CURS IN THE WEEDS

PROLOGUE

NOVEMBER 1963

The small town of Hawkins was unusually quiet for a Saturday evening. Families joined together to enjoy quality time together playing board games and enjoying the treat of pizza from the local pizzeria. The roads were all but scarce of vehicles, and a low mist sat heavily upon the quaint town. Though it was still early evening, with a few hours still left before the sun bid goodbye to the town for another day, night impatiently waited for its turn to engulf it.

The only sound that could be heard was the hollering coming from the parking lot behind the bowling alley.

"Seven strikes!" Jim Hopper, aged eighteen, hollered. "Seven! I forgot how good you were!"

Caroline Browne blushed profusely at his comment, before she playfully bowed. She chuckled as they walked alongside each other to the vehicle. "I did learn from the best," she said, tipping her head towards him.

"And I regret teaching you now," he said with a wink. "I don't think I'll be able to show my face around these parts again."

"I don't think you can," Caroline smirked. "We'll have a rematch next weekend. I'll let you win."

"Fighting talk already, huh?" Jim replied. "You're on, Miss Browne… wait, I can't do next week… I'm, uh… meeting Diane's parents."

Jim could not see the disappointment and sadness on Caroline's face for she bowed her head at the mere mention of his girlfriend's name. It was only when they reached the vehicle and Jim looked over at her and noticed that she had quietened. He could not put his finger on why his best friend had fallen silent but before he could question it, she met his gaze and offered him a smile.

"That's… nice," she replied awkwardly. "Big step, huh?"

Jim narrowed his eyes at her and found himself nodding. "You bet. I'm nervous as hell. She thinks it's time."

"And you don't?"

"Honestly?" Jim asked, to which Caroline nodded. "No."

Caroline chewed on her lip and nervously rubbed the back of her neck. "It'll be good for you. Maybe."

"You think it's time to meet her parents?" Jim asked, his eyes searching hers. He knew he could always go to her for honest advice. They'd been best friends ever since they could understand what friendship was, and they had both been each other's support system throughout school. As they grew older, it seemed as though their friendship matured even more. There was a mutual respect, with Jim being the protective friend thanks to his growth spurt one summer three years ago, and Caroline's empathy.

"I can't really say, Hopper," Caroline shrugged. "If it feels right then go for it."

Jim nodded, though he was still unsure. He didn't want to disappoint Diane by telling her he was scared that their relationship was quickly becoming serious. He hadn't expected the relationship to come to anything other than a hook up at a party. Diane was a nice girl who wanted to know more about him and would ask him questions about himself, even though he hated talking about himself and his feelings. But she was a great person and he enjoyed her company. He noticed the change in dynamic with his friendship with Caroline since he began dating Diane. Every waking moment, if he wasn't at school with her, would be spent with Diane, and his friendship with Caroline was beginning to suffer. With the pressures of school, and looking for colleges, it seemed as though neither had time for each other.

"We'll go the weekend after?" Jim asked, his heart hoping she would agree to his offer. "I'll pay."

Caroline watched him for a few moments before nodding. "I'll hold you to it," she winked in response.

They pulled open the doors and slid into the vehicle. Caroline shivered at the coldness of the weather, as Jim started the engine. He reversed out of the empty parking lot and began to drive on the empty streets. Neither one of them spoke for a while. It wasn't that neither of them didn't know what to say, but rather in fact they didn't know how to say it. So, they remained silent and watched the road ahead. Caroline bit her lip and turned to Jim who, feeling the shift in her attention move to him, glanced over at her.

"I've been accepted into college," Caroline began, her voice less excited than she had anticipated. She watched Jim swallow the lump in his throat before he breathed out deeply.

"Wow," Jim replied, in shock. "Wow… where?"

"New York," she answered. Caroline never expected how hard it would be to tell him. She had memorised the acceptance letter and could repeat it word for word, the excitement within her causing her to run through the house. And when she thought about being accepted into college and finally leaving the small town of Hawkins, she didn't realise just how hard it was to tell him. Her parents were ecstatic, but the one person whose reaction meant the most to her was Jim's.

"Wow," Jim repeated. "You're getting out of this place then, huh?"

"I am," Caroline whispered. "Are you happy for me?"

Jim was silent for a moment, and it was that moment of silence that had answered her question.

"Yeah," Jim said. "I am… I really am. I'm happy for you, sweet."

The rest of the journey was filled with silence. As he vehicle came to a stop outside her house. They both sat in silence for a moment, before Caroline turned to Jim. She observed his broody expression, the clenched jaw, the narrowed eyes. He moved his attention to her and offered her a sad smile. Caroline felt sadness grip her heart and felt the burning in her throat. Her eyes filled with tears.

"Hey," Jim started. "Why… why are you crying?"

She wiped her eyes and let out a sob. "It's all real now," she whispered.

"But you're getting out of this place," Jim replied. "That's something, right? You're one of the lucky ones, Caro."

"But I'm leaving you," Caroline whispered, her voice breaking and failing her.

"No, you ain't," he replied. "You're stuck with me. I've told you before. I ain't going anywhere."

Caroline smiled sadly. "Do you think things will be different between us if I go?"

Jim reached for her hand at that moment, and placed her hand, palm upwards, in his. He placed his hand next to hers where a jagged scar stretched across both of their hands. He gently pressed the scar on her palm, and then pressed his.

"Nothing will change, I promise," Jim replied honestly. "You know too much."

Caroline chuckled sadly, and wiped her tears with her free hand.

"You feel sad, stressed, or you're just bored," Jim began. "I'll be right there."

"You promise?" Caroline whispered, to which Jim nodded. "I love you, Hopper."

Her words filled the vehicle, and her heart jolted with panic. Her feelings towards Jim had never once been mentioned or spoken about. She had been too scared to admit her feelings for him; she had hoped they would dissipate with time, but it seemed that every moment they spent together only confirmed her feelings for him. But she couldn't tell him; she had too much respect for him and Diane. And she was scared to tell him just in case it scared him away from being friends with her.

"I mean… uh," Caroline said quickly.

"I love you too, Caro," Jim said, his voice deep and honest.

"I should go," Caroline whispered. "I told my mom I'd be home by six."

"Yeah, okay," Jim replied.

Caroline exited the vehicle and shut the door behind her. She quickly walked around the vehicle and onto the sidewalk. She waved him goodbye and began to turn towards her house. The sound of a car door shutting behind her caused her to turn slightly, as Jim closed the gap between them. He was breathing heavy and his eyes were intense. She stared up at him and it was then that she understood the trueness of both their words. It hadn't been a slip of the tongue. It hadn't been a mistake.

They loved each other. They were young and naïve, but they understood their feelings for each other meant more than just friends.

As he bent down and brushed his lips gently against hers, it felt like the world had exploded around them. And in that moment, everything made sense.

The kiss came to a natural end, and Caroline shyly hid her blushed cheeks into his clothed chest. A chuckle escaped Jim, and he gently lifted her face to him. And though it was unspoken, he understood what he had to do. And that was to tell Diane how he truly felt.

As Jim Hopper drove away with the touch of her lips still upon his, he didn't realise that it would be the last time he would ever see Caroline Browne for she would disappear as night fell upon the quaint town of Hawkins.