Teddi woke up the next morning to the sun shining in her eyes and the smell of fresh french toast. Her eyes remained shut, her eyebrows scrunching in confusion as she took a deep breath in. Had her mom made breakfast? Teddi couldn't even remember the last time that had happened. Maybe when she'd been in elementary school? She rolled over with a groan, one of her eyes opening to make sure this wasn't some sort of dream.
The cabin. She was still at Hopper's cabin. She must have fallen asleep watching a movie with El the night before. Hopper was the one making french toast. That made infinitely more sense. Teddi sat up slowly and stretched. Hop's couch definitely didn't make the best makeshift bed, but the smell of maple and bacon definitely made up for her sore limbs.
"Mornin'," Hopper called from the kitchen. "Sorry I didn't wake you up, you looked like you could use the sleep," his back was to her, flipping a piece of french toast in the skillet. Teddi silently stood, making her way over to the kitchen and pulling a jug of orange juice from the fridge. Hop turned around just in time to catch her taking a drink. "Hey!" he objected, taking the jug from her. "Use a glass, huh?" Teddi smiled sheepishly before reaching up into one of the cabinets for a cup. Hopper watched her carefully, one eyebrow raised in suspicion. "...You sure you're okay, kid? Is this all really 'teen stuff'?"
Teddi's eyebrows shot up before she let out a scoff. "I'm totally fine. Honest." it wasn't one of her best lies.
Hopper set the orange juice down, crossing his arms firmly and giving Teddi a look that somehow crossed between stern and concerned. "...Is your old man at it again?" he asked carefully, quietly, like he didn't want El to overhear suddenly.
Thankfully in the complete mess that Teddi's life had become lately, Greg Larsson wasn't on the list of problems she was facing. "No, no, it's not that," she said, shaking her head. "We're in a 'Teddi doesn't exist' phase right now," she said with a small laugh. "It's just…" she considered for a brief moment asking Hopper if he'd had nightmares about the Upside Down after going there to find Will. Was he still having them? Did it get any easier? Did he still have this horrible feeling that something bad was going to happen any day now?
Teddi sighed, shaking her head. "Got a lot going on. College. Fitting in. You know-"
"Teen stuff," Hopper finished for her. Teddi nodded. He clearly didn't buy it, but wasn't going to push the matter. "Alright," he sighed, turning back to the stove. He waved a hand towards the table. "Well, sit and eat before you head ou- Jesus!" he jumped as he turned to look at Teddi. Eleven stood there silently, a white sheet with crudely cut out eye holes draped over her.
"Ghost." she said simply.
Teddi pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. Hopper shot her a tired look. "Yeah, I can see that," he picked up two plates, walking past the two girls to the table. "Eat." he repeated to Teddi.
Teddi plopped down in her seat, Eleven refusing to budge. "Halloween." the girl said, her voice a bit more firm this time.
"Yeah, sure is. But right now, it's breakfast, okay? Come on, let's eat," he urged, shooing her in Teddi's direction and taking a large drink of his coffee.
El shuffled over to the table, sitting across from Teddi. Teddi stuffed a large bite of french toast into her mouth, smiling at the girl. "Excited? You got any hot plans tonight? I can always take you trick or treating later if you want-"
"Nooo, no, no," Hopper protested. He set his coffee onto the table, pulling the sheet off of El. "No trick or treating. It's too dangerous. Come on, you guys know the rules," El rolled her eyes while Teddi pulled a face. The two girls had made it no secret that they hated all of Hopper's rules when it came to keeping Eleven safe. "Don't give me that look. Going out is risky, no matter the situation. And what are risks?" he asked, looking between the two girls.
"Stupid," the sighed in unison.
"Exactly. And?" Hopper asked.
"We're not stupid," Teddi and El answered flatly.
"That's right. Now, eat, before it gets cold. And you get to school." he pointed to Teddi, heading back into the kitchen to make his own breakfast.
El's shoulder slumped forward, her eyes focused down at her toast as she poked at her breakfast with her fork. Teddi took another large bite, frowning a little. "Hey, you know...I promised my friend that I would go to this party with her tonight, but I wasn't planning on staying very long. How about I come over after and we can watch scary movies and eat candy?"
"Great idea," Hopper said, pointing his spatula at Teddi. "Huh, El? How 'bout a compromise? I'll come home early and I'll bring the candy." It was the first time Hop smiled that morning.
El looked between the two with a confused look. "...What's compromise?" she asked.
"Something that makes you only sorta miserable instead of totally miserable." Teddi said with a snort.
Hopper scoffed. "It's halfway happy. How 'bout we go with that instead? What do you say, El?"
Eleven looked at Teddi carefully as she considered. Teddi winked at her, nodding a little. El smiled softly before nodding. "Fine. Halfway happy."
"That's my girl," Hop grinned, grabbing Teddi's plate as she took yet another large bite. She frowned up at him. "School. Now." he said, waving her out of his seat.
