Chrissy stood staring into her open closet. She tapped her right foot in impatience and frustration as her eyes raked over the options.
She'd made it through the rest of the weekend with her family before waving them off Sunday afternoon.
Now, it was Monday - she had the house to herself and she'd already started thinking about what she could wear to Eddie's show on Tuesday night. She'd never been to the Hideout, though she'd heard enough gossip about it at school: a bar that doesn't usually card. Dim lighting and loud music.
She wasn't sure what their usual crowd wore, but she was sure it wasn't anything like the items she owned. Bright colors filled her closet. Not a grey or black item in sight. She supposed people could wear bright colors to bars too, but she had a feeling that in this particular bar people were probably more toned down.
She felt silly to worry over this, but she couldn't help it. She was about to venture out to a bar. On a weeknight. To see Eddie Munson and his band play.
Talk about trying something new.
She huffed and closed the closet door with a bang. She left her room, taking the steps two at a time down into the living room before making her way to the kitchen.
Her mom's kitchen was spotless. Not a dish or utensil out of place. She did have one drawer that most people would call the "junk drawer". Chrissy's mom's was barely messy enough to be called that.
Chrissy opened it and found the phone book lying on top, just where she knew it'd be. Picking it up, she flipped to the M's and scanned down the page until she landed on the name Munson.
The only one listed: Wayne Munson. That had to be Eddie's uncle.
She carried the book over to the wall phone, picked up the receiver, and dialed the number. She prayed Eddie would pick up and not his uncle; he had mentioned that his uncle worked nights and she didn't want to wake him.
One ring.
Two.
"Hello?"
"Eddie?"
"Yeah, it's Eddie. Who is this...?"
"It's Chrissy. Hey! I hope you don't mind I looked up your number . . ."
He sounded a bit surprised, but by no means upset.
"Why would I mind?" he asked without hesitation. "What's up?"
"I feel ridiculous calling about this, but what exactly do people wear to The Hideout?"
Eddie barked out a laugh and Chrissy smiled to herself.
"Having trouble with your wardrobe?" he teased.
"Yes actually!"
"You ever been to Josie's? he asked.
"No, who is Josie?"
"Josie's! It's a second hand shop. They have all kinds of stuff. I bet you would find something there. I could take you now if you're up for it."
Chrissy smiled again. She didn't know how she ever thought Eddie could be mean and scary. From the little she'd talked to him so far, he was actually one of the friendliest people she'd met.
"Really?" she asked. "You wouldn't mind?"
"Nah, I'm not doing anything. It'll be fun! I can pick you up in ten? What's your address?"
Chrissy gave him the street and told him she'd see him soon. She hurried back upstairs to change out of her pajamas and into some jeans, a loose cream colored sweater, and her keds. The most casual clothing she owned.
True to his word, she heard Eddie's van rumbling down her street about ten minutes later. Chrissy grabbed her purse and headed out the front door just as Eddie was stepping out of the driver's seat. He made a grand bow, gesturing to his large, dark van.
"Your chariot, my lady."
He walked around to the passenger side alongside Chrissy and opened the door, offering his hand to her.
"Thank you sir!" she said as she grabbed his hand and stepped up onto the running board and into her seat.
He cast her a grin, clearly pleased she was going along with his chariot bit.
She watched as he made his way back to the driver's side, hopped in his seat and closed the door with a bang. The van grumbled to life and the radio came on at full volume, startling Chrissy.
"Sorry, sorry!" Eddie shouted as he turned the volume knob down. "I like it loud."
"It's okay!" Chrissy giggled.
She took a quick glance around the van. Fairly neat for a boy's car. Cassettes littered the center console and she caught a glimpse of Eddie's D&D stuff rolling around the back seat as he backed swiftly out of the driveway, but other than that, not much clutter.
"Is this the kind of music your band plays?" she asked, gesturing to the radio.
"We're no Iron Maiden, but it's the same type of music, yeah. We do some covers and throw in a few originals. They're alright. The five drunks like them at least."
She laughed. "I'm excited to hear you play. I'm really glad you invited me."
And Chrissy really meant it. Her spring break was starting out in the most unexpected ways with the most unexpected person, but she found herself thrilled by that.
"I'm relieved to hear you're excited." he admitted.
The rest of the ride went by in comfortable small talk. Eddie was surprisingly easy to talk to. He smiled easily and laughed earnestly. The ride flew by and before she knew it Eddie said, "Here we are!"
Chrissy looked ahead to the small building called Josie's. Just a regular brick building with a minuscule parking lot. Kind of off the beaten path of Hawkins. No wonder Chrissy had never heard of it.
She unbuckled herself and pushed the door open, but not before Eddie had hopped out of his own seat and jogged around to her side to help her down.
His hand was big and warm, his rings cool against her own palm. He smiled at her as she stepped down. She could feel her face warm up. She glanced away quickly, hoping he wouldn't notice.
"Right this way! Your new outfit awaits!" he proclaimed.
When Chrissy walked through the door, her mouth fell open in surprise. She didn't know what to expect, but she knew for sure that she'd never been in a store like this before.
