A ray of light from the early morning sun that was creeping through a small gap through her black out curtains had on her windows. They had not been quite shut from the night before. Charli was a light sleeper at best of times, so just with a little light in her room she was wide awake and aware. It had woken Charli up earlier than her alarm which she absolutely despised. She squeezed her eyes tight, not wanting to wake up just yet because she was so cosy in bed. A little yawn came out, she then stretched out like a cat under her two thick duvets that were on her bed. Charli didn't like sleeping with loose sheets tucked into her mattress, they made her feel constricted and suffocated. To her it felt like someone was holding her down in her own bed forcibly. So, they were always kicked off whenever Charli slept with any on a bed.
Turning to her left, Charli opened her eyes to see that Odin was on his bed on the floor, patiently waiting for his owner to wake up from her sleep. He had his large, boof head on his paws and looking up at her innocently with his big, blue eyes. Seeing Charli was awake, he quickly got up off his spot on the floor and then rested his head on the bed to hopefully get a pat on his favourite spot from his owner.
"Good morning, my gorgeous boy" she yawned, wiping a little bit of sleep from the corner of her left eye, then reaching over and scratching Odin behind his ears. Which was his favourite spot to be scratched anywhere on his body. He groaned and his eye dropped, the sensation relaxing him. Almost making him fall back asleep again.
Odin sighed a little, his blue eyes just closing a touch at the comforting feeling. She stopped scratching and he whined a little, nudging her hand with his wet nose to get more pats 'Sorry dude, no more pats. As much as I would like to stay home and give you pats all day. I need to get up and get ready to go to work today at the music store".
Charli got up out of bed, her feet hitting the cold, dark timber floors. The silver white hair of hers was being its usual unruly self and had become out of place from her bedtime braided hair. She loved her room, it had hanging herbs, a book nook with a little lord of the rings displays with the books, ornaments and jewellery. Going into her draw, Charli picked out her favourite pair of dark blue denim shorts that were a bit worn in with a few frayed edges around the hem. They may have looked like they had been through the wars, but they were incredibly comfortable to wear over an extended period. Searching through her t shirt draw, Charli picked put a faded black Ozzy Osbourne t shirt that certainly looked well lived in as well like her shorts. Setting her clothes down on to bed, Charli got down to her hands and knees to reach for the black converse shoes that were hiding behind her red vans. Then getting up and going to her small draw, picked two different ankle socks to wear, one bright purple and one yellow. In Charli's opinion, it was bad luck to wear matching socks on your feet. She already stood out with her silver white hair, no one is going to even look at her socks. Not that she cared what people thought or saw of her.
Now all dressed, she whistled to Odin to get him to follow her downstairs to the kitchen to have her breakfast. Charli loved the new house. It was soothing and calm. A place of quiet. Uncle jack was sitting down on the table with a cup of black coffee in his hand and reading the newspaper. He was looking over the rim of his coffee cup to the pop tart box near the toaster and was thinking how teenagers were less than appealing with their eating habits. His were eyebrows raised a little and the same cheeks Charli had appeared on his face. They both had the same kind eyes too "That there, is my very expensive dentist bill is sitting".
Charli knew her Uncle was being cheeky, rolling her eyes at him and taking two pop tarts from the plate to put down in the toaster to cook "Ha, ha. Very funny".
Jack pointed to her backpack that was sitting on top of the island bench. It had her lunch packed and with a thermos filled with iced water. Jack could read his niece like a book. He knew how disorganized Charli could be when she was anxious about something. She was looking off into the distance out of the window to the lake, staring into space a little and tapping the top of the island bench "There is no need to worry. You will do fine today at work, sweetheart"
The bubbles in her stomach only eased a little looking at the kind gaze that Uncle Jack gave her. The world was a crazy one and people liked to torment those who were a little different to themselves. Charli's silver white hair paired with her ice blue eyes and all with tanned skinned, people stared wherever she went. She was scared about that one "Thanks".
Today was just Charli going to work, let alone starting high school in a few days. She took another bite of her smores pop tart. Loving the delicious gooiness. Grabbing her backpack from the counter "I am more concerned about starting high school let alone working in a music store. None of the jocks will be walking into that music store, trust me".
Charli grinned, kissing Jack on the cheek "I will see you later".
As her guardian, Jack always worried about Charli whenever she stepped out of the house. "Please ride safe out there today. Make sure you check both ways at any intersection"
"Will do" she said over her shoulder, laughing at her uncle's worry and walked outside. Excited to start her day
"Please give me a call if you want a ride home. I love you, Little Duck. See you later" Jack called out.
