If there was one thing she hated, it was heat. The further they got into summer, the worse it became. Rosie did her best to hide indoors, but with her days in Hawkins waning, there was so much to do. After spending hours lined up at the post office and bank, she managed to get forms mailed and tuition fees paid. Her parents helped a bit with the money, which she was grateful for. That left her with more to put away for books and supplies.

"Yeah Mom. I got it. Thanks." She hung up the phone, then sat in the dark. Eddie hadn't come home yet, and Wayne had gone off to work, so she had spread some of her notes out in front of her, and was trying to review the things she'd already learned. A year out of school had left her brain mushy and slow, and she banged her head grumpily on the table.

Lights flashed outside, and she jumped up. 12:24 - Eddie was a bit later than usual. He stomped up the steps, hardly had the door open when Rosie threw herself at him.

"Hi." He half-lifted her in, struggling with some groceries.

"I hope there's nothing frozen in there."

"I'm not that stupid."

"Is that popcorn?"

"I thought we could watch a movie."

"It's midnight."

"Oh."

"I mean…we still could."

She put the popcorn in the microwave while Eddie got the tape started. Turning, she found that he'd placed a bottle of wine and two mugs on the coffee table. Right on top of her notes.

"Eddie!"

"Huh?"

"What the fuck! You can't see there's stuff here!?"

"I didn't -"

"My notes!"

"They were just lying there. I didn't think they were important."

"You couldn't fucking ask!?"

His brow furrowed, giving her those puppy-dog eyes. "I'm sorry, Rosie."

Shit. She wasn't being fair. Rosie moved the mugs aside and started to gather the pages. "No, it's not your fault. I-I guess I'm a little stressed."

Eddie sat and tried to help. He was putting things in the wrong order, but it was the thought that counted. "About school?"

"School, work, finding some place to live. Not starving to death," Rosie blew hair out of her face. "It's all soft of…coming at me at once."

"I hear you. I never cared about school, though. The rest…yeah."

Rosie put her notes back in their binder, placing it to the side of the sofa where it would be safe. Eddie went and got the popcorn, hissing and swearing as he tried to pour it out into a bowl. He licked his scorched fingers as he returned. Rosie scooted close as he settled down, not wanting to let their remaining time go to waste.

Two weeks. Dustin felt an unshakable gloom in his heart. Just two weeks left til Rosie was gone. Eddie was already a dark cloud that haunted the Hellfire Club, mostly just sitting and moping, sometimes raining and storming all over their campaigns. He hated to imagine what he would be like once she was gone, and made a quick memo not to step on his toes.

He'd talked with his mom - Rosie was still blood, after all. They had agreed that her leaving party had to be at their place. Eddie didn't like the idea, what with Claudia's attitude toward him, but Dustin begged and pleaded.

"Mom said that she's willing to give you another chance."

"ME!" Eddie burst. "She is willing to give me another chance! Oh, hail, I have been blessed!"

Will recoiled, wide eyed.

"I don't think she gets it." Mike offered.

"She doesn't, I know. But that's the best we can expect." Dustin negotiated. "Eddie, you need to try. For Rosie's sake."

Munson jabbed a finger at him. "I am only doing this for Rosie."

"Hm. It's true what they say. Love really does make you stupid." Paulie ducked the die that was flung at him.

"Or brave." Warren added.

So here they were, awkwardly standing around Dustin's living room. The members of Corroded Coffin tried to make small talk with his mom, but she mostly just smiled and answered in short sentences. Garret muttered something about needing a hit, and Warren stepped on his toe to shut him up. Most of the people Rosie had met were there, including her friend Carlos and his good friend Oscar.

Rosie and Eddie arrived an hour late, which did not improve their standing with Dustin's mother. She tried to greet them politely, but he could see the twitch in her eye. Eddie huddled together with his friends, and Rosie quickly stalked off to mingle. His mother sat in her chair.

It was a quiet party; people mostly just making conversation around the spread his mom had prepared. Rosie had to answer the same questions about her plans a dozen times.

Dustin and his friends ended up hanging out in his room, sipping soft drinks and entertaining themselves. Eventually, Rosie snuck in, a bottle of white wine under her arm.

"Glass." She instructed, pouring equal portions for each of them. It wasn't much, diluted with soda, but it made them all feel a little more grown-up.

"So…Rosie." Lucas ventured. "Why exactly isn't Eddie going with you?"

Max kicked him. "Sorry."

"No, it's fine." Rosie forced a smile. "He just has some stuff to do in Hawkins, first."

Eleven leaned in. "And he'll go to Boston after that?"

"We'll see."

"I gotta piss."

Rosie blinked. "Dust? Is the wine already -"

"I just gotta piss, jeez!"

He slipped out the door, passing the bathroom on his way out into the 'party'. Joyce was having an animated conversation with Eddie's friends, but he had disappeared. Claudia was also gone from her chair.

"…gave me a recipe for pear strudel one year." Her voice carried from the kitchen. "I'm sure I still have it. Aha! Here."

"That's grandma's writing, alright." Munson's voice had a melancholic timbre.

"Rosie can't bake, or else I would've given that to her."

"No. No, you keep it."

"I'm sure I have a few more here from Anna. Let me see."

Dustin peeked in quietly. Eddie's eyes were red. Had he been crying? He now sat at the table, beer in front of him, a yellowed recipe card clasped between his fingers.

"Oh! This one's better, Eddie!" His mom stuck another one under his nose. "Looks like Paige made a few adjustments to this one."

Munson's mouth twitched. "Mom."

"That's right you know - ooh! I'm sorry, Darlin'. I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's fine."

Claudia sat and put an arm around Eddie's shoulders. Dustin left them to it.