Time passed excruciatingly slow, the panic in Hawkins didn't come to a halt. Instead, most left. It was becoming more like the upside down every day, deserted and falling apart. All it was missing was the monsters.
You had got out of the hospital after a four day stay, you'd heal.. you'd be able to walk again.. you'd be fine. Just with some remaining scars as a reminder.
It had been two weeks and you were already feeling much better in the leg injury sense, not in much other ways.
Max still hadn't woken up, Eddie was still recovering but doing much better.
You saw him once after the first visit to his hospital room, it lasted all of five minutes and then you were caught by a security guard.
Eddies room was locked down tight after that, no one in or out. They even took his phone away, which you thought was cruel but the hospital did not.
You haven't spoken to him or seen him in two excruciatingly long weeks.
Your mom never came back, you weren't exactly sure what that meant.
Did something happen during the earthquake? Did she decide this town.. and you, werent worth coming back to? Did something else happen while on her binge?
You tried getting in contact with anyone and everyone connected to her. They hadn't seen in her months, you were out of leads and frankly living off barely anything.
You were able to get your job back at Hawkins Tunes but considering the state of Hawkins, it was nearing shut down. You had to start searching for another job and fast.
You were bunking with Robin but her parents were getting tired of having another mouth to feed and house which you completely understood. They had been extremely welcoming and you were beyond your stay.
Now you had to find a new place to stay, work on finding another job.. all the while calling the nurses to check on Eddie everyday. They'd only tell you if he was still in hospital or transferred, but that was enough for now.
The charges against Eddie were still pending, while everyone thought he did it.. besides those who knew he didn't. The police didn't really have any evidence and they were running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to find some.
There was a chance he'd be released, it was a small sliver of a chance but you were holding on to it, praying every night the charges would be dropped.
"Well you know my place is always an option," Steve leans back on the palm of his hands, sitting with his legs stretched out in an empty grassy field that overlooks Hawkins. "My parents love you, I think you're sorta okay," He teases, flashing his pearly whites.
You pull at some pieces of grass, running them between your fingers as you sit cross legged beside Steve, "Yeah, that wouldn't be awkward at all." You laugh,
"You need a place to stay, there's a guest room at my house.." He raises his brows "I could get my mom to badger you about it. She'd probably throw me out and take you in, instead." Steve chuckles in thought,
"I'm just so exhausted with.. everything. It feels like my plates never empty, you know?" You sigh to yourself, tossing the pieces of grass you had pulled out "It won't be like that forever.. hopefully,"
Steve, Robin and Dustin had been your saving graces the past two weeks, if you didn't have them you don't know what you'd do.
"You should try applying at the Hideout, that place is making big bucks now," Steve brushes a stray hair out of his face, yeah making big bucks because everyone still left in Hawkins was drinking themselves to death but.. it wasn't a bad idea.
"Hey guys," Robin yells out to you and Steve as Dustin and her come trotting up the hill "We need your help back at main camp," Dustin was out of breath.
Main camp being where supplies were donated, people took shelter and a food kitchen for all those effected by the earth splitting in two.
The four of you started helping out there as soon as you could, Steve joining most recently as he just got out of the hospital a week ago. It was nice to help others but knowing the four of you were partially to blame always made you feel sick to your stomach.
Robin extends her hand down to you as she helps you up "We leave for half an hour and you're already drowning," Steve shakes his head, giving the two a small smile as the four of you head down the hill and back into the hell that is Hawkins.
"So.." you start, helping Robin make PB for everyone taking shelter at the main camp, being the school gym. "Oh don't start," She laughs quietly, "Vicki is literally right there, just talk to her!" You urge in a whisper as Robin slaps down a hearty amount of peanut butter on a thin slice of bread,
"I don't think nows the time," she scolds, you side eye her with a huff "Hey Vicki?" You call out as Vicki approaches from the kitchen "I'm getting serious carpal tunnel from all this spreading," you motion to the knife "Mind if I take over the kitchen while you take over here?"
You give your best winning smile as Vicki nods "Oh yeah sure! If I have to cook one more thing, I might pass out from the heat." She laughs, great fully trading places. "You're welcome," you whisper to Robin as you head for the kitchen.
Entering the kitchen you immediately feel the heat from the soups on the stove hit you like it was boiling lava. Robin better make her move, you thought to yourself.
After an hour you swapped with an older gentleman, you weren't going to argue. You much rather fold clothes then pass out from the heat.
"So.." you fold clothes on a table, Dustin and Steve doing the same opposite of you. "Are you sure it's alright if I crash at your place? Just for a few days." Your eyes flash up to look at Steve, you hated asking.
You hated being this basically homeless girl who was almost out of a job and had nothing to her life. Graduation was being fast tracked considering all that was going on but after that.. you had nothing. No where to go, no where to be.. nothing to do.
