"Hey, man, have you seen my lucky pick-woah! Yuck, yuck, yuck!"

Eddie had just walked into Gareth's garage, where they were supposed to meet for practice in about an hour. Yes, Eddie was early, he wasn't arguing that point. But he always came early and usually found Gareth jamming out or watching whatever was on TV and they just…hung out.

And today he'd even had a reason; he had searched high and low and could not find his most lucky guitar pick anywhere. This was a tragedy of epic proportions if it was not found. Half of his musical genius was stored in that pick…or so he thought.

He practiced all the time. Eddie didn't want to write off the blood, sweat, and tears he's put into being an awesome guitar player, but when he played with that specific pick…ah, angel chorus.

He was 100% convinced it sounded different.

His picks falling into cases when they were packing up after shows was nothing new. He totally got they'd all been busy since the last gig and maybe it had gone unnoticed. He knew he'd had other things to do.

The remainder of his hand on Chrissy's leg still made his hand twitch and his chest grow warm. He was in danger of sounding like a love-sick sap, but who knew that just little touches like that could make someone's entire week?

Anyway, he'd come in search of his pick, but also figured that he could use a good hang with some of his older friends. He let himself in, like usual, said hi to Gareth's mother who forced (lovingly) Eddie to eat a lemon bar and then waved him towards the garage.

At least Gareth's parents didn't think Eddie was a homicidal killer.

"Gareth's been in there all afternoon, and asked not to be disturbed," Momma Gareth told Eddie, "You boys are so dedicated!"

"Good. He was pitchy last time," Eddie snorted, pushing open the garage door.

What he saw would remain in his brain…forever. His mind was going to be held hostage by this image.

What picture was he referring to?

The picture of one of his bandmates buck naked fucking a cheerleader on the old leather couch Gareth's mom had put out in the garage for their enjoyment.

She probably did not intend for this sort of 'enjoyment'.

Also, an important distinction, it wasn't Chrissy.

But it was a cheerleader because he recognized the Hawkins High cheer outfit strewn on the ground. He was not yet sure which one it was. Until Chrissy, he made it a personal promise to not know any of their names.

"Dude!" Gareth jumped up, grabbing his flannel on the ground and covering the girl he was with. At least he was a gentleman, "What gives? Do you know how to knock?"

"Uhm, get a room?" Eddie said, staring at the ceiling, refusing to look down, "Who has sex in the garage?" What if your dad came home and opened it?"

"Not so loud, shh," Gareth stumbled into his pants, "My mom-,"

"Doesn't know. Man…damn," Eddie said, "Tell me when it's safe to look."

"You're fine," The girl's curt reply was sharp-edged. He looked up to see she'd regained her skirt and tank top at the very least.

"You know, on second thought, I think your mom would be proud of you. She probably worried this day would never come," Eddie said, trying to find humor in the situation, "And she probably would never expect this. Practicing all day my ass…"

"We have been practicing," The cheerleader purred, "What's it now, four times?" She asked.

Eddie shuddered dramatically and started rummaging through Gareth's garage cabinets.
"What are you looking for?" Gareth sighed.

"Bleach, obviously. Ah-a!" Eddie found a bucket and pulled it out, "Now these damn child locks always get me, but I am determined to forget I saw that," He said, pointedly looking at his friend.

"Oh, stop it, you wuss. I know you're not a virgin." Gareth huffed angrily.

"You think I'm referring to the fact that you corrupted my pure mind? No, no. It's your white pasty ass. It's going to haunt me in my sleep. It's worse than any horror movie character I've ever seen."

"You're a right asshole sometimes, Munson," Gareth said, and it seemed like he was actually upset. Eddie blinked hard. He and Gareth had always had a fake-combative friendship, both of them being, yeah, sort of assholes to each other. But Gareth always gave it right back to him.

But since the Chrissy incident, Gareth had been…different around him. More prone to actual anger at his jives and jokes.

"I'm sorry," Eddie said, but his apology, though laced with confusion, was lost to Gareth helping the girl find her belongings.

