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Chapter Text

Eddie tapped his fingers on the steering wheel of his van along to the beat of an imaginary song playing from the radio. He wasn’t blasting the music like usual because he was driving none other than Chrissy Cunningham, the Queen of Hawkins High, to his trailer for drugs. Never in a million years did he think that Chrissy would be one of the many high schoolers to meet him at the iconic picnic table in the woods for some weed, but hey, there’s a first time for everything, right?

The only thing was, she ended up asking for something stronger, which most of his teenage customers didn’t do. 

She was Miss Perfection. Not a toe out of line type. So, why would she want drugs of all things?

They met up during lunch, so after they parted ways and went back to class, all Eddie could think about was the why. 

It was not unlike him to think about Chrissy; he had been nursing a hefty crush on her since they first met in middle school. But now, he knew something about her beyond the facade she presented to the world and he couldn’t let it go.

He watched her at school, when he bothered to show up, and sometimes he swore her goody-two-shoes mask would fall away. It was when she thought no one was looking, but he was. He felt like a creep sometimes, but he was drawn to her like a moth to the light. 

Her face would turn solemn and her eyes haunted. But she would perk right up if someone wanted her attention, and the sadness he thought he saw moments before would completely disappear. It was only today that he really trusted that what he had been seeing was real. 

When he came through the trees to find the picnic table, they had accidentally bumped into each other and he swore Chrissy jumped a couple feet into the air. He wanted to blame the fact that she was an accomplished cheerleader that she would react so drastically but it was the way she screamed as she turned to face him that told him something wasn’t right. The pure terror on her face even set him on edge, but she calmed upon realizing it was him (and he would admit, he was getting flustered under her gaze of unbridled relief at seeing him—he wasn’t used to her noticing him). She even stopped shaking when he spoke, asking if she were okay and reassuring her everything would be alright; that she was safe.  

But as time went on, those words seemed like a lie. People were usually skittish during their first weed transaction with him, but Chrissy’s fear felt different . . . deeper. It bothered him because if Chrissy felt that scared of something in her perfect life, then it had to be something bad. She had even asked him not to leave, she sounded so scared. 

It made him nervous because he wanted to help her, but didn’t know how. 

She even asked if he ever felt like he was losing his mind and the only thing that made her ease up was him making a complete fool out of himself, but what could he say, he was a performer. 

And now, he could say that he, The Freak, Eddie Munson, had made Chrissy Cunningham laugh on multiple occasions. 

Seeing her unabashedly smile at him as she sat at the picnic table made it all worth it. He liked that her front teeth were slightly crooked, you’d miss it if you weren’t looking hard enough. And he hated to admit it, but he was looking at her any chance he could. 

Alone with her in the woods, he couldn’t pass up the chance to flirt a little bit. 

He was sad to see her go when they parted ways, but he knew he would be seeing her in a few mere hours. 

And now, she was in the passenger seat of his van as he drove her to his trailer. She was still in her cheerleading uniform. She probably ditched as fast as she could after the basketball game. He had almost become a puddle of nerves waiting for her after his DnD campaign but he felt it all disappear when she ran up to him with a small smile on her face. 

She was looking out the window and hadn’t said much, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable. More like she was distracted and didn’t even care to notice that what they were doing was a bit odd. 

As he admired her ponytail as best he could while still driving safely (he had protected goods in his car with Chrissy here) he felt sort of sick at realizing what he promised her: special K. In the moment at the picnic table, he had been thinking of anything to do to make her feel better. 

But, now? Could he really give her the drugs? 

Maybe he got hit in the head with a rock earlier, but for some reason, he felt protective over Chrissy and now it was even worse because he caught a glimpse of her true self when they were in the woods, just the two of them. 

She had remembered him, and his band Corroded Coffin from when they first met at the middle school talent show. And now, he wanted to know more about her; everything about her. From what he could guess so far, what she needed was someone to talk to and listen to her. 

He was no therapist, that’s for sure—he didn’t do the best things to cope with his own issues, but Chrissy deserved better than that. 

He told her a multitude of times that she could back out any time she wanted as he pulled out of the school parking lot, but she insisted, seeming determined.

Eventually, they made it to Forest Hills Trailer Park and pulled up in front of his and his Uncle Wayne’s place. 

“Welcome to my castle,” Eddie said and loved the way she smiled at his stupid joke as they walked to the makeshift steps that led to the front door. 

He held it open for her and as she passed him he couldn’t help notice that the top of her head didn’t even meet the bottom of his chin. He wasn’t considered tall, but she was tiny. 

And it was cute.

He shook his head at his thoughts and followed her inside. 

She stopped to stand in the middle of his living room, kind-of kitchen? Trailers make it all a tight fit. She turned toward him, wringing her hands in her oversized zip-up sweatshirt and stayed looking at her feet. Somehow, she made herself look smaller than she already was. 

Eddie cleared his throat, trying to figure out what to say, but regretted it when she jumped at the sound. Now looking at him, she gave a tight smile. He could tell she was trying to be polite and proper despite how spooked she looked. 

Was she scared of him? He would have to rectify that. He was no longer worried about making a deal and selling. He hadn’t cared since the moment they met in the woods. 

He cared for her. 

“Hey, Chrissy,” he started slowly, “we don’t have to do this if it’s something you’re not comfortable with.”

Her stormy blue eyes widened. “Oh, no! No, Eddie I want to be here… and to do this.”

“I have to ask, what’s going on that you want something stronger than weed? And if you don’t want to tell me, I totally get it.” Eddie threw his hands up in what he hoped appeared a surrendering way. 

