Warning: Brief mentions of ED, blood, etc.
"...Piece of shit… That fucking piece of shit… "
Eddie keeps pacing back and forth alongside the van, hissing out whatever curses come to mind. The shaking won't stop and his heart's still racing from the adrenaline pumping through his veins. It's parked away from the streetlights, near some trees. A spot where the nearby richies won't easily notice. With the way he looks right now, a single glance is all it'd take for one of them to call the dogs out.
A small trickle of blood runs from his nose. One good shot caused that. He doesn't bother with it, letting the warm fluid dribble down his chin. Screw it. There's already plenty of that all over mixed with spit thanks to that scumbag. Friggin' nasty. It's even in his hair and the last time he was home, the water still wasn't working.
This is horseshit. Passing the back of the van for over the dozenth time, the urge to kick something is overwhelming. He's fuming and there isn't much that can bring him back down at this point. No, it's not just that… There are a lot of intense emotions trying to claw their way to the surface. Anger is just the most palpable of the bunch.
Taking a deep breath, he stretches his arms up and puts them behind his head, trying to get it together. None of this was supposed to happen. Leaving Chrissy certainly wasn't either, but he needed a few minutes to himself after all that. It was a lot. And in more ways than one.
"Dammit…" Eddie grunts loudly as a different feeling smothers the red-hot anger. Guilt. Regret and shame are making their way up, too. Spinning on his heel, he finally moves to open the door and hops into the driver's seat. The rearview mirror gets smacked upward to avoid looking at his face.
'So much for helping her, asshole.'
A cigarette's pulled out of the pack to help calm his nerves. Another reason to come out here. In the van, the Hellfire leader can smoke to his heart's content without worrying about getting her in trouble. Daddy big bucks might come back tomorrow or something.
That jerk just had to come tonight, huh? Taking a long drag, he leans back against the seat to stare up at the ceiling. Holding in the smoke and letting it burn his throat. This blows. Just when it feels like he's really making headway with Chrissy, something has to try messing it up. They were having a really good time… She's opening up more and getting a little bolder, which is great.
Then dickhead had to stop by to make a fool out of himself while tearing her down.
The moment the doorbell rang, it was pretty damn obvious who it was. It put him in a weird spot. How does he help in this situation without stepping on the cheerleader's toes? It's not his house or 'relationship'. And telling her what to do would make him no better than the others. All he can do is give suggestions or offer assistance.
Still, no way in hell was he just going to leave her out there alone with that lunatic. Not after the shit Carver's already said and done. As soon as the front door closed, his ass was next to it. Just a way to keep an ear out to make sure she's safe without overstepping too many boundaries. This wasn't about being nosey. It's that he can't trust that guy around her and his instincts were right, especially after hearing he's drunk.
'I just made shit worse. Like always.'
Running a hand through his hair, the Hellfire leader grimaces at the wetness on his fingers. They're quickly wiped on a pant leg while trying not to think about what it actually is. One of those punches must've caused Carver's teeth to dig into his lip or tongue for him to gather up that much blood in his mouth. Or it was dripping down his throat from getting whacked in the nose. He's still too riled up to remember the exact sequence.
"Tch." The two were going to throw hands, regardless. This just sped things up. It definitely wasn't meant to go down anywhere near Chrissy or her home. And in that neighborhood? Dumb as hell. He's proud of her for standing up for herself and telling that jackass off, but she was the one taking the deeper wounds in that battle.
Captain Douchebag isn't like her. There is no kindness or understanding shown to the opposition. The guy straight-up lacks empathy. Nothing else really explains how he's been able to do all that without a second thought. Didn't even try to hold back, from listing things he's done to bringing up her issues with food in the crappiest way possible. Who knows what the hell she saw in him? But dudes like that put on the Prince Charming act until shit doesn't go their way… Then the monster comes out.
Eddie had no plans to fight. Not tonight, anyway. Just intended to keep an ear out to make sure things didn't get out of hand while she said her piece. After Chrissy mentioned what happened on her birthday, his body just moved and the rings came off. He couldn't take it anymore. Now it makes sense why she was crying then. It wasn't over spending the day with a bunch of squares. Jason just had to be a scumbag to top it off.
'If I knew that… I would've dragged his ass out of that Jeep and beat the piss out of him right there.'
Taking a deep breath, he winces as the pain in his side worsens. Short breaths will have to do for now. It didn't hit him earlier thanks to the rush but it's finally sinking in. That bastard really likes body shots. Smart for someone who doesn't have as long of a reach. Already being banged up by Donna didn't help either. That was a nasty knee right into the bruise left by her boot.
None of this might matter anyway. There's a good chance the dogs will get him. A popular jock and star player getting injured by the town freak? During a tournament where folks all over Hawkins are banking on the team winning? Yeah, he's screwed. Totally fucked. Finding himself behind bars by the morning won't be a huge shocker.
'Really living up to that Munson name…'
And who's going to listen to him? Even if he mentions it only happened because Jason acted first, no one will care. Most people in town already despise him. They'll be more than happy to let him hang. Hell, they'll build the gallows themselves and ready the noose if given the chance.
'Chrissy is probably gonna be in so much trouble. I wouldn't blame her for being pissed at me.'
She ran right over to Carver as soon as it was over. Just thinking about it makes his chest ache. He was an afterthought. Not considered until the Golden Boy was finally gone. It was probably stupid to expect anything else. Those two were together for a while after all and only broke up yesterday. Wouldn't be surprising for her to still care for him.
With the way his luck is, he'll go to jail and they will patch things up. Life gets off on dangling things in front of him, only to rip it away at the last second. It was going so well earlier, too… He was really enjoying spending time with her. So much that he got ballsy as hell. Getting within an inch of admitting shit and making some soft moves. All of it fried his nerves, like sticking a fork in a socket. But she embraced it.
Lady Luck smiled down on him for a while tonight… then hocked a loogie in his face.
"Christ," Eddie mutters, rolling his forehead against the top of the steering wheel. What a big ol' mess. This isn't the kind of trouble that's fun. Sighing for the hundredth time, his eyes trail over to the bag on the passenger side floor. Yeah… There's no backing out now. Didn't plan on it anyway. He's in too deep. Probably has been right from the very start.
Chance's house isn't too much further. Driving slowly is the only way to get there without crashing. There was a close call at the end of Roseline. He took off someone's side mirror. That was enough to get him to cut his speed down considerably. It wasn't until reaching the halfway point that he realized the headlights weren't even on.
Everything hurts, mostly his face. That demon-worshiping garbage is going to get it one of these days. If only he wasn't drunk when they fought… There's no reason a bum like that should've gotten that many punches in.
Jason works out all the time and is clearly the more athletic one. This was humiliating. Damn him. Damn both of them. The freak is no good trailer trash who will never amount to anything… And Chris. That… That…
"Jason, this might not have worked out for us, but I hope you find someone that can make you happy."
