The buzzing of the lights gives you an instant headache as you all watch it flicker, eyes darting around the basement as you hear the sound of music playing. Slowly you walk towards an old radio that has begun playing Dream a Little Dream of me, reaching out your hand cautiously as your shoulders are grabbed from behind.
"Uh uh, no no no, no!" Eddie pulls you backwards away from the radio "You do not touch the creepy radio which is playing creepy music!" He's on edge, practically yelling as you catch Max's eyes who has if not, even more fear than Eddie striking through out them.
The light returns to normal and the radio shuts off, leaving you all in an eerie silence "Well that's new," Steve shifts in his spot as Max bows her head "No.. no you see. Well minus the creepy music, lights flickering.. not new." Eddie was laughing like a maniac, "Nothing happened this time.."
Max looked around the room slowly, "At least nothing happened here.." you trail off as you look up at Eddie "Okay, I've officially run out of guesses. What the hell is going on?" Robin leans forward on the couch, demanding answers.
A lit cigarette hangs out of Eddie's mouth as he takes a breath, "Chrissy and I met in the woods off school property, she wanted to buy some weed off me.." he trailed off, bringing two fingers to his lips and taking the cigarette between them "if that wasn't strange enough.. she asked for something stronger." Eddie's brows furrowed as he looked onwards at nothing, seemingly racking his brain for answers
"Thing is I don't really carry the harder stuff around, I'm not looking to be busted.. again." He trails off before taking a drag Fromm his cigarette and releasing a cloud of smoke "So you went to your trailer," you realized slowly.
You knew he had drugs of various kinds, You just never really brought it up besides the weed. It was his things, his deals or his business if that's what you want to call it. You tried to restrict the information you took in, you didn't need that on your record either. More than there already was, at least.
Eddie mods quickly, his chocolate brown eyes now glossy "That's why I saw the two of you there," the puzzle was starting to add up for Max, Eddie puts his cigarette out in a half empty soda can before rising to his feet "Wait you saw us?" He looked from you to Max,
"yeah, then the lights flickered.. you screamed and.." Max started slowly "You took off." You finished her sentence, another twinge of sadness smacking you in the face "My first thought was to find you, I don't know why I forgot you were at Max's. Fight or flight kicked in.." Eddie rambled on, trying to rationalize it himself
"Hey you know when I'm stressed, or panicked.. whatever. I have this habit on rambling so much I end up digging myself multiple holes I can't climb out of, " Robin starts to ramble, her hands raising and lowering as if she was weighing imaginary objects.
"Right.." Eddie breathed out, a forced smile taking his face "Anyways-" he side eyes Robin as he starts to pace "I went looking for my stash and when I came back out Chrissy was.."
"Was what?" Dustin's voice was loud, urgent "Sorry," he mumbled. "Her eyes were rolled back, she wouldn't respond.. move.. look at me." Eddie said in thought, the chain on his pants rattling as he continued to pace.
"Then the lights started flickering and she was-" Eddie motioned his hand upwards slowly "tall?" Steve's brows knitted in confusion as you rolled your eyes "Yes, yes she was tall." Eddie stated dumb founded, "NO! She was floating," he snapped.
"That makes more sense," Steve quietly muttered to himself as Robin snickered, "And there was no one else around? Nothing you could see?" You ask in confusion, sitting on the arm of the couch and your foot shaking rapidly
"Nothing I could see.. touch.." Eddie began twisting the rings on his fingers one by one "Then.. her bones.." he was holding his breath as he spoke, biting down on his lower lip "They started breaking, one by one.." the words were spread out as he spoke, now looking up at the ceiling to avoid everyone's gaze.
"Jesus Christ," Dustin clasped his hands together, "Her eyes were gone, man. Like something was pulling them from the inside," Eddie's foot tapped on the floor violently, chewing on his index finger which you knew to be something he did when he was really, really on edge.
"Something had to be there right, something you couldn't see.. teen girls aren't just becoming Regan from the exorcist." Robin looked down the couch as she was at the very end, looking from Dustin to Steve to Max and finally to you
Eddie pointed at Robin almost excitedly "That's exactly what it was like," Max stood up, walking over to the radio that had previously turned on by itself "What if.. it wasn't because he couldn't see them but because whatever it was.. wasn't in our Hawkins.." Max turned around slowly, a look of discomfort on her porcelain skin.
