It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day for a white wedding
It's a nice day to start again

Billy Idol- White Wedding

Eddie went for a walk to clear his head while Chrissy called.

Had he almost just…kissed her?

It's not like the idea hadn't crossed his mind once or twice, but it was always in a sort of 'hey, what if we kissed' sort of way, just a weird thought experiment.

Never had he felt like it was something he…wanted.

Not like this, not with the intensity of it.

"I'm crossing wires, bud," He muttered, "With Wanda and Chrissy."

There was a truth, however, he needed to consider.

Chrissy was stuck with him, and vice versa, for the unforeseeable future, not just as his fake wife, but as his…partner in this crazy adventure.

It would be far better to nurse a crush on her rather than despise every bone in her body.

It was nothing to decide right now, he told himself.

Being the sort of guy he was, when he found himself in a jewelry store, he decided to do a kind thing. Or a big gesture.

He bought her a ring.

"My girl and I are gonna get married here," He told the shopkeep, who wished him all the happiness in the world.

He wanted that too. They both had gone through hell, so yeah, they deserved the rest of their lives to be easy!

He walked slowly back to the hotel, staring at the ring. It was an actual metal band with, well, not a diamond, but a gemstone. The shopkeep had told him it was a garnet. Whatever it was, it was really pretty.

He'd gotten a decent price on it.

Perhaps it wasn't exactly smart to be sending the cash they had on stupid things like rings, but Chrissy deserved something.

He knew girls planned their whole weddings out. Maybe Chrissy had too. In her wildest dreams, he would bet this was never on the top of her list.

And that sorta sucked.

He bashfully presented the ring to her after coming in, shucking his coat off to the welcome of Chrissy saying that Suzie was working now on their new passports and .

"She's going to bump up our ages a bit. Probably for the best." Chrissy said, "I think we'll both be twenty-two, she said."

"Alright." Eddie coughed, "Ehm, I got this…for you…"

Chrissy frowned, watching as he opened his palm where the ring sat. Her eyes widened.

"Look, if you hate it-,"

"I don't. I just…" She reached for it like it would burn her, "I didn't think of that. Rings."

"Well, we gotta look the part. Dear old Scott spent a whole month's rent on this, just for his darling Wanda," He said, motioning for her to take it, "He would, for her. And he would spend more if he wasn't a better person with money than Eddie actually is." He added with a wry grin.

She carefully slid it on, twisting it with her hand immediately, "It fits."

There was a long moment when neither knew what to say, other than this was barreling very quickly toward, 'oh, shit, this is sorta real'.

"You know? I never asked you how job searching went yesterday," Chrissy said, tapping her forehead. It felt like an easy way to veer sharply from conversations of weddings. Eddie knew what she was doing, but he didn't blame her.

"Oh! It went well…I think." He went for his notepad, "I could fix cars; couldn't ever afford a mechanic, so I became my own one. There are a few shops around. Uhm, I could work anywhere that needs tech help with music. I did all the music for the band and the tuning and all. So, damn, you know, that's any entertainment venue. I could play music, though that's doubtful. Maybe one day. Or just for fun, to make some extra bucks…" He tapped the sheet, "I could be a dishwasher somewhere. I'd probably hate it, but they're always hiring in restaurants. I could be at a radio station because my music knowledge is perfect. I could also work in a record store if I'm lucky and there are openings…" He shrugged, "I guess I don't really know much about you, but there are lots of places that need people. What do you think you could do?"

Chrissy gave a weird noise, something like a laugh, and covered her face with her palms.

"What?"

"It's unkind…what I'm thinking," She winced, "I'd better not."

"Chrissy, just out with it. I've heard every shitty thing, so you could not possibly spring a new something on me," He assured with a roll of his eyes. His ability to take mean comments was perfect, his skin as thick as hide. It was like a superpower you received if you were born in a trailer park. A shitty one, but a superpower nonetheless.

"Well, you're the kid that deals drugs and failed high school…twice. And I had great grades and good schools lined up for me. How is that…you have so many choices and I can't think of anything?" She asked, and shuddered, "See! That was mean, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"No, it's," Eddie tried not to wince, "Truthful. But just goes to show all that money flung at college, what's the worth, huh?" he said, "You just save your parents a lot in college funds."

"I'm sure they'd rather have me back, but I guess that's a silver lining. Or maybe they're happy without me." She said, moving away from Eddie. He opened his mouth to assure her that he was sure they missed her, but that felt like crossing a line of intimacy, of friendship, they weren't at.

"Well, could you waitress?"

"I'm actually very clumsy, despite being a cheerleader."

"Bartend?"

"I've never had alcohol, I don't know if I could give good recommendations."