He grimaces and grinds his teeth, gripping the steering wheel tightly. After all that and the things he spat at her, why did she have to go say something like that? Why couldn't she just curse him? Throw insults around? Try to smack him? It would've made the captain feel better about this entire situation.
Regardless of what happened, he can't bring himself to hate her. Not even a little. It's difficult to understand Chris or what she's going on about, but he still loves her.
Seeing the house coming up, Jason slows down to a roll as the Jeep pulls into the driveway. Glancing into the rearview mirror once again, he inspects his damaged face. At least his nose isn't completely broken. It doesn't need to be reset. Probably. If there was more room for that headbutt, this might've turned out very differently. The guy's head is like a cinderblock. Hard as concrete and no brain anywhere to be found.
Still, God is good. He'll have to do everything to heal fast to still take part in the tournament. The team needs him. Going there was a mistake. Knowing the loser was there wouldn't have changed anything, though. It might've pushed him to go even more.
'Fine. They can have each other.'
Sooner or later, the freak will mess up or hurt her. It's inevitable. Chris will realize the guy is a worthless bum and come to her senses. They have no future. That's what he was trying to explain. Her dad will never accept him, putting her in a spot to make a choice. If she's foolish, she'll go with him to live a life of poverty, likely in a trailer with him going in and out of jail. A dirty drug dealer… When she finally wakes up, there will still be a spot beside him if she's willing to acknowledge her mistakes and work things out.
Looking out the window, he scans the front of the house. There are a decent amount of people gathered around the porch and garage. His frown deepens. They can't see him like this. Not before coming up with a better explanation than fighting the freak. No one will ever let him live that down.
The problem is that some important belongings are still inside and he needs help. His bookbag is upstairs, and his wallet and house keys are in the front compartment. Another stupid mistake. Making it to Chance's in one piece was lucky enough as it is. That was a short drive. Getting home from here would take a miracle and he's not keen to keep pressing his luck.
'Not them…'
Anyone from the basketball team is out of the question. He didn't spend years curating a certain image just to watch all his effort go down the drain. Smacking Andy earlier did him no favors either. The 'party kids' aren't trustworthy. Word will make the rounds by the time school starts tomorrow. Most of the cheerleaders are on Chris's side. After what happened at the party earlier, they won't have much sympathy for him.
'There… She'll have to do.'
Seeing the junior near the end of the porch, Jason rolls down the window a bit. Thank God it's dark out. No one should be able to make out much. Just leaning over hurts. Blood is still dripping from his nose and the varsity jacket needs to be dry-cleaned. Or replaced entirely.
"Amber!" Jason shouts, trying to get her attention without alerting everyone. That only makes the pain worse. It shoots throughout his face and skull, causing him to lurch forward. When she doesn't react, irritation fills the captain.
Two more tries and the person next to the blonde taps her shoulder, pointing towards the Jeep. She squints and looks over, not realizing who it is at first. After a moment, a surprised expression passes over her face. The heels come off again and the blonde comes sprinting over to the window.
"Hey! What ar—" Amber stops the moment she sees his face. Her eyes widen and jaw goes slack as a hand raises towards her mouth in disbelief. "Oh my God! What happe—"
"Don't yell!" He hisses, glancing around to ensure that didn't draw anyone's attention. His head is pounding as it is. Why do some women have to be so loud and high-pitched? "I know. Look, about what you were saying earlier… I gave it some thought. I'll agree on a few conditions, but right now, I need you to grab my stuff from inside and drive me to the hospital."
This isn't an ideal situation by any means. The thought of someone else driving his Jeep angers him, yet there isn't much that can be done. And relying on others is even worse. It's supposed to be the other way around. If there's any chance of him still being able to take part in the championships, he needs to suck it up and get to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible. Without destroying his name in the process. Otherwise, it's all pointless.
Amber will keep her mouth shut about this. He just knows it. She's desperately seeking something, and that's useful. No one else has to know the whole truth, not even her. Getting on this right away is important. There's no way in hell he'll allow the freak to go around boasting about earlier. Taking control of the narrative is essential to fixing this.
She's quiet for a moment, staring at him strangely. Slowly, a smile creeps out. "Okay, sure. Just tell me what I need to do."
This is so uncomfortable. Chrissy tries to resist chewing on a nail and crosses her arms instead. Looking the relatively young man in the eyes, she works on keeping the last remnants of courage alive. Officer Greene. One of the newer members of the force since Officer Powell became Chief after the previous one tragically passed away around nine months ago.
The station apparently received a call about a noise complaint. Likely from Jason getting too loud when they were arguing. That's not a big deal. After some small talk and an explanation, the cop's radio went off. She had to wait while he hopped into his squad car and sat there for almost ten minutes. Then the problems ramped up. It went from someone calling in to complain about yelling to reporting a 'possible physical altercation'.
In a quiet, small town like Hawkins, there isn't much that normally goes on. Any issue is a big issue, depending on who's involved. The police usually have little to do as it is. They can pour their time and energy into tiny problems. Nothing really huge has happened since the fire at Starcourt Mall last summer.
'This isn't going well… At least he stopped asking to talk to Jason or my dad. I'm not good at improv under pressure. I need to get him to leave already. It's never-ending.'
"Am I getting that right? The second call we received sounded very different from a couple just having a verbal spat. Is there something you're not telling me?" The guy must be in his mid–to–late–twenties. Still pretty young. On top of the way he keeps looking her up and down, it feels like the cop is dancing around what's really on his mind. Asking the same questions repeatedly, while adding emphasis on certain parts.
'It seems like he thinks this might be a domestic violence situation.'
"As I said, my boyfriend and I had an argument. That's all." Seeing the dubious expression on the man's face, Chrissy knows she has to convince him somehow. "My neighbors always blow everything out of proportion. One thinks anyone new who moves in is a commie spy. Another flips out if you drive over ten mph through the area." It's true and if that will help her paint the caller as unreliable, then she'll use it.
"So, it really doesn't surprise me that someone called over a little shouting. The light hasn't been on once all evening because the bulb is burnt out. I kind of forgot to replace it… But if you didn't even realize I was sitting here, then I don't know how a neighbor could make anything out from across the street or wherever."
Under different circumstances, it might've been funny. The cop got startled when he reached the step and she stood up. Turning on the porch light while they talk would be the polite thing to do, but there are probably blood droplets all over from the fight. Best to pretend it doesn't work to avoid complicating things even more.
His lip curls up while staring at her, mulling over the lame explanation. Her parents always said to never lie to an officer of the law. That their job is to serve and protect, and not to impede their duties. Telling the truth means getting them all in trouble, especially Eddie. No way.
"I'm really sorry about all this and wasting your precious time by having to come out here over something silly. I never intended for that to happen. It's… It's just… Sometimes I'm a little much when it's… you know, that time of the month. My hormones are all out of whack and I get super emotional. I really don't mean to." Officer Greene's face twists into a startled expression at that. A heavy dose of discomfort and surprise. "My boyfriend… My ex-boyfriend now… That jerk was flirting with another girl at school earlier! Then he had the nerve to come by and try to make up for it with jewelry, so I lost it."