"What are you doing here anyway, man?" Gareth asked.

"My lucky pick, ya seen it?" Eddie reiterated, "And, well, I always arrive early."

"Used to always arrive early," Gareth corrected.

"What?"

"That was the 'Old Eddie'. New Eddie hardly shows up on time. And when you do, it's clear your head is anywhere but here." Gareth said.

"Bullshit, dude. You know I love this band. I am committed!" He said, horrified and actually offended that Gareth would accuse him of being distant.

"Committed to Ch-," Gareth began, but at Eddie's eyes widening, trying not to make eye contact with a cheerleader Eddie absolutely was sure knew Chrissy, Gareth at least had the decency to cut himself off, "Committed to other shit."

If the girl, who was on her hands and knees looking for what seemed to be a lip-gloss tube heard, she made notice.

"I'm showing up! I thought you asked me to come back? If you're just going to bitch at me like my girlfriend or something, what's the point? Are you jealous?" Eddie prodded.

Gareth's jaw clenched. He ushered the girl out the back garage door, after making quiet plans Eddie couldn't quite hear, and then Eddie saw her jump the fence over Gareth's shoulder.

"Are you jealous? Of me getting accused by a mob that I tried to kill someone I didn't?" Eddie asked, "I never took you for someone so desperate for the limelight you'd think my worst days were…fun or some shit."

"Of course not!" Gareth's eyes widened, "You think that's it? That's fucked up!"

"Yeah, yeah, it is," Eddie countered back, "If not that, then what?"

"You're always with that new group, you know?" Gareth said, "At school, after school, on weekends-,"

"Oh my god, you actually are jealous," Eddie laughed, "Of…kids like Steve Harrington or Nancy Wheeler?"

"We just never actually hang out anymore," Gareth muttered.

"Because you seem to hate my guts lately," Eddie pointed out, "What did you think this was?" He motioned to himself, being here.

He half-expected Gareth to continue the fight. If Gareth had, Eddie would have said something he regretted very much, such as that Gareth had attachment issues and it was so bad he'd have sex with the first bimbo that looked his way, like that cheerleader.

It was one of the ones he really hated. He disliked most on principal, but some he had to admit were okay…but he questioned the sanity of anyone who joined cheerleading, Chrissy included. But this one, oh, damn, what was her name? Smidge? Smudge?

Whatever the hell her name was, she had always seemed like a shitty person to Eddie.

"Are you getting feelings involved?" Eddie finally sighed once it seemed like Gareth was calming down from his punchy attitude. Eddie only spoke, though, when Gareth offered the peace offering first; a can of beer.

"What?" Gareth looked at him, snorting, "Fuck no, man. She's pretty dumb and thinks got AA and D&D mixed up the last time we had a conversation past three minutes. It's all physical, that's it."

"If you're sure-,"

"What are you, my mom?" Gareth shoved his shoulder, "I'm legally an adult. I'll be at college soon where I hope to have a lot of one-night stands. This is just an extended preview. Plus, shouldn't I be asking you that?"

"Asking me…what?"

"The name that I apparently can't say out loud," Gareth said, his expression turning serious, "She's off-market, you know that right?"

"Yeah…yeah, duh."

"Okay, well, you don't seem like it," Gareth said, "Vince forgot everything from The Hideout and practice after a pretty cheerleader started flirting with him and Jeff wouldn't see the heel of a boot even if ti came sailing at his head. But I'm not them."

"What did you think you saw?" Eddie asked suspiciously.

"Hope I'm wrong; but you, lusting over someone that's not yours, and her, encouraging it. You're worried about me? Damn, kettle black. She's just leading you on."

"She'd never!" Eddie thundered, "Excuse you, Gareth!"

"See! See!" Gareth stood, his beer sloshing out of the can and down his hands, "That's exactly what I'm talking about! You're too far deep, Eddie. What happens if Jason finds out that you even are looking at her wrong? He's going to gut you!"

