TW: Physical Abuse.

Hopper had a dead lead on Lonnie. No shocker there. Jim rerouted to the continuation of an extensive, long, search gathering to help find will which extended past state lines. Though in particular Jim had declared maintaining the presence strictly in Hawkins.

Melissa altered her choice of clothes. To jeans, which are clip up and stitched to the actual denim. And a long sleeve red rose halter top that helped keep her warm.

She remained wearing Jim's jacket, not believing necessary to remove it off of her.

One stop, visit, to Milly's boutique contributed a good deal of time for her to change out of the old sweater and shorts.

" Hey! Anything?".

Patrolling search dogs, assisting the rescue bark, use their snouts and acute senses smell leads. Jim, following behind him Melissa and she's refrained from going forward hearing a volunteering canine's dog tag rattle to see an older, greying, male Belgian Malinois. His tail wags as she is inspected. The dog's nose trails on her leg, whining. She slides down on his level. He's a part of the search rescue crew Hopper assigned. " What is it, boy? I know, you are just confused. I'm will's sister. I'm not who you are finding." Milly reveals her palm allowing the animal to take in her scent.

" Where is your handler, Maximilian. That is an old name, for an old boy. But you're a good dog, oh yes you are." His bright eyes stare up, shining when hearing the praise, using his paw to rest on her leg. Asking permissions for pets. Melissa couldn't decline a chance to pet a dog.

" Hey, uh, hopper. I think Joyce's kid is trying to corrupt one of our dogs. She is petting him like crazy. I've never seen Max that goofy, playful, before. He's an old mutt and a mean old bastard. I'm shocked."

Officer Powell mentions to Jim, admittedly impressed she could tame the old canine. He didn't take well to strangers.

" Is.. is she wearing your gear, Chief? You don't let know no one touch anything that is yours."

Jim, not a clue on whatever Powell is on about, turns his head fixedly stares in slight confusion noticing Milly was indubitably stroking Max's furry stomach. Callahan couldn't believe it either.

" Stop staring. That is rude. It's not the least unusual for a dog to trust people. Just.. leave her alone. Ok, it's not a problem on our list. All right! Let's go. Come on. We got a lot of ground to cover."

Hopper instructs, directing his fellow colleges who are focusing on her alone, ajar mouthes and eyes wide. " Go. We got a missing boy that needs finding."

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Hopper drove Melissa to town square back in time for a delivery of more display case mannequins, she needed to sign off on.

There's an opening for employees she advertised for but no one held an interest for working under a company ran, founded, by a woman in the south.

Modern day patriarchy at its finest.

'I have a feeling there won't be applications. I'm gonna assume it's time for me to work independently. I can do that no problem.'

Milly, ringing up her cash register machine counting dollar bills and quarters, shifts her gaze up hearing her stores customer bell chime. " welcome to my store, butterfly byers boutique, how can I help you.."

" I hear you are hiring. I'm the right girl for that job. Yeah it's me, don't act too surprised, girl. You thought you wouldn't see the last me would ya?" Melissa does an excited screech to see her college roommate, friend, Amanda 'Mandy' Sinclair.

She offers her arms out for an all missed hug.

" Me-me. Oh my gosh. How are you here? I thought you were chosen for a big league company, in the industry. There are agencies wanting to sign you. I'm happy to have you here but, girl, I should see you on TV right now. Strutting on runways. "

Wanting nothing then accepting a once in a generous, opportunistic life time offer it was clear Amanda much rather be here close to home. Sure— the money would substantially improve her families financial extrusions but there is nothing more she honours than being a loyal friend. So, there she stood flier in hand.

Her fuller, lip gloss shining, lips move to a smile. twines both an index and middle joint in her hand to thread her natural curls. " Why work for a corrupt corporate elitist industry, when I can come to my girl in need of help. I'm not alone, I bought in a reinforcement. Katherine Claudia Henderson! Get your pretty behind in here, now, woman." Melissa gasps, her excitement rising to a new level and high. In all her years, spent in middle school, Kat had persisted to be her friend. Obviously it had taken just a couple of short weeks, to make her feel she wasn't a nuisance. Mandy and Kat are Will's best friend's sisters. Dustin. Lucas. She basically knocks Katherine to the floor, if it wasn't for Amanda shoving away any dangers.

" Omg. You are your own CEO, Minnie Mouse. Prada and gucci should look out for you." Kat squeals, her floor length dress swinging on beat as ABBA's 'Voulez-Vous' crackles out of Millie's store boombox cassette radio player.

It was close to twelve o'clock, lunch hour on the rush.

" Say how 'bout I treat us to some pizza, for something to eat. Cause' a bitch is starving. If I don't eat I might fucking faint out of pure starvation."

