Fall Semester
Eddie dragged a chair behind him, setting it down in the abandoned classroom with a clunk. It was placed before a table, laden with battlemap, card deck and dice. He had plenty of time before the rest of the Hellfire Club would join him, and he was a pro at the tabletop set up. That didn't stop him from making sure everything was placed in the perfect arrangement; pencils lined up next to pads, seats the right spacing from the next.
He was pondering 1986, the year he was determined to graduate. There was no way he was going through another year at Hawkins High. Granted, the most effort he had put in to the first week was preparing for the first D&D meeting, but that had to count for something.
What he wasn't expecting as he went to open the doors to welcome the group was Chrissy Cunningham bursting in, whipping around to shut the door quietly behind her and flicking the lock latch closed. She turned towards the room once more, looking for a place to hide but instead finding Eddie standing before her. Chrissy yelped, clutching her chest, and Eddie felt his own chest sink. He was used to people being uneasy about him, but this one hurt a little more than normal.
He collected himself, standing up a little straighter. "And what, pray tell, m'lady, are you running from?"
"The Hawkins Hive. They're threatening to cut my hair this week, and I don't think they meant in a 'lets have a sleepover and give each other makeovers' way."
Eddie burst out laughing, but quickly stopped when Chrissy leapt at him, covering his mouth with her hand, her eyes wide and fixed on the door. He gave a keen ear to whatever she had heard, the sound of footsteps and voices echoing up the hallway. They heard the sound of the door next to their room opening, feet shuffling over the linoleum floor, the intruders moving on after a short time.
The steps paused again, this time outside their door, and as her pursuers shook angrily at the doorknob, attempting to get in, Eddie looked over to Chrissy, her eyes never blinking, breath shaking as it exited her chest. She was pressed so close to him that he could feel her heart racing against his side. He wasn't sure whether to put a comforting arm around her, or whether that would be more for his benefit than hers.
The rattling stopped, and Chrissy held her breath.
"Chriiiiiiiiissy," a voice called, one that Eddie had heard sling insults towards him before. "If you think you can just walk around all desperate for boys attention like that, you need to learn your place."
Chrissy shuddered against him, not loosening her grip on him until the footsteps sounded and had well and truly dissipated down the hall.
"Great start to the year," she said, so quietly that he almost felt like he was eavesdropping just hearing her.
Letting out a heavy sigh, she took a moment before coming around, looking up at Eddie with a flush covering her cheeks and forehead.
"Sorry, Eddie. If they knew I was in here, they would have probably broken down the door."
"No problem." He managed, rubbing a hand over his hair a few times in a state of shock himself, not quite sure what to do.
She knew his name. They didn't have a great deal of interaction, but there had been classes together and a few swapped comments, nothing to insinuate that they knew each other, let alone each others names.
Eddie found himself, asking her why they would think she was trying to steal the notice of boys.
"I dunno. They think because I'm pretty I want to have all the boys to myself, as if I would want anyone interested in them." She bit her lip, before forcing a smile. "You must think I'm so conceited."
Eddie smirked, thinking anything but. He knew what The Hive and the guys who hung out with them were like. "'Beauty is a curse', so they say."
She let out a soft laugh. "I just want to be left alone."
Eddie nodded, understanding the feeling. She might not be a freak like him, but he knew how hard it was to be misunderstood. Especially when people attacked you for it.
"I guess I'd better go, I didn't mean to interrupt. Thanks for harbouring a fugitive."
"My pleasure. Hang out if you want, so you know they're not waiting around."
"Thanks." Chrissy reached for her bag that she dropped on the floor, fishing a book out before dumping the bag on a desk. "I'll just sit right over here in the corner, out of the way."
Eddie smiled, but wanted to tell her he had been waiting for a long time for her to get in his way. Chrissy was in his year at Hawkins High, and ever since she had joined the senior class, he had been crushing on her. Normally he had no problem addressing people, calling out the likes of the school's clicks when they made their remarks about him. But there was no snarky quips he wanted to sling at her, and given their seemingly opposite personalities, he didn't feel he had much to offer.
"You work at Books and Beyond, right?" It was the best he could come up with, trying to make conversation.
Chrissy looked up from her book, her face was trying to process before responding. Eddie hoped he hadn't sounded like a stalker.
"Yeah, I do. I didn't think you would recognise me."
"I was thinking the same thing about you of me."
Chrissy looked down at her lap, a sweet smile on her face. He wished she wouldn't.
"Of course I know you," she began, leaning slightly towards him as if to tell him something only she knew. "You kinda stand out."
He'd heard that before, but it didn't tend to come with the air of kindness.
"I've seen you a few times at work, too, in the cassette section."
Eddie had his regular haunts, but he did check out the music at Books and Beyond from time to time. The first time he did and she was working, he could hardly form a sentence. He hastily handed over his crushed-up notes and swiped the cassette, evacuating the store as quickly as he could without being accused of shoplifting.
"I've been meaning to say hello, but normally I'm not too welcome in reputable stores."
"Make sure you come in when I'm working, no one will give you trouble. You can stay as long as you like."
He smiled, matching hers, folding his arms as casually as he could in front of his chest while trying not to simultaneously combust.
"And if you ever need a place to hide, or you just wanna hang out, you're welcome at Hellfire Club. It's for all of us displaced in Hawkins High society."
The silence that fell between them was comfortable, if a little stilted, like a blanket wrapped around two people but didn't quite cover them both. A few uncertain looks and several attempts to continue talking were soon interrupted by the arrival of the Hellfire members, whooping and hollering at each other. Eddie greeted them with a dramatic bow, gesturing towards the table.
His attention was soon turned back to Chrissy who tapped him on the shoulder.
"I guess I should go, I've got to get to work." She made a gracious attempt at a curtsy before looking him in the eye, a cheeky grin making Eddie think that if this was his last day on Earth, it certainly wasn't the worst one.
"Thank you again, noble sir, for protecting me from the dragons."
"Anytime." He managed to get out.
Eddie watched as Chrissy headed out the door, closing it behind her. His heart settled, but he wasn't able to tear his eyes off the door for a moment, the eyes of the club glued to him.
"Was that-" one of the members began.
"Yep."
"What-"
"Not sure." Eddie replied again.
Walking over to them, he slumped down into his chair at the head of the table,
"Phew," he breathed out, flicking his fringe. Just as he was about to begin the game, the door opened once more, Chrissy bouncing into the room. Eddie stood up abruptly, knocking his chair over.
Grabbing her bag from the desk, she turned to address the group.
"Left my bag." she said, awkwardly giggling. Chrissy looked at the bag in her hands, back to Eddie, opened her mouth as if to say something before closing it once more.
"See ya 'round!" She blurted out, before leaving again.
Silence fell over the room once more before Eddie cleared him throat.
"Might be a short game today, boys."