Wisteria

by LChan3706

"Sure you are, Cunningham." He said with that knowing look. They told her to stay away from Eddie Munson. That he was nothing but trouble and would ruin everything. Unfortunately for them, that's exactly what she needed. Especially when strange occurrences start happening around their small town.

14. Serpent

Trigger warning: Mentions of previous non-consensual touching, ED, and some violence/blood.

---

"Bye!" Chrissy yells out for the third time, waving at the two girls in the car. With the owner satisfied, the Riviera parked by the curb finally takes off, speeding down Roseline Drive. It's completely out of sight within a few seconds.

'That was fun… Okay, so Charlotte and Natalie are mostly in the loop about what's going on with Jason. And I gave them the okay. That's almost as good as saying it over the loudspeaker at school.'

Smiling to herself, she turns around and goes inside the large, quiet house. The pink bookbag is left on the floor below the coat rack, along with her shoes. This place… Such a different atmosphere compared to where she just spent the last couple of hours. It's silent and devoid of warmth, as if no people live here. Little more than a furnished residence that's waiting for someone to come along to make it into an actual home.

All the curtains are drawn, leaving it dim throughout the foyer and hallway. Streaks of light from outside peek through the spaces around the window. The golden evening rays are narrow and bright, making the particles of dust in the air more visible. She stands there, looking around the wide area before sighing.

It's so empty.

That wasn't too much different even with her dad here. He mostly stayed in his office or the den, watching TV. At least that was something. Tomorrow should be the day he returns and there's no telling what that will bring. Hopefully the trip did him some good.

'It won't be like this when I have my own place.'

Trudging upstairs to her bedroom, the thought brings the cheerleader some comfort. Things will change. They always do. Eventually, she'll move out. Whether it's into an apartment, studio, rental, or house, it doesn't matter. That place will be everything this one isn't. Warm and welcoming. Somewhere friends can come to hang out. To laugh, joke around, listen to music, and have a good time. All the lavish furniture and decor in the world can't make up for what's missing here.

"Huh…" As she pads across the fluffy carpet toward the bed, Chrissy pauses next to it for a moment, mulling something over. When did that start? The plan already shifted. That's not exactly right… No, the old plan is deep in the trash while a new one's being stitched together.

This time, it won't be other people doing all the planning. Not anymore. Crawling onto the mattress, she flops down in the middle and gets comfortable. Blue eyes stare up at the ceiling, contemplating the current situation. There used to be a sense of ease in knowing what was supposed to happen. That all the details were worked out and she just had to follow along for things to be okay. Now everything's up in the air. In complete disarray… And it's exciting.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want. There's always a way out. Other options. Even if it means having it rough for a while."

Those words meant a lot more to her than he probably realizes. Similar thoughts cropped up before but were always dismissed as impossible. Even if that wasn't true. Maybe hearing it from someone trustworthy made it seem more realistic. She bought the '86 necklace a while ago for a reason. Part of her hoped it would be the big year. So far, it's shaping up to become just that. Little by little, some of the power that was held hostage is being taken back.

"I also know you're not happy… You can try to be."

Reaching up, Chrissy grabs a pillow and wraps her arms around it. Eddie's right. She isn't happy. Not genuinely. Merely being content at times isn't the same as real happiness. There's no point in pretending anymore or lying to herself. That can change too, just like everything else.

'Being with him makes me happy.'

A hand presses against her chest. That's not enough to contain it. She's not even sure what 'it' actually is. All these budding emotions bouncing off each other, racing to the front of the line… They need to be figured out, labeled, and put in their proper place. Maybe talking to someone can help with that. Charlotte? The brunette has experience with relationships and might be able to give her advice.

There's no doubt about it anymore. She likes him. Maybe even a lot. And thinking back on all the little things that happened makes it painfully obvious he apparently feels a similar way. A good chunk of the songs on the B–side of that mixtape seems to be about admiring a woman or breaking out of some kind of confinement. He's always going out of his way to do stuff for her, teasing, or flirting. Writing it off as solely being a really nice friend can only go so far before treading into major denial territory.

What now? What is she supposed to do with all of this? Perhaps going to Charlotte is the best option… Natalie, too, to balance out the whole 'heart versus head' situation. They can have a cheerleader council meeting before the big sleepover. That gives her two days to see how things go at school and with Eddie and Jason. A lot could change in a short amount of time.

'That's what I'll do. I don't want to just babble and embarrass myself to him if I'm a little off.'

"Mmm…" Snuggling into the pillow, Chrissy closes her eyes and tries to relax against the duvet. It's still pretty early, but she's tired from the day. A little nap is fine. Thoughts of warmth and smoke help ease her into drifting off.

---

'What is this?'

Confusion sets in as a piano comes into focus. No one's sitting behind it at the moment. That's right… Usually, a young woman is on the bench, playing or waiting for the signal to continue.

Something dark catches her attention. Turning to the side, she jolts and takes a few steps back, shocked by the figure just a couple of feet away. A short slip of a girl in a black leotard with white tights and pink slippers. Her strawberry blonde hair is pulled back and rolled into a tight bun.

Chrissy blinks, letting out a sharp breath realizing what she's looking at. The wall mirror in the dance studio that runs from the floor to the ceiling. That's what this is. Getting closer, she cups her face and watches the girl in the reflection follow the same movements. So young… Maybe eight or nine?

'This is when I switched to ballet since mom wouldn't let me do jazz anymore.'

Jazz dance wasn't 'classy' enough. Same with tap, folk, and other styles she tried. After a few classes, they'd have to go back to the drawing board because her mom would always find some issues with them. Ballet is the only one so far that's been okay. It's 'lady–like' enough to be deemed acceptable. That's fine. She likes it anyway.

"How are we doing over here, Chrissy?" Hearing that gentle voice triggers an immediate response. Spinning around, a woman with auburn hair is standing behind her. Also in a black leotard and white tights, but with a black chiffon wrap that covers her upper thighs.

'Miss Madeleine.'

"Um…" Any normal response gets caught up in her throat as it tightens. It's been so long. Too long. The summer before starting sixth grade was the last time she's been here.

"What's wrong? Are you having a little trouble?" The teacher crouches down and takes her hands, smiling sweetly. "That's okay. Do you want me to show you again?"

It's difficult to stop the emotions from flowing over, but she somehow manages to bottle them up. The nostalgia of being in this room and talking to this person is overwhelming. Everything is just as she remembers it. Cream–colored walls and large windows. A piano in the corner where Miss Deidre would sit and play during class. The sprung hardwood floor. Permanent barre attached to the enormous mirror and the portable one pushed off to the side.

'I missed this place.'

Chrissy sucks on her bottom lip and nods. This must be another dream. She's not a little girl anymore and hasn't been here in years. But the reflection says otherwise. Might as well allow herself to get immersed in this one. At least it's something dear to her heart.

"Okay, watch me carefully. We're going straight into our grand allégro." Miss Madeleine says softly as she lets go to stand up. "Do you remember what that means?"

"Big jump!" The answer comes out quickly, giving away her excitement.

"That's right! You're such a smart cookie." She beams, taking a couple of steps to the side, getting ready. "Okay. Let's get into a good first position. That's right…" Her feet are pointed outward, heels touching and legs doing the same. "Make sure your shoulders are down and chest open… Perfect. Now we're going to do chassé, step, and leap in that order. So, right foot out like this, then a little gallop… The foot that's in the back is coming upfront. Great!"

This is like riding a bike after not doing it for a long time. At first, it might be a little awkward, but the body begins to remember going through the repeated motions. She watches the auburn-haired woman carefully, following along with the movements. It's not nearly as graceful, though. Even back then, she could only hope to one day reach that level.

"With the back foot, we're going to jump and land onto that one. Just imagine there's a puddle on the floor and you have to jump over it." They do it a couple of times and it begins feeling natural again. Her body indeed remembers this. "That's it! You got it. What a quick learner." The praise causes Chrissy to flush. Getting complimented by someone she looked up to so much is a little embarrassing.

'This is great. I forgot how much I enjoyed it all, even the basics.'

"Looks like you have it, sweetie. Great job! You're doing so well." The woman claps, standing back to observe, making sure her footwork and posture are correct. "I'm going to check to see how the others are doing. Just keep practicing until I come back around."

She nods again, watching the mirror to see her teacher heading over to another kid. Oh, right. There are other students here… Around twelve girls besides herself. That's okay. By the time it's her turn again, she'll be a master at this specific move.

'I don't remember classes going like this… All of us were usually together. Why is everyone else on the other side of the room?'