Mandy pretends she is has a light head, back of her hand on her forehead.

" Oh! By the way you girls are hired. There's no need for all those questions, and bull crap. You got the Jobs." Katherine does a featherbrained, small ditzy clap, a twinkle in her soft-hearted enticing blue eyes sparkling. She's an embodiment of Snow White.

Amanda fist punches the air, hearing she didn't need to sit through an interview.

'Those are boring.'

" That pizza sounds promising. Let's go, I don't want to miss out on having lunch.'

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Joyce, returning home to install her houses's newest rotary phone, extracts the device out of its packaging ridding of any remaining paper it came in. Connecting an component telephone line to her house wall, she does not waste her time on bringing the electronically generated phone, taking it to sit down on a single person couch. Instead she stops, audible frustration is clear-cut at how short of a cable is attached to.

She drags her seat using her legs. Taking time, setting down her new bought phone on her lap, breathing a heavy sigh of air. If there is any doubt in her mind, when it came to her little boy, is how scared he must be right now. How could a mother fail to find her own son.

Thoughts floating on Milly, her little girl. Her first born.

She wishes there would have been a better chance for her girl to live, instead she had chose to be selfish and made Melissa expose recurring torments of her past. Her one regret in life is ever thinking Lonnie could love his daughter. Not knowing wherefore, how, scarring it would be for Milly. Joyce lost sleep. Guilt had infected her subconscious. 'I'm sorry honey. I'm so sorry.'

A single tear broke, being pulled down her face.

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Melissa's palms began sweating, nerves were on an high level, as her fist raises to pound on her father's trailer 'door'. Construction builders, operating machineries, could be heard. 'This is stupid. I shouldn't be here alone but I need to get will home.' Hopper would not be thrilled knowing where she is currently, her eyes casing just how horrendous Lonnie's live in conditions are. He deserved it to be honest.

" Yeah. Who are you..?" Milly rolls her eyes, of course Lonnie would be dating a woman her age. 'Pig.' " I take you are Cynthia, Hi. Nice to make your acquaintance, but I am not here for you." Though slight to feel intimidated Cynthia does an awful, and none the convincing, effort of scowling getting in Melissa's path.

" Just who you might be..? Bitch. You can't just strut in like you own the joint or some shit."

Melissa put up a recently manicured hand to her face. " I'm Lonnie's daughter, bitch. Move."

'Speak of the devil and he shall appear.'

Lonnie, a motor oil drenched towel rag over his hand cleaning his petroleum tainted finger, sloppily shoves back the ragged material in an Mould riddled corner, not caring for his appearance as he greets his eldest using one look over.

" Cynthia. This bitch has a name. It's Milly. Now, could you spare Melissa, and, I a second to connect for lost time. Thank you, honey."

With a huff she leaves to somewhere in the motor house not without glaring daggers at Milly. " What is up her ass? Don't know. I don't give a shit, actually. Now on the matter. I.."

Lonnie interrupts her speech, knowing well to see she is here for will.

" Like I told the cops. Your brother isn't here, nor has he ever. Now on the subject of you. Aren't you going to give your old man a hug..? I think I deserve that much considering."

He goes forward, taking a chance to put both arms, applying pressure as he embraced her frailer frame. Melissa breath grew meteoric, fast, growing claustrophobic in seconds.

" Do.. Don't touch me, Da.. Lonnie. I am not here for pleasantries." Gaining strength she shoves his arms off. Standing tall, strong.

" Where. Is. Will. It's Hard to believe you haven't seen him. What did you do, huh." Milly accuses, poking one finger on his grim covered wife-beater shirt. Name suits him.

" I won't hesitate to call Ji.. hopper to come here, a.. and arrest then throw your ass in jail. Where you're suppose to be right now." Lonnie could feel his increasingly strong annoyance bubbling to a limit. Patience worn thin by her dismissive attitude. " Listen here, little girl. you best keep that tone in check. Just because you're grown, doesn't mean you can come up in my place and think you have the right to boss me around."

'I'm not afraid of him, No more. He can't say or do shit that won't make me feel small. Or S.. Scared of him.' Melissa, now standing toe to toe against her dad, settles a cold gaze on his.

" This is not some type of joke. Okay? Your son is out there. He's frightened. Search parties are scouring the entire county for him. While he's scared in some place, you are here screwing around with that poor woman. D.. Doe's she even know what monster she is sleeping with?" Thump. Lonnie had connected his hand on her skin, blotches of red taking shape of his fingers and he glares. Eyes casting a shadow of hate.

" You are too much like your mother. A loud mouth whore that needs to watch how she talks to people. Hell.. does she even know you are here. Jesus, the first time in seven years I see you and look at you. Thinking that you're an all fancy, too good to be 'round us poor people. But deep down you still want my attention. Is that right? Daddy's love. You crave... need it. Look I'm not the asshole here."

