There's no telling what's waiting inside the house for her. More than likely, it's nothing good…

'I can do this.'

Chrissy's brow furrows as she stares at the front door. This is silly. Why should she be afraid of going in? That isn't normal. It's not what a 'home' is supposed to be. What's the worst he'll do anyway? Yell?

"Like I said before, you have options, though it might be rough for a while. If it gets nasty or you don't feel safe, you can come chill at my place. It's not much, but there's a roof and no one that'll make you walk on eggshells."

Taking a deep breath, she braces herself for whatever's about to happen and walks through the front door. Let the cards fall where they may. There are far worse things than getting screamed at or disappointing a parent for the millionth time.

The cheer captain quietly sets down her bookbag and walks through the foyer, listening for any signs of movement through the house. There is. Down the hall, near her dad's bedroom. The familiar sound of his dress shoes tapping against the hardwood floor. He undoubtedly heard the door open and close. There's no point in scurrying upstairs at this point.

"Chrissy?"

"...Yeah, it's me." That's strange. It usually comes out much more harshly. She grabs onto the cuff of her jacket as he comes out into the open and is surprised by his appearance. He's wearing the usual button-up shirt and trousers, but it's his face that seems different. The bags and dark shadows are gone. Almost like he actually had a few good nights of sleep.

"You're home late." His eyes trail from her to the pink bookbag on the floor and back. It's said so matter-of-factly without the annoyance he'd normally express under regular circumstances. "Did cheer practice go well?"

"Um… It was good. How was your trip?" This is creeping her out. Maybe going away did some good? This is the calmest she's seen him in the last year and a half. Before her mother passed away. Ms. Kelly might've been right about the stress of working all the time and bottling everything up taking a toll.

"Fine. I just got back. Anyway, head upstairs and get changed. We're going to Enzo's for dinner tonight, so look presentable." With that, he turns to head back down the hall toward his room, leaving her flabbergasted.

'What the hell is going on?'

Chrissy stares at the empty spot where he stood, not knowing what to make of this. He was acting a little off right before leaving too. Perhaps writing that letter was the right move after all. Did that give him the wake-up call he needed? She poured her heart out into it as a last-ditch effort to try to build some kind of bridge between them. Going over everything—even from the past—that's causing her pain and left some deep scar that might never really heal.

A part of her is hoping this will last. That by some miracle, maybe they can attempt to have something close to a normal father-daughter relationship. But if he hasn't been back long, then there's a good chance no one's been able to tell him anything that's gone on in the past two weeks.

Sighing, she slowly makes her way upstairs to get changed, as requested. After all the excitement throughout the day, going out doesn't seem very appealing. It's better than having to rush to make dinner for them, though.

Enzo's is a quiet little restaurant that's known throughout Hawkins for being fancy. A place a husband might take his wife once a year to splurge for their anniversary. Or somewhere a person brings their date in hopes of impressing them.

Chrissy takes a sip of water as her gaze travels around the room. At the couples and acquaintances sharing a candlelight dinner. The chatter is kept low, but consistent. Everyone is in formal attire. Dresses, blouses, suits, jewelry, heels, dress shoes, hair styled neatly, and makeup done modestly to not draw too much attention. Servers weave between the small tables that have minimal space between them, making it unfortunately too easy to listen in on others' conversations. A group of violinists with a cello player are stationed near the front, playing for the patrons while they dine.

'I'm starting to get a headache.'

The various smells of dishes, pungent perfume from older women, cologne, and the music in a relatively cramped area are getting to be a bit much together. The middle-aged lady sitting behind her is the primary culprit. She could probably sniff her out from the entrance with how strong that scent is.

Trying to shake it off, the cheer captain stabs the last bite of a caesar salad to finish it. The plate is gently pushed off to the side for a server to pick up. Both hands move to rest on her lap to avoid a repeat of what happened when they first arrived. She made the mistake of putting an elbow on the table and was quickly reprimanded.

'This is awkward…'

The ride here was as well. Her dad stayed quiet for the most part, just listening to a local station on the radio. There's not much difference now. He hasn't said much, except for when the occasional familiar face stops by their table to greet him. Asking about work or his trip. The last person wouldn't stop gushing over the custom-tailored dark gray suit he's wearing.

"How is Jason doing?" He asks, putting down his glass of red wine. The question causes her to shift uncomfortably against the seat. Of course this would come up. She fully expected it to and spent most of the car ride here thinking of different answers to these basic questions. Responses that are technically truthful without giving away anything that can be used to accuse her of lying later on when everything finally comes out.

"The Tigers made it to regionals. They're doing really well and we have an away game on Monday." She sighs with relief when he slowly nods, taking the information in. That seems to satisfy him.

"That's great. He's a hard worker. I'm sure the team will make everyone proud this year." Leaning back in his chair, he stares at her for a long moment before clearing his throat. "By the way… I didn't forget about your birthday. How did it go?"

"It was nice. The Carvers threw a party for me. I got a lot of presents. Jason gave me a pretty bracelet. Everyone kept asking about you, too." She eyes him at the last part to see what kind of reaction it'll get. He decides his cufflink needs to be adjusted at that particular moment. "Um… Charlotte is also having a sleepover party tomorrow. She asked a few days after you left and I told her yes. Oh, and I got my driver's license on Tuesday."

That definitely draws his attention back to her. It's hard to tell if he's angry or disinterested at times. "Well, looks like someone's been busy while I was gone." He says sternly, pursing his lips.

"Phillip!" An older man in a tan suit stops at the side of their table. He smiles brightly and pats him on the shoulder. "Where have you been? I heard you disappeared right off the face of the Earth."

"Good to see you, Charles. I was on a business trip for the last two weeks. Nothing more."

"Why hey, kiddo." Tearing his gaze from her father, it quickly lands on the cheer captain. "Amazing. You look more like your mother every day." He laughs and turns back to her dad. "Watch out, Phil. You'll have to scare the boys away soon. Ah, they really grow up so fast."

The sides of Chrissy's mouth curl up into a reluctant smile as she politely thanks the man. The two begin the routine song and dance and are quickly tuned out. That comparison made her stomach drop, almost ruining any appetite she had.

'I can't stand this.'

This is the third person to come to their table to strike up a conversation with her father. It's part of the reason she doesn't like going out as a family in the first place. Times that by ten when her mother was still alive, who absolutely relished the attention and chatting up a storm. Of course in a dignified manner. Very much unlike her, who was always admonished afterward for being too excitable or sounding 'dumb'.

She sighs and leans back against the chair, letting her mind wander. This might take a while anyway. It would be nice to just enjoy a meal in quiet with no interruptions. A thought crops up that puts a genuine smile on her face. What if Eddie was here instead? Everyone in the vicinity would probably stare daggers at them while he stuffed his face and made a mess. And someone coming up to interrupt them? There's a good chance they'd get told to 'piss off'. A hand covers her mouth as a small giggle slips out.

'That'd be a lot more fun.'

"Chrissy? Charles is talking to you. Don't be rude, now." As is expected of her, she quickly apologizes before he finally leaves. Now that they're alone, her dad gives the cheerleader a sharp look. "Why do you seem so distracted tonight? That wasn't polite at all. I know you have better manners than that."

"...Sorry. I'm just tired from practice."

A server arrives at the table with their meals. He quietly sets the plates down in front of them and asks her dad something, but Chrissy's not paying attention. Every bit of focus is on the food just inches away, tantalizing her. A soft rumble tears through her stomach and a pang of hunger she hasn't felt in a long time rears its head. Medium rare filet mignon with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. The plates are small and so are the portions. That's how it usually is at these types of restaurants.

'It looks so good.'

Without thinking, praying, or saying a word, she grabs the silverware off the table and digs in. The steak knife runs through the meat like room-temperature butter as it's cut into pieces. Amazing. Seasoned and cooked to perfection. The heels beneath the table tap against the floor happily with the first bite. Juicy, tender, fantastic. She grins and hums merrily while chewing the food, wishing for the ability to cook this well. The potatoes and vegetables are delicious too.