"The upside down," you breathe out, "The what now?" Eddie waited for an explanation in confusion "It's another Hawkins under ours, just filled with.. monsters? Creatures?" Dustin struggled for the right word "Like.. ghosts and shit?" Eddie's brows knitted
"You know it would be a lot easier if it was ghosts," Steve added "Why couldn't it just be ghosts." He groans to himself.
"Worse.. much worse and their world bleeds into ours. Or bled.. I guess now bleeds again if it is coming from there." Dustin brought his fingers to his temples as he spoke "Where else would it be coming from?" Max crosses her arms over her chest,
"Is there anything else you remember?" Dustin asks, "Well.. when she was up in the air it was like she was in a trance or under a curse." Eddie said in thought, "Vecnas' curse," Dustin said in a holy shit type moment but you weren't following. "Vecna?" Steve asks, skeptical.
"An Undead creature if great power." Dustin says slowly, "a spell caster," he adds "A dark wizard." Eddie meets Dustin's eyes as he speaks.
"Why Chrissy though," you shook your head in confusion, "That.. I don't know." Dustin admits with a huff "Guys I hate to break it to you but if the whole lights flickering thing happened when - whatever it was - killed Chrissy.. then the lights flickering and radio playing a minute ago wasn't a coincidence." Robin spoke confidently,
"Shit. Shit!" Eddie raged, his hand in a tight fist as he beat an invisible object "Now we just need to figure out what this thing is," you begin "What it wants," Max adds "Why it's killing teens.." Steve chimes in "And how the hell we are going to prove Eddie's innocent." Dustin quips. "You forgot the most important part, how to stop it." Robin stated.
"You guys can't hide here forever, Eddie's names going to be everywhere." Dustin reminded you and Eddie as the gang got ready to leave "It's good enough for now, there's not many places to hide in Hawkins." You point out, unless you were all trying to hide Eddie in the woods which would be the one plan to ruin all.
"Maybe one of us should stay behind, just in case.." Robin motions outward, Max, Dustin and Robin all look at Steve as he firmly shakes his head left and right, wagging his pointer finger to match "No, no way," he puts his foot down "Yeah sorry Harrington but there's about a thousand other people I rather hide out with." Eddie smirked,
"It makes the most sense," Dustin admitted in Robins defence "Robin, Dustin and I can do research.. we'd fall under the radar. We are all basically nobodies anyways," Max points out as Dustin looks at her smugly "Thanks," he scoffs.
"Alright fine - but I'm not sleeping in that creepy ass basement!" Steve warns as you sigh to yourself, this was not what you had in mind.
Eddie and Steve always had unspoken issues, sometimes.. on the rare occasion, it was spoken. Steve didn't like Eddie as that's when you two fell out the most and he couldn't understand why, out of all people, you'd go for Eddie. Eddie couldn't understand why you were friends with someone like Steve when you were a social outcast yourself and you thought, deep down, Eddie may be a little weary of how close you and Steve were in the past.
Dustin had given you one of the walkie talkies to use as a means of communication while Robin, Max and Dustin tried to figure out what was going on. Right now, you, Eddie and Steve were all just sitting ducks. It wasn't the most fun but there was no way you were leaving Eddie's side, no way in hell.
Steve flops down on the living room couch, having previously moved the various cans, bottles and junk from your mom "Guessing I'm sleeping here?" Steve mutters "That or my moms room," you extend the offer, knowing he would never take it.
"How about - I take your room, you and Eddie take the couch." He smiles tightly, "You're not sleeping in my girlfriends room," Eddie approaches Steve slowly, "Hey I could of said her and I sleep in there together," Steve joked but Eddie did not find it funny at all,
Steve backed up into the couch, "You may think you're funny Harrington," Eddie pauses, inching closer to Steve "but you're not." Eddie pushes on Steve's chest, causing him to fall back on the couch "Jeez man it was just a joke," Steve wipes himself off with a look of bewilderment.