Teddi rolled her eyes but smiled, hopping up from her seat. "I'm going, I'm going," she mumbled, grabbing her black, puffy jacket from the coat rack by the door. "I'll see you guys tonight!" she called over her shoulder before bounding down the steps to her van.
Teddi was in the library, trying to use her free period to study for an upcoming math test. Her grades had been slipping the last few months. She had to buckle down if she wanted to count on any scholarships. But, that was easier said than done. She couldn't seem to make herself concentrate on much of anything. Maybe it was because it was the end of the day, maybe it was because her mind was focused more on Tina's party later that night. Either way, she wouldn't be getting any work done.
Instead, she was doodling on the back of her notebook. She carelessly scribbled the shape of the tall, mangled, Mirkwood tree that had housed the Gate to the Upside Down. Next to it she'd drawn the slimy, razor-like teeth that had lined the petals of the Demogorgon's face. Teddi's lips formed a thin line as she looked down at her drawings, setting her pencil down with a sigh and stretching back in her seat. She let out a slow, uneven breath, and shut her eyes, trying to get herself to focus. If not on studying, she'd at least like to think about something other than monsters.
There was a low hum of electricity around her. Teddi frowned, slowly opening her eyes. The library had gone dark. Weird. Had the power gone out? She looked around the room, her heart beginning to beat harshly in her chest as her eyes adjusted well enough to see the ash that was slowly raining down over her. Everything had gone cold. She could see her breath coming out in short pants as it mixed with the ash falling around her.
Thick, black vines covered the walls and the floor. There were no longer any students sitting at the tables that were scattered throughout the library. The shelves and the books that filled them looked old and moldy. As if they'd been sitting there untouched for decades. Teddi looked down, swallowing loudly. Her notebook had been smothered by the same vines that covered the room. She could barely make out the drawings she'd doodled only minutes ago. Was she dreaming? It felt too real to be a dream...
Teddi reached out slowly, her fingertips just barely grazing the vines. They were cold and wet, just like everything else. But they almost felt like they were alive. Like they were breathing.
There was a crash from somewhere in the library. Teddi jumped, her hands recoiling from the vines like they had suddenly bitten her. Her eyes widened as they searched the room wildly, trying to force herself to adjust to the dark more quickly. Get under the table, her mind screamed at her. She couldn't make herself move. Teddi was frozen in fear at the very idea of what could have possibly made the noise. Her trembling hands were pressed firmly against her chest, her heart thumping loudly against them. Her nails dug into her skin, like her hands were trying to reach into her chest and still her heart themselves.
A low, harsh purr came from somewhere in the darkness. Teddi could feel the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Her skin erupted in goosebumps. From the cold or from fear, she wasn't quite sure. The feeling of pins and needles prickling rapidly at her limbs had come back.
It's the Demogorgon. She doesn't need to see it to know that it's there. Watching her.
There was another crash. It was closer now. Teddi could just barely make out a bookshelf shifting before some of its books fell to the ground. Finally she forced herself to dive under the table for some semblance of safety. A place to hide just for a few more moments. A few moments could mean life or death.
She needed a plan. Was there any way to defend herself? Was there a way to distract the creature long enough to escape the library? An image of the monster's hands flashes in her mind's eye. The way it's fingers ended in sharp claws; the way those claws tore so easily through Billy's leg that night in Mirkwood.
Teddi shut her eyes tightly, clamping a hand over her mouth to try and quiet her breathing. The Demogorgon purred again. It was louder now. Angrier. It was hunting her, and not interested in a game of cat and mouse like it had been a year ago. It would only be a matter of time before it found her.
She slowly crawled out from under the table. If she moved quickly enough she could make it to the door before it realized where she was. She'd done it once before. Teddi grabbed the edge of the table and pulled herself to her feet. Her legs were weak beneath her. Like they were on the brink of falling asleep; more pins and needles. She bit down on her lip to try and keep herself from making any sound of discomfort.
Focus, Teddi, her mind told her. Focus on standing.
There was a scream behind her. That horrible scream that haunted her nightmares. The Demogorgon had seen her. Teddi whirled around to see it standing at it's full height only a few feet away. The eerie, blue light that was shining in from the windows behind it creating a shadow around the monster that only made it look that much more threatening to her. Teddi was once again frozen in fear.
The Demogorgon hunched forward, ready to pounce on its prey. Its claws twitched excitedly at its side. As if it just couldn't wait to slice through Teddi at long last. She wouldn't give it the chance.
Teddi turned and ran. The monster screamed behind her once again. Teddi prayed for her legs to move faster, please move faster. Her ragged gasps for air were drowned out by the sound of the Demogorgon destroying everything in its path as it followed her. The bookshelves, tables and chairs around her were being thrown easily to the wayside as it screeched in anger that she would dare to try and escape again.
Teddi reminded herself that she had the advantage, as small as it was. She knew the school. She would just need a small window of time long enough to hide and come up with a plan. She could do it. The library doors slammed shut behind her and Teddi turned to face them. Her shaking hands reached up for the metal latch lock at the top of the doors. It clicked as she slid the lock into place. There was a loud thud on the other side of the door and another scream.