"Starving, are we?" That drags her out of food heaven and back to the present. Blinking, she looks from the disapproving expression on her father's face down to the meal on the table. Almost half of it is gone already. Oh… Right. Some things didn't change so much after all. Setting the fork down, the last mouthful is quickly swallowed before pushing the plate off to the side.

"I… I'm full."

'Elves seem pretty neat. They sure can do a lot.'

No wonder Eddie likes fantasy so much. The world in this book alone is incredible. There's so much to it. Elves, dwarves, hobbits, adventures, fighting, danger, magic, ancient languages… This series has its own history and dynamics to explore. And it's only the first part of many. He said this was just a small taste of Tolkien's universe.

Chrissy's legs swing as she lays across the bed, once again reading the book he gave her for a birthday present last weekend. The curtains are open, allowing the morning sunlight to spread throughout the room. It's already a beautiful day out. Spring is close enough to touch at this point.

Despite dinner not going great last night, it was okay. Things could've gone much worse… Afterward, she called Eddie and they talked for a while. About how her dad was acting, what happened at the restaurant, D&D, a riff he's working on, and a million other things until eventually conking out. But the gutsy move that was made in the van didn't make the list.

'I can't believe I did that.'

Her face heats up at the thought. There's not a hint of regret about it. Nope. She did that and might try it again, too. And he kissed her fingers… After almost ramming the van into the neighbor's car. That could've ended really badly. The guy just stared with his mouth hanging open as they started moving. Didn't even react for the first few seconds when she yelled to get his attention.

"Mmm…" Rolling onto her back, she stares up at the ceiling. There's a lot going on inside. Many intense emotions simmer just below the surface. Some are familiar, others not so much. Those need to be explored by following through and seeing what happens.

There were thoughts of holding off on anything for a little while. To properly grieve over the failed relationship that just ended, even if she was the one to pull the plug on it. That seemed like the respectful thing to do, considering how much of a lasting impact it'll have on her and Jason's lives. Not only for them but also their families and friends. He clearly had his own plans by quickly moving on and with her 'friend' at that.

Why shouldn't she do the same? Even if he's only doing it to be petty, it doesn't change anything. The optics of the situation aren't lost on her either. It 'looks bad' to start a new relationship or whatever is going on with Eddie so soon. That's already drawing a negative reaction from others. Like the mean words Charlotte and Natalie said someone wrote on her locker…

Jason isn't getting the same backlash so far, despite rumors spreading that he was the one to break up with her for someone else. It's okay for him to do that, but God forbid she's seen with another man already. People are making her sound like an innocent little girl that just doesn't know any better. That's so frustrating.

"Why hey, kiddo."

Chrissy is getting really tired of being treated that way. Turning eighteen was supposed to change all that. She's a woman, not a child… Yet everyone always refers to her as 'cute' and 'sweet'. Usually that's okay, it just sometimes feels a little infantilizing. Maybe it's because of her lack of curves? Charlotte has them and no one would dare call her a kid. Then again, she'd lay into them if they did.

'I wonder how Eddie sees me?'

"Chrissy!" A voice yells up the stairs. Her dad. He left early this morning and must've just come back. It doesn't sound enraged, so that's a good thing. "Hurry up and get dressed. We're going somewhere."

"...Again?" She sighs and puts the bookmark in place for later. The Fellowship will have to take a break for now. Back to business. Well, fine. He'll have to deal with what she's wearing now since nothing was mentioned about what they're doing. After going to Enzo's last night, it probably won't be anything fancy. He would've told her to look presentable if it was.

Better to stay on his good side for now and do as he asks before all hell breaks loose. There's no telling when someone will finally clue him in on what happened during his trip. This is stressful. Like waiting for a bomb to go off with no idea when or where it'll explode.

'Un… Unbelievable…'

Blue eyes stare down at the table in utter shock. It's a lot to take in at one time. Saying this is hard to wrap her head around is an understatement.

A hand slides the papers across the smooth surface to her father, who quickly gets to work. The sounds of the pen tip scratching wildly is all that really gets through. She's in a daze, barely registering the two voices bouncing back and forth close by.

"—a big upgrade from the '84. The manufacturers worked out all the squeaks and rattles from the last model and it has the new L98 engine. It's a good investment. More powerful and fuel-efficient—"

After a few minutes, the sheets are pushed in front of her with the pen slapped down on them. It's Chrissy's turn now. Shakily, she looks over the forms and begins to sign them. Her fingers keep trembling. Too much time is spent making sure 'Chrissy Cunningham' is spelled correctly from being frazzled. With that finished, she hands them over to the man sitting on the other side of the desk. He quietly checks over each one, making sure everything is in order.

"Okay, looks good. That's the last of the paperwork. Just give me a minute to make copies and I'll walk you out to the lot." The salesman flashes a bright smile and gets out of his seat to do just that. Of course he's extremely happy. This guy will make a decent commission from closing this deal.

To be honest, she was extremely panicked earlier. There was no telling what any of this was about. When her dad kept driving for well over a half hour and nothing but trees and empty roads surrounded them, the alarms started going off. What if he heard about everything and snapped? Maybe he was taking her out to an isolated area where no one would find the body? But that was silly. They were just going to the next town.

"Here you go." Jerry, the salesman, returns with the documents and hands them over to her dad. Surprisingly, he gives them to her to hold on to. "Alright. I'll take you two to the lot. Right this way." He smiles again and motions for them to follow.

Not needing to be told twice, the cheer captain hops right out of the chair and trails behind the two men. This is the first time she's been in a dealership before. The place smells like air freshener and coffee, and everyone who works here smiles when they pass by.

Walking past the desks and chairs, they head to a door at the other end of the room that leads to the lot. Her eyes jump around at everything in view. There are so many cars… All shiny and new-looking. Jerry keeps talking to her dad about details, but she's too excited to pay attention. None of that matters much to her, anyway. It might as well be in another language.

"Here we are!" They finally stop after the third row. Right in front of a cherry red car. Chrissy gawks at it, trying to stop herself from shaking like one of those little yap-yap dogs. "1985 Corvette as requested. I must say, your father has good taste, miss." He holds out the keys and the moment they land in her palm, all bets are off. She grips them tightly and twirls around, throwing her arms up in the air. Too overjoyed to keep it together anymore.

"Chrissy!" Her dad hisses, visibly embarrassed by his daughter's behavior. A hand reaches up to rub his forehead in annoyance. There's probably a lot more he'd like to say but they have an audience.

"That's okay, Phil. This happens a lot when a kid gets their first car. Boy, do I have some interesting stories from over the years." Jerry laughs and pats her dad on the back, trying to keep the mood light. "Anyway, please be careful. These are pretty touchy and accelerate faster than you'd expect. Keep that in mind. You might want to take it for a spin around the block before getting on the highway, just to get used to it."

She nods and starts eyeing the vehicle as he goes back to talking with her dad, shaking his hand. This is unreal. Hopefully this isn't another weird dream and it'll all get ripped away the second she wakes up.

Chrissy walks around the car, still in disbelief. It's low to the ground and striking with a deep red paint job. The front is long and its hood has a noticeable curve with the Corvette emblem at the end. Rushing up to the window, her eyes widen seeing the inside. Everything is red and black.

'You're all mine.'

"Okay, calm down. We still need to go to the BMV to fill out more paperwork." Looking over, she realizes Jerry's gone and it's just them now. "You can follow behind me on the way up."

"Thank you!" Her arms wrap around his waist and she squeezes tightly. The joy from this unexpected gift is too much to contain. Enough to push aside how awkward this actually is. She never imagined anything like this, especially with how reluctant he was to sign off on a permit. He stiffens up and makes a strange noise before eventually patting her head.

"Well… Your mother and I agreed to do this for your sixteenth birthday." The hug ends when he clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable from the reaction. "I'm also tired of Carver making comments that I'm the only one who hasn't gotten their kid a car. Now you have a better one than all of them. When we're done, I want you to go over there and to the others and make sure they see it."

