Chapter 2

"Well, fuck."

"I told you." Eddie said crotched down tossing rocks into an old tin can. Eddie had just told Chuck everything that'd happened to last few days.

"You started doing drugs, haven't you?"

"What? I'm not being delusional." Eddie stood up.

"Not just dealing with my brother, but actually doing the drugs." Chuck ignored Eddie's protest. "Damn it, Eddie. What happened to you?"

"I'm not on drugs, Chuck." Eddie stated.

"You used to be a good kid. When we were younger, best friends, you, your band, were going to make something out of yourselves."

"I'm not on drugs, Charlotte." Eddie repeated more harshly.

Chuck was pacing back in forth. "You and Chrissy took something and you freaked out."

"You think I killed her?" Eddie stepped towards Chuck.

"I know you Eddie. Whatever happened wasn't your fault. The cops will understand. You can't keep hiding, it's going to make it worse."

"The cops? The Hawkins Indiana PD is going to understand? After all you and your brother went through with your mom's disappearance and your dad's death, you still think they are going to understand?"

"Fuck, you're right."

"Dustin and all of them told me this has to do with something involving that kid, Will, and his disappearance a few years ago."

"What?" Chuck stopped and turned to Eddie. "Will Byers? The kid that went missing the same week my dad died? You think it's connected somehow?"

Eddie sighed, "I don't know. Maybe, or maybe your dad really did just…" Eddie paused. He knew the subject was sensitive.

"Just what, Eddie?" She stepped closer to him in rage. "Just killed himself and left Rick and I here to struggle, to suffer? You knew my dad better than that. He was good to you when your parents were locked up. Watched over you when your uncle had to work."

"Sorry." Eddie looked at Chuck apologetically. "Wait, what's that on your hairline?"

Eddie reached up to Chuck's hairline to examine a wound.

"Ouch?" Chuck proclaimed. She swatted Eddie's hand away but he just sent it back up, pushing some of her dark hair out of the way.

"I think you did that when you busted through the door."

"I think YOU did it when you tackled me to the ground. It'll be fine. It's already drying up."

"How'd you not notice a large cut on your forehead for the last 20 minutes?"

"I was distracted…"

"Do I distract you, Miss Lipton?" Eddie gave her a smile, teasing her like he used to. His callused thumb slid down her temple and gently tucked her hair behind her ear. He? Distract Chuck? It was always the other way around. For a moment, as he cupped the side of her face he examined his friends face taking in the familiarity of her features. After the shit day he had, her face was the last thing he thought he'd ever see again. It gave him comfort yet torment seeing her again.

"Distracted," Chuck continued stepping away from his touch, "by another one of your crazy stories."

"Not a story, sweetheart. Wish it was, though." Eddie swallowed hard.

"Eddie. What's going on with you?"

Eddie backed away from her and swung around, walking back to the front window of the shed. "8 months, Chucky." He accused "You've been gone 8 months. They weren't too bad. We all missed you, of course… I missed you."

"Eddie." Chuck sighed.

"I know. I know. 'You're my best friend. It's so cliché.'" Eddie mocked her. "That's what you said the last time I saw you." He turned back to Chuck. "Romance is just a big cliché, though. Isn't it?"

"You don't like me Eddie. It's just what you knew. What you were comfortable with. What you thought you needed. But I'm not what you need."

"I loved you, Lipton. Since the 4th grade, I've loved you." Eddie chuckles "And I finally get the courage to confess that feeling and you disappear for 8 months".

"You knew my plan after graduation. I asked you to come with me! To go and have adventures together. To get away from this hellhole. But you wanted your diploma."

"I wanted to finish something."

"You wanted to say 'fuck you' to all those people who didn't think you'd accomplish anything. And I understood! But who gives a fuck about those people."

"Trust me, I know. Look where I am now." Eddie kneeled down and cuffed his face in his hands.

Chuck sighed. It was the same conversation they had 8 months ago as she packed her backpack. She had to change the subject. There were more pressing issues to deal with than their feelings for one another. Feelings she still didn't understand herself.

"Okay. So you didn't kill Chrissy. This Vecna dude did? And it's related to everything that happened the last few years." Chuck laughed. "I knew it. I fucking knew this town was cursed."

"I always thought you were a little batty to believe in all that crap. Hell. Most of the town thought you were crazy, but they were wrong." Eddie crossed his arms. "Batshit Betty."

