August 25h, 1985

They sat together, just a few yards from where the "party" was going on. It was more like a couple of outcasts hanging around a small fire they had set. Drinking beers, smoking, laughing and fooling around. Lorraine leaned against the rock and smiled watching as some of the boys started to tackle another, play fighting as everyone cheered on.

"I remember being their age," she said, looking over to Eddie. He took a sip from the beer that was twirling in both of his hands.

"It wasn't that long ago, Lorry" he laughed. "We're not ancient."

"Yeah but it feels like such a long time ago." She smiled, looking at the group once more.

Eddie stared at her, a small loving smile creeping on his face. There was a dim, orange glow casted on her soft features as she continued to laugh at the antics of the Hawkins kids.

"I guess I'm used to it," he chuckled lightly, lowering his gaze to his beer before giving another chug.

"You'll graduate, Eddie." She turned to him, and without moving his head, his eyes raised to her, his mouth gaping slightly as he poked his tongue to his upper lip. "Whatever it is you want after, it doesn't matter. You'll shine. Out of anyone here in Hawkins, you deserve that the most"

It was hard to hear someone believe in him so much. He was the freak, after all. Almost 21 and still in his senior year of high school. He didn't want some boring life, like everyone else wanted.

He rolled his knuckles against the beer bottle, his rings clinking softly against them. "You know," he continued staring at the bottle in his hands, watching the glimmer of the flames reflecting against the brown glass. "I was bummed when you left, but I gotta say Lorraine," He looked up at her, her soft smile looking back at him. "I'm proud you were able to at least..", he choked on his words a bit, feeling how his throat closed up on him. "You were able to make the leap, you flung yourself at life and even if it sucked, you did it. Isn't that what all your stories talk about? Being brave?" he chuckled. She continued to just stare at him, he wasn't sure that she was following his rambling or politely waiting for him to shut up. "You turned out to be the person you looked for in those books, I guess."

He finished, swinging back the beer and finishing it, discarding the bottle to his side. Lorraine was in awe, even if he hadn't blatantly said it, she could feel the fear in his voice. She saw him blossom into this confident man but couldn't believe that he thought so little of himself. It made her angry, but his deep chocolate brown eyes were waiting for her to say something, or do something. It weakened her, it melted her bones and felt like she wouldn't have the strength to even blink.

"If you want something, Eddie," she blurted in the silence. "Take it."

Eddie gulped, his face engulfed in the light of the fire that crackled only a few yards away. His eyes slowly analyzed her face, looking at the few stray hairs that tickled her eyelashes, her curled lips. It seemed like he was about to get closer, but someone began to shout Eddie's name from the distance.

He groaned, rolling his head in between his shoulders and forwards.

"Whaaat.." he whined like a child being scolded, taking his hand into his hair and shaking out his curls before raising his head with a large smile on his face, somewhat forced.

"Just wanted to know if you had anything on ya," said the boy.

"Nah, I'm off tonight,' Eddie said, pointing out a finger to his temple and saluting the boy. The boy shrugged, but instinctively held out a hand with a joint, offering it to both of them. Eddie hesitated for a moment but decided to take a short hit. Nodding, handing it over to Lorraine.

She felt a bit nervous, however, she did take it into her hand and took a long, deep drag. She let the smoke leave her lips slowly, puffing harshly through her nose. Her head felt a bit lighter, dazed, but with a soft tingling feeling.

Eddie rested his hand on his bent knees, lifting himself up and howling. Once he had started to scream, others joined in with him. He started to march in place, jumping on his legs before charging at a boy sitting right beside the fire, tackling him playfully.

Lorraine watched on with a gleeful smile, hugging her legs and leaning her head on her knees. He began to almost perform as if in a play, raising his hand in the air and pointing towards the other party goers, before placing his foot on his previous victim. He shouted some non-sense, lifting his foot off the boy and crouching slightly. Pulling his hands behind his hands, he began to quickly move between the people, motioning a biting noise at them and they swerved and avoided him.

She laughed loudly, snorting a little as she did, clapping her hands in delight. Like an animal, Eddie turned his head at the direction of Lorraine, taking his hands from his back and now motioning them in a playfully menacing way. She laughed again, throwing her hands in the air.

"No! Not me, please!", she laughed, turning her face from him but peaking a few times to see how close he was getting.

"Oh Lorry…" his voice made a high pitched sing song. She laughed again, but seeing as he was getting closer she almost started to panic.

She took a handful of leaves and dirt, throwing it in his direction. Eddie laughed, curling his arms into his chest like he was being attacked with a deadly weapon. Lorraine quickly crawled between the space of his legs, Eddie twisting his body trying to keep a track on her.

