Chapter Text
They say every story starts with a moment. A moment of time that matters, one that will build into an action scene and with that a crazy turn of events that makes the story that is a life. Nancy Wheeler with her hair done up, her nails carefully balanced hadn’t quite had that moment yet. Not yet.
Living in a town with less people in it than some blocks in cities meant for very little moments such as these. Though, with her hair blowing ever so in the wind it felt like it was waving her goodbye as she made her way out. Nancy’s eyes are careful to take everything in, the cars around her transforming from the familiar to newer designs.
There was the bleeding of her town life to nothing.
Even in Hawkwins there wasn’t this much openness, not unless you went out to some of the paddocks in the back of the town. However, she notes with a fond smile that belongs to no one but herself. The paddocks had many of the familiar kids in the town. Of her brothers few friends rode their bikes up and down when there were no judgemental eyes around.
The road felt endless, leading her to her moment in time surely. The aircon in her car was in a failed attempt switched to heat in setting. With her departure from her home came the ending of the year. Stories even for a small town like Hawkins seemed to take months of planning.
Funding surely was a nightmare to pull, yet they did it. Well maybe the company didn’t but it was done by someone. She was truly grateful, she was. The lack of funds truly showed in her borrowed car, the one she owned in the possession of her brat of a brother.
Thinking of this with a fond smile her fingers gently trace the seat he was sitting in an hour prior to help her organize her gps system. This car was okay for what she needed, really she wasn’t even going to be driving all that much at all. Though she had a bit of worry about breaking down on the way there she knew once she got into the city she would be okay the rest of the way.
In the back of her mind she notes the way her dad had given her the card of a mechanic he knew there already al be it a little less than warmly.
There was little warmth in her car at the moment, which led to the short girl’s shivering. Hand moving around the cupholders it takes her a bit of effort to lift her Caffè Americano from it and bring it to her mouth.
It was an instantly warming sensation.The strong taste of it an instant layering of heat into her stomach. With the insistence of no sugar added it helped her open her eyes just a bit wider. Her chest expands just a bit wider as she takes in a deeper breath.
Was she like this then? In her first meeting, it was hard to remember at all with the way her heart was racing that she was accepted into her first solo job officially. Ones she didn’t accidentally stumble into and offer assistance. Well, regardless of the truth of her words this was an assignment where the credit was hers, that she could shape.
Moving the drink back into the console ever so carefully she looks ever so briefly to the small trinket in the middle of the car.
-----
It’s a cool sweltering day when she’s walking into her ever familiar office. The few people who walk past the doorway offer her smiles and waves. It’s easy to say hi, it’s even easy for the young woman to greet everyone by names as for the most part she has known them also since she was born.
Though the heat keeps most out, the sound of the local ice cream truck is like a beacon drawing the sweat glazed town outside even for a few moments. Wiping her own brow she is looking up at where she works. Today wasn’t really a working for her, but when she got a call asking her to come in she got her shoes on before she could think twice.
Since finishing highschool she had applied to university. But well, through one thing or another she was here. She hadn’t left this town. And that was okay.
Staying here had meant her family, her current job at the paper in town. It had meant her boyfriend. It was here standing in front of her job like any other day that had made her effort feel worthwhile.
Looking at her watch she notes that there was still a couple minutes left before they had asked her to come in. Hand on the handle she is pushing it in quickly, her body without her even aware of it drawn to the aircon and in before she realizes it herself.
“And here I thought I would be able to sneak down to the truck”
A voice rings. Hiding her shock Nancy is turning her head in said direction. The man, her boss, is dressed quite smartly. A typical outfit choice for him she notes really. Though the pink poking from his black pants appear to have teddy bears on them instead of hearts today covering his feet.
“Patrick, I thought you would be in the office” Nancy says cooly, wiping away some more of the sweat that was still on her brow.
That was the good thing about the heat in Hawkins; the thing about this town in general it was quite good at ringing you out and leaving you that way even when you got to shelter. Still, after the few wipes came with no sweat or trace of so it was like anything. It stopped after a while.
“I don’t believe the office holds the ice cream. Well, maybe we can sneak some in when Carol is on her lunch break” he replies with an easily charming smile on his aging face.
