Tapping his foot against a step, Eddie sighs and looks down the stairwell listlessly. Where did she go? Only a few minutes passed between them leaving O'Donnell's. He just assumed she'd wander here.
'Knew I should've mouthed something to her…'
"Okay." It's been long enough. Maybe she went to the wrong place or didn't know where to go. Hopping to his feet, he'll just have to find Chrissy and drag her little behind over here.
'Unless she changed her mind? Or ran into fuckface?'
That's a bummer. A real buzzkill. If that's the case, what's there to do about it? Nothing. He can hold his hand out all he wants. Doesn't mean she'll take it. But that's always been a possibility he needed to accept. Even if it sucks total ass. It's better to go into situations without expecting anything. Hope for the best, anticipate the worst. That's what Wayne taught him. Probably picked that up from dealing with his dad.
He pushes open the door to the stairwell and steps out into the hall, looking around. Just in case. Wouldn't that be his luck for her to show up right afterward, then think this is the wrong place since he's not here?
"...I need a smoke." A little something to take the edge off. It'll have to wait. Searching the castle for the princess comes first. There's no telling where the hell she might be, though. This could be a wild goose chase.
Glancing at his watch without stopping, he sighs again. Class doesn't have long left, then it's off to third period. He doesn't give a damn, but she probably does. The chances of them hanging out decrease with each passing minute. Not that there was really a plan. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. A sudden urge that needed to be satisfied.
'Not here, either…'
Poking his head around the next corner, disappointment fills him from seeing no one in the vicinity. No one that matters, anyway. He slinks by a few classrooms and does a quick peek just to cross them off. A few eyes look up at him curiously, but it's quickly dismissed. Unless they're the stormy blue ones he's looking for…
"Screw it." Feeling frustrated, Eddie decides to go back to the stairwell. He already checked most of the second floor. Even O'Donnell's, in case she went back. Chrissy could've gone to the spot after he left and is waiting there for him. If not, he'll just have to suck it the hell up like a big boy.
'Maybe she's not feelin' it?'
He turns down another desolate hall and drags his feet, pouting. Just a little. It's not a big deal. He'll survive. Having a smoke and taking a nap on the stairs will help him relax. Besides, it's Friday. Hellfire meeting later today. The next grand chapter and a continuation of his Cult of Vecna campaign. His lips twist into a smirk just thinking about it. Henderson's going to love what he has in store for them. Grant, Wheeler, and Sinclair? Not so much. Their characters barely survived the last session.
The lights above suddenly go haywire. Flickering on and off down the entire row. Eddie's brow furrows as he slows to a stop halfway through. What the hell is this? It's just like that night at his trailer… He's dealt with power surges, faulty wiring, and all kinds of bullshit that comes with living in Forest Hills. Shocked and burned himself trying to fix things more times than he can count. This is different. Not normal.
A chill runs along his spine. One strong enough to make his skin prickle with goosebumps. He swallows hard and turns around, glancing back and forth. This feels really off. Giving him some weird vibes… Like maybe he needs to get the hell out of dodge. His gut's never failed him before, so why doubt it now?
'Fuck this.'
Spinning on his heel, the Hellfire leader walks at a brisk pace with every intention of leaving and not looking back. Something freaky's going on and he's not willing to hang around to find out what it is. Nope. Hell no. Not today. Not any day. Getting bitched at by O'Donnell's a much better option.
Eddie freezes when he hears a strange noise. A distorted sound in the distance. Like it's coming from the other end of the hall. This isn't too far from the stairwell, so unless there's someone goofing off like him, it should be empty. Classes are still going. Maybe it's a janitor? Working his jaw, he debates checking it out. Part of him is a little curious. The other, much heftier side is yelling not to be a dumbass and just leave. And these flashing lights are getting on his last nerve.
"Christ!" He jumps, shouting in surprise when a figure suddenly comes from behind the corner. They crash right into the wall, their back slamming up against it.
"Chrissy?!" Dark eyes fly open seeing the cheerleading outfit and a strawberry blonde ponytail. Not missing a beat, he hauls ass down the hallway to get to her. "Chrissy?!" She slips down the wall and falls to her knees, staring straight ahead.
"Hey? Hey! Are you okay? What's going on?" Eddie slides across the floor, dropping onto his own knees beside the cheerleader. When his hand touches her shoulder, the lights stop flickering. He spares them a quick, confused glance before turning his full attention to her.
"Chrissy…?" She's as pale as death. As if someone drained all the blood from her and left nothing behind. The trembling is so bad it's making her teeth rattle. "Chrissy? What happened? Did you get hurt?" Tilting his head to the side, worry washes over him from being unable to get a response.
"Hey!" He claps loudly and snaps his fingers, hoping it'll do something. Nothing. Those wide blue eyes just keep staring straight ahead, unfocused and blind to him. Waving a hand inches away from them has the same result. She can't see him… "Chrissy?!" Tapping her cheek is no different.
This is starting to genuinely scare him. When she got frightened at his place, it lasted only a few moments. He was able to break her out of it, and they moved on with the rest of the night. Whatever's going on now, Chrissy's far away. Out of his reach. Stuck in a petrified state where she's a trembling mess that can't react to anything around her.
'Is she in shock?'
"Chrissy?! I don't like this! Hey?!" Eddie doesn't know what to do. Running out of ideas and panicking, he grabs the cheer captain's shoulders and shakes her. Yelling, almost pleading with her to snap out of it.
A gasp leaves her lips, and Chrissy looks at him wildly while backing away. Still terrified. As if she doesn't recognize who he is just yet. Regardless, he lets out a deep breath. Thank friggin' goodness.