'So that's why he really did this… Jason's dad was poking fun at him.'

Hearing that is disappointing. She thought he decided to buy this after hearing about her driver's license last night. That was naïve and from listening to him talking to Jerry earlier, this actually wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing. He was looking into getting one before leaving and they just finalized the paperwork today. Once again, everything comes down to showing off and impressing people.

Oh, well…

"S–Sure. Okay. Will do." Chrissy says nervously, not knowing how to get out of this one. He still doesn't know yet. That'll undoubtedly change by the end of the night. Thankfully, she'll be at Charlotte's then and the title of the car will already be in her name. Solely. Once that happens, he legally can't take it away. Well, according to their state's laws… If there's one thing she learned from her dad being a lawyer, it's to always cover her bases.

'Doesn't mean he won't try to take the keys away later or attempt to get me to sign some document full of conditions before we finish the transfer. I just need to keep quiet until we're done and not remind him of anything.'

"I'll be in the car. Do as Jerry said and take it around the block, then come right back. We'll go to the BMV afterward." He says gruffly, marching off to where they parked earlier.

"Okay…" Gripping the keys tightly, an unsteady hand unlocks the driver's side door. This is hers. It's hard to really grasp that. She gingerly slides onto the seat, almost afraid to touch anything as the scent of leather hits her nose. The seats, floors, and door panels are red. Everything else is black. Glancing into the rearview mirror, it's weird to see herself in this. Even a little intimidating.

Fast, sleek, and bold.

This car couldn't be any more different from Chrissy. It doesn't fit her personality at all. Then again, it wasn't bought with those intentions. But still… Perhaps with this, she can become more like that. After all, the keys aren't the only thing that was handed over and this isn't just a vehicle. It allows her to have a big slice of independence she never had before.

No more asking for rides or being an inconvenience to others. There won't be anything stopping her from leaving a place when she feels like it. Or going to one. The sky's now the limit. Once they fill out the paperwork, she'll have more freedom now. Like an adult is supposed to.

'I want to show Eddie.'

A fresh wave of excitement floods over her at the thought. This will really shock the pants off of him. Maybe after this is all done, she'll make the meal that was promised and head over. He's into cars, too… She has no clue about upkeep for them or what to look for. Her dad's no better, so asking him won't be any good. He'll just say that's what professionals are for like he does with everything else.

'That's what I'll do… I can't wait!'

"Christ!" Crawling from beneath the van, Eddie throws his socket wrench at the gravel. What a pain in the ass. It's always something. Good thing he wore junk clothes for this. "Why do you always gotta give me problems, old man?"

"That's no way to talk about your uncle." Wayne chuckles, taking a final drag while lounging on the couch out front of their trailer. Getting a kick out of the mess that's being made. A pack of Marlboro Reds is stuffed back into his breast pocket as he pushes himself up, stamping out the butt in an ashtray. "Ya might want to get that all cleaned up before your lady friend gets here."

"I know, I know. I'm almost done."

The rickety front door slams shut behind his uncle when he heads in to return to his beloved recliner and watch some more TV. With him gone, dark eyes trail back to the actual 'old man' in question, narrowing in on it. His '71 Chevy van. The grumpy bastard that gets him from place to place.

'This is mostly my fault. Sorry, dude. Hang in there.'

No wonder it retaliates so often. He's put gramps through hell and back from the moment his ass hopped into the driver's seat. Trying to make up for it by doing a little aftercare helps, but only goes so far.

Dragging the drain pan out from underneath, the oil is emptied into an old gallon container with a funnel and pushed off to the side. Now that the filter's replaced, all he needs to do is add the new oil, and make sure everything's good to go. Taking the filter out is always a pain and no matter how carefully it's done, he never fails to get shit on himself. It's only with the van. Any other is a piece of cake.

'It's been longer than an hour. This chick... Can't believe she hung up on me like that. I'm gonna pinch those cheeks whenever Her Majesty finally blesses me with her presence. No acting like an idiot, either. Last night was bad enough.'

The corner of his mouth quirks up as he finishes pouring oil into the engine. Whatever. That was then. Today's a new day to act a fool. After spending most of the morning goofing off with Henderson, there was nothing else really planned except going to The Hideout later on. Gotta fulfill the promise to Donna for being a major asshole on Tuesday…

Saturday is the bar's busiest—and rowdiest—night, and they can use an extra pair of hands. Whether it's making drinks, handing crap out, helping with the equipment, cleaning, or wrangling in the drunks. The Alkie bat alone isn't always enough to keep folks in line.

Eddie figured the spare time could go to stuff he's been putting off. Like working on the van. To his surprise, Chrissy called out of nowhere. It was hard to hear anything. She was talking too fast, so it sounded like a scrambled mess. All he really got out of it before being abruptly hung up on was that the little cheerleader wanted to know if he'd still be home in an hour or ate anything yet. Doesn't take a genius to figure out what that means.

'So she's bringing over some grub… Can't wait.'

All he's had so far was a PB&J sandwich and a bunch of chips. That was this morning. It's not clear how she's getting that little behind over here, but it better be soon because his tools are starting to look tasty.

"Alrighty, gramps. That'll do it." After doing a quick check for leaks and putting the dipstick back in, he gets to work wiping smudges and excess crap away with a rag. What a mess. He probably reeks of oil. Maybe Chrissy's into that? Who knows? Wouldn't put it past her. She has some weird tastes to be into a sleazeball like him.

The Hellfire leader's ears perk up hearing tires rolling over gravel. A noise that's getting closer. Hopefully, it's the princess and her food. Walking around the front, something red instantly catches his attention. The dirty rag in his gloved hand drops to the ground.

'What the fuck is that?!'

A shiny red Corvette pulls up alongside the van and his jaw goes slack seeing Chrissy in the driver's seat. He stares unblinkingly, totally thrown off by the unexpected sight. So that's why she didn't ask for a ride…

"Eddie!" The cheer captain quickly hops out excitedly. "Look what my dad got me for my birthday." He drags his gaze from the luxury sports car to its owner, finding himself surprised once again. This time, it's by her clothing. She has on some kind of white shirt beneath a bright blue zip-up hoodie. Nothing too wild. It's when his eyes travel lower that the trouble begins. Skin-tight black leggings. He doesn't remember her ever wearing anything like that before.

"Holy shit…" It's all Eddie can manage to get out. His eyes drift from the woman coming closer over to the car again, gawking at both. Then focus on what really matters. Chrissy. Her strawberry blonde ponytail sways back and forth as she practically skips to him, smiling so brightly he almost has to look away.

"I know! I'm still having a hard time believing it myself. You know what this means, right? I can go anywhere I want now." She says victoriously, jangling the keys in her hand. He can't resist grinning at that while slipping off the filthy gloves.

'Good. Mr. C finally did something to make her happy.'

"Damn straight. That's a friggin' sweet ride. What year is it?" He walks around to get a better view of the Corvette, with her staying close by. It's obviously a newer model. Must've cost a pretty penny. Inspecting the exterior, there isn't a single scratch or dent on the glossy red surface. Looks straight out of a showroom.

"The salesman said '85. To be honest, I really don't know much about cars… Like, at all. Just how to drive one and put gas in it." She admits bashfully, shrugging her shoulders.

"Well, that's a lot more than some people." Leaning over, he glances through the window to take a peek inside. Nice. A red and black interior. His favorite colors. There's also a couple bags with containers on the passenger's side floor. Must be the food. "You want me to show you some basic crap? Like checking the oil and tire pressure?"

"If you don't mind. That would be a big help. Also, I was…" It trails off, and she's blushing. That really gets his attention. "I was thinking that after you're done, maybe we could go for a ride?"

"Hell yeah. I don't gotta be at the bar until later tonight." As if he's gonna turn that down. No way. Getting to ride around in a car he'd normally never get to touch while hanging out with her? Sign him the fuck up. "First, I need some food in my belly. I'm starving to death thanks to your orders."