Pulling out the box with the bracelet, Chrissy holds it out for him to see. "As if that will fix anything!" She lets out a shaky breath and thinks about something upsetting, forcing herself to tear up. "Look at this! He's so cheap. Why do I always go for guys with bad taste in jewelry?! I knew I should've listened to my father." Letting out a sob, the box is hurled toward the ground and she covers her face. "But I still love him…" This is so embarrassing. But in her experience, men usually want to turn tail and run when 'girl issues' get brought up. Same with women crying. It makes them extremely uncomfortable. And she doesn't mind mentioning her father again if it'll help. Everyone in town knows who he is.
'I'm going to be in so much trouble… I really hate myself for doing this.'
The cop takes a step back, completely put off. Exasperated, even. He's already been here for over a half hour and they've only been going in circles. "Okay... Just… calm down and take a deep breath." A few moments go by with him staring at her with his lips pulled back in a firm line. She sniffles and gently wipes at her eyes with the bottom of a sleeve. "Seems like this is just a noise complaint issue. Since there haven't been any problems at this residence before, I'll let you off with a warning. Next time, though… I won't have a choice but to write you a citation."
"Thank you, sir. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. It won't happen again." Chrissy says in a squeaky voice.
"I hope not. Have a goodnight, miss." He tilts his head forward and turns around, walking back to the squad car a little faster than necessary. Good. Acting that way got him out of her hair. It only takes a few moments before the officer pulls away from the curb and takes off down Roseline.
Sighing, the cheer captain picks up the box off the ground and slips it back into her pocket. That was mortifying. It also made her look really bad. Had it been a more seasoned cop that was sent here, this might've gone very differently. Then again, she's not ignorant of how class plays a part in this. Plenty of the jocks and wealthy kids would have a few DUI charges on their name. Not to mention underage drinking, trespassing, property damage, curfew, simple possession, vandalism, and a bunch of other misdemeanors that get swept under the rug because of who their parents are.
'I didn't expect him to give me such a hard time.''
Doing a quick glance around the area, there's no one in sight. Luckily, whichever neighbor called didn't come out. Possibly to avoid causing issues for themselves later on. Either way, her dad will hear about this when he gets back. There's no doubt about it. She turns around to head back inside, not knowing what to do now.
'Please let it be the end of that… I hope those two are okay.'
Closing the front door behind herself, the cheer jacket gets hung up and sneakers kicked off. It's coming. A tsunami is closing in, ready to crash down any minute... The cop showing up held it back temporarily. Now that she's alone and it's quiet, that's proving to be increasingly difficult. Finding out if Eddie is safe and whether Jason made it back okay takes priority. There has to be a way. Maybe calling around?
"Ah!" Chrissy screams when she turns and sees a bloody face hovering above. Her eyes widen and legs move to step back, only to give out. The first thing that comes to mind is the girl's bathroom at school. That… creature, dragging itself across the floor towards her.
"Woah, woah!" Two arms shoot out to grab hold of the cheerleader before she can fall to the floor, trying to help steady her. "Shit, my bad. Really didn't mean to scare you like that." A small, apologetic grin cracks through but quickly disappears as he notices it's not reassuring. "It's just me… Sorry. I should've said something first. Wasn't tryin' to be sneaky."
There's no creepy being or monster trying to get her. Just Eddie. He tilts his head to the side with a concerned look. It takes a second to shake it off. Stepping back, a hand presses against her chest in relief as she sucks in a big gulp of air. "That just… startled me."
'Thank God it's him!'
"Are you okay?" Without wasting any time, her eyes dart all over to check for injuries. There's blood dried on his face, but it's hard to tell who it belongs to. Little droplets and smears from the fight earlier. "I was so worried about you! And I didn't know if you were really coming back."
Eddie regards her for a moment, then the corners of his mouth curl upward. "Yeah, I'm good. Just a little banged up. Nothing serious." Fretting over him seems to brighten up his mood considerably, especially compared to before. "So, lying to cops now, huh? Guess I am a bad influence on you."
"How much of that did you catch?" It's just one embarrassing situation after the other. What an awful night. He's seen and heard most of her worst sides in the span of an hour. From the stuff Jason mentioned out front to acting foolish in hopes of making an officer uneasy enough to leave.
"Just the tail end… You can get in some shit for that."
"Yeah, I know. I committed at least two misdemeanors out there." She sighs, deflating a bit. Everything said outside was out of sheer panic. It was hard to think, let alone plan anything by the time Officer Greene showed up. That little display will undoubtedly cause her to cringe for years to come. The only time she's talked to cops was during outings with her parents and those were cordial greetings, so this was really stressful.
"Bad girl." He chuckles and crosses his arms. "Gotta say, princess… You can be pretty crafty on the fly. Never expected you to go the whole 'that time of the month, overly emotional woman' route either. Mood swings and all. Wish I could've seen the dude's face. He sounded so damn uncomfortable."
"I really wish you didn't hear that." Chrissy's face burns with shame and she could've gone the rest of her life without hearing him say 'that time of the month'. It's a topic that makes plenty of people feel weird, including her. That just popped out from knowing the reaction it usually elicits.
All that mattered was trying to make sure no one got arrested. Even if that meant prostrating in front of a stranger. The truth will only hurt all three of them. Eddie most likely would've taken the brunt of it. And the story can't fully be told without mentioning Jason drinking underage and driving. Though, he'd probably just get a fine or slap on the wrist thanks to his parents.
'So many charges to go around that a newbie cop would love to get under his belt. Yeah, no way was I going to say anything.'
The Hellfire leader watches her intently, his expression softening. "I'm not crazy about you putting yourself in a bad spot like this. Could come back to bite you in the ass later. I still appreciate it, though. No matter who you were tryin' to help."
"Well, I didn't want you to get in trouble. My dad's a lawyer and Jason's parents are loaded. We'd be fine." Her dad might be furious, but he would do everything in his power to scrub away any stain on their family name. Same with the Carvers. Both have plenty of money to deal with legal issues, too.
"Gotcha." His brow furrows and eyes shift away, looking at the wall before trailing downward. Did that upset him? That wasn't intentional. Either way, he's a complete mess. There's blood and spit dried on his skin and that dark hair is wilder than usual. One side of his face is a little swollen as well.
"Why don't we, um… go upstairs?" Letting him get cleaned up will make it easier to see the extent of the damage. All she can tell so far is that he got a bloody nose. And it's clear nothing was done to stop or wipe it away.
A small nod is the only response to the question. She gently takes Eddie's hand, trying to be mindful of his knuckles, and turns to lead him to the stairs. There's no resistance. He follows behind, being oddly quiet now. The sudden despondency gives her the impression the comment from a moment ago must've gotten to him for some reason. Unless it's something else.
When they walk into the bedroom, Chrissy immediately notices something across the wide space. A black bookbag on the rug, right by the window he must've crawled through to get back into the house. It's different from the one he brought over on her birthday. Larger, older, with the bottom of the straps badly frayed. "What's that?"
