A few uneventful days later -
Much like many other nights, you crashed in your car in a deserted parking lot off of a soccer field that was barely ever used. It had been the one successful place so far where the police didn't check on you or tell you, you had to move your vehicle.
You couldn't wait for the day where you'd happily sleep in a warm, cozy bed.. instead of nearly breaking every bone in your body every night and damaging your nerves from sleeping in strange contorted positions.
Though the location wasn't exactly favourable by any means, it was pretty secluded besides a dirt road that ran behind the parking lot.. deterring on the outskirts of town. It was pitch black always, there were a lot of sounds that had you up all hours of the night but it was better than home.
It's your senior year, anyways.. then you'll be free, well more free than you are now. You are worried, however, about what comes next.. sure you have all these dreams (most with Eddie) but executing those dreams are a different story.
You are hopeful Eddie will graduate this year too, it's been a long time coming. You've done pretty well in school considering, the possibility of colleges looming over you. Still torn about taking some time off after high school or not, at least for now you had half the class load the rest of the year which meant picking up shifts whenever you could.
You stopped in front of the abandoned house again, this time on your own. Just staring, as if you were waiting for something to happen but you weren't sure what that would be.
You knew you saw something and you knew it was boarded up, so how could anyone be inside? Was your mind playing tricks with shadows in the dark, or was someone.. somehow.. living in the attic? That didn't make any sense to you at all, but you hadn't been able to sleep due to it and now it was gnawing at you too. Max was right.. there is something about that house.
"As long as you're in the band-" you watch as your boyfriend Eddie jumps up on one of the school tables, the bandana in his back pocket swaying as he walks" or science or..parties" he continues, walking along the table with a mocking tone as he wiggles his fingers..
His friends seated, looking up at him in amusement. Cupping his hands around his mouth, "or a game where you toss balls into a laundry basket.." he yells out directly to the basketball team, you lean against the wall next to the entrance to the cafeteria, arms crossed with a childlike grin on your face as you watch in disbelief yet awe.
To you and his friends, Eddie was one of the coolest people in the world but to the rest of the school.. you were all some misfits who didn't belong and the students made that very well known. What did they know anyways, it's not like kids here knew what cool was or how to be anything but cookie cutter kids (with few exceptions, of course.). None of it will matter anyways, five years from now.. ten years.
Jason Carver stands up, now talk about cookie cutter kid with his letterman jacket, popular kids table and perfect life. He is quite literally the stereotypical jock and douchebag, how anyone can stand him is beyond me. You still remember when he was a short boy missing every other tooth who peed himself in Mrs. Adams class.
"You want something freak?" He eyes Eddie as he speak, who does he think he is? The big bad wolf. Eddie stuck out his tongue in full length in one swift motion, hands raising to his head to make devil horns as he made some type of hiss. You had to clasp your hand over your mouth to keep yourself from laughing, in all honesty everyone was more scared of people like you and Eddie; the outcasts.. more than you were afraid of them.
Jason shut up real quick, sitting back at his table as if it wasn't worth it while Eddie smiles smugly and walked back across the table to his seat. In moments like this, his hot factor basically had you blushing.
You redirected your attention to the lunch line, most of the food being picked through worthy but it was better than nothing. You grabbed your tray and headed towards the table that sat Eddie and some of your friends, normally you'd sit with Max or just Eddie and some of his band mates / club members. It sucked as most of your friends had graduated the prior year, so there wasn't much left for you at Hawkins High.
Most of the time you'd skip lunch all together as you usually tried to pick up a shift during the morning hours as you rarely had class until after lunch anymore.
"This is going to be my year, I can feel it." You can hear Eddie rave as you start towards the table "86, baby!" He cheers as you smile to yourself
"It better be, I don't want to be visiting my boyfriend in high school," you tease as you approach the table - Dustin and Mike moving down to make room for you on the left side of them "Here we thought you were ditching," Mike spoke up, looking at me with a playful smile
"Please don't — you're kind of the only girl that associates with our group. We need the bragging rights," Dustin chimed in quickly, his adorable childlike grin curling up on his lips "Very funny, I'm not sure I'm the kind of girl that gives you bragging rights." You state, eyeing the popular kids. "Oh like they're any fun," Gareth side eyes the table as Eddie takes his seat beside you at the head of the table, placing a small kiss on your cheek as the group lets out a low "oooo."