"Oh, come on. It hasn't been that long." Chrissy laughs and walks over to the passenger side to grab the bags. That sound has quickly become a top favorite. Sweet, cheerful, and airy. Given away freely now, and no longer restrained for whatever lame reason like before. "I might've gone a little overboard. There's probably enough here for another meal or two."

"Go overboard all you want. I won't complain. You need help with that?" It's the least he can do since she spent time and money making them dinner. Smells bangin', too. If this is anything like her breakfasts, he's in for an enormous foodgasm.

"No, I got it… Aww! A few of the containers fell over. Oh, okay. We're good. Nothing too important. I guess that's what I get for driving a little fast." She bends over to gather everything up and he quickly tries to focus on whatever else is nearby, not wanting to feel like a creep.

Unfortunately, his eyes are traitorous little bastards. The Hellfire leader silently curses them and himself as they keep trailing back to the obvious. Chrissy's perky ass. Those leggings are almost as bad as the scrap of spandex the cheer team tries to pass off for shorts. The tight fabric clings to her body in all the best ways, showcasing every soft curve in all its glory.

'You goddamn dog.'

Looking up towards the sky, his nostrils flare out as he takes a deep breath. Doing everything to resist the overwhelming urge to just smack her ass. Jesus Christ… The fingers at his sides are squirming like crazy, just itching to take a crack at it. Especially when she's swaying back and forth while humming some song.

'Nope. Nope! Not doing it… I don't even know what she's into yet.'

Eddie turns and crosses his arms to avoid temptation. After hearing the argument between her and Carver, he knows to tread extra carefully now. Bringing it up feels off. More so since no one was supposed to be listening to any of that. It's better to just let the princess take charge and set the pace. That's cool. Might increase the chances of him acting like a total nimrod, though.

"Okay. Ready." The cheerleader uses her hip to shut the car door and heads for the steps, carrying a platter beneath the bags that were in there. That was missed at first glance through the window… And she jerks away when he tries to take something off the top to help, refusing to accept any assistance. "I made it. I'm carrying it."

"Fine, fine. Have it your way." He chuckles, stepping back to hold the front door open for Chrissy. It makes him feel shitty to do basically nothing, but undermining her is even worse. Everyone does enough of that as it is and he's already been on thin ice a few times now. No reason to push it.

As soon as they go in, his uncle is on his feet, ready to put on the 'Munson charm'. Whatever the hell that is. "Well, I'll be… Hey, Chrissy. It's been a while. Oh, here. Let me get that for you." Before she can say anything, the pile is snatched right out of her arms and taken over to the counter. The crap already on it is pushed off to the side with the platter to make room. "Eddie, how are ya gonna watch a lady carry all this and not help?"

'I tried, dammit!'

"Sorry, Mr. Munson. That's my fault. He kept insisting and I wouldn't let him. I guess I was being a bit stubborn… He's always helping me, so I just wanted to do something for him in return." She clasps her hands together and shoots them a sweet smile, melting both men on the spot.

'The Munson charm is nothing when in the presence of an all-powerful being. He's a goner. We never stood a chance.'

"Oh, well... That's a relief. Also very kind of you. It smells real good. My nephew tells me your cookin's the best... Is that fried chicken?"

"It's alright, I guess. I'm not a pro or anything. And, yep! Here. There's also some mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and peanut butter cookies. I wasn't sure what you two like, so hopefully this is okay?"

"Are you kiddin'? Course it is. Hold on a sec. Let me get the good plates out."

Eddie sighs and rolls his head along his shoulders while they continue to carry on in the kitchen. It's almost like he isn't here anymore. Wayne's getting busy talking Chrissy's ear off and she's far too polite to not go along with it. Still… Glancing over at them from across the counter, it seems like they're already getting along pretty well.

Damn. His chest feels warm and heavy. Part of him wants to say it's just heartburn, but that's a load of shit. He already knows what it is.

"—my boy's a real gentleman. Don't listen to what people say. Sure, he looks a little scary. Uses some colorful language, too. That means nothin'. He's a great fella… Gets his good looks and charm from me, if ya couldn't tell. Smart as a whip to boot. Have you heard him play guitar? After we're done, get him to play ya somethin'. There's three of them in that room back there—"

Pretending not to hear any of this, he pinches the bridge of his nose and tries to put out the fire working its way up. What's his uncle up to now? Hoping to make him sound good, so maybe they'll get together or some shit? Yeah, right. That's not gonna happen. Chrissy just dumped Golden Boy a few days ago and she'd have to be off her rocker to want a guy like him for anything legit.

'Hmm… Chrissy Munson… Eddie Cunningham… Edward Cunningham I. Heh! That sounds fancy. Bet it'd really piss off Mr. C. The whole town might riot over that one. Still… I kinda like Chrissy Munson.'

"Crap!" Both hands grab onto the edge of the counter when his knees suddenly give out. Another part of his body that's being extra rebellious today. Both people on the other side look at him puzzled, raising their brows. "My bad. I've been starving so long I can't stand anymore."

"Here." The captain runs over and holds a cookie out to him. "Maybe your blood sugar is low?" Seeing that concerned look on her face hits Eddie right where it hurts the most. She's genuinely worried about him and all he's doing is acting like a dumbass once again.

'...Fuck…'

'Well, I guess they liked it… That's good.'

For the last half hour, neither man has barely moved a muscle. The most Wayne has done is slide his hand over to the remote on the arm of the recliner to change the channel. Eddie is worse off. Laying back against the couch with a red bandana pulled over his eyes and mouth slightly open. The only thing giving away that he's not asleep is the little groans that slip out every so often, along with 'Christ' or another one of his favorite words.

"Are… Are you okay?" Maybe that was too much for him. She's never seen someone eat like that. It was terrible. Worse than when they went to the diner. He practically inhaled everything. The plate on the end table has a mountain of bones that were stripped clean of any meat. At one point, she was sure he'd start gnawing at them if his uncle didn't say something.

"Don't worry 'bout him. He's just in a food coma. It'll be over soon." Wayne laughs, sitting up in the chair. "That really hit the spot. Where'd ya learn to cook like that?"

Chrissy smiles at the praise. It's nice to have people actually appreciate the effort she puts into cooking for once. They both kept complimenting her while devouring the meal as well. "Thank you. I used to watch my mom, so I try to copy her. We also have a bunch of cookbooks at home."

"Ain't that somethin'... If ya wanna become my daughter, I'll be more than happy to sign adoption papers. Always wanted one. Just never worked out."

"Absolutely not." Eddie shoots up on the cushion and yanks the bandana back in place. Giving his uncle a pointed look. "Don't go trying to make things weird between us. We live in Indiana, not Alabama."

'That brought him back to life.'

"Okay, okay. Was just throwin' that out there." The older man grunts as he reaches over the side of the chair to grab his boots. "Well, would ya look at the time… 'Spose to meet some fellas at the pub to watch the game." Standing up, he grabs his keys off the end table and throws on a coat. "You two try to behave yourselves. Oh, and thanks again for the meal, Chrissy. Don't be a stranger now. Ya hear?"

"Of course!" She flashes Wayne a bright smile when he throws them one last look before closing the door. That was sudden… Really sudden. And it only took him maybe two minutes to get ready and leave after being immobile for a while.

Now that they're alone, her gaze slowly shifts toward the man sitting only inches away. Eddie's staring down at his rings, twisting the lone one on his right hand around. Being unusually quiet. Perhaps eating so much made him lethargic.

Looking around this place dredges up some memories from the first time she was here. That was a little over a month ago. When they met up after the game for her to do Special K. It didn't end up happening, but other things did. In this very room.

'Don't think about it.'

"Hey, do you still want to go on that ride?"

"Like I'd pass that up." He cranes his head back and gives her a look as if even asking was silly. "Let me take a shower real quick. Still got some crap on me from the van. I'd rather not get it all over your fancy-ass new car. You can chill in my room if you want. It's better than sitting out here."

