𓆩♡𓆪

 
  EDDIE'S OLD VAN PULLS up to his trailer with loud rock music Stella has become accustomed to. The doors creak as they get out. Stella is used to the broken down van but why Chrissy Cunningham even decided to have the risk of being seen with either one of them is beyond her.

   Eddie's hands gesture to the humble trailer, "This is, uh, my castle." The cheerleader's hands hold each other as her ponytail bounces its way inside. She turns to Stella with an awkward smile but the brunette mimics her, making her own smile even more awkward.

   Eddie isn't her boyfriend and Stella likes it like that. Eddie is aware, obviously, that Casey died but she can't explain that it was his dear friend Brooke Martel's fault. He's also aware of how much Stella loved Casey and as much as he wants to somehow replace that hole in her heart, he knows it can never be done so he subsides his feelings for the bitter girl and takes whatever he can get. It's not like he's built for a relationship in the first place.

   The white trailer is empty until the three teens enter it. The living room is lined with baseball hats and a low orange light. Eddie scoffs at the mess even though he is most likely the one who left it like this.

    "Uh, sorry for the mess. The maid took the week off," Eddie jokes as he gathers up the trash. Stella crosses her arms, fully owning that she is judgemental and is indeed judging Chrissy and whatever mental shit is making her come here of all places. Stella would be lying if she said she wasn't a bitch before Casey's death—she knows.

   His death and the circumstances just made her worse. She never has contact with the others unless they talk to her first, Stella even ignores Mike, Danny and Dustin at Hellfire. They gave up trying a while ago.

  So, as Chrissy looks at the walls of the trailer, Stella can't help but scoff. "So, you live here alone?" Chrissy asks. "With my uncle," Eddie answers from the small kitchen, "But he works nights at the plant."

  Stella can hear Eddie struggling to find whatever drug Chrissy asked for. She turns her head to the side to look at the long haired boy, "Can't find it?" Her big pink hoops hit the sides of her neck as he looks up to smile at her.

    "It's here, don't you worry, bug," Eddie uses the weird nickname against Stella, one he knows will soften her attitude. Stella chuckles and turns back to Chrissy with a glare, "I'm not the customer. I'm not worrying."

   Chrissy can feel the hatred from the other girl's glare and she awkwardly bounces on her white sneakers, "How long will it take?" She asks and Stella doesn't bother to hide the snort that leaves her mouth. "Stella, don't be rude. You're the one that said she's the customer," Eddie smiles, "But, it depends if you snort it or not. If you do—it'll kick in pretty quick."

   Stella's mouth opens to say another slick comment but she refrains. She didn't think she would ever become a mean girl in a way. It's not like she goes out of her way to be a bitch, she stays quiet until her attitude is needed—sometimes. Times like this are just when Stella likes to push buttons.

   "Ah, shit," Eddie curses when he sees the empty tin. Stella now walks over to him, "Thought you had it, Eds."

   "Are you sure you have it?" Chrissy nervously asks from her spot on the rug she has yet to move from. "No, no. I got it—somewhere," Eddie eyes the small kitchen, wondering where the hell the drugs could've gone in such a small trailer. Eddie and Stella share a worried glance before he grabs her hand and drags her into his room.

   "You left it in here?" Stella questions with a rude tone and a suck of her teeth. Metal band posters litter the walls mixed with random nerdy things Eddie loves. Porn magazines sit right on his bedside table. Stella dares to poke at it, "Eds, at least put these away."

  Eddie looks over his shoulder as he scrounges through his room, "Or...you can look away, bug." Stella shoves his shoulder and goes back to helping him look for the drugs, the nickname still doing its job of softening Stella's constant attitude.

   Why does the simple, three letter word break Stella's shell? The first time Stella and Eddie had a proper conversation was when Brooke actually told Eddie to offer Stella weed during an outside gym day. The girl had been sitting alone, pulling at the flowers around her, watching them fall between her fingers.

   Eddie approached Stella with a smile and a few nuggets of weed, saying something she couldn't hear over the loud volume of her Walkman. A bug landed on her as she tried to decipher what Eddie was saying without having to turn her music down and then.....boom, Eddie pointed to the bug and it just stuck.