"Which part is a joke to you huh -" Eddie's voice raises "Maybe if you weren't so uptight.." Steve gets back on his feet "oh, OH. I'm the uptight one?" Eddie laughs out of irony "What's your issue with me man?" Steve's eyes narrow "Maybe if you weren't constantly fucking with me-"
Their faces are inches apart as you finally stop the mellow drama "BOYS!" You yell, frustrated, exhausted.. every emotion under the sun. Their heads whip around to look at you "You are what I consider to be one of my best friends," you motion to Steve "You are my boyfriend," you motion to Eddie "That's it!" You state loudly,
"Oh so I don't get title of best boyfriend but he gets title of best friend?" Eddie remarks as you nearly growl in frustration. His eyes widen as he raises his hands "Easy tiger,"
"You know what. I'm going to go get us some food, you guys can figure out the issue on your own." Steve waves you guys off as he heads for the door, you frown to yourself.
"That wasn't cool, Eddie." You state in disbelief, his behaviour totally catching you off guard "Yeah well.- sorry, I'm a little on edge here." His tone is filled with attitude as he runs his tongue along his joint, flipping the paper over to seal it. "I get that but he's just trying to help," you try to level with him, leaning back against the wall as you sit next to him on your bed. "I know.. I'm still i,"
Blowing out a puff of smoke, Eddie leans back against the wall with you, placing his hand on your thigh and firmly grasping "I am a dead man," he says in thought, "Not if I can help it." You state, "My mind still feels like it's going to explode," he passes the joint to you
"Mine is still trying to catch up, I was really, really worried about you." You pass the joint back after taking a puff yourself "No matter how much shit I'm in, I couldn't just leave you." He leans his head onto yours "I ran but I ran to you. "
Your fingers intertwine with the hand Eddie has on your thigh "Are you okay?" Your voice is low, you cannot even begin to imagine what Eddie went through.. what he saw. Seeing Chrissy die right in front of him, you could imagine in some sense from your own past but not in the way he described.
His grip tightens around your fingers, "No," he says in realization, everything finally setting in. Nothing was ever going to be the same again.
Burying his face in your hair, you can hear his quiet sobs as your heart breaks for him. You've seen Eddie shed a tear on the rare occasion but his sadness usually translated to anger. You had never seen him like this before though.
"She didn't deserve that, she didn't deserve me leaving her there and taking off." He bowed his head, hands now covering his face "That's why we are going to find the thing that did this and give it what it deserves." You place your hand on his shoulder for comfort.
"You shouldn't even be here, I should of went somewhere else.. what if it's me? What if she died because of me?" Eddie's voice was muffled by his hands "What if it comes after you next - I-I" He begins to stutter and shake, you pull his face into your hands as he slowly lowers his own "I am not leaving you." You say sternly "This thing.. If it wanted you, it would have took you."
He nods slowly, looking so exhausted himself. "I -" you start, the bedroom door swinging open causing you to let out a murderous scream as Eddie instinctively pulled you in to him as he jumped. "Jeez guys. It's just me." Steve scoffs as he holds his hands up in surrender.
Putting the few groceries away that Steve picked up at the grocery store, you had to look back every few seconds to make sure Eddie and Steve weren't killing each other.
"I got to say, it's chaos out there." Steve leans back in his chair at the kitchen table which you weren't exactly sure how it was still standing considering it was about a thousand years old and had not been used in over a decade.
"Great, now I'm going to be named a killer," Eddie pushes around old butts in the ancient ashtray that sits in the middle of the table "Might as well brand me as Eddie the banished," he brings his hand to his face, rubbing his eye.
"I'm uh- sorry about earlier. Tensions are kind of running high, for the record, I don't think you did it." Steve offers Eddie a smile as you smack him upside the head, Giving him the glare of death. Eddie stifles a laughter, "I get it." He states, not offering more or less.
"Why does he hate me so much?" Steve asks as the two of you do dishes together while Eddie showered, "Because he thinks you and I - I don't know. Maybe he thinks you have a thing for me or I for you. Maybe he doesn't understand how a girl and guy can be close yet platonic," you shrug with lame reasoning, scrubbing away all your anger as you violently wash the dishes.