"E–Eddie?" She blinks, breathing hard and staring at him in disbelief. "Is it really you?" Her bottom lip starts quivering as she tears up.
'Oh, crap.'
"...Yeah, it's me." It comes out awkwardly and probably sounds dumb, but whatever. He's never seen someone so relieved to see him before. This is confusing and weird as hell, but if the circumstances were different, his heart might burst. Actually… it still might.
"I'm so glad… I thought—" Chrissy wipes away the tears with a sleeve when a drop of blood runs from her nose. She winces and holds her head, only for it to get heavier.
"Shit!" Grabbing the bandana from his back pocket, he crouches down and presses it against her nose. What the fuck is going on?! Does she have some kind of health issue? A disorder? He can't make heads or tails out of this. Completely lost in the sauce.
'She needs the nurse or something.'
"Here, hold this. Keep it tight and don't take it off." Not unless she's okay with ruining that cheer uniform… A medical condition is the only logical thing that comes to mind. Maybe a rare one. It has to be. There's no other explanation. Perhaps flashing lights cause a certain reaction to occur in her brain. Both times she wigged out, it was right after the lights went nuts. Either that's just an odd coincidence or there's a connection. "I'll be right back."
When he turns to leave, a small hand grabs onto the bottom of his denim vest, yanking on it. Trying to pull him back. He stops and arches a brow in confusion. She's clinging to it like her life depends on it. Eyes huge and full of desperation, silently begging him not to go. Another tug is all it takes to scrap that plan.
"Okay, okay…" Eddie says softly, kneeling down in front of her. The last thing he wants to do is make her more upset than she already is. Chrissy knows what she needs better than he does. Maybe this has happened before?
The bell rings and he curses, looking down at his watch. Not good. Within the next few minutes, this whole place is going to be swarming with flies. The sheep will be running all around the pasture.
'I doubt she wants anyone seeing her like this.'
Word would get around fast. Who knows what kind of crazy shit they'd say? She doesn't need that on top of everything else. It also doesn't look good for him. The head cheerleader's on the ground with a bloody nose and Eddie 'the freak' is at the scene. Yeah, that'll go real swell. These idiots will claim he attacked her or something wild, regardless if she backs him up. He knows how they are. They'll just say Chrissy's too kind-hearted to throw his ass under the bus.
"Hey, we need to go. Like, right now." Thankfully, it seems she's on the same page. They both know it'll just cause unnecessary bullshit. He holds out a hand to help her up. The stairwell is pretty close and no one really goes around there. Well, not anymore. Mostly thanks to him.
'Holy shit.'
When she takes his hand, it startles him how cold it is. As if made of ice. Or belonging to a corpse. There's no time to worry about that now. Pulling the cheerleader up, her shaking knees give out and she drops right back down. A little whimper slips out from behind the bandana and she looks at him apologetically, tearing up again.
"It's okay. Don't cry…" Well, shit. What now? Not too far off, he can already hear the voices of students, doors opening, and lockers slamming. Great. They have maybe two minutes at best until some asshole comes around the corner. Or assholes. Plural.
"Sorry." Pursing his lips, the Hellfire leader slips his arm under Chrissy's knees and around her waist, picking her up off the floor. He takes off down the hall, heading towards the stairwell before anyone comes.
Not knowing what to do isn't something new to him. It happens. Maybe more often than any person would like to admit. Usually, he just goes with the flow and hopes for the best. When that doesn't work, pulling something out of his ass often does the trick. But looking at the cheerleader trembling and sniffling next to him, he's truly at a loss.
A grin or acting goofy won't fix this. It might even make it worse. There's a time and place for everything. It's so frustrating… He's completely useless right now. No clue what happened, why, how, where, or if anyone else is involved. That makes trying to come up with a plan much harder. And Chrissy won't say a word. Nothing. Not even respond to little questions, like if she's okay. The answer is obvious, but he's still trying without being too pushy.
"Let me see." Eddie sighs and moves closer on the step, holding out his hands. Tired, puffy eyes regard him for a moment before relenting, letting him pull the balled-up bandana away. He checks carefully, tipping her chin up to get a better look. Good. At least the bleeding stopped.
'I don't like any of this.'
There's dried blood on her upper lip. He uses the scrap of fabric to wipe it away before tossing it on the step. It'll get washed later. Who cares? What's bothering him is how cold she still is. That's not normal. None of this is.
"Uh… Here." Taking off his vest and jacket together, he awkwardly drapes them over her shoulders. That should warm her up. If this wasn't such a shitty situation, this would be really amusing. Might've even sent him reeling. But, time and place. She blinks, looking curiously from him to the clothing and back. At least that's something. "You feel cold. Figured that might help."
Looks like it does. Chrissy pulls the sides in closer, wrapping it around herself tightly. The trembling slows down a bit. Maybe some of his warmth from wearing the jacket transferred over. She curls inward into a little ball, hugging her knees and hiding away.
Third period's shot to hell. Not that he cares. There's no point in either of them showing up now. They can give him detention or Saturday school again. Big whoop. She's in no condition to be around everyone, and he can't just leave her here. Not that he'd want to, anyway.
"Are you… What happened?" Eddie asks quietly, giving it another try. It's been a bit since the last attempt. They've been sitting in silence for a while. Aside from crying, the only noises in the stairwell these past thirty minutes were the buzzing from the light above. She still says nothing. Just leans up against the wall.
'Hmm?'
His eyes narrow on something he didn't notice before. Strange marks right above her ankle, where the sock would normally cover if it was pulled up. They're faint and pink but noticeable against her skin. Those are from a person's hand. He can make out the impression their fingers left behind. That throws all the theories he's worked on into disarray.