It wasn't very large, so the racks of clothes covered the entire shop's floor. Plus, the racks themselves were weighed down with as many clothes as they could hold. The walls were the same brick as the outside, with the occasional colorful graffiti here and there. A record player sat on the counter next to the register with some rock song blaring loudly.
This may have been the coolest store Chrissy had ever seen.
"I love it." she whispered to herself.
"What was that?" Eddie leaned in closer to hear. He looked like a cat that had caught a bird for his lunch - very pleased with himself.
"I think you heard me, " Chrissy said, shoving his shoulder playfully. "How do you know about this place? It's not like any other store in Hawkins."
"Exactly. No trends here, just a whoooole bunch of random. Make your own style. It's where I get most of my clothes."
Chrissy eyed him up and down. He wore a faded grey t-shirt with a band logo she didn't recognize. Black jeans with holes ripped on the left knee. A metal chain hung from his right belt loop, disappearing to somewhere on the backside of his pants. White shoes with the tongues pulled up over the hem of his jeans. She knew he couldn't be the only boy in the world to dress this way, but he was the only one at their school. Eddie was unique.
"Okay well you're my inspiration for my concert look."
He laughed at that. Chrissy laughed too.
"Seriously though. I better start looking, I've never seen so many clothes in one place."
They split up, Eddie tackling the jeans and Chrissy scouring through the tops.
Clothes shopping usually caused Chrissy nothing but grief. Her mother would pick up blouse after blouse, always picking a size smaller than Chrissy could comfortably fit. Pinching at Chrissy's arms and tummy when she didn't like the way an outfit fell on her daughter's body.
Today was different though. She had been excited to come find something new without the watchful eyes of her mother. Chrissy was free to choose what she liked.
She had an armful of shirts to try on. Lacy material, leather, cotton. Dark blues, grey, black, even neon. She wanted to see them all. Eddie joined her with an equally large pile of jeans. He dropped them on the bench in the dressing room and stepped back out to take a spot on a brightly colored armchair just outside the door.
Alone inside the dressing room, Chrissy felt that familiar sense of dread creeping up on her. The first outfit she picked was a flowy midnight blue top over dark capri pants. It was her size and fit her well, but she saw her body through her mother's eyes when she looked in the mirror. Would Eddie see her that way too?
She was scared to leave the safety of the small dressing room. Scared to see judgement written all over Eddie's face. But he'd brought her here to help her out. She'd called him and asked for help.
Taking a breath to steady herself, she opened the door and stepped out. She faced Eddie but wouldn't meet his eyes.
"You look great!" he exclaimed.
She chanced a peek up and saw earnestness in his eyes. Maybe even admiration.
"It's alright," she said lamely.
"Alright?" he scoffed. "You could wear a potato sack and look great!"
Her face must surely be on fire; it felt that way. She dropped her eyes from his, feeling shy all of a sudden. She also felt all the nerves of clothes shopping leave her body. How did Eddie manage to do that?
"Stop it," she giggled.
He grinned wolfishly at her. "Let's see another!"
This time Chrissy stepped out boldly, putting her hands on her hips and pretending to strike a pose. It was a freeing feeling.
Eddie pretended to take a picture, holding the invisible camera in his hands and making clicking sounds.
"Alright Cunningham, another contender!" he said approvingly.
Chrissy checked herself in the mirror. She'd picked a pair of dark blue jeans with holes over both knees and paired it with a grey blouse with lace sleeves. It was definitely different from her usual clothes.
"I don't know if I'm ready for ripped jeans yet. I may have to ease into that style."
Eddie laughed. "Not so easily corrupted huh?"
Chrissy couldn't help but grin at that. "No, I guess not."
She slowly made her way through the stack of clothes, modeling each outfit for Eddie. When she stepped out in a pair of fitted black jeans and a black top with one sleeve that slouched off her right shoulder, Eddie let out a whistle.
She noticed his eyes rake over her body appreciatively until he met her eyes and quickly looked away. Was Eddie Munson feeling bashful? It made Chrissy's stomach flip.
"It's not too much?"
"Hell no! You remind me of that chick from that movie . . . what was it called? Grease?"
Chrissy opened her mouth in shock. "You've seen Grease?"
Eddie's eyes widened in surprise.
"No, no, " he said, raising his hands and waving them back and forth in defense. "Grease is definitely not in my repertoire. But what guy hasn't seen the girl in that black getup?"
Chrissy rolled her eyes.
"You have to see Grease. It's one of my favorites! Besides, you can't really appreciate the 'black getup' without seeing the whole movie." she insisted.
Eddie smiled broadly at her enthusiasm.
"Okay, if you insist. But in exchange you have to watch one of my movies!"
"You're on! Did you have any other plans for today?"
He shook his head. "Nada!"
"Then let's watch them today!"
His eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he also seemed excited.
"You're on," he echoed her own words.
As Chrissy changed back into her own clothes and carried her new outfit up to the register, she realized just how giddy she was feeling. Movie night with Eddie Munson, and she couldn't be more excited.