Eddie pulled up his rusty old van in front of the music store, smoke was billowing out of the exhaust pipe. Marking the end of the van sooner rather than later but for now it had to make do, doing what it was doing now 'Son of a bitch", Eddie growled, hitting the steering wheel.
There was no way Eddie could have enough money to get a new van now. And there is now way in hell Eddie was going to ask Wayne for help with the repairs. Getting new guitar picks and some Iron Maiden tapes were a bit more important to him at the present time. Eddie got out of the van and the few people that were on the street instantly started to stare at him, murmuring behind their hands. No doubt gossiping about him. He was the town freak after all in Hawkins. Always getting the looks wherever he went in town. Not that Eddie cared too much on the small, minded opinions of older women on the street. Eddie didn't care for their chatter but instead liked to stir the pot by taunting them "What a fine morning, isn't it?", bowing down dramatically and motioning his hands about exaggeratedly "May you fair lasses have an astounding day!".
The two older women instantly ducked their heads, mortified they had in fact been caught staring at Eddie and averted their eyes away from the freak of the town. God Eddie loved doing that, making those who had conformed to mainstream society feel uneasy because of who he was and not like them. He smirked, loving his goal was achieved and bowed down to them dramatically.
Walking into the music store, there on the speakers was playing Black Sabbath. He was instantly confused because the music store never had played music like Black Sabbath because of the controversy. There was a look of confusion on Eddie's face. He was wandering what the hell was going on? Eddie with his eyebrows all scrunched together was feeling muddled and confused. He was wary, looking around the store for whoever was working and playing the music. Eddie heard some humming over at the furthest stack of records in the corner of the store, to the right near the guitars. For once in his life, Eddie had become speechless and couldn't get any words out of his mouth despite trying to. Why was a girl that looked like that, with this music playing and working here? She had beautiful, thick silver blonde hair down to her waist that was in a ponytail mid-way up on her head. This girl didn't have to turn around to know she was a stunning. She was petite in size, barely 5ft tall but looked strong with good muscle tone. Looking like she could kick some serious ass. Eddie could just tell that she was pretty without her turning around. Eddie couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was something about her that enthralled him in a good way. Something that drew him to her. She was his sort of weird.
Eddie trailed his fingers along the tapes, the courage was slowly building up in him as he got closer to the mysterious silver haired girl. His stomach had a few bubbles dancing around in it. Eddie looked up every so often as he walked closer to her. Hoping not to scare her away. Right until he was just the opposite of the record aisle from her. Her perfume smelt something like vanilla oil. Eddie honestly was feeling nervous because girls like that didn't talk to guys like him without sneering at them with disgust and telling them to fuck off away from them "Black Sabbath, I must say I am impressed by your choice of music to play on the speakers in the store. Most of the time it is mainstream media that is played and music to lure the folks in".
The girl turned around, her hand on her chest in the fright and had jumped at the voice that surprised her "Oh my god. I am so sorry I didn't hear you come in. I get into my own little world sometimes".
"It's okay" Eddie laughed, a small smile forming on his face "Who can blame you with the amazing Black Sabbath playing". She definitely was cute as hell.
Eddie not being able stop himself from staring at her eyes, was in awe. He was captivated by their light blue colour. They were blue as the sky that was outside cloudless. When the girl smiled, it reached to her eyes and made little wrinkles on the outer corner of them. Her cheeks were like little sugar plums "And to add to your question. I love his music. Ozzy Osbourne is not only an artist but a performer of his time. You listen to his music, and you are in a whole other world of crazy".
God she was lovely, and was a fan of Ozzy Osbourne of all artists "You are indeed right my fair maiden".
Charli had come across some terrible people in her life. So she got a good sense about him instantly, this guy in front of her was not one of those evil people. He had a kind smile with gentle brown eyes and was interested in the same sort of music she was into. What next took Eddie back a little, the girl put down the records she was packing away in order, walked around the aisle and extended her hand out to shake his hand. Girls that looked like her, never walked up to guys like him. Ever! Not willingly unless it was a dare or they were going to play a prank on him or embarrass him in some way "My name is Charlotte but I am just called Charli with just an I not an I E or EY. Although, if you ever call me Charlotte I just might have to kill you", she joked.