"Don't call me that." Chuck huffed.

"Wasn't very clever. You looked nothing like Betty Cooper after you dyed your hair." Eddie stood up.

"God, is that where they got the Betty? Dumbasses."

"Looks good, by the way." Eddie said gesturing to Chuck's black hair. "But I'll always prefer the blond."

Chuck gave Eddie a small side smile and rolled her eyes. He always knew how to flatter people. Her naturally blond hair had been coated in black dye the day she left. Chuck grabbed the tip of her long braided hair. She didn't want to be the girl Hawkins knew. She wanted to leave it all behind.

A car door slammed outside startling them both. Eddie ducked and peaked out the shed window. "Shit. Shit."

"Who the hell is here now?" Chuck asked as she began to walk to the door.

Eddie grabbed her hand and pulled her down next to him. "What are you doing? They'll see you."

"Eddie, I'm not wanted like you, and this is my house."

"Wait. Just, wait." Eddie whispered. "Does anymore know you're back in town?"

"No, why?"

"Then why is someone stopping by the house? Who are they trying to find? Everyone knows your brother and I are friends. They are probably here because they think I'm here."

"I'll get rid of them." Chuck started to stand but Eddie pulled her back down.

"No. Wait. Fuck, I was probably spotted when I went into the house."

"So you were the one that made the mess. You know, I…"

Eddie interrupted Chuck "That's not important. If they find out you're back and hiding me, you'll be in serious shit, too."

"Then why'd you come here?" Chuck asked angrily.

"Because I thought you were gone!" Eddie quietly bitched. He crawled to grab the radio a few feet away.

"Hey Dustin, you there? It's Eddie. You remember me, right?" Eddie looked at Chuck and huffed. "Hey, if anyone's there, I really think I might be in a bit of trouble here. Okay? Wheeler?" He hits the radio in frustration "Anybody?!"

"You think they are going to look in here?" Chuck questioned.

Eddie thought for a second before pulling Chuck up and towards the boat. "I hope not, but let's not stick around to find out. Get in."

Chuck climbed into the boat, pushing junk out to make room. "It's getting dark, maybe they won't see us on the water."

Eddie jumps in the boat and turns to the engine. "You got any oars?"

"Just the one." Chuck pulled the only oar they had from the boat floor.

Slowly, the pair paddled on the lake trying to be a quiet as they could.

"Hey freak!" They turned to see Jason "Where do you think you're going?

"Fuck"

"Shit." Eddie jumped up to the engine and tried starting it. "Come on!"

The engine sputtered. "Come on you piece of shit."

"It probably won't start. Hasn't started in years." Chuck expected.

"God damn it." Eddie grabbed the oar and started rowing again.

"Eddie, their getting closer", Chuck yelled over the splashing.

"I'm doing my best, Chuck! Shit." Eddie huffed as he rowed harder. He looked back and saw Jason had caught up to them. "Shit!"

He stood and with the oar in hand swung it at Jason "Stay back!"

Jason turned to his friend as he reached the boat.

"Patrick?"

"Where'd he go? He was just there?" Chuck asked Eddie.

Neither one of them moved, searching the water with their eyes. The water was still besides Jason's splashing to stay above water. Suddenly, Patrick flew out of the water and hovered some 10 feet from the surface.

"What the fuck!" Chuck screamed as Eddie tripped backwards sending them both into the water.

The dark water surrounded them. For a moment Chuck couldn't tell where the surface was. Then Eddie grabbed onto her t-shirt and guided her up.

She gasped for the warm air when it hit her face. But that air was lost when she looked to see Patrick's arms and legs bending in ways they shouldn't. "What the fuck!" She screamed, letting some water enter her mouth. She choked as she felt Eddie's hands wrap around her waist.

"We got to go!" They both swam as fast as they could to the shoreline. When she was able to feel the ground beneath her feet, she ran. She and Eddie pushed as hard as they could through the water to get away from whatever had just happened. Eddie was right behind her, pushing on her back to make sure she didn't slow down. Chuck didn't look back. She couldn't look back. What did she just see? "What the fuck did I just see?!" She screamed back to Eddie.

"Just keep going!" He screamed back.

Disclaimer: I own nothing used here from the Stranger Things Universe. I only own the OC of this story and the story line that differ from the previously mentioned source.