Rosie was staying in the guest bedroom. Which was really more of a closet with a bed shoved into it. When they got home, she made a pot of cocoa and, stretching, announced she would be going to bed early. She had driven all the way here, after all, but Dustin also thought she looked a little bit annoyed. For some reason it made him feel guilty, as he sipped at his mug. She had bought marshmallows just for him, and put some cookies on a plate in front of the sofa. He was sorry the guys had made her so uncomfortable, sorry that she was still so weirded-out by it. But he couldn't say anything in front of his mom. She already eyed Eddie with suspicion.
"Oh!" Rosie clapped. "I forgot, I have something for you, Dust."
"Rosie I told you no presents!" His mother yelled, still admiring the new watch on her wrist.
"Please, Claudia, you're putting up with me for a few weeks. The least I can do is offer some material compensation." Rosie had a box in her hands, clumsily wrapped in blue paper. "Here. For all the birthdays and Christmases I've missed."
Dustin prepared himself for a book. Maybe sort of action figure. When he tore through the wrapping, he couldn't help whooping in surprise. "Is this a-a-a - !"
"Yep."
"Really? Not just the box with a rock inside?"
"Nope."
"It's really...oh my gosh! Thank you!"
His mother leaned over to get a better look. She had no idea what power he held in his hands. "I hope that wasn't too expensive."
"It wasn't." Rosie lied.
"What is it, Dusty?"
Already fighting his way into the box, he shook it at his mom. "It's a Nintendo Game Watch!" It finally opened. He gasped again. "With Donkey Kong!"
"It's not the latest one." His aunt added, picking up the pamphlet as it hit the floor. "So I'm not sure if it has any other games."
"I don't need any other games." The darned batteries wouldn't fit. "I just need Donkey Kong!"
"I'm glad you like it." Rosie took their mugs and put them in the sink. Then yawned again. "We can figure out if there's two-player mode tomorrow. Good night, folks!"
"I can't thank you enough!"
"You guys will never guess what Rosie got me!" He declared, slamming his tray down. Lucas glared over as a few peas - probably from the same batch as Monday's, rolled over and into his lap.
"Who the hell is Rosie?" Max asked.
"Did Suzie-Poo break up with you?" Eleven added, looking for the other girl's approval. They sniggered.
"My aunt, remember? The one from Boston?"
"What'd she get you?" Mike led.
"A Game Watch!"
"No way!" Lucas grabbed his sleeve. "Which one?"
"Donkey Kong."
"That's great! That means we almost have a full set!"
"Will?" Mike gripped the other boy's shoulder. "Do you think you can convince your mom to get you the Zelda one for Christmas?"
"I don't know, Mike. I could ask?"
"I can ask Hop." El offered.
"Ooh you should!" Urged Max. "I've already convinced my mom."
"Do you have it?" Lucas leaned back to look in Dustin's pocket.
"No. Mom wouldn't let me take it out of the house. Don't worry, I'll smuggle it in my bag tomorrow."
"Rosie seems really cool." Remarked Mike, causing El to glare.
"Cool." Agreed Will. "She's kinda pretty too, right Mike?"
Even Mike was smart enough not to fall for that, and tried to fend El off with a grin.
Lucas had practice that afternoon, so they hung around the school until he was finished, then hung out some more. As the rain set in, Hopper arrived to pick Eleven up, and they took Max with them. The four boys mounted their bikes reluctantly and rode home through the drizzle. Dustin's mom was watching a casserole in the oven when he arrived.
"Where's Rosie?"
"Already out looking for a job!" Claudia gushed. "Gosh, but she's always been such a responsible girl. There's plenty of folks in this town wouldn't work if you paid 'em, hah!"
"So she won't be here for dinner?"
"No, but she said she wanted you to show her the game as soon as she's home. Also something about a Tin Man."
"Iron Man, Mom. I said I'd show her my Iron Man comics."
"Yes, of course."
Rosie arrived around 9o'clock, looking worn and hungry. She ate her dinner in Dustin's room as he flipped through some of his comics for her, but soon looked like she was about to fall asleep. He brought her plate to the kitchen as she brushed her teeth.
"Oh, Dust. It's going to rain again tomorrow." She said, popping her head out the door. "I'll drive you to school, okay?"
"Great! Thanks!" He paused. "But I'm going to DND again with the guys."
"Cool. Nine-thirty?"
"Huh? Yeah."
"I can pick you up. No problem."
"You're the best!"
"I know it!"
Will tutted loudly, leaning further back into the light and squinting at the screen. Mike pointed, yelling instructions, clearly meant to be helpful, but when his friend died again and shoved the game back into Dustin's hand, he quickly checked his enthusiasm.
"I'm sure you'll get it. Eventually." Mike shrugged and took his place by his pieces.
