"So, when's daddy dearest coming back?"

"Huh?" Chrissy stops sifting through the vanity drawer to look over at the man sitting at her desk. He seems comfortable here, leaning far back in the chair while flipping through one of the books that were pushed off to the side. "Oh, um… Maybe Friday or something?"

"Maybe?" He sounds incredulous, like how can she not know for sure when her sole parent is returning?

"Well, my dad said he was going away for two weeks and had some things to take care of. He left on a Friday, so I'm just assuming…"

The book is closed and put back on the desk as Eddie regards her for a moment, furrowing his brow. "You haven't talked to him?" Seeing the look on the cheerleader's face says more than enough. No. Not at all. "He doesn't smoke, right?"

It takes a second to sink in. That's right. What he said about his own father at the lake… No way. "Don't say that." Going back to the drawer, it's difficult not letting it get to her. That wouldn't happen. Her dad's far too proud and has too much here to just walk away.

'He doesn't know him. My dad spent years building all of this up. There's no way he'd just run off like that.'

"I'm just being cynical. My bad. It was a shitty joke."

"That's okay." Chrissy chews on the inside of her lip while staring down at the small boxes. What was she even looking for again? It doesn't matter anymore. Couldn't have been that important. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices him getting off the chair to walk around.

'Already looking for something else to get into.'

"Oh?! You're reading it?" Abandoning the forgotten mission, she sits back and sees him holding up the book that was on her nightstand. The one he gave her as a present that has a bookmark sticking up from the top. "What part are you at?"

She flushes and shifts against the seat. It's like he's genuinely delighted to find out she's digging into the story. "The hobbits are at an inn and meet a guy who knows about the ring. Ah! Yeah, some other man just gave Frodo a letter from the wizard that he forgot about. That's where I left off."

"You're talkin' about Strider. And the dude with the letter is Barliman Butterbur, the innkeeper. Nice. Wasn't sure if you'd give it a try… You like it so far?"

It's stupid, but this is kind of embarrassing. That book was cracked open the same day he left after spending the night. This is something the Hellfire Club is interested in. More importantly, a story that he enjoys. She got a little excited and jumped right in. "Yeah. It's interesting. Definitely different from the books I usually get."

Both hands slap against his knees as Eddie pushes up off the chair, standing tall. She's puzzled when he turns and puts a foot up on the seat. "All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king." His voice drops a few octaves and an open hand waves through the air, reciting lines from the book.

'...I read that part during study hall. How much of it does he have memorized?!'

Finishing the small scene, his head whips in her direction. "Tolkien was my favorite as a kid. Still is." The cheer captain just gawks at him. Her memory isn't good enough to know if it was word for word, but still… That's ridiculous. Super dorky and impressive at the same time. Silence fills the room and his fingers reach down to grab onto the chain hanging from his belt loop, rolling the links between them. "What?"

"Nothing." She giggles, trying to cover it with the back of her hand. The lack of reaction must've made him uncomfortable. "It's just… I think it's cute when you're being a big nerd."

"Big nerd? I don't wanna hear that from you."

'Was he hoping for a standing ovation or something? Maybe I should've done that instead.'

"From me? I can't recite anything to save my life, let alone an entire poem." Chrissy laughs more, leaning to the side on her seat. "I liked it! That was neat. Not everyone can do that."

Despite trying to make him feel better, he marches over and ruffles her hair worse than ever. "Hey!" She yells, swatting at the offending hand. The ponytail was already falling out as it is and now, it's a real disaster. He just chuckles, taking a step back to observe the damage. Turning to look in the mirror, a loud gasp leaves her lips. "Look what you did, you punk…" the cheerleader huffs, blowing a few loose strands away from her face.

"Then let me fix it." Didn't even hesitate… He wants to do her hair? Really? That's a first. A guy never offered to do that before. They also don't purposefully make messes like him, then insist on cleaning them up. It's unnecessary. Still, curiosity is winning out. "Is it cool to smoke in here or nah?"

"Yeah, sure. After my dad comes back, that'll have to stop." The first-floor smells okay now, despite how much he smoked over the weekend. Airing out the place definitely helped. So did a large amount of air freshener. Cigarette smoke has an annoying way of lingering around for a while. That's apparent from his clothes and van.

Chrissy's teeth rake over her bottom lip, quietly watching him move around. Opening up the window and snatching up the pail he tossed on her bed when they came in. Unless it's something huge, she doesn't mind letting him do whatever. The lid is flipped open, and he pulls out his pack and lighter. Also, what looks to be the smallest ashtray she's ever seen. Or at least it seems like that's what he'll use it for.

"I take it I also won't be seeing the inside of this room anytime soon." Eddie sighs, lighting up the cigarette. The thought seems to bum him out. It makes sense, at least taking her dad's reputation into account. There's no telling how he'd react to finding a guy in here, let alone one with long hair and tattoos. The entire neighborhood might blow up just from his rage.

"Not necessarily." He quirks a brow at her. She bites on a fingernail, trying to think fast. "I mean, you can always climb up the tree to get in here. No one should see you if it's dark out. And as long as we're not too loud, we should be okay."

The Hellfire leader stares at her blankly, taking a long drag of his cigarette. "...As long as we're not too loud… Gotcha." That stuns her for the dozenth time today. Did he just make a dirty joke? She sucks in a sharp breath, unable to stop the heat from scorching her face. "What? I'm just repeatin' what you said." His lips curl up into a sly grin as he blows smoke out of the corner of them. "Oh, I see. So it turns out the Queen of Hawkins High is actually a little perv, huh?"

'Unbelievable! What a smug jerk! Is this payback for not clapping after his performance?'

"No! No way… You're the one that…" It trails off, going nowhere. And he's technically not wrong. All he did was repeat what she said, even if they both understood the intent. What's worse is that nothing smart comes to mind. No witty comeback or way to turn this around on him. That threw her off too much.

Unable to hold his gaze any longer, Chrissy spins around in her seat and pulls the hoodie up. Continuing as a stuttering mess will only entertain this guy even more. At least in here, she doesn't have to see him and can get a chance to regroup. Is he right? Does that make her a perv, since that was the first thing that came to mind?

'I'm burning up. It's too hot in here.'

"C'mon… I was just messin' with you." Eddie's voice sounds closer now. "Don't hide from me in there. Your hair is gonna turn into a rat's nest in that thing."

Part of her wants to mess it up even more just so he has more work to do, but that's just shooting herself in the foot. This is so dumb. Boys have made dirty comments in the past and it hardly got a reaction like this. Maybe it's because it seems so far out of left field coming from him?

Now is a good time to get it together. Something like that shouldn't cause this. They're not in middle school anymore. That was a long time ago. Grabbing the bottom of the hoodie, she pulls it up over her head, draping it over the back of the chair. No more hiding. There's another thing that's not sitting well with her. "I'm not a fan of the nickname you gave me."

"Huh?"

"You called me that a few times now. 'Queen of Hawkins High'. That's not true." It didn't feel right when he initially said it at the picnic table and still doesn't. No one refers to her like that. At least, not that she's aware of. Accepting such a nickname just seems too egotistical.

"Sure it is. But if you don't want me to call you that, then I won't. 'Kay?" That's a bit better. She slowly nods, not wanting to argue about the first part. "Now sit still and let me fix this." He smirks, holding out an open palm towards her. It takes a moment to realize what he's silently requesting. The brush sitting on the table. Handing it over, his fingers get to work gently pulling out the green scrunchie and putting it on his wrist.

This is so weird. Staring into the vanity, it dawns on Chrissy how strange this entire thing is. Eddie Munson, the guitar-playing 'town freak' who drives like a complete maniac and sells drugs, is carefully brushing out her hair. There's a look of concentration on his face as he takes another drag from the cigarette dangling from his lips, trying to avoid yanking on any little knots. Though he is the one who caused it.

Then again, strange is fine. What would've felt bizarre just a few months ago is becoming normal lately. For the better or worse. To be honest, this actually is nice. And it seems like he's enjoying himself.

"You have pretty hair."

