Warning: Non-consensual touching.
By the time they left the Carver residence, the sun had already set. It's dark out. Chrissy sighs as she stares out the window, quietly looking at the houses passing by. The party wasn't terrible. Mrs. Carver went through a lot of trouble to get everything just right and host so many people. And it was lovely. However, that wasn't how she wanted to spend her birthday. Just thinking that seems so ungrateful.
'The day's practically over. I didn't think it would last that long.'
All the presents from the guests fit in a couple of large gift bags. Once out of their overly decorative boxes and wrappings, the gifts themselves are relatively small, yet expensive. A bracelet, earrings, silk scarf, handbags, an ornate hat with feathers and flowers, designer heels that will murder her feet, a necklace, various types of clothing, perfume, etc. It's what she's come to expect from the people in her family's social circle.
What she hadn't anticipated was Charlotte's gift. Not the one that was given to her in front of the others. Nope. After they finished eating cake and everyone started talking again, the brunette dragged her and Natalie outside to the car, specifically the trunk. Where the real present was. And it almost took them both out. Some lingerie that was still in a shopping bag, just without the price tags.
"Felt pointless wrapping them."
The cheerleader said that and just shrugged, finding their reactions amusing. Thankfully no one was out there with them or they would've witnessed a spectacle. An embarrassing one. For once, Natalie was speechless. Chrissy was caught between being a blubbering mess and asking questions that probably should've been left on the back burner. It was more to herself than actually wanting Charlotte to answer, but she sure did anyway.
To both of their surprise, she took them without a huge fuss in the end. Part of her is curious about them. Might even try them on just to see how it looks. And it was difficult to keep a curious Jason from sniffing around the bag when they were putting the gifts in the backseat of the Jeep. She had it rolled up and said it was a surprise for later on so that he'd back off. That worked, even though it was probably a bad move.
Heading down Roseline, the cheer captain holds back a yawn and quietly debates what to do after this. Maybe a shower, then some TV? The shows she likes aren't on during the weekend. It'll probably end up with her just flipping through a bunch of channels until finally falling asleep. A spectacular end to a spectacular day.
The Jeep slows down as they near the house. When they roll past the streetlight he normally parks under, she glances at him curiously. Jason keeps staring straight ahead and finally stops when they're out of the light's reach—parked along the curb where it's dark.
'What's he up to?'
Chrissy keeps him in her side view while straightening out the bottom of her dress. He usually follows the same routine whenever she's dropped off. This is different. They sit in silence for what seems like an eternity, with her anxiously looking between him and the time. It's only been a few minutes. If no one's going to say anything, then she's just going to get out.
"Thanks for driving me home… And the party. It was really sweet of you guys to do that for me." That does nothing. The only change is that his fingers tighten around the side of the steering wheel. Sighing, she grabs the purse sitting on the floor with every intention of hopping out and grabbing the bags in the back.
"Wait." That stops her from opening the door. She raises a brow and lets go of the handle. "I wanted to talk." Jason runs a hand through his hair and sits back against the driver's seat. His eyes keep scanning the street like he's checking to see if anyone's around.
"...Okay." The purse gets put back on the floor as Chrissy leans back, feeling anxious. What's this about? Hopefully it has nothing to do with Wednesday. Or someone else being a tattletale. That is exactly why she refused to ask anyone in their inner circle about buying weed. It would've reached him within a day at best.
"I know we haven't been spending as much time together lately. With the tournament going on, I've just been so busy with everything. You have, too. Being there at games and rallies isn't the same as one–on–one time. When was the last time we had an actual date?" He shakes his head, letting it fall back against the headrest. "That needs to change."
'Why now? I don't get it. The last time we actually went out as a couple was probably the party about two and a half weeks ago. Well, to something that wasn't school-related.'
"We still have a lot to sort out. College is right around the corner. My parents want to talk to your dad about some things. As if they haven't gone over it dozens of times already…" Jason scoffs at that and rolls his eyes. She can agree with the last part. Their parents have discussed it tirelessly. So much so that 'IU Bloomington' on its own has negative connotations.
"Yeah." What else is there to say to that? None of them know her dad's not even around to talk about anything, let alone college and future plans. And she certainly will not bring it up now.
"As if I'm not stressed out enough as it is! I can't split my full attention across ten different things. How am I supposed to focus on the tournament, the team, my grades, college, our relationship, and everything else all at the same time?" The tone takes a sharp turn right into agitation. "Without letting anything fall behind? And everyone's eyes are on me, expecting miracles. They're all counting on us to break this damn twenty–two–year losing streak. If we don't, I'll never hear the end of it."
"All you can do is try your best. There's only so much a person can do. You're working hard. No one should look down on that. It's not like they could do the same. That's why they look to you to do it, like with this tournament." Stressing out over it might just do the opposite of what everyone wants. People crumble under it all the time. It can easily cause a person to make mistakes when it matters most. "Still, I believe you can do it. Just focus on what's most important to you and try not to push yourself too far. Everything will turn out the way it's meant to."
Jason turns towards her and smirks, reaching out to grab a lock of loose hair hanging down the front of her dress. "And this is why I'm so lucky to have a girlfriend like you. Always so supportive and caring. You're right. I need to focus on what's important." His fingers drop the bundle to grasp the cheer captain's chin, running his thumb across her bottom lip.
"You mean the world to me, Chris. I don't know how far I would've gotten without you cheering me on from the beginning. I'm so grateful to have such a pretty, sweet, amazing person by my side." Her eyes widen as he pushes the armrest up and slides across the seat until there are only a few inches between them.
Chrissy tries to steady her breathing when he leans in, knowing what's going to happen. Maybe that should've been obvious the moment the Jeep parked in a dark area. How naïve... If it was just to talk, there wasn't a reason to avoid the light.
"I'll make it up to you… I promise."
Those words from a few weeks ago replay as his lips press against hers. It's gentle at first. A few light kisses before he gets a little bolder and deepens it. What occurred last time is happening again. Getting caught between a rock and a hard place. The more he moves forward, the less room there is between her and the cold window. And it doesn't seem like that's stopping soon.
His tongue prods at the seam of her lips, trying to find a way in. It works. That only excites him even more. A myriad of thoughts swirl in the cheerleader's mind while staying mostly still. Even if she wanted to kiss him back, there's hardly a chance with how eager he's being. Just getting some air is difficult enough.
'What should I do?'
There's no school tomorrow and her dad's car isn't in front of the garage. It's not so late that she'd get into any trouble, either. All the usual excuses won't work this time around. He's probably tired of being rejected. They've been dating for about seven months. Most people would've already gone the distance countless times by now. And after what happened Wednesday, she's tried to avoid getting him upset.
'All I've been doing is lying lately.'
Chrissy knows she's a terrible girlfriend. That's what keeps her quiet when Jason kisses along her jaw and neck. Then when his hands start roaming. The party and dealing with all those people throughout the day were mentally exhausting. It makes it easier to check out and let her mind drift away.
