.
The roads were quiet that night. Not in an eery way, or a way that suggested that anything was abnormal but after a mere three hours and forty minutes, Laurie Matthews finally passed the dreaded âWelcome to Hawkinsâ sign that confirmed what she was dreading - she was home.
Despite how bad things had gotten in Chicago, never in a million years did she imagine she would be driving over the Hawkins town line again. Frankly, just thinking of the small town she once called home made her feel claustrophobic.
But she was out of options.
Forest green eyes fixated on the road, Laurie blinked a few times. Lack of caffeine and a long journey was taking its toll on her slowly and for some reason, she just couldnât get the inside of her sixties chevy buick warm enough. It was November after all, and although Chicago was colder, Indiana had its own chill to it.
The cassette player embedded in her centre console was indistinctly playing some Cindi Lauper song, as she made her way closer and closer to the town.
By this point, it had been nearly eleven years since she had been back in town and things had drastically changed. There were buildings where they didnât used to be, and stop lights where she didnât remember them and with all of those things combined, it was hardly surprising when she took a wrong turn - ending up on a darker road without street lights, shrouded by thick trees either side.
âwhat the fuck. . .â Laurie muttered to herself, while trying her best to pay careful attention to the road ahead for a route back to the shitty motel she was meant to be staying at.
She looked left briefly, just for a split second but by the time she looked back at the road in front of her, there was a figure stood in her path. With one swift movement, Laurie spun the wheel to the right and collided with a metal fencing bollard which proudly displayed the âHawkins National Laboratoryâ logo on a nearby fence sign.
Flying forward in her seat, Laurieâs forehead hit the leather bound steering wheel in front of her - knocking her unconscious, with only the image of that /thing/ to dream of.
Laurieâs eyes flickered open slowly, the feeling of the harsh light only aggravating the stinging she was already feeling in her head.
The blonde sat up slowly, wincing slightly as she did so, her hand reaching up to the right side of her forehead to confirm her suspicions of the bruise that she felt forming.
Opening her eyes fully and tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear, Laurie slowly rose to her feet, placing a hand on the wall next to her for support. She scanned her surroundings and quickly felt a sinking feeling in her stomach, she wasnât in the hospital - she was in a fucking holding cell.
âMorning, Sunshine.â An unknown voice spoke to her, snapping her away from her thoughts. He was a relatively skinny man, wearing a deputy uniform with a badge that vaguely read âCallaghanâ.
âHave you sobered up yet?â He asked in a mocking tone.
âCome again?â Laurie spoke slowly, walking a few steps forward to face him through the thick bars of the cell.
âYour little drunk driving adventure last night, you could have killed someone.â Callaghan replied with a serious tone, obviously trying to appear more intimidating than he actually was.
âDrunk?â Laurie began âI wasnât drinkâ she finished, arching a brow as she slowly remembered the events of the night before.
While driving back, she had swerved to avoid /something/. Something too fast to be a human and too tall to be an animal. The details were very hazy, but she knew what she saw.
âSober people donât crash into thin air.â Agent Callaghan responded, in a nasally tone which was slowly beginning to annoy her.
âSomething ran in front of me.â The blonde protested.
âLike what? A wolf?â Deputy Powell chimed in, a hint of laughter behind his question.
âYou cominâ Phil?â Powell asked, âGet Flo to process her, Iâm dealing up the cards.â He finished.
Thatâs when it hit her. She was back in Hawkins. The âFloâ the deputy had mentioned was Flo from Hawkins PD, Aunt Flo to Laurie was one of the oldest family friends Laurie had. After the fire in 72â, Flo had been one of the only people that stood by Laurie, so it was a stroke of luck that she still worked here.
âWait, wait â I know Flo, really well, actually. Ask her anything about me and sheâd tell you.â Laurie pleaded, hoping she wouldnât have to spend much longer in the wretched cell.
âCourse you do. Whatâs your name, red?â Powell asked, nicknaming her âredâ due to the crimson hue of the jacket she was currently wearing.
âLaurie Matthews.â She stated, hoping that name no longer held any weight.
The pair shrugged, dismissively, and disappeared down a hallway.
Laurie wasnât sure how much time passed but after a short while, an older woman appeared, a key in hand and a smug look on her face.
âDolores, what trouble are you getting into this time?â Flo spoke, using Laurieâs full name as means of severity, as she turned the key in the lock of the holding cell and opened the door, allowing Laurie to exit.
âNone this time, Aunt Flo, I promise. Guess I was just. . . really tired.â Laurie spoke, still somewhat confused about the events of the previous evening.
âWhen Phil told me he had Laurie Matthews in a cell, I hardly believed it. You havenât called in years, Dolores, you realise you have some explaining to do?â Flo stated, heading toward the hallway of the precinct.
âI know. . I know.â Laurie said with a soft sigh and a shrug. âBut Iâm back now. . at least for now. So Iâm sure we will find a second to catch up.â Laurie said placing her hand on Floâs arm. âI missed you, Aunt Floâ Laurie finished with a soft, childlike smile.
âI suppose I missed you too. How long has it been.. ten years?â Flo asked, attempting to calculate how long it had been since she had last seen Laurie.
âEleven in July.â Laurie said with a sigh, trying to push the events that caused her to leave the small town to the back of her head.
âWell. . . Itâs good to have you back. Itâs good to have you home.â Flo stated, ushering Laurie into a hug, wrapping her arms around the younger woman.