October 31st,1985
Smoke filled the room of the party, clouding the sight of everyone who was attending. Lorraine continued to dance with Robin, having a few drinks in between. They sung the lyrics to most of the songs that came on, jumping up and down and clasping their hands together. Lorraine was on cloud nine, not caring for what was going on around her, instead insisting on sticking with her co-worker, or new friend.
She started bopping to the music, changing her pace as she started to feel tired. The heat, the smoke and the alcohol really was starting to get to her. Glancing around, she saw Nancy close to them, dancing around with Steve. It made her smile, thinking that they made a cute couple, and how fun they seem to be having together. Robin continued to shout out the lyrics to the song that was currently playing. Lorraine thought that, even if it had only been a few hours, she felt like she was safe around them.
The lights suddenly went out, the music abruptly stopping. Whipping her head towards Robin, Lorraine furrowed her brows, holding up her hands in confusion. Everyone started booing, thinking that the party had suddenly ended. Some people took out their lighters, trying to light their way towards the exit, when a blonde haired boy started shouting.
"Who the hell is the asshole who thought this was funny?" He shouted, as if the music was still blasting. Someone had found a flashlight, and shined it on the boy.
"Jason Carver?" Lorraine questioned softly to herself.
He was surrounded by similar built boys, all wearing Hawkin's basketball team jackets. She slightly rolled her eyes, the jocks wanted to play a prank. How cliché.
"Who did this?" He shouted once more, puffing out his chest as if he was trying to show off for someone.
People started to leave the house, plastic cups being thrown or left around, the party had ended and everyone wanted to go home or continue somewhere else.
"I guess it's over." Robin shrugged, wrapping an arm around Lorraine laughing. "Let's call it a night, I'm wiped."
Although there was a buzz of chatter throughout the house, they all heard the strange giggling that sounded like it was coming from outside the house. The mumbles came to a silence, everyone stopping in their tracks trying to see if they were just hearing things.
Something crashed against the window of the living room where they stood, a goo-like substance running slowly down the glass. Some people shouted, some people swore, but for sure everyone was a little on edge. Another crash could be heard from another part of the house, another window being attacked by another egg. There were roars of sinister laughter coming from various directions, as if the person responsible was with them. Robin grabbed Lorraine tighter, feeling the anxiety build.
Jason swore loudly, gesturing for the other team players to follow him out to the front of the house. Steve and Nancy walked over, Steve coaxing Robin by rubbing his hand softly on his back.
"It's Halloween, people love to pull shit like this." He said calmly, focusing on Robin. "Let's get out of here."
Robin let go of Lorraine's arm, as Steve guided her towards the door. Lorraine looked around the room, following behind the others leaving, trying to figure out what was going on. Another few crashes of eggs splattering across the house could be heard, menacing laughter erupting shortly after. She clenched her jaw, rather than being scared she was becoming angry. One thing is to egg someone's house, she thought, and another is scaring the crap out of people.
They were about to leave through the open front door, when they heard running from behind them. People shouting in fright, a group of three with flashlights waving around their masked faces. They jumped at people, scaring them half shitless as they laughed in their faces. Lorraine's brows strung together, pursing her lips.
Steve tried to rush the girls out of the house, but as Lorraine turned to follow, she felt someone bump into her with such force she had lost her balance and fell to the ground. She smacked her face right on the floor, a sharp pain running through her lip and nose. She swore, trying to push off the person that was now almost fully on top of her. She was able to turn over, leaning a hand on the floor to prop herself up. She wiped at her mouth, feeling a warm liquid run from the top of her lip streaming down her mouth.
"You dick!" She shouted, looking up at the person who bumped into her. Her eyes widened, but she quickly started to blink furiously. It couldn't be, she thought. There was the man that bumped into her that same evening, a ski mask covering their face, a hood covering their head.