Chrissy began to speak, but before she could utter a complete word, she clamped her mouth shut so hard he heard her teeth clack together. Her bottom lip began to wobble and she was blinking rapidly as she looked away from him and toward his couch on the other side of the room. 

She was trying not to cry. 

Instinctively, something he had only apparently only experienced with Chrissy, he stepped toward her wanting to comfort her. 

He was the type of person to give up and run when things got too hard, but right now there was an ache in his heart for the cheerleader in front of him and he wanted to fix it. 

“It’s not like me to care about why my customers purchase from me, but . . . Chrissy, you seem scared. Really scared. It looks to me like something beyond any issues a girl like you should have.” 

Now Eddie was the one who looked away as he shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and teetered on his heels. He could never sit still. He didn’t want to overwhelm her with what he said, but it was true. 

She had the perfect family. The perfect house. Hell, she even had the stereotypical perfect boyfriend even though he was an asshole to anyone who wasn’t blinded by his fakeness. The thought of Jason hurting her made Eddie clench his jaw in anger. If Jason was doing something to Chrissy, he would make him pay. 

“Is it . . .,” Eddie licked his lips, trying to get the nerve to ask the question, hoping it didn’t upset her. “I know it’s not my place, but is it Jason? Did he do something to you?” His question accomplished something: getting Chrissy to forget about crying because she was so shocked by his question. Not knowing what to do as she stared at him with her mouth hanging slightly open, Eddie rambled. “I mean I would help you, if something was happening. I’d beat him up, or whatever you’d ask.” He awkwardly laughed. “Although, I might not be the best person to fight him since I don’t work out and he does, but I’d—”

Chrissy interrupts him with an exasperated sigh and her shoulders slump forward. “Honestly? I don’t want to be with him anymore and I feel like I am falling apart because of it. For almost my whole life, I have been told that Jason and I were going to end up together. We were pushed into dating by our parents, so I created my entire future around him and now that I don’t see that future, it scares me.” She shook her head as if warding off thoughts of Jason and stepped closer to Eddie. She reached out, gently touching his forearm, creating a connection that had Eddie melting into a love-sick puddle. “But, what you said is really sweet and I appreciate it.” 

Eddie realized he liked this side of Chrissy—unabashedly truthful. And internally, he was jumping around his trailer screaming and cheering with joy at knowing Chrissy didn’t even like her dipshit boyfriend. 

But if it wasn’t Jason that was upsetting her, was it because Chrissy was genuinely nice and a good person? When you’re like her in the “shark tank”, as Eddie liked to call the high school form of popularity, it could weigh you down. Maybe that was what was happening with her. 

Eddie waited patiently for her to continue, knowing she was getting to the root of her issues. 

After a moment, she finally spilled what’s been happening with her. She spoke so softly he almost didn’t catch what she said. “I-I have been having bad dreams. Nightmares. And sometimes, they feel so real that it takes me several minutes to calm down.”

Bad dreams were something Eddie could handle. He had his fair share of them. It was why he started smoking weed in the first place.

“What happens in these nightmares that feels so real?” He asked. 

Chrissy took a shaky breath, clearing getting lost in the horrors of her mind, and Eddie knew he needed to distract her for a second.

“Hey, it’s alright . . . um, would you like anything to eat or drink? We have—” Eddie strode toward the fridge and was glad to find items in there, “—Coca-Cola! We also have stuff to make a turkey sandwich, if you’d like that?”

Eddie turned to see Chrissy shaking her head. “Do you have water?” She asked. 

“Coming right up!” He said as he quickly filled a glass and brought it over to her. She grabbed hold of it with both hands and immediately brought it to her lips. They were glossy and pink, putting him in a trance for a moment. “Want to sit on the couch?” He suggested quickly. She needed his help, not for him to be ogling her. “It’s not the comfiest, but I feel bad having you stand in the middle of my living room.”

Chrissy let Eddie essentially guide her over to the couch, and the moment she hit the rumpled cushions, she let out a scream and dropped the glass to the ground. Thankfully the living room had carpet so it didn’t break, but she startled him and he grabbed her upper arm as she put her face in her hands and began to shake her head. 

“Do you hear that?” She peeked at him between her fingers. “Oh Eddie, please tell me you heard that?”

Eddie focused, still keeping a hold of her, but found he couldn’t hear anything but the hum of electricity, and a dog barking. It was Max Mayfields dog. He had ruffled its ears a couple of times when walking past outside.  

“Uh, Chrissy, I don’t hear anything out of the ordinary . . . what do you hear?”

She only kept shaking her head and abruptly stood, heading toward the door. He let go of her, but didn’t want to. 

She let out a watery laugh as she reached the door. “Eddie, I am so sorry to interrupt. This was a really bad idea. You’ve been so kind to me, I can’t keep intruding like I am now.”

Eddie scrambled for an excuse to get her to stay. She very clearly wasn’t okay and he didn’t want her to leave. If she left, he might never get to speak to her again. And right now, the idea of not having Chrissy Cunningingham in his life hurt too much to bear. 

Chrissy’s large eyes snapped all over the room, looking like a scared animal, ready to run. Eddie moved slowly toward her. When he spoke, he tried to sound as innocent as possible. 

“Chrissy, you’re not intruding. Actually, being with you today has been great. I want to help you, so I will drive you home if that’s what you want,  but I want you to know I’m here to listen and maybe give advice if you want?”

Her pretty little head cocked to the side while she looked at him. She seemed calmer now, but still apprehensive. 

He took a deep breath to prepare himself for what he was about to reveal. Something he had never told anyone before. 