"Are you cold?" She blinks and glances down at him. Cold? Maybe… The heat's not on and it's nippy outside. When she nods, he grabs onto her hips and slides them both down onto the bench seat. "I'll warm you up."
'How far is he planning to go?'
Is this supposed to be the final birthday present? Did he intend on doing this before they left or is it a spur-of-the-moment thing? She thinks back to the day Charlotte was driving them around. Maybe it's better to just get it over with… But her stomach is in knots and she's just not in the mood. What if he gets angry, though? Andy keeps riling him up and making suggestive comments the last few days.
Jason's completely enthralled at the moment. A groan slips out when his hands trace up her legs, lifting the dress until it reaches her hips. It's getting hard to stay checked out. A nagging voice keeps yelling to do something and stop being such a mouse. Perhaps she gave him the wrong idea? Not saying anything isn't doing them any favors. That might as well be a blinding green light for him.
"Didn't… Aren't we supposed to wait? Until… You know." It's a struggle to get the words out when his hands run along her sides beneath the dress, causing goosebumps to break out. Part of her is hoping the question will get him to rethink this and back off. Even if the man isn't very Christian-like at all times, he still grew up with most of the same stuff shoved down his throat.
That stops him for a moment. He tenses up, panting heavily against her neck. There's already a layer of sweat across his forehead that's rubbing off onto her. A long pause passes and she wonders what's going on in there. "...We're going to get married anyway. The only difference is having a piece of paper from the state. God knows people's true intentions." She shivers at the response as he reaches up, groping her breasts outside of the bra.
Chrissy lets out a shaky breath and grits her teeth, staring up at the ceiling of the Jeep. So pathetic… Is this what cowardice leads to? Laying there while someone does whatever they want? Being too afraid to put a stop to it? Perhaps Jason got bored touching her chest—since there's not much to work with—or he's just too impatient, but he slides his hands down, hooking his fingers around the sides of her panties and tugs on them.
Wham!
She screams before he can even react. Jason shoots straight up and looks around, trying to catch his breath. A loud bang came from outside. He sits back in the driver's seat, his eyes darting all over the darkened street. Wasting no time, the cheer captain quickly rearranges her clothes, putting them back where they belong.
"Mother fucker!" He yells, smashing a fist against the dashboard. It makes her jump and recoil into the corner. Now she's scared. Seeing him so angry all of a sudden is startling. Turning in the seat, he glances back with wide, furious eyes. "Stay in here." It's not a suggestion, but an order. One she has no intentions of disobeying. Not with the way he's acting.
Jason hops out of the Jeep and slams the door shut. Blue eyes hesitantly follow the blond-haired man around the vehicle until he stops right behind it. She gasps realizing what that sound was from. The left side of the back windshield has cracks running through it, like a spider web that spreads out from the center point of impact. Something hit it hard enough to almost shatter the thick glass.
Putting his hands on his head, he appears both enraged and distraught. That ruined everything. From inside, she gazes through the window to see if anyone's nearby. Someone did that. He's doing the same, walking a few steps in each direction and peering out into the night. There's nothing out of the ordinary. No cars driving down the street or people walking around. Not a soul in sight.
Stopping abruptly, Jason bends over and picks something up off the ground. She squints to see what it is. Before making anything out, he angrily lobs it into a random yard nearby. What was that? The cheerleader tries to calm down and grips the bottom of the pink dress in her small fists as he gets back in.
"Tch! Some piece of shit thinks throwing rocks is funny." Running a hand through his hair, he sits back with an annoyed expression, glancing at the mirrors every few seconds. There's not much to do about it if there's no one around to point fingers at. Neither saw anything. Just heard it the moment it happened.
"It probably isn't a good idea to sit here," Chrissy says quietly, keeping her eyes trained on the dashboard. Seeing him so mad and cursing is uncomfortable. Not that she blames him. Anyone would be upset over this.
"If whoever did it is smart, they're long gone by now or hiding. Otherwise, I'd strangle them…" The muscles along his jaw tense as he takes another look in the rearview mirror at his ruined windshield. "Damn, this is going to cost me. Don't worry. I'll get it fixed. You should probably head in. There's no telling if any more are coming. "
She nods and leans over to grab her purse while Jason gathers the gifts. What a way to end the day. "Get in as fast as you can and lock the door. Got it?" He instructs, pulling the large bags into the front and holding out the handles for her to grab onto.
"Mhm." They kiss and he gives her one last hug before she gets out. Keeping her head down, she trudges across the front yard without a care about the flats, heading straight for the door. This time, she doesn't look back to wave or smile. Just goes in and locks the door as ordered.
'Can't believe it.'
Did that really just happen? Chrissy numbly drags herself up the stairs and into the bedroom, not knowing what to make of it all. The gift bags are mindlessly tossed onto the desk. They don't matter right now. Nothing does.
Crawling onto the bed, she lies on her back and stares up at the ceiling. Just like in the Jeep… Right now, everything's a mess. A big, jumbled-up mess. That wasn't how it was supposed to go. None of it is. Thinking straight is harder than it ever should be. From the moment he kissed her, it's gone from a million racing at once to complete silence. Bouncing from one to the other, with little room in between.
'I hate myself.'
If the windshield didn't get cracked, how far would it have gone? Was she going to stop it? Say anything? It shouldn't be like this. They've been dating for so long. Almost forever in high school years. Most relationships last maybe a few months... if they're lucky. At this point, she should be eager for his attention. Not hoping for anything to get in the way and ruin their good time. Something is seriously wrong with her.
Chrissy's bottom lip quivers as she covers her face, feeling the familiar burning sensation in the corner of her eyes. This is the worst birthday ever. Almost the entire day was spent with people who don't actually care. Both of her parents are gone. Nothing went as planned. Now she gets to sit here in this empty house and wallow in all these emotions that are tearing her apart inside. All because she's a coward that's too spineless to make decisions on her own.
The minutes pass so quickly. She keeps glancing at the clock, watching as a half-hour slips by. A thought pops up to call Charlotte or Natalie but after already spending some time together, that might just be a bother to them. They've done enough. The cheer captain rolls over and grabs a pillow to bury her face in. Maybe going to sleep is the best option. Better than spending the night crying like a baby.
Grabbing the end of the duvet, she throws it over herself and curls up into a ball underneath. Now all that's left is to wait for the nightmares to come. Then she can wake up with a headache and blood on the pillowcase to clean. Another day in paradise… She takes a deep breath and stops the sniffling enough to relax. Crying always makes her tired, so drifting off is easy.
Tap.
Tap.
The noise causes Chrissy to jolt back awake. Running a hand over her face, she tries to shake off the drowsiness when hearing another tap from across the room. What is that? It could be some bird or tiny animal in the tree right outside. Wouldn't be the first time. There was a woodpecker that hung around last summer that drove her mad.
Throwing off the duvet, she creeps over to the window to look. Getting closer, something hits the glass that causes her to jump back. It's tiny. Small enough that she could barely make it out. A nut? Rock? Rushing over to the wall, the cheerleader hesitantly peeks out from the side to see what's going on. Her eyes fly open when they land on the tall figure below.