Forget it. The thought is shaken off, and it's back to first position. Her eyes trail over to Miss Madeleine in the mirror again. So pretty, kind, and elegant. The best dancer she's ever seen up to this point. The teacher made the studio feel so welcoming. Always complimenting and helping the students, trying to build them up. It could boost anyone's confidence.

It made her mom mad because she didn't want to go home afterward. Who would be excited to leave with someone that constantly berated and criticized every little thing? A person that wanted to tear down the small amount of self–esteem these classes brought her.

This is so easy now. Taking a deep breath, she steps and leaps over the imaginary puddle. Her eyes widen seeing something tiny and black moving on the floor. Near where her foot is about to go. Trying to avoid it messes up the jump and she lands awkwardly, falling over.

"Jesus… Ouch…" Chrissy winces and looks right above the pink ballet slipper. This happened before. She twisted her ankle. It was a hasty move at the last second that'll cost her a few lessons. Soon, it'll begin swelling and needs some ice. "M–Miss Madeleine?" It comes out shaky from the pain and shame as her eyes stay focused on where it hurts.

'What the heck was that?'

Straightening out her legs across the sprung hardwood floor, she hisses from the tenderness. This sucks so much. Can't even have fifteen minutes of fun, huh? Surprisingly, no one has run over yet. Not the teacher or the assistant that usually helps out. Looking towards the mirror, her brows pinch together seeing that it's foggy. That's never happened before.

"Miss Madeleine?" This time is louder and much clearer. They haven't noticed anything yet? Maybe it's because there are a dozen other girls in the room. But still… When she goes to turn to get someone's attention, the thing from just moments ago comes into view. A black spider. Its long legs dragging itself over the smooth surface, rushing towards her.

"Ah! No, no, no!" Trying to get up, the pain causes her to fall back down. "Miss Madeleine!" There's no time to wait for any of them to come. That thing will get here first. It's too big to use the slipper on and just looking at one brings out a visceral reaction.

"Ugh…" She grimaces and uses her good foot to slide towards the barre, grabbing hold of it to pull herself up. It's then that Chrissy finally sees them when she turns around. An enormous colony of spiders. Hundreds and hundreds of them of various sizes. All black, with thick bodies and spindly legs. Scurrying across the floor, along the walls, and hanging down from the ceiling.

Her eyes widen as a hand slaps against her mouth, trying to hold in a scream. She might be sick. The other people in the room are standing completely still with their backs straight, just staring at her. "W–What… What are you guys doing?!" They don't seem to notice anything, even with the arachnids running between their feet. No reaction. No expression. Nothing. Just lifeless beings looking in the same direction.

Hobbling backward as they get closer, she glances around for a way out. There is none. They're pushing her into a corner and there's too many to jump over, even if nothing hurt. "Help! Help me! Please!" Tears start flowing as the wall meets her back, leaving nowhere else to go.

"Ah!" she screams and kicks the ones closest. More are right behind them. Two jump from the floor onto her tights, crawling upward. Small hands swipe furiously to get them off. It's useless. Trembling, she covers her face and sobs, unable to stop the spiders from latching on. They're coming from every direction. There's nothing to do but stand there while feeling their hairy legs and bodies moving all over her skin.

….

"Get off!" Chrissy shoots up, smacking every inch of clothing within reach. It takes a moment for it to sink in as she gasps for air, sweating profusely. There are no spiders anywhere in sight. That was just a nightmare. Another bad dream to torment her. Something that's enjoyable being twisted into an ugly scene.

'I can't take this anymore…'

She runs a hand over her face and curls forward. How much longer is this going to keep happening? Over and over again. The entire experience is draining. And it seems so real in the moment. At first, it's obviously a dream, but as it progresses, the lines become blurred enough that she gets completely sucked in and that thought disappears. Even knowing now, that doesn't stop her heart from racing or the adrenaline rush still running its course after waking up.

Trying to calm down, the cheerleader's eyes narrow on a red dot on the pant leg of her jumpsuit. When did that happen? Another one appears and she gasps, leaning back. More fall down the front of the outfit. A hand covers her nose as she scrambles over the bed to the nightstand, grabbing a handful of tissues from the box.

"No! Come on!" The jumpsuit is light turquoise… If she doesn't act quickly, the blood will stain and ruin the fabric. Is this punishment for taking a nap too early? Or doing it while wearing a nice outfit despite knowing how often she gets nosebleeds?

Tilting her head back, Chrissy attempts to clean whatever she can with the tissues and packs her left nostril. The usual culprit. Everything else will have to wait until after this is taken care of in the laundry room. Carefully, she slides off the bed and rushes out of the bedroom.

---

'That was awful…'

Sighing, the cheer captain flops onto the edge of the bed in only her bra and panties. This is ridiculous. Tomorrow, she's calling the doctor's office to make an appointment. Having to run downstairs to the laundry room to rinse blood out of clothing and pillowcases so often is not normal.

Maybe there's a simple solution that a medical professional can do. Some medicine or at least an explanation. Either way, it's getting really old. The laundry tub has been used more times in the last two weeks than the previous six months.

It's over now. The bloody nose anyway. She's still shaken up from the nightmare. The studio, Miss Madeleine, and those classes had always been fond memories that were held close to the heart. To have them turned into something terrifying really got to her. Why did it have to be that? Seems nothing is off limits when it comes to these crazy dreams.

Laying down on her side, Chrissy feels miserable. A little sniffle slips out that should've been long gone. She already told herself no more crying over this. There's only so much a person can do. Once again, the pieces need to be put back together as if nothing happened. Needing a distraction, her eyes land on the book next to the tissue box sitting on the nightstand. Then they trail over toward the phone beside them.

'What should I do? Just read or call someone? I don't like bothering people… I'm sad… and lonely. Frodo can only do so much.'

"C'mon, Chrissy… Just admit it. You missed me and wanted to talk. It's okay. I don't blame you."

Biting her lip, she stares at the phone and debates the matter. That was true then, and it is right now. He wouldn't mind, right? It's not that late. A little after seven, according to the clock. Sucking in a sharp breath through her teeth, the cheerleader yanks open the drawer and rummages around for the slip of paper with his number on it.

Whatever. He's mentioned multiple times not to care what anyone thinks and do what she wants. That's his whole motto. Well, right now, all the cheer captain wants is to talk to him. No one else. Only him.

Grabbing the phone, Chrissy dials the number and her heart starts racing all over again. The fingers holding the scrap of paper tighten as it starts ringing. Hopefully he answers… If not, hobbits will have to do for the time being. When no one picks up after six rings, her mouth shifts to the side and disappointment sets in. Perhaps he's not home.

"911, what's your emergency?"

A wide smile spreads across her face hearing his voice on the other end. But… Why does he always have to answer the phone like that? "Eddie, you punk." Actually, it's kind of funny and cute. Is there a list of responses next to his phone or something? They're different each time.

"The one and only… What's up, princess? I've been trying to get a hold of you."

"Really?" That's a surprise. He finally asked for her number last night when they were hanging out, saying this whole 'one-sided thing is super lame'. And after that, he can't get through? How frustrating. "Sorry about that. How long ago? I went out earlier, then took a nap after I got back."

"A few times in the last couple of hours. It's no biggie. Anyway, you didn't happen to get any, uh… visitors, have you?"

"Huh?" Chrissy wracks her brain to put together what he's referring to. Was she supposed to? There's still a fog from the nap and nightmare hanging over her head. "Um… Not that I know of. Why?"

"Just wondering. Is everything good? You sound kinda weird."

'Darn it!'

Well, there's a tissue shoved up her nose, she cried downstairs, and everything is a mess. Not that he'd know any of that. Still, just talking to him really brightened up her mood in only a few short minutes. It's like magic. Maybe it is. "Yeah, of course."

"You sure?" Eddie isn't buying it. They both know she sucks at lying, so what's the point? It's time to be honest with herself and the people who matter. Put all those words from before into practice.

"I'm… not having a good night. A pretty bad one, actually."

"You want me to come over?" It tumbles out of his mouth so quickly that she's taken aback. "I, uh… I was about to pop in a movie. Maybe we could watch it together? Or not. Whatever you're cool with."

"Yeah, okay. Sounds good to me." This guy is too much. There's no denying it anymore. He's willing to drop everything and come over just because she's having a bad night? And it might be the last time they get to do anything like this for a while unless it's at his place. "I'd like that a lot."

"Sweet. I'll be there soon."

"Okay, bye."

Hanging up the phone, she sits up on the bed and clasps her hands together. Eddie's coming over. Again. For the second day in a row. Being excited is an understatement. She's positively thrilled. Everything that happened earlier doesn't seem to matter anymore. Not the nightmare, bloody nose, drama at school, or Jason.