“I got into drugs because I was having really bad nightmares and they felt like they were never going away. I know what it feels like to have some of the worst things to have happened to you getting replayed on repeat in your head.”

Chrissy’s eyebrows furrowed together in concern. Was she worried about him? 

“Did your nightmares ever go away?” She asked in such a shy manner that Eddie had the urge to take her up in his arms. And that was not the way you think of someone who had a boyfriend—although, after their conversation earlier, he could safely assume she didn’t even like Jason. 

He threw his arms behind his back to get control of himself. “Yeah, they eventually did.”

“How long did they last?”

“They came and went for a few years.” Eddie winced as Chrissy’s face fell. “But, mine started when I was much younger, and I was able to handle them as I got older. I bet since you’re what, seventeen, eighteen?” 

“Eighteen,” Chrissy confirmed. 

“Then I bet you will be able to handle them and heal at a much quicker rate than me.”

It was the first time he had seen Chrissy look somewhat hopeful since they were at the picnic table, and he wanted to keep it up. 

“So, what would you like to do? I can take you home, otherwise this lovely lumpy couch is a perfect place to sit and talk while someone listens.”

Eddie saw the ghost of a smile on Chrissy’s face at his horrible attempt for a joke before she walked over and sat on the couch again. He followed and positioned himself on the opposite end, not wanting to overwhelm her. He didn’t want to overstep with the little bit of a relationship they had. 

After picking up her dropped glass and placing it on the coffee table, Chrissy tucked her toned legs up under herself, and straightened out her skirt. 

Eddie got comfortable by leaning back with his hands behind his head. “Do you still hear something out of the ordinary?”

“Actually no,” Chrissy said, sounding relieved. “I get this feeling of impending doom but it’s gone now . . . it just vanished.”

“What else happens during your nightmares?” Eddie asked, wanting her to expand on her thoughts. 

“I got headaches first and nosebleeds second. Then the nightmares came but Eddie there is something worse. I haven’t told anyone this, but . . . I see things when I’m awake.” Chrissy’s description stumped Eddie. It could only be hallucinations that she was experiencing, but what caused them? “It’s all leading up to something but I don’t know what.” She looked at him with fresh tears in her eyes. “Eddie, am I going crazy?”

His eyebrows rose at the ridiculousness of her statement. “No, not at all,” he quickly confirmed. “I bet it’s due to stress. Is there anything in your life that made you feel like you were struggling before the nightmares and uh, hallucinations came?”

Chrissy bit her lip, clearly anxious. He held his breath, waiting to see if she would open up to him.

“It’s everything,” she finally said, looking down at her nails as she picked at them. “And I know I should be grateful for what I have, and I am, but I’m suffocating and no one sees.” She paused and looked back at him with pure honesty in her doe-eyes. “Except you.”

Eddie was taken aback with her admission. It took him a moment to compose himself. He cleared his throat, hoping his warming cheeks weren’t obviously pink in the low lightening of the few lamps that were turned on.  

“I have noticed that you haven’t seemed yourself lately . . .” He hoped she didn’t catch onto how much he observed her. “Is there a reason why you haven't gone to the counselor?”

“I just recently did, but wasn’t able to admit the truth to her.” Chrissy slumped back onto the couch. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be dumping all of this on you, but you’re helping me Eddie. I know we don’t know each other, but for some reason, you’re able to break through the fog that clouds my mind. You always bring me back to the real world.” 

Eddie swallowed thickly as an unfamiliar warmth spread all across his body at her admission. “Then, as we try and figure out what’s happening, please tell me whenever the nightmares take over and I’ll do my best to keep you tethered to the real world.”

Chrissy sniffled and gave him a soft smile. “Are you okay if I hang out here longer?”

“Absolutely! It’s spring break, so take your time.” Eddie couldn’t help but flirt again as he stepped away for a moment to turn on the radio and sit back down on the couch. 

An even bigger smile graced Chrissy’s face. “Be careful, I might never leave,” she teased back as she actually scooted closer to him. 

They talked for a little while about different songs playing on the radio and the ease of the conversation had Eddie relaxing quickly in Chrissy’s presence. He discovered that Chrissy was a pop girl, but was intrigued by all of his favorite music. 

It was fun talking to her. He could do it forever, but exhaustion caused Chrissy to crash. She fell asleep curled up on the couch as he told her stories about the different shows he had played at. Eddie stayed awake a long time after, just watching over her. 

When enough time passed without her waking up from a nightmare, he drifted off to sleep, too.

***

Someone was trying to wake Eddie up by shaking his shoulder. “Five more minutes, Wayne,” he mumbled, annoyed that his uncle was waking him up on a Saturday. He did not like to be awake if he didn’t have to. 

Wanting to avoid his uncle, Eddie turned over in his bed; except, he wasn’t on his bed. Instead, he rolled off of the couch, landing on the living room floor with a thud. 

Last night came flooding back to him and he jumped to his feet, worried something happened to Chrissy, but she looked fine, standing before him giggling. 

“I’m sorry!” She said as she stifled her laughter. “I didn’t realize you were such a deep sleeper!”

Eddie itched the back of his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. “No, I’m sorry about that.” He checked the clock that hung on the wall, it stated 6:17 in the morning. Wayne would actually be coming home soon from his overnight shifts at the plant. “Are you okay, did you have a nightmare? I tried to stay awake after you fell asleep, but uh, apparently I was tired.” 

“I actually slept the entire night without an interruption!” Chrissy said excitedly. “You’re my lucky charm.”

Eddie grinned, choosing not to speak because he might confess feelings that he knew needed to stay locked up for now. 