Eddie took her hand, so small compared to his own. Her skin soft as a pillow "Eddie Munson", taking his hand away, he crossed his arms across his chest and leaned a little back. Charli seemed like a cool girl "You are clearly new to Hawkins Lady Charli".
"How can you tell?" Charli asked, curious how he knew that "Despite the obvious".
It was quite simple really for Eddie to know. He crossed his arms, pursing his lips together and leaned in closer to her, putting on a mysterious voice like he would at Hellfire as Dungeon Master doing one of his speeches "No one just walks up to me, willingly shakes my hand and introduces themselves. Usually everyone runs the other way because as you could probably, I am the town freak with devil worshipping ways".
Charli knew this all too well, also laughing at his performance. Enjoying it "It is all just because you are a little different, Eddie. Trust me, I know. Look at my hair, this isn't dyed by some box or a hairdresser. This is all natural just from some shit I went through a while ago. The stress and trauma made my hair silver grey from blonde".
"I think it is cool" Eddie told her, looking at the ground, his feet kicking an imaginary rock on the ground. His eyes balked, then realising what he said could have been taken the wrong way "Your hair looks cool, I mean. Not that shit stuff you went through".
God he felt he must have looked like an idiot thumbling his words. Wanting to just slink into the ground and disappear. Mentally cringing.
"Thank you", She was wandering what the red devil was on his t shirt "Who is Hellfire if you don't mind me asking? That devil looks cool as an emblem. I like it!".
There was a little crease in between Eddie's eyes. Charli clearly seemed the girl who wouldn't look down on a person for their hobbies. Eddie looks down with a puzzled look on his face, then peering back up and his whole face animated with theatrical excitement to tell her all about Hellfire Club "Who is Hellfire. More like what is Hellfire. It is only the greatest Dungeons and Dragons Club there is that is going around this stupid and boring town"
Now Charli was intrigued, loving how Eddie was so animated with his movements and so excited to tell her all about his Dungeons and Dragons club. He clearly loved it.
He picked up the Megadeath album he had been looking for "There is me of course at the head as Dungeon Master leading them on their quest of the cult of Vecna leading the younglings in the game"
"So, it is a fantasy game?" Charli was still a little confused about what Hellfire was with only a small grasp "That has like a huge quest that you need to complete".
Eddie leaned forward closer to Charli, looking a little down to her. Her eyes were so damn blue. So pretty. A person couldn't read them, almost ghost like. Not knowing what was behind them. She was a tiny little thing, but he could see Charli would pack a punch with her spit fire personality "It is just not a game little one! It is a way of life".
There was a spark in her ice blue eyes but it was hiding a sadness "Is it like Lord of the Rings? Because you just said younglings" Charli asked, "Because I know all about that inside and out. I would read those books repeatedly rather than watch television ever again".
Oh god she loved Lord of the Rings. Charli really was perfect. A goddess in his eyes now.
"Have you been living under a rock? Dungeons and Dragons that was once a childish game now encourages murder, sodomy and suicide?" Eddie said to her only recalling what he had read in a magazine.
"You really don't scare me Eddie" Charli laughed and pointed him in the chest, making Eddie stumble back a little. She did not feel intimidated by him and Eddie smiled down at her because of that "In fact you are you are my first friend in the town"
"Really?" Eddie answered, puzzled at the fact that she wasn't afraid of him "Because most people like to run for the hills whenever they see me. Let alone be my friend".
"So just because you, Eddie don't conform to society standards you all should be outcasted for being different and not like everyone else" Charli told him. People looked at her hair and blue eyes with her tanned skinned, ostracising her compared to the other standards of young women "I mean, look at me for an example. People also run to the hills from me".
"Exactly" Eddie said to her 'Stuff society and their fucking stupid standards".
"Are you going to Hawkins High School?" Eddie asks her, secretly hoping the answer would be yes "It can be a shit hole but there a few good kids there".
Charli nodded "Yeah, first public school in a long time and I am really nervous about going" She was hoping with the budding conversation that Eddie would say yes to what she was about to ask him "Can I sit with you and the Hellfire Club at school? If that's okay. It would be nice to sit with someone I know, I am kind of nervous of going to public school after being home schooled for almost two years".
Mentally she cringes, her face contorting in embarrassment "Shit, sorry I am rambling. Sorry I ramble when I am nervous".
A cool girl like her that was into Lord of the Rings and Ozzy Osbourne. How could Eddie say no to "Of course you can. All of us freaks need to stick together in the wild world that is high school and those stupid groups they have going on", Eddie put his hand on her shoulder.