Chrissy gets to her feet and twirls around, basking in the joy she's experiencing. If he's coming straight here, it should only take ten or fifteen minutes with the way he drives. Then they're going to watch a movie together.

"Oh!" There's no time to dawdle. He'll be here soon, and she doesn't even have any clothes on. Also, doing something about the tissue jammed up her nose. Springing over to the dresser, the drawers are yanked open to look for an outfit. One that's nice and comfy since they're just going to be sitting on the couch.

'Maybe we'll cuddle like before.'

Her face is burning up at the thought. Such a little thing… Really not a big deal. Pulling out a light pair of sweatpants and a deep red tank top, it's hard to stop from cringing at herself while slipping them on. What a goober. This isn't her first rodeo. She's cuddled, kissed, and made out before. It seems silly getting so giddy over basically nothing. That still doesn't change how it feels.

Heading to the bathroom, there are still a few more things that need to get done before he arrives. Cleaning her face up, putting on a touch of makeup on, fixing this mess of a do. Just trying to look somewhat presentable.

'Wait a minute… He was about to pop a movie in? I don't remember seeing a VCR when I was there. Unless they got one recently.'

---

"Someone is in a better mood, huh?" Eddie throws her a side glance as he puts a shopping bag down on the coffee table.

It took much longer than fifteen minutes for him to come over. That worked out, though. Gave her plenty of time to spruce up and get it together.

"I am. Mostly because you're here." She tries not to smile and fails miserably. It's true. From the moment he answered the phone, her mood completely shifted. That answer causes him to pause for a moment while digging into the bag. The corner of his mouth quirks up before resuming.

'He liked that.'

"So, what are we watching?" Not that it really matters. As always anymore, curiosity is getting the best of the cheerleader. A ringed hand pulls out a case and holds it out for her to see. The cover is entirely black with the title in white lettering. This is Spinal Tap. This isn't one she's heard of before. "Is it horror?"

"Nope." He chuckles and tosses the movie in the air, catching it. "It's funny as shit. The movie basically follows this English rock band on tour and it's a mess. Not sure if it's up your alley, but thought we could give it a try?"

"Of course!" Part of her is relieved it's not scary. Even if it was, they'd still go through with it. Eddie doesn't ask for much, so she's okay with indulging him as long as it's nothing too out there. He seems pleased with the response, grinning while yanking off the cover to open the case. "What, did you bring snacks?" She eyes the bag that obviously wasn't for the movie alone. There's still more in there.

"Hell yeah. You still have milk?"

"Um… Yep. Plenty of it." She tilts her head, watching as he puts the tape down and delves back in. One by one, the contents are laid out on the coffee table. A single bag of microwavable popcorn, gummy worms, Nerds, Runts, can of Planters Cheez Balls, a couple of Hostess Pudding Pies, and a package of Oreo cookies. This guy and his snacks…

"These are better with some." He motions towards the Oreos, then rolls up the plastic bag into a small ball. "I know you're not big on junk food, so I figured the popcorn wouldn't be too bad."

How thoughtful. Really. It's not the kind that's smothered in butter, either. She looks at him fondly, following his movements as he walks over to the couch. The Hellfire leader shrugs off the vest and leather jacket combo, draping them over the back. Like at The Hideout, he's wearing a sleeveless band shirt.

Unintentionally, Chrissy's gaze begins to wander. Across Eddie's bare shoulders and down his arms, glossing over the ink etched into his skin. The beast and bats. They've grown on her, not seeming nearly as creepy as before. Continuing on, she eyes his forearms and hands, zeroing in on the latter.

'They're nice… I want to see his other tattoos, too.'

This isn't so unintentional anymore. And is incredibly obvious. There's nothing discreet about it. Trying to be sneaky didn't even cross her mind. The strange thoughts and sensations are making it hard to think straight.

"My, my… You're making me feel bashful, Chrissy." He says playfully, crossing his arms. That startles the cheer captain as what she was doing really sinks in. So shameless. "Now I'm not so sure who's going to be devoured tonight between me or the snacks."

"Oh, God!" Hands fly up to cover her reddened face. This is mortifying. Between getting caught so openly and what he said, it's not clear which is worse. "I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to be like that."

"Hey, not complaining over here. I'm flattered. Might even be willing to share some of these Oreos, since that shit works on me." His laugh sounds a little off, which is noticed right away. She peeks at him from between her fingers and a smirk slowly forms. He wasn't lying. It really does. Perhaps a little too well. The color in his face and those raised shoulders give it away.

'That's a lot better. I probably still shouldn't have done that. I'm turning into a real weirdo from hanging out with him.'

"So… Flattery works on you and gets me stuff?" The nonverbal reactions from him help smother some of the shyness. This guy is always teasing her, and she falls for it every time. It's not fair. And this will go nowhere by being an awkward mess.

"Absolutely." Eddie nods with a crooked grin. He said something similar when they were sitting at the picnic table. That time, she didn't even compliment him or anything, but it got her a twenty-five percent discount on the weed.

"Ah, okay." Praise does it for him? That's not out of the ordinary. A lot of people get all mushy when someone fawns over them. She's also like that. But if that does the trick, well… "Sleeveless shirts look good on you. You have nice arms and hands. I like them. Huge fan. Those tattoos are cool, too. I still haven't seen them all. You also have really soft hair. I want to touch it again—"

"Woah, woah, woah!" Rushing over, the Hellfire leader holds his hands up, motioning for her to slow down. "You tryin' to rob me blind? I didn't bring that much." That flustered him. Maybe it was too much, too quick. Or he just didn't expect her to say any of that. When she smiles and nods, he reaches up to squish her cheeks together. "Forget the junk food. I'm starting to think you wanna do me in, sweetheart."

"Dow yow win?" She barely manages to get out as Eddie turns her face back and forth. Like, kill him? Is that what he means? Prying the fingers off her cheeks, she holds onto them and giggles. "I wasn't even done. Still didn't get to the part about your guitar playing skills and all the neat things you know how to do."

"You are trying to do me in… That's flattery overload." He gazes down at her warmly, pulling his lips back in a halfhearted attempt to not smirk. "Just so we're clear, I have a pretty lengthy list too. Right in my back pocket. I've kept it tucked away there for a while now."

'What?'

Chrissy just stares at him, not knowing what to say. Still holding onto his fingers. Despite turning a blind eye to many things along the way, doing it this time isn't as easy. She's not stupid. What he's implying is very obvious. There's only one real question. How long is a while? That could be a week or a month ago. Perhaps even more.

'Is that why he was so cool with going out of his way to pick me up that first night?'

Clearing his throat, he pulls away and goes back to the snacks on the coffee table, picking up the bag of popcorn. "So, uh… Yeah, the movie." That snaps her out of it. There's time later to sift through everything. It seems like that discouraged him. She didn't respond or react. Probably gave off the wrong vibe after admitting that.

"Right. Popcorn. Milk. Movie." It sounds idiotic to her own ears. But that gets a low snicker out of him. Good enough.

They both head into the kitchen, not saying anymore. That didn't go as expected. Getting the cups and carton of milk from the fridge, she glances at him from the corner of her eye. He's just pressed up against the counter while watching the bag of popcorn go around and round in the microwave. The silence is bothersome.

"So, what was that about me getting a visitor earlier?" As soon as it's mentioned, his shoulders visibly tense. That only makes her even more curious. A few ideas popped up while getting ready, but hopefully that's not the case.

Eddie shifts to lean on one arm and looks at her from under his messy hair. It's quiet for a moment like he's debating on what to say, if anything at all. "Well… I got one, so I was wondering if you did too." Seeing the puzzled look on her face, he sighs and continues. "Carver and the Douche Brigade came by Gareth's during practice. Wanted to have a 'little chat', if you catch my drift."

She covers her mouth and glances toward the kitchen floor. That was always a possibility. One that hopefully wouldn't come true yet did. Of course. It's easier to go after them than do anything to her. Target those people won't care about, especially at school. There'd be no social repercussions.

'What the hell are you thinking, Jason?!'

"Did you guys fight? Was anyone hurt?" Guilt seeps through Chrissy at the news. The guys in his band seem like decent people. They've been nice to her since the initial shock wore off at the Hellfire meeting. Even Grant warmed up a bit at The Hideout. What about the other club members? No one should have trouble because of her relationship issues. "I'm really sorry…"

"Nah. We just talked some trash then they left. Not that serious. And don't say sorry. There's nothing to apologize for. Dude's all grown up. His choices are on him. Not you." He tuts, pulling the popcorn bag out of the microwave. A large bowl from the cabinet is quietly held out towards him. His eyes shift between it and her before a deeper sigh fills the room. "Chrissy, it's not your fault. 'Kay? Don't blame yourself. Shit was gonna boil over regardless. This started long before you two were a thing."

