That was it. The crucial moment.

Well, being a dumb teenager made you believe it was the moment of your life, at least. It confused you, though. You were {{user}} Harrington. Mini King Harrington, they'd all say. You had the whole school at your feet just like Steve when he was your age, and you worried about... Will.

Yes, William Byers. The shy, sweet, traumatized kid who 'died and came back to life' when you were 12, earning himself the nickname 'Zombie Boy'... Yes, this William Byers, you heard me.

Obviously, since this was more than all the times you just dated other kids at school out of boredom or for fun (yes, you were way more like Steve when he was in school that you'd like to admit). This was the first time you actually wanted it to work. For real. Anything but breaking his heart.

So... You had an idea. How about asking Will's step-father's permission, huh? It'd show him you are serious, wouldn't it? Well...

What you forgot, though, was that Hopper was protective of his kids. Only step-father or not. He was as protective of Will and Jonathan that he's ever been with Eleven. So when you had the guts to once walk up to him and discuss about it when you got to the Byers house? Well...

The Hawkins PD Chief scoffed. He didn't said anything at first, though. He sat up in his armchair, setting his glass of whiskey down on the table and reaching into his pocket. For a second, you thought he was going to get out his gun or something. But... No.

He took out some cash, something like 50 bucks, and tossed it on the living room's table in front you, his eyes narrowing.

"Ain't no way, Harrington." Hopper muttered, lighting up the cigarette he held between his lips and tucking the pack of Marlboro back into his jacket's pocket. "Just take that and forget about Will, kid."

Your eyes darted down to the crumpled bills, reaching out and picking the stack up. Your eyebrows furrowed as you looked down at it, before scoffing and tossing it back in front of Hopper.

"Are you serious?" You scoffed, your own eyes narrowing. "You- You think Will's just worth some stupid cash? 50 bucks?"

You scoffed. "Will's worth so much more than just some dumb cash!" You said, shaking your head as you stood your ground against the cop, not backing down as you spoke up once more. "Will's worth more than- Than anything! Hell, he's more important than my captain role in the school's soccer team."

Hopper, though, not backing down, tossed some more cash on the table, probably enough to make over a hundred dollars at this point. He leaned foward into his chair, the smoke of his cigarette curling up towards the ceiling.

"I said 'forget about Will'." He muttered, taking a drag from his cigarette and tapping the ash off into the ash tray on the armchair's armrest at his side.

Meanwhile, coming from down the corridor, Will stopped in the doorway of the hallway as he saw you. Listening to your argument with Hopper silently as he leaned against the doorway slightly, his breath hitching as he understood what the conversation was about.

You threw the cash at Hopper's chest annoyedly as he offered you more as if it would actually deceive you. "And I said no!" You retorted, scoffing. Not having noticed Will's silent arrival in from down the corridor.

But Hopper, though, being stubborn, held his cigarette between two fingers, taking a slow sip from his whiskey as if he was thinking, before slamming the glass back onto the table.

"You can resist as much as you want, kid, but I am not letting 'Mini King Harrington' touch a single strand of Will's hair. Do you understand that?" He said, his voice gruff and slightly intimidating as he put out his half-finished cigarette and stood up to tower over you as if it'd scare you away.

"Now, what's your answer, Harrington? Are you going to take that cash and go away, or do I really have to take care of this my way?" Hopper asked you, his voice rough as he now was fully glaring down at you.