'Eddie!'
A hand clutches the front of the dress as she lets out a sharp exhale. Her heart's racing. He actually came… He's here. Right now.
'I'm such an idiot.'
It should've been obvious. Perhaps she's still not thinking clearly after all. Who else would throw stuff like that? And at her window, of all things? This is the best surprise. One that completely washes away any lingering sleepiness. She's fully awake now and charged. Then there's another tap against the glass.
'Uh–oh. If he accidentally breaks it, my dad's going to kill me…'
Quickly sliding it open, Chrissy yelps and hops back when something flies past her face. "Oh, shit!" he shouts from outside. The object lands on the carpet and she leans down to see what it is. A small pebble. "I didn't hit you, did I?!"
That was close. Too close for comfort. That guy is dangerous. A thought crops up that puts a smile on her face. He messes around all the time. There's nothing wrong with doing it to him, right? Just a little? Placing a hand over her eye, she pokes her head out of the window.
"You jerk!" She yells, glaring down at him. Eddie's eyes widen and jaw drops when he sees her. A horrified expression spreads across his face. This leaves him almost speechless, struggling to form anything coherent. It only lasts for a moment before her lips curl up and a snicker slips out.
"You little liar." He says playfully, crossing his arms. "A bad one at that. Couldn't keep it together for more than ten seconds, huh?"
"Sorry, it's not my specialty." Leaning on the windowsill, Chrissy gazes down at him warmly. Jokes aside… she still can't believe he's here. Standing next to the tree down below. The small lights outside aren't bright, but they're enough to see him pretty clearly. That denim vest is gone again. He's got on a plain black tee beneath a red flannel shirt and his leather jacket. Her eyes zero in on the black bookbag on the ground next to his feet.
'What's that for?'
"Good. Makes things a lot easier... Can I come up?" The question throws her through a loop. He wants to come inside? In her room? Hardly anyone does that. Even after all the years of knowing each other, Jason's only been in it a few times. That was mostly before they started going out and the door always had to stay open so her parents could periodically check on them.
"S–Sure." It's not like the cheer captain hadn't wanted to invite him in before. She was really close to doing it last Friday after the Hellfire meeting. And no one's around…
Eddie seems pleased with the response and snatches up the bookbag off the ground, slinging it over his shoulder. To her utter surprise, he grabs onto the lowest branch and pulls himself up. She goes to say that there's a perfectly good front door to use but stops herself. It's too late. The guy's partway up the tree before a single word could come out.
'Why is he like this?!'
Grabbing a lock of hair, Chrissy twirls it around her finger. Yeah. There is a perfectly good front door to use, but watching him climb a tree to get to her… She feels airy and warm, and there's a fluttering in her stomach again. Butterflies. They're going wild, dancing and swooping around in there.
It doesn't take him long to reach the ledge. He's tall with long limbs, making it look so easy. She takes a few steps back as the Hellfire leader climbs over the windowsill and into the bedroom. Getting to his feet, he straightens up and pushes his shoulders back.
"Huh." The bookbag's set down on the carpet gently. Eddie stands in place, glossing over everything from one pale peach wall to the other. What's he thinking? She shifts nervously, staring at him from the side. Compared to his room, her's is boring. Exceedingly so. There are no instruments, flyers for live shows, record collection, posters, or anything really of interest lying on any of the surfaces.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, not really." He puts his hands on his hips, still taking it all in. The Queen-sized bed and puffy duvet. A vanity against the wall with a chair in front of it. Across the room is a desk with the gift bags sitting on top. Near that is her walk-in closet. Beneath their feet is a fluffy, light tan carpet that she's taken a few naps on over the years. And nothing is overly dark or too bold. "It's kinda how I imagined your room to be like. Everything looks… soft."
That's fine. Soft can be a good thing. Perhaps girly is the right word though. Not that she had much of a say in how the room was decorated. Her mom made all the decisions when it came to interior design. There was little to no input from anyone else. Even for furniture placement.
Eddie whips his head back towards her. They stare at each other for a moment before his brow furrows. "Why were you crying?" He asks quietly, studying the cheerleader's face with a slight frown.
"What? What are you talking about?" She quickly turns away, trying to dismiss the obvious. It's silly. What's the point of playing dumb? He's standing right there and clearly noticed. That's still not something she wants to admit to. Those feelings from earlier were beginning to fade with his presence.
"Well, I'm not a genius detective or anything, but—" Taking a step closer, a hand grasps her chin and tilts it up. Chrissy swallows hard, trying to focus her gaze on a random object in the background. It's better than looking him in the eyes. They see too much. More than what she's used to. "—the runny mascara? Yeah, a dead giveaway." A thumb reaches up to rub the skin above her cheek, tracing the streak of makeup.
"I…" She takes a deep breath and pulls away, letting his hand fall. "Didn't know anyone was coming by. I would've fixed it." Doing stuff like that only makes everything more confusing and mixed up inside. Even if it feels good. The cheer captain pads across the carpet to the vanity and sits down, pulling open the drawer to take a few items out.
"That is not the problem. At all." They both know that. Eddie probably couldn't care less if her makeup looks like crap. It's what caused it to end up this way that's the issue. He silently watches as she sighs at the reflection, yanking out a wipe and getting to work. It's not too bad. There isn't much to do about the slight puffiness below her eyes right now.
Burying both hands in his underarms, he seems a little dejected. That wasn't intentional. Fixing and applying a fresh layer of makeup wasn't necessary either. She just needed a distraction from doing something stupid like spilling her guts. Balling up the wipe and tossing it into the small trashcan beside the vanity, she can't resist throwing him a glance. He's awkwardly leaning over in place, peering at the bags on the desk.
"You mind? I'm curious what the nobility considers a present."
"Sure, go ahead."
"Where the hell are you supposed to wear this thing to?" She squints to see what he's referring to. Eddie pulls out the large hat with feathers and cranes his neck back. Grinning, he twists it around, inspecting the gaudy piece with amusement. "You go to those murder mystery parties or something? You know, the ones in a mansion where they always have a flapper girl and butler?"
"Nope. And if I did, it certainly wouldn't be in that." She can't help giggling when he slaps the hat onto his head and goes back to rummaging in the bag.
"Better not. I might have to rethink this whole thing if you did. Even I have limits." He snorts, pulling out a silk scarf. It's draped around his neck with the end tossed dramatically over his shoulder like an actress in the movies. Every so often, their eyes meet in the mirror and it dawns on her that this is probably to lighten the mood. A goofy attempt to make her laugh. And it's working. "They know you're not a sixty–year–old woman, right?"
'He's silly.'
Chrissy smiles and picks up the mascara. The final touch. What happens after this? Are they just going to hang out here for a while? Hopefully this doesn't end too soon.
Eddie's suddenly quiet again. Twisting in the seat to see what he's into now, she raises a brow at his turned back. Something in there caught his attention. She leans to the side to get a glimpse of what he's staring at. Just barely, the open square box becomes visible in his hand. The one Jason gave her with the bracelet in it.