The cheer captain grips the bottom of her tank top. It's nice of him to say that. Still, breaking up with Jason is the catalyst of this recent issue. The two groups had their problems over the years, but they never came to blows before. Now it could.

"I get what you're saying. It's just that… It's hard not to feel at least somewhat responsible. I dragged you into this. Knowing how it might end up, I kept wanting to see you… And he was my boyfriend. In a messed up way, it's like this gave him an excuse to escalate things."

Eddie drops the bag on the counter and fully turns around to lean his back up against it, staring at her. Slowly, his lips curl up into a grin. "You're not nearly big enough to drag me into anything, short–stuff." He laughs, moving to the side when a hand lightly swats at him. "For real though, we all made our own decisions. If you're guilty of anything, then I'm damned. I expected this from the get-go. A lot worse, actually. Didn't care. Still don't."

A ghost of a smile spreads across her face. His words do help ease some of the guilt. No one forced any of them to do anything. She wanted to see Eddie, despite understanding it could blow up in their faces. And he always came. Jason's the one who decided to go to Gareth's house earlier. They're all eighteen or older. Adults. Yes, this could've been handled better. Mistakes were made.

"I don't want anyone to get hurt… The guys in your band have nothing to do with it. This is unfamiliar territory for me and Jason. It's hard to know what might happen. Fighting just… really bothers me." She says softly, twisting the red fabric between her fingers. It's not just physical. Yelling puts her on edge too. All of it is awful. Even if it's necessary sometimes.

"To be honest, I'm not big on fighting either." That's surprising since he's always antagonizing people. "It's been all around me. Right from the very start. Gets old real quick. I just like to have a good time. That's all." Pushing off the counter, he steps closer and puts his hands on the cheerleader's shoulders. "But if I have to, I will do it. No doubt. Not so sure Golden Boy really wants to throw down though. Gotta hunch he's mostly lashing out because his goons are running off at the mouth."

"Probably Andy. He's always egging Jason on. Definitely brings out the worst in him. They both do that to each other."

"That piece of crap…" His nose crinkles at the mention of the guy as if smelling something rancid. "Look, you don't have to worry about us. Seriously. It's not like we're a bunch of defenseless kiddies. We've had our fair share of rumbles before."

"Okay. I mean, I'll try not to." It's not really that simple. He probably just wants to put her at ease. This will suck, but she might need to have a talk with Jason. A real one. Somewhere publicly, just to be safe. Tell him the truth and attempt to find some mutual ground.

"Good. The point in me coming over was to make it a better night, not a worse one." The hands on her shoulders gently rub them before pulling away. Like that, he goes back to dealing with the bag on the counter, dumping the popcorn into the bowl she gave him. "We still got a movie to watch."

"Mmm…" That helped, but Chrissy isn't entirely convinced. There's nothing she can really do at the moment. He's here now, so they might as well enjoy their time together. This has all left her with a lot to mull over. It's doubtful she's worth the trouble, but apparently this guy thinks otherwise.

'I don't get him sometimes… I'm curious about what's on that lengthy list he mentioned. What does he see?'

After getting everything together, they head back into the den to watch the movie. Eddie seems pretty eager, quickly putting the tape into the VCR and plopping down on the couch with his snacks. Before it even begins, he drops a handful of Oreos into the cup of milk. The package is held out to her as 'payment for the flattery'.

"I only want a few." She grabs a couple and sits back as 'This is Spinal Tap' starts. After an older man's monologue, it shows the band flying into the US and prepping for a show. When he mentioned this was about a rock group going on tour, that instantly caught her attention.

This is another small peek into a world very different from her own. It's all new and kind of exciting. The Hideout, Hellfire Club, music, this… These all feel like opportunities to learn more about him and she's going to take them.

'There's still so much I don't know.'

---

"That's a sick ass riff." He says through a mouthful of cookies. The guy already scarfed down half of the entire pack, the pudding pies, box of Nerds, and stole a few large handfuls of popcorn. And they're only thirty minutes in… Once having his fill, he falls back against the couch and sighs in contentment.

'His stomach is a bottomless pit.'

Chrissy eyes him from the side, nibbling on her lip. The urge to move over and do what they did last time is really tempting. There's no flannel shirt in the way either. Should she ask or just inch closer to give a hint? Many people say to let guys make the first move. All that's done is hold her back from taking chances.

"Heh." She sucks in a sharp breath when Eddie suddenly whips his head in her direction. "Is this what you want?" He arches a brow, lifting the arm closest to her. Was it that obvious? Flushing, the cheer captain slowly nods, inwardly berating herself for the gross lack of subtlety on display throughout the night. Then again, it hasn't hurt anything so far. "Then come here."

No, it turns out being a little less subtle works out just fine. Scooting across the cushions and right up next to him, she lays against the side of his chest. Just like before, it's warm and his heart's beating fast. Hers is, too. Has been for a while now.

"Man, you're cold." The Hellfire leader pretends to shiver and chuckles. A quiet 'sorry' is mumbled in response. That can't really be helped. It's always been like that. There's a reason the duvet upstairs is so thick and puffy. "You can, uh… sit closer if you want. You know, to get warm or something."

'Sit closer? I don't think that's possible.'

There's no room between them as it is. Glancing over questioningly does nothing. He's just staring at the TV, chewing on the side of his mouth as the band starts up another number. Then it clicks. Oh. Is 'closer' just a way of saying 'on his lap' in this scenario? That must be why his body is tense.

'I'm a dumdum… So, is this him testing the waters?'

She regards him for a moment, watching as his Adam's apple bobs up and down. The offer isn't immediately shut down. Her mind and heart are racing like crazy, trying to decide what to do. They like each other. That's obvious at this point. And he hasn't purposefully crossed any lines, like by getting handsy. So, why not?

"...Okay." That draws his attention right back to her, eyes widening a bit before lighting up. Was that surprising? He pushes himself up against the couch and leans over to pull the lever so the footrest comes out. Getting everything nice and comfy.

Blushing furiously, she gently slides over onto his lap, trying to be careful not to hit anything on accident that might ruin the mood. The whirlwind of butterflies below and tight sensation in her chest return with a vengeance. This time, they're fully embraced as she settles down on him, laying back against his chest.

"How's that? Cozy?" Chrissy nods and draws her legs up, letting them rest on top of his much longer ones. "Good. Now you can watch the rest of the movie without being too distracted." He snickers, shifting beneath the cheerleader so his belt buckle isn't digging right into her lower back. "Is that better?"

"Yeah." Not that it's easier to focus on the TV this way. A real attempt is made anyway, trying to absorb what's happening. That's difficult when all of this is throwing her senses into a frenzy.

'He smells good.'

When Eddie drops his chin onto her shoulder, she swallows hard and tries to keep a neutral expression. So close… Enough that it's hard to pay attention to anything other than the hot breath tickling her skin through the loose strawberry blonde hair hanging down.

"What's wrong?" He says teasingly, giving a little nudge. This guy knows exactly what games he's playing. His long arms slowly snake around her midsection while those dark eyes stare intently from the side, searching for a reaction. Any sign of approval or objection toward the move.

Chrissy lets out a breathy sigh, reveling in the warmth surrounding her. It's everywhere, along with his scent. Almost to a dizzying degree. Last time, there were more layers in the way. Now she can feel his bare arms wrapped around her own, nothing getting in between them.

This is heavenly. Like curling up with a heated blanket after coming in on a snowy winter night. She's melting into him, letting her body completely relax. If only there was a way to stay like this for good. Life would be blissful. Wanting a little more, a hand moves down to slip beneath one of his. He exhales sharply, happily weaving their fingers together tightly.

'I made the right choice.'

---

More people showed up at Chance's than expected. There's no getting around it. This isn't a small get–together anymore. It's a party. Local college students even showed up.

Jason takes another swig of his beer and internally groans, trying to ignore the looks certain people are giving him. He doesn't need to glance over again to see the eyes shooting daggers his way. Perhaps that's meant for someone else. Like the girl sitting on the arm of his chair.

'How long is she going to rattle on for?'

The junior beside him has been talking almost nonstop for the last half hour, swirling the alcohol around in her red cup. Whatever that is. Amber, the person in line to be the next cheerleading captain. The other cheerleaders here keep making faces at them, especially 'Charlotte the Harlot'. The brunette's across the room with John, gripping her own drink while glaring at the pair.