"It's my 'oh shit' bag."
"Huh?" She raises an eyebrow, finding a grin passing over her lips in amusement. Of course he would call it that. At least that got him talking again. The silence was making her more stressed out.
"You know, for when shit hits the fan. Like an emergency bag. Has basic stuff I'd need just in case anything happens. Bandages, clothes, toothbrush, shampoo, soap… Things like that."
"Oh, that's smart." It is, but that makes her curious why he'd have something like that in the first place. That's perfect for a person who might have to go on the run at any given time. Or has frequent sleepovers.
"I keep it in the van. Super handy. You never know when you're gonna cut yourself or need to change." Striding over to the bag, he crouches down on the rug and unzips it. "Just a thing I picked up from my old man. One of his more useful ideas." Rummaging through its contents, a white metal box is pulled out and set down beside him.
"Is that a first aid kit?" That's probably obvious. She just wants to keep him talking, fearful of what the quiet might bring. He nods and continues sifting through it. "Okay. I also have ice bags I can fill up. That should help with the swelling."
"Before we do any of that—" Eddie slowly turns his head towards her and pauses, making a weird expression. Whatever he's thinking about mustn't be pleasant. The grooves around his mouth and eyes become more apparent as he winces, sighing dramatically. "Would you mind if I, uh… used your shower or something? The water's messed up at my place, and I'm not crazy about having someone else's blood in my hair."
"Yeah, sure. Go right ahead." Admitting that appeared to frustrate him. So that's what the off look was about. She doesn't mind. This will just make her job more simple.
Picking the bag up off the floor, the Hellfire leader follows her to the bathroom. It's probably why he brought the entire thing from the van instead of just the first aid kit. She busies herself in the small closet, getting a towel and rag for him while he looks around. "Big ass bathroom."
She puts the items down on the edge of the sink, trying not to think too much about this. "Do you need anything else?"
"Nah. Got it all right here." A hand pats the top of the bookbag. "Is there a trick to using that?" He says, pointing towards the shower. That confuses her for a moment. A trick? Like smacking it or turning the knobs a certain way? She shakes her head. "Oh, okay. Thanks a lot."
"No problem." Chrissy quickly leaves, closing the door behind herself. This night is just getting crazier. Now there's a man here who's about to hop in her shower. That's a first. Probably the last time it'll happen, too. It's quiet enough to hear him moving around in there. Like the sound of clothes rustling and loud clang of his belt buckle hitting the tiled floor.
'Eddie Munson is naked in my bathroom.'
"Oh, God…" Padding across the carpet, she sits down on the edge of the bed. Any other time, this might've caused an internal freakout. It's just not coming. The feelings are all within reach. Lying beneath a thin surface and building up, waiting to break through. Ready for the smallest thing to trigger a reaction. With the shower running and everything calming down, the reality of the situation finally starts sinking in.
'I can't deal with this right now.'
So, one of them is okay. He's in the shower, getting cleaned up. That still leaves Jason. Standing up and heading over to the nightstand, a small book is pulled out of the drawer. One filled with numbers of friends and acquaintances. Their little get–together was at Chance's, so maybe he went back there. It doesn't hurt to try. Those usually run late into the night. Calling so late is rude, but this should be okay.
Looking through the book, she finds the number and grabs the phone. Knowing if he's safe will give her some peace of mind. It rings a handful of times before someone finally picks up.
"Yellow."
"Hey, Chance… It's Chrissy." There's a lot of noise in the background, making it hard to hear. Definitely a party going on. No questions asked. This is super awkward with both of their current positions in mind.
"Oh, what's up?" The guy's tone is light and friendly. Out of the group, he's one of the nicer people. They've never had any issues.
"I was wondering if you saw Jason recently. Like, in the last hour?"
"Hold on." Something's blocking the mouthpiece on the other end. Maybe he covered it up so she can't hear. Even if they're on cordial terms, this is still Jason's close friend. It wouldn't be too surprising to get ignored or lied to when it comes to him, but this is more important than any of that. Five minutes go by with only silence. "Patrick said he saw him stop out front and leave…" She breathes a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. "And he, uh… took off with Amber. You didn't hear it from me, though." The words are spit out quickly and quietly, as if not wanting anyone else to hear him uttering them.
'What did he just say?'
"Okay, thanks for letting me know. Bye." She hangs up as fast as possible, almost in a daze. That last part is blowing her mind. It was totally outside of the realm of possibility.
Amber and… Jason? That doesn't sound right. He brought the junior up earlier, but it hadn't really clicked at that moment. Emotions were flaring and their argument was in full swing, going back and forth. There's been no time to process everything. She just stares at the wall, not knowing how to handle any of this.
It used to be easier to pretend stuff didn't happen. That always seemed better than taking it head-on. The more she does that, the more it builds up. Now there's a mountain of garbage ready to topple over. All the terrible stuff Jason said… Amber not only knows about her eating issues but actually revealed them to someone else. How many other people did she tell? And now those two have a thing going on? Perhaps that's why she's been acting out during practice.
"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. "
Chrissy rubs her neck, finding it harder to breathe. Just when she was finally opening up and trying to trust others… Was Amber ever really a friend? Why tell Jason? The last time she got sick in the bathroom was at the beginning of the school year. Months and months ago. None of this makes sense. The thought of going there tomorrow is making her nauseous. What if everyone finds out?
'I can't do this. I'm going to lose it.'
"Where should I put this?" The voice cutting through the silence is startling, causing the cheerleader to jolt. She whips around to look across the room. Eddie's standing there with the bookbag in one hand and towel in the other. What he's wearing throws her off. A light gray v-neck shirt and black joggers. Lounge clothes instead of his usual style.
"There's a hamper in the bathroom closet." It's hard to get out and her voice is thick. He stares for a moment, then nods, heading back to get rid of the towel.
'Get it together.'
While lost in thought, it didn't even register the water shut off. Or the scent that came rushing out with the steam once the door opened. It's everywhere. That warm, spicy, musky smell she enjoys. Breathing it in helps calm her nerves a little.
The Hellfire leader trudges back out, along with the bag. It gets tossed onto the same spot it was earlier. He leans over and picks up the first aid kit. Neither has to say anything. They just move, with him plopping down on the edge of the mattress and her pulling over the desk chair.
Sitting down in front of him, Chrissy inspects the guy's face now that it's clean. There's a bit of swelling and a slight bruise forming on his right cheek. That's where Jason hit him after spitting on him. Without a word, she gets up and rushes downstairs to fill up an ice bag and cup of water. He's going to need it, along with some aspirin or ibuprofen.
'I feel strange.'
After handing him both and retaking her seat, Eddie flips open the lid on the white metal box. A prescription bottle is pulled out. She eyes it curiously as he shakes a couple white pills into his hand, quickly throwing them back.
"What are those?"
"Vicodin." Sipping some water to help them go down, he gives the cup back to her. "They're pain pills."