"Did someone hurt you?" The thought makes him feel weird. Off... Who would want to hurt someone like Chrissy? Why? She never has beef with anyone at school. Going after her just seems wrong, like kicking a kitten. But unless she grabbed her own ankle hard enough to leave a mark, then that's the only conclusion that makes sense. Even if it doesn't.
Looking back at him, those blue eyes flash for just a moment before profusely shaking her head. She seems to notice what he's looking at and subtly tries pulling the sock back up, covering the evidence. It's too late. He already saw it.
"You know, you can talk to me if you want." That's probably not going to happen. A small nod is the only response. She's closing him out. It doesn't feel great, but it is what it is. He's not owed an answer or explanation. Maybe some other time—if she wants to—they can talk about it. Or not.
Letting out a long sigh, he slaps his hands down on his knees and hops up. This really sucks. If only he didn't ask her to leave class… This might've not happened. Nope. He just had to be a greedy asshole. Any other day, she'd likely be waiting for third period to end, bored as hell. That's a million times better than this.
"Please don't leave," Chrissy says, grabbing onto the bottom of his club shirt. Just like in the hall. The panic in her voice alone stops him in his tracks. "I'm afraid of being alone right now."
"I'm not. Don't worry." He was only going to peek out the window to make sure no one's around. Just to make sure. And his legs are restless. It's been a while since having a smoke. That usually smooths out the sharp edges. This has his nerves going wild. But that'll have to wait until later.
'If sitting here helps, I'll do it.'
"I think… I think I'm really losing my mind." She breaks out into a sob, covering her face with the sleeves of his jacket. "I don't understand what's happening to me."
Eddie's jaw tightens watching her. What is he supposed to do? Comforting crying girls isn't really his specialty. Not that he has much experience with that. He's not exactly the type they come running to. Patting her head and saying 'there, there' would seem condescending. Doing nothing is even worse.
"I don't think so. I mean, I don't have a clue what's going on, but I doubt it." The crying dies down at that and she gazes up at him. It makes his chest hurt. And if she doesn't even get what's going on, there's no way he could. That only complicates matters. "Some things don't always have an explanation. Not right away. But we can try to figure it out, yeah? Then kick the shit out of it."
That finally gets a positive reaction. Chrissy chuckles, wiping away the stray tears from her cheeks. She takes a deep breath and seems to calm down. Good. Something worked. Seeing her so deeply sad and scared bothers the hell out of him.
"It's gonna be okay, Chrissy." Maybe a grin and acting a little goofy can be useful, after all. She stares at him for a few moments until her bottom lip quivers. Instead of a fresh round of tears, the cheer captain buries her face into his chest and leans into him. He forgets how to breathe. It used to be so easy. Second-nature, really. And when her arms wrap around his waist tightly, everything becomes a jumbled mess.
"Thank you. I don't know what I would've done if you weren't there." Dark wide eyes try to look at everything except the woman clinging to him. They're spinning, making the stairwell a whirlwind of gray and off-white. He sucks in his lips and keeps his arms raised, almost too frazzled to put them down.
"Yep. No problemo." He squeezes out, hoping she can't hear his heartbeat. This might put him into cardiac arrest.
Eddie lets out a deep breath, trying to find his center. No biggie. He's cool. It's whatever. If this is comforting for her, well… Who the hell is he to deny that?
'She smells nice.'
A sweet scent. Something right on the tip of his tongue… Yet the right word doesn't come to mind. It's soothing. He picked up hints of it before, but being this close is different. Forcing himself to loosen up, he lowers his arms and leans back against the step. If she wants to stay there, that's okay.
What now? Biting the side of his mouth, he hesitantly reaches up and strokes the top of her head. That makes people feel good, right? His brain is too out of whack to think straight. She sighs and rubs her face against his Hellfire shirt, relaxing into him further. That's a good sign. Feeling a little daring—ballsy, even—he touches her ponytail, running his fingers through it.
"Mmm… That feels good." Chrissy lets out a little groan. Her muffled voice sounds tired, yet pleased. Without moving away from his chest, a small hand comes up and grabs onto the green scrunchie, pulling it out. He doesn't need to be told what that means.
It's longer than before. She rarely wears it down anymore. All he has to do is make sure it doesn't get caught in his rings and all will be good in the world. The long, strawberry blonde strands feel soft between his fingers. He's careful, trying not to mess it up or do anything that'll get her to rescind the invitation.
'I'm so fucked.'
When Eddie peeks through the doorway, O'Donnell's busy going through papers in her filing cabinet. Perfect. Quietly, he slips into the classroom and hopes she doesn't notice him. Getting bitched at isn't on the to-do list.
There it is. That pink bookbag. Sitting all nice and neat on a table along the side. Just asking to be snatched up. Someone probably put it there after Chrissy didn't come back to class. He grabs it and slithers back the way he came, trying not to make a sound. After all, she's not the only one who didn't return.
"Eddie! " the older woman yells as he reaches the door. Well, shit… She puts her hands on her hips with a crabby look. One that tends to be reserved for him. Nope. Not dealing with this today. Tightening his grip on the strap, he turns and takes off into the hall.
'Too bad, Ms. O. Better luck next time.'
Ignoring his name being yelled, he swerves through the throng of kids until getting around the corner. Things to do, people to see. Nothing personal. He swings the bookbag over his shoulder and keeps going, paying no mind to the looks people are giving him. It's none of their business. He's just helping out a friend, but they don't know that.