   Turns out it was a bee and the two of them mildly freaked out but then just kinda—became attached at the hip ever since.

  Stella rummages through Eddie's disorganized dresser with no sign of drugs but she does hear him rest a ridiculous kiss on his guitar. "You're beautiful," Eddie whispers to the maroon guitar. He spots the disgust on Stella's face in the mirror and makes eye contact through the mirror, "Don't give me that look."

   Stella shrugs, pretending like she has no idea what he's talking about. Eddie is now making an even bigger mess in his room trying to find Chrissy's product. "You're cleaning this up," Stella tells him, arms on her hips standing over him. "Would you just—I'm gonna find it," Eddie throws a hand in Stella's face. A look of relief washes over him as he picks up the special K, "Found it!" He holds it up, walking past Stella who follows quickly behind Eddie.

   "Peaceful bliss, just moments away," Eddie smiles when they reach the living room. The teens both stop in their tracks when they see Chrissy very stiffly standing in his living room. The air is cold when it wraps around Stella's frame. She rubs her arms up and down, an uneasy feeling coming over her.

  "The fuck is wrong with her?" Stella nods towards Chrissy. As they step closer, calling her name, there's no response. Eddie even fakes a jump but she doesn't react. Chrissy's eyes twitch, rolling back and forth. "Hey, Chrissy. Wake up! Chrissy?" Eddie snaps in her face.

   All of a sudden, the lights in the trailer start to malfunction. They flicker and buzz. Stella's heart drops, a loud gasp leaves her mouth. "No, no," Stella's hand flies to her mouth. There's no other answer for what's happening other than that it's back—the Upside Down is back to torture the people of Hawkins.

   Eddie notices Stella's nervousness and the small tears that stream down her face. She doesn't wanna go through this again. It already took Casey. It already took all she had.

   "Chrissy, wake up! Wake up, Chrissy! Chrissy, wake up!" Eddie repeatedly shakes Chrissy. Stella backs herself into the wall, sliding down it as the panic sets in. Eddie panics even more, shaking the blonde roughly, "I don't like this, Chrissy! Wake up!" Her eyes continue to twitch and Stella wants nothing more than to grab Eddie and run for the hills but she's frozen in place. No matter how loud Eddie shouts, Chrissy is also frozen in place.

  Stella can't hide her sobs now but they only increase when they both notice Chrissy's beginning to float. Feet off the ground and everything. Eddie stumbles back, trying to convince himself that maybe he's high or something but Stella's sobs keep bringing him back to reality. Chrissy floats higher and higher until she smacks against the roof of the trailer.

   "Holy shit!" Stella curses. Her back presses more and more into the wall as if she could just fall through it and escape this hell. Eddie falls onto the floor, knocking over multiple things with a loud thud. "Eddie!" Stella shouts and crawls over to him. His arms wrap around her protectively when the sounds of bones cracking alert them.

  First, her arms break. Then her legs and then her jaw. All nauseating noises and results that make the teens grip onto the other even harder. Her eyes turn white and then dark, crimson blood begins to leak from her eyes all until they're sucked out of her head.

   Eddie and Stella let out loud screams. After a few seconds Stella is the one that composes herself the most. She straddles Eddie to block the view of Chrissy from him as she holds his face, "We need to go—Eddie, I know what this could be—"

  "No, no. They don't know you were here," Eddie frantically gets to his feet, "I know where I can hide out." The looming presence of Chrissy that neither one of them dare to look at again makes their skin crawl. "Eddie, please. I know people that can help us—" Stella tries to plead but Eddie cuts her off again. "Leave," Eddie shouts in her face, immediately regretting it when she chokes back a sob.

   Stella listens though and runs out the door, looking back as Eddie runs out as well. They glance at each other before setting off in different directions.

   Stella has been running forever. Her house isn't an option. She needs to tell one of them about this. It has to be the Upside Down, no doubt.

   A small blue house stands in front of Stella and her panting frame. Her hands touch her knees as she tries to catch her breath. She doesn't know what time it is, she has no idea how long she was running. Eddie swirls around her mind, wondering where he could've gone.

