Hopper gets in the driver side this time, and angrily turns the key in the ignition. The engine roars to life, and he pulls out onto the road as I lean my sore head against the window.

"That was a stupid move, kid." Hopper breaks the silence, "Disobeying a cop, stealing a vehicle. You could go to Juvenile, do you understand?"

I don't say anything, just look out the window at the passing trees and shift uncomfortably in my handcuffs.

"I said do you understand!?" He shouts and the man next to him puts a hand on his arm.

"She's a kid, Jim," He says softly.

"That's my point!" Hopper says angrily, "She's a stupid kid who's gonna grow up to be a criminal! Look at her face, John! Can you tell me what happened to her?"

"She crashed the cruiser," John says uncertainly.

"No, more than half of that was there before the crash." Jim breaths heavily and looks into my wide eyes through the rearview mirror, "No, her face looked like that when I first saw her. What do you think happened?"

John doesn't answer, so I help him out, "I fell down the stairs."

"You fell down the stairs?" The Chief repeats in disbelief, "You fell down the stairs!?!"

I nod weakly, "Yeah, I wasn't watching where I was going."

"No. I'm not an idiot," He nods to my face, "why don't you tell me what really happened to you?"

I look at my lap, trying to think of an excuse.

"You got problems at home, kid?" Jim finally asks and I look out the window.

"No." My answer is short.

"You're lying." His answer is short too.

"Who did this to you, huh?" Jim licks his upper lip and focuses on the road again. "Your dad, mom, a sibling-"

"No," I say, "No one did this to me. I got mugged, so get your nose out of my business."

The Chief shakes his head, looking into my warning eyes and frustratingly pulling into a parking lot. I look out the window and see the police station. That's when I realize just how deep of shit I am really in. I suck in a breath and Hopper peers at me, smug at my frightened expression.

"Good, you're scared." He parks the car and I shift.

"Not of you." I want to say 'of someone else', but decide against it as Hopper scans my face for emotion. After a while, he gets out of the car and comes over to my side, shoving open my door. He roughly grabs my shoulder and drags me from the car, not bothering to let me get to my feet as he begins walking. My legs flail behind me, and I try to stabalize them, but the bounding of my hands makes it hard to balance. I eventually stagger to my feet as the Chief drags me through the doors and throws me into a chair. I look up at him with wide eyes, and he crosses his arms, standing over me with authority. I'll admit that he is intimidating, but I wouldn't say it to his face.

"Do you have anyone to call?" He asks, and I look up through my eyelashes at his hard face.

"Absolutely not." The words are out of my mouth before I realize the impact that they cause. Hopper raises an eyebrow, and I know I've comfirmed his suspicions.

"I mean, I just don't know my phone number." I try to save it, but he doesn't look convinced. Suddenly he grabs my jacket and pulls me up, turning me around and fiddling with my handcuffs. They come undone and I rub my wrists, which have red rings around them. I feel a tugging at my neck, and whip around.

"Relax, kid." Hopper shakes his head, "Your tag has a number on it."

My heart sinks, "Uh that's not my phone number. It's just um, it's...."

He raises his eyebrow as I search for an answer.

"It's my friend's...my friend's jacket."

"Oh yeah?" He leans forward, "You know lying to a police officer is also a crime."

"I'm not lying," I say firmly.

"What's your name?" He asks and I don't think about it.

"Mandy Jefferson." My lie is good, but he is better.

"Oh really?" He reaches around the corner and pulls out my backpack, taking a few papers from my front pouch.

"Liz Harrington." He reads my math homework, and my English, and my Science.

"The same name," He grabs the back of my jacket and pulls on the tag, "Written right here."

I sigh, not answering.

"That's three crimes in one hour." He says, chucking my backpack at my chest, "You're not doing so good. I have enough evidence to lock you up, got that?"

I nod.

"Sit down." He points to a chair that sits in front of a desk. I obey, plunking down and placing my hands in my lap. Hopper sits in the chair opposite me, picking up a phone on his desk and motioning for my jacket. I give it to him and he dials in the number, making me hold my breath.

"Yes is this Mr. Harrington?" Hopper throws my jacket back to me and my heart races.

"This is Chief Jim Hopper. I'm here with your daughter, who's had a little encounter with the law....Mhm...She stole a police car and drove it...Yup, for sure. We're just at the station if you'll get someone to pick her up...okay....sounds great.....all right.....bye now."

He hangs up the phone, and I'm clutching the edge of the desk for support. My breathing quickens, and I begin to hyperventalate.

"Kid?" I hear his voice in the distance and I force myself to come back around. I take my hands off the desk and slow my breathing, looking up into the cop's eyes.

"Could I get an icepack?" I say hoarsley and he nods, standing up and rushing into the other room. The minute he leaves the room, I stand up. I grab my backpack and rush out the doors, throwing on my jacket as I go.

I begin running, glancing back to see Hopper burst through the doors, holding an icepack.

"Hey!"

I turn around and urge my legs to go faster, away from the police station. I run until my foot catches on a crack in the road and sends me to the ground.

Of course. Of course my clumsiness kicks in now of all times.