"Fuck Jason! He's an ass. You know that." Eddie waved him away.

"It doesn't matter. He's also insane, so we've figured out. Do you have a death wish? Because fessing up to trying to kill Cunningham would get you to the electric chair faster than waiting for Jason to batter the back of your brains out of your head."

"No, no, no death wish," Eddie waved his arms, making elaborate motions, "There's nothing going on between me and Chrissy."

He would have to tell Chrissy she couldn't come to any practices. Which disappointed him. But Gareth was pushing lines and seemed suspicious. He'd have to be careful in front of Gareth, too. More careful than he'd been of late.

"You swear?"

"I haven't kissed her or slept with her or anything," Eddie said, technically true. She'd kissed him, "I'm just her dealer."

Gareth snorted, "Wow, what an incredibly stupid idea."

"I know," Eddie did concede to that, "but…money's still tight and money is money."

This seemed to satisfy Gareth, at least enough for him to drop the interrogation session.

"Wanna see what's on?" Gareth asked, motioning to the TV.

And all was well.

XXX

Eddie was playing guitar when he heard it; a faint hiss over the walkie-talkies. He expected it to be Steve, checking in as he always did, or Dustin rambling on about some new scientific discovery he just read about until he realized that it had been left on Chrissy's channel. She'd never used it, and he hadn't been hoping, but the last time the Freshman had been on the line blabbering about end-of-year finals...he'd needed a break.

"Eagle one…to Eagle Two…do you copy?"

"Eagle one here, loud and clear," Eddie said, sure he was dreaming and just imagining it.

"No, I think I'm Eagle One, Eddie," Chrissy said, and though her voice was heavy, he could hear a hint of a smile behind it.

"Who says?" He asked, flopping himself down on his bed, "I think I make a great Eagle One. Ca-caw!" He said, giving his best Eagle impression, "Do me one better and you can have the title of Eagle One."

"I think I'd wake my parents if I tried," She said, "So I give you the title."

Eddie sighed, "It's no fun if you just bow out." There was a pause, "Anyway, what brings ya over to this neck of the frequency…" He paused, trying to riddle out the combination of words, "Erm, frequencies of these woods? This channel on this neck of these woods?"

"I just had a really, really bad night," Chrissy said with a long, weighted sigh, "And needed to.." She snorted, "I don't know what I need. Or want."

"And you decided to call little ole me?" Eddie gasped dramatically, "I am downright honored, Miss Cunningham! I won't let you down, but-," he cut himself off before he could ask something stupid.

But Chrissy knew.

"Why not Jason, right?" She asked in a monotone voice, "Why not call my actual boyfriend?"

Eddie winced at his own stupidity, "Yeah. That."

"He won't understand or just won't care like I want him to," Chrissy said quietly, "And I don't know if you will, but at least I know I tried…something…" She said, the end of her words breaking off into a sob.

"I care, I care," Eddie insisted into the walkie-talkie, "And I'll try to understand, even if I don't know how to right away, okay?" He insisted, "Thank you…for calling me." That one was pure genuine openness. None of the over-dramatic theatrics he knew he used to keep people from seeing his real emotions.

But Chrissy had chosen him. Not Cheryl. Not Jason. Not anyone else; him.

There was dead air for a few seconds.

"I want to be supportive. I mean, take your time, you know," Eddie added, "I'm not doing anything else right now."

"I'm sure you were practicing for your band," Chrissy said, and he could just imagine her wincing on the other side, "I'm disturbing you. Gosh, I'm sorry. I'll just-,"

"No!" Eddie sat up, "Chrissy, don't you hang up!"

"But-,"

"I want to be doing this. Practicing can wait."

There was a long pause, "I didn't think anything was more important than your…guitar…" She whispered. Eddie looked at where he'd carefully set the guitar on a pile of dirty laundry, giving it a cushion as soft as puppy dogs.

He quirked a smile. "Yeah, well," He said, surprised at the revelation, "There's just one thing now, I guess."