"You do, too." She blurts out, not thinking. Most guys don't want to be called that in any form. At least, the ones she knows. Yet after getting a chance to run her hands through those messy locks, there's no doubt about it.

'I want to do it again.'

His gaze meets hers in the mirror, and he snorts. "Well, 'pretty' wasn't exactly what I was going for when I grew it out, but hell… I'll take it."

It's almost back to its original state. If she's not mistaken, Eddie's taking his sweet time with the task at hand. Using his fingers to separate the strands into sections and making little baby strokes. Is he worried about ripping some out by accident if it's done too roughly?

"You wanna drag?" He asks, motioning toward the cigarette by tilting his chin up, holding the butt between his teeth.

"No thanks. I don't want to add another bad habit on top of everything." That might sound insulting. Even if the things he dabbles in are bad habits, no one needs to tell him. "No offense!" It just isn't her cup of tea. She wants to get healthier, not make things worse. Smoking pot or having a drink here and there is already enough.

"None taken. It's cool. You don't look like much of a smoker, anyway. Full offense." Eddie grins widely, dragging his fingers across her scalp as he finishes up. "Good. Be upfront with me if you're not feeling something."

"I'm… trying." That feels really good. Her head shifts along with his hands' movements, hardly registering whatever he's saying. Mostly going in one ear and out the other from being too focused on the pleasant sensations his fingers are causing. It isn't until the massage ends and all her hair is pulled back that she snaps out of it.

The scrunchie's slipped off his wrist, and he makes quick work of her ponytail, setting it back in place. "There. Good as new, like I never screwed with it." From his expression in the mirror, he seems pleased with himself. She is, too. It's not too tight and there isn't a bunch of loose hair either.

"Thanks." A thought crops up while staring at his face. This has been on her mind since flipping through a magazine that was in Charlotte's car the other day. "Hey, um… Have you ever put on eyeliner?"

"What?"

She holds in a snicker at his reaction. That took him off guard by the way his eyes widened and brows flew right up into his hair. "Eyeliner. Like how some rock stars or punks or whatever do? You know—" A small hand gestures drawing circles around her eyes. "That."

"Uh… Nope. Just smudged some black shit around them for Halloween before. That's 'bout it."

Now that things are more comfortable between them, this should be fine. Hopefully. A little makeup isn't going too far, right? "Can I… Can I put some on you? I'm curious about how it'd look."

Chrissy turns in the seat to face him, looking up with big puppy-dog eyes. Now that the request is out in the open, she's eager to see it. Eddie with eyeliner on… Will he let her do that?

He goes silent again. Was that too much? Some men get weird when it comes to anything 'girly'. There are plenty of rockers, punks, and other groups who are into that stuff. At least, from what she's seen on TV and in magazines. That doesn't mean everyone is, though.

This guy's not giving much away. Just standing there with his hand on his hips, glancing around the room. After a minute, one last drag is taken and the cigarette's put out in the tiny ashtray. "You got something to clean it off when we're done?" Despite resigning himself to this fate, he seems okay with it.

"Yep! I have makeup wipes right here." She pulls out a pack from the drawer and shows it to him. Maybe a little too enthusiastically. "These work really good. No one would ever know anything was there."

"Okay, fine. Have at it." A smirk spreads across his lips as the cheerleader excitedly hops to her feet, motioning for him to sit down in front of the vanity. "And I wouldn't give a crap if people knew."

'Right. Silly me…'

Eddie plops down on the chair and leans back, following every movement as she sifts through one of the drawers to find an unused pencil. "I don't even trust myself with sharp stuff around my eyes so… I'm puttin' my life in your hands."

"Don't worry. I've done this before." Her face lights up finding a new one in the back. The drawers closed, and she takes the plastic cap off, eyeing the edge to make sure it's good enough for the job. "Haven't poked anyone so far."

"With my luck, I'll be the first." He chuckles, crossing his arms while watching her slide onto the edge of the table. Sitting a little off to the side to make sure there's enough light. "Please be gentle with me, Your Highness."

Chrissy pauses for a moment. That sounded innocent enough, but something's telling her it's not. The wolfish grin plastered on him gives it away. Even if she can't quite place a finger on it.

'I'm pretty sure he's being bad tonight.'

"I'll try." Actually, this seating is a bit awkward. There's no leverage. She sucks in a breath through her teeth, debating on how to do this. Hanging that far over the table while doing this is just asking for trouble. "Come closer." He makes a funny face, then scoots the chair forward. "Closer."

"Okay, okay." Despite the grumbling, he follows the instructions. Moving close enough to the vanity that there's barely any room between them.

The cheer captain waits for him to close his eyes before beginning. To think he's actually letting her do this… Charlotte would be so jealous. The brunette's been trying to get John to do something similar for a while. Just to play around a bit. It's all in good fun.

Placing a hand on the side of his face to make this easier, Chrissy leans in and starts from the middle of his lid, moving outwards. The smell of smoke and spice is strong at this proximity, but those are all too familiar scents at this point. A unique combination that's steadily growing on her. Or already has.

'Jeez.'

Expecting Eddie to stay still for any amount of time might've been wishful thinking. All he's doing is sitting in a chair, yet so many tiny things are going on at once. It's a little distracting. The muscles in his face twitching. His Adam's apple bobbing every so often. The hands in his lap fidgeting and moving around like he's not sure what to do with them. Then there's his knee bouncing under the table, making it more difficult to keep the eyeliner strokes straight and clean.

"Stop moving or you'll end up looking like a raccoon."

"My bad. It's hard for me to sit like this." A real attempt is made. She can tell he's straining to keep it together, at least for a few minutes. It's better to make this quick before this guy bursts from the effort. "Seems fitting. Wouldn't be too wild to see me digging in a trash can somewhere."

"Eddie!" A small hand lightly slaps his chest, making him chuckle even more. "That's funny but mean."

After waiting for him to get it out of his system, Chrissy goes back to finishing the other side. With them positioned like this, she takes the opportunity to get a good look at his face. Up close. There are certain things that escaped her notice before. Or maybe she just didn't pay enough attention.

'He has full lips…'

"Okay, look up so I can do the bottom." His lids flutter open as he looks up, just as requested. It probably feels strange having a thick layer on them. She lets out a shaky breath and continues, glancing at his eyes. So large and expressive. They're a rich shade of brown, like the coffee beans in the kitchen downstairs. Other times, the irises are so dark it's hard to tell them apart from his pupils, especially after smoking.

'What the heck is wrong with me?'

"There! All done." Hopping off the table faster than necessary, the cheer captain walks behind the chair and looks at the vanity. It's as she imagined. Eddie and eyeliner do go together. Pretty well too. Reaching out, her fingers work themselves into his hair, fluffing it out. "You look like a rock star."

Tilting his head all the way back, he looks up with a crooked grin. "You sayin' I didn't before?"

"No, I… That's not what I meant. I just mean… Now you look more like the ones I've seen on MTV..." Hopefully none of this is insulting. That wasn't the intention. Perhaps using something mainstream as an example wasn't the best choice. "And in magazines."

"Hm. So, which do you prefer?" He arches a brow smugly, getting a kick out of her flustered state. "With or without?" The teasing tone isn't lost on her. Is there a wrong answer? Probably.

The hands that were toying with the messy, dark locks slide over to cup the sides of his face. "I like you both ways," Chrissy says softly, meeting his gaze again. She's not sure what expression she's making, but he seems surprised. "I was just curious to see…" Her voice trails off. See, what? The thought vanishes.

'What am I doing?'

Everything's warm. Too warm. This was supposed to be fun. Just a little messing around. Right? Yet her chest feels tight, to the point it almost hurts. There are a bunch of conflicting emotions. Guilt is one of them. She just broke up with Jason this morning. Still, would it be wrong to want to move on? Is that too quickly?

"I was being a butthurt, jealous asshole."

What's the point of being purposefully ignorant about what's been going on the last month? Jason was a big part of the reason. She lied and snuck around, but never wanted to be a 'cheater'. That's not an issue anymore. Or is there a fear of screwing up? Eddie's been a great friend so far. Hiccups and all. Even though it hasn't been long, she doesn't want him to go away.