Teddi looked wide eyed at the Demogorgon through the small windows. It's angry, red petals were wide open; it's breathing fogging up the glass. It screamed in rage again, throwing itself at the door. Teddi jumped back, quickly looking down the halls as she tried to think of a hiding place.
There was a flash of something at the end of the hallway to her right. Red. Teddi squinted before blinking rapidly at the figure that disappeared around the corner. "...Barb?" she breathed out.
The monster threw itself against the library doors again. Teddi knew that the flimsy lock won't keep it trapped there for long. Casting one more look at the creature, Teddi ran past the rows of lockers and around the corner after Barb. She could hear El's voice in her head. "Gone, gone, gone!" How was this possible?
Teddi stopped when she spotted Barb waiting for her at the end of the hall. She called after her friend, but instead Barb wordlessly turned and disappeared behind another set of doors. The pool, Teddi realized as she got closer.
Teddi jumped at the loud crash that echoed through the halls as she reached the doors to the school's pool. The Demogorgon had escaped.
Teddi quickly slipped through the doors, pressing her back firmly against them as she took in her surroundings. Vines covered this room as well. Ash slowly rained down, almost glistening in the blue light that was shining down from the skylights above her. The pool was empty. The white tile was grimy, and covered in more of those breathing, black vines.
Barb was sitting at the edge of the pool.
"Barb, how...are you okay?" Teddi asks carefully, looking over her shoulder quickly before looking back at her friend. "Everyone's been looking for you. We've been worried. We thought…" Teddi learned forward, reaching out to touch Barb's shoulder.
Barb turned to look at Teddi. Her face was pale. Her eyes were dark and sunken. The corners of her mouth moved, like she's trying to smile up at Teddi. Her lips parted, a black ooze gushing out from her mouth. Teddi gasped loudly, taking a large step back.
Barb reached out to Teddi, choking on the black ooze and gasping for air. Teddi dropped to her knees, crawling towards her and desperately trying to help her friend. Barb's hands grabbed roughly at Teddi's shirt, the sound of her choking turning into a fit of laughter. "Gone!" she screamed. "Gone! Gone! Gone!"
Teddi let out a sob, tearing herself out of Barb's grasp. Barb's laughter grew louder, crawling after Teddi. Teddi finally let's herself scream. She tried to stand to run, her limbs felt like jello beneath her. She could only crawl backwards towards the bleachers to try and escape the horror in front of her.
She could hear that horrible scream once again. She needed to stand. Teddi pulled herself to her feet just as the doors slammed open. There was no time now. The Demogorgon was coming right for her.
Teddi's scream melded with it's screech and Barb's laughter as the monster crawled towards her. Teddi held her hands up in a pathetic attempt to defend herself.
The last thing she saw is the Demogorgon lunging for her.
"Teddi! Ted, wake up!" someone was shaking her shoulders roughly. Teddi woke with a start, her hands gripping the table in front of her roughly. She let out a scream that left her throat sore. "Whoa, whoa! Teddi, it's me! It's Steve!"
Teddi blinked rapidly. It was a dream. It was all just a dream. She looked around. She was still in the library. No ash, no vines. The final bell had rung and school was over. She looked down at her notebook. Her doodles stared back at her. It was all just a dream.
Steve, Nancy, Jonathan, Cheryl and Heather were crowded around her table as if they were trying to shield her from the other students that were staring at her. They all looked down at Teddi with looks of concern, well, except Cheryl. She seemed more put out by the situation. Teddi groaned, rubbing at her eyes harshly. "God, Steve, I'm so sorry. I haven't been sleeping much lately…" she tried to explain.
Steve shook his head wildly, leaning down and resting a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Ted-"
"Um, guys?" Nancy said quietly, looking over her shoulder at a group of students who were trying to get a better look at Teddi. "Maybe we should go outside? Get some fresh air?" she suggested. Steve and Teddi nodded, Teddi gathering her books and shoving them into her backpack.
Cheryl shot the group of snooping teens a dirty look. "What the hell are you looking at? Screw off." she spat at them. Steve put his arm around Teddi's shoulder, leading her out of the library and out into the parking lot. Teddi's eyes shut when they were met with the bright sunlight, rubbing at her forehead like a headache was forming. She felt hungover.
Nancy turned to Cheryl and Heather as Steve and Jonathan lead Teddi towards her van. "Can you guys give us a second alone with Teddi?"
Cheryl shot a knowing look at Heather. "See? I told you," she scoffed at her friend before shooting a bored look at Nancy. "Whatever, Wheeler. See you at the party." she said coldly, grabbing Heather by the arm and stomping off into the parking lot.
Nancy sighed, heading back to her friends. Teddi was leaning against the back of her van, pinching the bridge of her nose and taking in deep breaths. "You okay, Teddi?" Nancy asked carefully.