Hopper catches up to me then, and I don't bother to struggle as I lay in a panicked heap, thinking about what will happen to me when I get home. I'm picked up gruffly by the collar, and taken back inside. My futile attempts of escape leave him to handcuff me to the chair, and I hold in my tears.

Hopper sighs too, looking at my defeated expression as I sit with my head down. My hair hangs over my face and I sigh.

"Your brother's here," The Chief finally says, and I clue into the sound of an engine turning off. Soon enough, Steve walks through the doors, taking one look at me and putting on a fake concerned expression.

"Awe Liz, we were worried sick!" He walks over as Jim narrows his eyes. "What happened to your face? Are you okay?"

"I fell down the stairs," I say bluntly, staring into his eyes. "I'm sorry to worry you, I don't know what got into me."

"Stealing a police car?" Steve shakes his head solemnly as Hopper unlocks my handcuff, "That's not like you, Lizzie. Dad's waiting for you to get home, he's been waiting all day."

My expression flickers to horror, as I understand what Steve is implying. I quickly try to mask the fear, but I know the Chief didn't miss it.

"I hope he's not too worried." My voice cracks, and I stand up quickly. I know that Hopper noticed my change in personailty, it wasn't subtle. But nevertheless, he watches me go, Steve taking my arm and pulling me from the station. He opens the door for me, and I climb into his car, locking eyes with Hopper once again. He seems angry, but I'm not sure why. Even as Steve drives away, I watch through the mirror as he frowns after our car.

My thoughts are interrupted by Steve's hysterical laughter, "Oh you're in deep shit now, Liz."

I glance at him and then back out the window, feeling nauseous.

"You are in for a fun night." Steve laughs mirthlessly again, "Stealing a police car and driving it? What the hell were you thinking? I can't wait to see your face in the morning, Liz. Oh, I can't wait."

We arrive at our house soon enough, and I quickly get out, slamming the door. Turning to the house, I see my father standing on the porch, one step from the open door as he watches me. I feel my heart beat pick up, and I begin walking up to the house. My legs feel like lead as I slowly go up the stairs. My dad smiles sickly at me, stepping out of the way so I can walk into the house. Steve stifles a laugh behind me, and follows with a skip in his step.

The minute the door closes and I take off my school bag, I feel someone grab my ponytail and drag me into the living room. My dad throws me down and I roll across the floor, getting up quickly.

"You piece of shit!" He shouts, "What were you thinking? Stealing a police car!"

He pushes me backwards, and I lose my footing, crashing to the ground. I see Steve watching from the doorway, taking a bite out of an apple and waving.

I'm about to speak, but the man before me kicks my face, a yelp escaping my lips as I lay against the wall. He grabs my shirt and picks me up off the ground, slamming me against the wall. I gasp for air, but he gives me no time to breath as he throws me into the back of the couch. I roll over it and onto the coffee table, banging my head.

"Dad!" I gasp as he stalks towards me, grabbing my jacket again and pulling me off the table. I gasp for more air, trying to catch my breath and coughing up blood. He picks me up and slams me into the wall, yet again.

"So you're a criminal now, is that it?" He spits at me, "HAVE I RAISED A CRIMINAL?!?"

I still haven't caught my breath, and him enclosing a hand around my throat doesn't help. My gaze catches over his shoulder, and I see Steve, biting his apple as my dad leans closer to my face.

"ANSWER ME, GIRL!" He yells and I feel tears slide down my cheeks.

"Steve." I croak, my voice weak and mangled, "Help...please."

My dad growls and flips me to the ground, climbing over me and punching me in the face. Once, twice. I feel my consciousness slipping away, but I still hear Steve's voice.

"That's enough, dad," He says nonchalantly, "She's learnt her lesson. We don't want a murder on our hands."

The punching stops, and I lay limply on the ground, sobbing and gasping for air.

My dad stands up, running a hand down his face, "Yeah, that would be bad."

He looks down at me and laughs, "Look at her face."

He grabs my wrist and twists it quickly, making me scream in sudden pain. Then he walks away, bumping Steve into the wall as he leaves. I heave up and down, clutching my twisted wrist and letting the tears fall. Steve walks over and scoops me off the ground.

"Come on, shitbag, let's get you cleaned up." He takes me into the bathroom and places me on the counter. I slip in and out of consciousness as he wraps my wrist and washes my face. I gasp in pain a few times, and he shushes me, calling me a piece of shit over and over. Despite he harsh words, his tone holds no malice and instead almost sounds like he's comforting me. Finally it's done, and I jerk with agony on the cold counter.

"You owe me one, all right dipshit?" And he walks away, out of the bathroom and away from me. I sigh, trying to ignore the pain as I close my eyes and embrace sleep.

AUTHOR'S NOTE~~~~~

Aloha my friends.

An action packed chapter. Here you really get to see Hopper and Liz's relationship. There's some violence, I'll agree, but that's the last you'll see of her dad so it gets better. Remember to inform me of any spelling or stuff like that. If you have any suggestions for the book feel free to tell me in the comments and I'll most likely consider them.

My question today is: What's your favourite thing about Liz and do you have any requests for her in the future?

Aloha again!