Aside from the bar, Eddie tried to keep his hustle at the back of Hawkins High. He had let it slide in the months Rosie had been in town - mostly just to spend time with her - but truth was The Hideout didn't pay nearly enough for him to help Wayne out with the bills, pay his ongoing therapy fees AND save. It would take years under normal circumstances to gather enough funds.

Fortunately, teenagers could always be relied on to sample his wares, and although the people he went to school with had mostly graduated, he still had a reputation. So it was that on Friday evenings, just before his real gig, he could be found sitting at the same picnic table, a steady stream of clients coming and going.

Cash only. No names. No receipts. If Hopper and the rest of the force knew of his little business, they didn't bother trying to interfere any more. He wasn't the worst thing to happen to the town, after all.

It was the week before Christmas, and his regulars were buying more than usual to see themselves through the holidays. Eddie had invested in a proper cash box with a lock, and could feel it growing heavier and heavier. Good thing he had come out early. He knew better than to count it out in the open, but he could already tell his profits were in the hundreds, and there was more to come.

All for Rosie.

He was busy with mental budgets when the next customer settled across from him. Didn't even hear them coming, just saw the shadow fall across the table. Eddie painted his retail face back on, and grinned.

"How can I he -" His heart stopped. "Ahhhh!"

The same uniform, spotted with blood and grubby. Her hair streaked with mud, blue eyes staring up at him. Those scabs on her fingers, the ones he'd tried to ignore. They stood out red against her pale skin.

"Chrissy!"

"Eddie." The thing smiled. With the same nervousness he had seen on that day. He hadn't seen Chrissy in so long. Not in the waking world, and not in his dreams. He couldn't help being disturbed by her sudden appearance.

"N-n-no. You're not..."

"I'm here to buy."

"Go away!"

"Eddieeeee."

He covered his face with his hands, shaking his head against the awful sing-song it way it spoke his name. "Stop it! Go away!"

"Please, Eddie. I need something stronger."

"Leave me alone!"

"You have to help me. Please."

He made the mistake of peeping through his fingers. Her limbs were now contorting at odd angles. He gagged with every pop, every snap and crunch. "Oh god!"

Chrissy's jaw hung loose, so she slurred: "Give me something stronger, Eddiiieee!"

"Go away! Please! Just leave me alone!"

"FINE! Sheesh!" The head cheerleader, obviously weirded out, shoved her wallet back into her bag and stood up, almost falling backwards over the bench in her haste to get away from him.

Eddie wiped his face. "Sorry! I'm sorry. I thought..."

I thought you were someone else. How could he explain this? This kid was no more than 16, with dark hair and eyes. She looked nothing like Chrissy.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" She was a lot less polite, too.

"Lot of things." He admitted, offering a sincere smile.

The girl paused. "So I hear."

"Sit down."

"You're still twitching."

"I'm sorry. I mistook you for someone else."

"Who?"

"An old friend."

She dropped her bag back down and sat sideways, still ready to bolt if he started freaking out again. "Is there a friends and family discount?"

Eddie laughed. Now, when he gestured for her to sit, she eased back down warily. "Depends on what you're looking for?"

"The usual."

The ounce hit the table. "Twenty."

"Is that a discount?"

"5%."

She popped a wad of gum between her teeth. "That's shit!"

He didn't know where she thought she was getting with that attitude. "Take it or leave it."

"I have $15."

Eddie picked the bag back up and stuffed it in his "lunchbox". "Send the next person up."

The girl stood back up, but didn't leave. Instead, she rounded the table and sat right next to him. Eddie tried to scoot away, but the bench wasn't very long.

"Maybe there's another way I could pay you?"

"Nope." He answered flatly.

"Oh, come on!" This girl didn't let up - her hands were already in his lap, going for his belt.

"I said no!"

"I won't tell anyone, if that's what you're -"

"FUCK OFF!" He really didn't mean to hit her, but his arm slammed right into the girl's chest, knocking her off the seat. The ground was nearly frozen, so he assumed it hurt when she struck it.

"Stupid freak!" She yelled back, picking herself up and knocking leaves from her skirt.

"Leave."

Eddie just glared as she collected her stuff and jogged away. Worry already collecting in his head. They had been alone, and that girl clearly wasn't happy with him. He didn't think she would be shy about accusing him of anything, either.

Then she'd have to admit to buying drugs. He reminded himself. Deep breaths. Little bitch had gotten his belt half-open - he fixed it shakily. What if she did do something? What would happen? What if Rosie got wind of it?

Rosie wouldn't believe it. She's smarter than that. He quickly quelled his panic. The next customer had just sat down.

"And she just...went straight for the goods?!" Steve summarized, blinking slowly at him.

"I'm telling you, man." Eddie took another long gulp of his beer, picking at the ripped leather of the driver's seat. "Wouldn't take no for an answer."

"Ick. The head cheerleader?"

"Pretty sure. I sold to her before. Never had anything like this."

"Dark hair?"

"Yeah. You know her?"

"I think she's a Willis. Her sister was in the year above us."

"Don't remember."

"Do you remember anyone from school?"

"Only the ones that matter."

Steve raised his can in salute. "If I remember correctly, the sister was the same."

"Runs in the family."

"It sure does."

Eddie tossed the empty can in to the back of his van and tore the next one off the pack.

"Take it easy, man." Steve took his next one out and held it in his lap, wanting to ensure he got an equal share. "I'm not watching you throw up again."

"That was months ago."

"I held your hair."

"Like I wouldn't hold yours."

"Yeah but holding this mane is a privilege."

Eddie shook his mop. "And this isn't?"

"That's a rat's nest."

"Hey! Fuck you!" Eddie punched him in the arm. Steve pulled his hair in return.

"I'm buying you conditioner for Christmas."

"Steve..."

Harrington turned at his actual name being used. "Huh?"

"You don't think that girl's gonna say anything, do you? Last thing I need is to be locked up as some sort of pervert."

"Nah. She'd have nothing to gain from that."

"Aside from getting me locked up."

Steve clapped him on the shoulder. "You're not getting locked up! You didn't do anything, right?"

"No."

"Then don't sweat it, dude." Harrington probably meant to poke him affectionately in the chest, but his aim was off. Instead, he just sloshed beer over the console.

"Ey!" Eddie jerked aside before he got splashed. "Watch it!"

"Oh, sorry. Hate to mess up your spotless ride."

"You could at least wipe it."

"Okay! Okay. I don't have a...um...are there tissues in here?"

"No! No! No! No!" Eddie was too late. Steve had already opened the glove compartment. There was a box of Kleenex in there, but a dozen little polaroids spilled out before Steve even saw that.

"Are these all Rosie?"

"Don't -"

"Oh my god!" Harrington had three in his hand, his jaw in his lap. "Is this Rosie?"

"Put them back."

"You are a pervert!"

"Put!" Eddie snatched the photos off him and dropped the lot back in the compartment. "Them!"

"Can I just keep one?"

"BACK!"