"Okay. Sounds good." Chrissy gets up to follow him. It's understandable why carrying groceries through her home seemed like such a nuisance. This guy's used to everything being easily accessible. Kitchen, bathroom, closet, bedroom. They're all down a small hall.

When they pass the doorway, her eyes immediately dart everywhere. It's an overload. Unlike last time, her nerves aren't going haywire, so it's easier to take in the surroundings and let them actually sink in. So many things were missed before. For instance, she didn't realize this is a one-bedroom trailer… Or notice the folding bed in the corner of their living room.

'Wayne sleeps out there so his nephew can have a bedroom…'

"You can, uh… just make yourself at home." Eddie crouches down in front of a laundry basket in the corner and starts tearing through the clothes. He holds a shirt up only to toss it on the floor, then does the same with the next one. While sifting through them, he throws her a side glance here and there. "I'll be quick."

"Take your time. There's no rush." Neither has anywhere to go until much later tonight, anyway. Charlotte asked her and Natalie to come over a little earlier than everyone else so they can hangout for a bit, but that's hours from now.

'Wow.'

Their bedrooms are complete opposites of each other. Yet both are so fitting. Hers is in all light colors with limited clutter. Soft, clean, and organized. This guy's? Well, it's kind of a mess. Beer cans in random spots, ashtrays full of butts, clothes on the floor... The entire space smells like cigarettes and that spicy scent she likes.

Taking a few more steps inside, she looks down at the bedside table off to the right and sucks in a sharp breath. Another ashtray, pair of sunglasses, bullets, and a small unopened box of condoms. All with a thin layer of dust on them. Or ash. There's really no telling with him. On the floor is a bunch of music and car magazines, including one with art on the cover of a strange-looking man next to a woman in only a thong.

The cheerleader quickly steers away from that, trying not to let her mind wander too far. Yep. There's a lot she overlooked during the first visit. Then again, who would've known they'd end up like this? It was supposed to be a one-time thing. Buy a tiny amount of drugs off him, get some sleep, and more than likely, not talk to each other again. Life wasn't a big fan of those plans, apparently.

The walls are littered with posters, flyers, and pictures. A large, homemade banner for his band hangs near the window. Light from outside filters through the old blinds, giving the room a warm glow with the lamps off. Straight ahead is a long white desk with drawers. Across the top are all kinds of random items. Music equipment, guitar, tapes, bottles of cleaner, more magazines, cords, a …pepper shaker? And a loaf of bread just sitting on the floor?

'Oh my God!'

Blue eyes widen when they land on a pair of handcuffs hanging next to the closet. Why is that there? Is he into something weird? She stares at them, barely registering him moving around behind her. Too focused on the unusual objects in the room to really notice. All of it together makes one point very clear. There's still a lot she doesn't know about this guy.

"What's wrong?" The voice suddenly cutting through the silence startles her. Whirling around, Eddie's standing barely a foot away with a change of clothes slung over his shoulder. Leaning over to see what she was checking out, his lips curl up into an amused smirk. "So that's what it is… Don't worry. They're not gonna jump off the hook and bite you."

'Did I look afraid?'

"...I wasn't worried." Chrissy mumbles, shifting her focus to a beer can on the dresser. "It just surprised me to see them out in the open like that." Maybe that should be expected. He said himself that he's a shameless guy, and this is his room.

His brows shoot up as if something just dawned on him. Now he appears even more entertained than before. "You know, those aren't just for kinky stuff. They're good for other shit, too. Like I used the chain to fix the sleeve on my jacket and the cuffs make for a sick belt buckle." The bottom of his shirt is lifted to show what he's talking about. It's just as he said. A pair is being used in place of a regular buckle.

"Oh." She sucks in her lips and turns away, wanting nothing more than to crawl into a hole at the furthest side of the trailer park. Still, wouldn't most people assume those are for something naughty rather than a fashion statement? Or is it just her? "The more you know…"

"You're so damn cute." He says warmly and ruffles her bangs teasingly.

'...Cute…'

It's meant to be taken as a compliment. A little more of his flirting. Any other day, it'd send the captain soaring with joy. Not this time. That takes the wind right out of her sails. She groans, slightly deflating, and wobbles over to fall face-first onto the mattress.

"Chrissy?!"

"I'm… I'm fine." Her voice is muffled by his tan blanket. There's no attempt to hide the obvious sulking. Crawling the rest of the way onto the bed, she spreads out and buries her face back in the covers. "Just let me lay here while you take your shower."

"...Okay, I guess? This won't take long, so don't disappear on me in the meantime." After a moment, he finally trudges across the carpet to leave. Now there's some time to get it together.

"Darn it…" she whines, kicking her legs against the mattress. That was embarrassing. Including the reaction to his compliment. Well, there's the answer to that question. Eddie thinks she's 'cute'. That's not so bad, right? Women can be cute.

'Acting like this isn't helping my case… Things won't change overnight.'

This is stupid. It just hit a nerve after last night and this morning. But what can she really expect? Since they started hanging out, there have been countless times when she got flustered over the smallest things. Blushing at basically nothing and acting like a shy little church girl around him. Not the high school senior who's had her fair share of make-out sessions.

Sitting up on the side of the bed, Chrissy looks around at all the skulls, monsters, and band posters covering the walls. He's an older guy with lots of life experience that's so very different. A part of her finds that kind of intimidating. It's a disappointing realization after all they've been through by now. On top of that, she overthinks everything to the point where it's getting in the way.

Maybe it's time to let go of all the shame that's been drilled into her from the beginning. Finally start having fun—real fun—without stressing about how she looks and what everyone thinks. Or at least just be a normal high schooler. Making mistakes, enjoying life, getting a little messy... Isn't that what growing up is about? Adults already stole the chance of having a carefree childhood. They screwed up. Now it should be her turn to run the show.

"Not a fan of just going off people's word. I like to find out for myself. Would've missed out on a lot over the years if I did."

She did, and that really sucks. It was never good enough anyway, so who cares?

The cheerleader walks over to the handcuffs hanging on the wall again. Eyeing them curiously, she reaches up and pokes the cuff itself, watching as it taps against the chain and makes a clanging noise. Huh. Her finger runs along the cold metal, wondering how it feels to wear them. They look unforgiving and a little scary. Kind of like their owner before getting to know him.

'Does he really just use these to add flair to his clothing?

Letting go, she pads across the carpet to look at more stuff to keep busy. All of it just screams 'Eddie'. Some of it was surprising, but that's from her own immaturity. Of course a guy would have those kinds of things in their room. She arches a brow when glancing over at the bedside table by the door. The box of condoms is missing. They were right next to the ashtray.

"There you are." The corner of the light blue box is sticking out from beneath the table like it was haphazardly thrown there. Why does he do that? The same thing happened the first time they talked in the stairwell. He kicked his monster book away as if that would change anything. She already saw it.

What a silly guy.

Something else nearby quickly catches her attention. Next to a thick cord rolled up on the floor is a bunch of black pencils, books, and magazines scattered right under the side of the bed. Listening intently, the water is running in the next room. He's still showering. Biting her bottom lip, she glances back at the items on the carpet and debates whether it's wrong to take a little peek.

'He said to make myself at home… But they're partially hidden for a reason. Would he even care? Probably not.'

Grabbing the closest one, she sits on the edge of the mattress and looks down at it. The front is totally black. No words or anything. Maybe this is some kind of journal? Opening the cover, it becomes very apparent what this is. A sketchbook. She skims through the pages in astonishment.

Eddie's an even better artist than originally thought. Each one is filled with various images. Some are funny little doodles with crude jokes and curses. The others? Well, he's definitely inspired by the fantasy genre. Monsters, knights, blood and guts, skeletons, strange creatures, swords, magic… Along with a few recurring characters, possibly from a series or his own creation.

Chrissy pauses on a certain part that really pops out. A scene that plays out across two pages. The previous ones weren't so big. Her eyes gloss over the drawing, taking in all the little details. The forest… Moon… Bats in the sky… The small fairies flying around… But it's the woman in the picture that caused her to stop in the first place.