You roll your eyes as you pick at your tray "Don't worry, we will soon both be out of here." Eddie smiles softly, responding to your earlier statement. "Quite the show, babe." You noted as Eddie leaned back in his chair approvingly
"Yeah. Except now we are back on Jason's radar." Mike mumbles quietly, sweeping his raven black hair out of his face "What's he going to do? Give us some more nasty looks, call us names?" Eddie scoffs to himself, twisting a ring on his index finger "Nothing that hasn't been done before boys," Eddie states,
"Y/N, are you sure you want to be seen sitting at the table with me? Haven't you heard - I'm a freak," Eddie joked but you knew those words stung him. It's not like any of us WANTED to be outcasts. You role your eyes, placing your hand on his that's on the table "You forget you're also dating a freak."You wink towards him as he catches you off guard, pressing his lips firmly against yours.
"ugh gross." Mike and the boys groan, minus Dustin who says "I don't know, I think it's kinda cute." You can't help but laugh with Eddie's lips against yours, hearing Dustin continue to be the light in the group.
Dustin was easy to gravitate towards, being the kind of funny that doesn't get noticed or praised enough and always being kind, even to people he really didn't have to be. Above that though, he just had this warmth about him "Susie's really got to you huh," you laugh, jabbing his side gently with your elbow "What can I say, I'm a changed man." he revels, that same silly smile and the narrow slit eyes from his lips curling upwards.
Eddie and his friends had a d campaign to play which typically took place in the school theatre. He had told you that he was meeting up with Chrissy after work.. for a deal. Yeah yeah, typical rebellious boyfriend selling drugs trope, whatever. It helped his uncle out and brought in some money for them.
You couldn't understand why Chrissy of all people though, she was the queen of Hawkins high, as people would often note. Eddie and her paths never really crossed, strangely enough there was about a year or two in middle school where you and Chrissy were practically joint at the hip. She was almost an outcast herself... then she got popular. There was no fight or argument, no big disagreement between you two. You just both kind of drifted apart, she drifted closer to the popular "cool" kids while you remained an outsider. Sticking with those who were "weird" or "unusual" to others.
You understood, everyone wants to fit in and Chrissy wanted that more than anything, it just always struck a cord with you every time you thought about it. Reflecting on how close the two of you use to be and how quickly that changed, you missed her sometimes.
But why Chrissy would want to meet up with Eddie is what perplexed you, she wasn't the get high type. They had barely ever interacted before, though you knew Eddie had a crush on her back in middle school. Chrissy would moan about how he wouldn't fit her image, they have nothing in common and she was always pining after Jason Carver - which worked out for her in the end. Who would of guessed you'd be the one to end up with Eddie.
You weren't sure if you should be concerned for her or not, maybe it was a rebellious streak during her senior year.. maybe it was for her boyfriend or one of his friends. Either way, you told Eddie to make sure everything was alright and tell her you said hi. You weren't exactly over the moon about him selling weed to her but at the same time, you'd occasionally buy off him and smoke with him so who were you to judge.
"Something weird is going on, not normal weird either." Max huffs out as you both open the school doors, the bell ringing as the day ends "There's a normal weird?" You lean your head to the side with knitted brows, turning to her as you stop at the bottom of the steps "Other world weird," Max nearly whispers as she readjusts her backpack strap.
You both move out of the way of the stairs and to the side of the school "That's all done, it's over." you reassured Max with a hand on her shoulder.. she watched as the other high-school kids left the school one by one "I don't know.. these nightmares and how Chrissy was acting in the bathroom. Plus she was crying leaving the school counsellors office and now.. she's meeting with Eddie - your Eddie. Eddie "the freak" Munson.." Max continues to go on in a rant as you hold up a hand for her to stop
"Okay, you don't need to list all the things people call him." You raise your brows as Max looks back at you with a nod, letting out a quiet laugh "Sorry.. it's just a weird mix." She spoke slowly, as if she was trying to piece together a puzzle in her mind. Beginning to play with her hair that was in a low ponytail, you hang your head to the side
"it's senior year for her, trust me.. the stress is unimaginable. Maybe she needs to relax a little, I don't know. I don't have all the answers, I'm confused by it myself" you admit with a defeated shrug of your shoulders.
