Alexandra Jamie Hopper - original character.
pairing: steve harrington | playlist: my girl - temptations, nothing can change this love - sam cooke, my cherie amour - stevie wonder, can i call you rose? - three sacred souls, stand by me - jimmy ruffin & david ruffin | age: 21
The only daughter of Jim Hopper-until a certain jane comes along-raised with tough and tenderness all rolled into one. Commonly called Alex, and reserved as Andy to a certain well-groomed idiot.
Covered in a layer of sweet coffee, and red Marlboro's, held a romcom and blues loving twenty-one year old. Adamant protector of a group of dweebs and sole survivor of Steve's midnight ramblings, fierce and soft love all rolled into one.
The raven-haired girl had a bunch of non-negotiables in life- mainly her t-shirt and jeans, the cute red converses she had, an obscene obsession with a bold lip without any other makeup, and the need to smell like a yummy coconut vanilla cupcake at any time of the day. Her hair had always been in a shoulder length cut bob for as long as she could remember, to know her would be to know her very iconic half up half down hair with wispy side pieces.
And if there's anything Alex loved more than riding in the car with blues blasting or a bold lip, it's definitely her father. The man toughest to others and the absolute sweetest with her, a dream man she could lovingly say is her dad.
And as Jane shows up later on-terrified and traumatized from an adoption shelter-Alex learns firsthand just how much love she really had in her.
(not to mention her friendship with Steve had the edges wary with affection, and was starting to exit the land of best friends as they unwillingly enter the land of romantic adoration.)
A/N: hopper and salt!! kinda angst!! but it has a happy ending so- also i don’t like the ending cause i wrote it at 3 in the morning and didn’t edit it much so i could probably improve it but also. i’m tired. so here you go-
Hopper knocked on the window to what he hoped was Salt’s apartment. It was the same pattern he would knock onto her dressing room every day. She had to know it was him.
“Rain is falling down on the sidewalk, I won't go until you come outside,” He called, shivering. He was drenched in rain, but it didn’t matter. He needed to do this. “Come on Princess, I’m here to apologize!”
Finally, he heard a sigh and the window opened. Salt stepped out onto the fire escape. Her hair was messy from sleep and she was drowning in an oversized hoodie. His hoodie.
Check yes Juliet
Kill the limbo
“What do you want?”
“I’m here to apologize!” He said, opening his arms for a hug. Salt didn’t budge. He dropped his arms awkwardly to his sides. “Look, I know I messed up-“
“‘MESSED UP?’ THIS IS BIGGER THEN JUST ‘MESSING UP’ HOPPER.” She didn’t mean to yell, but at this point she didn’t care. She was mad, and nothing Hopper could say would change what happened.
I'll keep tossing rocks at your window
There's no turning back for us tonight
Salt and Hopper were sitting together on the roof. The sun was setting, but that didn’t matter. They had each other now, and at the moment, no one else existed.
“I don’t know why you chose me,” Salt said, pressing a kiss her Hopper’s cheek, “But I’m glad you did.”
Hopper smiled, a twinge of guilt in his stomach. “Salt, I-“ He faltered. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t ruin what they had. Still, Salt was staring at him expectantly. “I love you.”
Salt grinned. “I love you too!” She had wanted to say those words for so long, but she was afraid he wouldn’t return it. But here they were.
He loved her.
But the next day at school, it all changed. Because Salt walked into school, went to her locker, and opened to see a note from Hopper.
Dear Salt,
I asked you out on a dare. I had to go out with you for a month. That time is up. Thanks for being such a good “girlfriend”
-H
Lace up your shoes
Here's how we do
Hopper winced at her tone. Yeah, he deserved that. “Princess, that note wasn’t from me. Honest, it was my friends who wrote it.”
Salt still didn’t move, but she uncrossed her arms. “So, it’s not true?”
Hopper ran his hand through his hair. “Well, I didn’t say that-“
Run, baby, run
Don't ever look back
Salt turned back to the window and tried to pull it open. It didn’t budge. “God fucking damnit. Pepper, open the fucking window!”
Pepper’s voice came through the window. “No. You two need to talk this out.”