At the moment, he doesn't care. It's not like they're doing anything. Still, this doesn't look great. There's no doubt Chrissy's going to hear about this. Then any chance of fixing things will go up in smoke. Maybe that's what he gets for acting like a fool and drinking too much.

"She's not some goddamn prize that goes to whoever wins a stupid fight. Drill that into your thick skull."

When the freak is giving him a moral lecture, that's one way to know something's gone wrong. The guy is the lowest of the low but made a good point for once in his miserable life. That's all the credit Munster gets. He just let himself get carried away. It's not like winning the fight would change her mind. Part of him just hoped it'd get that weirdo to back off so she can return to normal. Those claws just need to be pried off of her.

"So… What do you think?"

"Yeah, sure. Sounds great." Jason has no clue what this girl's saying. That's the problem with a lot of them. They carry on endlessly and can have entire conversations with themselves. There's barely a need to give any input. Thankfully, the beer makes it easier to tune out while attempting to still appear somewhat attentive.

'Dad was right about women who will talk a man's ear off.'

To his disbelief, the blonde leans in and presses her lips against his. He turns into a statue, barely registering a handful of surprised gasps from around the room. The familiar slippery feel of lip gloss rubs off onto his mouth and reminds him why it's prohibited. Despite knowing this is wrong, he doesn't stop her. Not kissing back, but not ending it either. Isn't this one of Chrissy's friends? Didn't she nominate this girl to take her position next year? What a jezebel.

'Her replacement…'

Maybe pretending to listen and not actually doing it wasn't smart. He's not sure what he agreed to.

"You backstabbing little witch."

The junior quickly pulls away and Jason looks up to see Charlotte standing there with her puppy dog of a boyfriend trailing not far behind.

"Who cares? They're not together anymore. She's screwing around with that creepy weirdo." That earns her a glare from himself and the brunette. Chrissy wouldn't do that. They've been together for a while and he hasn't gotten very far. There's no way that lowlife did. Then again, if the guy can manipulate her to act out like she's been, it could be a possibility. That's what people like him do. They take and take until there's nothing left, then run away to look for the next victim. A real snake, slithering around on his belly until some innocent soul crosses paths with him. Then he strikes.

"That's not it! You're breaking girl code. Friends don't get with each other's boyfriends or exes. What is wrong with you?! And watch your mouth! You don't know what you're talking about."

"Shut up! She wouldn't care. Why is it okay for her to hook up with other people but not him?"

Pushing Amber away, Jason gets to his feet and storms off. Women bickering is almost as annoying as lip gloss. He's too drunk to care about what they're saying. None of them get it. No one's hooking up with anyone. They're just going through a rough patch. There's still a chance to work things out.

'All of this because you're having some weird phase…'

That's it. They just have to talk this out. Sure, he hasn't been the greatest boyfriend ever. There have been plenty of occasions where his time should've gone to her instead of hanging out with the team outside of practice. She's probably doing all this for attention. It makes sense.

'I need to talk to her. We have to sort this out. It was a mistake to let that happen. The Harlot is going to tell as soon as she gets a chance. Maybe I can still fix this.'

Pulling the keys out of his pants pocket, Jason maneuvers through the people in the way, trying to get to the front door. He's drunk, but Chrissy's house isn't far from here. It shouldn't be too hard to make it. As long as he's extra careful and drives slowly through the neighborhood, then everything will be okay.

"Jason! Wait!" a voice calls out after finally making it to the Jeep. This girl… She's persistent. Now he's going to be in trouble because of her. The blonde slips her heels off and grabs them, running down the front path to the driveway barefoot. A groan of annoyance builds up in his throat. It stays there. "I just want to talk for a minute."

'You already got thirty and I hardly remember anything you said.'

"Make it quick. I have something to do."

---

"A lot of my favorite bands are from the UK. Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Motörhead… There's this pub in London I wanna go to if we make it big. It's called The Cart and Horses. The birthplace of Maiden. You know, where they played their first shows. Someday, I'm gonna walk right in there, sit my happy ass down on a stool, and have a few drinks."

"That's a cool goal to have." Gazing down affectionately, Chrissy's fingers run through the mess of dark wavy hair hanging over the side of her thigh. The movie ended a while ago. At some point, they ended up changing positions. He weaseled his way into her lap, trying to get the same treatment as at Lover's Lake. And she willingly obliged. "Does it have to be after you make it big?"

"Yep. I won't take a step inside that place until then, even if by some crazy chance I end up across the pond. Made that deal with myself years ago and I intend to keep it." He stretches his legs out over the cushions with a groan, getting comfortable. A hand stays resting on her knee, and she glances at it, studying the large rings on his fingers. It's not the first time doing this, but they definitely draw attention. A cross with skulls, pig's head, and a mean–looking skull with fangs.

'He sure has interesting tastes.'

"Is there anywhere you'd wanna hit up?"

The cheer captain goes quiet for a moment at the question. Eddie had a place in mind that has special meaning for him. It sounds more like a pilgrimage than a simple vacation. There isn't anywhere in the world that holds that much value to her… yet. She does have aspirations to travel abroad in the future.

"Mhm. I always hoped to go to France one day. Maybe bounce around and see different parts of Europe." Dark eyes glance up at her curiously, obviously intrigued by that answer. "I, um… was a fan of Brigitte Bardot. There's a small collection of her movies and records in my closet. Kind of had to hide it so my parents wouldn't throw them out. She's not exactly someone they'd want me looking up to."

"You mean 'cause of the outgoing 'sex kitten' image? Yeah, I guess strait-laced nobles who run a tight ship wouldn't be crazy about women like that." He 'tsk's, shaking his head. "Can't have those wild ideas floating around."

"Pretty much. But after Charlotte got me to watch 'And God Created Woman', I wanted to see the French Riviera for myself. It just looked so beautiful. And there are tons of sites in Paris and Bordeaux to visit alone. Cathedrals, museums, theaters, old palaces… Oh! There's a place you might be interested in. The Catacombs of Paris." She says excitedly and a little too fast at the end.

"Wait. The whatta–what?"

"Catacombs of Paris. Here, let me get up." Eddie shifts down the couch a little so she has room to slide out. Hopping to her feet, the cheerleader rushes to the study. It's forbidden to go in there without permission, but oh well.

'There it is…'

Taking the item off the shelf, Chrissy runs back to the den and takes her place on the couch next to him. It's a book that covers famous sites in France and delves into the country's history. Flipping through the pages until reaching the section in mind, her eyes light up as she holds it out to show him.

"The Catacombs of Paris. It's basically a labyrinth beneath the city made up of bones." As she expected, that catches his attention. He flips over to sit upright, taking the book from her to get a look for himself. "Apparently there were health issues connected to the nearby cemeteries, so officials had remains dug up and transferred underground."

"Christ…" Glossing over the pictures of walls and pillars covered with human skulls, his brow furrows as he leans closer to the page. She's not exactly sure what kind of reaction that would get. Sure, he obviously likes skull imagery. They're on posters in his room, clothing, and rings. That's different. Those aren't real, just designs. A style choice that comes with the territory of the scene he's involved in. "Does it say how many there are?"

"I'm pretty sure at the beginning of the section, it said something like five or six million people's remains. Yeah, and during the early nineteenth century, it was used for concerts and whatnot. I remember that specific part because it really blew my mind."

Eddie glances up from the book and over towards her. Just from the look in his eyes, she can tell he's really thinking about something. "That's metal as hell. This would be really sick as a backdrop for a show or music video. Just without actual human bones."

"Do you mean like how the band used Stonehenge in the movie?" Spinal Tap planned a show inspired by the monument and had a prop custom-made to recreate one of the standing stones. It didn't go right since Nigel accidentally used inches for the dimensions instead of feet on the directions, which resulted in the band getting laughed at by audience members.

"Sorta. That'd be sweet, though. Having a wall covered in skulls behind us while we play. And with the lights? Maybe red ones. Or if it's a music video, it could be in black and white. Well, I'd have to see… I'm getting way ahead of myself." He snorts, running a hand through his hair. Seeing how excited it made him and connecting it back to his passion is delightful to her. "You were spot on. It's interesting."

"Right?" the cheer captain answers brightly, rocking forward on the edge of the couch. She's glad he found it intriguing and got some ideas from that. It would be really neat to see his band make a music video at some point. "A teensy tiny part of me wants to see the catacombs if I ever get to visit Paris. I guess out of morbid curiosity."