“But you aren’t here to hear about ice cream. In my office we go” he continues, his back quick to face Nancy.
Nodding just for herself really they both trail the office. The sound of keyboards fill the room as they trek through the carperted jungle. None look up, but as the brunette sneaks glances at the faces she can’t ignore their smiles very easily.
It was less scary than the first time she walked down this way, her lack of an internship badge she once held made her feel like she wasn’t holding a bullseye anymore. However the tired energy of the place seemed to have slipped into the usual afternoon mood it would seem.
“Lot’s to do, lot’s to do,” her boss sang.
There was surely excitement bubbling in her chest as she looked at him.
There was barely a moment she was standing in the office, him guiding her not with his hands but a look into the spare chair for guests. For that she was grateful, sometimes people seemed to feel a bit too handsy when they got excited it would seem.
Even without the overstated display of emotions she had to admit she was quite fond too of the upcoming possible news.
“Is there anything I can do to help you?” Nancy asked, not meek but ratherly confident in tone.
Her boss, with an ever so happy look on his face, is sitting back on his chair. He doesn’t seem to be scared of falling back first on the ground as he leans so. With his arms leaning on either hand rest he is rather comfortable.
“It took a while, but when i plan i plan well you know Miss Wheeler '' he says ever so coolly. It wasn’t a lie she supposed, he had been piling over these documents.
“Did we get approved for the permission—and the funding?” Nancy asks ever so carefully.
It wasn’t to interrupt him—rather she knew he was about to get lost into a rant he would not be able to escape from.
It doesn’t make him frown-not really stir from his chair as if he was ready to ask any questions like that.
“What we wanted and more” he proudly said to his younger worker.
They hadn’t asked for much, the proposal was quite modest for a regular newspaper company. But for a company of their size she supposed it was quite the lump and hope.
In the moment she couldn’t tell you if he said anything else more, if she said anything else more. Heart in her throat all that is around her, is inside of her is the racketing noise in her heart blocking everything else.
-----
It takes her several empty sips to realize that the brew within her cup had finished it a turn ago. However embarrassed at her lack of focus she craves the caffeine hit more than she feels the shame. It was for the better that she had more focus on the dry road ahead of her instead of her cup after all.
Around her car are a few more buildings, it would seem when she was lost in thought she had come across a town. It was a bit older than the end destination she had in mind but it was close enough to where she was driving to she supposed.
Around her car, on the side walks families were pouring from various shops of different kinds. It was upon seeing a young girl eating a toasted sandwich on the go that the brunette’s stomach growled, reminding her of a distant breakfast that lay more in the bin than in her stomach.
Looking around the side of the road it would seem to her luck this seemed to be the time of day more people were leaving than entering which left her with the view of pulling out cars and trucks. Waiting just a moment she got the parking spot she had hoped would come out. In front of a smaller cafe, which to her seemed nostalgically familiar she parked her car and settled herself.
Brushing some of the hair from her face she looked around to make sure she could recognise where she had parked the car. With everything going on her mind felt like it was racing somehow faster than her heart. So many of her thoughts felt like they were simply slipping through her fingers before she could properly have them at all.
With a small breath to steady herself she is walking out, locking the car behind her she is tugging at her bag to be just under her arm as she walks. The path is mostly clear, the people she saw trailing out either in a shop now or in their car heading away. Even then, the street felt lively and lived in.
Finger tracing the handle of the aging doorknob it takes Nancy a moment to open the door. There was no particular reason why, there was just a heaviness in her gut for a split moment before it left like it was never there to begin with.
Entering the cafe most people were either eating or simply sitting and talking with their group. There were only a couple other people milling about the front so it took little time at all for the young woman to be at the front of the line and being served.
“What can I get for you?” the young lady in the cafe’s apron asked her kindly enough.
Eyes trailing the menu it was silly to look but for some reason Nancy thought she would anyway.
“Caffè Americano” Nancy asks politely with a soft smile. “Oh, with a grilled tomato and ham sandwich please”.
The sounds of the young lady before her writing can be heard with the faint etches making up most of the noise for a moment. Eyes wandering behind her Nancy pauses for just a moment.
That jacket, the hair and the overall presence of a person makes her stop for a moment. The mullet seems a bit longer than she had ever seen it. Though time did make things change somewhat she supposed. Lightly biting at her lip Nancy doesn’t know if the urge to run to or from was stronger.