At first, she thinks he's going to try that on too. Bad idea. His wrist is too big for it. That doesn't happen. He just keeps looking down at the piece of jewelry, not saying anything. Or moving a muscle. Almost frozen in place.
'What's with him?'
"So, what's with the bookbag?" The most she's seen this guy carry around is that old pail that holds his weed and a few other things, like rolling papers and cigarettes. That seems to draw his attention away from the bracelet. He takes off the gifts and puts them back where they belong before going over to the item in question.
"Well…" It trails off when his fingers touch the handle at the top. For a second, there's a bit of hesitation. He seems to shake it off and grabs the bag, moving closer to the vanity. "I got you something for your birthday. The aristocrats can't pick out anything decent to save their damn lives. That shitty hat just proves it."
No way. Chrissy stares in disbelief, barely registering him flopping down on the carpet and pulling the bag onto his lap. He got her a gift? Really?! As far as she's concerned, him just being here is a present. It's already brightened up what was a lousy day and made her feel so much better.
"Uh, Chrissy? Earth to Chrissy?" A ringed hand waves a few inches away from her face, trying to get the cheerleader's attention. The news just took her for a spin.
"I can't believe you got me something…" It's difficult to contain herself. She smiles ear–to–ear and slides off the chair, getting down on the carpet too. The thought of him doing a thing like this never crossed her mind. After all, he only found out about the party a few days ago. Not much time to really plan stuff out.
"Okay, okay. Don't get too excited, now. It's really nothing special." Despite saying that, Eddie's a little off. Opening the bookbag is taking longer than it should and he keeps fiddling with the zipper.
'Is he nervous?'
"Of course it is! It's from you. How can I not be excited?" She sits on her knees, trying to keep the bottom of the dress from riding up. This is the most delighted she's ever been to receive a present. The guilt can come later.
"If you get your hopes up too much, you might be disappointed." He grumbles, staring down at the zipper between his fingers. That's confusing. She's not sure if he's anxious or sulking. Maybe a mix of both. "Close your eyes. I'll give 'em to you one at a time. Got a certain order."
Chrissy squeezes her eyes closed and waits patiently as she hears the bookbag open and the sound of crinkling wrapping paper. After listening to it all day, there's no deceiving her ears.
"You can open them." Looking down at the space between them, there are three gifts on the carpet. All in wrapping paper with an unreasonable amount of tape on them. He really intends to make her work for it, huh? Still, she's excited enough to bounce off the walls. "This one first."
The larger one of the group is placed in her lap. Without hesitating, she snatches it up and looks for a spot with no tape to tear the whole thing off. Thankfully it doesn't take long. Her eyes widen as the paper falls onto the floor. A book. It has a blue background and a picture of a bunch of characters in a forest on the front.
"J.R.R. Tolkeen? Toolkin? Tolkien?" That name is a struggle, but he nods with the last guess. "The Lord of the Rings, Part One… The Fellowship of the Ring." She reads out loud, taking in all the details. This is a fantasy book, right? Does it have anything to do with D&D?
"I, uh, figured since you like reading, maybe you might give this a try. If you want… And it'd help you understand the references we throw around, so you're not completely lost. I mean, it's only the first book. There's more besides this." Eddie shifts on the carpet, clearing his throat. Before she gets a chance to thank him or really say anything, the other two gifts are being shoved onto her lap. "Okay, now these. Open the smaller one first, then the other right after. They kinda go together."
'Why is he rushing me now?'
"Alright." Doing as he requested, Chrissy gasps when she tears the wrapping off. She stares down at the little image in surprise. It's a cassette tape. He drew a picture on the front of the card insert. An angel with her eyes closed and hands clasped together in prayer. It's even colored. And she looks really familiar.
'Oh my God!'
"Turn it around." She does that and is blown away by the other one. It's the complete opposite. A devilish figure with horns, fangs, and crazy hair. The background is dark with a moon and bats in what's obviously a night sky.
"Side A is stuff from the folks you mentioned before… B is kinda a bag of mixed nuts. Songs you might like or made me think of you. Or some lighter jams that I wouldn't mind listening to while we're hanging out. It's like a little sample platter. Donna helped a bit since she knows more about what's popular. The titles are on the inside."
The cheer captain opens the case, trying to keep her hands from shaking as she gazes down at the list. It looks like he made a conscious effort to write more neatly compared to what she saw in detention. Glancing over the titles on side A, a breath catches in her throat. There's at least one song from all the artists she mentioned that day they smoked out in the forest.
'He remembered.'
"Still have one more." Chrissy keeps her eyes lowered and quietly takes the last gift. Opening it up, she holds the box tightly. This guy is unbelievable. "You said books, tapes, and stuff that has some thought put into it, so yeah."
"And I had a walkman, but it's… broke."
"Do you like them?" He asks tentatively. When there's no response, it's clear that makes him uncomfortable. Out of the corner of her eye, she can see him fidgeting, his fingers messing with the chain on his belt loop. "Chrissy?" The cheerleader turns away when he leans in, tilting his head. "What's wrong?"
Dropping to his side, Eddie inches across the carpet to peer up at her. Loose strawberry blonde hair acts as a curtain around her face, but he manages to get a look. Seeing her bottom lip quivering and tears welling up in those blue eyes causes him to rear back in confusion. "Is it that bad?!"
"N–No. It's not that." She sniffles, putting the walkman box down on the floor to wipe her eyes. "I love them. No one's ever gotten me anything like this before... or put so much effort into it. They're the best gifts anyone's ever given me."
It's his turn to be stunned. He sits up and scratches his mouth, looking away. "...They're nothin' to write home about." That only makes Chrissy more upset. She covers her face and lets out a sob that throws him off. "Hey! That's illegal. No more crying on your birthday."
It can't be helped. When has anyone ever gone above and beyond like this? Not only remembering stupid little things she's said but pouring their time and energy into something for her? That has some real thought behind it. The book is a way to include her in his group. And the mixtape? That had to take a while. Just the card insert on its own has a lot of effort put into it.
"Nope, nope, nope!" Eddie shakes his head and waves his hands back and forth. "If you cry again, I swear on all that is wicked and sullied in the world that I will throw myself out that window."
At that, she immediately sucks in her lips and winces, struggling to hold the tears back. This guy's a wildcard. He might actually do it, just to make a point. It's not worth the risk. And calling his bluff is dangerous too.
"That's better. Well, sorta." The corner of his mouth curls up from watching the lame attempt to control her emotions. "You already fixed your makeup. It'd be a shame to mess it up again over these." He huffs, grazing a finger over the cover of the mixtape.
'So full of crap.'
Despite disparaging the gifts, it's just a front. He does care about them and if she likes them. A lot. Another instance of him being too cool, but his body betrays him. She's starting to pick up signs that might've gone unnoticed before. What is clear right now is that someone wants to know for sure that their presents are wanted and appreciated. Just without the waterworks.
"Thank you." Chrissy leans over to hug him tightly. It must've taken him off guard. He sucks in a sharp breath and stiffens up before slowly relaxing. Long arms wrap around the cheerleader, pulling her tightly against him. His head drops against the crook of her neck, letting it rest there.