"...Is it really bad?" She whispers. Unlike the usual playful atmosphere between them, this one's more somber. Perhaps it's just her. Despite being grateful for his company, it's upsetting that he got hurt at all.
"Doesn't feel great. It's up here that's really getting me." Grabbing the bottom of his shirt, it's pulled up halfway. There are a handful of angry red and darkening marks along his sides, including the one left by Donna. The latter appears even worse from the knee that rammed into it. "That bastard really likes body shots."
'Oh my God… That looks so painful!'
"Gotta admit, I can't stand the guy's guts, but he can take a hit. Not sure if the alcohol was just numbing him to it or what. Nailed me pretty good a few times, too. I guess that's what I get for underestimating him." He 'tsk's and his eyes narrow in annoyance. "The whole spittin' thing messed me up. Didn't think a polo-wearing khaki boy like him would have the balls to pull something like that. Crazy drunk…"
"He, um… made it back." Chrissy leans over to see what's in the first aid kit. Right now, she just needs anything that can keep her distracted. "I figured he came from Chance's, so I called him to check."
"Good. It'd leave a bad taste in my mouth if someone got wrecked right after we fought like that. I know you'd just blame yourself, even if it's his own damn fault." Picking up the ice bag, it's carefully placed against his cheek.
"Mmm…" The cheer captain keeps her gaze lowered, feeling ashamed. Things could've gone very badly tonight. If she didn't call him, maybe he'd just be relaxing at home. Not all bruised up. And the things he heard about her… It's surprising the guy wanted to come back at all. "Do you want me to take care of your hands?"
"Sure, Nurse Chrissy. Bandage me up. I can go for a little TLC." Eddie snorts and starts bouncing his foot against the rug while she takes some items out of the box. Despite the joking nature, he actually sounds tired for once. Maybe those pills are kicking in.
'Between that and those clothes, it looks like he's getting ready for bed.'
Gently taking his hands in her own, Chrissy eyes the split skin across his reddened, puffy knuckles. He won't be able to wear those rings until the swelling goes down. It also might affect him playing guitar. Nibbling on the inside of her mouth, she quietly applies some ointment and bandages over the cuts.
"You can have my sloppy seconds. Consider it a charitable donation."
"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."
It hurts. All of it. Going out there was a bad idea. She should've just demanded Jason to leave and if he didn't, pretend to call the cops. Getting some things off her chest felt good, but that came at a price. For every point she made, he got five stabs in. Ending this peacefully and wanting him to leave everyone alone was a bridge too far, apparently.
"Hey… You okay?" The question that started this. Her bottom lip quivers as the last bandage is wrapped around his ring finger. She's not. They both already understand that. Before, no one was allowed to know. It's always been a secret of sorts. Things have changed in the last month. A lot. If she opens up to someone, it will be this guy.
"No." Despite trying really hard not to, tears rim her eyes, making them burn. That thin surface holding everything back is littered with cracks. It's beginning to seep out. "I'm just really… embarrassed and hurt… and angry." Both hands cover her face out of embarrassment from being unable to hold it in any longer.
"C'mere." Eddie drops the ice bag onto the duvet and scoots up, wrapping his arms around her. That only makes the dam fully burst. He pulls the cheerleader in and sighs, rubbing a hand along her back. "I'd be surprised if you weren't upset. That asshole said a lot of messed up shit."
"I… wish you didn't hear any of that." It's just gibberish sprinkled over loud crying. They've gotten pretty close since that first meeting at the picnic table, but that was still too much. No one would want their dirty laundry aired out in front of someone they're getting to know and have a crush on. Jason made her sound like a selfish, non-committed, naïve, stupid little girl who's a terrible partner. Then there's the eating disorder she's struggled with for years and what happened in the Jeep.
'Maybe I am… I'm nothing but problems. Inside and out. Why would he want to continue this after listening to all that?'
"Yeah, well, you didn't need to hear any of that either. None of it should've been said in the first place." Leaning forward, he carefully slides Chrissy off the chair and onto his lap. All the while watching intently for signs to tell if it's the wrong move. It's not. She curls into him, burying her face into the crook of his neck and grabbing the front of the gray shirt for something to hold onto. "Carver's full of shit, you know. 'Bout everything. You're not replaceable… And sure as hell no one's 'sloppy seconds'. That was just the whimpering of a hurt dog lashing out."
She sucks in a sharp breath as the sobbing simmers down. The warm embrace and softer tone help soothe her. This isn't how it was supposed to go. He's the one actually hurt… Yet it always ends up like this. With him comforting her and trying to make things better.
"Sorry for causing shit to blow up. I couldn't stand listening to that crap anymore. Didn't intend for it to go that far. I mean, don't get me wrong… I've wanted to punch him for a long time. Just not in front of you."
The crying peters out to quiet sniffles. This entire situation has been mortifying, but at least he's still here. Eddie kept his word and came back. Not knowing if he's okay on top of being left alone with this would've been terrible. "No. You had good intentions and… I appreciate you taking up for me. Thanks. I think… both of us did what we thought was right in the moment. There are a lot of things I want to apologize for too, but we're just going to say the same thing to each other."
He snorts, reaching up to stroke the back of her head. "Not wrong there. If you start saying sorry again, I'm gonna tell you to knock it off. Maybe pinch your cheeks for good measure while I'm at it."
That draws out a small smile from Chrissy as she nuzzles his neck, finding herself finally relaxing. It's going to be okay. There's no need to break apart. His arms are holding her together for now.
'I'm so tired.'
This was exhausting. Crying once usually tires her out. It happened a handful of times today. All she wants to do is curl up under the sheets and get some sleep. Staying like this, there's a good chance of dozing off right here.
"Are you, um… staying over? Or going home?"
He cranes his neck back to look at her. "What do you want? I'll stay if you're cool with it." She nods, trying to be mindful of the bruises when giving him a light squeeze. "Okay, okay. If you insist… Where should I crash? In the living room? Floor?"
Pulling away and sliding off, the cheer captain stretches, debating the matter. The den's not a great idea in case her dad comes home early. Glancing back at him, her brow furrows. He's leaning off to the side and his pupils are as small as pinpoints. This guy isn't going anywhere.
"Maybe staying right there is a good idea. You look kind of off… Are you going to be okay?"
"My bad. Forgot how drowsy painkillers make me. Been a while." Eddie sighs and runs a hand through his drying hair. He pauses for a moment, then gives her a bewildered look. "Wait… Are you saying you want me to sleep in your bed?"
"Yeah. Why not? Unless it's weird for you… I have some extra blankets and whatnot in the closet. The rug's pretty comfy. If my dad comes home early in the morning, I don't think he'd be thrilled to find someone on the couch." She's already going to be in deep crap as it is. There's no reason to make it worse when it's avoidable. "Well, it's up to you. Sharing the bed doesn't bother me. To be honest, I'm too tired to care right now."
'Is it a big deal? I'm not suggesting anything dirty. I just want to lie down.'
Staring at Chrissy while she yawns, he's making a strange face. His eyes dart from the bed to her, then back again a few times. "Uh… Okay, I guess. As long as you're fine with it."