“Was that card or cash?”
“Huh,” Nancy said confused looking back.
Realizing once their eyes met yet again Nancy once again remembered her coffee order which was not quite yet finished.
Oh.
“Card is fine that you” Nancy amends pulling her card out of her pocket towards the card machine in front of her.
There is a small beep, and an offer to eat in which is given a thank you but she was fine with takeaway. The small bit of paper with her order number is soon in her hands and she is directed to the left side of the counter to wait for her order.
Holding the order in her hand she does only look forward for some time. However, it was hard to resist looking back. The man was still there drinking his coffee without a person near his side. Tracing her eyes on what little of his features she could really see it was hard to tell.
Though soon enough he is looking over to the board and with his green eyes she is once again looking towards the order collecting booth.
Okay.
A moment later her name is being called and her order is on display for her to collect. The hot drinking is startling for her to hold for just a moment but it passes quickly. Gathering her bagged sandwich she makes her way out of the door without a look back.
(Only two, one second glances back).
-----
Quickly finishing off her grilled sandwich seemed like a task and a half as she glanced down at her watch. Though she knew the drive to the station from here wasn’t instant, she didn’t expect the line of ducks she had waited for on the road to happen.
At least it wasn’t too hot, she thought as she was taking a bite between mouthfuls of her drink. It was better to go into the station with more energy than she needed. But still, it didn’t help that her nerves made swallowing a bit harder than usual. As she was taking a bit of her sandwich she hears the notification of a text from her phone.
From: Jonathan
Hey Nance,
Hope your drive is good so far. Me and Will are wishing you the best.
Call tonight?
With a small smile she replies with a thank you and a maybe. Though it would be nice enough to call, she wasn’t really sure just how long she would be staying at the station tonight for the opening day. Well tomorrow was the official opening day, but the introductions she would make today would be important for tomorrow as well.
Putting her phone in her pocket she doesn’t think much of the fact that she put the noticaitions of silent.
The station in front of her is much larger than the one in Hawkins. The modern design of the building with the bigger space making it hard to believe they were both the same type of building existing in the same era of time.
Wiping away at her mouth more time again she just makes sure she truly doesn’t have anything on her face before she walks into the building. Finding her parking spot is easy, as the day turns darker and the moon is threatening to come out it isn’t too hard to find a spot. With the badge she has she quickly is slipping it to be visible on her car.
This was the moment it really started. Not when she was packing her clothes, not when she was with her boss in the office talking. It was now, and as she quickly grabbed her note book and slipped her laptop bag over her shoulder she was almost scared.
The excitement playing in her stomach made it hard to think of it all as fear though. The energy pulsing in her veins made her feel like it was clear about what she was really feeling.
The brief chill she feels as she leaves her car is just great motivation to get to the visitor entry way to the station ever so faster. The run is a bit of a blur as she avoids getting into people’s ways as they make their way to their own cars.
The automatic doors don’t give her a moment to think as they are opening in front of her. Eyes trailing around the inside it is quite amazing to behold.
“Wheeler, Nancy wheeler right?” A voice says in front of her.
In uniform the young man has a wide and eager smile. With slicked back red hair the freckles on top are quite charming. In uniform he is holding an envelope on his hip.
“Hmm, was it Jack?” she asks in reply hand on her hip.
“Common, I’ll show you the crew room” he answers easily with a laugh.
Nodding with an amused move of her eyebrow she trails behind taking in as much of the station as she can. The man in front of her is tall, at least a head taller. She has to make an extra effort in keeping up pace with the man.
Though soon enough without question they make it to the room in question. It has lockers, and from the bit of the room next to it she can see a kitchen. There are only a few people in the room she supposes the rest of them are elsewhere.
“Do you want something to drink?” Jack asks her, handing the file as he does so.
Nodding she doesn’t say much as she brings the file to her side.
“Yes, please” she does eventually end up saying.
Giving a thumbs up he is going into the next room.
“Hey Harrington” she hears this and looks up with wide eyes. “If you wanna miss being involved at least do it on the road’.
“Hey, if I do it here I get free coffee” the voice jokes back and all Nancy can do is sit there with wide eyes.