Part of her wishes it can stay like this, but nothing lasts forever. Pulling away, she stares down at the carpet and hopes it's not too bad… The redness in her face. Apparently, that's now a common side effect of hanging around this guy. But he's not much better. It just shows up a little differently and is easier to conceal on him thanks to that long hair.
"What do you want to do?" He looks away and busies himself with putting the gifts on top of each other with the book on the bottom, making a neat little pile. They get pushed off to the side. She'll have to wait until later to get any time with them. "It's your birthday, so we can do anything you want. Even if it's jumping off a bridge."
"Nothing that crazy! I'd like to live past eighteen." The suggestion was enough to make her chuckle. He's too much. Still… What would she want to do? Glancing at the clock, a sigh slips out from seeing the time. It's pretty late, even if it's a Saturday night. Maybe a better question is, what can they do? There's no doubt he could come up with a million ideas. "I'm not sure. What do you think?"
"Nuh-uh. This ain't about me. It's your day, so you get to choose. Doesn't matter what it is. Could be driving to Chicago to get a little wild or just kicking back and watching shows. Either way, it's all up to you." Eddie falls back onto the carpet and puts an arm behind his head, getting comfortable as he stretches his legs out with a groan. "No rush. Just let me know when you think of something."
'What a punk. Can't he help me out with this? I have no clue!'
Chrissy chews on her bottom lip, fretting over the entire thing. The ball's in her court and she doesn't know what to do with it. He said they can do anything, but still… Being mindful of the choice is important. Every time they do anything, he always insists on paying for it. That will probably be the case for this too, considering the circumstances.
'Eddie's not well–off and neither is his uncle. Yet he did all of this for me. And wants to do more. I don't get it. I hope he's not shooting himself in the foot just to make me happy.'
"Not sure. I never really did what I wanted on my birthday. It was always turned into some little social event for my parents, their friends, and their kids."
He's a kind person, even with his potty mouth and bad behavior. It's a shame more people don't get to see that side of him. Maybe he doesn't want them to. Making a decision isn't easy, but there's one thing they can do that won't cost much that she's been wanting to do for a while. It's really mundane though.
"I have something." She plays with the hem of her dress as he cracks a lid, peeking out from under it. This took a few more minutes than it probably needed to. "I want to watch a scary movie."
Both eyes open at that. Eddie shoots up and raises a brow at her, surprised at the request. "Really?" Out of all the things to choose from, it sounds so silly.
"Y–Yeah…" Now Chrissy feels a little embarrassed. He probably thinks she's a super dweeb. "My parents never let me watch anything like that. I tried at Charlotte's, but couldn't get through it." She says shyly, using a hand to cover part of her face. It's all warm again from him staring.
"Is that so? I vaguely recall someone telling me they watched too many horror movies." The smirk on his face makes this so much worse.
'I forgot I said that!'
"...That was a lie."
"Oh, I know. I could tell you were full of crap right off the bat." To think he even remembered the excuse she gave him in the hallway while waiting for Jason to finish up practice.
"Am I that easy to read?" She whispers somberly, hanging her head. So it was true. There was just a feeling that he'd know she was lying. It was useless after all. But telling the truth wasn't going to happen. They weren't friends then. And it's not like she really opens up about much now either.
Eddie goes quiet for a moment. Perhaps he's thinking of how to tell her she's a terrible actress without hurting her feelings too much. "Ah… Wouldn't say that. Plenty of people seem to buy it. Not me." He starts messing with the ring on his right hand, twisting it around. "Guess when you're raised around a bunch of cons and liars, it's easier to see through bullshit."
The cheer captain stares at him blankly, processing what he just said. That brings up an interesting point. Now thinking about it, she doesn't actually know that much about him. He doesn't really offer up a lot, either.
'He was raised with a bunch of cons and liars? Is that referring to his parents? Maybe that's why he lives with his uncle?'
"How do you wanna do this?" The subject is quickly changed. Sighing, he hops to his feet and holds out a hand to help her up. "It's late, but Family Video should still be open. We can rent a few if you want."
"Yeah, that sounds good." This probably isn't a great idea. There was one truth in what she told him that day… She's a scaredy–cat. A big one. The only reason this is happening is because he's here, so it shouldn't be as bad. Otherwise, it's a huge 'no'.
"Okay, sweet." To her surprise for the dozenth time tonight, he walks across the room and throws a leg over the windowsill.
"Wait! What are you doing? We can just go downstairs."
Eddie pauses and looks back at her with a strange expression. "Yeah, about that… My, uh, van isn't exactly out front. I need to run and get it. Just wait on the porch until I pull up." With that, he climbs out of the window and onto the nearest branch.
'That still doesn't explain not using the front door.'
Chrissy's in a good mood. No, a great one. That's obvious when they get out of the van and walk through the parking lot. She's practically skipping while keeping up with his long strides.
'So cute…'
The lot's pretty full. It's a Saturday night and right next to the video store is the arcade. Of course there were going to be people out and about. Suggesting this was a really dumb idea. If someone from school sees them, it'll get around so damn quick… That doesn't bother him but could cause problems for her. This is what squares refer to as 'not a good look'.
Oh, well. Eddie would rather focus on her than a bunch of 'what ifs'. To be honest, he's in a good mood too. Things worked out despite a few hiccups. He really wasn't sure how the night would go or if he made the right decisions. But seeing how happy she's been so far, there are no regrets.
Stepping up on the curb out front of Family Video, he speeds up to get the door for her. Chrissy smiles warmly and walks in. That pink dress might just be his favorite outfit on her so far… Besides the cheerleading uniform, of course. Not that they aren't all good. She just looks extra sweet today.
Following right behind her, he freezes after taking a few steps inside the store. Dark eyes narrow and his lips pull back into a firm line as he stands rooted at the entrance. This is some real bullshit. It's too late now. Whatever happens after this, it'll be all his fault.
'Fuck!'
Sitting behind the counter are Steve Harrington and Robin something from band. The pretty boy already graduated, but that chick goes to their school. When they pause their conversation to see who came through the door and repeat the usual obligatory customer service spiel, both of their eyes widen.
Of course that happens. Eddie's not an idiot. He knows exactly how this appears, especially to an outsider. Even without knowing who they are, seeing him and Chrissy together is strange. They're polar opposites. She's just this tiny woman in a pink dress bouncing around and he's… him. But those two do know who they are, and that makes it completely different.
'They better keep their traps shut.'
At least for now. He doesn't want anyone ruining the night. It doesn't seem like Chrissy gets to enjoy her birthdays usually, so she deserves this. From what was said in the van, the nobility didn't help at all. That includes Captain Douchebag, too. They all suck ass. That leaves him to pick up the slack.
The Hellfire leader doesn't look away as they stare at the odd couple, refusing to be the first to break eye contact. He plays this game all the time and always wins. Robin's the first to lose when she glances at the cheery captain, who seems completely unfazed by any of this. The Hair follows suit, leaving him with his undefeated record intact.