A person who's just a friend wouldn't get jealous over stuff like that. Normally… It's probably safe to assume he likes her too. But what if this doesn't go well? They might not even want the same things. Neither has talked about it. Maybe this is all really stupid. It's agonizing. Confusing. Driving her straight up a wall.

Perhaps it started before Saturday night, and Chrissy refused to acknowledge it. The cowardly way of handling things. Staring at him right now though, it feels like she's on the cusp of… something.

It's way bigger than herself. The size of an ocean. This is like taking those first few steps into the water at the beach. At first it seems so cold, then after getting used to the temperature, it's easier to keep going. But this water is deep and murky. It's impossible to see the bottom. That's scary enough. And she's only dipped her toes in so far.

'I'm afraid.'

"Chrissy?"

That snaps the cheerleader out of it. Ignoring the eyes studying her face, she pulls away and takes a step back. So dumb. Why complicate things even more? Taking a deep breath, it's a struggle to reel it all back in. She might just be feeling vulnerable right now and seeking comfort. That's not fair to him.

"Not bad." Eddie exhales sharply, inspecting himself in the mirror. He lifts his chin and turns it side to side. A helpful distraction. "If we decide to switch up our look after making it big, you can come along and work your magic. Don't think I'd trust anyone else putting pointy crap near my eyes. Well, unless your studio's open by then."

Crossing her arms, she slowly lets a smile out. There's no point in hiding it. His words are kind, despite being way off on multiple fronts. It's literally just eyeliner. Nothing more. "That's flattering, but my skills are basic at best."

"Hey, if you can make this mug look half decent, then you're a miracle worker… Or a sorceress." Long fingers graze along his chin as he observes the reflection, taking small glances at her in it. "Not sure which yet. Need some more time to figure it out."

"Miracle worker? No, you just have good features."

That draws out an odd reaction. Turning in the seat, he looks up at her with his nose crinkled, as if she just said something really gross. "Good features? That's a new one. You're real freaky, you know that? Maybe we should get you checked out."

Huh. Eddie's an attractive person. It's not hard to understand how some people might miss that. She did. The first thing most would notice is his hair and style, which aren't very popular in a conservative town like Hawkins. Quickly followed by his loud mouth and vulgar language. Adding it together, those tend to overshadow the rest of him.

'I like those parts. All of them. Even the supposed bad ones.'

"You've been wearing it, huh?" Following his stare, Chrissy inwardly gasps seeing the Hellfire Club shirt sticking out from the top of the duvet. Exactly where she left it this morning. That was meant to go into the hamper… The little smirk and way his eyes narrow playfully makes her flush.

"Yeah." She walks over to the bed and snatches the tee up, holding it up against her chest. "It's really cozy. I love it." Her mouth tugs up into a smile from the expression on his face. Well, the lack of one. Just him staring blankly, eyeing up his club's shirt pressed against the cheer uniform top. It's getting a little easier to read those looks. "Do you guys' order these from somewhere?"

"Uh…" Eddie blinks, shifting his gaze back to her face. "We… make them."

"Really?!" That's so impressive. Her eyes light up, glancing from the front of the shirt over towards him. This guy knows how to do so many different things. "I had no idea." He slowly nods, pursing his lips and shifting against the chair. "Is there a way to customize them? Like, change the color of the sleeves? Or do they already come like this, just without the design?"

"What? Do you not like them as they are?" His tone sounds different. Almost letdown.

"No, they're great. Honestly. I sleep in it all the time." She cringes, not meaning to let that part slip out. "It's just that I don't want to wear it out too quickly. You know. I thought maybe having another one to switch between would be a good idea. And that popped up after you said you guys make them and… Nevermind. Forget I said anything." He probably thinks she sounds ungrateful. Getting one shirt despite not actually belonging to the club was already more than nice.

'Me and my stupid, greedy mouth…'

He's quiet for a moment. Just sitting there, tapping his fingers against the side of the chair. Did that irk him? So much for getting better at reading him… It'd be understandable, especially if they make them. Clubs usually take pride in their shirts and uniforms, even if they're not custom.

"Let me guess. You'd make it pink, right?" Slouching in the seat, the Hellfire leader raises a brow and grins. That's a relief. Much better than him being offended. She sucks in her lips and nods. Seems like he's got her all figured out sometimes. "What kind of pink are we talkin'?"

"Like, pastel pink? That's my favorite." Chrissy sits down on the edge of the bed and puts the shirt down next to her thigh, trying to calm the jitters. Seeing him in eyeliner is still throwing her off. It makes him look more like a bad boy than he already does. Honestly, she's a fan. As if there needed to be another reason to get all gaga around him.

"...I'll see what I can do."

"Hmm…" Blue eyes gloss over the mirror, taking in all the details of the petite figure in the reflection. Not bad. It doesn't cover as much as the one stashed away in the closet, but this is fine.

Small hands graze over her hips as she turns to the side. Better than before. Still not where she wants to be, though. There's a lot of work ahead. At least the image doesn't bring out intense negative emotions. It's an improvement. A big step in the right direction.

'I need to start getting ready.'

Chrissy's been standing in front of the vanity with only her bra and panties for a while now. Just staring at the person looking back. This was a bad habit for a long time. Doing this and coming up with a lengthy list of traits that are unappealing. This time, she's trying to do it with positive ones. It's not an easy task. Starting off small seems to help. Maybe the list will grow longer somewhere down the road.

'Nice skin. Full lips. Hair is alright. Being short isn't the worst.'

That's good enough for now. Turning away, she heads to the closet to pick out an outfit. It's Thursday, so no cheer practice. Thank goodness. One less thing to do. Today is already gearing up to be turbulent as it is. The fallout from the gutsy move made yesterday.

Moving down the row of hangers, a light turquoise jumpsuit catches her attention. It's bright and soft. Fitting for the current mood. Despite the inevitable drama at school, she's in high spirits. Not even Jason can completely ruin it. That isn't happening. It's the first day of being out of that unhealthy relationship and starting over.

Now dressed, the cheer captain sits at the vanity and pulls out a white scrunchie from the drawer, throwing her hair up into a ponytail. A casual look. Nothing too fancy. She blushes just thinking about last night. How someone else did this instead…

Eddie stayed over really late. Even if she didn't want him to leave, it was unfortunately necessary. Neither of them would've gotten any sleep. What keeps that man running is a mystery. He's a ball of energy, positive or negative. They'll see each other again. There's no rush.

The tightness in her chest is still there. It's a little better with him out of sight, yet that sensation continues to linger. Such a wonderful feeling… So warm and bright. Everything's extra vibrant today, even the tree outside of the window.

'Is this that high on life thing people talk about?'

Glancing over at the clock, it's time to get going. Charlotte will be here soon. Similar to Jason, the brunette's pretty punctual. She called her up last night for a ride. Eddie offered a handful of times to do it himself but was politely turned down. He's already doing more than enough as it is. It's better to leave a little earlier in case the Jeep shows up as usual. That'll be too awkward.

Next on the big to-do list is working on getting a car. Then no one has to be inconvenienced. She already has her driver's license. That's all that's missing.

After finishing getting ready and heading out front, Chrissy eyes the Riviera parked by the curb. There's no doubt an interrogation will occur. Not that anyone could blame her. Most people would be confused in this situation. Once the passenger side door opens, it begins.

"What the hell is going on, girl?!" The cheer captain tries to stop herself from grinning at the reaction. Maybe Eddie is something of a bad influence. She drops the bookbag on the floor and sits down, prepared for the onslaught of questions. After all, promising to explain was part of the deal. "I go to the bathroom with Nat and Julie for a few minutes and come out to pandemonium."

'Pandemonium? That sounds fitting.'

"All I'm hearing is that you left practice holding hands with that… Munson guy. The others are saying you're cheating. Jason's trying to keep them all quiet. So, what's going on?" Charlotte has an interesting expression. A mix of shock, disbelief, and intrigue. If anything, she's dying to be in the know.