'A friend that's got me wrapped around her little finger…'
Eddie cringes at himself and goes down the next hall, heading to the nurse's office. Chrissy didn't want to go back to class or be sent home for some reason. Maybe her dad would get pissed? Well, the nurse is the next best option. It's somewhere to lie down and not be alone.
"Hey! You!" A little redheaded cheerleader runs up from behind him, getting in the way. Looking super pissed, like a firecracker about to shoot off sparks.
"Me?" Craning his neck back, he points a thumb at himself and glances around in confusion.
"Yeah, you. What do you think you're doing?! That's Chrissy's bookbag." She hisses, eyeing him up and down. It's offputting. Like she's sizing him up.
'What the hell?'
"No, it's not. This is mine." It's hard trying not to smirk. An obvious joke… But this is a surprise. She's one of Chrissy's friends. He's seen this chick trailing behind her quite a few times before.
"Bullshit! There are only five people in this school with pink bookbags. She's the only one with that specific shade. Trust me, I know." And people think he's the scary one? This cheerleader is way worse.
"Huh. I guess there's no point in hiding it then. Obviously, I'm stealing it. Might even stop at the pawn shop on the way home." Eddie just can't help himself. They all think he's up to no good, anyway. Might as well play the part and go along with it.
"Are you—Whatever! Just hand it over." The girl leans forward with an outstretched hand, looking at him expectantly. And very impatiently.
"Yeah, uh… That's not gonna happen. Got strict orders from the captain." He's not sure what the hell he's even saying. All that matters is getting this chick off his ass. Without being mean or scary. She's still a friend of Chrissy's and he's got something of a soft spot for cheerleaders.
"Who? Chrissy? Where is she? I didn't see her in Girard's."
"What do you mean? She's right there." Pointing behind her, the redhead spins and looks around. Maybe this is a little mean…
"Where?" Eddie hauls ass in the opposite direction. Not answering her question or looking back. She's not getting in his way.
"Asshole!" He snickers, hearing the high-pitched voice from down the hall. That's one of the oldest tricks in the book. Have they never seen Saturday morning cartoons? Everyone here always falls for the simplest shit.
Slowing to a normal pace, the Hellfire leader glances back to make sure there are no red-haired chihuahuas on his heels. What a card. That's not necessarily a bad thing. At least Chrissy has a bud willing to throw down when they think she's being done dirty. Still, that was a weird interaction. None of the girls in school ever confronted him like that before.
'These chicks are wild.'
The nurse's office is on the first floor. In a convenient location close to the gym. Makes sense. That's where most students get hurt. And god forbid if the precious jocks don't get immediate attention when they mess themselves and each other up during practice. They're the school's pride and joy. Their meal ticket for more funding, trophies, and attention.
The nurse herself is something of a gorgon. Crazy hair, fierce beady eyes, and a frown that deepens the moment he strolls through the door for the second time today. He ignores her, walking straight to the sick bay. An area in the back of the room that's behind a curtain and has two small beds.
The tiny cheerleader's laying on her side on the one closest to the wall. Hearing the curtain move, Chrissy glances over and smiles softly when she sees him. He tries to not think about how his insides are turning into a pile of mush and sits down on the edge of the other bed across from her.
"Thanks, Eddie. You really didn't have to… I feel bad."
"Pshh. It's not a big deal." Yeah, right. As if there was another option. When she mentioned her bookbag still being in O'Donnell's class, his mouth just started moving. Offering up his services without a second thought. Not that thinking would've changed anything.
"Sweeney gave me some ibuprofen and said I can stay here for a bit." She yawns, stretching out on the bed. He quickly tears his gaze away and pulls the bookbag off, setting it down beside him.
"Nice. You feelin' any better or nah?" On the outside, there's obviously an improvement. Some colors returned. She doesn't look like a ghost anymore and seems in better spirits, despite everything.
"Yeah, thanks to you." Warmth floods her cheeks as she looks at him appreciatively. Eddie thinks he might need to lie down. At least his ass is already on a bed.
"Heh. You flatter me. So, lunch is next period. Are you going?" The question makes Chrissy's expression change immediately. From a sense of calmness straight into discomfort. Is it because she's still not feeling good? Or doesn't want to be around everyone? Or something else?
"No. I'm, um, not really hungry." She turns away, and he finds that suspicious. It's understandable to not have an appetite after whatever happened earlier, but the guilty look on her face raises some red flags. Still, it's not his place to pry or pressure her. They're not close enough for him to feel okay with doing that.
"Well… I mean, it's your decision." Eddie sighs, reaching down to mess with the chain hanging from his belt loop. He's not stupid. There's a possibility of being wrong… The signs are there, though. Despite what people might say, he's pretty observant. And his eyes have been watching for a while. "By the way, you have some nutty friends."
Her eyebrows shoot up in alarm and confusion. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"The redhead…" Grinning, he leans back on the bed and folds his arms. This should take her mind off that bullcrap. "She saw me with your bookbag and I thought she was gonna bite my head off. Ozzy-style. Or beat my ass like a drum in front of everyone."
That works. Chrissy giggles and covers her mouth with a hand, rolling over on the frumpy pillow. "You're talking about Natalie. She's actually really sweet."
"Hmph. Maybe to you. Chick came at me like she was a momma bear and I was taking off with her cub. I could feel it in my gut. If I didn't run, I'd be in big trouble. All over a damn bookbag."
"I'm so sorry!" The cheerleader's face turns red as she laughs, rubbing her feet together. "Nat's just kind of protective. I didn't even think about any of that."
'So cute.'
"You can say that again. Then times it by a hundred. But you gotta real one there. I know I'd want her in my corner if shit hit the fan."