'She's not worried at all?'
Eddie shrugs it off and trails behind her, not leaving too much room between them. After all, she's the one with something to lose, not him. The most he might have to deal with is shit–talk or a fistfight. No biggie. That's probably inevitable at this point.
After whispering to each other, Robin comes from behind the counter and walks up to them, asking if they're looking for anything in particular. She seems pretty laid back, despite being a bit shocked at first… and a band geek. He doesn't have any hard feelings toward her. So far, that is.
"I'm looking for something scary." Chrissy's eyes go all wide as she says it excitedly. He can't resist grinning at that. Too adorable. Even if she might be getting in over her head.
"Over here." The short-haired chick leads them over to a section of the wall filled with mostly dark VHS tapes. A lot of the covers are familiar. On the way here, he thought about what would be good choices. It doesn't look like they have the ones that were in mind. Mostly just mainstream horror flicks, like Friday the 13th and Halloween.
He scans over the selection while the two girls have small talk, keeping his hands in his pockets. She doesn't watch stuff like this and probably doesn't know what to look for. Now, the real question pops up... Is he going to be a jerk and get something really scary in hopes that she'll grab onto him?
'Oh, they have The Exorcist. Surprise, surprise. Didn't expect that.'
The longer Eddie stares at the cover, the deeper his frown gets. Nah. Can't do it. Sure, Chrissy might get frightened and inch closer to him to feel better, but that's rotten to do on purpose. And she's pretty sensitive. Then there's the whole wigging-out thing from last week.
'Nope. Not doin' it.'
The tape gets put back on the shelf and he moves on. It seems like it's up to him to make the choices from the way she's talking to Robin about school crap and not movies. That's okay. He already told her this was right up his alley, so that might be why.
Screw it. Grabbing a few and maybe a comedy—just in case—will have to do. Spending a chunk of the night just picking something out isn't part of the plan. There's still another stop after this before going back to her place. And he'd much rather do that than stand here looking at clamshell cases while someone burns a hole through his back with their eyes.
Looking through the window at the small building and neon sign, Chrissy wonders what they're doing here. It's on the 'bad side of town'. Not too far from The Hideout and that diner they went to before.
"You want anything?" She shakes her head at his question without glancing back. He didn't say anything about making stops, but that's fine. There's no room or reason to complain. They're still hanging out and that's all that matters. "Do me a favor. Just, ah… stay in here and keep the doors locked. 'Kay?"
"Yeah. No problem."
Eddie hops out and heads into the store. Or bar. Or whatever it is. She's not entirely sure. There are a bunch of signs for alcohol, cigarettes, food, lottery tickets, and other stuff. The large, lit–up windows in the front give her a small view of the inside. It's not much. Just enough to see a small portion of the place.
'Yeesh. I'm glad he didn't ask me to go in with him.'
The people hanging right outside and in the building look beyond rough. Not in the same way as in The Hideout, though. It's different. The fact that he said to stay in the van and keep the doors locked tells her everything she needs to know.
After about ten minutes pass, the cheer captain gets worried. It's probably just this place that's putting her on edge. Still, scenes keep playing out in her mind that become more ludicrous as time goes on. Hopefully he's fine… If she goes to check and it really is nothing, he might get upset that his instructions were ignored.
'Eddie said that for a reason.'
Sitting all the way back against the seat, she sighs and swings her feet back and forth. This is going to be a long one. The paper bag on the floor has five movies in it. Getting through all of them is unlikely… They can try anyway. It seems like he's going to be staying the night. That, or leaving extremely late.
"Hm?" Her ballet flat gets caught on something under the seat. "What the heck?" Leaning forward with a huff, she reaches beneath to feel around for whatever is wrapped around her foot since shaking it off didn't work. Patting the floor of the van, the tips of her fingers graze a cold, hard object.
"Come on." It takes a minute and turning the thing to the side to get it out, but she manages to get the job done and free the flat, too. So this was the culprit… Her face twists in confusion as she holds it up, trying to make heads or tails of it. A metal object with grips and a yellow elastic band. Is it a workout thing?
'Oh! Okay, I think it's supposed to be held like this… Is it some kind of slingshot?'
Chrissy purses her lips as realization hits. So that was his doing… That should be a startling thought. Nope. Not anymore. She probably wasn't supposed to see this. It was haphazardly jammed beneath the seat. And it goes right back there.
She jumps when the door in the back opens. Turning and poking her head above the seat, Eddie's there with some bags and a box. He tosses them down none too gently and slams the door closed.
"What's all that?" The cheer captain asks when he gets in, starting the van up quickly. No wonder it took a bit. At least everything's fine.
"Just felt like drinking tonight. This is the only place still open that doesn't make a fuss over IDs. And I got a pizza. Something to eat before throwing 'em back."
"Because it's one of the golden rules of the Munson doctrine, right?" That's what he said at the diner before. So, the plan is to drink a bunch? Are those bags just full of beer?
"Heh." Pulling out onto the street, he glances over at her with a grin. "You got it, sweetheart."
"I don't mind taking something, you know." She turns back with a concerned expression. It's not that big of a deal, but this man is incredibly stubborn. Trying to carry all the bags, balance a pizza, and watch his step while walking up the path to her house.
"Christ, Chrissy… I'm not gonna make you carry my shit on your birthday. Just get the door for me." Yep. Stubborn as hell. All there is to do is sigh and run ahead to unlock the front door.
Holding it open for him, Eddie stops after taking a few steps inside and looks all around the parlor. Just like when he climbed into her bedroom. This is his first time coming through the house, so it makes sense. She did something similar at his place.
Chrissy eyes him curiously as she takes off the flats and leaves them below the coat rack by the door. To her surprise, he follows suit, awkwardly kicking his sneakers off while trying not to drop anything.
"The kitchen's this way." Part of her feels a little self-conscious about this. As she guides him through the house, his eyes are darting everywhere, taking in all details. The swank furnishings, ornaments, vases, framed art, and her least favorite, the 'family picture'. He stops for a moment on their way to glance at it. She absolutely despises that thing. A family portrait her mother had commissioned to be painted and proudly displayed in the home. If it was up to her, it would be boxed and put in a corner of the basement. But her dad keeps it up.
"Damn. I'd hate carrying groceries through this place. Guess that's one good thing about trailers. Everything's close in that piece of crap." Heading into the kitchen, he's obviously relieved to finally rid himself of the baggage. It's all set down on the bar.
"I like your trailer."
Eddie makes a strange face at that like she's off her rocker. "We can trade if you want." He starts taking stuff out of the bags. A six-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Then another. And another. Her eyes widen as she looks from the cans back to him. No one would actually drink that much, right? "Why do you like it?"
She drags her gaze away from all the beer, hoping there isn't more in the other bags. "I don't know… It feels more like a home." That seems to confuse him. He dumps out some snacks onto the counter, arching a brow at her. "I mean, it looks like people actually live there, instead of being all pristine and ready for a showing. It's nice and cozy."