'Is… Is that supposed to be me?'

That seems ridiculous. The lady dancing beneath the moonlight is much more elegant-looking than she could ever hope to be. It almost feels arrogant to make the connection… But the longer she gazes at the image, the more similarities between them are found. Her hairstyle, facial features, and body frame are alike. In the upper left corner, he wrote 'Chrisstania, Queen of the Faeries'.

Nonsense. She quickly turns the page and continues. It doesn't take long to find another drawing with the same person. The woman is leaning on a balcony, gazing at something in the distance with a sad expression. Everything outside is colored pitch black, so there's no telling what it might be. That's not the problem, though… A gasp rips through the quiet bedroom when her eyes land on the clothing.

"Oh, God!" There's no denying it now. The character's wearing a baby doll nightgown that has a very particular flower pattern in the fabric. Just like the one Charlotte gave her as a birthday present. Out of all the pieces, it stuck out to her the most because of the design. What are the chances he saw the same lingerie from a high-end boutique in Indianapolis?

'I don't remember him going through that bag! It would've killed me.'

Flipping through the rest makes her face become alarmingly red as a few more like that show up among the sea of dragons, devils, and fight scenes. Some are not finished, or just rough outlines, but the nature of them is enough to get her to slam the book shut. It drops to the floor as she stares at the wall, not knowing what to make of this.

Now the saying 'curiosity killed the cat' makes more sense. This is punishment for being nosey. These drawings were probably never meant to be seen by anyone. This feels wrong for a multitude of reasons. A hand presses against her chest as she takes a deep breath, trying to calm down.

'...Is that how he sees me?'

The beautiful woman in the drawings is so far removed from how she imagines herself. Just thinking about it is strange. Perhaps that shows how good of an artist he is…

Eddie said in the van that he can't unhear the awful things Jason said. Like that, there's no unseeing these sketches. What's done is done. It's figuring out the right way to react that's an issue. Is it better to be flattered or mortified? At the moment, both are washing over her in gigantic waves.

Clearly 'cute' isn't the only thing on his mind. Yanking down on the jacket sleeve, she uses it to fan herself off. That was a lot. There's no way that's ever getting brought up to him. It'll go to the grave with her. If for some ungodly reason he ever mentions it, she'll just act really surprised.

Getting up, Chrissy paces back and forth across the carpet, wringing her hands together nervously. Isn't that sort of what she wanted? For him to see her as a woman and not like some ditzy, innocent teenage girl? Wish granted, just not in a way that was expected.

Are there more like this? Or is this the only one? Crouching down to put the book back, she tsks from seeing how much stuff is crammed under his bed. Tons of magazines, books, art supplies, more clothes, rolled-up posters, and other things that are hard to make out.

'What a hoarder!'

Just imagining trying to organize his things is enough to bring on a headache. Nope. Not in a million years. It'd be easier to burn down the trailer and start from scratch. Placing the book in its original spot, her eyes land on a magazine right next to it. Similar to the one on the floor and others, there's a barely dressed woman on the cover with a man that doesn't look entirely human.

Not learning a lesson from the last time, the cheerleader snatches it up and flops down on the bed. These odd magazines are something he's obviously interested in. And to be honest, she's curious about what the Hellfire leader is 'into'. A frown passes over her lips at the noticeable pattern. Most of the female characters on these have a few things in common. Large breasts, thin waists, wide hips, big butts, long legs, and flowing hair.

Scouring the pages is both startling and demoralizing. Enough to knock the sketchbook out of the forefront of her mind. It seems this is some ongoing adult series that releases in parts along with articles and whatnot. There are small sections that go on about music-related stuff and upcoming events. But it's filled with art of topless women or ones in sexy outfits, humanoid creatures, and men with weapons. All in provocative poses or situations.

'What is this, D&D porn?'

The main attraction doesn't begin until a third of the way through. It starts where it presumably left off, with a sidebar recapping the previous chapter. A scientist, Melissa, has been studying an alien lifeform that was brought to an isolated government lab in the mountains. Turns out the alien can shapeshift and is more intelligent than expected. And… things happen.

Chrissy rolls over onto her stomach and spreads the magazine out on the blanket, gawking in disbelief. She's never seen anything like this. It's way different from the Penthouse subscription they found in Charlotte's older brother's bedroom a while ago. There's an actual story being told and someone must've worked really hard to put so much detail into all these panels.

"...Wow." This is really weird. The scene shows Melissa flirting and taunting the alien floating in a large tank. Tork is an oddly muscular, almost human-looking creature with creepy appendages. But it's when his tentacles slither out over the side of the tank to tear off her blouse and glasses that she truly understands what this is.

'Oh! Oh my God… Eddie's a real pervert!'

Part of her wants to throw this on the floor and high-tail it out of there. Just hop into the Corvette and take off, never to return again. Maybe even rip the phone off the hook after getting home so no one can get through. And yet, the other side can't look away from the black-and-white images dancing across her vision. It's a shock to the system.

'...I don't think that's supposed to go there.'

"Ahem." The captain freezes when someone clears their throat across the room. Crap. She got too engrossed in the story and forgot to keep an ear out for when the shower turned off. Now it's too late. There's no good explanation for this.

Slowly turning to look at him, her eyes shoot open in surprise. Eddie's standing by the door with everything except a top on. "Took a little longer than expected and I, uh… forgot to grab a shirt." He mutters sheepishly, shrugging his shoulders. "Figured I might as well fulfill your wish to see the rest of my tats."

"O–Oh, right. Yeah. Your tats." It doesn't seem like he noticed yet. Sitting up on the covers, she's not sure how to react. The voice inside is screaming to get it together and stop being a big baby. He might be a secret perv with a collection of nerd porn beneath his bed—along with a bunch of drawings of her—but that's not a deal breaker.

'It could be a lot worse. He made me look really pretty too… And those magazines are just artwork, not Playboys. We're not even dating or anything. I have no room to judge him.'

Swallowing hard, Chrissy crawls to the edge of the mattress and gets up, sluggishly making her way to him. This is all so strange. No wonder Charlotte and the others called her a prude before. It's true, but maybe that can also change.

"How many do you have?" It unintentionally comes out as a whisper as she finally looks at him, trying to keep a neutral expression. That same control doesn't extend to her eyes. They apparently didn't get their fill from earlier and dart around shamelessly, trying to consume everything in sight. From the ripped jeans to the dark happy trail below his belly button and the smooth skin of his abdomen.

'Those bruises look worse. They usually do before fading away. He said they don't hurt, but they look painful.'

"Five… And none of them are down there. Yet." He chuckles, twisting a damp lock around his fingers. The rings are back on now. It's barely been two days. Hopefully the swelling is gone and he didn't force them on.

"Sorry, I—" What is there to say to that? Besides, it's a lie. She's not sorry. If those sketches are anything to go by, he enjoys looking at her too. Probably a lot. The pep talk she gave herself yesterday gets put on replay. Along with a small prayer to Brigitte for the courage and foresight needed to maneuver through this. "I can't help it. You're hot."

Eddie's brows shoot up beneath his bangs as he tilts his head forward. That surprised him. No, more than that. He's completely bewildered, and so is she. It just came out. They both gawk at each other, neither able to say another word. His tongue swipes along his bottom lip before an attempt is made, only for that to falter.

'That isn't what I asked for, Brigitte!'

A ringed finger is held up to signal he needs a moment. The Hellfire leader spins around and marches out of the room, leaving her staring at the empty doorway. That was definitely too much. The guy just wanted to show off his tattoos… probably. She could've been more smooth about it.

"Okay!" He finally comes back in after a few minutes and smacks his hands together, grinning. "Now, where were we? Oh, right…" Getting back in the same position, he leans down so they're at eye-level with each other. "What?! Wanna run that by me one more time? You get into my stash or somethin'?"

Chrissy stares at him blankly. It's like he's offended to be called that. What a weird man. "No! I said what I said. I can't help staring because I think you're hot. Now let me see your tattoos." She huffs and crosses her arms, feeling emboldened from noticing how red his neck and chest are.

