something_incredible | (no subject)

At least once a week, Hopper makes an effort to check up on Steve. Sometimes it's just a text, mostly to make sure he's still around and still alive, but he tries to head over to his apartment every so often, too. Because a text is one thing and he's glad he'd figured out how to use his phone to make that happen, but it's easy to lie through a text.

Hopper's seen Steve Harrington black and blue more than a few times. If he wants to make sure that shit isn't happening here, he has to go see it for himself.

And it's not like it's a real hardship. Steve's the only other person here from Hawkins, the only other person here who really knows about the shit that went down back there. He's the only person who really knows what Eleven can do. Whatever it else that means, there's a connection there and Hopper owes it to the both of them -- plus Steve's parents -- to make sure he gets through this whole weird city without much trouble.

So he heads over. It's a week night, he figures that's the best way to do it, because Steve's less likely to have some social thing to go to. Hopper doesn't have much of those himself, he either hangs out with Beverly or somehow convinces Lucy to go on another date with him or drinks alone in the apartment he's been given. Nothing quite so sad tonight, not when he shows up at Steve's building and presses the buzzer for his apartment.

"C'mon, kid," he mutters. "Don't tell me you're this popular."

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"I don't think so," says Steve, shrugging. "It was nearly over at home, anyway, and I had no idea what I was going to do after it. I've got a job. I'm training as a mechanic. What do I need a diploma for? My dad's not here to make me work for him. No-one's pressuring me to go to college. I guess...Yeah. I don't see the point."

"I know I'm not your parents, but I gotta say, kid, I think that's a stupid decision," Hopper said honestly. Maybe he doesn't want to go to college now and Hopper sure as hell isn't going to tell him he should, but he might find he wants to later. Or he might want to upgrade whatever he's learning as a mechanic and Hopper knows in this more modern time they've found themselves living in, a lot of those things require a high school diploma.

"Just sayin', if you find you want to do something that needs it five years from now, it's gonna be harder to go back than if you just finish it now."

"Yeah, well, maybe," admits Steve, shoving one hand back through his hair. "But I've looked into it and it looks like I could study for my GED and just take it here, without having to actually go to classes? So I was thinking about doing that this summer, so at least I've got it, you know? It's more the thought of sitting in classes that I can't stand."

"It's something," Hopper agrees. He doesn't see any problem with the GED, just as long as Steve has something. There's no good reason not to do it. Even if he did have to go to class, Hopper's of the mind it'd be a lot better for him in the long run.

"I just think you might regret it," he says. "If you don't do it at all."