  There's no lights on as she approaches the house. A shaky fist knocks a few times, shivering from adrenaline. After a minute, the door swings open and a very confused and disheveled Paisley stares at Stella. Makeup runs down her face from what she can see in the darkness of the walkway.

  "Stella? What's wrong?" Paisley's voice is rough. Stella swallows, "I didn't know where else to go. Something happened," She pauses, "......I think it's back." Cory Slora comes up behind Paisley. The family members share a knowing look and usher Stella in very quickly.

      BROOKE KICKS HER FEET watching Steve make pancakes for the two of them. A warm feeling develops in her stomach, staring at Steve doing such a domestic activity.

  The nosebleed from last night had stopped after a minute or two and her headache had faded away at some point in the night. It didn't really matter now as the smell of fresh pancakes flooded her nose.

   She hops off the counter, her feet hitting the cold tile. Steve's oversized hoodie almost a dress on her. "Be patient," Steve says, knowing Brooke is coming over to see how cooked the pancakes are. Golden brown has started to form in the pan. "Patient isn't in my vocabulary," Brooke teases him, resting a kiss on his bicep, right under his shirt sleeve.

    Without Steve, Brooke is pretty sure she would've been off the rails. Has she gotten into more fights this year? Yeah, but Steve stopped her before the final blow was always given. He's been her rock like she has been his. Both of them have always needed each other. They've always somehow been there for the other. Spewing insults and curse words at each other for years really bonded them.

   The pancakes are almost done. Steve sighs, "Why don't you get dressed and you can spend the day with me at work," He smirks, only looking away from the food for a second. A perk of his parents never being home is that he taught himself to cook so he didn't spend his Family Video check on pizza or Chinese food everyday.

Brooke almost jumps up in excitement. Spring break has started and she is quite bitter about Mike being able to see El and the Byers and she couldn't. Money just wasn't in her favor when she's practically raising herself and Danny. Also spoiling her friends and the kids doesn't help.

   Brooke steps away from him, "You think I only go there for you?"

    "Well, you help me not feel like a third wheel, so don't get too cocky thinking I just wanna see you," Steve teases her with a tilt of his head. Brooke gasps dramatically, flipping him off before rushing upstairs to get dressed.

Steve being the love struck fool that he is, he made Brooke her own drawer in his dresser. Clothes she's left or brought sit there, ready for the brunette. She grabs her own chokers and necklaces before getting dressed in a dark red sweater, jeans and a random pair of socks.

   She can hear multiple doors closing and opening. Confused, Brooke leaves Steve's room and begins to descend downstairs but a male voice makes her pause.

   "Don't you have work soon? Why the hell are you wasting time, Steve?" Brooke sadly knows exactly who it is. The man herself and his own son try to avoid, Mr. Harrington.

   Steve is trying not to burn the pancakes all while enduring his dad. His mom sits quietly on the couch, unpacking her stuff from their work trip.

   "Y'know, it's a good thing that mall burnt to the ground before they fired you anyway. Start showing up early, maybe they'll make you manager so you have something in life," Mr. Harrington shouts like he wants the neighbors to know how disappointed he is in his son. Steve scoffs and moves the pancakes to a plate, "I've only been there eight months."

   "I worked at a bakery at your age. Three months in and I was the fucking manager," Mr. Harrington brags, telling the story Steve has heard a million times. Brooke is still frozen on the stairs and she wonders if it would just be easier for Steve if she booked it out of the house.

   Heels click, getting closer and closer to the stairs and right as Brooke is about to run, Mrs. Harrington turns the corner. The two women gasp, staring at each other. Brooke hasn't seen this woman in years. The last time they breathed the same air it was for some fundraiser during Brooke's ninth grade year but the woman's expensive taste hasn't changed. A very nice and clean blue dress sits on her body, black heels and a pearl necklace that was probably a sorry gift from her husband for fucking the secretary.

   Brooke smiles, "I can see where he gets his amazing hair from."

   "Brooke Martel?!" The older woman shouts the teen's name. Whatever argument Steve and his father were having comes to a stop at the mention of a Martel. "Dad—Dad!" Steve runs after his dad who turns the corner with a stomp.

    Anger now shifts within Brooke. Being face to face with the man that has laid hands on Steve makes her chest hurt with anger. Steve can see it in her face. The scowl, the clenched fists and clenched jaw.