She did appear to be better rested. The circles underneath her eyes had gone away. Color had returned to her cheeks. 

Chrissy cleared her throat and he realized he was just staring at her without saying anything. “I know it’s super early, but could you drop me off at home? My mom is expecting me there for a fundraiser event later this morning.” 

“Of course.” Eddie motioned to the door and they headed out to his van. 

***

“Thank you for helping me, Eddie,” Chrissy said sincerely as they pulled onto her street. He stopped a few houses down from hers (which she pointed out to him, he wasn’t that big of a stalker to know where she lived).

Despite the van being in park, she didn’t open the door. Did she not want to actually leave?

“Call me,” Eddie blurted out, grabbing a pen from a cupholder and a random sheet of paper from the floor of his van—random notes for his DnD campaign he didn’t need. He scribbled his number down quickly on it, but made sure it was legible. He would kick himself if she never called because she couldn’t decipher what he wrote. 

Chrissy smiled at him so sweetly that he swore he wouldn’t need a lick of sugar for the rest of his life. She held the wrinkled piece of paper with his number on it, right to her chest, on top of her heart. 

Eddie couldn’t help but smile back. “If you need anything, you know where I live.”

She nodded and got out of the car, walking up the street toward her house, but not before turning back to give him a small wave. 

He waited until he saw her step through her front door before he drove back home. 

For once, he didn’t play any music. His own thoughts were loud enough. What had he gotten himself into, hanging out with Chrissy Cunningham?

***

As he stepped back inside his empty trailer, he was hit with a waft of Chrissy’s lingering perfume and it made him realize how much he missed her. 

Not needing to do anything until practice with Corroded Coffin later, he went straight into his room and collapsed onto his bed. 

He dreamed of pink rosy lips and strawberry blonde hair.

Chapter Text

Chrissy tiptoed to her bedroom and let out a sigh of relief when she shut her door behind her. Neither of her parents came bursting from their bedroom to reprimand her for coming home so late. Well, early, technically. The clock in her bedroom read a bit past 6:30, so she supposed she could get about an hour in bed before her mom came barging in to get her to go to a fundraiser at their church. 

She changed into a silky light blue nightgown and crawled into her bed, happy to be laying down again, but there was something missing this time: Eddie. 

Tonight was the first time she slept over at a boy’s place. 

She had sought him out because she didn’t know anyone else that would sell her drugs. And she trusted him. Despite how he antagonized Jason and his friends, she could tell he had a good heart. 

And it wasn’t drugs that made her nightmares disappear, it was Eddie himself. 

It was his presence, his voice, his touch, that brought her comfort after a whirlwind of weeks where she truly thought she was losing her mind. 

It started with frequent headaches. Which Chrissy wasn’t a stranger to due to her regiment of staying thin, but they felt different; more like something was probing into her mind. And one day, her defenses cracked and the nightmares flooded in. 

They started off small. Spiders crawling toward her and she couldn’t get away. Falling off the edge of a cliff. Simple stuff that would make you anxious in the moment but you wouldn’t think twice about after waking up. But then they grew more complex. The people in her life began to do evil things. Her parents, Jason, and her friends. They all were out to get her. 

These images haunted Chrissy throughout all of her waking moments but at least daytime was safe. 

Until it wasn’t. 

The first time she experienced it was when she went to the bathroom during lunch. She had gone there to make herself throw up, a sort of soothing action she has gotten used to over the last year or so. It made her feel more in control, but she didn’t even get the chance to do it because a man walked into the bathroom. She gasped in surprise just as she was going to reach the stall and then slowly backed away. He was blocking her only exit.

Chrissy didn’t recognize him. He was tall and blonde. Handsome in a strange way. 

“Hello, Chrissy,” he purred. 

“How do you know my name?” Chrissy had countered with a shaky voice.

“I know everything,” he whispered. 

And that was when he began to transform, turning into a rotting creature. The same one that stalked her in her dreams. 

Chrissy ran around him without a second thought. When she burst from the bathrooms, she stumbled, falling to the ground. She scrambled away from the door, running into the opposite wall, sure that he was going to grab her. Nothing happened. A teacher ended up finding her and helped her onto shaking legs. 

Wanting to know if he was still in there, Chrissy went back in with the excuse that she forgot something in there. He was nowhere to be found. 

He had never visited her like that again, but he was always there, at the edge of her consciousness. 

It was beginning to wear her down, how he was toying with her. 

She hadn’t had a restful night of sleep until waking up held in Eddie’s arms on his couch. 

With him, nothing could touch her and it seemed whatever his powers were, lasted long after she wasn’t in his presence. Her sleep was peaceful before her mom woke her up. Chrissy felt so good that her mom’s harsh words about how lazy she was didn’t phase her as she got ready for the fundraiser. 

It was an all day event, and as they had a break for lunch, Chrissy’s mind kept wandering to Eddie. 

Did he have such an effect on her because he was the only person that tried to truly understand her and how she was feeling? With him, it felt like a weight was lifted off of her chest. No expectations. She could be herself around him, which was odd, considering how different they appeared. Last night proved that maybe they actually aren’t that different—and that was why she felt comfortable enough to tell him the truth of her symptoms. 

As she pushed around the lettuce on her plate, Chrissy realized that she wanted to get to know Eddie “The Freak” Munson better. She despised when people called him that, because he was only considered another for not wanting to conform to a stupid high school hierarchy. And she envied him for it. 

She didn’t believe any of the allegations that the game he played with his friends was tied to Satan.

The after part of the fundraiser passed quickly, and then she and Jason were walking together in the church’s parking lot to his car. 

