__________
-UNKEPT-
PROMISES

When Valentina Alma was transitioning into going to high school, she always feared that it would be what the movies made it out to be. So when the first day came, she was weary walking down the halls. She wanted to be wrong about the sassy queen-bee of the school and unfortunately, she fell right in the trap of it all.

The first week, Valentina was sitting alone at one of the lunch tables, where the queen-bee, Carol Perkins, called her out for sitting by herself. She then earned the nickname, The Loner, but it was gradually getting easier as time went on.

Growing up, she always found an interest in investigating cases that had gone cold. A few years ago, she received a bulletin board to be able to help with putting all the information up, essentially a guide.

One time in the newspaper, there was an ad for volunteers needed at the police station, this sparking interest in Valentina. So she gained courage and was chosen for the role.

It felt like yesterday, helping the late Chief Jim Hopper, with the case of Will Byers, then it led to an investigation of rotten pumpkins in a patch, and even Jane Ives.

The summer of 85', is when everything went to hell from there.

It was an unusual cloudy morning, the news was on, announcing the mall had been on fire, but then he was pronounced dead.

Hopper was someone that Valentina got along with quickly. Both started to build a bond, creating a father-daughter duo like no other. One that you could consider better than the one she had with Armando.

The chief even told her about his daughter, Sarah. A close bond, that got torn apart so suddenly.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Valentina? Is that you?"  A familiar voice rang through her ears. Furrowing her eyebrows, where she then met the gaze of someone who looked completely different from when she last saw them.

Shaking her head in disbelief. Tears slowly fell down her white-flushed cheeks. "No, yo-you died! You're dead! You're not real." She looked around, the monster was no longer there. Instead she was in a place with all red things.

The familiar voice laughed. "Kiddo, this is real. Well not really, we're in your dream. But listen, I don't know how I'm here, I just want to let you know I'm okay. Everything's okay and I'll find my way back to you and maybe we can go mini-golfing like we were supposed to."

Hopper.

It really was Hopper. But how could it be?

Hastily running to him, to give him a hug, it was as if he turned into dust.

"Hopper? Hopper?"

He was gone. There was no one in the place of all red things besides her and a grandfather clock floating in the air.

Muffled talking sounded in the distance. "Vale! Hija!"

Valentina gasped in cold sweat, her hands touching her face to make sure she was real.

Sighing in relief, but not before, "What the hell was that?" Marco.

A whoosh sound, sounded through the room. "Ow, Ma! It had to be the chancla this time."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Thousands of miles away, laid a buzzed-cut prisoner, who just woke up from a nap. He was alone, in the freezing cold cell where the guard had only given him one thin thermo-blanket.

Ever since he arrived, he was treated poorly, it wasn't an exception that he was an American, being treated the same way as all the other prisoners.

Jim Hopper is a strong man, mentally and physically, having gone through his own trauma. From his daughter Sarah, to the beginning of the troubles of Hawkins, and the non-stop beating he received in Russia.

Although, one of the guards was nice enough to try and find him a way out.

When Hopper first met Enzo, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. In reality, Enzo just saw Hopper as someone who shouldn't have been caught up in the mess in America. They were both stubborn to not stop fighting for what they wanted, which in the end, is what made them get along sooner than later.

After forming a small bond, Hopper told the guard about Valentina and how she was like a daughter to him.

Rubbing his forehead, Hopper sat up from the cot, looking around the room in utter confusion. "The hell?"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

A couple hours had gone by, and Armando was almost done with setting out the plates with food.

Valentina's family had spent quite a lot of time trying to comfort her after she woke up. From the other room, her muffled screams turned into horrific cries for help. Bursting through the door, Christina had tried everything to wake up her daughter, but to no avail, nothing worked.

As the family was now sitting at the dining table, passing around the plates in complete silence.

Clearing her throat, Valentina then made the attempt to talk for the first time in the past twelve hours. "So, I was thinking we could leave at nine to go to the video store."

Her father was chewing, but stopped in the midst of her sentence. Squinting his eyes, "Valentina, I don't know if I want you going anywhere after what happened. We still haven't talked about what your nightmare was about either."

Groaning in frustration and tilting her head back, "Dad, I'll be fine. It's too early, how about we talk about it after I get back from the video store?"

Christina and Armando looked at each other, silently agreeing. "Fine. But I'm just letting you know, after I drop you off, I'll just be in the area, and make sure everything's okay."

Nodding her head with a smile. "Deal."

Ruffling her brother's hair, she headed to the kitchen to put the plate in the sink, then headed to her room.

This gave her time to think. To think about how lately it just felt like she was in a mental doom. Feeling left alone, even though she had Ms. Kelly to talk to. Even though she barely talked to anyone at school, except for the few 'friends' she had, she knew she was a burden. And sometimes couldn't help, but feel what it would be like to swap places with someone she misses the most.

She was now sitting on her bed, with a sketchbook in hand. Staring at the next blank page, where she started sketching the place of all red things with the clock.

A clock chiming sounded off in the distance.

Shaking her head, snapping out of her daze, she paused the current song that was playing on her Walkman.

Getting up, she walked towards the window, after hearing a car engine sound coming from the driveway. Furrowing her eyebrows when she saw a familiar car. And a few seconds later there was a knock on the front door.

No commotion was heard until a few minutes later, muffled voices sounded throughout the living room. Where soft footsteps landed behind Valentina's door.

"Valentina? There's someone here to pick you up!"
Walking towards the living room, confused as to whoever would pick her up.