  "What the hell are you doing in my house?" Mr. Harrington's voice bounces off the walls but Brooke doesn't falter. She glances at Steve who has pleading eyes, begging her not to start something. She's never seen him so scared of someone. Everything they've been through and this piece of shit man is what he fears.

   Brooke steps down one more stair, "I was just leavin'," She says and gently moves past his mom. His dad scoffs, smacking his hands against his thighs, "You let a Martel into our house? What's going on? Huh? Don't tell me you're dating this," He turns to Brooke, rolling his eyes, "We've been over how that family is—"

    "Dad, stop! Stop being ridiculous, okay? Shawn and Kathleen are the issue. Not Brooke!" Steve defends his girlfriend. Now both his parents scoff. "Steve, she has been arrested," His mom whispers like Brooke isn't less than two feet away. "I don't want you two together. Your life is already shit, having her in it will only worsen it," His dad points right at Brooke. She's trying to keep her composure for Steve's sake but the anger is burning through her like battery acid.

   "Why do you care? You're never here!" Steve shouts, "The whole town knows what you've done to mom—" A hand is raised but it never reaches Steve's face. Brooke's fingers are wrapped around Mr. Harrington's wrist. If looks could kill, both of them would've killed the other right now. "Don't lay a fucking hand on him," Brooke seethes.

   Steve very quickly understands what might happen next and drags Brooke upstairs and to his room. He wastes no time getting clothes for work, changing while Brooke waits for anything to happen.

  "Steve, talk to me," Brooke pleads as he gets his work vest on. He doesn't say anything. What could've happened plays in his head. His dad would never lay a hand on Brooke but people respect him in this town. If Brooke laid another hand on him, his dad could have Brooke in jail for whatever bullshit he deems real.

   "Are you seriously mad at me?" Brooke asks with a scoff. "No, let's go," Steve grabs her by the wrist. She stumbles out of the room and down the stairs. "Oh, you're taking her to work now? Way to really fuck your life up!" Mr. Harrington shouts as Steve slams the door. He drags them to his car but Brooke wiggles out of his grip.

   "Steve, it seems like you're mad at me—"

   "And what if I am? You couldn't have just not done anything or not said anything?" Steve asks, running a frustrated hand through his hair. Brooke takes a step back. It's funny to her because she knows Steve would've beat Shawn's ass if he just did what his dad did. "Are you serious?" Brooke deadpans. "Yes, very," Steve steps closer to Brooke, "He could ruin your life."

  "Mine or yours?" Brooke blurts out. Wide eyes try to retract her question but it's too late. Steve's already hurt. "You think that's all I care about? My life?" Steve steps closer to his car and takes a deep breath, "He ruins yours, he ruins mine."

  "I think you're overestimating him—"

  "I'm not, Brooke! I'm not! But y'know what? Maybe you're right. Maybe it's only mine I'm worried about. Not my girlfriend who I just defended. No, never, right? Is a part of you always gonna think I'm that asshole from school?" Steve swings the car door open. Brooke rushes to the door, "Okay, first, don't slam the door and second, no, the words just came out. I'm sorry." It's a shitty excuse but Brooke can't think properly right now. She's scared looking at Steve sitting in his car, getting ready to drive away from her.

   Steve starts the car and doesn't look at Brooke, "Are you getting in?" Brooke steps away. Should she?

There's a battle within herself because she doesn't know who to believe. The death of Hopper and Casey has only made Brooke worse. Anything that had calmed down for two years has risen again with the grief. So maybe she will make Steve's life worse.

Steve's fingers tap the steering wheel nervously. His chest moves up and down rapidly, trying to find the strength to look at Brooke.

   As Brooke stares at her boyfriend, her heart sinks lower and lower. If she gets in this car with him his dad will know and his dad will curse at him when he's home later. "No, no. I'm only gonna fuck it up more," Brooke's words just barely hide her cries as she turns on her heel, walking away from Steve.

   "Brooke! Brooke, come on!" Steve calls out but she just continues walking down the street. He smacks the wheel and takes a breath as she turns the corner and out of Steve's sight.