They had planned to hang out with the entire basketball team and the cheerleaders to keep celebrating the beginning of spring break, but it had gotten called off. One of Jason’s friends who was on the team, Patrick McKinney, never showed up to the fundraiser. His parents were asking everyone where they had seen him last. He had been seen heading home after the celebrations last night, but no one had seen him since. 

The atmosphere turned somber after that, and now the McKinney’s were going to go to the police. 

Chrissy was worried about Patrick. 

What if the monster got him? She shook her head at her own thoughts. The monster wasn’t real. It wouldn’t have hurt Patrick. 

It only tormented her. 

“Do you think Patrick is okay?” She turned to her boyfriend, hoping to receive some relief from her anxiety. Jason knew him best. He was his best friend. Maybe he knew that Patrick had gotten too high or drunk and was hiding out until he felt better. 

“Where did you go last night?” Jason turned to face her as they stopped next to his car. “You were supposed to celebrate with all of us after the game.”

The last place I wanted to be was with you, Chrissy couldn’t help but think. How come he didn’t seem concerned for Patrick? It made her take a step back. 

She and Jason have been together for three years, dating since freshman year of high school. It seemed inevitable that they would end up together, so Chrissy found herself swept up in puppy love at the time. Jason had been a dotting boyfriend. Textbook perfect. But as time passed, their relationship was more for show than anything genuine. And that was made apparent by how Jason seemed to not care about her beyond her being something beautiful to stand at his side in front of a crowd. 

She didn’t love him. She didn’t think she ever did.

He was her boyfriend and she couldn’t confide in him like she did Eddie. 

“I went home because I didn’t feel well.” It was true, she hadn’t. 

Jason’s irritation only grew, and she wished it was Eddie standing with her. That it was his van she was getting into. And his trailer they were going back to. 

Everything about Jason was draining. And tears pricked at Chrissy’s eyes at the realization. Before, she would feel guilt over replacing Eddie with her boyfriend in her mind, but now to her it was a sign and she didn’t care how it would mess up her life. Not loving her boyfriend was trivial compared to what was happening to her. 

He never even noticed how hungry she was and it was all of the time. 

“Chrissy, are you crying?” 

His question was accusing, not comforting. 

She quickly wiped at her wet cheeks as the tears spilled over, not wanting to ruin her perfectly applied makeup. And then she wanted to kick herself for such a stupid thought. Who cared if her makeup was smudging? She didn’t have time to care about stuff like that anymore. 

“Jason, do you . . . do you ever feel like you’re losing your mind?”

“What are you talking about?” Jason asked. “People have noticed something is off with you lately and it’s embarrassing.” Chrissy felt her mouth fall slightly open in shock as he continued. “I want you to go back to normal. Could you do that for me? It’s stressing me out when you’re like this and it hurts how people see me.”  

Her question was a test, and she had received her answer. 

All this time, she thought Jason didn’t think much of her, but clearly he thought badly of her. 

Eddie had done the complete opposite when she asked the same question. He had tried to cheer her up and take her mind off of things when they didn’t even know each other. 

Jason’s answer was the final nail in the coffin to their pathetic relationship. 

“It’s over.” Chrissy choked out, but then cleared her throat and held her head high, giving Jason a cold stare as her tears dried up. Years of resentment have built up inside of her and the dam was broken. She let all of her anger and annoyance at how foolish she had been to let her life get out of her hands. It was time to take back control and do what she wanted. “You and me, we’re done.”

Jason started to protest, but Chrissy wasn’t listening to him. Over his shoulder, something caught her eye. In the nearby woods that reached the edge of the parking lot stood the strange man who approached her in the bathroom. He was hard to distinguish in the shadows if it weren’t for his all white outfit and blond hair that stood out in the last of the day’s light. 

The grotesque appendages, that always slithered toward her in her dreams, grew from him and began winding around the trees. They wanted her, but were restrained.

He smiled, beckoning her to him. 

Jason grabbed her by the arm and yanked her so she was standing in front of him again. She hadn’t realized she began walking away toward the monster. 

When she looked back to the woods, there was no one there. 

“Chris, what—”

She ignored Jason. Without wasting any time, she turned away from him and approached her neighbors as they were leaving the church and asked them if they could give her a ride home. They were an older couple that adored her, so they led her to their car without any questions. Her mom was an integral part of the church and would be staying much later to do stuff that Chrissy didn't care about. Plus, her mom would tell her to go apologize to Jason for being such a dumb girl and beg for his forgiveness. 

That was not happening. 

It was only once they were driving away from Jason and the woods that Chrissy allowed herself to let out a sigh of relief. 

She ended one of the few constants in her life, having Jason as a boyfriend, and it felt like a weight was taken off of her shoulders. The routine she had grown used to and her mom's wrath may take some time to get used to, but she could handle it. 

For now, she was free. 

Not even an imaginary monster could knock down the pride she felt for herself at the moment. 

When she arrived home, the sun was officially setting. It was a chillier night in March, so she ran to the front door. Once inside, she noticed all of the lights were off. The entrance led into a long hallway, and at the end she could see that her dad was watching TV. She could see his feet, donned with slippers, on a foot rest. 

He didn’t greet her, and that was how she knew he had fallen asleep. 

The TV was blaring the local news, and Chrissy saw the Sheriff talking about the search for Patrick. 

Her stomach dropped. So he never came home and no one knew where he was. What had happened to him?

“Chrissy . . .” a voice whispered, reverberating all around her, making her shrink back into the dark hallway.  

It was that same voice that haunting her while awake and asleep. Masculine and deep. Cooing at her. 