A wave of relief washed over Charli, feeling a little less nervous about starting school now that she knew someone nice. True she didn't care for a thought of what people saw her as, but after everything she went through "Thank you, thank you so much".
"No problem, I will look out for you. All of Hell Fire will" He was always going to say yes to Charli.
"Let me ring that up for you?", taking the Megadeath tape from his hand "I will give you the staff discount for you being the first friend I have made in this town".
"Well, all of is freaks need to stick together, don't we?" Eddie took the bag from her "A lovely girl like you doesn't deserve to be thrown to the wolves that is high school hierarchy and all that bull shit. But there is a look about you and I have a sneaking suspicion you could be a wolf in sheep's clothing, in fact you would give a good fight and have a damn good punch. I see that in you. It shows in your eyes".
A wave of reprieve swept over her "It is going to be nice not to feel alone on my first day of a new school" Charli, feeling a sense of relief and there was a release of the anxiety that had a hold of her "Don't tell my Uncle when ever you may meet him, but I was really scared at going to school not knowing a kind person with a friendly face. I am so glad I do now".
He stood there, a little in wander about the silver haired girl in front of him. Charli really did not hold any opinion to him. She was an old soul within a teenager's body "Don't you worry sweetheart. I got your back," Eddie told her with a large friendly grin across his face and bowing dramatically "See you at school tomorrow, Charli the high elf of Hellfire".
Eddie had a kind temperament to Charli, and he made her feel at ease. There was a kindness about him that radiated with his smile and his gentle brown eyes. He held no conviction and didn't look twice at her looks nor presume anything about who Charli was "See you later, Eddie and thank you. Thank you".
Eddie his back to the door, holding the handle of the door "No problem. See you at school. You can't miss us in the cafeteria, there is generally an imaginary barrier around us. No one likes to get too close to us just in case they might catch something".
"Bye, Eddie" Charli laughed.
Outside the sun was just setting a little. There were families about getting groceries for their dinner. All averting their eyes from Eddie, the freak. Not that he cared to be honest. He didn't give a shit about any of their small, minded opinions. But Charli, wow! She was of course gorgeous and the guys at Hellfire were not going to believe him that he talked to a girl like that, let alone a girl who likes Lord of the Rings and Black Sabbath. He took the keys out of his pocket, going then to unlock his car when a small hand grabbed his spare hand with skin so soft and pale pink nail polish "Hey, Eddie".
Yeah, he couldn't say no to that smile with those cute cheeks and little wrinkles in the corner of her eyes. There was a touch of sadness lingered behind her bright blue eyes. Charli smiles. But only with her mouth. The cheerfulness did not reach her eyes. There is a sadness there. It was lingering behind the veil Charli had up. Eddie wasn't fooled and could see behind the veil. It baffled Eddie that someone that was kind as Charli could have seen or gone through something so horrific. And he would let her tell him what happened.
"I forgot to give you this as a little thank you for being my first friend in this town, and for being just nice without looking at me like a freak", in her hand Charli had a red finder pick "You play guitar, right? I can tell by the weathering of your fingers", pointing out the little dry spots and thick skin.
Taking the pick in his hand, now one of his highly treasured possessions from someone like her. It was awesome that Charli took notice of the small things "Yeah, I play in a band called Corroded Coffin. Which you should come and check out one day. We play in front of a huge crowd of five or 6 drunks every Tuesday".
Now that sounded like something she would enjoy. Live music and a good time singing "Sounds like a plan. I would love to when you guys play next time".
"Done deal then, Charli. Next time Corroded Coffin play, I will hook you up with front row tickets and behind the scenes tour" Eddie offered her, then looking up over the left and seeing the same two women stand there and stare. Taking a step away from Charli discreetly. Not wanting to her being new any harder.
Out of the corner of Charli's eye, she could see what Eddie was looking at and why he stepped back from her. Smirking and shaking her head at their small mindedness, taking that step forward to him "I don't care. You are my friend", she whispered.
Yeah, Charli had some fight in her. Eddie could see it.
"I had better get back to the store and finish off with the day", Charli backed away, still facing Eddie and just feeling thankful she had run into him "Thanks again, see you at school".
Eddie held up the pick to her, "Thanks for the pick!",
Oh, the guys at Hellfire were not going to believe this at all. And he wasn't going to use the pick on his guitar, he was going to make it into a necklace.