This is her area of expertise. Drama and relationships. Consulting her first might've been a smart move, but she dropped the ball on that. It's becoming clearer lately that a person can't always do everything on their own. Sometimes asking for help is necessary.

"It's true." The brunette jumps back against the seat with a loud gasp at that, clutching the front of her blouse. "Well, not the cheating part. I broke up with Jason yesterday morning. He's… having a hard time accepting it."

That's an understatement. It's mind-boggling. To not only reject a rejection, but now he wants to keep this all quiet? Maybe she should've expected it. If everyone at school doesn't find out, did it even happen? Sure, the incident in the hallway will make her look extremely bad without context. That will work to his benefit. On the flip side, having people think he lost his girlfriend to the 'town freak' is unbearable. A real blow to his pride. The negatives probably outweigh any positives on his end.

"Hold the phone! Hold up, hold up… Am I in the Twilight Zone? Just what's been happening? And without my knowledge? Chris… Do you not trust me or something? I thought girlfriends were supposed to talk to each other. I'm not sure if I should be hurt or impressed that you pulled all this off under our noses." Seeing the disappointed look on Charlotte's face makes her feel bad. It wasn't personal. She didn't keep secrets to cause anyone pain.

"I wasn't really sure what was going on myself. It just… escalated so quickly." She puts a hand on her friend's, hoping there will be some sort of understanding. Maybe it's time to start being a little more honest, especially to the people close to her. They don't need to know every detail. Just a general gist to stay in the loop. "I'll let you know what's been happening. Can we get going first? In case Jason swings by?"

"Sure. You better tell me everything, missy. No skimping out on any parts, either."

The Riviera slowly pulls into a space in the school parking lot. Charlotte's been quiet for some time now. It took a lot longer to get here than it should've. They took the long way, even making extra turns on purpose. Just driving around the area while giving Chrissy the chance to explain things.

This was difficult. Perhaps opening up will always be a challenge. While trying to elaborate on the situation, certain segments needed to be left out. Both she and Eddie deserve a little privacy. That guy might not care who knows what, but still. Some things are just personal and should stay that way.

Besides, it's not like they're going out. He's not her boyfriend and hasn't asked to be. There's no reason to make this a bigger deal than it actually is.

"I'm not sure if the others will stay hush-hush about what they saw yesterday…" the brunette begins. It's foolish to expect anything less. "But it'll be okay. Even if it's not, who cares? We have like, three months of school left." She laughs, turning to eye someone in the parking lot. "And seriously? Screw Jason. That two-bit, beer-chugging, hypocrite can shove it."

That's not something Chrissy thought would come from her mouth. Sounds more like Natalie or Eddie.

"I put up with his preachy crap all year because I thought you loved him or something. We just thought you still believed in that garbage Pastor Bennett used to say. Well, that and maybe you were a bit of a prude."

"No… I stopped believing that stuff a while ago. Not exactly easy to keep buying into when everyone else isn't being damned. I just… I don't know. Didn't want to. At least, not with him." Saying out loud what her gut knew all along is so odd. This topic has always been rough to delve into. It's not something she's even comfortable talking to Eddie about. Maybe because he's a guy.

"But, sheesh. Jason has zero sense. There's nothing romantic about any of that. He's such a little turd!" Charlotte clenches her fists, getting angry. As the self-proclaimed 'Goddess of Love' for Hawkins High, crossing certain lines is sacrilege. Cheating, anything non-consensual, and being cheap. A person is as good as dirt if they break those laws. "Good. I'm glad you dumped him. This is all just really crazy and out of the blue. My head's spinning." She sighs, pressing a hand to her forehead.

"I know. It's a lot for me, too. Everything happened so fast…" The last month felt extremely long. Looking back, it really wasn't. A lot occurred in a short amount of time. Chrissy from five or six weeks ago never would've believed any of this. Might've even tried to smack some sense into herself.

"Okay, just answer me this. If you wanted a way to make it clear you two are over, why make a spectacle with that weirdo? Is it because you know Jason hates him? I mean, there are plenty of guys that would've jumped at the chance. I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around this. It's… It's too crazy. This is like, clique treason or whatever."

Chrissy frowns, not liking what's being said. That isn't an unreasonable question considering the circumstances, but she doesn't like someone calling him a weirdo. Even if he is. "Believe it or not, Eddie's actually a really good person. I don't care about those guys or silly clique rules. And this wasn't some underhanded plot we hatched just to make Jason angrier. He's my friend. We started talking a while before I even thought of breaking things off."

Staring blankly, Charlotte regards her carefully before slowly nodding. "A good person? Him? I have my doubts, but if you say so… This is still super weird. Don't get me wrong, I love sinking my teeth into some relationship drama. It's just that I never expected it from you, of all people. Maybe I underestimated you. Or overestimated my ability to sniff this stuff out."

"Maybe a bit of both." She grins, shifting her shoulder up. The brunette reaches over to tap her wrist, barely able to conceal her own amusement at this. Seeing the time on the dashboard, both reach for their belongings. "I'm a little worried about how he's going to react today."

"If Jason's smart, he won't. That guy cares too much about what people think. Doing something stupid, like blowing up at you, is a great way to find himself stuck in a corner with only his basketball buddies. And that's a best-case scenario for him." She says menacingly, grabbing her purse off the floor.

Getting out of the car, the cheer captain smiles to herself. That went better than imagined, even with the theatrics on the way here. She's grateful Charlotte not only gave her a ride but also listened. At least there's another person who kind of knows what's going on. Just in case… Letting Natalie in on it might be a good idea, too. Unless someone beats her to it.

When they walk up to the school, Chrissy's stomach sinks as soon as her eyes land on the white and green varsity jacket up ahead. Not just any. Jason's waiting there, leaning against the wall with Andy and Chance flanking him. Taking a deep breath, she tries to calm down. Is it being too naïve to hope it's for a different reason than what comes to mind?

'Don't make eye contact. Keep your head up. Walk normally.'

"...Chris." Kicking off the wall, he makes a beeline straight for her.

"Back off, asshole." Before he gets too close to them, Charlotte puts an arm out and gets in the way. "Go hang out with your buddies and leave us alone."

"Charlotte the Harlot sure has a mouth on her." Andy smirks, laughing at his own joke. That's the nickname some of the guys gave her back in sophomore year for doing the unthinkable. Having sex and being open about it. Same as them, which is totally fine. But a girl acting that way? Banish the thought. The double standard is ridiculous.

"Don't call her that." She's angry now. The tone seems to take them all off guard. Andy and Chance glance at each other, taken aback by her reaction.

"Enough. Knock it off, guys." Their captain scowls at them in warning, and it works. No more insults come tumbling out from either side. But the tension is making this uncomfortable. He turns back towards her, looking troubled. "Chris, we need to talk. Now. This can't wait."

"That sounds more like an order than a request." The brunette narrows her eyes on him. After everything mentioned in the car on the way to school, it's very clear her friend's opinion changed. She's known him for a while. Not nearly as well as the others in the group, but if the social circle their parents orbit taught them all anything, it's that how a person acts publicly can be very different privately. This is another example of that.

"Fine." Chrissy ignores the wide eyes staring at her from the side. This was inevitable. Just like it'll only be a matter of time before someone slips up and rumors spread around like wildfire. "If you want to talk, then let's talk. You only have a few minutes, though."

"Are you sure, Chris?"

She gives Charlotte what's supposed to be a reassuring smile and nods. Hopefully this brave act can continue. In reality, her nerves are going haywire. Who wants to deal with this kind of stuff, let alone so early in the morning?

Jason motions for her to follow him. Against the cheerleader's better judgment, she does. Away from the front of the school and around the side. Somewhere his buddies and Charlotte can't see them. When he keeps walking, alarm bells go off.

"This is far enough." Regardless of where he intended to do this, she's not taking another step. They don't need to go to the football field or woods behind it for a conversation. School's starting soon anyway. And it's better to be within shouting distance. Just to be safe.

Jason stops and sighs, slowly turning towards her. Similar emotions from the last time they were in the Jeep pass across his face. Disappointment, hurt, confusion, and most importantly, anger. "Why?" There it is. "Why did you have to go do something like that? And with the freak?" She almost thought he was going to spit just saying that word. The revulsion towards him is on full display.