The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. There was something behind her. Slowly, she turned around. 

Outside the front door stood a familiar looming figure. He was distorted by the privacy glass and backlit by the yellow porch light. 

Chrissy squinted, trying to see better. What if it were a visitor instead of the creature in her nightmares? She couldn’t tell what was real anymore. 

Then, she noticed the same vines that always accompany the monster. They wound their way around him, threatening to break in. 

What did this thing want with her? 

She wanted to scream at it to go away, but fear coursed through her at the fact that it had shown up at her house when she was awake. It had never done that before. Her mental state was progressing for the worst. 

As she saw an arm reach for the doorknob, Chrissy remembered what could make this all come to a stop. 

She ripped the phone receiver off of the wall in the middle of the hallway, and with shaking hands, dialed Eddie’s number.

Chapter Text

Eddie gently hung his guitar in its usual spot on the wall and sat on his bed with his head in his hands.

All he could think about all day long was Chrissy. 

When he went back to bed after dropping her off, his sleep wasn’t deep—sitting at the edge of consciousness, waiting for the phone to ring. 

It never did. And he tried not to grow anxious. She did say she would be busy all day. 

To be safe, before leaving in the afternoon to go to Gareth's, he made a sleepy Wayne promise him to answer the phone no matter what and that if someone needed to reach him, to give them Gareth’s phone number. His uncle gave him a confused look because Eddie never cared for such things, but thankfully didn’t ask any further questions. 

Practicing with his bandmates was his happy place, and their newest song could be something. Eddie knew it. They were putting overtime in because they were going to perform it tomorrow night at the Hideout, and he usually led with a fiery confidence, but his friends knew he was distracted. 

He didn’t tell them anything about Chrissy, instead playing it off like he was simply tired. To be honest, he was really worried about her. She hadn’t been alright for awhile—teetering on an edge, threatening to fall into an abyss that dared to lock her away forever. 

And Eddie wouldn’t let that happen. 

He was probably extra spooked because while they were practicing, the shitty old TV that Gareth had in the garage presented breaking news for Hawkins. Patrick McKinney had been reported missing. He was senior and a part of Chrissy’s friend group. The worst came to Eddie’s mind: that somehow, Patrick was killed, whether by himself or someone else. 

If Chrissy ended up like that, Eddie didn’t know what he would do with himself. 

Maybe he could go to the library and research the symptoms she told him she was having. She obviously didn’t want to go to a doctor, and he understood. He was determined to help her in any way he could. 

She told him that being around him made her feel better. If she called him, he would invite her to the show tomorrow. It was a Sunday night, but since it was Spring Break she could possibly make it. It would be the first time someone he cared about, other than Wayne, would be in the crowd.

But what if she didn’t want to see him for the rest of Spring Break, or ever? Eddie fell backward onto his bed, trying to rebuke the negative thoughts. If he tried to imagine approaching her the first day of school after the break it made him feel nauseous. What would he say, ask if she was okay? Jason would punch him in the face for simply standing near her. 

But with the way Chrissy talked about their relationship . . . there was hope it wouldn’t last much longer! Was he bad for thinking that way? Eddie decided no, Chrissy deserved much better than Jason fucking Carver. 

A soft knock to his bedroom door pulled Eddie from his thoughts. Since his door was cracked open, Wayne stepped inside. Without a word, he motioned for Eddie to follow him. Dragging himself out to the kitchen, he found his uncle packing up his ‘lunch’ of a turkey sandwich and Tato Skin chips while sipping on a black coffee. 

It’d be too late for the average person to have some caffeine, but Wayne worked overnight shifts at the local power plant and was set to leave in a minute. Eddie wondered why he made him come out here. Usually their goodbye was a simple wave.

“So . . .” Wayne started slowly, “when I got home this morning, there was a girl and you two were together on the couch . . .”

Eddie immediately threw his hands up in defense. “Nothing happened! I do not need the talk. ” He hoped his cheeks weren’t too red from the embarrassment sweeping through him. He never brought a girl to the trailer. Him and Wayne were close enough that Wayne knew this was a big deal. 

This thing with Chrissy was so new, he didn’t want to talk about it . . . yet. 

Wayne looked like he wanted to say more, but then the phone rang, making them both jump. Instead, he shook his head with the hint of a smile before leaving the trailer with the usual casual wave. 

Eddie practically ripped the phone off of the wall once the door closed behind Wayne. It could be Chrissy. His wish was granted when she spoke his name in a hopeful whisper.

“Eddie?” 

“It’s me! How can I be at your service?” He cringed at himself as soon as the words left his mouth. Real smooth, Ed. But there was a sigh of relief on her end. It sounded shaky. She still hadn’t said anything. “Chrissy, are you alright?”

And that was when he heard the sniffling. She was crying!

“Chrissy?” He was a bit panicked. “What can I do? What’s happening?” He knew that rapid fire questions probably weren’t the best way to handle situations like that but he hated that he couldn’t comfort her beyond speaking into the phone. For reasons he still didn’t understand, he was who she went to when in need and he couldn’t let her down. 

“I’ve had a really rough day and um . . . I just wanted to hear your voice.” 

The last part came out so quiet, Eddie thought he might have imagined it. His brain was short-circuiting. Chrissy Cunningham wanted to hear his voice? Someone needed to wake him up. Yesterday felt like a fluke, but this was real. 

“Eddie? Oh no, I am so sorry. I am overstepping and—”

“—No!” He finally found his voice and interrupted. He did not want her to think she was a burden. “I’m glad you called me. I’m here for you, Chrissy. Whatever you need.”