"Uhm," Eddie sucked in through his teeth, "Clothing department salesperson?"

"I'm not…good at ambushing someone to convince them to buy something. I'm really not persuasive."

"Okay, okay," Eddie rubbed his chin, "We'll find it, don't worry. There are hundreds of jobs here. Oh! I know…" He started, and then choked a bit, "Never… never mind."

"What?" She asked.

"No, nope, nothing. No ideas here."

Chrissy narrowed her eyes, "Spit it out, Munson."

"You're gunna want to hit me."

"Eddie," Chrissy growled.

"You were a cheerleader. A dancer. You could be a…" His face went red.

"A stripper?" Chrissy choked.

"I told you. Stupid, stupid idea." Eddie said, groaning, angry at his brain for even suggesting such a thing.

"I…I haven't…I wouldn't…" She stuttered, "I don't think I'd be any good."

"Of course."

"I hear they make good money, though," Chrissy said, biting her nail, "And I do have rhythm."

Eddie almost spat out his drink, "It was a bad, bad idea. You don't have to consider it."

"What does Las Vegas have an excess of? Strip clubs. If I'm going to hell, I might as well go all the way, right?" She said.

Eddie shook his head, "No, god, Chrissy, are you…okay? I didn't think you'd be…into that."

"The Chrissy before, maybe not," She said with an edge that scared him, "But this Chrissy killed her boyfriend and ran. I don't think I can judge current Chrissy for much of anything."

"I just…I don't like that. I think there are better options," Eddie whispered. He'd hate himself forever if he watched her descend that far into sin and vice. And it would be his fault.

Chrissy gave a smile, reminiscent of the Chrissy he remembered at the forest bench, god, was that really only two months ago, maybe less?

"I'm sure there is. I'll see what I can find otherwise first. But as a last resort. It wasn't a bad idea, really."

"It was, but alright," Eddie said, though it still made him nervous, "Marriage. Apartment. Job." He said. It was easier to see their steps forward with a list.

Chrissy reached for his hand, squeezing it, "Marriage. Apartment. Job." She agreed, "And then, we just try to live."

That one seemed impossible to do, but Eddie added it and would whisper these steps to survival over and over; Marriage, Apartment, Job, Life.

XXX

Eddie tugged at his collar. If the heat of Las Vegas wasn't enough to make him sweat, standing outside of a chapel was.

They'd taken $10 each to the local thrift store to find something suitable to wear. What they had wasn't an option, mostly because they didn't have much in the way of clothes.

Eddie had watched Chrissy scrawl 'get clothes' to the ever-growing list of things they needed to pay for.

They'd gone back and forth if this was a good use of their money; should they be saving it, or buying something off the 'necessary' list? After a lot of unsureness, they'd decided that they should wear something close to wedding clothes. At the very least, something neither would wear normally.

It was Chrissy who finally gave the sealing decision; "Real married couples have photos. If we get our picture taken in a pair of jeans and an old Hawkins Cheer uniform, we won't look serious, and people would start to wonder."

They were going for cheap. It didn't need to be the newest wedding dress in the boutiques, it just needed to be wearable out of the store.

This meant most of their choices hailed from the 70s. A whole era of fashion Eddie would be pleased to leave behind.

But, he managed to find a chocolate brown velvet suit that didn't look too horrendous, along with a pair of shoes and a shirt with it. He still had a few bucks left over and bought himself a pair of shorts, since the weather in Hawkins was very different from a desert like this.

Chrissy didn't elect to wear a white wedding dress.

She'd also taken off her cross necklace, he realized with a hint of worry.

All he saw was a flash of silvery in her arms as she came towards the register, a pair of heels balancing on the top.

"Black heels; a necessity for a girl," She said by way of explanation, that Eddie cared what she did with her $10.

"Shorts. A necessity for weather that's hotter than Satan's balls," Eddie said, holding up his find, "Oh, and an outfit for later."

He'd tried to sneak a peak, but Chrissy had said that he, like a good groom, should wait until their wedding moment.

They'd gotten the fake from Suzie just today. It had taken a week, one week filled with anxiety about their slowly tightening wallets and fear that someone might still figure out what they were doing.

But so far, they hadn't run out of money and no one paid them any attention.

When he had seen Chrissy, he will admit, it took his breath away a bit.

It looked like a dress that a folksy singer might have worn on stage for a concert. And what with it being Las Vegas, that was a pretty high chance. It was silvery, long, and drapey, and looked like she was stepping right out of starlight.

"I'm sorry," He whispered as they waited for their names to be called, "That this is probably not what you imagined your wedding to be."

"I guess not," She agreed, "It's still a chapel, I guess. Somewhat religious."