After getting up to lock the bedroom door—so no one walks in on this later—a beeline is made straight for the bed. They already slept in the same room a few times now. Even curled up together. What's so different about this? She's spent, and he shouldn't be driving. This is the best option for both.
Crawling under the duvet and laying back against the pillows, the cheer captain wastes no time getting settled in. Her eyes are so heavy from all the crying. Everything else is just dragging along thanks to the excitement throughout the day. Glancing over, a thin eyebrow arches seeing Eddie awkwardly standing at the side of the bed. Not moving. Just burning a hole into the empty space on the mattress beside her.
"What's wrong? Do you not want to sleep with me?" The way his expression twists in surprise is almost enough to get a laugh. That sounded innocent enough, but the room for doubt was left on purpose. Just to get a reaction out of him, like he enjoys doing to her. "If it's too much, I'll get something else—"
"No. No… It's fine. You don't gotta get up." Eddie purses his lips and finally takes the plunge, slipping beneath the covers. He sighs deeply, laying flat on his back while staring up at the ceiling. Stiff as a board and not very comfortable.
'What's with him?'
Reaching over, the lamp on the nightstand is turned off and Chrissy closes her eyes, more than ready to float away. The nightmares haven't come when they're together, so maybe she'll be spared this time. A light snore fills the room. That was fast. He knocked out almost immediately. The guy must've been more exhausted than he let on.
"Goodnight, punk."
'This was a mistake… What a way to die.'
Why did it have to end up like this? Chrissy stares at shadows on the wall coming from the window. The only thing she can currently look at. Not with this heavy body pinning her to the mattress. It's like being crushed by an industrial radiator. Large, hot, and unable to be moved by someone her size.
At some point during the night, Eddie must've rolled over and curled up with her in his sleep. Or on purpose… Only he knows. But the guy's mostly laying on the cheerleader, with a leg thrown over hers and both arms wrapped around in a vice grip. The duvet is only making it warmer, trapping his heat beneath the covers. She's being scorched and smothered alive.
'I just want to go to the bathroom!'
He's dead to the world, so trying to wake him is useless. Figures when she's finally in bed with someone, it's a heavy sleeper who can squish her without realizing it. Unless those pills caused that? There's no telling. They'd have to do it again to know for sure.
'I'm not going out like this.'
Slipping her arms out, she stretches them as far as they can go toward the side of the bed. Her fingers barely reach the edge. Good. That's enough to grab on. Slowly, she carefully pulls, trying to inch her way out of his deadly grasp without waking him up. Last time, he just grumbled and tightened the hold before knocking out again.
This man is dangerous. That was clear when he almost took her head off with a pebble Saturday night. Also that time he nearly ran off the road because she said 'dungeon master' sounds kind of hot. It's all unintentional too, which might be even worse.
"Jeez…" Chrissy lets out a ragged breath, dragging herself from under him. Being on the bottom row of a falling pyramid during practice isn't half as bad. Not that he's doing any of this on purpose. Just completely zonked and has little control over what his body does.
Making it most of the way out, she quietly chuckles to herself over the success. All that's left are her legs that are hooked by his. With a little maneuvering, they're freed from their imprisonment.
'Yes!'
That was close. With one last tug, the cheer captain slides the rest of the way out and down the side of the mattress, dropping onto the fluffy carpet below. Getting to her feet, she rushes off to take care of business. There's only about an hour and a half before the alarm for school goes off. Not a lot of time left.
It didn't go as expected. Sharing a bed with a crush for the first time would normally be an exciting situation, right? Maybe cute or tense, depending on the mood. Two people giving each other eyes, perhaps even spooning. That wasn't originally the plan, but having plenty of time to lie there while staring at the wall, those thoughts drifted by. Either way, it's not supposed to turn into a death trap.
She returns fast, carefully slipping back under the duvet. The room is a little cold so this should fix that right away. It's not clear what she actually wanted to come from this. If anything at all. After feeling so vulnerable most of the day, it's likely more comfort and security.
Chrissy turns to the side to take a look at the man lying beside her. Eddie's facing the same way. Totally out of it. Dark, wavy hair spilled out across the pillow. His mouth parted with the light snoring and occasional grumbles. Words come out every now and then, but it's a jumbled mess she can't decipher.
'Even when the guy's sleeping, he's still causing trouble. It's… kind of endearing.'
Inching closer, a hand hesitantly reaches out toward him. She purses her lips and swallows hard, gazing at his face. Sleeping Eddie differs from awake Eddie. There's no telling what kind of reaction this might get. It's already been clear for a while now that he acts differently when they're together compared to just seeing him around. He tries to behave. This one won't have the same restraint.
'I could get swatted like a fly.'
The tips of her fingers gently graze his cheek, glad the uninjured side is closest. So smooth and soft, probably recently shaven. His face is relaxed, missing the creases usually around his eyes and mouth from the animated expressions he makes. Though he'll wholeheartedly deny it, this guy has good features. The longer she stares, the more gets added to her list of what's attractive about him. Now there's time to peruse without worrying about being teased by him.
Blue eyes slowly make their way down to his lips. They really are full. Nice and plump. Maybe more than hers. She's not too sure. There's certainly more to them than Jason's. An index finger trails over to the corner of his mouth, experimentally prodding the bottom lip. As lightly as possible, yet enough to still feel the texture against her pad.
'I wonder what it's like to kiss him.'
Quickly pulling back, Chrissy's face burns brightly at the thought. That's not right. After everything that's happened, she shouldn't be thinking about stuff like that. Those ideas popped up before. Would he be a good kisser? Or more like those guys who slobber all over their partner's face? Is it quick and sweet? Impatient and needy? Does he have a bunch of experience? It wouldn't be too surprising. He's older and 'sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll' is a thing for a reason.
'I'm curious. How different would it be from the ones I've had? I want to try it… at some point. Maybe. If he's okay with that. I don't know. I should probably just keep that to myself.'
She stifles a gasp when his eyelids twitch and something unintelligible falls out. Did that wake him? The cheer captain rolls over to pretend none of this happened when a long arm drapes across her midsection. Not again. Before having time to escape, she's caught in another tight hold. Getting out of it once was difficult enough.
Eddie sleepily shifts so that he's pressed right up against her back, leaving no room between them. Turning himself into the big spoon. Better that than a boulder. This time, he buries his nose in her hair and lets out a tired groan. The soft snoring starts up again. It's not clear if she partially woke him up or that was all done while out of it.
'This isn't so bad. Much more comfortable than earlier. I can live with it.'
It's what she hoped the first round could've been like. Instead of being pinned down and cooked. Basking in the warmth, Chrissy sighs contently while enjoying this new position. She shivers from the hot breath dancing along the back of her neck. What an unusual, but welcome sensation. So is the way his body molds around the smaller one he's clinging to. This is fine. No... Much more than that. It's cozy and safe. Exactly what's needed right now.
Slowly, she's able to drift off again.