"This ghoulish place?" A wide grin spreads as he taps a finger against a close-up shot of a row of skulls along a passage. The idea alone is apparently very amusing to him. "I can see it now. You'd be clinging onto someone's back the entire way with your teeth chattering up a storm."

She sticks out her bottom lip in a pout when the Hellfire leader imitates the scene he just described and starts laughing, smacking a hand against his knee. "Go ahead, keep making fun of me. Guess who's back I won't be clinging to? Take a stab at it." Her being a scaredy–cat isn't a huge secret. This guy knows that all too well. It's only a little teasing. Still, the threat shuts him up right away.

"Hey, hey, hey now! Wait just a minute. That's not fair… I didn't know anything was at stake."

"Everything is always at stake." He isn't the only one who can play games. The surprised look on his face gives her some satisfaction. She's getting a little better at this.

"What a cutthroat. You know, you really have a—"

The doorbell rings and he stops mid-sentence. Neither says a word, listening intently until it rings again. Putting the book down on the coffee table, Eddie frowns and glances at the watch on his wrist. "What the hell… It's after ten."

The small clock on the mantle confirms it. 10:18 at night. Someone stopping by this late is very unusual, but she has a good idea of who it probably is. The bell starts ringing repeatedly throughout the house. That practically confirms it. This happened before when he came to confront her about missing their date on Valentine's Day.

'Crap… Crap! Crap! Crap!'

This is bad. Chrissy tries to even out her breathing, not wanting to give away the panic brewing inside. She can't think of anyone else that would show up like this. It'd be unusual for Jason, too. He said they'd finish the conversation later but come on…

"You want me to get it?" Eddie's voice lost all the playfulness it held only a few moments ago. He knows. That's very clear from his expression. This isn't just bad. It's terrible. If they see each other after what went on earlier, there will undoubtedly be a fight. And any neighbors still awake won't hesitate to call the cops.

'I can't let that happen. They need to stay as far apart as humanly possible for now.'

"Nope! No, um… Just stay here. I'll be right back." She says quickly, trying to sound nonchalant. As if this is completely normal. Hopping up, it's a struggle not to glance back at him on the way out of the den and into the hall. At least for some reassurance. Doing that will just push him to act.

The bell keeps ringing. It's grating on the nerves. "I'm coming! Knock it off already!" Using that tone and volume towards anyone is uncharacteristic. Enough to make the noise out front stop right away. Good. At least he got the point. Getting to the door, she looks through the peephole just to make sure it actually is him and not some stranger lurking in the neighborhood. It is. Even without the porch light on, it's easy to tell. "Just give me a minute."

Chrissy doesn't wait for a response before running upstairs to the bedroom. Doing this at home gives her a little more confidence that he won't act out too much, since they'll be out front. No one is coming inside. That's too risky. Rushing to the dresser, the small box lying on top is grabbed and shoved into the pocket of her sweatpants. The bracelet he gave her barely a week ago... It needs to be returned. Keeping this expensive piece of jewelry after breaking up with him wouldn't be right.

Heading back down and throwing on the light cheer jacket, she takes a deep breath, trying to center herself. At least someone else is here. For better or worse. A person to talk to and lean on after this is all over. Okay. It's not so bad. There's something to look forward to once this is done.

As soon as the front door is cracked open, a chilly breeze blasts her in the face. Darn it. This guy just had to come on a cold night. It's still technically winter, even if spring's coming around the corner soon. Slipping out onto the porch, she crosses her arms and holds the thin jacket tightly against herself, trying to keep any lingering warmth trapped inside.

"There you are." Jason doesn't seem bothered by the weather at all. He steps back, taking his hands out of the pockets of the varsity jacket. "It's not polite to make someone wait at the door for so long."

"What, did you come to patronize me? Stopping by a person's house this late at night is also not polite. Quite rude, actually. So is ringing their doorbell a million and a half times." This is already starting off badly. She stays close to the door, keeping some distance between them. Just to be safe.

"No, I…" A deep sigh comes out as his head falls back. "I just wanted to talk, okay? This mess needs to be cleaned up. It's late, I know. This couldn't wait anymore." Another breeze comes by and it becomes apparent why he felt showing up at this late hour was fine, despite not knowing her dad's gone.

'He reeks of beer…'

"Are you drunk? Why are you driving around after drinking?" At lunch, she remembers one of the younger basketball players mentioning something about Chance's place. That's where he must've come from. What great friends… Do they even know he left like this? Maybe none of them could stop him. "That's really stupid. You could hurt yourself or someone else."

"Oh? So you actually care now? Is this what it takes to get anything out of you, Ice Queen?" He clicks his tongue in annoyance. That's a new one. Ice Queen? Where did that come from?

"Just because we're not together anymore doesn't mean I want something bad to happen to you." How ridiculous. From the beginning, she's always cared. Going their separate ways doesn't mean they have to become mortal enemies or wish harm on each other.

"You sure? Doesn't seem like it." As if realizing getting riled up won't help, Jason runs a hand through his dirty blond hair and visibly tries to simmer down. "Forget it… Look, I know I didn't handle things well this morning or yesterday. I'm sorry. I've been trying to wrap my head around what's going on and why. None of it makes sense... Don't you think I deserve some kind of explanation after everything we've been through? Did I really mean that little to you? As far as I knew, we were fine just a few days ago, then it all suddenly went downhill."

Chrissy gawks at him while rubbing her arms to stay warm. They're never on the same page. There was probably a better way to handle this, but he didn't make it easy either. "That's not fair. I tried talking to you multiple times. All you did was push me off to the side for your friends. 'Can't this wait? I need to talk to Chance about something', or 'Later. I'm supposed to meet up with Andy'. How do you expect me to explain anything when that's what I'd get each time?"

"Tch. Fine, you have a point. I'll give you that. Well, now you have the floor. Explain away. Tell me why you're willing to ruin both of our lives. What makes you so eager to toss all our plans in the dumpster."

Ruin both of their lives? It's not like that at all. She's desperately trying to get hers back. It just so happens that doing that means ruining the plan. Those two things are opposing forces. "That's just it. You don't listen or really pay attention to me. At every turn, it just becomes more apparent—"

"What the hell are you talking about? I've gone above and beyond to do everything I'm supposed to. Sure, I put off a few conversations, but that's it. I'm working my ass off every single day. To make sure we win the championships, keep my grades up, stop my team from getting out of line, and do the rounds, all while trying to be a good friend and boyfriend. I have a lot on my plate. Everyone's eyes are on me. Expecting miracles from me. Demanding more and more from me."

"If there's so much on your plate, then not having a girlfriend should lighten the load." It's not that the cheer captain can't sympathize with him. She gets it. Maybe not to the same extent, since there's a different kind of pressure on him. "That'll take some stress off your shoulders. One less thing to worry about."

"No! I don't see you that way. You were supposed to be my friend and girlfriend. Look, I should've spent more time with you. Maybe hung out with the guys a little less or skipped a few times at Benny's. Things have been hectic lately. My dad's on my case all the time. This is the last thing I need right now. I thought you'd understand that… Scratch that. I know you do."

A pang of guilt settles in her chest. "We both have people expecting a lot out of us. It's unfair. I think that's what drew us to be friends in the first place, aside from our parents. Being around someone in a similar situation and getting to talk to them about it feels nice. The thing is… I'm not happy. I don't want to keep going through the motions just to please everyo—"

"So is that how you think of us? Just going through the motions? And what do you have to be unhappy about with me? I do what I can. Drive you around, give you love and affection, get you gifts, put up with your chatterbox friends and strict dad... Even got my parents to throw you a big birthday party. I ask for very little in return. A lot less than what any of my friends get from their girlfriends."

How frustrating. He said she has the floor, yet cut her off twice now. Perhaps it's because of the alcohol or this isn't really about wanting answers. The list is full of things he insisted on doing. Not that they aren't appreciated, but to have it all thrown in her face like this… She should've spoken up and turned them down. This just proves the importance of having balance in a relationship. Otherwise, something like this might happen.

That 'very little' isn't so little, either. Chrissy's bottom lip quivers and she bites down in an attempt to control it. They've had tiffs and talks before, not including the overt hints. He's made it blatantly clear what's expected of his girlfriend. She's already handed over so much of herself. Giving him the rest would've been a mistake. A huge, regrettable one.

Relenting at the beginning of the school year and saying 'yes' to him was stupid. They should've stayed friends instead of pushing it to please everyone. There's no way this could've worked out. Two people slowly rotting on the inside can't save each other. Both of them refused to even acknowledge anything was wrong from the start.