"That's ridiculous, you and I haven't been a thing since middle school." Steve laughs, rolling up his shirt sleeves to begin drying the dishes. You catch him looking at you as you quickly avert your gaze back to the dishes "To Eddie, that wasn't that long ago and before me it's not like he had many relationships." You whispered.
"That shouldn't be my fault-" Steve starts in his defence "I know." You continue to scrub away, rinsing the dishes off after and handing them to Steve "It's not like we still like each other like that.. right?" His question sounds rhetorical in a sense. "Right." You breathe out as your eyes meet his.
The loud bang of the water to the shower turning off makes you look away from Steve, finishing the dishes as fast as possible.
Steve holds your hips to pass by the narrow walking path between the sink and the table, "I thought we spoke about this.." you hear Eddie's voice ring in annoyance from behind you "I was just," Steve began "I'm kidding, Harrington."
Turning around, your brows raise and an approving smile curls up on your lips "That's one of my favourite looks," you point out, seeing Eddie stand before you in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist as you lean against the counter, "Oh I know," Eddie's eyes flash wildly, raising his eyebrows up and down.
He gives a shake of his head like a dog drying off, running both hands through his hair that's falling over his face then flipping his head backwards as his wet hair makes a loud whip sound on his back. His one hand drops to his side while the other holds on to the front of the towel.
If you weren't so exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed and completely done for.. it would so be go time. His tattoos being on full display, the drops of water from his hair running down his chest.. The way he hung his head to the side with a welcoming smirk. He knew what he was doing.
"Do you need a napkin? You're practically drooling." Steve extend his neck, looking at you as your shake yourself from the fantasies that had taken over your mind for a moment.
You throw the dish towel at Steve "So what," you shrug to yourself.
"Jealous?" Eddie hangs his head to the side as you walk over to him, Steve scoffing behind you "You mean disgusted?" He retorted, "Whatever helps you sleep at night, big boy. " Eddie grins as he takes your hand in his, saluting Steve as Eddie's grin grew wider. His arm moving to slouch over your shoulder as the two of you headed for the stairs.
"Here," you toss Eddie a 1984 Van Halen t shirt - his Van Halen t shirt.. which you had borrowed and never gave back. He unfolds it and looks at you in confusion "So that's where it went," he taps his nose then points to you "I washed your clothes in the tub so.. may be a naked night for you." You smile to yourself, not offended by the idea at all.
"Oh yeah running from monsters naked.. just what I need." He shakes his head as you stop at the end of the bed, Eddie makes a come here motion with his finger, your brow raises slightly as you walk over to him.
Eddie is seated at the edge of the bed, towel still around his waist and his curls starting to form as his hair dries. He laces both his hands through yours, bringing one and then the other up to his lips as he places soft kisses on them. He brings your hands to the sides of his neck as he lets go of your hands, by habit you run your fingers up the nape of his neck before you plant them there.
Leaning his head back, he stares up at you with one of the softest expressions you've ever seen "What?" You question quickly "Nothing," he laughs for a moment, Eddie's eyes flash from your eyes to your lips and back to your eyes again
"I'm just so.." he pauses, his hands on your hips tighten "Insanely in love with you." His lips turned upwards, a blissful look set on his face.
"Lucky for you," you breath out "I'm insanely in love with you too or maybe just insane." The last part causes you both to laugh as you lean into Eddie, his hand swiftly running through your hair and pulling you into his lips.
Eddie lays back on the bed, taking you with him as you straddle his sides with your legs. Your fingertips gently dancing around his jaw line as your lips melt with his, this was as normal as it was going to get - you thought to yourself.
Your lips trail over his cheek, down to his jaw and the front of his neck, slowly inching their way across his chest. "Ew ugh-" you hear a groan as your eyes dart up to see Steve standing in the doorway "HARRINGTON- I swear to god!" Eddie shouts in frustration, fists balling up and teeth gritting in annoyance.
"Thought you could use these," Steve tosses a pair of shorts onto the bed, using his hand to cover his eyes "I still had some clean clothes packed from my last trip," he mumbled as you watch him peak through his fingers "Out!" You direct, pointing at the door.
You and Eddie were use to being caught but not by your friends, that was a whole new level of embarrassment.
You roll off Eddie as you both situate yourselves properly on the bed "Fucking guy man," he mutters, placing another soft kiss on his lips "We should sleep anyways — if we can." You say slowly, a yawn escaping your lips.