You straighten yourself out as you see Eddie waltz out of the school like he owned the place "What are you two girls up to tonight? Party? Hmm.. maybe a sleepover?" Eddie raises his brows up in down as he joins you and Maxine, you smack his arm with a shake of your head as he covers his mouth in fake shock
"Wouldn't you like to know," Max quipped, looking up at Eddie through a smug expression "Me-OW. Looks like someone's found her sassy pants." Eddie teased,
Max and him weren't exactly close. They just kind of put up with each other, they have potential to be friends but both are just so snarky. "You're ridiculous," you laugh to yourself as Eddie's eyes widen in delight, an evil smile taking his face "No, no this would be evil," he started, throwing you for a loop as he grabbed you and threw you over his shoulder so your upper body was hanging over his back.
You squeal in shock and kick your legs as Eddie starts parading you around on his shoulder, you gently beat on his back as he chuckles in amusement "What's that? Something wrong Y/N?" He grips onto your legs further as you stop flailing around and succumb to his antics "Alright, no more kisses for you." You tease as you hear a loud, offended scoff escape his lips "You would never," he sounded actually worried that you would do that.
"Hey, Y/N. How's it hanging?" Dustin bends down behind Eddie to look up at you, giving you extreme vertigo. His face so joyous that he looks like a kid on Christmas "Oh you know, just hanging around." You chuckle as Eddie puts you back on your feet, holding you by one shoulder while Maxine holds you by the other.
"Talk about blood rush-" you bring your hands to the side of your head, closing your eyes tightly for a brief second "Sorry baby," Eddie muses, his lips intertwining with yours "I knew you couldn't stop yourself from kissing me." He bragged as he moved his hands to your hips, your eyes flashed open then slowly narrowed
"Your lips are just so -" you talk in a mocking baby voice as you squish his cheeks together, causing his lips to pucker. "Not on school grounds, Mr. Munson." You hear Mr. Mundys voice ridicule, the uptight math teacher who has an issue with everyone but always has it out for you and Eddie in particular. You watch as Mr.Mandy turns his back and Eddie slowly raises his hands and flips up his middle fingers "Asshole," he mutters.
"Hate to ask but mind giving me a ride home?" Dustin turns to you in question, putting on his best winning smile. You nod with a small shrug, "I'm going over to my house before Max's anyways, it's on the way.." you say yes with out actually saying yes.
"Ooh can I join the fun?" Dustin perks up as you, Eddie and Max all glare at him "I love you like a brother but you're not going to my girls house." Eddie flicks the top of Dustin's hat causing Dustin to look up "Not like that - you know what. Never mind. I never get to do anything fun around here," Dustin mopes "Don't you have to get home and talk to Susie?" Max crosses her arms, challenging Dustin.. he raises a finger in argument then slowly drops it, nodding repeatedly "Touché."
After saying your goodbyes to Eddie which always somehow end up drawn out, by his doing.. you drive down the all too familiar roads of Hawkins "So are you guys coming to the D tournament?" Dustin leans forward from the backseat, hand on each seat
"Hey uh you're kind of missing a head rest" Dustin points out in confusion, picking up the head rest from the floor and looking at it as if it was a mysterious object "I have to and.. don't ask." You brush off his laugh question, sharing laughter with Max once again.
Dustin shrugs and tosses the headrest to the side as you pull up to his house, "I don't think I will, not really my thing." Max says quietly as she looks back at Dustin.
D was never really your thing either, You tried to get into it but just didn't have the passion unlike the hellfire club; thanks to Eddie. You loved sharing his excitement and enthusiasm though, how he'd light up when raving about it or playing it. It was extremely important to him so of course that meant it was extremely important to you too.
"Thanks for the ride, I owe you." Dustin says as he gets out of the car, "This is like the tenth ride," you point out with a laugh "I owe you plenty," Dustin grins as he shuts the back door and waves bye to you and Max as you drive off.