"Huh. You really are a freak." A hand lands on Chrissy's head, ruffling her hair as he chuckles. She swats at it, which only makes him laugh more. "I didn't know if you wanted to drink, but I got some wine coolers just in case. Since you're the one person in this town that doesn't like beer."
'Uh–oh.'
She really underestimated him… A mistake that won't happen again. Where this guy puts it away is a mystery. He scarfed down four slices of pizza and washed it down with beer. Taking a bite first means the golden rule is technically not broken. According to him, of course. The coffee table that was pulled out in front of the couch is littered with empty cans.
One is being used as an ashtray. Just about everything going on would warrant a life sentence without the possibility of parole from her dad, but there's still almost a week left until he comes back. The place will be aired out and cleaned up long before then. Besides, this is easier than him going outside every thirty minutes to smoke.
The movie they're watching is Return of the Living Dead. A zombie flick he picked out. Chrissy's sitting on the edge of the cushion, eyes wide and lips parted as she grips the wine cooler in her hands. Having the lights off makes this so much more creepy.
At the moment, there are a bunch of punks running through a cemetery. Literal punks. Chains, leather jackets, piercings, funky hairdos, and all. She doesn't know how they'll survive because the guys in the mortuary found out these zombies are a lot tougher than originally thought. Practically invincible. Bashing their heads in does nothing. Same with cutting them into pieces. They just keep moving and trying to chomp on anyone they can get their hands on.
'Freaky!'
"Is this too scary for you?" Eddie asks quietly, throwing her a side glance. He's already seen this before, so looking away for a few minutes won't ruin anything for him. At least, that's what he said. Every so often, she catches him staring from the corner of her eye. Maybe to see if it's a bit much for her. They are his choices after all.
"N–No." What does he take her for? Of course it's too scary, but she's going to suck it up like an adult and get through it. This could be worse. It isn't too bad. She takes the last sip from the wine cooler and leans forward to slip the empty bottle onto the table with the rest. Between that and some of the sparkling wine she snuck out of her parents' collection, her stomach feels warm.
'I'm enjoying this.'
Reaching over the side of the couch, the cheer captain feels around for the lever below and pulls it. The right half tilts back as the leg rest pops out. "Woah!" That throws him off. "Hoo boy… This thing must've been pricey. Does the other side go up, too?" He wastes no time downing what's left in his can and from the sounds of it, there was still quite a bit.
The recliner interests him for some reason. Rubbing his hands together, he grins and quickly leans over to do the same thing on his side. Once everything's in place, he stretches out his legs and lays back, letting out a deep breath. "Man, my uncle would love this bad boy."
'I think he's feeling really good.'
"Ah!" Chrissy screams, covering her mouth when a horde of zombies suddenly runs out and attacks the paramedics that were there to help Freddy and Frank. They didn't stand a chance. The rabid-like undead came from all sides.
"It's okay. Don't be scared." A hand touches her back, rubbing small circles along it. If he's trying to be comforting… it's working. Reacting like that's still embarrassing. It makes her a little mad at herself.
"I'm not!" Her bottom lip sticks out in a pout as she stares at the TV. The entire notion's rejected, despite how obvious it is. Looking like a big baby in front of him wasn't supposed to happen.
"Little liar." Eddie leans in close and gently grabs her face. "That's the second time you tried bullshitting me." His long fingers press into the cheerleader's cheeks, smushing them together. This really amuses him as he moves her head from side to side. "You're being a bad girl tonight."
She doesn't think her eyes can get any wider. What did he just say? Blinking rapidly, her face turns bright red and feels way too hot. Feverish, even. After a moment, it finally hits him too… like a lightning bolt. All that alcohol must've caused his mouth to get ahead of his mind. Yanking the hand back, he grimaces and quickly gets back to his previous position.
'I'm being a bad girl?'
Was that him or the beer talking? Or is the beer giving him the push to say things that are going on in his head? Chrissy wants to crawl under the cushions and hide. And from the looks of it, so does he. Hesitantly looking at him from the side, he looks stiff as a rock, keeping his gaze intently fixed on the TV screen.
Now there's an awkward silence between them. It's uncomfortable, but she's not sure what to do. The only thing that's for certain is that her heart's beating furiously. Totally out of control. This is bad. One of his hands almost covered the lower half of her face… She never really noticed that before.
They watch the rest of the movie like that. Neither saying anything nor looking at the other. The moment it's over, Eddie turns on the lamp sitting on the end table. The sudden brightness makes her wince after being in the dark. "Hey, uh, where's your bathroom?"
"Down the hall on the right. Last door." She can't help feeling bummed out when he nods and gets up to leave without sparing her a single glance.
'Maybe I should've just been honest and admitted I was scared.'
It's alright. Nothing that can't be fixed. Even if it means putting on a puppy-dog face or buttering him up. Having things get weird between them sucks. This has been a really nice night. Letting something small ruin it just won't do. If only there was a way to know what's going through his head. Things would be so much easier.
Sitting up, Chrissy grabs the glass with wine in it. A wine cooler isn't strong enough on its own to give her the courage she might need. Getting buzzed should make it easier to say what's on her mind without losing it.
After what feels like a century, she debates going to check on him. What if he's drunker than it seemed? Maybe passed out somewhere in the house? Or got lost? Perhaps he went into one of the rooms and conked out? Or left? That last one would be really upsetting. Leaving on that note would be terrible and it'd mean he's driving drunk. So many bad things could happen…
"My bad." Relief washes over her when that fuzzy head comes around the corner. He's not looking away this time. "Didn't wanna break the seal, but what can you do?" Giving a little shrug, he waltzes over to the VCR beneath the TV and crouches down. The VHS in the system goes back into its case and another one's picked up.
'I'm glad he's letting it go.'
"You sure you can handle another?" Eddie looks back with a smirk. Back to being a punk. Good. She nods, taking another sip. This should help. "Nightmare on Elm Street. You good with that? Might be a little much if Return of the Living Dead made you jump."
"Yep! Besides, even if I do get scared, you're here… I'll be okay." He stares at her with an unreadable expression before whipping back toward the VCR. Saying nothing in response. His shoulders raise up high and a hand reaches up to grab a bundle of hair, pulling it towards his face. The other fiddles with the new tape case, opening it up.
'Eddie can be really cute sometimes.'
To be honest, Chrissy probably can't handle it. They'll have to see. When the lights go off and the movie starts, she's glad when he sits a little closer this time. Being near him makes everything a little easier.
Whoever came up with this film has a really twisted mind. They're not that far in, and the concept alone is terrifying. A girl named Tina is having horrible nightmares where a creepy guy torments and attacks her. The scary part is that the injuries the victim receives during the dreams happen to the person's actual body. And she's not the only one experiencing it.
'Nightmares…'
The cheer captain's arms wrap around herself as she leans forward on the cushion. Sneaking a quick peek at the man next to her, he seems completely relaxed. Arms stretched out across the back of the couch and eyes focused on the screen. Perhaps he's seen this one before as well? Or it takes a lot more than this to rattle him.