"Hey, you two. This isn't a hangout spot." The gorgon calls back from her desk in the front of the room. Of course. Someone's got to ruin it. "Munson, unless something's wrong with you, get to your next class."
"Are you saying there isn't?" That'll be a first. Sweeney might be in the minority on that front. It's doubtful the other teachers or employees would agree.
"Get going!"
He clicks his tongue in annoyance. Who cares about being late for lunch? It's not like all the food's going to disappear. They're probably just getting on her nerves. She likes it nice and quiet in here. Sighing, he looks at Chrissy and shrugs. "I guess I'll catch you later, then."
"Wait!" Eddie stops mid-step when she calls out to him. "I, um… wanted to ask you something…" Arching a brow, he turns back to her. What could she want to ask him? Either way, screw Sweeney. This is more important. Getting yelled at is nothing new. He'll take it.
Long fingers slide into the plastic bag lying on the table, grabbing a piece of pub mix. He mindlessly tosses it into his mouth while staring out into the distance. Dazed. Yep, that was a Worcestershire rye chip instead of a cheddar-flavored one. They feel almost the same but taste very different.
"Uh, Eddie?... Earth to Eddie…" A hand waves in his face and he jolts, sitting up in his seat.
"What, man?" Henderson's giving him a strange look. So are the others. What's the big deal? Can't a guy eat his pub mix without there being an issue? He snatches up another piece. This time, it's a pretzel.
"Oh, I don't know. We've been trying to talk about the meeting tonight, and you're too busy daydreaming." The freshman picks up a fry and dips it into a mountain of ketchup, taking a rough bite out of it. Being none-too-gentle with his teeth.
"Yeah, dude. What's up? Usually, you're more revved up, especially on Fridays." Now Gareth's going to join in too? Is it 'crawl up Eddie's ass' day? Though, they're not wrong…
"Nothing. What, something has to be up 'cause I'm sitting here eating?"
"Nope. No. Forget it." Shaking his head, Henderson waves a hand, signaling they'll drop it. "Anyway, now that you're paying attention… We have a bit of a problem." There's some hesitation in his tone. And he keeps glancing at Wheeler.
"What?" He knows his voice sounds more aggravated than it probably should. After all, they really haven't said anything yet. But if the normally laid-back fresh meat are nervous, it means they're probably going to say something that might tick him off. And a few ideas come to mind.
Eddie leans back in the chair and crosses his arms. Great… His tongue prods a chunk of beer nut stuck between his teeth, trying to push it out while staring at them. Waiting for the two to stop glancing at each other and spit it out already. It doesn't seem like his bandmates know what this is about. They look just as confused.
'There better not be a problem. Not tonight.'
Henderson clears his throat, shifting in his seat. "So, Lucas has a, ah… mandatory meeting after school. You know… The whole 'ball in laundry basket' thing."
"Yeah, and?" Of course, Sinclair does. The kid just had to hop onto the basketball team to conform and not be a 'freak' like the rest of them. He gets it, even if it's lame as hell. Not everyone can handle that label. Some can carry it with pride. Others crumble under the weight. Still, why is he supposed to care about a basketball meeting?
"And… So, we were thinking… Mike and I, I mean." He looks towards Wheeler again, and they both nod. "That maybe we could postpone the meeting tonight. We can't find a sub and Lucas says he has to go, with regionals or whatever, coming up soon…"
"Postpone Hellfire? " They've got to be kidding. The thought alone is offensive. Blasphemous. But to actually ask? Fuck no. Especially tonight of all nights. Over his dead body.
"Yeah, when hell freezes over."
"Not on your life."
Jeff and Grant aren't having it, and neither is he. It's not their fault or problem that the dark side seduced Sinclair. The kid shouldn't have joined two very different clubs if there'd be issues completing his duties to both. D&D or basketball? That's a no-brainer.
"But there's no way we can continue the campaign without him! Most of us almost died last week." Henderson laments, throwing him a side-eye. Yeah, he knows. It is his campaign, after all. No one said it was going to be easy. This is Advanced D&D. Not a game for babies.
Pushing against the table, Eddie slides his chair back and gets up. This is straight-up bullshit. He takes a deep breath and runs a hand through his hair. These kids are causing a twitch in his left eye. Nope. Got to calm down. No way are they canceling tonight. "You're just gonna have to find a sub. It's that simple. There's a good four hours until then. Plenty of time to herd in some sheep."
"Anyone we could've asked already said no." Wheeler chimes in. The club leader is two seconds away from flipping the damn table. "It's not like we want to postpone Hellfire. Everyone's just… busy doing other stuff."
'Or not interested, right?'
"We're having this meeting." He doesn't give a crap how they manage it as long as they do. No one postpones Hellfire. Unless the school is burning to the ground or death takes them all, there's no good excuse for it. "Let me give it to you straight, boys." Leaning over the side of the table, he looks from the older members to the newer ones, trying to convey the seriousness of the situation. "Lúthien's heading to Angband, and the court will be present for it. Or so help me God, heads will roll instead of dice. Got it?"
They all stare at him in silence, some with their jaws slack as Eddie flops down in his seat. He said what he said. These punks heard him right. Getting annoyed with their prolonged reaction—or lack thereof—he grabs a cheddar chip and tosses it into Henderson's open mouth. That doesn't change his shocked expression, but he chews it up anyway.
"W–What?!" Amber can barely contain her bewilderment, yet tries to keep her voice down so the two other cheerleaders in the room can't hear. "You're kidding, right? Ms. Tina's still out too. I… I don't know about this… Why? What's going on?"
