Eddie had a stupid grin on his face. Dustin didn't like it. He didn't like the way he winked at him when he walked into Hellfire Club, either. Since when did Eddie wink, anyway? He dropped into his seat opposite Dustin and propped his feet up on the table. Will made a face and whacked them down.
Everyone chattered as they set up. He tried to be nice to Munson. They were friends, after all. Brothers in arms. They needed to get along. It's not like Eddie was being mean to him, anyway, but Dustin still didn't like the way he and the members of Corroded Coffin looked at his aunt.
It was a slow leg of the campaign. Will had hidden their target away, and was using riddles to lead them to his location. None of them were smart enough for riddles, which Will actually seemed to enjoy. Dustin had written all four into a notebook with thought clouds around them. As the lul dragged on, Mike struck up conversation with the band members:
"So are you guys still playing in The Hideout?"
"Sure are." Confirmed Paulie.
"The crowd loves us." Added Warren.
Eddie tried to put his feet back up, sniggering as Will brandished his cardboard staff at him. "Too bad you tykes can't come along."
"We're not tykes!" Mike grumbled.
"Yeah you are. What happened last time you tried to go in?"
Will remembered: "They told us to turn around and come back when we get hair on our -"
"I know!" Mike interjected.
"Maybe your aunt can bring you next time, Henderson." Garret suggested innocently.
Dustin wheeled. "What?"
"I don't think she'll be going back." Eddie remarked somberly.
"What?"
Paulie reached out to punch his friend on the shoulder. "But will she be going back to your trailer?"
"What!"
"Dustin sit down!"
"No! I want to know what they're talking about!"
"Chill, Henderson." Cooed Warren.
"Chill." Mike agreed.
"Anyone want a hint?" Will offered, meaning his riddles.
"Eddie. What are they talking about?"
Munson gestured for him to calm. "These guys are just goofing around."
"Uh. For once we're not." Paulie commented.
"Rosie just came to our gig on Friday night, that's all."
Dustin's skin crawled. "Stop calling her Rosie."
"And that's not all!" Ignoring his friend about to throttle him, Paulie elaborated. "What about your place?"
"Yeah Eddie, what about your place?"
"We hung out at mine after."
"Ew!"
"Nothing happened!" Eddie quickly added. "Nothing! We just had a drink. That's all."
"That's all!"
Mike leaned forward. "Dustin, why are you making such a big deal out of this?"
He looked down. Mike and Will were both staring at him like he was the one out of line. "Are you hearing this?! He - ugh! With my Aunt Rosie!"
"What's so gross about it?" Eddie honestly looked hurt.
Dustin didn't see it: "You! You're gross! First you creep her out, now you're luring her back to your place alone!"
" 'Luring'?" Munson challenged. "She asked me to hang out."
"Oooooh!" Warren, Garret and Paulie sang together. Not helpful.
"Well she shouldn't."
"Why not?"
"Because you're...you're weird." Dustin couldn't think of a reason, really. "A-a-and she has a boyfriend!"
Eddie's brow furrowed. "...boyfriend?"
"Yep! Back in Massachusetts."
"Oh."
"Is that true, Dustin?" Will asked skeptically.
"I swear!"
"Who's swearing?"
As a group, they leapt out of their skin. Rosie was standing in the door, hair wet and her book held open in one hand. Dustin was sure he squealed.
"Heyyy!" Will called happily. "We won't be done for a while."
"That's fine. I don't want to intrude but, it's just a little cold out in the car and -"
"Sit!" Mike dashed over to take his bag off a chair in the corner.
"Thanks." Rosie definitely looked cold, rubbing her arms as she sat. She smiled warmly at Dustin, but then her attention turned to Eddie.
"You're cold?" Munson had stood up and taken his jacket off the back of his seat. Not daring to look at Dustin, he strode over and offered it to Rosie. She took it and draped it over her shoulders.
"Aww." Garret nudged him.
"Shut the fuck up, Gar." Eddie shot over the table.
"Can we just play?" Will begged, waving his sheet of riddles at them. "Please?"
Rosie quietly read in the corner for the rest of the session. Dustin could hardle concentrate. He kept catching her and Eddie, glimpsing at each other. Smiling. Neither of them even looked ashamed.
They somehow managed to finish the session, though Will did not appear happy with them. Rosie helped Dustin clean up, and then asked Will if she could try on his cloak. Their DM was delighted to share.
"I think it's better on you." He giggled.
She twirled, obviously liking the way it swished about. "Not a chance. I'm only honored to don it, for a time."
"The honor is all mine, Milady."
Dustin sneered as Rosie curtsied. Even Will! Eddie lingered by his spot, watching with that stupid smile on his face. She still had his jacket on, and realized as she was returning the cloak. She pratically skipped over to him.
"Thank youuu!"
"The honor is mine." Eddie echoed Will, and fanned himself comically as Rosie held out the jacket for him to put on. He had to crouch into it, and gave her a bow in return.
"Gross!" Dustin gagged.
Will overheard. "I don't know. I think they're kind of cute."
"Cute?!"
Will scampered away. Eddie was looking at him now, he flipped him the bird. Rosie was offering him the book she had just finished. She loves her books. Eddie took it with care and put it safely away in the black leather case he kept with him.
"So uhhh. Rosie?" Warren cut in. "Can I call you Rosie?"
Eddie didn't like that. Dustin didn't either.
"It's my name." Rosie didn't care.
"We're playing again Friday. Potentially. If you want to stop by."
"Actually I'm going out of town."
"What!?" For an instant, Dustin and Eddie were unified.
"I-I was about to say." She went on. "I'm driving up to Indianapolis. To visit a friend."
"Friend?"
"What friend?" Dustin quizzed.
"You don't know them, Dust. From college."
"Must be a very important friend." Dustin emphasized for Eddie. He might have felt sorry for the guy. Might have.
"We haven't seen each other for a while. So I'll be staying with them for a few days."
His heart skipped. "But what about -"
"Don't worry. I'll be back before Hallowe'en."
"Promise?"
"Promise!"
