Chapter Two
Just as the darkness began to ensnare her once more, Josie caught a scream in her throat. She had been frightened back to reality by the van door closing and the loud theatrical voice of Eddie. Her attention was now fixated on him.
"Oh, you can't help that my dear!" He quickly quipped, putting on one of his voices.
He was leaning against the door, twirling his brown curls around a ringed index finger, mischievously grinning at her. "We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad. We're all fucking mad!"
Josie dared a glance into the side mirror, only to find the space behind her empty. Billy was gone yet again, leaving her mind in ruins. The blonde averted her eyes, peering back over at Munson. He was still smiling, one leg propped up on the seat, knee to chest.
"Cheshire Cat's got nothing on you, Munson." Her words were dry, though she did offer Eddie a meek smile for his efforts. "I'm sorry Eddie, I just—it's just been..."
"Hey, it's fine, you don't have to explain it to me." His smile faded as he repositioned himself, sliding the key into the ignition. "We all go through the shits."
Josie secured her seatbelt into place with a click and muttered a quiet, "Thanks."
"No worries, Goldilocks." Eddie turned the key over and smacked the top of the dashboard; his van sputtered to life. Slayer blared from the speakers.
As he pulled out of the car park, Eddie stole glances at Josie. Her knees pulled up to her chest, and her arms wrapped around her legs. Her head was leaning against the window pane, eyes closed shut. He had no idea what she was going through. How could he? In his mind, she was only grieving, which was the very reason he felt like a downright dickhole for being a bit put out by her demeanour. It wasn't exactly an opportune moment to tell her what he had desperately wanted to for so very long.
You see, he had pictured it—imagined if you will, the first time he found a way to be alone with her. The setting of where it took place often changed. Sometimes it was at Hellfire after the guys had left and for whatever reason, she happened to stick around. Other times they found each other in scenarios like this one: him giving her a ride somewhere. Either way in these daydreams of his, one thing remained the same. He finally tells her how he feels about her. He hasn't stopped thinking about her since the day they first met in the copshop. When he'd been arrested by her dad, standing in Hopper's office handcuffed, waiting on his uncle to come to pick him up. He'd tell her he remembered it vividly, which was the truth. Eddie would describe to her how his heart skipped a beat when she happened to pass by the office, rolling her blue eyes with uninterest when he asked for her name. How when she walked away, he slid towards the hall to catch a glimpse of her ass in those jeans, copping an earful from Hopper when he caught Eddie staring. But how could he not? Those hips turned heads—her thighs... what he wouldn't do to have those thighs wrapped around his head.
Stop it, he scolded himself, feeling aroused. Okay, so two things always remained the same in his daydreams. One: He told Josie how he felt. And two: Somehow, he gets caught up in thoughts of fucking her and then proceeds with cock in hand to belt one out. So, what? Eddie had to work out a few things before confronting her with his feelings. He'd get there, eventually. Eddie gave another glance over at Josie. Still the same. Out of all the possibilities of him finally having his moment, this was never one he imagined.
My fucking luck, though. Eddie thinks to himself. Just my fucking luck.
Eddie whipped onto the dirt road, leading them towards home.
Josie kept her eyes closed during the jostling ride to Forest Hill. Slayer pumped through the speakers, which normally would have been torture for her. This time, the music seemed to keep the voices at bay—if only for a short while and if barring her vision and splitting her eardrums didn't work, Eddie's driving had her covered.
About ten minutes into the ride home, Josie became painfully convinced that he intentionally hit every pothole. He revelled in cutting all corners as quickly and ungracefully as possible. How did Eddie ever get his license? Better question: who gave him a driver's license?
If, by comparison, being in a car with Billy had felt like being next to someone akin to Mario Andretti or Dale Earnhardt, blaring Wango Tango, Josie told herself. Then sitting next to Eddie was like riding shotgun to Fred Flintstone while clunking along to the Benny Hill Song. She made herself chuckle.
While all of that may have indeed been the truth, she had been happy for the diversions. In truth, nothing had taken her mind away from the things she had seen...things she had heard and trying to rationalise it all. Maybe losing her mind and seeing shit was hereditary? Her father had suffered from mental issues.