From the looks of things, he was right about this being his year. Magic is happening. It's in the air and all around. That's the only way to explain it.
Taking his eyes off the road for a moment, Eddie glances at the woman beside him. Decked out in that tiny cheerleader outfit with a book in her lap, rushing to finish a worksheet she forgot to do yesterday. There's probably a handful of them in his room somewhere.
Still, life is sweet right now. Weather's nice. Water is back on at home. He's clean and has fresh clothes on. A full stomach. The club meets later on to continue their Cult of Vecna campaign. It's Friday, so the weekend is about to start. And to top it all off, he's the lucky guy that gets to drive the prettiest chick in Hawkins to school this morning.
'Good job, Munson. You little devil.'
His lips shift to the side to hide the smirk poking through as he mentally pats himself on the back. The good far outweighs the bad, and that's all a guy can really ask for.
The last two days were a wild rollercoaster ride. So much crap happened that threw him through a loop. Chrissy actually broke up with Carver, then told the asshole off. That came sooner than expected. She even made a scene with him in front of the jocks… And he couldn't be happier about it.
They were having a good time yesterday, and it made him gutsier than usual with her. Like the not-so-cleverly worded offer to sit on his lap. She took it. That almost killed him. But he reeled it in and went with the flow, willing to see where it would go. Then she tried finishing the job by letting him sleep in bed with her. Granted, he was a little loopy from popping those painkillers. It was probably more an act of kindness than anything else.
He's apparently a nightmare to sleep with. Sharing a bed with another person isn't the same as crashing on a friend's couch or their floor. It's definitely different from being at home, where he can sprawl out on his mattress without worrying about rolling over onto someone.
'If I get another chance, I'm gonna force myself to behave or there might not be a next time.'
Eddie purses his lips and nods to himself. Yep. As she said before, everything is always at stake. Even if it was a joke. It's still early in whatever this is, so he'll be damned before letting something stupid screw everything up before it really goes anywhere. His big mouth already almost did that. She's a forgiving person, but he doesn't want to take advantage of that like other people do.
"Can you hand me the tape on the far left side in the glove box?" The cheerleader looks up at him with those big blue doe eyes for a moment as the words sink in, then quietly nods. Her attention's focused solely on finishing the homework from the class they share, which he never touched. She fishes out the tape and hands it over, immediately going back to the assignment. "Thanks."
Can't go wrong with Van Halen. The volume's kept low to not be too distracting while she finishes up. Not that there's much time left. They might get through one or two more songs before getting to school. That'll be interesting…
There's gonna be a big stink today. Whether word gets around about the fight or people running their mouths over them showing up together. With that stunt on Wednesday and the two guys involved—who have a longtime beef—coming in all banged up, of course someone will say shit. It wouldn't take a genius to put two and two together.
Oh, well. He doesn't care. That's right up his alley. This place needs to get shaken up a bit. It's stuffy and boring. His mood's too good to get ruined by a bunch of schmucks, anyway. After having the best sleep in the most comfortable bed, being treated to another bomb breakfast, and getting babied by the chick he's had a crush on since middle school, there's not much that can ruin the day.
And best of all, a dirtbag like him has a real chance at this. Chrissy caught some feelings. He wasn't entirely sure before since she's a nice person who frets too much over upsetting people. But the way she looked at him the other night when putting on that eyeliner said it all. It might not be to the same extent and that's fine. At least it's there. That's a lot more than he could really hope for after all this time.
"Darn it." She peeks up and sighs when they pull into the parking lot. "Well, there's only a few left. I can get that done in Nocito's." The book is closed and stuffed into her pink bookbag on the floor.
"Little goody-two-shoes." He chuckles as she leans over the bench seat to pinch his cheek, only to stop after realizing that's the side with the bruise. "A nurse is supposed to care for their patient. Not injure them further. Well, if it means you'll give me more special treatment, then by all means… Please continue."
"I'm not a nurse, you punk." Chrissy pouts, becoming a pretty shade of pink. Getting back in her spot, she eyes him from the side and makes a face. "And I already give you special treatment."
"True, but I am a greedy boy." The Hellfire leader grins widely as he whips the van around into a parking spot. One that isn't too far away from the building. It's not like he's doing a deal or anything right now.
Not wasting any time, he snatches the bookbag and pail off the floor. Ignoring the protests from the passenger seat while hopping out. Reaching the back of the van, the corner of his mouth quirks up when the huffy shortcake comes around from the other side.
"Eddie!" Like music to his ears. Boy, teasing her never ceases to amuse him. Whether she becomes super bashful or brazen, it's too enticing to pass up. Not knowing which one he'll get also keeps him on his toes.
"What? This is my special treatment. It's not like you come in with bumps and bruises for me to kiss better." That does the trick. She spins around to hide that flushed face, muttering 'fine' under her breath. So damn cute. "You ready?"
"Um…" The cheerleader fidgets, tugging on the cuff of her jacket while glancing around the parking lot. Is she worried about people seeing them together or something? A hint of disappointment fills him at the thought.
"What's wrong?" Unless she's looking for the Jeep. That would be understandable. After what that asshole pulled yesterday, who could blame her? People think they're safe at home. When someone intrudes on that and crosses boundaries, they might not be as secure as before.
"...Nothing." Chrissy steps closer until they're only a few inches apart, keeping her gaze trained on the ground. What's this chick up to now? To his surprise, a small hand grabs onto the sleeve of his leather jacket. "I don't want to stare at your back this time."
Dark eyes turn into saucers as she looks up at him, biting on the side of her lip. Holy shit. It's not often someone can leave him speechless, but hell. Maybe she is a miracle worker. Or a sorceress. He gawks at her for a moment, trying to wrap his head around it. No. Bad idea. That could give off the wrong vibe and she might change her mind.
'Hurry up, dumbass.'
"Hell yeah." A huge smile spreads across Eddie's face. Slinging the bookbag over his shoulder, he moves the pail to his other hand to free up the one closest to her. If that's what Chrissy wants, then that's what she'll get. It's the law of the land. The hand on the sleeve slides down until it slips into his and their fingers lace together, holding on firmly. "You sure? Everyone's gonna be talkin' anyway, but this gives them extra ammo."
It's not like he doesn't want this. Far from it. Just like with the Special K, it's only right to make sure she knows what she's getting into. That comfy spot at the top might get ripped away, depending on how others react. Being head cheerleader won't stop some from ostracizing or even trying to bully her. Not that he'll stand for it, but there's no way to always keep an eye out for that. A thousand people can love someone, yet it only takes one disillusioned person to pull shit.
"I don't care…" she says softly, leaning up against his arm. That's not completely honest. Her voice is a little shaky, and the nervousness is apparent. Still, he can tell she's trying. That's what really matters. "I'm tired of hiding stuff and worrying about everyone else. If they want to say things, then fine. I… just want to be happy. Are you okay with this?"
'Wow. These last few days really made an impact on her.'