    STEVE IS RESTOCKING THE movies while Robin rants to him in the empty store about Paisley. All good things though. "And when we woke up, our hands were, like, interwoven, Steve. It was perfect!" Robin talks about the girl like gold because to the Buckley girl, she is. Paisley Slora is everything Robin could've asked for.

   Steve sighs, even without Paisley here he's still a third wheel, "But?" He asks. Robin's hands go up with each word, "But she hasn't asked me to be her—girlfriend," Robin whispers, "And I have this problem where it's like, I should stop talking. I have said everything I need to say. But then I guess I get nervous, and the words keep spilling out, and it's like my....my brain is moving faster than my mouth, or...or rather my mouth is moving faster than my brain! I'm digging this hole for myself, and I want to stop digging and I'm trying to stop, but I can't. And I'm doing it right now, aren't I?" Robin takes a breath and turns to Steve.

   "Yeah, you are. Speaking of," Steve looks down at his watch, "Paisley was supposed to be here 10 minutes ago for her shift," He moves over to grab more movies to stock. He's been trying to keep himself busy. The argument with Brooke and the hole he kept digging himself seems impossible to get out of but the rational part of himself knows it's just his issues. The unsolved issues that linger in Hawkins with each turn.

   Robin jumps, holding her face, "Oh my, God. You're right. I haven't seen her since our nap yesterday. I talked to her but my mom yelled at me about the phone so, I don't know. What if something happened?" Robin panics, "Oh, I'm hopeless."

   Steve chuckles, "Hopelessly in love," He smirks at the blonde, their backs hitting a movie poster, "But, maybe we both are. Or maybe we're both idiots who constantly dig that hole."

  Robin raises an eyebrow, "What'd you do?"

   "Parents came home while Brooke was at my house," Steve says, turning to Robin who is even more confused, "Arguments broke out and—she tried to defend me. It was just a mess," Steve waves it off, trying to dismiss his own issues. "Ah, both said things you don't mean?" Robin asks. Steve shakes his head, "Yup. Yeah."

    There's a moment of silence before Robin speaks up, "Oh, I think I found. our morning movie," She runs over, "Doctor Zhivago!"

   "Ugh, you know I don't do double VHS!" Steve immediately denies it. "It's about doomed love!" Robin tries to defend her choice. Steve grabs the cart and deadpans at her, "That's the worst choice right now, Robin." The bell above the door chimes.

   "I know but, Julie Christie is b-b-bonkers hot in this!" Robin says. "Well, so sorry I'm not Julie Christie," Paisley jokes, catching Robin and Steve off guard. The blonde's face flashes red as she turns around to greet Paisley, except Stella is also there. A scared look is on the brunette's face. "You're late, Slora," Steve says.

   "My fault. Turn on the news," Stella quickly gets out. The image of Chrissy is burned into her brain. Robin and Steve glance at each other and eventually turn the news on.

   The reporter stands in the trailer park that Steve and Robin know Max and Eddie reside in. "We don't have a lot of details now, but we can confirm that the body of a Hawkins High student was discovered early this morning. Police have not yet released the name, although we are told they're in the process of notifying the family," The reporter says.

   "Holy shit," Steve curses. They turn back towards Paisley and Stella. Stella leans against the counter, "I saw it."

  "Saw what? The murder?" Robin leans right across from her. Stella swallows and looks up at the ceiling, "It's back. It never fucking went away."

   Paisley looks down at the ground to hide her fearfulness. Steve steps forwards, "The Mind Flayer?"

   "The Upside Down. Whatever the hell. The lights flickered and then," Stella takes a deep breath. The sounds of the bones cracking make a hand fly to her stomach. Paisley rests a careful hand on Stella's back, "You don't have to talk about it right now."

  "Uh, she kinda does if we wanna know what the hell is happening," Steve sasses but it earns a back hand smack from Paisley. He lets out an Ow and walks away with a scoff.

   "Wait, who was it?" Robin softly asks. The bells chime again. Dustin and Max rush in, the same scared expression on Stella's face is on Max's.

   "What the hell did we miss?" Dustin asks noticing his friends concerned expressions. There's a collective sigh and the same gut wrenching feeling starts in all their stomachs. Pure fear.