'Stay calm. Don't let it get under your skin. He's powerless in this. Nothing will change what's already happening.'

He runs a hand through his hair, clearly agitated. The muscles around his jaw keep tensing as he glances around. "Are you cheating on me like I'm hearing? How long? I don't get it, Chris. Everything was going so well. Now, this all of a sudden? This isn't you. I know it's not."

"I never cheated on anyone." The lump in her throat is making it hard to talk. This is a question that's been a nuisance for the last two or so weeks. Is it cheating? They haven't gone on a date, kissed, or done anything… sexual. Laying together was the extent until she broke up with Jason. The most intimate it got was holding hands or playing with the other's hair. "You don't understand at all."

"Then why don't you clue me in, babe? Maybe it's you who doesn't understand. Clearly, you're not getting the bigger picture. I've bent over backwards to be a good boyfriend." He huffs, putting his hand on his hips. "What do I get in return? Some trailer trash trying to get in between us. Using you for God knows what."

This is a huge waste of time. Part of her wanted to talk to clear the air. They started going out around seven months ago or something. She can't remember the exact date. Only that it was near the beginning of the school year. He was her first longtime boyfriend. And before that, friends. It was foolish to think they could separate on good terms.

'I shouldn't have followed him.'

Being next to Charlotte might've made her braver. Alone? That's a different story. With Jason standing so close, it's like he's towering over her. Making Chrissy feel so small by comparison. She swallows hard, attempting to reel in the emotions going berserk. Not long ago, she probably would've just apologized by now and tried to appease him. That can't happen again.

"If it makes it any easier, just stare at my back and pretend they're not there."

'I don't want to stare at his back. I'd rather be someone who can walk on my own. Beside him.'

"Eddie's a great guy so don't talk about him like that. And I can figure things out on my own. I'm not an idiot." Grabbing onto the bookbag strap, she squeezes it like her life depends on it. "This is going nowhere. The bell's going to ring soon, and I have to talk to Natalie about something." Isn't that the excuse he kept giving every time she tried speaking with him?

Spinning on her heel, she goes to trudge back to the front of the building when a hand grabs her wrist. "What do you mean?" Panic sets in when he doesn't let go after trying to pull away. "Knock it off, Chris. We haven't even settled anything yet."

"Let. Go. Now." A genuine scowl spreads across her face as she attempts to wrench the arm away from him. This isn't funny. Not at all. It's scary, but that needs to stay hidden until he's out of sight.

"Fine. Have it your way." Jason finally peels his fingers off and tuts, annoyed at how she's reacting. "Then we'll finish this later. Just… stop with the games. I don't appreciate you trying to humiliate me in front of people. Don't stoop to that freak's level."

He doesn't get a response. There's nothing more to talk about. Not at all. All the things that came out of his mouth were more than enough. They're not leaving on good terms. Being friends again isn't an option either.

Chrissy bites down on her lower lip as she rushes off, not wanting to be anywhere near him at the moment. This confirms it. Breaking up was the right choice. People separate and get back together all the time, especially in high school. If he acts like this now, how would things go later down the road?

No, they're not going to finish this later. It's already finished. This took a lot out of her as it is. Standing up to Jason isn't easy but allowing him to have his way can't happen anymore. Even if she's a trembling mess on the verge of crying… At least she tried. That's what matters.

'Great. Meatloaf again. I should just bring my own lunch.'

Chrissy sighs, glancing down at the tray of food in her hands. Everyone swears up and down the lunch ladies have been giving them leftovers. From the sorry state of this beef, that wouldn't be a huge surprise. Their school's always trying to find ways to cut corners recently. It shows.

Walking towards the tables, her eyes drift over to the one belonging to the Hellfire Club. An act that's become a habit recently. As usual, the guys are all talking animatedly and eating. Grant is standing up and holding a book against his chest, pointing at something. Gareth smacks the table and laughs. It seems like they're all having a good time… That's how it should be.

A blush spreads across her face when their leader looks up from the snacks he's tossing at the freshman boys sitting there, giving her a knowing smirk. Dustin glances over to see what he's staring at before leaning in to whisper something. Whatever's said causes Eddie to put him in a headlock.

'They're funny.'

She tries to hold in a smile and keeps going, heading to her own table. There's a particular order to some of them that's been around long before she ever passed through the front doors. A handful are free to anyone, where the outcasts and freshman without a set group congregate around. It's ripe for recruitment during the beginning of the year. Otherwise, they're left alone. No one really pays attention to the people who sit there.

The sports teams take up their own area. A bunch of tables all clustered near each other on the far side of the cafeteria. Away from the windows. That's great for when it's cold or too bright out. It's closer to the vents as well. She doesn't have to sit here. The entire lunchroom is fair game to her. But that won't happen.

Jason's already in his normal seat. This is going to be incredibly uncomfortable… It's a necessary evil, though. Letting out a shaky breath, she holds her head up and strides over. He's already taken enough. More than anyone should've gotten. She refuses to let him get any more than that.

Coming around the side, eyes peer up at her from down the row. A mixed reaction. Curiosity, surprise, disdain. The latter is mostly from a few of his close friends, mostly Andy. Their captain himself glances up and quickly turns away when she sits down, going back to the current conversation he's in. That's how it's been all day from those who were there yesterday. God knows what Jason said to them, but the drama has been pretty contained so far. That won't last. It's only fourth period, so there's still time left.

'Does anyone even know we're not together? Besides Charlotte?'

It's not clear. They might just think she's a cheater. The school would've erupted from that kind of news, so it hasn't spread. Maybe one more day before that happens. Believing no one will say anything for longer than that is foolish. Impossible, even. Jason doesn't have that much sway.

"That's a really cute outfit, Chris." Sandy leans over the table to get a better look at her jumpsuit. "Where'd you get it from?"

Kimmy from the team looks over as she finishes a cup of pudding. "Yeah, I like that color. Looks good on you."

At least there are other people here besides the basketball team. Regardless of how chilly they want to make the table, she still has friends around. "Thanks. I got it from Marie's on Beaumont. They have it in a bunch of different colors, too." Chrissy smiles brightly, feeling relieved that her presence wasn't met with a bunch of cold shoulders. That only increases from seeing Natalie, Charlotte, and John heading over with their trays.

'I'm not going anywhere.'

Shoving the bathroom door open, Amber glides over to the sink to look in the mirror. Halfway through the day and already in need of a touch–up… How sad. Sighing, she reaches into her purse to get the concealer.

'I look like crap.'

This might cover the shadows, but not the puffiness. So useless. Makeup still has a long way to go. Whatever. Only a few hours left until school's over. There's time afterward to figure something out. Maybe ice will do the trick?

A finger dabs a small amount beneath her eyes, gently blending it in. That's better. Putting the small bottle away, she reaches up to run a hand through the light blonde strands hanging loosely. It won't be long. Later tonight, everyone's meeting up at Chance's house to hangout and drink. She's excited. Jason is going to be there as usual. This might be her big chance. Finally…

It's wrong. Might even cause problems with the team. But what's a girl to do? The heart wants what the heart wants. Is breaking the code worth it?

Yes.

Jason's the perfect man. Handsome, popular, wealthy, charismatic, motivated, and athletic. Since moving to Hawkins freshman year, she's had a huge crush on him. And he's only had eyes for Chrissy this whole time. Her friend and captain. A tragedy worthy of a soap opera.

'It's not fair…'

She always has to work ten times harder than anyone else in their friend group. It isn't easy to become popular. Keeping that status is even more difficult. Trying to get nice clothes at a discount without it being obvious. Spending so much time perfecting her hair and makeup. Putting effort into going to every social event. Rubbing elbows with the right people. Hiding a less than glamorous living situation. Going above and beyond to prove to everyone she deserves a place at the table. It's exhausting. They all have well–off parents. None of them could understand.