“Well, I actually have some good news. I broke up with Jason.” The phone almost slipped from Eddie’s hand. As he fumbled with it, she kept speaking. “He didn’t take it well, but even long before these hallucinations started haunting me, I knew it was never going to last between us.” 

Eddie cleared his throat, deciding how to react. He settled with, “I’m sorry. It’s a big life change. Even if you wanted it to happen, it’s okay if you’re upset. I mean, you have been dating since the beginning of freshman year.”

“And yet, in a day's time, you know more about the real me than he ever did.” Eddie’s heart felt like it seized in his chest at her admission. “And I’m the one who is sorry. For how horrible my friends have been to you. For how this whole town treats you. It isn’t right. I wish I had done more to defend you.”

“You-you defended me?” Eddie asked, surprised. Was this why Jason seemed to hate his guts beyond basic bullying. Was the King of Hawkins High jealous that Chrissy defended the town freak?  

“Absolutely, and after you’ve done so much to me, everyone should know how good of a person you are.” 

“Hey, I have a reputation to uphold.” Eddie smiled so wide he knew he looked lovesick. Chrissy laughed and he felt his knees almost buckle. “Are we . . . friends now?” 

“Definitely, “ Chrissy replied without missing a beat, and he could hear the smile in her voice.  

“Then do you have plans tomorrow?” He blurted out, his head still spinning from thinking about the Freak and the Queen being friends. “My band is playing tomorrow at the Hideout. At 9. I know it’s later, but would you want to come?” All he wanted to do was spend time with her and he wondered if getting away from the toxic environment of her home life would be good for her nightmares and visions. 

“I’d love to, Eddie.” He did a triumphant fist bump but before he could tell her he could pick her up, she spoke again. “Actually, are you busy right now?” 

“No, never too busy for you.” He imagined her shaking her head with a teasing exasperation as he heard a small giggle. “I can pick you up right now. Is there anywhere you want to go?”

There was a silent pause, then, “just anywhere away from here.”

Eddie understood. “I’m leaving right now.”

“See you soon, Eddie.”

After the call ended, he grabbed the needed supplies for what he had planned and sprinted to his van, feeling ecstatic. 

***

Chrissy mirrored him by running right to his van when he pulled up on her street. As soon as the passenger door closed behind her, he drove off, not wanting her to get caught. It was hard paying attention to the road when she was next to him, he kept glancing over at her to make sure she was real.

Her hair was down and she was wearing a soft pink crewneck that was tucked into her jeans. One of her white Reeboks tapped to the beat of the Uptown Girl playing quietly on the radio. “I love this song,” Chrissy said with a smile, but the dark circles under her eyes stood out as they passed under streetlights. He knew it was her favorite since she told him the night before. “Thank you for getting me. Where are we going?”

Eddie gave her a small smile. “A place I know there will be no one else to bother you.”

Chrissy laughed, but then grew somber. “I just know Jason is going to come looking for me. He probably doesn’t even think we are done, even though I explicitly stated it.” Her head dropped into her hands. “My mom is going to have my head for what I’ve done.” 

“Well, I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself. Doing what you want, not what’s expected of you.”

She peeked at him through her fingers. “You mean it?”

“Absolutely. I’ve always admired the fire inside of you. It just needed to be unleashed.”

“I don’t know about fire . . .”

Eddie spoke with conviction, hoping she knew how serious he was as he gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Someone as caring and kind as you always has fire. It burns bright and warm for others.”

Chrissy was silent for a moment, but then reached out and overlapped his hand that was on the gear stick with her own. His was so large compared to hers, the gentle warmth from her palm made his heart flutter in his chest. “Just so you know, it’s because of your fire that I am here at all.”

Instead of saying anything remotely normal back because his tongue felt lodged in his throat, he slammed on the brakes as he pulled them into a dirt lot with a lake view. “We’re here!” He choked out, trying to steady himself. 

This girl would be the end of him, and he didn’t mind.

“Lover’s Lake,” Chrissy whispered, not seeming to notice how strange he was acting as they stared out at the water in front of them. 

Any remote area would have sufficed, but Eddie secretly loved that they would spend their time together sitting on the shore of a lake shaped like a heart. Plus, he knew no one would be here from his many secluded smoke trips he would take out here. They would have it all to themselves, which would hopefully give Chrissy some peace of mind. She’s had a long day.

“C’mon,” he said as he gathered the supplies from the back of his van and they walked onto the sand. He laid out a large quilted blanket and placed the lantern he brought right in the middle. There was still easily enough space for them both to sit down and share the snacks from the basket. 

Chrissy took her shoes and socks off, and Eddie followed suit before settling down with his acoustic guitar at his side. He always kept it in his van and tonight he planned to play it for the first time in a while. 

Together, they ate the food which was Wayne’s ‘lunch’ for his shift, turkey sandwiches and Tato Skin chips. Eddie inhaled his food, but Chrissy cautiously nibbled on hers. As they sat in a comfortable silence, she began taking bigger bites until she finished everything. Eddie was happy to see her eating. In the many years he had observed her, he noticed that her relationship with food wasn’t the best. And she needed the nutrients to fuel her mind and body. He didn’t want her withering away. 

“When you called . . .  was there something else that happened?” Eddie asked gently. “Beyond you being badass and dumping Jason?” 

Chrissy looked down, her right hand playing with the sand, picking up piles and letting the grains fall through her fingers. “I know I told you about how I have felt sick and experienced hallucinations, but I didn’t tell you what they're about.” She had gone still and was looking at him now. The blue of her eyes matched the dark color of the lake in the night, barely lit by the lantern he had brought. 