Jim Hopper had seen things when he lost his younger daughter, Sara. Josie recalled when it got out of hand because it had been right after her parent's divorce. He'd get blackout drunk, waking up at all hours of the evening and early morning, screaming at demons and ghosts that weren't there. It wasn't until he started on the anti-anxiety medication that his hallucinations abated. Maybe that's what was wrong with Josie? Did she need prescription drugs to help her get over what had happened at Starcourt? She bloody hoped not. She knew what those pills had done to her dad. Sure, he eventually stopped seeing Sara, but that only replaced one abyssal void for another. Jim got some rest, and in return, his eldest daughter received an emotionally deprived zombie for a father. Josie didn't want to consider drugs as a solution to this problem. Whatever was causing it, be it psychological or worse, she was going to have to deal with it in other ways. As they pulled into the Munson trailer, Josie yanked herself from her inner thoughts.
"Home sweet home," Eddie said with sarcasm. "See, told you—you'd get here in one piece. No harm done."
Lifting her head from the window, Josie gave him a small heart-felt smile, fumbling around, trying to undo her seat belt.
"Thanks, Eddie, you saved me one hell of a bike ride."
He reached over to help her with the button when their hands collided. Eddie gingerly maneuvered around her fingers, pressing the clasp with his thumb and releasing her seatbelt. He rubbed the palm of her hand with his pinky finger teasingly.
"Don't mention it, Goldilocks."
"I hate that." She was aware their hands were still touching.
Unsure of what she meant, he lessened the hold on her. "What, Goldilocks or—"
"Yes," Josie whispered, pulling away from him and tucking her arms around herself.
Eddie wasn't going to lie; that stung a little.
There was a silence that lasted only a moment, yet it felt like an eternity. The rain pitter-pattered on the windshield like a sad drowning lullaby. Josie finally brought her sore, tired eyes to rest on the image of her trailer just meters away, looming in the darkness. That was when her blood ran cold. Sitting on the stoop was Billy, glaring vehemently in their direction. She could see his mouth moving when his voice broke the silent air around her.
"Josie..." The purring sent shivers down her spine, making her skin crawl. "What are you doing, Josie? Come home to me... We are waiting for you..."
Fresh tears spilled over her eyes, stinging bitterly. Why was this happening to her? How was she supposed to make it all stop? What did Billy want—what could she give him to make him leave her alone?
The van door opened.
Josie's eyes bounced from Billy to Eddie, watching as one was leaving the confines of the vehicle and the other stood up in the distance.
"Eddie?" She whispered.
Munson steadied himself, sliding out from the driver's seat. He cocked his head towards her, furrowing his brow.
How was he meant to react? One minute, Josie pulled her hand away from Eddie like he had the plague. The next, she said his name stared into the distance, brooding.
He sighed apprehensively, "Yeah?"
Her eyes shifted again, unable to focus on either Eddie or Billy for long. She was ever fearful that at any moment, Billy might charge over to them. Having no idea what he might do if he did choose to venture that way, one thing Josie could say for certain was it wouldn't be pleasant. With that thought in mind, Josie terrified herself with the idea that she'd have to go through the ordeal from the high school all over again if she went home alone. No, she couldn't do that.
She shivered. Josie couldn't be left alone to face Billy. Eddie was the only one to turn to at the moment.
"Can I—can I come in? I just... I really—don't want to be alone right now. We could...I don't know, hang out or something? If you want to."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Josie..." Billy's taunting haunted her.
"Uh..." Eddie was visibly shocked. Did she just ask to go inside his trailer? Did Josie fucking Hopper just ask himself, Eddie Munson, if he'd spend his Thursday night hanging out with her? Honestly, whatever the reason was, it didn't matter. Fuck yes, he would... Fuck yes , he would. He did his best to remain cool, gesturing for her to follow him as he stepped out of the van.
"Yeah...Sure. C'mon."
Hurriedly, she followed his lead, jumping out of the van and rushing to keep up as he made his way to the front door. Waiting impatiently for him, she began to shiver again—never once daring to look back at the spot where Billy was or had been.
"You'll have to excuse the mess," Eddie expressed apologetically. "It's not exactly the four seasons."
Josie shrugged. She didn't care. Anywhere was better than standing there in the dark.
Climbing the few stairs up to the entrance, she noted Eddie was holding the door open for her.
"Ladies first," he bowed low, sidestepping to give her room to enter. Which Josie did, thankful to get away from the nightmare waiting for her outside. Eddie closed the door behind him.