If she would have asked, he would have offered the answer. That it was her. That it was her and he didn't even care that she was eclipsing his guitar as the most important thing in his life. But she didn't, and he didn't blame her.

Instead, she swallowed audibly.

"My mom made my favorite dish tonight. For Matty's A+ he got a math test. It's not even his favorite, everyone knows it's mine." Chrissy started. Eddie ran his fingers through his hair. He didn't often put things to memory, but he was willing himself to remember it, to be there for her.

"Okay, mom made your favorite dish."

"Yeah, and I could eat…I could eat a whole pan of it. It's lasagna from scratch. It's so good, Eddie. The meat is seasoned just right with a family recipe, the pasta is super soft, and the sauce, oh god, the sauce…"

"Chrissy, are you having an orgasam over marinara sauce?" he teased.

"It's that good," She said, "Really."

"Okay, mom made lasagna," He prompted her to continue.

"And she made this big deal about how this meal was for Matty. She hasn't made this for me since…" She paused, "I don't even know. Probably since I was ten."

"And you're seventeen now, right?" Eddie prompted.

"Nearly eighteen. Counting down the-,"

"Months, yeah, I get that," Eddie chuckled.

"Days. Literally. My 18th birthday is next Wednesday."

Eddie sat right up. How did he not know that?

"It's Wednesday?" He asked, "Chrissy, what are we gunna do for your birthday?" He asked.

"We don't have to do anything! I'd prefer not to make a big deal about it," She said, "It's stupid anyway."

"It is not stupid! 18 is a big deal, Chris."

"Whatever," He headed Chrissy dismiss it. Not to be cruel, but just sadness. Wednesday was only six days away. He needed to tell The Party. He needed to try to organize…something. He needed to get her a great present, "Point being, it's been a long time since she's made it."

"Why not?" Eddie pushed aside his swarming thoughts and plans for her birthday to reconnect on the story.

"I don't know."

That was a lie; from her tone, she did but didn't want to say. Yet.

"Okay, so what happened?"

"I…I was so…excited…" She sniffled, "I haven't…enjoyed…meals since the attack. And she…she let Matty have as much as he wanted and she only let me have one piece." She held back tears as she spoke quietly, "I forgot what this hunger feels like."

Eddie wished he was better in English because it felt like she wasn't just talking about the food. Or maybe she was. Or maybe-,

"You must think me so stupid. Crying over stupid food." She said, trying to pull back her emotions.

"No, no. That sounds shitty," Eddie agreed, "I think you are allowed to feel bad about that. I wish you would have gotten what you wanted."

"Me too. I wish I could just…ugg, flip my mother off sometimes! Just scream in her face!" Chrissy said. Eddie laughed out loud.

"You do that, I will pay you. A lot of money." He teased, "To see Chrissy truly succumb to the dark side of child rebellion would be priceless."

"I'm not going to," Chrissy chastised him, "But gosh, sometimes I want to." She sighed, "Did you have a good relationship with your parents?" She asked.

"Yes. No. I dunno," Eddie admitted after thinking about it, "I was pretty young, and I'm not sure if I'm just remembering things through rose-colored glasses."

'"I'm sorry."

"You weren't driving the car that killed 'em," Eddie shrugged, "It happened. It happens. It's just…fucking life."

"I'm still sorry you had to grow up without them. Even at my mom and dad's worst…" She trailed off.

"I got Wayne. And my friends…and you?"

"Of course you have me. As long as you have me." She said.

Eddie grinned at his ceiling, "That's the easier answer I've been asked in a long time, Chrissy. So, uh, did I do a good job? At being…whoever you needed me to be?"

"You were just yourself, and yes, you did do a good job," Chrissy assured. He was glad she wasn't here, because the blush that spread across his face was bright pink.

"Going to bed now?"

"Would you mind talking a bit longer? I just don't think I'm ready for sleep."

Eddie settled himself on his pillow, "I'll talk as long as you want me to. I'm here. Promise."