“My nightmares were always of devastating scenarios ranging from massive spiders crawling to me, to being shunned by everyone I love. But across all of them, there is something the same. A monster like something I have never seen before. And I think he can be a man, or used to be one? He stalks me and I see him when I am awake. He gets closer to me everyday and I don’t know what’s going to happen once he reaches me.” Tears shined in her eyes. “I don’t think there is a way to escape him . . . but I know it can’t actually be real, so I hate my brain for making me feel this way!” She sighs, defeated. “I’m definitely crazy.”

“You’re not crazy,” Eddie automatically reaffirmed like he did the day before in his trailer. “Crazy people are those who make hostile environments for others to be in. They are those who make you feel alone when surrounded by hundreds of people. That’s craziness.”

Chrissy gave him a half smile. “I always knew that those who are truly bad paint others as satanic so that eyes are off of them and their nasty deeds.”

Eddie nodded because she was absolutely correct. “When I told you we would figure something out, I meant it. I am thinking of going to the library and doing a bit of research. Finding anything that can help you feel better.”

“And what if there is nothing?” Chrissy’s voice was meek. She was closing in on herself.

The truth spilled from his lips before he could stop it. “Then we say screw this town and get you help with a professional somewhere else far away from here.”

Their eye contact was magnetic. Electric. He admitted to wanting to run away with her. 

Seeming to mull over his words, she surprised him with a question. “Was that your plan after graduation, to get out of here?”

“Always. I’ve been trying to convince my boys to move to California with me and make it big with our music, but even if they don’t come, I am going on my own.”

“The closer we get to the end of the year, the more I just want to run,” Chrissy said. “Would you have room for me in your van?”

Did-did she just admit to wanting to run away with him? 

“You’re always welcome in my van, Cunningham,” Eddie said, despite feeling light-headed. “I’ll drive you anywhere.”

She smiled so big, as if the words he had just said were all that mattered. Gesturing to his guitar, she asked, “will you play me something?”

Eddie situated his guitar in his lap. Instead of playing any of Corroded Coffin's music, his fingers produced something entirely different. It was soft, with a hint of melancholy. Practically a lullaby. 

“It’s beautiful,” Chrissy said, scooting closer to him until she could rest her head on his shoulder. 

“My mom wrote it,” Eddie admitted. He never talked about her to anyone. “I’ve had it memorized since I was little. I got my knack for music from her.”

Chrissy hummed in response, her eyes fluttering shut. 

He had no idea where his mom was. She up and left him as a little kid. Still, the song brought him comfort. It made him feel safe, and he hoped it did the same for Chrissy. 

Eventually, she began to nod off. He felt her slip backward and caught her, lightly laughing. “Let’s get you home,” he said softly, placing his guitar to the side. He fully expected to only help her stand but her hair had dipped into her face, flowing loosely down her shoulder. So, in the cover of night, he tucked a few strands behind her ear. 

He froze after committing the action, not knowing if he overstepped. But, no harm done. She was looking at him like he hung the stars in the sky. 

He wanted to kiss her, badly.  

It took everything in Eddie to hold back. Chrissy deserved someone in her corner right now that was simply a friend. He would be whatever she needed. 

Instead, he stepped back and helped her up. After putting their socks and shoes on and getting everything packed up, they huddled close together as they walked to the car. Eddie held the passenger door open for Chrissy and she plopped down into the seat like a doll, clearly exhausted. 

“There’s no need to pick me up for your show tomorrow,” Chrissy said after yawning. “Since I will have to leave when it’s still light out, I will bike out there. Then my parents will be much less suspicious about what I am doing and no neighbors will see you.”

“Are you sure?” 

“Definitely, I think the ride will be good for me.”

Eddie didn’t want to argue with her too hard about whether he should pick her up, so he let it go. If she wanted to ride her bike, she could ride her bike.

As they were about to leave the last stretch of vacant road to enter Chrissy’s neighborhood, they spotted flashing blue and red lights up ahead. As they slowed down, they noticed that a car had somehow run off the road right into a tree. Eddie could smell that it used to be on fire but was clearly put out. 

Along with a firetruck, there was also an ambulance and some cop cars, but it appeared they couldn’t find whoever had crashed the car. People were all over in the nearby woods with flashlights. The doors of the ambulance were open, waiting for the victim. 

Chrissy basically had her face pressed to the window before turning sharply to Eddie as they drove past. “I think that was Fred Benson’s car!”

“Who’s Fred Benson?”

“He’s in the journalism club. Works a lot with Nancy Wheeler.” Chrissy bit her lip, seeming worried. “I hope he’s okay.”

Eddie knew Nancy, she was set up to be the previous Queen of Hawkins High alongside Steve Harrington as the King, but he had never heard of Fred. 

“I hope he is, too,” Eddie agreed.

He pulled up in his usual spot down the road from Chrissy’s house. 

“I’d have asked to stay with you,” Chrissy said sadly, “but I think two nights in a row would get me caught.”

“Either way, I’ve had a really good night.”

Before Eddie could react, Chrissy launched across the middle console and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Bye, Eddie!” She said in the cutest manner as she bolted out of the car, stopping only to give him an eager wave before slipping inside her house. 

He inhaled deeply, realizing he had forgotten how to breathe. His skin tingled where her lips graced him. He even had to shake his head to pull himself together so that he could drive off before he was caught. 

When he peeked at himself in the rearview mirror, his cheek had the glossy pink mark of her lips. 

Eddie never wanted to wipe it off. 

He took his time heading home, imagining driving out of Hawkins with Chrissy at his side and the future they could have together.