He nudged her shoulders, "Did you have the big fancy princess gown in mind? A whole week of people worshiping you? Bad food no one remembers anyway at weddings? Is that what…" He swallowed, unable to finish. Is that what I've taken away from you?

"You know," Chrissy said, squinting into the sun, "I honestly don't really remember. I guess I…thought about it as a kid, but things change. And it's been such a busy year that I didn't really have time to revisit the thought," She bit the inside of her lip, "Jason wanted all that. He wanted the spectacle, the attention." She whispered, "I think I would have hated it."

"So, somehow, you stumbled into the perfect wedding by sheer dumb luck. No one here but us, just a few moments, and done?"

"I suppose," Chrissy agreed, and then laughed, "I think you're right."

The door opened, "Miss Rambeau and Mr. Reed?"

It wasn't an Elvis impersonator, at least, Eddie reminded himself as he got up, palms wet enough to leave marks if he wasn't careful. For as bad as things were, it could always be far, far worse.

He could have been suck with Jason. Not sure how that one would have played out, but heck, it could have happened.

That would have been rock bottom.

It sounded like he was whining. Ooh, poor Eddie! Having to marry the girl you've thought was hot for a while. The tragedy of it all. The absolute unfairness.

But he wasn't marrying Chrissy.

Scott was marrying Wanda. He wasn't sure how they'd keep it separate, but for her sake, they had to, right?

It was a quick affair, just as he thought.

They said repeated vows. Simple, easy to parrot back, broad-strokes. There were two workers there as witnesses.

They exchanged some rings they'd found in the thrift shop too. Not cheap costume jewelry, at least, but not new. It was dinged and dirty, but that was a pretty good metaphor for their current situation, Eddie thought to himself.

He almost got through it with his heart rate at a normal pace, until the man marrying them said, "And now you may kiss the bride!"

How stupid was he to forget this is what happened at a wedding?

He looked at Chrissy, eyes wide, and from her expression, she hadn't been expecting it either.

He had to, though.

No, that sounded wrong. He wanted to. He, as in, Eddie.

But Scott would want to as well. They were madly in love. They'd thrown the bird to their families and ran away. Scott should be biting at the bit to kiss his new and lovely wife.

He wasn't sure, but Chrissy must have come to this realization too because they moved at the same time.

Passion, desire, unending want, Eddie whispered to himself. That was the sort of kiss he was going for.

He was sure he'd done a pretty good job because someone had to clear their throat to remind Eddie and Chrissy they weren't alone.

When Eddie pulled back, lips still tingling, he was sure his breath would never stabilize again.

Yeah, okay.

He could deal with being married to her.

The rest went fast; signing their marriage certificate, getting a few pictures, and paying their fees.

They were pushed as another couple was waiting.

Just like that…they were married.

Eddie couldn't stop staring at the ring on his finger. It caught the light and gleamed, and he just found himself mesmerized by it.

"Food before we meet with the landlady?" Chrissy said.

"I want cake," Eddie announced, which was almost a response, "You have cake at weddings."

"Let's find a bakery, then."

Once they were sitting with their cake, Eddie held it the marriage certificate up to the light.

"Think we should tell the Party?" He asked.

"The…who?" Chrissy frowned.

"You know 'The Party'. Steve, Dustin, Robin, Nancy, Max…the whole works," He gestured with his hands, "My friends. The ones who know we're…" He coughed, hoping that was enough without saying it out loud. You never knew who had their eyes and ears on you in public.

"I don't…" Chrissy frowned, "I would rather we not."

"Ashamed?" He asked, his voice teasing, but was worried she may actually say yes. And then he'd have to live with that knowing he'd opened that can of worms and asked her.

"No," She said, which was a relief, "I just…is it necessary for them to know? Will it change anything? I don't think anything that isn't…" She struggled, "In help of them clearing our names…we shouldn't have that much contact with them."

Eddie stabbed his cake, "Right you are. Glad I have you here, stopping me from making stupid mistakes."

Chrissy tutted, "They're not stupid."

"Oh, but they are," Eddie wiped his lips with the back of his hand, "You haven't even seen full idiot-Eddie yet." He assured, "You're going to regret marrying me in a week. I mean, Wanda will regret marrying Scott. That." He said, wincing as he remembered the lines he was trying, but failing, to draw in his mind.

Chrissy chewed on her lip, looking like she was about to say something bigger, but instead, she just pushed her cake away, "Are you ready?"

"To get our own place and get out of the hotel filled with roaches? Uhm, no. I think I'd like to befriend them." He said, and at Chrissy's roll of his eyes, "Kidding! Yes, of course. Let's hit it."