Teddi was quiet for a long moment. Nancy was almost worried she was having some sort of panic attack. "...It was here. The Demogorgon. I was trying to study one minute and then…" Teddi sighed. "I guess I just fell asleep. But it all felt so real. And Barb was there. I mean, it was her, but it wasn't her...it killed me. The Demogorgon. I couldn't run from it." her eyes were glossy with tears.
Steve, Nancy and Jonathan all shared a look. "...I have dreams about it too," Nancy said finally. "About the Upside Down. That night at the Byers." Jonathan and Steve nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, totally," Steve agreed. "I mean nothing like that, but-" he stopped when Nancy shot him a look. Steve rubbed awkwardly at the back of his neck. "You know, Ted, maybe we should sit the party out tonight. Take it easy. Hand out candy or something." he offered.
Teddi shook her head, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand and standing up straight. "No, I can't. I promised Heather I'd go. Besides, maybe it'll do me good to go out and do something normal for once." she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else.
"...Yeah, alright. If you're sure. You gonna be okay to drive home?" Steve asked.
Teddi nodded. "I'll be fine. I promise. Thanks, guys. Really. I'll see you guys later?" the three nodded, giving her the same, unconvincing, thin smile. Teddi hopped into her van, letting out a shaky breath. It was going to be fine. Everything was going to be fine.
Billy was leaning against the Camaro, waiting for Max to get out of school. His eyes scanned the parking lot for any sign of her red hair before they landed on Teddi and her friends. Your friends, too, he reminded himself.
Teddi looked upset about something. Steve had an arm around her. Whatever it was, Billy could tell Steve was trying to play tough guy and act like he wasn't worried himself. He'd never been a great liar.
Cheryl and Heather eventually broke off from the group and the others crowded around Teddi like they were trying to shield her from something. Billy stood up straight, his jaw clenching as he watched on. "What could they be talking about?" the voice in his head asks. "Why wouldn't they include you? You were there to comfort Teddi yesterday, weren't you? Why do you think she chose to go to Steve instead?"
"Shut up." Billy spat, ignoring the group of students walking by that were shooting him confused looks. He flicked the butt of his cigarette away and quickly lit another. He checked his watch. Max was late. Again.
"You know what your father said last time about being late from school. Protecting Max." he didn't need to be reminded.
Max had been almost thirty minutes late meeting him in the parking lot a week ago. She'd had some pathetic excuse about the club she was in with those loser friends of hers. Neil hadn't cared.
"I give you one job, Billy. Look out for your sister. What's wrong with you?" Neil shoved him harshly, sending Billy back into the kitchen counter behind him. The corner caught him on his lower back, just above the waistband of his jeans. Billy bit his tongue, ignoring the sharp sting. "You let her hand around those boys and that teacher of theirs? You want everyone in town to think she's like those little whores you're always surrounding yourself with?" Neil grabbed Billy by the front of his shirt.
Billy looked away, his jaw clenched tightly. "You could beat him in a fight," the voice in his head said. "It would be easy. You know you're stronger. There's a knife on the counter behind you. Use it." It would be easy, Billy found himself repeating.
"Answer me!" Billy's thoughts were interrupted as Neil smacked him. That was a warning. Open handed hits didn't leave marks.
"I'm sorry." Billy finally stuttered out.
Neil sneered down at his son, letting his shirt go and giving him one last shove. "You're pathetic. Go to your room. I don't want to hear a word out of you for the rest of the night."
Billy shook his head, trying to forget the memory. He looked back at his friends in time to see Teddi walking away, turning to say something to Steve. The two wave at each other before she leaves.
"Hey, Billy." Max mumbled as she approached, her skateboard tucked under her arm.
Billy wouldn't look at her. "You're late again." he said flatly, pushing off of the Camaro and heading to the driver's side.
"I know, I'm sorry. There was this thing with the guys…" she tried to explain. Billy rolled his eyes, slamming his door shut. They peeled out of the parking lot, Max shifting uncomfortably in her seat next to him.
Billy's thumbs were beating against the steering wheel in time with the music. "It's like you don't give a shit about anyone but yourself, Max." he finally said. "You don't care if Neil gets pissed. What have I told you about him? You keep your goddamn nose down. I mean, Jesus, it's like you enjoy pissing him off. It's selfish."
Max scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You're one to talk…" she muttered.
Billy gripped the steering wheel tightly. "What was that?"
Max sighed. "Nothing, Billy. I'm sorry I was late, okay?" Billy glared over at her. Max couldn't meet his eyes. She resigned herself to looking out at the road in front of them. "...Can you please watch the road?"
"Teach her a lesson." the voice in his head says. "She doesn't care about what happens to you. All you do is look after her, and this is how she repays you? Selfish."
"Selfish." Billy repeated.
Max's eyebrows came together in confusion. "What? What are you even talking about? I said I was sorry, Billy. Cut it out. You're being a freak."
Billy's eyes remained on his sister. He pressed down harder on the gas pedal, the Camaro speeding down the street now. "I'm not always gonna be around to take your beatings, Max. You need to learn that there's consequences for acting like such a little shit." there was a part of Billy that knew he didn't mean anything he was saying. It was screaming at him. Telling him to stop listening to that poisonous voice. Max was just a kid. And Neil was a monster. It was his job to protect her.