Eddie pulls you into his side, your head resting on his chest as his arm wraps around you "He's going to get quite the show tomorrow," Eddie yanks off the towel and throws it over the bed "Uh uh, I don't think so," you laugh. Using your thigh to cover up Eddie's cock as you pull the blankets over the both of you. "Good night, princess." Eddie yawns, his eyes fluttering open and closed.
"Guys, Guys!"
"Dustin has some information,"
You can barely open your eyes as Steve's loud voice rings in your ears,"is this a nightmare," you drawl out, "Get up!" Steve yells again, feeling the blanket fly off you "Oh fuck no," you hear Steve yell in disgust.
You sit up with in seconds, looking over at Eddie who is indeed still naked and now fully exposed with morning wood "What did you expect, big boy?" Eddie snickers to himself, his eyes partially open "Fuck.. why. J- ugh." Steve's turned around now, facing the door. "Just meet me downstairs.. dressed.. both of you." He groans "Aye aye, captain" Eddie continues to laugh to himself as he sits up, legs over the side of the bed.
You toss him the Van Halen shirt and the pair of shorts Steve gave him last night "Hes going to have that image in his head forever," you rub the sleep from your eyes "He should of knocked," Eddie continues to chuckle, slipping on the shirt and then the shorts.
"There's no way I'm walking around like this," Eddie complains as he stands up, turning around as you break out into a roar of laughter.
Your hand flying over your mouth to stop yourself from laughing, taken back by seeing Eddie in a light blue pair of short shorts which were nearing nudity territory. The shirt was perfect, but it was his anyways.. the shorts were hilarious.
"Oh they look great," you squeaked out as Eddie's mouth mimicked you. "Alright fine, I'll try to find some of my dads old clothes but first we are finding out what Dustin knows." You give in, standing up to round the bed - making a twirling motion with your finger as Eddie is confused, but obliges. You bring your hand up and land a smack on his ass "You're so going to get it," he warns.
"So bad news first or good news?" Dustin asks "Bad news first, always." Eddie says with a mouthful of honey nut Cheerios, continuing to stuff his face.
"Well another kid died - but they aren't connected to you so now we know it was just wrong place wrong time." Dustin motions outwards "Seems to be the way my life goes," Eddie says in disbelief
"Your name hasn't gone public yet but quite a few people think it was you," Max says quietly "Soon every shallow mind mother will be gunning for you," Robin warns,"Hunt the freak right?" Eddie questions "basically," Robin offers an apologetic smile "Great." Eddie mutters.
"Oh and uh, Jason, Chrissy's boyfriend.. is kind of on the hunt for you too." Robin says slowly, "Who isn't." Eddie huffs "I don't really blame him - you know. If I thought someone killed Y/N, you can bet your ass I'd be hunting them down too.""
"The good news, we think there may be another gate or some how.. one reopened." Max nods as she speaks "A gate?" Eddie's brows raise "it's how you get in and out from the other world, or.. the monsters get in." You look over to Eddie as he hangs his head to the side "so how is that good news?" He asks in confusion
"If it a gate is open.. it can be closed. We aren't sure how yet but.." Dustin gives a shrug of his shoulders "It's something," Max states confidently
"We think it's all connected.. somehow. Chrissy and Fred were seeing Mrs. Kelly, the school counsellor. They ere both having headaches, Nose bleeds.. nightmares," max talks fast like the sooner she gets it out, the sooner this will be solved "And they both had some sort of past trauma." Dustin adds.
"And now.." Robin talks slowly "Its happening to me too." Max admits. "Chrissy and Fred died with in twenty four hours of their first vision so.. looks like I'm dead tomorrow." A frown takes Max's lips as you pull her into a hug.
You hand Eddie his clothes which were now dry, he says a small thanks "A lot to take in.." you say as Eddie walks towards the bathroom, winking at you "Not like that," a hard laugh escapes your lips.
You join the group in the living room, Eddie joining soon after.. the eerie silence setting over the house sends a chill down your spine, feeling like a thousand spiders were crawling over you as you rise to your feet.
In the distance, you hear a distorted sound of a clock chiming..