The Munson trailer was pretty much how one might picture it. The interior was cluttered: empty cans, newspapers, ashtrays, and stray socks missing their partners, all scattered across the living area, boarding the kitchen. The aromas of tobacco and weed lingered in the dampness, giving way to a mildew scent that seemed to cling to any fabric it could. It was what most might consider a shit hole. For Josie, at the moment, it was a haven.
A single lamp atop an end table by the sofa was on. It had made a low buzzing noise that Josie found comforting.
Eddie made his way towards the kitchen, stopping at a cabinet and dropping to his haunches. Before he opened it, he turned towards the only other person in the room, noting she was still in wet clothes.
"Did uh, did you want to go home and change and come back—or?"
"No!" Her facial expressions contorted in terror. There was no way in hell she was going back outside. Not if there was any chance that something would be waiting for her in the darkness. "No, I'm fine, thanks."
Shrugging, Eddie reached inside the cabinet, pulling out a small tin box. Opening the container, he picked out a spliff, closed the box, and placed it back in the cabinet. Standing up, he patted his denim vest, looking for a lighter. Finding it, Eddie lit up.
After a toke, he realised Josie hadn't moved from where she was. Not a single inch. She just stood there, frozen. It made for an uncomfortable and awkward atmosphere.
"Do you want—I mean like...You want something dry to change into?"
Josie's arms were crossed, tucked in at her sides. She was cold, wet, and miserable... but...
"Look, I don't know what's going on," Eddie finally decided to say something. She'd been acting strange all night. "And if I'm being honest with you, you're acting fucking weird."
When she didn't respond, he continued.
"How long have we known each other? I mean, I know we've never been close and shit, but you're starting to wig me out, Josie. You're not acting like yourself. Is it about your dad?" Eddie's arms now crossed, his hands tucked into his armpits, joint hanging from the corner of his mouth. He was leaning against the refrigerator door.
She looked up in an instant when he mentioned her father. "No, it's not about him...at least I don't think it is—I'm not entirely sure anymore."
Eddie's tongue clicks with realisation. His voice became almost monotone. "Is it about Hargrove? Is it about what happened to Billy?"
The rolling thunder in her chest broke. A wounded whimpering escapes Josie's lungs. Her hand flies in a rushed attempt to cover her mouth and hush herself. Her reaction was the answer to his question.
He breathes out a 'shit' before taking another hit.
He needed it just then. It wasn't exactly the best news in the world; hearing the girl you want isn't over her jackass of an ex. Granted, Billy had died horrifically in that fire but... fuck man... still. Eddie had tried for over four years to get Josie's attention; all that fucking meathead had to do was roll into town in that car of his, wink at her, and she'd creamed her pants.
Steadying herself, sniffling away as her eyes scanned Eddie, Josie shifted her weight from the right to the left. "I do miss him, Eddie...but..." She struggled desperately to find the words and failed shortly with, "It's more complicated than that."
"Yup," he was in the fridge, pulling out a pack of bologna and some cheese slices. Fuck it, he'd grab that six-pack of beer as well. You know, because that night was going so freakin' smooth and all. Why was he always that guy? "You wanna talk about it?"
I wish I could, she thought to herself. I wish I could tell you what happened. Tell you what I'm seeing. I'm so tired of feeling alone.
"Actually," Josie did what Josie does best: changed the subject with ease. She learned that from her father. "Would it be too much to ask for those changes of clothes? I'd fucking kill for a shower too if that's not too intrusive...I'm fucking freezing."
Eddie tosses the loaf of bread in his hands on the counter and pulls the joint out from behind his mouth. His expression started hard, then faded when he took in the full sight of the miserable young woman in front of him. Rolling his eyes with a groan, he motions towards the hallway.
"Yeah, c'mon."
Leading towards the bathroom, he stopped by his room to grab a shirt and some sweatpants. "You know how to twist my goddamn arm, Hopper."
He threw the clothes into her arms and shimmied past her in that narrow hall, opening the bathroom door.
"Those should fit you. Oh, and you gotta turn the cold tap on first—let it run a few minutes and then shut it off last when you're done. If you don't, it'll drip all night."
Josie peered into the bathroom, side-stepping Eddie to get inside. The beige walls and soft yellow glow of the light gave a certain warmth to her dampened spirit, albeit she could still hear the cold rain just outside the vent above the shower.