"Do I need to call my mom over? She'd move you in herself," His eyes glance over to his mom who is talking to another parent as she runs the planning aspect for the volunteers.
You both share a laugh as you continue folding baby clothes for kids in need, Dustin's eyes look from you to Steve.. you watch them as they move. He goes to speak but instead bows his head and continues folding.
"Are you two.." Dustin approaches you as you get your things together, heading back to Robins to pick up your things and then go over to Steve's "What?" You ask, busy with the task at hand.
"Hooking up?" He whispers, concern etched on his face. You look at him like he has three eyes "If you don't recall, I'm engaged and very much in love with Eddie." You flash the ring as proof, refusing to ever take it off.
"We are friends, that's it." You give a small shrug, finishing up with your things and heading for the exit door in the gym while Dustin follows you "Does he know that?" He poses the question,
"Dustin," you turn to him "He and I have had that talk. He knows. We are friends." You reassure him as he gives a small nod.
Parking in front of Steve's house, you sit in your car as you turn it off. It had been years since you stepped foot in there, before you guys officially broke up. It wasn't on your top places to stay but considering you were practically homeless.. you didn't have much choice.
"Hi sweetheart!" Steve's mom opens the door and pulls you in for a hug, which you were not expecting. "Hi Mrs. Harrington," you say cordially.
Awkwardly returning the hug with your bags in hand. "Oh please, you know you can call me Sandra," She lets out a giggle, she was always um.. bubbly. Always. It use to get overwhelming.
"Steve's just in the basement, why don't I take your bags into the guest room?" She points up the stairs as you give a shy smile "Thank you and thank you for letting me stay a few days," you say sincerely.
"Nonsense," she bats her hand at you "You're welcome here anytime," if she was smiling any harder, her face might break.
"If you're watching porn, nows a good time to turn it off." You yell down the basement stairs to Steve as you shut the door behind you, "Very funny," he yells back "It was one time.." he tries to argue as you reach the bottom of the stairs,
"And I will forever bring it up," you brag, it being a memory you'd never let him live down.
The basement looks the same but different since the last time you were down here years ago, some of the old vintage posters still hanging on the wall along with new ones.
Much more stored down there in the back then before. The dingy old brown couch now swapped out for a floral patterned one, the board games still on the same shelves they laid years ago.
The same old, wrecked dart board hanging up on the far wall and new red string lights hung up around the border of the ceiling, giving the room an ambient glow.
Your eyes stop at the cork board, it had been in the same spot since the first time you came down here. Still filled with the same photos from years ago, photos of you and Steve, photos of friends..
"Yeah, haven't got around to updating it," Steve scratches at the back of his head, seated in the middle of the couch.
"Those are better times anyways," you smile to yourself "I mean, compared to what's been going on." You quickly add.
"I, uh rented some movies. Well, kinda borrowed them since I work there," Steve's head bobbed side to side as he spoke,
You round the couch and kneel down beside the coffee table in front of it "Christine," you pick up the first VHS, reading it's title out loud before looking at the next VHS "St Elmo's fire and.. stand by me." You say revealing the last cover.
"I think I'm going to vote stand by me;" you nod to yourself, rising to your feet and sitting down beside Steve on the couch. "Stand by me it is," He now stands up, groaning "Still hurting?" You lean back into the couch "Just… after effects." He waves it off.
Putting in the VHS tape and heading to the back of the basement where there was a mini kitchen, Steve pulls out a popcorn maker, adding in kernels and putting a bowl under the opening so the bowl gets filled.
"Soda?" He asks, soon after his hand appears beside your face with a soda can in it "Coke Cherry," he gives it a small wiggle as you look up at him with a smirk, "My favourite," you murmur.
Steve puts the the bowl of popcorn down on the table, reaching beside the couch into a chest, he pulls out an old tattered crocheted blanket that has yellow, orange and brown waves.
One that became yours after spending so much time at his house in the past.
Throwing it at you, you catch it in shock "I can't believe you still have this," you look it over, "Just in case." He gave a small shrug as the two of you sat at opposite ends of the sofa.
The movie begins as you cuddle up into the couch, blanket thrown over you, your head resting on your hand as your elbow is dug into the couches arm.
The popcorn between you and Steve now, so grabbing some every now and then.
You shoot a quick glance in Steve's direction, with in that small frame of time.. you don't see Steve sitting there as he looks today, instead you see that dorky ass annoying kid who you met in middle school.
You grin to yourself.
Perfectly content in that little flash of nostalgia.
"Are you coming to the fireworks show tomorrow night?" Steve asks as the credits roll, you stretch your arms out with a yawn "I think so, not sure what's being celebrated though." You say in all honesty.