A hand loudly slaps against his sternum and he staggers backward, almost running into the bedside table. "Has the princess gone mad? I'm afraid so. She's entirely bonkers—"

"Eddie!"

"Alright, alright. I'll knock it off. So demanding." Eddie says playfully, whisking himself back in front of her. "You know, I think I dig it when you're being bossy. That's pretty sexy. Don't get me wrong, I'm into Bashful Chrissy too." He smiles and bites the corner of his lip from seeing how flushed she's getting. "Ah, there she is."

'...Pretty sexy…'

"Bashful Chrissy? You categorize me?" This guy's trying to turn it around on her because he's the one that got flustered. And it's working. For now, anyway. So being more assertive is attractive to him?

"Sorta. There's Bashful Chrissy and Brazen Chrissy. I never really know which one's gonna jump out at me."

"Do you have a preference?" Her gaze shifts from that shit-eating grin down to the chain around his neck with the black and red guitar pick hanging from it. She never really got a good look at it before. It's usually hidden beneath a shirt.

"Nope. I, uh…" He trails off as the cheerleader comes closer, erasing any space between them. Reaching out, her fingers gently take the pick and pull it forward, turning it side to side to inspect it. Pretending to ignore the sharp intake from above. She inwardly celebrates when a shiver runs through him, causing goosebumps to spread across his skin. "I… like them both. Equally. A lot."

The focus switches from the pick to the guy staring down at her. Listening to what's being said. This time, it's not going in one ear and out the other. Gazing up into those dark eyes, Chrissy tries to steady her breathing as the fluttering inside reaches a new height. She doesn't remember anyone looking at her like that before. Not the way he is now. It's almost enough to lose any bit of nerve left.

"Yeah, so my tats." The subject is quickly changed without waiting for a response. Just moving right into the next thing. Turning to the side, a long finger points to the ones on his right arm. "I'm sure you've already seen the bats and demon puppet plenty of times already."

"Mhm." It's hard to suddenly jump into this. That completely threw her off. How can he put that out there, then act like nothing happened? "What's that? Some kind of dragon?"

"Kinda. It's a wyvern. They're from folklore but also in a lot of fantasy series and D&D. I also got another demon and a black widow." The damp hair hanging down is pushed aside to reveal the last two on the left side of his chest.

She involuntarily recoils at the sight. Her eyes narrow in on the tattoo, unable to look away. A spider with long spindly legs and a thick body. Not quite the same as the ones that haunt her throughout the night, yet enough to draw out an adverse reaction.

"What? The demon creeping you out?" Eddie fidgets then crosses his arms over his chest to block her view of the ink. He glances towards the corner of the room where the clothes basket sits.

"I didn't mean to act like that. I… I'm terrified of spiders. It's super silly." She offers meekly with a half-hearted laugh. Guilt fills her from seeing how discouraged he is now. It wasn't intentional. Spiders are the problem, not his body. But that tattoo is part of his body. "Sorry, that just startled me."

'Stupid nightmares! This wasn't so bad before. I have to find a way to get over them, so this doesn't bother me. That's not a real spider.'

"It's cool. I get it. Just seems like my luck." He sighs and goes to grab a shirt when a small hand latches onto his wrist. That stops him. Watching the cheerleader curiously, he jolts when her other hand lightly swats at the tattoo. "Woah, woah! You can't kill it, sweetheart. It's just a tat."

"I know. I'm just trying to get used to it." Staring hard at the image, a finger reaches out to hesitantly poke at the spider while reminding herself that it's just a drawing. Basically. That makes things a little easier. If they're going to continue whatever this is, then being afraid of something on him just won't do.

"You don't have to push yourself. I can put a shirt on. No biggie."

"That's just a temporary fix." The poking moves to touching. She slowly exhales and traces the outline of the tattoo with the tips of her fingers, repeating the mantra that this is only ink. He shouldn't have to hide a part of himself to avoid freaking her out.

"So, do you still think I'm hot? Even with this?" The Hellfire leader snorts, turning his head away. That must've been a blow to his self-esteem. Who could blame him? If the roles were reversed, she'd never want to come out shirtless again. Regardless of the reasoning behind it, that has to be an awful feeling.

"Yes," Chrissy says earnestly. Getting over her fears won't be a simple task, but it's worth putting the time and effort in to try. For both of them. "Like you said, it's just a tat. That won't change anything." Scrounging up any remnants of boldness lying around, she leans up to press her lips against the spider just below his collarbone. Giving it a little peck. All while keeping her eyes squeezed shut to avoid looking at the creepy arachnid. That should be good enough for now.

'His skin is so warm…'

"That's great to hear." A wide grin spreads across Eddie's heated face. He slings an arm around her shoulders and pulls the cheer captain closer, planting his own kiss on her forehead. "Glad you two are all chummy now, but there's some bad news. I still gotta put a shirt on. Not too big on giving the drunks of Forest Hills a free show."

"O–Okay." Right. They're supposed to take the Corvette for a ride. That almost slipped her mind. At least that brightened up the mood. He's smirking and whistling a tune while searching for a top to sadly cover himself before they head out.

'He kissed me.'

A small, tender move that turned Chrissy's insides into mush. Also saying he likes both sides of her. A lot. So does she. Maybe more than imagined. Enough to want to dig a tunnel under the walls she built up over the years just to crawl out of the fortress. He makes her feel good. Heard. Seen. And the drawings under his bed made it clear this wasn't just a simple crush.

'Oh, crap! I forgot about the dirty magazine on the bed! There are only a few pages left. I want to find out if the guards end up catching Melissa and Tork.'

Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she looks at his naked back still hunched over the clothes basket. Would he be upset to find out the stash of weird porn was found? Or just laugh it off? That's hard to tell. He's shameless in some ways and kind of shy in others. Regardless, there might not be another chance to finish the chapter after this. Climbing onto the bed in the same position as earlier, she goes to do just that.

"What's that you got there?" It didn't even take three panels for him to speak up. Eddie's putting on a band shirt while tilting his head to get a peek over her shoulder. He's not close enough for that and she's blocking the view.

"Oh, your… um… monster porn."

"Mm." He tugs the top down and grabs the black bandana off the floor to wrap around his head before freezing. "Wait… What did you say?" The confusion and slight panic mixed in there makes her second guess if this was a good idea at all.

She sits up on the bed and clutches the magazine to her chest when he comes around the side, staring wildly to confirm if the apparent nightmare scenario is now a reality. "I was bored and saw this poking out, so I started reading it." The color drains from his face as he takes a step back, letting the bandana fall to the carpet.

"Holy shit…" The Hellfire leader breathes out, grabbing onto his messy hair. "And you… then did you… it was… that's not—" This man is malfunctioning. Just bits and pieces of nonsense falling out into space, along with his mind. It takes a moment for him to regain any sense of composure. "That's not 'monster porn'! It's called dark fantasy erotica."

Is he upset about her diving into his collection or calling it something else? What's the difference, anyway? Seems like he's trying to make it sound less depraved than it actually is. "You mean nerd porn." She sucks in her lips to hide the little grin forming on them.

A hand clutches the front of his shirt in shock like she just shot him through the heart. "Tch! You have no respect for the fine arts. Hand it over."

"But, Eddie. There are only a few pages left. I need to know what happens… Can't you just let me finish it really fast?" The cheerleader puts on her best puppy-dog face while holding the magazine against her tightly. He can't say no to this. There hasn't been a time so far that he's turned down any request she made.

Eddie stares at her for what seems like an eternity. Eyes glossing over her face as he mulls things over. The embarrassment from a moment ago drifts away, steadily being replaced with acceptance now that this is out in the open. There's no taking it back or pretending this isn't his. "No friggin' way." An open hand holds itself out toward her, fully expecting the item to be returned.

'What?! He's never told me no before!'