"So.. that house.." you trail off, trying not to be so obvious about your new found curiosity with it and the figure you saw "You know.. strangely enough, after we stopped there.. I didn't have a nightmare for the first time in a long time." Max admits slowly, a freeing smile taking over her face and her once dull ocean blue eyes finding new life. "That's good right? Maybe the nightmares are over."
You tried to seem hopeful, positive but now you were the one who had a deep, gnawing feeling that this in fact.. wasn't the end.
"How'd it go with Mrs.Kelly?" You ask as you rummage around in your room, a note left on the coffee table by your mom saying she would be "with a friend" for a few nights but you knew what that really meant. A source of money by unconventional means and a multi day, sometimes a multi week binge. But at least you didn't have to deal with her
"Fine, I guess." Max avoided the topic as she sat on your bed, flattening out your royal purple comforter that had navy blue stripes all over it. "that's a start," you mention, rifling through your closet for a pair of clothes and Pyjamas.. usually you had a to go bag ready and packed but you've been bouncing from place to place so long and barely ever at home that you haven't exactly had time to organize one. At least now with your mom gone for a few days, you could organize your clothes.. do laundry.. breathe.
"Do you think Jason knows?" Max continues the previous topic that you thought was finally put to rest "About?" You question as you pull out a sleeveless iron maiden shirt from a pile of clothes, "Chrissy and.. whatever is going on with her," she speaks as though her question was obvious "I don't know," you let out an exasperated sigh "Maybe?" you question, unsure.
Among the clothes in your closet, you happen upon a lost treasure. A wrap around snake bracelet your dad had got you when you were thirteen. You hold it close to your chest with a smile "God, I thought I lost this." You say to yourself before putting it on your wrist "Do you ever think about what happened?" Max questions quietly "With my dad? Yeah, everyday." You match her volume, "It's always in the back of my mind." A frown dances across your face before you quickly change the mood "Okay, all packed."
Your dad wasn't a topic you liked to discuss often unless it had to do with the good times, which were often.. unlike with your mom. That's really where she started falling off the path, you had different ways of coping.. rebelling being one of them.
That day.. what you saw, it played on loop in your mind for years so you started finding things to soften the memories, the noise. Sometimes that was music, sometimes movies.. whatever you could find and over time it got quieter but it would still always be there.
Sitting on Max's couch, you pass her the popcorn as you're both cuddled up under a blanket together watching misfits of science. One thing you both had in common was that both your moms had drinking problems, though your mom had a multitude of other issues tied in.. it made you feel normal, not alone.. understood and you knew Maxine felt the same way.
Luckily tonight was a quiet night and her mom was already asleep, it was just hoping she stayed asleep. You spent more time here then at home anyways, it was like one of your many homes.
You get up to head to the washroom, flipping on the light as you look at yourself in the mirror before reaching into your bag and pulling out an old tee that use to be your brothers (whose away at college in a different state, lucky him) and cotton pyjama shorts.
Changing slowly and stuffing the clothes you had been wearing into your bag, "No way," you hear Max gasp in confusion as you exit the washroom "What?" You question confused, flipping off the light switch and rounding the corner to see max kneeling on the couch and looking out through the blinds.
She rushed to shut them and sit back in her spot like she was oblivious to your question "Oh um-" she begins, averting your gaze "You know that lady whose always yelling out that 'the end is upon us' and she can save us all? Yeah she's back at it." Max spun a lie which you knew wasn't the truth, you knew she was something but you were walking on a fine line with her and if this had anything to do with that house, her nightmares or whatever was going on with her.. you didn't want to press further.
Nodding slowly you sit back on the couch as she hands you the other half of the blanket, the TV starting to cut out and static flashing in and out. Not unusual for these TV's at all, until you looked up at the lamps that were flickering "You're seeing that too right?" Max questioned in concern as the lights continued to flicker "Yeah..." you spoke slowly, that wasn't that normal.
A bone chilling scream sent you and Max on your feet, nearly holding each other for safety. The familiar sound of Eddie's vehicle starting rattled through Max's trailer as you ran for the door and swung it open.
Watching Eddie hightail it out of the trailer park like his life depended on it, you looked from max to Eddie's trailer - back to Eddie's van "EDDIE!" You scream out at the top of your lungs, but his van continues into the darkness of the night