"Not gonna get away that easily!" He hopped to the side, as she struggled to get to her feet.

"No fucking way!" She yelled, smiling. She began to run to the group of people before, now all cheering for Eddie to take her.

"Get her Eddie!", one screamed.

"Don't let her get away!"

"You can make it!"

She turned into the crowd trying to hide behind the bodies, though they offered little help. Some tried to move quickly as not to be a part of the hide and seek, others gently nudged her towards Eddie.

Now, with a few people and a bonfire just between Eddie and Lorraine, she was most likely done for. However, Eddie raised his hands, she looked at the figure through the flames.

"Come on, you Rogue," He screamed at her, cupping his hands around the mouth. "You've got nowhere to run!"

"You still have to catch me, Bard!" she shouted back. The others started to laugh, Lorraine grinning slightly, panting just a little under her breath. Eddie put his hand on his hips for a moment, giving off the idea that he had given up. Lorraine only kept her stare on him, waiting.

He quickly jerked to one her right side, trying to crawl and jump over the other people who gathered at the fire. They either tried to help him, handing out hands to grab a hold of, or moving in his way to stop him. In the instant Lorraine saw him move, she briskly turned around, grabbing a hold of the boulder that was in front of her. She started to climb, quite frantically, trying to keep her feet in a position so she wouldn't slip.

She crept all the way to the only place she could stop, a small gap that was shaped in an eye socket. She rested one foot on the small area of the cheek, keeping her other foot firmly against the edge of the gap. Everyone was cheering, raising their bottles, cigarettes and hands for her. She lifted her hands up, responding to the crowd, looking for Eddie. He emerged from the others, smirking, shaking his head slightly. She brought down one hand, sticking out her middle finger. He crossed his arms, raising his brows, almost offended. She kissed her finger, later sticking out her tongue and winking at him. To finish her grand performance, she leaned on her back leg, balancing for a moment before giving a hard kick off the rock.

She landed just beside the fire, stumbling only slightly. Standing up straight, the others came closer, offering her drinks and high fives. Some grabbed her shoulder, shaking her in celebration. She laughed, accepting the offerings and nodding to everyone, bowing her head. A mixture of lights, blue and red suddenly came into focus. Flashlights ran across the faces of the party goers, as someone shouted.

"Feds!"

People started pushing against each other, frantic to get out. Lorraine got lost in the crowd, hearing bottles being smashed to the ground, others frantically grabbed whatever they could and ran off. With the bustle of people moving, she didn't notice that Eddie had grabbed her hand and she was yanked from the swarm.

"Come on!" Eddie yelled, however his face wasn't ridden with fear. Instead, he was smiling, running towards the direction of the car. Lorraine smiled, widely, jumping over rocks and branches that littered the forest floor.

They finally reached the van, Eddie scrambling to get into the driver's seat. Lorraine, however, hesitated as she swung the door open. She looked at the aura of the bonfire, watching the frantic flashlights scour the treeline.

"Lorraine!" Eddie rushed her, motioning his hand for her to come in.

She flung her head back as she howled, like a wolf signaling her pack. As she finished, she waited for a moment, looking onto the scene. Suddenly, you could hear the howls of others also fleeing the scene. Right and left, they both heard the others answering their own little call. Eddie, surprised, started laughing. Sticking his head out of the car window he howled and started to bang on the door from the outside. Lorraine climbed in, finally, almost not being able to close the door as Eddie drove off.

"Holy shit," Lorraine sighed, smiling from ear to ear. "That was absolutely close."

"Especially if you're too busy trying to wake up the werewolves." Eddie chuckled, leaning one arm out the window and tapping the steering wheel.

"Honestly, this has been one of the best nights I've ever had." She smiled, looking over to Eddie as he drove.

"I'm glad, Lor," He smirked, only glancing over to her for a moment.

Lorraine rolled down the window, leaning her head on the cold metal frame. She noticed a few drops of rain started to fall on the windshield, a peaceful calm now running through her body. The car radio buzzing a low hum, the wind deafening her slightly as it whisked past her face.

"I'm looking forward to staying in Hawkins."

Eddie looked over to her, his heart sinking a bit. He turned his direction to the road again, pulling his hand out from the exterior and placing it on the wheel once more. Squeezing it so tight, his knuckles turned white. His rings digging into his skin, more than usual. He noticed it had started to softly rain, and before turning on the wipers, his heart skipped.

A flower always begs the sun, for it to rain.

"I could maybe ask my dad if I could work at the factory with him," she continued, softly. "Or maybe I could find something more chill. Is Family Video still open?"