All their captain has to do is flash that smile and people step aside for her. She barely goes to any parties or events. Doesn't have to lift a finger. Rich, pretty, spoiled. The girl can roll up to school in a jumpsuit with hardly any makeup on and people say how cute she is. Their circle would be a lot less forgiving toward the junior if she pulled the same crap.

And now everyone's acting like nothing happened. Unbelievable. If it was Amber doing this, they would've banished her from the table without a second thought. Make her sit in the loser's section.

'She's not the same.'

Chrissy's become like a rabbit since junior year. Ever since her mom died. Not the same person she looked up to. Is that why everyone turns a blind eye? Out of sympathy? Or is it because of Jason? Everyone acts like she's some angel sent from above. That's not how it is at all. Maybe people wouldn't think that way if they knew how many times she's run to the bathroom after lunch to throw her guts up. Amber has kept that secret for a while now.

'She's my friend. I shouldn't think like that. It's disgusting. Chrissy's always been so nice to me.'

"Dammit!" Gripping the sides of the sink, she lets out a deep breath. Why won't these emotions go away? This… resentment. Is it just envy? Wanting what someone else has? The guilt is eating her alive. She can't stand it anymore. All of this only really started bubbling up recently. Like any bad feeling or thought—no matter how insignificant—becomes amplified to a ridiculous degree. And sleep? What's that?

'What am I supposed to do?'

Leaning closer to the mirror, Amber squints at the reflection. "Oh, what? Now that I need help, you're going to stay quiet?"

The toilet flushes and she jumps, whirling around. Someone else was in here? The door swings open and a dark–skinned girl comes out. Val. Another junior on the cheer team. She looks around, not seeing anyone else. "Who are you talking to?"

"No one."

"It was a little awkward… and tense, but that's about it." Chrissy says, eyeing the guy lounging across the steps. "He didn't really say anything to me then."

Eddie's leaning back on an elbow, lazily tossing skittles into his mouth. When she went to the bathroom during study hall, they ran into each other and decided to take a detour. Right to the stairwell this man haunts on a daily basis. He seemed pretty interested to know what's been going on and once again, she opened up a bit. Though some details were left out to avoid conflict. Like the terrible things Jason said about him and how he grabbed her.

'I don't want to cause a fight… Maybe I should've told him just in case. I'm not sure.'

"Not gonna lie. Kinda surprised me when you just sat down next to him. You know, after what you told me."

"I'm not letting him and his buddies run me out of my own seat. That's been my chair all year. The only way someone else is getting it is if I don't go here anymore or I choose to leave it." She crosses her arms and huffs. "Besides, most of my friends sit at that table. He can move if there's a problem."

After catching another piece of candy, he stares at her for a moment. A wide grin spreads across his face. "That's what I like to hear. Screw 'em."

She smiles and pushes off the wall, sauntering over to the steps to sit down next to him. He's been very kind. Not many people would want to listen to her complain, let alone encourage it. Is this part of the help he offered?

That tight sensation hasn't gone away yet. It's still there, buried snuggly in her chest with apparently no intentions of going away. She looks over at him warmly before remembering something. Tugging up a sleeve, the cheerleader sighs from seeing the time on her watch. "The bell's going to ring in fifteen minutes. I have to get going soon." At least it's only study hall right now. Not a big deal. That won't dig into her regular classes.

"Lame." He says, peeking into the small bag to see if there are any skittles left.

"Not all of us can take naps and lounge around during class." It's not like she wants to go. But skipping periods or not coming back from the bathroom will make the teachers be less lenient with her. They were always willing to sign hall passes because she's usually responsible.

"You nerds could if you repeated the same year a few times. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to pull that off."

"That's more of a reason for you not to play around." Chrissy crosses her arms, pouting. This guy is always goofing around. Ditching, sleeping, skulking the halls… Will they graduate together? This is his third go around as a senior. Schools must have an age limit, right? Otherwise, someone can just keep going year after year if they wanted.

The candy bag gets stuffed into the vest pocket and Eddie turns to her, arching a brow. "Are you… giving me a talking to? Is that what this is?" That seems to amuse him. His lips curl up into a smirk as he slides over on the step until the sides of their legs are touching.

"I, um, didn't mean for it to sound that way." She says shyly, reaching up to twist a stray lock around her finger. That was uncalled for. He's older and knows his own situation better than anyone. It's not her place to say stuff on the matter.

"No, no. I don't mind." Draping an arm over her shoulders, the Hellfire leader leans in close. Close enough to where the tip of his nose is almost touching her cheek. "Tell me off, princess. Go ahead. I'm a big boy. I can take it." He says playfully, giving the captain a little nudge.

"No way!" That's too much. Chrissy curls inward and away from him, feeling giddy. Her face is on fire. It burns. "I wouldn't do that. Not unless you really deserved it."

"Probably do." He snickers, looking down at his own watch. "Got like ten left."

"I'll give you eight." That will leave a few minutes to grab her bookbag and head to next period. Good enough. She's not exactly eager to leave, either. Staying with him is a lot more enjoyable.

"Sweet. I'll take it."

Jason frowns, leaning down to line up the pool cue with a ball right in front of him. It's hard to concentrate. All the talking isn't helping. He shoots and misses. Figures. Cursing under his breath, the stick is handed off to a younger teammate to take over. They can play instead. This is only making his bad mood worse.

"Hey, man. It's not a big deal. Let's just chill and have a good time." Patrick speaks up, only for the frown to turn into a scowl. That says more than enough. The sentiment is appreciated, but not helping at the moment.

Sitting down on a stool, he crosses his arms, thinking hard about what's going on. The team's at Chance's house. Just unwinding before later tonight, when he's expecting more people to come by. His parents go away often, so it's perfect for get–togethers when that happens. It's not supposed to be a party.

"If that freak was moving in on my territory, I'd kick his ass all over Hawkins. He's been pushing it for years now. School's almost over, so this is a last-ditch effort to get his way." Chalking the cue tip, Andy pauses to look over and shrug. "I'm just saying. Doing nothing is just giving him the green light. I still can't believe Chrissy was dumb enough to fall for it."

"Watch your mouth." Jason gives him a look to shut that down quickly. "Don't talk about her that way. She's not dumb. Just a little naïve when it comes to men. She isn't the first person he's tricked and won't be the last."

"Alright, I get it. Chrissy's off the table." He rolls his eyes and blows the excess chalk off the pool stick. "Don't know why she gets a pass when it takes two to tango."

"Knock it off. We're supposed to be having fun." Carrying a case of soda, Chance comes in and sets it down on the bar counter. "You're just riling him up. Forget both of them. At least for tonight."

Easy for them to say. It's not their lives that are being toyed with. When Andy said something about seeing those two talking a week ago, he should've taken it more seriously. Put a stop to anything before it got out of hand. Is there even a way to fix this? What's he supposed to tell his parents? This entire thing makes him frustrated. More than that… sad. He failed. One failure after another.

None of this makes sense. A few days ago, everything seemed fine. So have the last couple of weeks. Nothing too out of the ordinary. The tournament's going well. College acceptance letters came in. His life was great. A pretty girlfriend. Plenty of friends. People's respect. A bright future within reach. Now it's taken a turn for the worse. One of the major components is missing. Where did it go wrong?

'That prick is ruining everything.'

While being upset with Chris, he's not mad at her. This is someone else's doing. They've known each other for years… She's a sweetheart. Not the type of person who would go so far just to humiliate her boyfriend, on top of attempting to split. This seemed to come out of nowhere. Like a punch to the gut.

If there was an issue, why not speak up? Try to talk things out? That's what mature people do. This is behavior expected of a freshman. Perhaps a middle schooler. After dating for so long, he at least deserves an explanation. At minimum. An honest conversation about what's going on and why. Not some dodgy responses.

This isn't how it's supposed to go. He did what they asked of him. Listened to his parents, Pastor Bennett, and other adults. Was their advice wrong? Or his execution of it?

Regardless, there are darker forces at work. That's what happens when someone strays from the light. The freak obviously gets his kicks from preying on the innocent. Same way he roped in freshman at the beginning of the year into joining that 'club'.