Her friends were off doing their own thing, together. While she would be stuck at home for the next week, doing nothing, but be bored.

When she got to the living room, her parents were whispering to a figure, while Marco was sitting on the sofa, wiggling his eyebrows.

Whispering to Marco, questioning him as to who it was.

Her voice caused her parents to turn around with a small smile, before moving aside to reveal who stood in front of them.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The only thing that was heard was the quieted sound of the radio. While both, Valentina and Steve, kept stealing glances from each other.

Steve had decided to pick her up during the slowest time of the day. After he had knocked on the door, both Armando and Christina welcomed him in with open arms.

Having a small chat with him, meanwhile Marco was sitting on the sofa, grinning like a maniac.

After a while, Valentina had been in her own world staring at her backpack that laid in between her legs on the passenger floor.

Steve had been calling her name, trying to get her out of her daze. "Did God take you away for a second?" Raising his eyebrow in amusement, as he pulled into the parking lot.

"Good one, Harrington. Unfortunately not, but maybe next time." Chuckling at the response, Steve couldn't help, but wonder what she was thinking about.

Both heading into the store, making the bell ring as they entered. Robin had just got done checking out a customer with her unenthusiastic smile. When it then turned into a genuine one as she saw the two enter.

"Mr. and Mrs. Harrington have arrived!" cheerfully joking.

Steve gave Robin a glare.

"I'm just kidding, dingus. Obviously I was kidding, but maybe it was about time to start up your Operation Stealthy Ninja again. Like you always say, 'a happy Steve, makes the sadness leave.' Even though I think it's all a complete distraction from what's right in front of you," then quickly glancing towards Valentina.

That was when all bickering let loose.

Not knowing exactly what to do, Valentina decided against interrupting and browsed through the action movies.

The two in the front were engrossed in their comedic chitchat for as long as she can remember.

Huffing and stomping towards the counter, "I appreciate you guys fighting over me. If I knew it'd cause this much trouble, I wouldn't have bothered to come here."

Her voice was enough to stop the duo, where they slowly turned their heads, just then remembering that she was there. "Jesus. You two are worse than my brother and I."

With her mouth closed, Robin attempted to ask her co-worker, "You think she and Dustin would get along?"

Having the same stance as Robin, Steve closed his mouth and responded, "Yeah most definitely."

They both flinched when she outbursts, "Look I don't why you wanted me here, I could've spent my day wallowing at home in peace. Didn't you want to ask me questions, Robin?"

Biting her lip, Robin nodded her head.

But before she could say anything, the bell rang again.

"Welcome to Family Vid- Dustin. Mayfield. To what do I owe this visit?" Steve greeted the two teenagers.

"Turn on the t, " trying to catch his breath, he then repeats, "Turn on the t.v."

Since Robin was the closest, she grabbed the remote and turned it on to see the breaking news. "Holy"

"Shit," Valentina finished off. On the screen, showed a fresh murder mystery of the infamous, Chrissy Cunningham, which took place at a trailer park a few miles away from Valentina's house. She'd admit that Hawkins had always been quiet, never did she ever hear more than hoot from an owl.

Although years prior, the missing case of Barbara Holland did seem a bit mysterious for her liking, until she let it go when they announced she was found. Days later, the community had a funeral for her.

"I think I should head home, my parents will lose their shit if I'm out much longer. Robin it's been a pleasure and Steve thanks for the ride," Valentina concluded, while heading out the door.

The group of four stayed in their positions giving each other glances.

Steve gulped and started going after her.

Looking left to right, Steve then spotted Valentina who was already across the street about to get into the passenger seat of the car.

Yelling to get her attention, stumbling on his own two feet, "Valentina, hey! Wait up."

Bending over with his hands on his legs, he attempted to catch his breath, "Jesus, I swear I've been working out," he took a few seconds, then started speaking, "Do you think you could come back later or I could also pick you up?"

Pursing her lips, Valentina contemplated, "I don't know. I've been out," she paused, "in the open more than I've wanted this morning, for today, and even the rest of the week. I kind of just want to stay home and be depressed alone."

She received an incredulous look from Steve. "I-we need you in whatever is about to happen. It's a risk that you're going to have to take, believe me. And from what I've heard you're pretty badass when it comes to solving cases, Nancy Drew."

Huffing, Valentina gave in, "Fine, but you're going to have to ask," she pointed at the driver of the unusual tinted windowed black car.

Shaking his head in disbelief, "Y-yeah. Yeah! Of course," shifting his head to where Armando Alma would be able to see him, "Hey, Mr. A! Could uh- your lovely daughter stay for a few more hours, heard she's a great detective and case-solver," he ended with a blush on his face.

Armando's thick accent heard, "Steve, why of course she can. God knows she needs some more friends in this area. Take care of her and say how're your parents holding up?"

Steve's eyes widened while shifting his gaze to Valentina, smiling hesitantly, "They're still being Harringtons. You know us, strong-headed."

Laughing falsely, Valentina grabbed Steve's hand walking back to the video store, "Bye! See you soon!"

"We're still going to talk about earlier, hija!" Armando called out before the two could get any further.

Valentina only held a thumbs up gesture in return, when her dad began to drive away.

Hitting Steve's chest, Valentina wondered, "What the hell are you two on about?"

"Ow."

- holy shiz balls, after a million
years, i finished this chapter

- my last week of school is this week! woop!
woop!

edit one 03/11/2024:
- re-reading some parts made
me cringe