"Absolutely." Chrissy's face lights up at his answer and appears to give her a little boost. Good. "Alrighty, then. Time to deal with this hellhole." She giggles at that and they start making their way through the parking lot. This is great. Honestly, he's really proud of her. After what happened with Captain Douchebag and finding out a friend's a little narc, he was worried she'd put the walls up higher than ever out of self-defense. That doesn't seem to be the case.
As expected, there are plenty of people hanging out in the parking lot. Chilling by their cars, in small clusters, or just walking around. Some stop and do a double-take. Others gape and tap whoever's nearby, then point. The hand sitting comfortably in his tightens the hold. He gives it a reassuring squeeze in return. There's nothing to be worried about.
"The hell?"
"You gotta be kidding me…"
"Is that… Is that Chrissy?"
"Huh?!"
"No way, man."
"What's she doing with the freak?"
"Cunningham's lost it."
"Uh-oh… Where's Carver? He's gonna flip."
"Keep staring and I'm gonna start charging all of you." Bunch of sheep. Eddie hears everything. The gasps, questions, remarks… Even the snide ones. That doesn't bother him. He's used to it. Has been for a long time. It's Chrissy who isn't. As the 'Queen of Hawkins High', most never really say anything bad about her. She's a sweetheart who doesn't cause trouble. Bubbly, cute as hell, and an all-around nice person. Saying shit would only be out of spite for a stupid reason. Not from anything she actually did. That's about to change, though.
If everyone didn't know the 'it couple' isn't together anymore, they sure as hell do now.
The cheerleader's putting up a good front. Chin up, shoulders back, just looking straight ahead as they pass people by. Giving no one anything, not even an acknowledgment. It's impressive. But he knows her better than that. The grip on his hand is the first thing that gives it away.
Getting to the front of the building, he holds the door open for her and they head in. "You good?" He arches a brow, watching as she takes a deep breath and presses the other hand to her chest. Then a small giggle slips out.
"Mhm. I was really anxious, but you being there made me feel a lot better. Did you see that? They were so shocked. It was kind of scary and also a tiny bit exciting." Seeing such a bright smile on her face after that almost takes him out. "I don't know how you do it… You know, hopping up on the table to yell at everyone and having all their eyes on you. It's different from a crowd watching our routines. I'd be so terrified. That takes a lot of guts."
'Yeah, people actually enjoy watching you and the other cheerleaders do your thing. They can't stand it when I do mine. Kinda the point though. Can't blame 'em either. I'd pick you too.'
"Yep. I saw them alright. You sure got a kick outta that, huh?" As they walk through the lobby, he stares at her warmly, reveling in the experience. Chrissy's so pretty… Especially when she's glowing like this. Despite being nervous, it seemed to make her happy. "Well, folks gawking never bothered me. I'm a pretty shameless dude. They can look all they want."
From the first moment she came into the stairwell to now, it's all been like a fever dream full of moments picked right out of his personal fantasies. Ones that were never meant to come true. It's still strange to accept at times, especially how the last few days played out.
He's almost expecting to wake up in his dingy bed at any moment, close to running late for school after hitting the snooze button a dozen times. The captain of the basketball team keeps dating the head cheerleader. Naturally. A stereotypical shitty outcome the herd expects and encourages. Chrissy still wouldn't remember who he was, or that they hung out together at the talent show in middle school. The two would cross paths in the hall or share a class without uttering a word to the other. And he'd continue being satisfied with just longing glances every now and then.
"So, what brought this on? Not that I'm complaining."
Chrissy peers up at him as they pass the main staircase, ignoring the stares and whispers along the way. It must be so shocking to see them holding hands. What a world. "I, um… thought it would be a good idea since Jason tried keeping our break up a secret. Instead of going around and repeating myself a million times, this should set the record straight. Or at least clue them in that we're not together anymore."
'Clever. Let them do the hard work instead of wasting time and energy just to get the same result. The sheep will flock to gossip and spread the info themselves. Atta girl.'
"I wanted to do this with you." She blushes, turning her sights forward while staying close to his side. "I'm not happy about us having to act like strangers in public. It doesn't feel right. Like this is all some dirty little secret that no one can ever know about. I don't know… I guess it would be nice to say hi to you or the guys in your club without being paranoid that someone might notice. That happened last week, and it really stressed me out."
Eddie crinkles his nose, knowing exactly what she's referring to. When they were talking in Ms. O's class. A little snitch ran their mouth in front of Carver, hoping to cause trouble. That piece of crap Andy whatever from the basketball team. The same one that's still on his shit list for that comment he made at Gareth's. "I heard. Joey told me what happened. Not like I couldn't hear Golden Boy flapping his gums. These ears work a lot better than he realizes."
"Oh, crap!" She freezes on the spot and then whips around, wincing. What's that about? Looking ahead, there's nothing out of the ordinary. "I forgot I was supposed to do something before. I, um… I'll see you later." A small, apologetic smile is given as she reluctantly lets go of his hand.
"It's cool." Can't be helped. Even if he's a little bummed out by it. Probably important if she suddenly has to run now. "You need a ride home after practice?" That chick Charlotte gave her one yesterday, but hopefully he can steal more time.
"Yeah. I mean, if it's not a problem. I don't want to be an inconvenience." Chrissy sucks in her lips and gingerly takes the bookbag when he hands it back to its owner.
"You're not. Good thing we're in school or those cheeks would be clamped between my fingers right about now. Don't get it twisted. I won't hesitate to tell someone if they're putting me out. 'Kay?" He crosses his arms, leaning in to stare the cheerleader in the eyes to get the point across. Doing shit for her isn't a problem. "If you want one, just come to the drama room whenever you're done."
"Alright… Thank you."
Giving a quick hug, Eddie watches as she strides down the hall in a hurry. He stands there for a moment out of curiosity. Something obviously caught her attention enough to run off like that. It doesn't take long. There's a person further down, looking at the captain expectantly. The two women begin talking and go on their way.
'Miss Kelley?'
Chrissy had to see the guidance counselor? Huh. Could be for a bunch of different reasons: trouble, college crap, grades, or just counseling sessions. Well, whatever. That's her business.
Shrugging it off, the Hellfire leader turns on his heel and continues the route he was already on. A few things need to get checked before the bell rings. Guess it's good Miss K popped up now. Just in case. If that happens, it'll get taken care of so she doesn't have to see any of that garbage.
"I don't want to stare at your back this time."
It's all worth it. Cuts and bruises are a small price he's willing to pay. His lips curl up into a smirk while strutting past a row of gray lockers and students eyeballing him. That's right. Keep staring, little sheep. He's smug as hell and has good reason to be. There's no hiding it. That's apparent by the pep in his step. Everyone just has to deal with it.
"I wanted to do this with you."
Chrissy Cunningham is into him. And he's crazy about her… to put it lightly.
'Heh. I'm the luckiest son of a bitch around.'
A/N: Sorry the last couple of chapters came out a bit later than usual. I've been super bummed out recently and having some health issues that really suck. The lovely reviews helped lift my spirits a lot, so thank you!