The next scene is of Tina being murdered… In bed, while her boyfriend—Rod—is helpless to do anything about it. She winces as the screaming woman's dragged up the wall toward the ceiling, unable to defend herself against Freddy's slashes. It's a bloody mess. Rod's immediately suspected of the crime. It makes sense. Who'd believe it was a serial killer in another realm?
"Hey." Chrissy tears her gaze away from the TV, slowly turning to look at him. He's staring, long and hard, narrowing his eyes on her. "Stop trying to act tough." It's quiet, and the gentle tone doesn't match the words. She's a little taken aback, quickly trying to form a retort. Nothing sounds good. Maybe a light, half-hearted smack will do the trick and get her point across.
"...C'mere." The arm lounging across the top of the couch drops down onto her shoulders, slipping around them. When it gives her a little tug, she mindlessly follows, too stunned to think straight. Nothing's working upstairs. Just a bunch of buzzing and floaty thoughts in small fragments that are too incoherent to mean anything.
The arm guides her closer until there's no room left between them. Maybe it's from the alcohol, but she just lets him move her around. Pulling the cheerleader right up against his side. All of that beer must be making him bold. She hesitantly lays the side of her face down against his chest as he yanks the side of his flannel shirt out from under them. It's draped over her, acting as something of a pseudo-throw in place of an actual one. The piece of clothing doesn't reach far, though it's enough.
"Better?" He asks, rubbing her upper arm. Slowly, the tension throughout her body melts away. This is okay, right? A small nod is all he gets in response. She doesn't trust her own voice right now. Between the wine and nerves, nothing's trustworthy on her. The best thing to do is just lay here quietly and watch the movie.
Eddie's warm. Really warm. And she can hear the beats in his chest right up against the side of her face. It's loud and fast. Is he anxious? The captain shifts to snag a glance from below, and it's not helpful. He's just staring straightforward with a stony expression, giving nothing away.
Can't be helped. Chrissy sighs, pulling her legs in and getting comfortable. This is nice. Perhaps too nice. The smell of beer, cigarettes, and spice is strong. Between that and the warmth, she kind of likes it here. It feels cozy and safe. Enough to relax while the movie continues. Maybe it's not so scary after all.
Long fingers pull at the bunny ears up top. Another thing that's allowed to happen. She doesn't mind when the headband's taken off and tossed somewhere on the couch. Or when he messes with her hair. It's like back in the stairwell… Him stroking the top of her head and playing with the loose strands.
'What am I supposed to do?'
A bunch of conflicting thoughts and emotions claw at her insides. She's all mixed up, not knowing how to handle any of it. Right seems wrong, but wrong feels right. And her gut, mind, and heart are having a showdown, with two in agreement and the other holding out. Perhaps the logical choice isn't the best one.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. Jason should be the one laying here, running his fingers through her hair as she slings an arm across his waist… Not cuddling up with another guy on her birthday when he's not around. Why did it turn out this way? Maybe skipping class that day and hiding in the girl's bathroom was a big mistake. She just had to go on an adventure to find some pot, huh?
This is the second time today that she let a man do as they pleased and it ended up with very differently. If that didn't happen to his window, Jason probably would've kept going and she was too much of a baby to say anything. But couldn't he pick up that she wasn't into it? There has to be a way to tell. Just little signs, at least. She can usually figure out how he's feeling just by the way he talks and holds himself. Surely it's not that difficult to do for her?
"Oh, I know. I could tell you were full of crap right off the bat."
Eddie can tell… He knew something was off and they weren't even talking then. Why is Jason so oblivious? Even when she went days without eating or sleeping, he didn't seem to notice anything changed. And she told him so many times before that getting expensive gifts makes her feel incredibly guilty. He never listens. Always presenting her with something over the top in front of everyone, even before they started dating.
'He never really hears me. Barely pays attention. Doesn't seem to care most of the time… Is always more concerned with making a good impression on everyone else and doing what his parents want… Not that I have room to talk.'
If it wasn't for Eddie, this might've been one of the worst birthdays she's had. He made it the best, even after what happened in the Jeep. All by listening and remembering things she's said in passing. Books, tapes, and stuff that has some thought put into it. And pushing her to decide what they do for the night since she never got to choose before. No one ever asked. It was always just a given.
He probably doesn't realize it, but what they're doing right now is another present in itself. She's wanted to know what it's like to do something like this for so long. Just to lie with another person and curl up with them. To be embraced… A little intimacy without any pressure to fool around.
'He's good to me… And doesn't act like I'm a dumb little girl that needs to be told what to do or how to think.'
If Wednesday proved anything to Chrissy, it's that an open friendship is impossible with their current circumstances. Jason would never allow it. With Andy goading him on, there's a possibility things could turn violent. But she doesn't want to stop being friends with Eddie…
Now that they got to know each other better, it'll be too painful to just walk away. There will always be the thought of 'what if' that trails behind her every step of the way. It shouldn't have started in the first place, and now it's too late.
"You okay?" Her brows shoot up at the question, stunned to realize she was balling his shirt up in a fist.
"Y–Yeah." She stumbles out a little too quickly while trying to smooth out the article of clothing. His muscles tense up as her hand brushes over his chest. It wasn't intentional. If he didn't say anything, she probably wouldn't have realized it until it was all out of sorts. "Sorry."
"You're good." He snorts, going back to playing with her hair.
'...I think I like him.'
How does he feel about her? Maybe it is just as a good friend. He might be drunk and is in the mood to cuddle. Charlotte gets like that sometimes. All she knows is that the thought of never seeing him again hurts. Too much. More than it should. Perhaps a needy, selfish part of her is clinging to him and the way he makes her feel.
It's only a matter of time before something gets out. Tonight could be it. There were plenty of people around. Not to mention Steve and Robin saw them. Constantly hiding things is exhausting. Eddie shouldn't be one of them. He's better than that.
Chrissy can see it. The crossroads up ahead, where a choice needs to be made. Left or right? Which path is the correct one? Make her dad, Jason, the Carvers, the Church, and their social circle happy? Or do what's right for her soul?
"Who gives a damn what other people think? Do what makes you happy."
That might cost her everything. Even if… this goes nowhere, following the plan will ruin her. She knows it. Staying quiet at Jason's side while constantly doing as she's told and being terrified of disappointing everyone for the rest of her life is a special kind of misery. One that will slowly rot her from the inside out, leaving nothing behind but a husk of a person.
"And tell 'em to shove it. They're not the ones walking in your shoes. You don't want to wake up at fifty with a bunch of regrets just to make a few squares happy."
Maybe she's being stupid. Incredibly stupid. There's no way of knowing for sure until it's too late.
"...I don't want to be with Jason anymore…"
The hand in her hair stops moving and she can feel his entire body stiffen up. "What?" Eddie whispers but he heard it. The beating beneath her face and his breaths pick up, going a little faster than they already were. She doesn't respond. Saying it once was hard enough.
Chrissy stares at the TV, using it as a distraction from losing it. She sucks in her quivering bottom lip and lets out a shaky breath, trying not to let herself cry. The hand above eventually goes back to running its fingers through her hair and she's grateful for that.