Nancy rushed to Lorraine's side, kneeling, grabbing a hold of her elbow as she helped her to her feet. Lorraine kept reassuring her that she was alright, although her head started pounding in pain.
The masked pranskter stood there motionless once more, as his ghouls continued to terrorize the others in and around the house. Again, he wouldn't move, he only stood there almost as if he was in shock. Lorraine wiped her mouth once more, the bleeding still hadn't stopped and could feel the blood dripping from her chin. Her eyes fell on his, only visible through the quick flashes of flashlights scanning the inside of the house. A twinkle of a dark chocolate brown looked back at her.
She helped her Mom bring some boxes from the car to the front door, complaining of how heavy it is.
"It's okay Lorry," The woman said, taking her long wavy blonde hair in one hand as she fanned her neck from the heat. "Why don't you go explore?"
Her mother gave her a wide smile, bringing down her hands and ruffling the young girl's hair. She wrinkled her nose in glee, turning around as her mother continued to bring boxes inside the new house.
Lorraine saw a boy with short buzzed hair sitting on the step of the trailer home directly in front of hers. She smiled confidently, sticking out her chest as she marched towards him.
"Eddie…" She whispered, the blood now pooling around her teeth. She could taste the deep iron on her tongue.
Someone pushed her away, which broke Lorraine away from her thoughts, shaking her head furiously. She swore, having enough of the physical contact she had felt in such a few moments. It was Jason, now chasing after Eddie through the house towards the back yard. Eddie yelled, signaling the others perhaps, as he swerved through the frightened party goers.
Without hesitation, Lorraine followed them, trying to push people away who were now trying to gather around to see Jason, most likely, beat the shit out of Eddie.
Eddie gripped his hands on the top of the fence, leaning his boots against it as he tried to hoist himself over. His mind was racing, although he thought it surely must have been because of the stupid prank he tried to pull off, but in reality he couldn't get Lorraine out his head. Well, she never really left. What the hell was she doing here?
A hand landed on his shoulder, gripping tightly and pulling him off the fence forcefully. He fell straight to the ground as he lost his grip, banging his head on the grass beneath him. He groaned softly, not expecting the blow. Someone grabbed the mask on his face, yanking it, the string that held it there burning Eddie's skin.
"Of course it's you." Jason laughed, looking at the others that had now started to gather around him. Eddie smiled nervously, flashing his hands near his face and wiggling his fingers.
"Don't get too smug, freak." He scolded, giving a hard kick to Eddie's side. He gasped from the sharp pain, but wouldn't stop grinning, giving out a chuckle. Jason's face warped into a confused, almost disturbed, expression.
"Don't you fucking dare!"
The jocks turned their heads towards the voice, Eddie only lifting his head enough to see Lorraine storming towards them.
"Don't worry, you're safe. We've got the jackass." Jason said almost proudly, like he had done something ever so important.
Eddie chuckled and let his head fall back again, rolling to his side as he stood up. Jason for a moment took his eyes off the girl and quickly jammed the baseball bat into his chest, pushing him against the fence. Eddie raised his arms near his head, still grinning at the boy. He pecked his lips towards Jason, giving a small kiss noise. Jason simply responded by shoving the bat deeper into his chest, Eddie coughing.
Jason was spun around by Lorraine, Eddie's eyes raising in astonishment. She shoved him forcefully away from Eddie, placing herself between the two.
"You little shit..," Jason snarled, gripping the bat in his hand harder as he seemed to want to pounce at her. Eddie instinctively went to grab Lorraine and push her out of the way, however before he had the chance, Lorraine turned completely to Jason.
"Touch him, and you're gonna regret it." She snarled, spitting out blood towards Jason. Her fists tightening, her jaw clenched in fury. Jason made a vague movement, as if he were going to lunge himself at her, but the others that followed grabbed his arm and shoulder. He shook them off angrily, flaring his nostrils at Lorraine. He turned around, going back towards his house in a frantic jog.