Max perked up suddenly, her eyes growing wide. "Billy, please, seriously slow down. Look at the road!" she warned, pushing herself back against her seat and trying to find anything around her to grab hold of.
Billy looked ahead at the road. Mike, Lucas and Dustin were on their bikes, completely unaware of what was approaching them. "All of this is their fault," the voice said. "They found El. They dragged you into monster hunting. They're why Teddi left you. Teach them a lesson."
Billy pressed the pedal down as far as it would allow. It was like he wasn't in control of himself. The car sped up. Max was screaming now. Pleading with him to stop. "Probably won't be late again if I hit 'em, huh, Max?" he asked. "I get bonus points if I hit 'em all in one go?"
Max was screaming at him to stop. He couldn't really make out what she was saying. Everything felt so loud around him. He was slamming his hand against the steering wheel along to the beat of the music, looking Max in the eyes as she begged him to leave her friends alone.
The boys finally saw the Camaro. They were scrambling to get out of Billy's way, screaming in horror as the car sped towards them.
And like a flick of a switch, Billy pulled his foot back off of the gas, giving the wheel a harsh turn. Max let out a loud, relieved sigh as he drove around her friends. She turned in her seat, looking out the back window to make sure they were okay.
Billy was laughing. He wasn't entirely sure why. Or if the laugh even belonged to him. He looked over at Max, sunken down in her seat. "That was a close one, huh?" he asks with a short laugh. He wiped at his nose with the back of his hand. There was blood. No, it was too dark to be blood. He recognized the black ooze felt like it was slowly taking over his body ever since he'd gone to the Upside Down. Billy laughed again, wiping the black blood away and leaning forward to turn the radio up.
Teddi sat propped up against the back bumper of her van, squirming uncomfortably in her costume. She couldn't stop picking at it. The leotard felt too tight. Her leg warmers felt like they were slipping every two seconds. If she moved too much would she ruin the perfectly quaffed ponytail she admittedly spent way too much time styling? She nervously tugged at the pink sweatband around her head with a sigh.
It was more than just Tina's Halloween party that was making her nervous. Teddi was having a hard time forgetting about the nightmare she'd had at the library. It didn't help that she could see Steve's backyard from her driveway. Her eyes kept flicking towards his pool, but she couldn't seem to make herself look directly at it. She remembered the night Barb died. Hearing the rustling in the bushes and asking Billy to leave. If she had stayed would Barb still be alive?
A car horn made Teddi jump. Steve was sitting parked at the end of the driveway, waving a tennis racket in her direction. "Hey! Hop on in, Barbie!" he called, the signature Harrington grin on his lips. Teddi let out a soft laugh, her pink heels clicking against her driveway as she walked over. "Sorry, the corvette's in the shop." he teased as she slid into the passenger's seat..
"You couldn't get a backup in pink?" she teased back.
Steve scoffed. "Aww, come on. I gotta maintain my manly Ken image, here," he flipped down the visor above him, leaning down to check his hair and adjust his own sweatband in the mirror. "How many cans of Aquanet do you think those two go through in a month?"
"More than we could ever find in Hawkins," Teddi said with a snort. "...Thanks for doing this, Steve. If I hadn't promised Heather and Cheryl I'd go-"
"You'd be stuck in your basement watching Halloween over and over until you pass out from eating too much candy," Steve finished for her. Teddi smiled sheepishly. He wasn't far off. Only she'd be doing that at Hopper's cabin instead of her basement. "Don't worry about it. This is what we're supposed to be doing, you know? Parties. Not giving a shit about anything. I mean...it's gotta go back to normal eventually, right?"
"I really hope so." Teddi sighed. She tried to not watch the woods as they drove past. Tried not to wonder if the Demogorgon was there watching them. It had been a nightmare. Nothing more than that. It was all over. She could be herself again. She could go to a party and have fun with her friends and not worry about anything past that.
The party was already in full swing when they pulled up to Tina's house. The remnants of a few pumpkins that had been smashed in the driveway were staining the concrete and stuck to the tires of the cars parked there. Someone dressed as a ghost was leaning against the garage door and puking into Tina's rose bushes. They stood, pulling the sheet off of their head.
"Boy, Brian sure didn't waste any time, huh?" Steve asked, a slightly disgusted look on his face, as he and Teddi watched on from the car. Brian Jean was in Teddi's math class and one of Cheryl's usual hook ups. He was all beauty,no brains, and the star of their high school's soccer team. Steve slid out from the car, waving over at him. "Brian! Come on, dude! It's not even nine!"
Brian looked over at Steve and Teddi, his face red and eyes full of tears. He smiled thinly, waving at them. "I'm good bro! Happy Hallo-" he groaned, folding over and emptying his stomach into the bushes once again.
Steve laughed, throwing his arm around Teddi's shoulders. "See? We need to be more like Brian. Not giving a shit." he grinned.
