Gone.

Rosie was gone.

With the wedding approaching, that meant two demons fighting for supremacy in Eddie's mind: loneliness and foreboding. The first sought to destroy him now, the second heralded his downfall in a month's time.

"Eat, Ed." Wayne slammed the bucket down in front of him. He'd bought KFC purely with the intention of fattening him up. Across the table Steve - who had "just swung by" - was tearing into a leg, grease all over his mouth. "There's nothing in those fries."

"Gravy's good." Steve dunked again, chewing loudly.

Eddie pulled it apart, stomach protesting. Or maybe his brain. He could feel Wayne watching him closely, so mechanically started putting morsels between his teeth and masticating. His uncle finished his piece and stood, pulling a cap onto his head. Shook Steve's hand as he went out the door to work. Eddie watched, feeling like a baby being handed over to his sitter.

"So...how you been?"

"Fine."

"Taken any...pleasant swims lately?"

Eddie glared. Steve laughed. He'd only seen them when he stuck his head out the window. Only seen them about to pollute his family's pool. He didn't know what had happened. Eddie hated having to talk about it.

"About that -"

"Don't worry, Man. Not like I haven't tried it in the pool."

Eddie cringed. Surely they'd changed the water since then? Filtered it? Sterilized with chemicals? "It wasn't like that. Not exactly."

"What, you fell in and she had to rescue you?"

"Actually..."

His friend's expression morphed. Jovial to concerned. "You're shitting me."

"I'm not."

"Like in the boathouse?"

He nodded. "Only this time I - ptssshh!"

Steve dropped the leg, holding the sides of his face in his hands. Got gravy in his perfect hair. "Eddie! You-you -!"

"Yeah."

"You could've died!"

"If Rosie hadn't fished me out."

The other guy measured him. "How'd she manage that?"

"Just glad she did."

"Yeah. Right. Oh my god, Man!"

"I know."

"Was it another dream? Like before?"

"Uh-huh." Eddie nibbled. "Rosie thinks it's Hawkins."

Harrington thought about that for a long while. Looked him up and down the whole time, fright still clear in his eyes. "You know...maybe she's not wrong."

"There's nothing here any more."

"No Vecna, sure. I hope. But that doesn't mean there isn't something."

"Like what?"

"Memories. Reminders. Trauma." Steve bent over the table. "Eddie, the things that happened here. The things that happened to you. They were all horrifying. I get it. Sometimes I think I see a demogorgon out the corner of my eye and it's just some guy in a suit. Or hear one of those things charging me from behind and it's just the neighbor's dog. I was there. The bats got me, too, remember? They sure as hell didn't eat me alive."

"Thanks to Nancy."

"What? Thanks to you, Eddie! And Robin, and Nancy. You all followed me in. But...but we weren't there for you."

"I got out. In the end."

"But we didn't save you." Another long stare. "Maybe that's what Rosie's for."

"Huh?"

"There's no going back. For any of us. But she brings out some of the old Eddie. The one I was too stuck-up to be friends with. Trailer trash. Perpetual senior. The goofy freak."

"I get it."

"The one without the scars."

"Maybe this is a better Eddie." He mused. "Old and new. Combined."

"That's what I'm saying."

"You know you're smarter than you look, Steve."

"Tell that to my dad, please."

"New costume?"

Will turned, red cape swishing and scepter swinging. "I made the whole thing!"

"It's cool. What's it made of?"

"This? It's just cardboard, really. Mostly. Gold spray paint and glued stuff."

"Can I see?"

He handed the ornament over, flushing with pride. Eddie weighed it and looked closely at the little gems.

"You're really into this sorta stuff, huh?"

"Oh. Yeah. It's fun."

"Drawing, too."

"Yeah."

"You know there's...colleges for this? Proper schools." Eddie passed it back. "I kinda wanted to go for music, but you know...too dumb."

Will rolled his eyes. "No you're not."

"Not smart, either. Like you. Or Dustin."

A stare. Then the boy laughed. "You didn't say Mike."

"I didn't?"

"No."

"Hmm."

Across the table, the boy in question. Stared. "What?"

"Nothing." Will chortled.

"Can we just start the game?"

Will's campaigns were always colorful. Eddie enjoyed them. They were a stark contrast to his own dark, grisly style, but creativity respects creativity, and the kid was talented.

Mike had a date with El, so they needed to finish on time. He stuffed his things into his bag and ran out the door. As the others cleared up, Eddie walked over to Dustin.

"Henderson. I'll give you a ride."

The boy frowned. "Will's mom is -"

"I know. I wanted to ask you about something."

"About Rosie?"

Eddie nodded. "Yeah."

"At what point in this relationship do I stop being a confidant?"

"When I know everything there is to know about her?"

"Ugh."

Dustin hopped into the van, waving to his friends. Eddie climbed in after and sat shaking the keys in his hand for a few minutes.

"I'm going to the wedding."

"Cousin Lilah?" Dustin confirmed. "Rosie invited you?"

"Yep."

"Awwwwh."

"Quiet. You're...not going, are you?"

"No. It's an immediate family event."

Immediate family. That meant only those closest the bride and groom. That meant not casual. That meant any plus ones were seen as... "This is important, then."

"What?"

"Aside from you... I haven't met her family yet." Eddie's leg was jiggling. "Any of them."

"You're sweating."

"I know."

"Don't tell me you're nervous?"

"Of course I am! I'm meeting her family in three weeks!"

"It is a big deal."

Eddie huffed. It was summer, but the van suddenly felt like an oven. "I'm aware."

"You just gotta be on your best behavior." Dustin's face dropped. "Oh...that means actual good behavior. Like perfect."

"It does?"

"Uh-huh. You don't know her dad."

"I don't."

"One toe out of line and -" Hand slicing across his neck. "You're done."

"Rosie said he wasn't as tough as he looks!"

"She's his daughter, of course she thinks that."

"What do I do?"

Dustin thought carefully. "Easy on the beers."

"Okay."

"No pot. Not at all. Not even in here. He'll know."

"Uhh...I-I can do that."

"Clean clothes. Brush your goddamn hair."

"Right."

"No potty mouth."

"Oh shit."

"Not even that. Poops and darns the whole time."

"I'm in trouble."

"Don't touch Rosie around him."

"What?"

"We had a gathering a few years back in Ohio." Dustin elaborated. "He caught Rob - that's Rosie's brother - making out with his fiancée (who's now the mother of his children), and lectured him in the open about respect."

"I'm doomed."

His friend shot him a sympathetic look. "He plays guitar."

"Rosie mentioned."

"At least that's something you can use. If you impress him maybe..."

"Maybe?"

"Maybe he won't eat you alive."