Eddie, surprised, stood there, tilting his head as he pulled down his hood and shook out his hair. The minor movement made him wince, a sharp pain running through his ribs. He took a hand to his side, trying to smile through the pain.
"Thanks for that," He chuckled through the pain, giving her a wink. She turned to her, the fury behind her eyes had not disappeared. Eddie gulped, loudly, straightening himself as best as he could.
"You.." She stammered, her mouth covered in blood. Eddie frowned, he didn't mean to knock her down.
"Sorry about that," He pointed, exaggerating the frown somewhat.
"You fucking.." She heaved, her shoulders rising and falling through her panting breath. It was like she had run a mile, or was ready to run another.
"I should get out of here.." He mumbled, flashing a quick grin forcefully, turning around once more and climbing over the fence. He landed on his feet, grunting as the pain in his side shot through him. He walked through the neighboring yard, biting the inside of his cheek.
What the fuck are you doing? He thought. You should make sure she's okay. Stop running.
He could hear the faint noise of bushes rustling behind him, he turned his head over his shoulder to see Lorraine stumbling out of them, brushing her dress off.
"You fucking idiot!" She snarled, trying to catch up to him "You really are fucking stupid, Eddie. You could've gotten someone hurt, or.. or worse!" She shouted, not daring to finish the sentence.
He sighed, turning his face away and continuing to walk through the yard, reaching the sidewalk. "Yeah, yeah, Lorraine." He shrugged, gesturing a hand wave of annoyance.
"You're being a dick, Eddie." She said, her voice losing the venom that covered her words. He stopped in the middle of the road, a few kids running past them. Halloween almost seemed to be over, only the freaks were left roaming the streets. There was a breeze that was picking up, thrashing around Lorraine's cape, hugging her body at every curve.
Jesus Christ, she's beautiful. The stray hairs from her curls bounced around her forehead, behind her ear, down her neck. It was like she had just gone through a wind tunnel. Eddie almost chuckled thinking about it, but composed himself.
"Look, Lor, sorry about that." He waved his hand motioning the area behind Lorraine, sighing deeply. He tried to turn to leave, reaching for a cigarette in his back pocket.
"Stop running from me!" She yelped, like she had been stabbed in the stomach with a sharp blade. Eddie stood still, watching her as she came closer to him. The dim light of the street lamps reflected against her now glazed eyes. Please, don't cry.
"Can't you see?" She said, frustrated. Lorraine didn't seem angry, but Eddie watched her arms drop up and down as she struggled for the words to come out. He turned fully, looking at her, one eyebrow raised. Please, don't say it.
"I don't want to stay because I missed Hawkins," she said in an almost whisper. Eddie's jaw clenched, bracing for the words she was about to say. He took in a deep breath, his side kicking and screaming in pain. She moved closer to him, now only a few inches away from each other. He looked at her, his eyes darting from every inch of her face, the dried blood, the sweaty forehead, her eyelashes, her lips. Don't you dare say it.
"I love you Eddie…" She whispered, with anger and desperation. A few tears are now rolling down her face. Eddie was frozen in place, just like that night in the rain. Like an animal being stalked by prey, he either could run or do nothing, his body choosing whatever option it sought fit. You had to say it, Lorry.
"I'm Lorraine Wallace." She stated, looking down at the boy sitting on the steps of the trailer home. She lifted a finger, turning her waist towards the home opposite. "I live there."
"I'm Edward Munson." He said, softly, looking down and kicking the steps with his shoes.
"Well," She said, smiling widely from ear to ear. She crouched down and tilted her head to the side, trying to catch a glimpse of the boy. "I'm your new best friend, Eddie."
He took her face in his hands, wiping away the tears that streamed down her cheeks, the faint makeup running alongside them. He looked in her eyes, gaping his mouth slightly. He chuckled softly, wincing slightly from the pain.
"I've been in love with you since the day I met you, Lorraine H. Wallace."