Teddi scrunched her nose up. "Maybe not exactly like Brian…"
Inside Tina's house was packed. The music was competing with the sound of shouting coming from the backyard, where Teddi could just barely make out a few boys doing keg stands. A few of the kids had ripped the light up gravestones from Tina's yard and were dancing with them in the living room.
Steve was grinning widely, his arm still around Teddi as they weaved their way through the house, and greeting everyone he passed by. Teddi tried her best to match Steve's smile. She waved at a girl from her Biology class, Samantha, before her eyes met Carol's. Carol was watching Teddi like she had paraded into the party naked as a jaybird and sporting a second head. Carol's eyes flickered between Teddi and Steve before she grinned almost wickedly at Teddi.
Teddi's smile dropped when Carol whipped around and nearly ran off into the crowd.
"Hey! Found Heather and Cheryl!" Steve said, nodding over to the kitchen. Cheryl was standing in the corner, her back pressed to the counter and her eyes rolling at a boy in a toga that was talking animatedly to her. Heather was standing nearby, scooping punch into a red cup and dancing along to the music playing. She had won the argument with Cheryl, Teddi guessed, as she noticed Heather's vampire fangs and high collared cape.
Teddi rushed over to them, Cheryl all but shoving the boy away when she spotted her friend making her way over. "You came!" Heather greeted with a huge smile. "Ohmygosh. You guys look so good!" she said, looking between Teddi and Steve.
"Ken?" Cheryl asked with a raised eyebrow. "Don't you think that's a little too on the nose, Harrington?"
"That's coming from the Playboy bunny?" Steve asked, motioning to Cheryl's costume with his tennis racket.
Cheryl rolled her eyes, flipping her strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder. "Don't you have any other friends you can hang out with? Unless you wanna stick around for girl talk-"
Steve held his hands up. "Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna go check on Brian. Just say the word, Ted, and I'll come rescue you." he gave a quick salute towards the girls before disappearing into the crowd.
As soon as Steve turned his back to the girls, Cheryl all but shoved a plastic red cup into Teddi's hands. Teddi smiled thinly at her, mumbling a short 'thanks'. Someone had spiked the punch. Teddi could smell the alcohol before even bringing the cup to her lips. She took a sip; that warm, tingly, happy feeling from the drink lifted that heavy feeling that Teddi had been carrying around for what seemed like years. Teddi tilted the cup back just a little more, drinking it more eagerly.
"Jesus, that's not water." Cheryl sneered. Heather shot Cheryl a look, gently bumping her with her elbow before flashing a sympathetic look towards Teddi. "Are you okay, Teddi? I mean, the whole thing at the library today after school..."
"Yeah, it was totally One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."
"Cheryl." Heather snapped. Cheryl only rolled her eyes.
Teddi finished her drink, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She felt almost lightweight now. Everything around her felt hazy like a dream. A good dream, finally. She gave her friends a dazed smile and shrugged. "Just haven't been getting a lot of sleep lately. Between school and getting into a good college I feel like I'm running on fumes, I guess."
Heather nodded, that same sympathetic look on her face as Teddi pushed past them to get to the punch bowl. Cheryl scoffed loudly. "Like I'm gonna believe that bullshit. This is about Billy, isn't it? You've been like insanely more bummed out since the both of you broke up or whatever it is that's going on between you."
Teddi took another large sip and rolled her eyes. "There's bigger problems in life than Billy Hargrove, Cheryl.
Cheryl tossed her hair over her shoulder before putting her hands on her hips. "Oh, really?" she asked with a smirk. "Then I guess you wouldn't care at all that he showed up like an hour ago?" she nodded to the patio doors behind them.
Teddi turned, spotting Billy out in the backyard standing around a keg with Tommy and a few of his other friends. "I have no idea what he's supposed to be dressed as, but he looks super yummy, doesn't he?" Cheryl asked with a sigh.
Teddi didn't answer. She took another drink, her eyes locked on Billy. It was sort of a rhetorical question. Billy always looked good. And it came as no surprise that he was taking Halloween as an excuse to show up to a party shirtless.
Billy looked towards Teddi's direction as if he could feel her staring at him. They locked eyes. Everything else seemed to fade away then. Teddi swallowed loudly as she watched Billy. She couldn't read his expression. Was he happy she was there? Would he ignore her? Would she ever stop caring about what he thought?
"Jeeeez Lousie," Heather's voice broke Teddi out of what she could only describe as a trance. "You could cut the sexual tension with a knife." she teased before she and Cheryl broke into a fit of giggles.
Teddi rolled her eyes, taking another large drink. The room was starting to sway now.
Eventually the three girls moved to the living room. Teddi was drunk enough to fall for Heather and Cheryl's peer pressuring her into dancing with them. Soon she'd lost track of how many drinks she'd had and how long she'd been at the party. The room around her was spinning. Not that it mattered. Teddi was laughing, trying her best to remember the choreography to Thriller and not trip over Heather's feet.
