end zone | STEVE HARRINGTON

thirty

C H A P T E R T H I R T Y

season 3 episode 8 continued

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THREE MONTHS HAD PASSED SINCE HOPPER'S DEATH, and Joyce had decided to not have a proper funeral as according to her, Hopper had been sent into pieces. All that the town was aware of was that he had died a hero in a mall fire. Starcourt mall used to be a place where friends would go to be able to hang out together, but now it was ruined because of the Mind Flayer. Anastasia and Eleven were glad that their dad was able to be labelled a hero.

The girls were still grieving in their own ways, Eleven was happy at times though she would still tear up at the mention of Hopper and Anna was alike her in that sense, she was still grieving his death and was still in denial that everything had happened. Everything that happened at the mall seemed to go down so quickly that to her, none of it even seemed real in the first place.

A plus side did come out of it, she got closer with Robin after it all and the two would have even considered themselves to be best friends. Her and Steve had also made themselves official boy friend and girl friend, they believed that there was no point in doing anything slow, especially after all the people they had just lost and went for it, and so far they didn't have any regrets.

Beneath the surface, Anna still had nightmares about what happened that night at the mall, but thankfully, Steve was always there to comfort her. She was similar to Max in that way, and the girls found themselves seeking comfort out of one another after Max informed her that things weren't doing good at home and she was suffering from nightmares too.

Eleven was suffering badly too, she had lost her father that night and it sent her into a spiral of pushing everyone away, including her closest friends. She wasn't aware of what she was doing, but she didn't want to hurt them anymore than she already had. Eleven hadn't left her room in a while and Anastasia had entered Joyce's home, stepping inside Eleven's room as she ran her hand over her sister hair.

Anna sat down on the end of the bed, the two finding a sense of comfort in the silence until Eleven moved up so that they were able to lay down together. They stared up at the ceiling until Eleven said, "I don't want to leave you."

Anna smiled sadly, Joyce had announced the Byers family were going to be moving away from Hawkins' to be able to start fresh. She had asked Anastasia to go, but she denied, she had gotten used to Hawkins and all of it's craziness, plus, she never wanted to leave Steve again but the hardest part was that she would then have to leave Eleven.

"I don't want that either, but you are going to be happier in your new town." Anna spoke softly.

"I hope so." Eleven sighed, the two girls didn't say anything after that and continued staring up at the ceiling until they fell asleep on the bed.

* * *

It was moving day for the Byers and Eleven, and they had spent the entire day packing up all their belonging's. While Steve was off with Robin trying to find a place of employment, which Anna didn't worry about just yet, she helped her sister pack her things. The past week they had spent together, reminiscing in the time they had until they went into the room Joyce was in. They spotted her holding up two pieces of paper, "What is that?" El asked, holding the teddy in her arms.

"Uh....It-It's the speech Hop wrote for you and Mike and the other is for Anna." Joyce smiled.

"Speech?"

"Yeah. You know, the heart-to-heart." Joyce explained, until she saw the look of confusion and shook her head. "He never talked to you, did he?"

"Can I read?" Eleven asked, Joyce nodded, handing the girls their slip of paper. Eleven stayed in the room whilst Anna went into Jonathan's old bedroom, closing the door behind her with a chair as she sat down against the wall.

She took a deep breath before opening it,

Hey, kid.

There's something I've been wanting to talk to you about, I know that you hate talking about your feelings and would rather keep them all bottled up, but I really need you to listen to what I'm about to say. I know how you feel about Steve, heck I have been having the same feelings for a woman in particular.

But we need to set some boundaries, you know?

I am not going to give you the same crappy speech I gave to your sister, but I just want you to know that if you have any boy trouble then you come and let me know, because I'm here for you.

Ever since you turned up on my doorstep with tears streaming down your face I just knew that I was going to love you. Despite your moodiness and your very complex personality, I couldn't think of anything I would change about you.

You and El brightened up my day, giving me a new hope that I could be better and move on from my own past. And for that, I want to thank you. You opened up my eyes and even set my in my place a few times, and I hope you do the same with Steve.

That kid looks at you like you are the god damn world. It used to piss me off when I walk in and see you two cuddled up on the couch after falling asleep to a movie, but now, I couldn't be any happier for you two. I love you kid, more than you'll ever possibly know. I don't want you to forget me, so please, remember to always think of me.

I miss making the eggo extravaganzas with you and El, and watching the movies with you. You're growing up, and a part of me hated that. I get it, sometimes I can be a real pain, and sometimes life is going to hurt you, but just know that I'm always here....even when I'm not. When life hurts you, remember it. It means you are out of the cage.

But please, for the sake of your old man, keep the door open three inches!

I love you, Anastasia.

- Love, Dad.

Anastasia held the letter close to her heart as she cried, the tears streamed down her face for a few minutes until she pulled herself together and walked back out the room with a smile on her face. She shoved the letter in her pocket, joining the others outside as they hugged everyone goodbye.

Jonathan, Will and Joyce hugged her and told her to visit whenever she could and then it was left to Eleven and her. She grabbed onto her, hugging her as she sniffled. "I'm gonna miss you."

"I'm going to miss you." Eleven replied, crying against her shoulder.

Anastasia broke apart the hug. "You better get going then, El."

"I know," She nodded. "I love you, Anna."

"I love you, El." They hugged one another one last time before Eleven got into the truck with the others, as they drove off the others waved goodbye as Anna held onto Max for support.

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END OF SEASON THREE!!!

Let me know how you all feel about the ending <3

This is a longer note and it may not make sense but if you are interested in reading 'darkness' my Eddie Munson fan fic then please read this !!!!!!!!

I will be discounting the book from this point. I have written more than half of it but I have spent all my time on this one that I have lost the interest in writing another stranger things fan fiction. I hope you all understand this. Now, because I have already written most of it, I can either post the chapters I have now or just unpublish the book, so just let me know.