Shocked and in utter disbelief, she shifts back against the mattress when he steps closer. Not fair. He likely went through her lingerie when no one was around, but that can't be brought up without revealing she knows about his sketchbook. "C'mon, princess…"

The edge of the bed sinks down as he kneels on it. Slowly inching his way toward her. That's not the most worrisome part. It's the glint in those dark eyes and the playful smirk he's attempting to hold back. This guy's up to something. And his poker face is not up to par for once.

Chrissy springs off the bed and takes off, still clutching onto the magazine. Running right out of the bedroom and down the hall. "Hey!" He's coming. There's a loud noise from something getting knocked over by him and crashing onto the kitchen floor. Neither care. The only place left in the trailer is the living room, and that's a dead end.

'No choice…'

She bursts through the front door and down the steps, grinning ear to ear. Throwing back a quick glance, the cheer captain's eyes widen when he leaps down the entire set of steps and charges toward her. "Chrissy! Get that little ass back here!"

"No!" Fleeing as if her life depends on it, she circles the Corvette and van with him hot on her trail. Holding onto his 'dark fantasy erotica' like it's a treasure that needs to be protected at all costs. Going past the van a second time, she almost slips on gravel but quickly regains her footing and rushes past the trash cans to go around the trailer.

This is a test of endurance. Eddie might have longer legs and some other pros on his side, yet the cons should outweigh them. The guy's a heavy smoker and doesn't do a lot of physical activities. She's short, but doing cheerleading year-round means three practices a week with plenty of exercise. It's moments like these that all those times Ms. Tina made them run the track and go to the weight room really pay off.

"You better pray I don't catch you!" Despite all that, he's actually keeping up… Chrissy can hear the thin chain on his pants rattling against itself with each step. It's impressive, though not enough to catch her.

"As if!" she giggles and looks back with a big smile. Uh-oh. That seemed to give him an extra push. So much so that the tips of his fingers brush against her hoodie. Just a little more and what he said might come true.

'I can't let him beat me…'

Taking a sharp turn, the captain dashes out front again, trying to put distance between them. Maybe even shake him off. That's useless. This guy's so stubborn, he'd probably blow out a lung before giving up.

"You're gonna get it, I swear!"

Something bright blue and yellow catches her attention as they run past the picnic table near the road. A redheaded teenager standing outside of her trailer across the way. Watching them chase each other with a bizarre expression.

'I've seen her before. Outside of Ms. Kelly's. That girl probably thinks we're idiots.'

No. That doesn't matter. Right now, she's having fun. And despite the little 'threats', it's clear from Eddie's face that he's enjoying this too.

"Darn it…" Chrissy hisses to herself, trying to come up with a plan to lose him and finish the chapter. There's not enough time to unlock the Corvette without getting caught. He might know some creative trick to open the doors, anyway.

As luck would have it, he's slowing down from needing to catch his breath. This is her chance. Sprinting across the gravel, she takes the steps two at a time and heads back into the trailer. Locking the front door behind her. That should buy a few minutes.

After hopping over the items scattered on the floor, a beeline is made for his room. The door's closed and she jumps on the bed, quickly opening the magazine to its last few pages. All while greedily sucking in as much air as possible. He wasn't the only one running out of steam.

'Will they get exposed? Melissa is going to be in big trouble if they're found out. The people in charge of the operation will probably separate them. That would stink.'

"Hah!" The door swings open and slams into the wall behind it. Standing there is Eddie, a glistening mess of a man. "You forgot there's a second door right out here. Too bad, sweetheart!"

"C–Crap!" Closing the magazine, she goes to bolt but is swiftly captured. It only took a few seconds. As soon as an attempt was made to lunge off the bed, a hefty weight landed on her legs, pinning the cheerleader down in an uncomfortable position. Her upper body dangling down the side of the mattress and the rest being sat on by a sweaty metalhead.

'Oh, no! This is so embarrassing!'

The Hellfire leader laughs triumphantly in between his heavy panting. "Gotcha. You sure are a slippery one… Give up the hostage now and I might be lenient with you."

"Never." Chrissy looks around for anything to hatch an escape plan with. There's only a nightstand on one side and his largest amp on the other, and she's smack dab in the middle of them. Both are just out of reach. The most she can do is try to shimmy out from under him.

"Don't bother. You're stuck and I, uh, wouldn't suggest doing that. It won't help anything." He's right. She might as well just be shaking her butt for him. Well, at least it's not in a skirt. "So Brazen Chrissy's come out to play, huh? Maybe I should say Ballsy Chrissy instead. Or perhaps Pervert Chrissy? Never expected you to go through these. What a shocker. And you almost made it to the end, too. Such a shame."

Ignoring his snicker and efforts to tease her into oblivion, she acknowledges that this is how things are going. Eddie's really getting a kick out of it. Just from the way he sounds, there's undoubtedly a huge smile on his face.

"...Are you listening to me?"

Well, since there's nothing to do down here, might as well finish the chapter. Even if she's hanging upside down and blood is rushing to her head. There's enough light coming in through the blinds to see the panels.

'Melissa is really gutsy. In the best-case scenario, she just loses her job. These military higher-ups usually jail or execute people who know too much that could be a threat to their plans in these stories.'

The pressure on her legs alters as he leans forward to see what she's doing after not hearing anything. "Christ, really?! Are you seriously reading that now? Right in front of me?"

Smack!

"Ah!" Chrissy's entire upper body lifts as she straightens out, becoming stiff as a board. Her eyes go wide and the magazine falls to the floor. Did he just…? That's hard to believe, but the hot sting from behind is very real. Nothing comes out when she attempts to say something, too startled to form a coherent sentence. And the culprit is no better. It's like a statue is resting on the back of her knees. Or a boulder.

"Fuck… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that… It was dumb as shit. I wasn't thinking—" Eddie keeps carrying on with the frantic apology and it's lost in translation.

Lowering herself back down, the cheerleader stares at the open pages on the carpet. Focusing on the dirty images while trying and failing to make sense of how she's feeling. Barely hearing his words. It sounds overly remorseful and panicked to her ears like she's about to storm off and never speak to him again if he doesn't repent properly.

"—even after all that. My bad. I'm a stupid asshole." There he goes calling himself names once more. Just like last night. It bothers her, even if she does something similar. Maybe he acted without thinking. Oh, well. That happens.

"Do it again."

"Huh?!"

Reaching down, the magazine's snatched off the carpet and back in her possession. "You said I better pray you don't catch me. Why? Because you were going to give me a chance to finish this? If that was the case, I should've given up from the start."

'This might be too brazen. Still, I need to know. This could help me figure out a few things about myself.'

"Oh. That's it." A moment goes by with both staying quiet. Just heavy breaths taking up the space their words should fill. He's thinking about it. She can feel his weight shift as he stares down at her from above. "...Are you sure?" Not entirely, but she nods anyway. "If that's what you really want, then… I'll do it. Let's get something straight first. You gotta speak up if it's too much or you need me to stop. Actually, it might be better to have a safeword… 'Kay. All you have to do is say 'red' and I'll stop right away. For any reason. Doesn't matter why. Agreed?"

Chrissy's not sure why he sounds so serious now. All she wanted was for him to slap her butt again to confirm a certain thought. Is it that big of a deal? If anything, that's making her worried. How hard is he planning on doing it if they need a 'safeword' or whatever? "Yeah… Just don't go crazy with it, okay? I'm a little nervous."

'Maybe this is another strange dream. I can't believe this is happening. None of it feels real anymore.'

"I won't. Promise."

A/N: Yikes. This took a lot longer than intended to finish. I had a really hard time with it and felt unsure about a lot of parts. But here we are. I ended up writing way too much again, so at least a quarter of the next chapter's already done. Anyway, thanks for reading and the reviews! You're all so lovely!

And Eddie ended up spanking Chrissy before even giving her a proper kiss. The guy just can't follow the normal course of how these things usually go. He's a hot mess lol. Also, I found out Indiana has BMVs instead of DMVs, so I went back and fixed that. I'm a pain over the little inconsequential details.