"Whoa, whoa, Teddi!" Steve called, reaching out to catch her just before she fell back onto the coffee table behind her. Heather bent over, slapping a hand over her mouth to try and cover her drunken laughter. Cheryl was standing on the coffee table, looking down at her two friends with a completely unamused look before she shoved her cup at the same toga wearing boy from earlier and waving him away to get her a refill.
Teddi snorted, grabbing onto Steve's polo while she tried to regain her footing. "Steve!" she giggled. "I've been looking for you everywhere!"
"Uh huh," Steve chuckled. "Ted, how much have you had to drink? You're totally Gumby right now-"
"I love Gumby! He's so cute!" Heather interrupted before Cheryl practically shoved her out of the way before stepping down from the coffee table.
"Lay off her, Harrington. Don't you think she should be allowed to blow off a little steam?" Cheryl asked, her arms crossed firmly.
"Yeah, a little steam. Look at her! She can barely even stand!" Steve argued.
Teddi frowned, doing her best to shove Steve away from her. "Will you stop talking about me like I'm not here? I'm fine. I can look after myself. I don't need a babysitter." her point was immediately disproven as she once again stumbled and plopped down onto the table with a short grunt.
"Teddi, come on. It's time to go home, huh?" Steve took her hand, trying to pull her back onto her feet.
Teddi snatched her hand away, glaring up at him. "No. I'm having fun, Steve. I don't wanna go home yet." she argued.
"See, Steve?" Cheryl raised her eyebrows. "She's fine. Why don't you get a life, huh? I can handle it from here."
Heather plopped down next to Teddi, the two watching the heated exchange between Steve and Cheryl like two toddlers watching their parents argue. Eventually the fight was only broken up when Tommy shoved his way through the crowd in the living room. He smiled widely, throwing his arm around Steve's shoulders and looking at each of the girls like a starving Hyena that had just come across three wounded antelope.
"Well, looks like the rumors are true!" Tommy exclaimed. "Look how cute you guys are. What's wrong, Steve? Having trouble keeping her on her leash? Just like with Nancy, huh? Guess the Ken costume was perfect. I'm startin' to think you don't have any balls, know what I mean? All smooth down there." he cackled.
Steve shoved Tommy away. "Tommy, shut the hell up, huh? Don't you have anything better to do?"
Tommy's friends along with Carol and Billy had joined the group now. Carol was watching Teddi with a sneering smile as if this was exactly what she'd been hoping would happen.
"Yeah, Carol's not on her back yet. Looks like the wicked awesome keg stands aren't cutting it anymore." Cheryl scoffed. Tommy and Carol both glared at a few of their friends who were snickering behind them.
Teddi dared to look up at Billy. He was already watching her. That same expressionless look that she hated. Were things really bad enough that he was hanging around Tommy and Carol again?
"Wait, wait. I don't get it, Harrington. Are you bangin' all three of them now or something? You need to let Cheryl defend you against little old me?" Tommy laughed.
"I don't need Cheryl to shove my tennis racket up your-"
Teddi groaned, pushing herself up from the coffee table and shoving her way through the group. All the fighting was definitely going to kill her buzz. She stumbled her way through the living room, tossing her now empty cup in the direction of the trash can as she passed by the kitchen and headed upstairs.
She gripped onto the railing tightly, taking each step carefully. Maybe Steve was right. She was definitely more drunk than she realized. As she reached the top of the stairs she stumbled again, almost falling before an arm wrapped around her waist.
"Easy there, Barbie." Teddi stiffened at the sound of Billy's voice.
He helped her the rest of the way up the stairs, his hand on the small of her back the whole time. Teddi huffed, but didn't push him away. She didn't actually look at him until she was in Tina's empty bedroom. Billy shut the door behind him, leaning against it and crossing his arms.
"...You avoiding me, Teddi Bear?" he finally asked.
"Are you stalking me, Hargrove?" Teddi spat back, taking a seat at the foot of Tina's bed.
Billy let out a short breath, pushing off of the wall and taking a few steps closer to her. He was trying his best to act cool, but Teddi knew this was just as awkward for him as it was for her. His fingers were twitching at his sides, probably dying to grab a cigarette from his jacket.
"So...what's going on with you and Harrington?" he finally asked.
Teddi rolled her eyes. "Nothing. He's my friend, Billy. He used to be yours too, remember?"
Billy was silent again.
They both sat there in the dark for what felt like forever until Teddi finally spoke up. "Are you...do you think you can ever tell me what's going on with you?" Billy only sighed, running a hand over his face. "Who could ever understand more than me, Billy? I mean, I always thought that we were like-" she crossed her fingers.
He moved across the room, sitting next to her on the bed. He flinched a little when Teddi moved closer to him. Teddi could smell his spicy cologne, the minty flavor of the gum he chewed to cover the smell of smoke, the small hint of spilled beer that was sprinkled across his chest. It was almost impossible to not take a deep breath in.