“Fuck you! Let me in!” Salt banged on the window, hoping one of her other siblings would hear and let her in. No luck.
“Can I finish?” Hopper asked, turning her to face him again. Salt sank down so she was sitting, pulling her hood on. He followed suit.
They'll tear us apart
If you give them the chance
“So this whole thing, it meant nothing to you?” Salt’s voice was small and near tears, but there was an unmistakable hint of anger behind it.
“No! I promise baby, every word I said was true,” he brushed her hair out of her eyes so she would look him in the eye. “I love you.”
Salt shook her head and looked away. “I don’t believe you.”
Don't sell your heart
Don't say we're not meant to be
Salt read the note over and over again, trying to process it. She showed it to Pepper. They looked ready to murder, but Salt shook her head.
“It’s not worth it.”
Hopper came up to her a few minutes later. “Hey princess!” He tried to give her a hug, but she swerved away.
“Don’t ‘princess’ me.” She threw the note at him, storming off in the other direction.
Hopper picked up the piece of paper and read it over. “Shit. Salt wait, I can explain!”
She didn’t look back
Run, baby, run
“Come on baby, please?” Salt still refused to look him in the eye. Hopper began to him out a tune. She rolled her eyes. It was the stupid song again.
“Forever we'll be, You and me” he sang her two favorite lines with a smile. She could feel herself blushing as the memories flooded back to her.
“Check yes Juliet
I'll be waiting
Wishing, wanting
Yours for the taking
Just sneak out
And don't tell a soul goodbye”
Salt rolled her eyes. She could hear Romeo (rather, the boy playing Romeo, whose name she hadn’t quite caught) singing from his dressing room. She’d never heard the song before, but he claimed it helped him ‘get into character.’
She didn’t mind too much. The boy’s voice was amazing.
A knock came on her door. It was a pattern that she had begun to recognize as her costar’s knock. She opened the door to see Romeo, in full costume, bowing dramatically.
“Hello, Juliet,” he said, standing up with a grin. He extended his hand to her. “You ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be!” she said, taking his hand. He brought it up to his lips and gave it a kiss. Salt blushed. “Let’s hurry.”
Pepper was already on stage, reciting the opening. “Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona where we lay our scene...”
“Break a leg!” Romeo whispered. “You could say that to me, but as you can see, I’ve got that covered.”
Salt let out a laugh. Romeo had a small limp that she was always curious about, but afraid to ask. The boy was giving her a lopsided grin, and there was a beautiful sparkle in his eye.
So maybe she had a crush.
“Check yes Juliet
Here's the countdown
Three, two, one, now fall in my arms
Now they can change the locks
Don't let them change your mind”
Hopper was singing softly to himself as they walked, holding hands. Her Romeo, whose name was Hopper apparently, had asked her out right after the play, and she had said yes immediately.
“What is that song? I’ve never heard it before.”
Hopper gave her a grin. “That’s because I wrote it myself!” He bowed dramatically. “It’s for my Juliet.”
Salt blushed. “Me?”
“Yes you!” he smiled and lifted their hands, still intertwined, to his lips. “But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is east, and Juliet is the sun.”
She buried her head in his chest, face red. “Are you really simping through Romeo’s lines?”
“Well, they’re all true!”
Salt smiled and squeezed his hand. She was so lucky to have him.
Lace up your shoes
Here's how we do
Salt wiped away a bitter tear. “The facts are there, Hopper. You wouldn’t have asked me out if it wasn’t for the dare.”
“You’re right. I would’ve never had the courage to ask you out. But I always wanted to, from the very start.”
They'll tear us apart
If you give them the chance
“Don't sell your heart, Don't say we're not meant to be” Hopper sang softly. Salt smiled. Maybe the dare was a good thing after all. The past month had been the best of her life, and Hopper still loved her.
“I love you Hopper.”
Pepper opened the window. “Fucking finally. Now get inside, you’ll freeze to death.”
“Have you been listening this entire time?” Salt said, taking Hopper’s hand and leading him inside.
“The walls are thin! I had no choice!” they exclaimed, shutting the window behind them. “So you guys are all good now?”
Salt smiled and took Hopper’s hand. “Yeah. We are.”