"Something came up I need to take care of." That's all she's going to say. A part of her feels bad about this, but a much larger portion needs to do it. Their coach has been out after messing her knee up recently, so Chrissy's been running the show temporarily. One night won't kill the one meant to take her place. "This is good practice for you, especially since you'll be cheer captain next year. And you know the routines like the back of your hand."
"Are you sure?" The junior says quietly, tilting her chin down. There's a lot of uncertainty in her voice. She stares into her captain's face, searching for something.
"Of course! I trust you. No one's better suited for the job. Listen, I know you can do this." There's a reason she picked this girl to replace her. Teams at Hawkins High all have their little traditions among themselves. With the cheer team, the next captain always gets nominated by the current one. The upcoming senior team usually agrees, and the coach really doesn't care. Ms. Tina knows the nominee will do their part.
"Yeah, okay. I can do that. It's only for one practice. And we all know the routines… It'll go smoothly." The blonde nods and straightens her posture, giving off more confidence than just a few seconds ago. Good. She's going to need it. Tonight is just a practice run. Next year's the real deal, and people will be a lot less forgiving.
"Thank you." She throws her a quick smile and turns to leave, not wanting to spend more time than necessary to take care of this. Cheer practice is now covered. The only responsibility left for the day. Handing over the reins was easier than expected. It didn't hurt as much as she thought. Perhaps it's because her position seems so trivial at the moment. There are more important matters to deal with.
A shiver runs through Chrissy's body just thinking about it. Whatever that was… A hallucination? Demon? Mental illness? She doesn't know and is too afraid to find out. And there's no one to confide in about this without seeming completely bonkers. Who would believe any of it?
'Maybe I really am going crazy? That doesn't explain the mark, though. Something grabbed me, but I can't prove it's from that thing that chased me.'
The last thing the cheerleader remembers is running through the halls with that… creature right on her heels. It wanted to kill. Bloodlust hung in the air, thick and overwhelming. That's the only word that comes to mind. Something she knows nothing of yet instinctively recognized even before the bathroom door swung open. Just like picking up on the malice in that strange, disembodied voice.
When that monster finally cornered her, Chrissy was certain that was it. Some poor soul in school would find a mutilated corpse in the hall. It was the end of the line. Then someone started screaming her name. Everything changed in the blink of an eye and she found herself on the floor, being shaken by Eddie.
'He saved me. Both times.'
At the trailer and school. He doesn't even realize it. She'd never been so happy to see anyone in her entire life. Even if it was followed by a splitting headache and bloody nose. And he even tried helping with that.
The Hellfire leader is a good person. That's for sure. Who else would do so much and ask for nothing in return? Even agreeing to her request. It's baffling. Something she's not used to. Usually, there's a catch or an obvious benefit, whether financial, social, or another way.
Walking down the hall towards the drama room, she's both really nervous and excited. It's been a while since the last time she's gone in here. And it was never during one of these meetings. He said okay before the question finished leaving her mouth. After what happened, she just wants to stay close to him for a bit longer. Until it feels safe. Even if that means blowing off cheerleading just for one night.
This is probably really selfish. Inconveniencing others with personal issues was always a no-no. Eddie has no reason to help. He's already gone above and beyond, yet here she is asking for more. Like a greedy leech, never being satisfied. But she almost can't help it. No one else can make the bad stuff go away for a while. Help her forget… Otherwise, she'll dwell on it and that just might break her. For good.
'Here it is.'
Quietly opening the door, Chrissy hesitantly slips into the large room. This is it. Now her stomach is doing backflips. This place has changed a lot. It must've been totally rearranged at some point in the last few years.
'Wow.'
Multicolored stage lights shine down from the ceiling. Lit candles and candelabras are set up all around the area. Even a large, decorative one lying on its side on a desk. Despite all that, it's still dim in here. That gives it an interesting vibe. In the center is a long table with a bunch of chairs. The surface is covered in books, folders, sheets of paper, pens, and cans of soda on each side. Lots of them.
There's a handful of people standing around chatting, who haven't realized someone snuck in here yet. As she silently gazes around, Chrissy's eyes widen when they land on a certain figure. Eddie's sitting at the head of the table on what looks like an ornate throne with books standing up in front of him. The members of his band in their leather jackets flank both sides of their leader. His expression and demeanor seem different… More serious. Very different from when they're alone together.
'Oh my God! It's like he's the leader of a biker gang or something. They look rough.'
The cheer captain's abdomen tightens as she swallows hard, trying not to feel intimidated. A strange sensation washes over her from looking at him. A simple glance makes him appear a little scary, maybe even mean. The long hair, chains, and leather doesn't help either. Different words pop up in her mind. Deviant. Misfit. Bad boy. She internally smacks herself. What the heck is wrong with her?
This is too odd. Sucking in a deep breath, she saunters out into the open, gripping the bottom of her sleeve. There's no doubt about it. This is a big fish out of water moment. When the largest guy in the room glances over at her, he does a double take, and his jaw drops. Everyone stops what they were doing and turns to look at the intruder.
"Hi." She shifts uncomfortably and lowers her bookbag onto a desk a few inches away. This is already so awkward. The expressions on their faces just scream 'what the hell are you doing here?!'. But it's completely understandable. The cheer team would react the same way to them, except probably be more vocal about it.
"Chrissy!" Eddie smiles wide, slapping his hands down against the arms of the throne. That response alone is enough to warm her up. Standing up, he rolls his shoulders back and puffs his chest out a bit.
"What's going on?" A kid with curly hair and a cap speaks up, glancing back and forth in confusion. She's pretty sure he's a freshman but doesn't know his name.