Milly made a fist using her fingers, head shaking containing anger boiling, then cries out throwing it towards Lonnie. half of a decade internalised resentment spilling into her throw and she gets a punch in.

" Son of a bitch. Oh, Melissa, you are so much.. like me then you want to admit." He retorts, spitting out blood, following his daughter out on the porch. Just when he thinks one punch is enough, groaning is heard out of his throat when her arm jams in his stomach.

" I will Never be you. Lonnie. I'm not some asshole that abuses women."

Is her final words before hearing police sirens. Jim's wagon parks on the grass, he came hurtling out witnessing Lonnie put one hand on Milly's neck.

" Byers. You get your hand off her, right now, or help me god I will have you in cuffs before you can even yell for your momma."

Intervening hopper gets in the middle, having excessive force in his push to a degree Lonnie's lean build hits the exterior wall, Melissa feels her hand is grabbed.

" You don't have any jurisdiction here, Cop. Besides I was giving my kid a well deserved punishment. Why do you care if I hit my kid. It's my right."

Melissa could sense Jim's temperament rising each second he is facing her father. She knew he would be in great deal of trouble if he hurt Lonnie.

" Let's just go.. Jim. I want to go home. He's not worth any of it."

Venom darkens her dad's eyes, making his mouth grimace. " Don't tell me you have the hots, for my daughter, Hopper. I know just by how you're giving the look. Do you realise how fucking disturbing it is to even consider it? I should..." Milly gasp and shouts 'Jim.'

He had began beating Lonnie leading Melissa into trying to wrestle Jim out of his rage.

" Jim. Stop. Stop! Please. Hopper!" Jim's fedora flew off, on the grass, as he pauses to catch a breath. Lonnie had gotten a real good ass beating, blood pooling his nose.

" don't ever go near and come around Melissa again." He spat. With that he turned his back to Lonnie, hand in Milly's taking her to his wagon. From the lack of car presence she had paid for a cab here.

Hopper unlocks the passenger side seat door.

" I'm taking you back right now."

Melissa covers a quarter of her face to keep hidden her inflamed sore cheek. Jim got in, turning on his cars ignition, before he drove away.

" Show me."

Milly is hesitant on showing the violent marking left by her father but does it. Jim's eyes are embittered, sadden.

" that son of a bitch. Should throw his sorry ass in prison right now. But you need to have that looked at. Flo, she might have some ice, you can apply on it."

Hopper, though intentions are good wanting to inspect her face, stops a hand after Melissa flinches from his touch. " i won't hurt you, like that monster. Mills."

He softens how he spoke to not trigger Milly. She leans her head giving him access to look at her cheek.

The sun had set on the horizon, casting a shadow of orange and pink light. " That is one angry bruise. I'm sorry I wasn't there early to catch that bastard giving you .. this." Clearing his throat Jim focus his mind of not being a cause for a crash.

Melissa breaks down, not able to hold on the thread of strength she had. Jim heart broke hearing her crying. No girl, child, should have to deal with a parent who never respects them. Let alone hitting them, it is a low blow. Vile.

He killed the gas pulling over on a highway. No cars were riding this hour and didn't need to care about anyone else going past. " hey. Hey. Come here."

He climbs out of the car, going to her aid, extracting her from his wagon. She fell in his arms, letting the guard she held up, crumbling. Hopper held her head, wanting her to let out all her pain. Melissa stained his shirt using her tears.

" it's not fair. Why can't he.. he love me. What did I do wrong. Is it .. my fault? Was I not enough of a daughter for h..him?".

Jim, stern, had shaken his head disagreeing.

" That is not the case, Mills, sweetheart. He is a weak, pathetic, person that prays on the vulnerable. Don't cry, those tears, for him of all people." How much of a fool does she feel for letting Jim hopper see her crying. Tears were a weakness, Lonnie considered them.

Jim is her safe place, to let it all out.

Thumb below her chin hopper strokes a finger over her reddening cheek bone. " You are worth every ounce of love, Melissa Byers." He planted a light feathered kiss on her hair-line.

" It's heading to night. There are not many hours to go until it's dark. Let's head back, before I get in real trouble with your mother."

JASMINE SPEAKS;

It got real ugly there for a second. If it wasn't for Hopper, Lonnie could have inflicted some real harm on Melissa. How did you feel seeing him get his ass whooped? It was a struggle to write those specific lines and scenes as I had my own triggered feelings about it.

What are you, as readers, thinking of when it comes to hop and Milly?

Leave your thoughts on it. I'm appreciative of every single person that does.

®️ Written by jasmine. 2024