"You're upset because you know I'm right. I've bent over backward for you… And what do I get? You let some trailer trash get in your head and screw everything up." Jason pauses when she lets out a shaky breath, noticing the cheerleader beginning to tear up. Crying always made him uncomfortable. "Chris… This isn't all your fault. That's what this guy does. You're stressed out. Confused. It's okay. Sometimes, stuff like this happens. Remember Pastor Bennett's sermon from a while ago about Eve being tempted with the apple? That's what this is. Don't listen to the serpent."

'Is that how he sees Eddie? As Lucifer? That's so absurd! And If I wanted to hear preaching, I'd start going back to church.'

Despite drowning in conflicting emotions, one shoots straight up to the surface. "I told you before not to talk about him like that. None of this is his fault. It's mine. So, take it out on me. Leave Eddie and his friends out of our mess." She says indignantly, finding herself becoming increasingly defensive over the matter. "I do appreciate all the nice things you've done for me. The issue is that you have this image of me that isn't real. I can't live up to the standards you hold me to, just like I can't give you what you really want. I'm… I'm just going through a lot of stuff, so it's better for you to find someone that can be what you need. That's not me."

"What stuff? Like your eating problem?" The blood drains from her face, eyes flying open wide from shock as if someone just doused her with a bucket of ice water. He picks up on it right away this time. His brows pinch together and lips form a tight line as he takes a few steps across the porch. Quietly taking it in. That's not something anyone should know about, least of all him. "So it's true… Amber wasn't lying about you making yourself throw up. I didn't want to believe it... Why? That makes no sense. You've always been skinny. It can't be good for your body. Knock that off. "

'...Amber…'

Hot, angry tears trail down her cheeks. This is humiliating. All she can do now is pray no one else can hear him. He's not exactly being quiet. "You have no clue what you're talking about! I haven't done that crap in a while! It's none of your business, anyway."

"That's what I mean. When do you ever say things like 'crap'? You don't. It's the freak's influence. All that stuff you mentioned? We can work through that. Not just give up and throw everything away. Graduation is coming up, moving out, college… That's what we should be focusing on. You're not pulling your weight. Like whatever happened to campaigning for prom queen? Are you just expecting them to hand you the crown without lifting a finger?"

"I don't care about any of that. Not college or becoming prom queen." With everything that's been going on the last few months, those are all meaningless by comparison. She didn't ask to have her name thrown in the hat. It was the complete opposite. "I'm tired of you and everyone else telling me what to do or who I'm supposed to be. It's really getting old. And there is no 'we' anymore. Just 'me' figuring myself out."

He throws his hands up, laughing sardonically. "If it's not what I think it is, then why now? Why so close to championships and graduation? The finish line was right there, but I guess it just couldn't wait. What pushed you to do this?"

Chrissy sucks in a sharp breath and closes her eyes, trying to reel it all in. After spending so long keeping so many emotions controlled and hidden, letting them out like this is taxing. How honest should it get? Seems as if they're just throwing everything out into the open. "Saturday night." She says shakily, her insides twisting into knots.

"Saturday night? Your birthday?" Jason's brow furrows in confusion. Fingers rub along his chin as he replays that night to find the issue. "What about it?"

"In the Jeep… I didn't want that." She wrings her hands nervously, knowing that there's no putting the lid back on this now. It's already out there. Being enraged would make this easier, but it's quickly getting replaced with anxiety and trepidation. She might've gotten ahead of herself. "N–Not once did you seem to notice. That's what I meant about you not listening or paying attention to me. When it really counts, what I want just… goes right out the window."

"What?!" He rears back in disbelief, staring at her wide-eyed. As if this is the most unbelievable and insulting thing anyone's ever said to him. The sudden animation causes her to jolt, worried about how this might play out. Maybe that should've stayed buried away. "Are you serious? How was I supposed to know that if you don't say anything?"

"I wasn't even moving. And I did! You said something like 'we're getting married anyway', which I guess means it doesn't matter, and kept going. If your window didn't get cracked, I don't think you would've stopped."

He paces back and forth along the length of the porch, roughly rubbing his forehead with a hand. "I thought you were just playing coy. I'm not a mind–reader! You can run your mouth now, but couldn't say anything then? Now you want to make me look like a piece of crap?"

"I was afraid of making you upset… Like I am now. You have a temper sometimes. I don't like yelling and people hitting stuff. It scares me. I'm not trying to make you look like anything, either. Just explaining how I felt."

"Give me a damn break, Chris!"

"Okay, okay. I've heard enough." The front door opens and both of them freeze when Eddie steps out onto the welcome mat. Looking none too pleased. Even in this darkened view, she can see the scowl on his face. "Sorry, Chrissy. Don't mean to step on your toes, but I said I'd help you and I meant it."

"What the hell is he doing here?" Jason hisses and motions towards him, staring at the cheerleader incredulously. "You have a guy over this late? Where's your dad? There's no way he'd let that happen."

"I, um…" Glancing between the two men, she's not sure what to say. Part of her is relieved, yet horrified by the interruption. How much of their discussion did he catch? There's no way they could be heard all the way from the den, right? Or was he standing in the foyer, listening in? This is so mortifying. "It doesn't matter. Please, just go. I'm done arguing."

"You heard her. Get." A command one might give a dog. He makes a shooing motion with his hands and it only serves to incense Jason beyond belief.

"Shut the hell up, freak. This is between me and her. Why don't you get out of here? It has nothing to do with you.

The Hellfire leader scoffs, curling a hand into a fist at his side. "Yeah, it does. I'm a guest here and there's no host hosting right now because you had to show up to make an ass of yourself."

Instead of continuing the back and forth with him, Jason turns his attention back to her. He's tense and on edge, despite the drunkenness. The heated 'conversation' they were having appeared to sober him up a bit. "This is what you want, huh? Well, Chris? You want to screw around with this flunky? He's old enough to buy alcohol and is still in high school with a bunch of teenagers."

"Damn, dude. I'm not that old."

"All that'll happen is that you're going to throw everything away. And for what? Over some stupid, rebellious phase? Your dad mustn't know what's going on. He'd never be okay with a guy like that coming anywhere near this house."

'I'm getting a headache.'

She strokes her temples, hoping to get some relief. This is too much. It's overwhelming. The pressure in her head is steadily building up the longer this goes on. All she wants is to go back inside with Eddie and spend more time together. Everything was fine until the doorbell rang. "I don't care what my dad thinks."

"Liar," Jason says harshly, moving closer until the cheerleader's within reach. "You're only saying that because he's not standing here. How long until he finds out? Then what?! What do you think he's going to do?"

Taking a step back to put some distance between them, her hip bumps into the railing. There's barely any room now. It's a mix of the nightmare from earlier and what happened on the side of the school yesterday. Him looming above, making her feel so minuscule beneath his angry gaze. Getting boxed into a cramped space. She shudders, trying to push those thoughts away. A small hand reaches up to rub her chest and neck in a self–soothing gesture.

"Enough! You need to back up, Carver." Eddie snaps, coming towards them. He's fuming. An unusual sight to see. "I don't like any of the shit you've been saying or what I heard. Let's get something straight. The only reason I haven't smashed your face in already is because we're at Chrissy's and she doesn't like fighting."

"To be honest, I'm not big on fighting either… It's been all around me. Right from the very start."

'I shouldn't have answered the door. This put him in a bad position.'

"Why don't we take a walk down the street? Man–to–man, right? And you don't have to piss your pants over my big ol' scary rings anymore." He lifts both hands, showing off the naked fingers with a smirk. As far as she knows, the rings always stay on. There's no questioning it now. "Took them off just for you." Cracking his knuckles loudly, he gives Jason a smug look, practically inviting him to make the first move.

"Why take a walk when we can do it right here, loser?"

"No way!" This can't be allowed to happen. She stands in front of Jason when he goes to take the bait. They're near the step. All he needs to do is turn around and leave to end it. Aside from not wanting anyone to get hurt, these two fighting here and at this hour will just cause unnecessary trouble overall. "You're drunk. Just go sit in your car. Who can come get you? I'll call someone."

"I don't need anyone's help! Get out of the way. This prick's been asking for it for years. " Is he out of his mind? It's a terrible idea. She shakes her head, not wanting to let him by. Refusing to listen only increases his annoyance. "I said move! You're just trying to protect that freak!"

"Chrissy, get away from him." When Eddie steps closer, the basketball captain's eyes narrow on him. He quickly turns and roughly pushes her off to the side, away from them. Giving the two men plenty of room.

Whack!