Maybe something similar occurred with Chris. A lot of changes are headed her way. In the next couple of months, she not only loses the position as head cheerleader, but any status in school once they graduate. It's like having to start all over from the bottom once that happens.

Men have a different experience. Their hierarchy continues. He'll still be a basketball star and run his circle long after they leave high school, especially if their team wins the championships. Unlike her, he's set for life. That's just how it is for women. They'll either sink, swim, or find some driftwood floating by that's stable enough for them to cling onto. Right now, she's pushing away a raft and trying to drown herself.

This could be an identity crisis issue. Not knowing where she'll belong. Without cheerleading, what's left? A person facing such a huge shift is vulnerable and an easier target for people with bad intentions, like Munson. That guy will steal her soul if given the chance. She's nice enough to allow that to happen.

'I have to do something.'

"Come on, guys." Sliding off the stool, Jason motions for the core group to follow along.

"Where we going?" Patrick says, putting away the cue stick. The others seem to be on the same page as him, unsure of what's going on.

"Freak hunting. Let's go. It'll be over before anyone shows up…" His eyes trail over to the freshman standing on the other side of the pool table. Time to show his true mettle to the rest of them. "You too, Sinclair. You're part of the team, so get a move on." They have a few hours to search. He has a couple of places in mind to check. Worst-case scenario, they can ask around. The town's small enough that this shouldn't be too difficult.

"Give me like, five more minutes." Gareth holds up an open hand and points to it with the other for emphasis.

"Take your time, man. No rush." It's not like they're going anywhere. The drummer quickly disappears behind the door that leads into the house from the garage. The rest go back to what they were already doing while waiting for their buddy to finish up. Jeff crouched down, adjusting his amp. Across the small space, Grant's sitting on a stool, reading a comic book.

'Damn Hetfield. The guy's a goddamn monster.'

Biting down on a toothpick, Eddie glances down at the fingers on the neck of his beloved. The other hand is busy with the pick. Just getting the coordination down and trying to figure this beast out. Eight and a half minutes of the trashiest trash metal. The intro alone has three riffs and a variation of one.

He planned on learning 'Master of Puppets' anyway. Chrissy wanting to listen to him play it only gives extra incentive to get this done. But she can't until he has it down pat. The song is wild. Played almost entirely in downstroked eighth notes at a fast tempo. One issue with downstrokes is that after a while, it's killer on the forearms. He also has to stay mindful of any tension in his picking wrist and shoulder. Nothing he can't handle, though.

The band is supposed to start practice soon. They're just waiting on Gareth to finish up whatever he's doing for his mom. Might as well spend the extra time working on this. Two weeks is all it should take to reel this demon in. Maybe three at most to have it perfected. Only because he can't just sit around with his guitar all day. If that was the case, that estimate would be hell of a lot shorter.

'She's not gonna know what hit her.'

Between this and a new t-shirt, the little cheerleader should be pleased. The club members sure won't if they see it at some point. Not after the shit they got for asking something similar in the past. Red. Blue. Green. Oh, well. He's not here to make everyone's dreams come true. The guys probably won't understand, but they'll just have to suck it up. Chrissy gets what Chrissy wants. It's that simple.

The sound of tires screeching draws all of their attention. In this small neighborhood, there's only one person who drives like an asshole and it's Eddie himself. A familiar Jeep comes flying around the corner. The Douchemobile. Packed to the brim with the biggest douchebags Hawkins has to offer.

"What the hell is this?" Grant lowers the comic in his hands, glancing over at the other two. It's quickly left on the seat as he gets up.

'Here we go…'

They might not be geniuses, but it doesn't take one to figure out what's about to go down. Took them long enough... Unplugging his guitar, it's gently placed on the shelf along the wall. If there's gonna be a fight, the last thing he needs is someone's feet getting caught up in the cables and damaging his equipment.

The Jeep whips into the driveway, stopping halfway. Jason and a handful of his team pile out. Interestingly, Sinclair is with them. So the dark side actually got him, huh? Is that how they knew where to go? Did he give them directions?

'I'm not giving that slingshot back now.'

"There you are, freak. Been looking all over for you. I was wondering what rock you were hiding under." Captain Toolbox says smugly, striding closer to the garage. If they were searching for him at different places, then did Sinclair not rat them out? The freshman seems off and isn't making direct eye contact with them. They must've dragged him along. That kid isn't the type to get all hopped up for a fight.

"I've been in plain sight this whole time… Gotta admit. I'm pretty disappointed, Carver. You kept me waiting." He walks towards the garage entrance, trying to put distance between him and the equipment. These hams are here for one person. Him. The band shouldn't have to get their shit broken for something he did. It'll set them back a lot. Screw that.

"Only because I didn't know what kind of bullcrap you were pulling. Now, let's have a little chat." His eyes narrow on the Hellfire leader before trailing down to his hands. "Take those off."

Eddie's brows jump as he raises both hands, wiggling his fingers for them to see. "Oh, these? My rings? You worried they might ruin those dashing good looks? 'Cause they will. But no dice, man." Does this dumbass think he's stupid? Not happening.

The look on his face at the refusal says enough. This is how a person acts when they're used to people following commands. That shit doesn't fly here. They aren't his little sheep to herd around.

The situation isn't great. It's three against six, since Gareth's still inside and there's no telling when he'll pop out. Jeff will throw down for sure. Grant's not much of a fighter, but the big guy tries. That's enough. They're at a disadvantage right off the bat, even without taking into consideration these jerks are on a sports team. Each one of them works out more than the entire band combined.

Yeah… Like hell the rings are coming off. If things get ugly, their side needs any edge they can get. Screw playing fair. These guys won't. And it mostly comes down to him again. As the oldest, tallest, and most experienced out of the group. He's the target, anyway. Big surprise.

"Are you that much of a coward that you won't fight me man–to–man?"

"Pshh. I don't care about crap like that. Man-to-man? You're just showing how much of a coddled little pissant you are. That's not how any of this works." Actually, he was expecting an all-out brawl. Not whatever this is. Looking at Jason, it doesn't seem like the guy wants a legit fistfight. That isn't the expression or body language of a man intent on having a slugfest. Are they just here because his boys were ragging on him? Lame.

"...Dude." Grant hisses under his breath. Yeah, he knows. They'd rather not fight, especially with their stuff behind them. One good tackle and the drum set by itself will be a mess. And Gareth's parents are inside. Should they just take this elsewhere? There's an open field nearby.

"Well, I'll tell you how this works. You're going to stay the hell away from Chris. Got it?" The captain tilts his chin down, staring at him wide-eyed. To the right, the idiot with curly hair nods almost in approval and Eddie can't resist laughing. That only makes them angrier. "What's so funny, freak?"

"Let me level with you boys. I'm not doing shit. Sure as hell not following any commands. If she doesn't want me around, it can come from her mouth. Alone. Not her ex's." Seeing the way Jason's face pales makes everything clearer. Also, how the others glance at him in confusion. "So that's it. You didn't tell anyone she dumped your ass already, huh?" This is too good. What a chump.

"Alright, guys. I'm—" The door swings open and Gareth comes out, freezing in place when noticing there's company. "Oh, damn." His eyes dart from one end of the garage to the other. Totally thrown off by what's going on. Can't blame him.

"Yeah, you just walked into a shitshow." Jeff chuckles as the drummer hesitantly walks up beside him.

How stupid. All of it. And so predictable… Chrissy really wasn't kidding about him saying 'no' to them breaking up. Not that he doubted it in the slightest. This is embarrassing.

'Knew it.'

Eddie had a feeling this would get ugly. Just wasn't exactly sure in how many ways. Of course he was going to come for him. That's a given. Some guys don't take rejection well. Even ones that seem okay. It can be a real blow to the ego. An egomaniac like Carver is the type to lash out. That's cool as long as it's directed toward him and not Chrissy. Problem is, he's not confident that won't happen or that she'll say anything if it does.

"We gonna do this or what? I know you didn't come here to do–si–do. You guys are boring me and I got shit to do, so hurry it up."

Jason scowls, crinkling his nose in disgust. Isn't this what he wanted? "If you won't stop playing games with my girl, then get rid of those and let's see who the bigger man is. Once and for all. No more messing around. Winner takes all."