Strolling over to the nervous cheerleader, he places a hand on her shoulder blade. Some of the tension melts away with a simple touch. Having him standing close by makes this easier. The other one stretches out in front like he's presenting her to an audience. "Chrissy here is going to be our special co-DM tonight."
'Co-DM? What is he talking about?'
"What?!" A chorus of confusion fills the room. With plenty of mouths hanging and wide eyes, too. She's just as puzzled, but for a different reason.
"That's not a thing! How would that even work?" The band member with short, wavy brown hair asks, quirking a brow. Without knowing who's who, the best she can do at the moment is separate the Corroded Coffin guys from the others. There are four of them—including their leader—two kids that are probably freshmen and an older one she's never seen before. He's definitely not a high schooler. College, maybe?
"Well, it is now. And don't worry about that." Eddie looks at him pointedly. The annoyance in his voice is clear as day.
"Hold on, hold on! We need a team meeting." The big guy puts his hands together in a time-out signal.
'Was this a bad idea? Do they not want me here?'
The man beside her sighs and looks down at the captain apologetically. "Just, uh… give me a minute. Okay?" He holds up a finger and presses his lips into a firm line, apparently not happy with how this is going.
Chrissy just nods, watching as he marches over to the little huddle the club is forming. What else can she do? When their 'meeting' starts, every word carries over. They're not that far away…
"The hell, man?"
"What's the problem? She just wants to sit in on the session tonight."
"No, not that. How dare you call her Lúthien… She doesn't even have dark hair!"
'Lúthien? What's that?'
This doesn't feel good. Are they making fun of her? She can't tell. Hopefully, that's not the case. Without understanding what they're saying, there's no telling either way. Despite their hushed tones, the group's close enough that a paper ball could easily reach them. Maybe she should walk away to give them some privacy?
"That's what you're hung up on? Who gives a crap? And she is to me, so that's all that matters."
"Uh, is no one going to ask the real obvious question? Like, why does the head cheerleader want to sit in on one of our meetings?" This one is different. Just from listening, she could tell it was the big guy and Eddie bickering before. The suspicion in his voice stings.
"Maybe she's interested in D&D?" The freshman wearing the cap chimes in. He's more upbeat than the others. That's something she can appreciate.
"Or she's here to get dirt on the club to humiliate us in front of the entire school?"
"Don't say shit like that, Grant. It's not even funny!" That got under his skin. Eddie's angry. Perhaps even offended by the tone he's using. This isn't what was supposed to happen. The last thing she wanted was to cause an argument.
'I need to do something.'
Chrissy pushes aside the anxiety nipping at her nerves and walks toward the group. This is his club… Creating issues for him is a terrible way to repay the kindness he's shown her. If they really don't want her here, then…
"I…" They pull apart as she steps closer, all staring at her inquisitively. "I just wanted to see what you guys do since Eddie runs the club. That's all. Sorry if I caused any problems." Sticking out her bottom lip, she puts on a puppy-dog face and tilts a shoulder up, wringing her hands together nervously. Boys often crumble in the presence of a sad girl. If this stops them from arguing and lets her stay with him, then so be it.
That has an immediate effect. The group's reactions range from visible discomfort to shock like they just short-circuited. Especially Eddie and the big guy, Grant. They might be overheating. In a show, this would be the moment where steam shoots out of their ears. Time to go in for the kill now that she has their undivided attention. Turning around, she grabs her bookbag and swings it over her shoulder. "I'll get going. I don't want to be an issue..."
"Wait!" Hearing the shouts from behind, Chrissy stops and wipes the smile off her face before turning back. She eyes the one who was squabbling the most over her presence. The guy that's worried about this being an attempt to harm the club. No way. That never even crossed her mind. They don't know each other, but for his mind to go that route, he's probably had a rough time with people.
"It's… fine." He looks away, scratching his head. Her little display must've flustered him. "There's no problem. Co-DM it is."
'Hehe! Score!'
The cheer captain bounces on her heels, smiling and clapping excitedly. That should help put them at ease, somewhat. If she appears thrilled at the prospect of staying, maybe they'll warm up to her a bit. Getting closer to their leader means they might all see each other more. Even if they're not friends, she wants them to like her. It'll make things a lot easier.
Eddie seems very pleased if the look on his face is anything to go by. He turns away and strides over to the corner in the back, disappearing behind a castle tower prop. A moment passes before that crazy hair comes into view, with him dragging something across the floor. Another chair. One with a puffy cushion on it. A little smaller than his throne, but still fancy-looking, regardless.
He kicks his seat off to the side to make room and sets the new one down beside it. The others slowly amble to their own, some hanging their jackets over the back or getting their sheets in order. At least they're letting her stay. She doesn't want to think about what might've happened if they didn't.
"Your seat, milady." Eddie puts his hands out towards the chair with a crooked grin, almost like he's trying to hold in a chuckle. This is why she was so desperate to come. Even willing to skip cheerleading practice on purpose for the first time.
'I like being around him.'
"You go outside the tavern, following the hooded figure. You're still a little drunk from the contest inside. The challenge now seems intentional as you head into the woods, staying a safe distance behind the stranger—"
Chrissy stares at the man next to her in awe. He's really in his element. Who would've known he had such a knack for storytelling? She's never seen a person get so into it. Let alone an entire group become entirely immersed in it all. Now it makes sense. The dim lighting, candles, and setup all add to the atmosphere they were trying to create. It works.
Slipping a hand into the bag on her lap, she pulls out another Dorito to munch on. Nacho cheese flavored. Eddie practically insisted she have some. Probably because he knows she didn't go to lunch. Just eating one isn't an option. Once it touched her tongue, the hunger kicked in.