Eddie leaned toward the DM. He'd been working extra shifts at the bar, so his jaw was starting to grow a shadow, and he was less patient with their nonsense. "Can we start already?"
Dustin looked at his watch and started. "Oh shit, it's already eight! Yeah Will - I really need to finish on time."
"Why?" Paulie sat up.
"I just want to be home on time."
"Is your hot auntie picking you up again?"
"Hey -"
Eddie clapped his friend on the head. "That's Henderson's aunt you're talking about, meat-head. Show some respect."
"I just said -"
Munson shot him a warning glance. As he sat, Dusting offered him a nod of solidarity, but the smirk on Eddie's face didn't go unnoticed.
After the game, he cleared up in a rush, nearly dropping all of his dice in the process. The other members of the club seemed to be equally in a hurry, and they all burst out into the corridor as one loud group, startling Rosie, who was leaning against some lockers with her nose in a book.
"Aunt Rosie!" Garret cheered taking just two steps toward her before Dustin could shove him out of the way.
"Hey. Ready to go?"
"Yeah. How was club?"
"Great!"
Without warning, Eddie appeared at his side. The other members of Corroded Coffin peered over his shoulders as their vocalist tilted forward to inspect the cover of her book. Rosie blinked down at him.
"The Vampire Les...Lester!"
She laughed awkwardly. "It's "Lestat", actually."
"What kind of name is that?"
"French."
"Bonjour!" Warren attempted, poorly.
Dustin burried his face in his hands.
"Have you read Interview with the Vampire?"
Eddie tilted his head back, thinking. "No. No, I think I meant to, but then I didn't."
"Oh," Rosie thumbed the pages. "Well, it's the book after that?"
"So it's the second interview?"
"No, actually. This is a different vampire. He's -"
"Is there a Mr. Rosie?" Paulie blurted. Then yelped - Eddie had stomped on his foot.
"You don't need to answer that!" Dustin was already ushering her out the door. "That is a highly personal question."
He shot those last few words at the older boys as Mike and Will followed Rosie outside. It wasn't enough, though. No. They were out of line.
"What the hell is wrong with you guys!"
Paulie, only just escaping from Eddie's grasp, had enough sense to look ashamed. "I was just asking."
Dustin threw his arms up. "And why would you ask!"
Warren was still watching the door. "Because she's -"
"Your aunt." Eddie said soothing. "We know she's your aunt, Henderson. These jerks are just being dumb."
"And you're not?"
"Me?"
"You! All of you!" He was getting heated now. "She's my aunt. And I don't like seeing my friends creeping her out!"
Warren pouted. The four of them exchanged glances. At last, Eddie finally apologized: "You're right Henderson. We didn't mean to be creepy."
He stormed out of the building, leaving them behind. Mike and Will had their bikes already, but Rosie was standing in front of the open trunk of her maroon station wagon, begging them to put them inside.
"You boys are going to get soaked!"
"It's fine, really. I live all the way on the opposite side of town." Mike protested, trying to move away. Rosie caught the handlebars and mock-glared.
"All the more reason for you to get in the car."
"Mike you heard her." Dustin put in. "Get your bike loaded and get in the damn car. You too, Will. But I'm shotgun."
It was a long drive, first over to Mike's, then to Will's. Dustin gave each of his friends another turn on his game, and Rosie laughed at the fact he'd snuck it out of the house. After they dropped the others, however, the car went silent.
"You didn't turn on the radio." His aunt reminded him.
"Oh!" He switched it on and fiddled with the tuner a while, then huffed and turned it back off.
Rosie eyed him sideways. "You ok, Dust?"
He grinned back. "Great!"
She nodded, glancing at him again but saying nothing. They drove on, not much further.
Finally, he burst: "Rosie?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry. About those guys."
"What do you mean? I wasn't going to let them cycle home in the rain -"
"No, no. Mike and Will aren't the problem. I mean Warren and the others."
"Oh." Rosie frowned. "Why are you sorry?"
"Because they were really rude! Asking about a "Mr. Rosie" and all those weird questions. Calling you... um..."
"What did they call me?"
He blushed. "I don't want to say it."
"Dustin. If they said something to upset you, even if it's about me - especially if it's about me, actually - I want to hear it."
"Hot Auntie." He mumbled.
"Huh?"
He didn't want to say it again. It was gross.
"Dustin."
"They called you my hot auntie."
Rosie burst out laughing.
"Don't laugh! It's weird!"
"Why's it weird?"
"Because you...you're Rosie."
She bit her lip, sniggering again. "It doesn't bother me."
"It doesn't."
"Nooo. I've been called a lot worse."
"Oh." He shook his head. "Those guys are just idiots."
Rosie was still half-laughing. "They really called me that?"
"Uh-huh."
"Warren, and Eddie, and -"
"Not Eddie, actually."
"Oh." Her eyes were now fixed on the road ahead. "Not Eddie."