"Nothing," Steve laughs, standing up to rewind the VHS "Just some stupid fun," he gives a small shrug, crouching down as he waits for the VHS to be done.
"Stupid fun does sound good right about now," you admit, rubbing your tired eyes. "I think I'm going to head to bed," you yawn again, shaking your body as you do so.
You fold the blanket back up and leave it where you were previously sitting, "Do you mind if I use your phone in the morning? I call the hospital every day at 8 AM.."
Steve looks back at you, attempting a smile but it continued to turn into a frown "Knock yourself out," he says quietly.
You bite the inside of your cheek, standing at the bottom of the stairs "Well," you breathe out "Goodnight," you flash a small smile of your own before heading back upstairs.
Sleeping was difficult at first, you had slept in the guest bedroom a time or two years ago, usually back then if you stayed the night, Steve would sneak into the guest room or you sneak into his room.
You were half awaiting for a knock at the door. It just felt.. surreal, like being taken back in time.
First thing in the morning you did the same as always, you called the hospital to check on Eddie.
He was still in the hospital, he was pretty near healed besides his leg still being in a cast, his arm was in a sling now and still recovering. There wasn't that extensive of damage, apparently.
Some of his stitches were healed, some weren't. Either way, he was getting better and he was still in the hospital so at least you knew Eddie had not been transferred yet.
The nurse told you he would be transferred with in the month. You were hoping that was anything but true.
After that you handed in your resume at The Hideout, they practically hired you on the spot as everyone was leaving town so they didn't have all shifts filled and the people who were staying, were drinking day and night.
It's ironic, in a sense. You end up working at where Eddie plays… use to play. He would be over the moon about it.
You start the following Friday with higher pay than what Hawkins Tunes was giving, with the little money you still had saved up and this new income.. plus Hawkins housing market crashing, You were betting on buying a house,
It was still up in the air, If Eddie gets transferred you'll go where he goes. It's just a big waiting game.
Eddies uncle had insisted you stay at his new trailer with him but you just couldn't intrude, he had enough going on, especially as he wasn't allowed to see Eddie either.
You volunteered again, that's where you spent most of your time these days to keep busy. You really were just going through the motions, getting through each and every day the best you could.
They moved graduation to the following week, again, fast tracking. They wanted to get all graduates in the workforce as fast as possible to restore Hawkins which you didn't think would ever happen.
It was something to look forward to, in a sense. It lost its excitement months ago.
The day dragged on like always but you were looking forward to the firework show. Robin, Dustin, Steve and you were going to sit where you and Steve had been hanging out the previous day.
So you can look over Hawkins as everyone sets them off, having the best view in town.
You park in a lot right across from the field, it's usually designated for the trails up this way but it came in handy for this too.
Taking a small cooler filled with soda out of the trunk as well as two folded chairs, you start your way over to the field. Joining Robin and Steve who were already seated in their own folding chairs, looking at the horizon.
"Let me help," Steve gets up, not letting you respond as he takes the cooler out of your hand, setting it down then taking one of the chairs and unfolding it as you unfold the other.
"Are you going to kiss her boo-boos all better to?" Robin teases in a valley girl like tone, both you and Steve glare at Robin as she holds up her hands "Sorry, just being funny."
Night began to fall, the clearest sky you had seen in a while and the stars shining down brightly. "Can you give me a dr. Pepper?" Robin leans forward in her chair, looking over at you - past Steve. As she was seated to his right while you were seated to his left,
You reach in the cooler and hand her the soda, taking out a sprite and gesturing it towards Steve, "Thanks," he says with a small smile as you grab one for yourself.
"So, how's it going staying over at Steve's?" Robin asks as she cracks open her can "I'm dying slowly, ever so slowly." You joke, Steve's lips curling upwards as he shook his head.
"I give it two week tops and my parents will be fine with you coming back for a few days," Robin gave an 'Ok' symbol with her hand "I'm getting pretty tired of going place to place," you sigh
"Nothing from your mom still?" She asks, you shake your head. Absolutely nothing.
You hear the first cracks and rumbles of fireworks going off, seeing them shoot up in the sky in the farthest corner of Hawkins.
You rub your hands together excitedly, "So easy to entertain," Steve says, rolling his eyes. You lean down accidentally in sync with Steve, both going for a bag of chips. Your eyes lock for a second before you quickly pull your hand away.
"Hey guys," Dustin's voice is far behind you "Shh, we're going to miss the show." Robin hushed as if it was a movie, "Oh I think this surprise is a lot better," you could hear how excited and antsy he was.
You glanced over your shoulder out of curiosity. Eyes widening and springing out of you chair as fast as your legs could take you
"Hey princess," Eddie grinned wildly.