'So good.'
Sitting in this flashy chair at the head of the table—next to him—while overlooking the others is a surreal experience. The Hellfire Club is nothing like the rumors claim. There are no rituals or sacrifices… Well, not in the literal sense. It's just a game. A game that's really hands-on with lots of numbers and dice. From what she understands, Eddie narrates while the member's made-up characters follow along. And the strange dice they roll around can determine if they can do certain things or not.
'This isn't nearly as crazy as a satanic cult. Seeing it in person, that just seems stupid.'
"Hold on, I need to consult my co-DM." Eddie leans to the side of the throne, motioning for her to come closer. Even though he doesn't lower his voice, anyway. "So, should the hooded figure attack and answer their questions if they survive, or just be helpful and hand over the goods?"
"C'mon! Why do you always gotta ask her at critical moments?" Grant complains, slapping a hand against the table next to his Mountain Dew can.
"I don't know. I think it makes it a little more exciting. Can't tell if she's trying to help out or off us." The freshman with the cap laughs while leaning far back in his chair. She learned his name is Dustin, though Eddie calls him Henderson. Just like with the other kid, Mike. They seem pretty nice. "You're just salty because you had a few bad rolls, so now you're hanging on by a thread again. That's not Chrissy's fault."
"That's not it!" Another round of arguing starts up again, with other members jumping in. Bringing up rolls, numbers, bad choices, and pointing fingers. Gareth the Great shouldn't have agreed to the drinking contest. Jeff was the one who talked them into going to the tavern in the first place.
"Shut up!" The entire room goes silent when Eddie shouts, waving a hand. Like it cut right through the bullcrap. That's actually kind of impressive. The group might bicker here and there, but they all listen to him. And it's not out of fear. There's a big difference. They respect him, even though everyone jokes around a lot. "So what'll it be?" He turns back to her and says in a much softer tone.
"Hmm…?" She taps her chin while looking down at the set on the table. It doesn't make much sense, for the most part. All the decisions so far were made on a whim. "Make them work for it."
He lets out a sharp exhale from his nose and tries not to smile. "Good choice, milady."
Grant groans, dropping back against his seat. "Awe! C'mon, Chrissy. Have some mercy!"
"That's for you robbing that peasant earlier. They probably have very little as it is, and you still did it. It's called karma. What goes around, comes around." The cheerleader lifts her chin and sits up in the chair, crossing her arms. That's also for him saying something about her hair not being dark. She's still not sure if they were insulting her or not.
"What do you mean? I'm a chaotic neutral rogue. That's what I do!"
"Yeah? Well, if you don't start rolling better, you're not going to be doing much of anything." That seems to stun Grant and a few of the others. Perhaps they didn't expect her to say something like that. Not that she really gets it. Eddie gets a kick out of it too, slapping the arm of his throne.
'This is fun.'
"Keep that steady. Hold it a little higher. I want everyone to see it." Patrick and Andy glance at each other, then raise their arms up so the banner is on full display. Perfect. Everything worked out just right. "Okay, let's go."
The basketball team leaves the gym and walks down the hall together, like a procession. Benchwarmers in the back with balloons and seniors up at the front with the banner and signs. It's an important day. His hand tightens around the bouquet, unwilling to let a single one fall by the wayside. The ribbon tied around them dances along his fingers with each movement. A beautiful collection of red roses. They weren't cheap, that's for sure. Only the best for his girl.
'Cheer practice is almost over.'
Jason ended their own a little early in order to do this. Valentine's Day is only once a year. It's the perfect opportunity to show Chrissy and everyone around the significance of their relationship and how much she means to him. When this is over, he'll take her home to get changed and they can go out to dinner. Her dad will agree, especially if he's the one asking.
"Get ready." Standing outside the door, he looks back at the team to make sure they're all in position. There's only one chance to get it right. It needs to be perfect. All eyes will be on them, so no one better mess this up for him.
"Let's do this." Bursting in, the team spreads out, holding up the signs and banner. A few startled screams ring out throughout the room and someone falls onto the mats. Amber. One of the male cheerleaders wasn't paying attention thanks to the commotion.
"Chrissy, my love." Holding out his hands and the bouquet, Jason glances back and forth to find his beloved. His eyebrows pinch together as he looks over the cheer team, not seeing that familiar shade of strawberry blonde hair.
'Where is she?'
"Jason!" Amber jumps to her feet off the mat, hastily brushing her uniform and hair. Running up to him, she leans forward and puts her hands together, acting all cutesy with that blush. How annoying. Maybe another time he'd find it flattering, but he's a man on a mission right now.
"Where's Chrissy?" He says sharply, feeling jilted and annoyed. She's supposed to be here. Didn't he say last week to be prepared? That he had something special planned for them? Unless she also has something in store for him…
"I'm really sorry. I'll make it up to you."
"Oh, she said something came up and asked me to run practice tonight…" The blonde's smile fades, seeing the change in his mood.
"What do you mean?" His jaw tightens. That's impossible. Amber's full of crap. Chrissy would not leave early, let alone miss cheer practice. That's not like her at all. And she certainly wouldn't embarrass him like this in front of everyone. No, these girls are up to something. They don't know his girl the same way he does. She's always on top of everything and never slips up.
"Stop bullshitting me. Where is she?" It comes out low and angry to not draw even more attention as his eyes narrow on the junior. This isn't funny. After getting the basketball team to do all of this, it'd be humiliating to turn back empty-handed.
"I–I don't know! Really!"
'Dammit, Chrissy…'