Eddie just nodded, his jaw tensing up. Lorraine hadn't noticed the change in attitude, too busy watching the rain fall harder on the concrete street below them. She crawled back into the car, rolling the window up slowly.

"I can save up some money, maybe find a place of my own." She smiled at him, waiting for a verbal response, or a look. Her smile fainted when Eddie did not even acknowledge her speaking.

"Yeah," he shrugged. The rain started to hit the car harder, the sounds of the drops on the metal exterior echoing through the van. The only thing both could hear was the slow shudder of the windshield wipers, crying back and forth. The radio lowly humming a cheerful memory, almost like it wanted to break the tension that had stirred up between the two.

It seemed like an eternity before they arrived at the trailer park, it had already started to rain more and you could hear the prickle of thunder roaring in the distance. Lorraine sat in the van, quiet, waiting for Eddie to make a move. What was happening? Did she say something, maybe do something that bothered him? Did he feel embarrassed about the playful fight they had in the woods? It couldn't be, she thought, that would be ridiculous. Then, what?

Eddie didn't know if he should speak, move or even breathe. He sighed, finally, breaking the silence in between the two.

"You could always save up money to go back to the city," he said in a small voice, although he seemed tense still.

Lorraine was taken aback. She was absolutely stunned by the statement. He wants me to go back? He wants me to leave?

"Wha- Why would you say that?" She spat out, her heart racing in rage. She could feel the fight or flight response, her hands shaking. The tingly feeling in her blood as she was ready to just get out of there.

"I just mean, you know," he said quietly, not looking at her. He leaned back into the seat watching his trailer home in front of him. He tapped his foot, nervously. "Get some cash, get out of here, write a book, travel…" He rambled on.

"I'm here for one fucking night. One. Night" Lorraine snapped, readjusting her position to face him completely. She was intimidating, like all of a sudden a different person had taken over her. "I'm here for one night and you want me to get the hell out of Hawkins?"

Eddie almost winced at her voice, fearing for what he was going to say next.

"You're not meant to end up here." He said, coldly.

Lorraine let out an angry huff, absolutely furious at this point. She wanted to say something, scream at him, but instead she frantically opened the van door and climbed out. The rain roared around her as she grabbed her arms by the shoulder, slouching forward trying to escape the rain falling into her face. She heard the van car open and slam shut, but she didn't look back, she was too enraged.

"Hey, Lorry," Eddie called out, almost inaudible with the downpour. She continued to ignore him.

"Lorry, I'm sorry." He said again, Lorraine hadn't noticed he had caught up to her, as she was now stepping up the stairs of her house. He reached out to grab her arm and spin her around, but Lorraine wouldn't let him. She yanked her arm away but ultimately turned to him.

"You have no right!" She spat, in a guttural shout. Eddie didn't react, at least she couldn't tell from the vail of fury hung over her eyes.

"Lorra-"

"No, Eddie." She stopped him immediately, she had no patience to hear whatever excuse or explanation he had ready.

"If I want to stay here, and work at Family Video, and live in the trailer park… I'll do as I damn well please." She no longer was shouting, she was shivering from the cold damp clothes that now clinged to her skin. Her hair stuck to her face, her eyes were blurred from a mix of the rain and the tears that were now forming at the corners of her eyes.

"I thought, out of anyone, you would be happy. You.. you ki- kissed me!" She stammered, "Which, hey!" She shrugged her shoulders, throwing her hands up for a moment only to retreat them back to her arms as the cold was settling into her bones. "Maybe it was just for laughs, you know. Why not? Have a little party, to hell with the consequences!"

Eddie wouldn't dare move a muscle. Although he wanted to apologize for what he said, it just didn't come out the way he wanted. He was over the moon that she was back, that she seemed to have a faint feeling of what he also started feeling, or maybe has always felt. He couldn't break away from the feeling of the ghost of her lips on his. He just couldn't stand the thought that the girl who wrote about fantasy worlds just to escape this shit hole would only end up right back in the thick of it, she was too good for this town. She was too good for him.

Say something, he thought to himself, just fucking do something.

He continued to stand there, his clothes drenched. He felt like he was slowly being swallowed by the earth, the weight of his jacket multiplying by a thousand only helped hammer his feet into the pools of water and mud around him. Watching Lorraine's face in such pain, his heart broke. He couldn't do or say anything that would help right now.

"I knew it was too good to be true," she tried to shout, but only a yelp escaped her lips. She quickly turned around and opened the door to her trailer, slamming the door behind her.

She leaned on the plastic and slid to the floor. She shivered, both because of the cold and the pain she felt in her chest. She tried to cry out but nothing happened, she was empty.

She was just the casing of someone she had thought, at least for a moment, was real again.