"Ah!" Chrissy shouts as a tight fist hits Jason right in the face. His head whips back and he stumbles towards the railing, grabbing onto it for stability. A hand presses against the spot where he was just struck. Shock. There's a look of genuine shock on his face as if he never expected anyone would punch him.

"That's for shoving her. Now I got a few dozen more for all that crap you were spewing." Taking off his leather jacket, it's quickly tossed onto one of the wicker chairs, leaving him in only a sleeveless shirt. As she feared, he's completely serious about this. These two are really going to duke it out on the front porch.

"You got it all wrong, scumbag." Regaining his composure, the captain straightens up and cracks his neck, ready for the next round. "You should've just stayed out of this." He throws a punch, but Eddie dodges it and gets another hit in.

'I can't watch! Oh my God… Someone is definitely going to call the cops!'

She covers her face and turns away. This is awful. They're hurting each other. Was this really inevitable? Is there a way to stop it? Getting between those two is not an option. They're both much bigger and stronger. The thuds, panting, and sounds of fists hitting skin are making her stomach churn. Going anywhere near them is a terrible idea.

'I don't want him to get hurt…'

Hesitantly looking up, Chrissy gasps seeing them struggling beside the front door. A knee comes up and jams right into Eddie's side, knocking the air out of him. The side that was already bruised from Donna's boot. He winces and sucks in a sharp breath, trying to push the other man back to get some room.

In a move that stuns her, Jason loudly gathers saliva in his mouth and spits it into the Hellfire leader's face. "Ugh! What the fuck?!" Even without the porch light on, she notices the dark spots across his skin. He just sprayed him with spit and blood, using the distraction to get a punch in.

"No!" she cries out when a fist connects with his face, knocking him sideways. That wasn't fair. It's fighting dirty. Her heart is racing, filled with worry and outrage. "You cheap jerk! Stop this already!"

"Be quiet, Chris! Stay out of it!" He yells angrily, trying to keep the 'enemy' pressed up against the siding. From watching this scuffle, a bit of their strengths and weaknesses become apparent. One's stronger while the other's faster. It's in Jason's best interest to hold him there, otherwise he'll keep getting hit. All it takes is one good punch in the right spot to end the fight.

"So much for seeing who the bigger man is, huh?" Between the panting and grunts, a chuckle slips out, along with a wide grin. The image is disturbing. One she won't forget anytime soon. "By the way, Golden Boy… I owe you something for being an asshole who pissed me off." Craning his head back as far as it can go in that position, Eddie swings it forward, smashing the captain in the face.

Chrissy winces, quickly averting her gaze when hearing a horrible crunching sound and scream of pain. She wraps her arms around herself, hoping to calm down the trembling. This is scary. Those two are going to end up killing each other. And for what? They'll both need medical attention after this.

'I need to stop them.'

When she turns back, it's no longer anything resembling an even fight. Just one man pummeling the other into the wooden boards of the porch. That headbutt completely turned the tide. "Eddie!" He freezes when his name's yelled out, fist still in the air, ready to connect with the person below. "Enough already. Please… Stop."

Breathing heavily, the hand clenches and relaxes a few times as he stares down at his opponent. "Dammit…" Eddie shakes his fist out and stands up, rubbing the knuckles gingerly. "You're lucky Chrissy is a huge softie."

"Oh, God!" A single glance is all it takes to tell who's in a much worse condition. Rushing over, she drops to her knees next to Jason while he pushes himself up. There's blood running from his nose, covering his mouth and dripping onto the front of the varsity jacket. "Is it broken?" Seeing anyone get hurt is upsetting, but her mind is already thinking of how much trouble Eddie might get into if the Carvers try to press charges and what she can do to avoid that.

'What's he going to do now? There's no hiding this… His face is already starting to swell. I don't think he'll want to tell anyone who actually did it, though. That would really hurt his pride.'

"I'm fine!" He shoots back and wobbles to his feet, brushing her off. "It's just a little nosebleed." That's an understatement and all of them know it. The guy needs to go to the hospital or at least see a doctor. That injury looks bad. His nose collided with a hard surface. Maybe more than once. She couldn't bear to watch every hit.

Jason limps to the end of the porch, holding onto the railing to make his way down the step. He's kidding, right? Driving in that condition? Someone will end up getting killed, even if it's not him. Making it here while drunk without causing an accident was a miracle in itself.

"Are you serious? Let me call someone. You shouldn't be driving like that!" Chrissy pleads, foolishly hoping to talk some sense into him.

"Don't pretend to care, Chris. It's obvious what choice you made. After all this time, now you want to wear your heart on your sleeve. And it's for this bastard." He motions towards Eddie, who's standing there with his hands buried in his underarms, looking irritated. "Go ahead, Munson. A greedy guy who has nothing needs to take what he can get. There—" Pointing at the cheerleader, his face twists into a bloody grimace, fueled by pain and embarrassment. "You can have my sloppy seconds. Consider it a charitable donation."

She knows Jason's probably just saying that to hurt her and make him angry, yet it still stings. This isn't how it was supposed to go. Then again, what did she really expect to happen? Knowing how these two despise each other, there weren't any scenarios that came to mind that didn't involve some kind of conflict.

"Shut the hell up or I'll break something else." The Hellfire leader bites out, spitting off the side of the porch. It's hard to tell if he's injured or not with the mess on his face. If so, the guy's doing a great job of not letting it show.

"There. You're free to do as you please, Ice Queen. No need to keep sneaking around and lying. Now you don't have to pretend anymore. Everyone can see you for who you really are. When another girl takes your seat, don't be shocked to find out you're replaceable."

"I know I am…" Chrissy says quietly, crossing her arms while staring at him. Isn't everyone to some degree? In the next month, she'll no longer be captain of the cheerleading squad. Soon, there won't even be a place for her at school when graduation comes. Time will keep going and every spot she once held will have another person filling it. That's okay. "Jason, this might not have worked out for us, but I hope you find someone that can make you happy."

Standing on the path in front of the house, he eyes her for a long moment, not saying anything. A myriad of emotions pass over his hardened features. It's too difficult to conceal them, even with the blood and swelling. The man's conflicted and obviously upset. Regardless of everything that's happened, she meant it. There are still good parts of him. She's seen them. He's not entirely bad and means well most of the time, even if his ideas are seriously misguided. A true product of their environment. That excuse can only go so far, though.

"Hmph." The captain trudges down the path to his Jeep parked in its usual spot along the curb, beneath the streetlight. It takes a bit to haul himself into the driver's seat before he starts it up, taking off at breakneck speed.

'Fool. You're going to kill yourself or someone else by being reckless.'

When she turns back to Eddie, he's striding towards the end of the porch as Jason did, hopping down off the step. The jacket is back on, no longer hanging off the wicker chair. "Wait, are you leaving too?" There's no attempt to hide the distress in her voice.

"...I'll be back."

"O–Okay." Chrissy bites down on her lip at the gruff tone. Without sparing a single glance, he marches across the yard. Her eyes stay fixed on the large Dio patch stitched to the back of his vest until it's out of sight. The van's not parked out front of the garage, so it's probably around the block.

Ambling over to a porch chair, she sits down, dropping her head into her hands. What a catastrophe. A real mess. Eddie got hurt. It's not clear if this is just some tough guy act, but there's no way he isn't. She saw Jason punch him and dig a knee into the side that was already badly bruised. And that doesn't include what was missed.

There's no telling if he's actually coming back. Leaning forward, she takes in a few gulps of fresh air, attempting to calm down. So that's what a fight between two men looks like up close… Horrifying. It's not the same as when kids at school say something rude and go at it. No. This was extremely personal. Their tempers, emotions, and years of antagonizing each other just exploded, and it got nasty.

The sound of a vehicle right out front causes Chrissy to reluctantly lift her head back up. A blue and white car pulls up alongside the curb. At least, that's what she can make out with help from the streetlight. Panic sets in seeing the bold words 'HAWKINS POLICE DEPT.' on the passenger door. The thought that a neighbor would call them already slipped her mind at this point.

'Oh, no! This is bad... Really bad.'

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A/N: Thanks a lot for reading and all the lovely reviews! I really appreciate them! Sorry this took so long. When going through my chapter outlines, 14 only had: Ballet, Spinal Tap, fight! and I forgot to actually fill it out before. Also... In the last chapter, somehow I wrote 'trash' instead of 'thrash'. Not sure if it was just a typo or spellcheck, but it slipped through. That gave me a good laugh when I finally noticed it. I'm so glad I don't let any irl friends read my work. That one would've gotten me disowned lol. Trash metal sounds kind of funny to me though.

And SeaQueen2000... You got it! Already had a scene planned where this ties in well.