"It's like…" he sighed. "I'm not me. But I am. And I just…" he clenched his fists against his thighs. "Sometimes I just fucking hate everyone. And...I don't know, I just get so angry…"
He wasn't looking at her. Teddi swallowed loudly, her hand slowly reaching out to cover his. Silence fell over them again. "...Do you ever hate me?" she asked carefully.
Billy's eyes met hers. He shook his head so softly she almost didn't realize it. "Never you."
Teddi let out a shaky breath. So she was dealing with Dr. Jekyll tonight. No, she corrected herself. This is Billy.
She moved just a little closer to him, her fingers wrapping around his hand. Billy leaned into her, his forehead resting against hers. Teddi wasn't sure if it was her nerves or the alcohol that left her feeling so jittery.
Billy's free hand reached up for Teddi's neck, pulling her in to close the space between them and catching her lips with his. Teddi grabbed for his jacket, like it was the only thing that would keep her from floating away. Her stomach flipped, just like it always did when she was around Billy.
He pulled away, his forehead resting against Teddi's once again and her fingers still gripping his jacket. "I miss you." he mumbled.
"I'm right here, Billy." she said with a small laugh.
Billy sighed, sitting back and shaking his head. "You don't get it…" he slid farther away from Teddi, rubbing roughly at his forehead. Teddi slumped forward a little, looking completely dejected. "...Come on. I should get you home."
"God, I wish everyone would stop trying to mother me-"
"I'm not mothering you, Larsson. You just look like shit," he winced. "...No offense. Come on, don't make me throw you over my shoulder."
Teddi scoffed, but stood up. "Now you're threatening me. You know just what to say to a girl."
Billy's hand met the small of her back again as he lead them out of the room. "Hey, it worked on you once upon a time, didn't it?" he grinned. Teddi only grumbled in response.
They made their way slowly down the stairs and back to the party. Billy took Teddi's hand, leading her outside and down the road to where the Camaro was parked. He opened the door, shielding Teddi's head from hitting the car's frame as she all but fell into the passenger's seat.
Billy brought the car to life, the new Motley Crue album blaring through the speakers. He turned the volume down, his eyes flickering over to Teddi before he took off down the street. His fingers were tapping against the steering wheel in time with the song.
"...You listen to this one yet?" he asked, shifting in his seat.
Teddi smiled a little, turning towards him. "Are you trying to make small talk?"
Billy scoffed. "Just asking a question."
They fell into silence again.
Teddi watched Billy out of the corner of her eye. She wanted to reach out to him. Lean against him while he drove with his arm wrapped around her like they used to. It felt so normal but so new at the same time. Almost like a first date where they were both too afraid to make the first move.
When they turned onto Teddi's street, she sat up a little taller. "Wait, can you park down the street?" she asked.
Billy raised an eyebrow. "Why? Your parent's home?"
They probably weren't. It wasn't even midnight yet, and usually Teddi's mother liked to be one of the last to leave a party. "No. I mean, I don't think so. Just...it's a habit I guess." It was their routine. Ever since Billy had gotten his driver's license he'd park in front of Steve's house and Teddi would sneak back home through her bedroom window to avoid her parents.
Billy pulled off the road without arguing. Teddi didn't give him a chance to help her out of the Camaro. He hurried after her as she stumbled down the road towards her house, gently taking her by the arm to keep her from falling.
They headed around the side of her house, Teddi leaning against it as Billy knelt down to open the window that lead to her room in the basement. He slid in first, landing softly and gracefully. "Try not to break your neck, huh?" he called up to her, reaching his hands out to catch Teddi as she slipped through after him.
Teddi landed roughly on her feet, letting out an oof as she fell against Billy. He stumbled backward slightly, the two of them laughing. "Perfect landing," Teddi joked.
She tried to get her bearings, swaying on her feet just a little before she took off towards her bed. "...Turn around. I gotta change."
"You're kidding me-"
"Juuuust do it, perv."
Billy rolled his eyes, turning his back and letting out a dramatic sigh.
Teddi kicked off her shoes, trying her best to pull off her leotard as quickly and gracefully as she could. She had to be more out of it than she had realized. She could've sworn she could hear Billy muttering to someone as he waited for her to change.
"Okay, the coast is clear now," she announced as she slid into her bed. She smiled thinly at Billy as he turned back towards her. "...Thanks for driving me home and everything."
Billy shrugged, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Didn't wanna make you listen to one of Harrington's lectures."
Teddi let out a soft laugh before biting her lip. "...Will you stay?" she asked quietly. Billy smirked and Teddi rolled her eyes. "Don't get any ideas. It's just...I kinda get too scared to sleep sometimes." she explained.
Billy paused before finally nodding. He kicked off his boots, peeling his jacket off and tossing it aside. The two moved awkwardly as Billy slid into bed next to Teddi. It had been months since they'd been close like this. He hesitated slightly before wrapping an arm around Teddi, pulling her close to him. Her head rested on his shoulder, her hand splayed across his chest.
"...Thank you." she mumbled. Billy didn't answer her. His lips ghosted over the top of her hair, pulling her just a little closer to him as she drifted off to sleep.
Teddi didn't dream that night.