She was holding the clothes close to her chest, nodding down at them. "Thanks, Eddie. You didn't have to do any of this for me. Especially considering... you know... Me, I guess. I'm just a big ball of joy."
Leaning against the doorframe with his head in a haze, Eddie couldn't help but stare at her. God, she was gorgeous. Fuck. Was she there in his fucking home? Yes, she was and she was going to take a shower in his bathroom.
Play it smooth, he told himself. Stepping forward, he placed the spliff in her mouth and moved one sandy ringlet from the front of her face to behind her ear. He smiled down at her.
"It's cool. The offer stands though, you can talk to me if you want. Towels are under the sink—remember cold tap—"
"On first, off last," Josie put the clothes on the edge of the sink and took a long, slow drag of the joint before handing it back to him.
When their fingers brushed against each other this time, Josie didn't pull away. He could have sworn she was smiling from what he could tell. Her face was downcast, hidden behind those curls of hers, so it was a bit hard to tell for certain. Was she nervous to look at him? Eddie bit his lip, beaming like an idiot before casually breaking their closeness and taking a final hit. He wasn't going to overstep any boundaries and ruin whatever chance he might have. Without saying anything else, he gave a small wave of his hand and backed out of the bathroom, silently closing the door behind him. She could hear him rummaging around in his room just next door, then after a few minutes, everything grew quiet. Josie was alone.
Turning on the cold tap and letting it run, she began peeling away the layers of sodden clothing. Shrugging off the leather jacket that had belonged to Billy, she carefully hung it on a towel rack that was attached to the bathroom door. Then pried off her shoes, struggling to free her feet from damp socks. Josie paused to turn on the hot water tap and continued to remove her jeans and underwear. As the steam filled the small bathroom, she hit the vent switch and then took off her shirt. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as her bra came undone, slumping to the floor. Looking into the mirror as she was tying back her hair, she noticed something odd. Josie leaned in closer for a better look.
Wiping away the condensation from the foggy mirror, Josie stared at her reflection. Cold red fingers traced her collarbone to her shoulders delicately, before freezing in disbelief. Two bluish-black thumb-shaped bruises adorned her skin and Josie felt her stomach turn in on itself. Fear coiled around her lungs and sat in her belly like a cold snake. For a fraction of a second, she was back in the hallway at Hawkins High; pinned to the door by Billy—his hands digging into her shoulders...
Keep it together, Josie. She told herself, forcefully pulling her terrified eyes away from her reflection. Reaching beneath the sink for a towel she grabs one before quickly finishing tying back her hair. Jumping into the shower, she pulled the curtain closed.
Steady breathing was her key to calming herself down. Her father had always told her when you felt overwhelmed: breathe in through her nose and out through her mouth. A way to cope with shell shock, he said. Focus on in and out, in and out... she envisioned the warmth of the water melting away the darkness, sending it down the drain. Still, all the while, she breathed slowly in and out, in and out.
Josie would have given anything to have the embrace of her dad. To have one of his smothering bear hugs, his arms so tightly snug around her she'd laugh and tell him to ease up. God, how she wished she'd never said that to him. Being smothered in one of his hugs would have meant the world. Josie could have used her dad's help.
A hand rested on her shoulder.
Spinning around, Josie nearly lost her balance, but a pair of hands kept her upright. It was Billy. This time, he looked frightened.
Josie felt faint.
"He is coming, Josie..." Billy was shaking her violently, looking over his shoulder as if rabid wolves were hunting him down. "He is coming for all of you...RUN. JOSIE RUN..."
The world around her went hazy. Vision blurred in and out as her head began to throb with a pain she'd never felt before. She lost sight of Billy and could feel her heart beating out of her chest. A piercing ring shot through her ears, causing her to cover them with her hands. Fight it.
Battling the darkness and pushing through the torment with avid strength, Josie reached for the hot water tap, turning it off, followed by the cold. Shaking her head and climbing out of the shower, the pain began to dissipate as if she escaped the reach of insanity. How could one even come to terms with this shit? What the hell was happening to her? As she towelled off, head still hurting and ears still ringing, Josie noticed a red drop fall to the tiled floor. What was that, blood? Placing the back of her hand to her nose, Josie wiped and then inspected. It was, in fact, blood.
"That can't be good." Josie breathed heavily, throwing the towel aside and dressing as quickly as she could. "That can't be good at all."