The Hellfire leader stares at him blankly. "Nah."

"What?!" That seems to surprise him. After getting all riled up, just to get that as a response... The others look at each other, puzzled.

"I said 'nah'. I'm good on that." Seeing that Carver's still not getting it, he'll just have to spell it out for him. Try to explain it so even a prideful moron can grasp it. "You got—"

"This is bullshit. What's wrong, freak? The pussy not worth getting your hands dirty? Let's just do it already. Forget his jewelry." The curly fool, Andy, says loudly from beside his captain with an arrogant smirk. A lame attempt to piss him off and get a reaction. It works. A little too well.

"You shut the fuck up." Eddie bites out, tossing his jacket off and marching forward. That did it. Screw everything. This guy's getting an ass beating even if it means the others use it as an opportunity to sneak in free shots. These jerkoffs can talk all the trash they want about him. He's a big boy and can take it like a champ. Saying crap like that? In front of him? Hell no.

"Eddie, wait!" Arms wrap around his torso, trying to pull him back. He's too angry right now. The forearm digging into the bruise on his side isn't helping. Whoever it is might get an elbow to the ribs. "Calm down, dude. You're not thinking straight. That's exactly what they want." No shit. And that's what they're going to get. Bending to plant his feet on the concrete floor, he takes a large step forward, dragging whoever's hanging on with him. Sounds like Jeff. Their rhythm guitarist is going for a ride unless he lets go.

To everyone's astonishment, Jason turns and slaps his friend across the face. Not a little baby tap. An open-handed, full bitch slap. The strike echoes through the garage and silence follows. No longer needing to restrain him, Jeff lets go and glances around at his bandmates. They're all just as stunned.

"Don't say garbage like that. We're talking. You guys stay out of it for now." His voice is harsh, trying to sound commanding to the sheep around him. Andy presses a hand against the fresh print on his face and silently seethes, not retaliating.

'Asshole did something almost decent for once in his life. Probably for the wrong reasons. If he didn't do it, I sure as hell would've. Maybe I still should… Tch. Is this who you really wanna hang out with, Sinclair?'

Glancing at the freshman, he just wants to shake his head. How disappointing. Is it worth the price? The kid will always have to walk on eggshells, worrying if any little thing will put him in their crosshairs. It's like that for plenty of the underclassmen attempting to worm their way into the 'popular' crowd.

"Guys… My mom's gonna come out here and flip from all the noise. Like, flip. Can't we take this somewhere else? Music's one thing. Yelling and cursing is another." Gareth says under his breath so the jocks don't hear, sounding irked.

"There's that park around the corner." Jeff adds in, also trying to keep his voice down.

"Finish it, Munster." That draws his attention away from the drummer fretting to the dumbass eyeing him up. So clever. Seriously. Like he's never heard that one before. A real belly buster. Carver should take up stand–up comedy with an act like that. Or maybe go to clown school. "What's it going to be? Are you going to chicken out? After all these years?"

Actually, he almost forgot. The amusement from seeing Andy finally getting whacked derailed his train of thought. "Dude, Chris–sy isn't your girl. Not anymore. I don't give two shits who the bigger man is, either." This is already getting old. He could be practicing instead of playing useless games. "And the whole 'winner takes all' crap? Piss off. She's not some goddamn prize that goes to whoever wins a stupid fight. Drill that into your thick skull."

'This guy's a real piece of shit. Chrissy doesn't belong to anyone but herself. Not him or me. Christ… People aren't commodities. It's not that damn hard to get.'

"All the trouble you caused us… After ruining everything… And you won't lift a finger for her? What a shame. I knew you were low Munson, but didn't realize just how deep it runs. You've made such a mess that I have to clean up now. For what? For fun? To get under my skin? Or to just get your rocks off from taking advantage of someone who's innocent?" If looks could kill, Eddie might be a dead man. Good thing they don't.

"There's a difference between fighting for someone and fighting over them. I'll throw down for her. Hell yeah. But I'm not gonna sit here and pretend I get to call dibs on a person as some kind of trophy." Cracking his knuckles, the Hellfire leader smirks at the basketball captain. Going at it out front? So be it. Gareth's parents can get an apology afterward. "So when I break your nose, it's because you're an asshole who pisses me off."

"Good Lord in heaven." The door opens and a small woman with short curly hair pokes her head out. "What's all this racket? Aren't you supposed to be…" She trails off, seeing over twice the amount of people in the garage than there should be. Stepping out and padding across the smooth floor, her head turns back and forth in confusion. "What's going on out here? Who are you boys?"

"Mom, it's—"

"Pardon the intrusion, ma'am." Jason slips his hands into the pockets of the varsity jacket, flashing a bright smile at the older woman. She blinks, a little surprised at the display. They're very different from those who normally hang around the house. "We were just about to take our leave. Apologies for causing a disturbance. That wasn't my intention. Our team can get a little rowdy sometimes."

"That's… That's okay."

Eddie wants to puke just from witnessing this piss poor performance. It might work on Mrs. R since she doesn't know them, but damn. Phoney as hell. Ten times worse than the fake smile Chrissy uses. His expression, body language, mannerisms, and speech changed in just a few seconds. Like a costume to wear around people to appear charming. This is the Golden Boy folks in town see. Not the raving lunatic who doesn't understand what autonomy is.

"You have a nice day, too." Still wearing that mask, the captain tilts his head to the side, motioning for the extras to follow him back to the Jeep. So no fighting today? Such a damn shame… They climb into the back seats, doing as their handler says. Sinclair throws a glance back toward the garage with a strange look. Stress and relief. It didn't come down to him having to make a choice in the end.

"That's right." Jason stops just short of getting in the driver's side. "We still have a lot to talk about. Let's meet up later to discuss things… Edward." That snobby look is deserving of a left hook on its own.

Two can play at this game. "Don't know, man. Might have to take a raincheck on that. Got plans with my sweetheart." Eddie's lips curl up into a nasty grin that feels unnatural on his face. "Tonight… Tomorrow. Oh, and this weekend too. I'll get back to you on that." He chuckles and crosses his arms, enjoying the reaction it gets. Just for a moment, something awful flickered across the guy's expression. But it's quickly wiped right off his features before everyone sees.

Getting into the Douchemobile, the door is slammed shut and Jason takes off like a bat out of hell. The same way he pulled up. Good riddance. Even though he wants to rumble with them for running their mouths like that.

'Dumbass doesn't know I call my guitar my sweetheart... Dammit. That probably wasn't a great idea. He might take it out on Chrissy, thinking we're doing shit. I'm gonna have to do something about this. Looks like I'll have to beat his face in and get it over with. Not a fan of drawing things out.'

"You boys try to keep it down, okay?" Mrs. R heads back into the house, leaving the band mostly dumbfounded.

"What the hell was that?" Jeff throws his hands down in frustration. "I can't believe Sinclair came with those jerks. So much for being part of the Hellfire Club. Friends don't do that to each other."

"That was crappy. Not cool at all." The big guy sighs and flops back down in his seat. "It could've gone a lot worse… "

"My bad, dudes." The jocks only showed up for him. His band was two seconds away from getting into a brawl over it. Wouldn't be the first time, but still. Only Jeff is much of a fighter out of the three. It's the fact that the guys will jump in regardless of the odds that really matters.

This will get ugly. No doubt about it. Carver won't be happy until then. The petty bastard isn't leaving many options other than kicking his ass bad enough that he backs off for good. Away from Chrissy, himself, his band, and the club. Man–to–man? Fine. As long as no one else gets involved. That leaves a lot less for him to worry about. No friends getting hurt or equipment destroyed like what could've happened right before this.

The guy's athletic, but that's not everything. Doesn't mean he'll win a fight. Eddie's been hanging around bars and going to shows for years. Crazy shit happens all the time. The Golden Boy wouldn't last five minutes in a pit. He'd get trampled or laid right out. Probably has a glass jaw. Well, they'll find out.

'Captain Toolbox is biting off more than he can chew.'