♥

EVEN WITH RUBY'S DECISION made, she had not thought it through properly. The large group was already climbing into Steve's car, oblivious to Ruby coming to a standstill with reality suddenly hitting her.

"We are driving?" Ruby questioned, though it seemed foolish.

"Shit," muttered Steve, realising.

Robin and Steve exchanged a brief look before Robin got into the back with the two younger teenagers. Just looking at the car and Ruby felt her stomach churn — the pain deep within her leg returning.

"Ru, you don't have to come," Steve told her again.

"I-I..."

But Ruby didn't know what to say.

"Hey, it's okay," said Steve, taking a step towards her. "You're okay, Ru."

The fear was suffocating, preventing her from speaking. All Ruby wanted to do was run away, but her mind was stuck on Eddie again. Ruby was worried about him; if he was in danger, then Ruby couldn't walk away.

So, Ruby's fists curled together tightly with her nails digging into the skin of her palm, breaking the scene from replaying in her head. The brief pain distracted Ruby — just enough for her to find a slither of bravery. Though, it didn't look believable, where Steve just seemed more worried.

"I swear to God Steve, if you drive like a maniac, I will kill you myself," Ruby told him.

"I get it," Steve reassured her. "I promise I'll drive as carefully as I can."

"And seatbelts?" Ruby questioned.

"Will be worn at all times," Steve promised.

Ruby nodded her head, trying to keep her fear buried.

"You sure about this?" Steve questioned.

"No," answered Ruby. "But let's go."

Trying to prove that she had the nerve, Ruby walked towards the car, opening the passenger door as she stared at the seat. Ruby felt her heartbeat thundering, causing her hands to tremble as she sunk down in the seat.

In front of her eyes, her father's dead body flashed as Ruby closed her eyes.

Behind her, the others were silent, unintentionally making it harder for Ruby.

"Ru, you okay?" Steve questioned next to her.

"Just go," Ruby snapped at him.

Then, Ruby's shaky hands reached for the seatbelt, clipping it into place with her legs pulling back closer to the seat, away from the front of the car. Ruby kept her eyes low, staring at her hands that were gripped together tightly.

"How about the radio..."

"No!" Ruby shouted.

Yet, already, Uptown Girl was playing in Ruby's ears — the sound just as haunting as the rest of the crash. Scrunching her eyes shut again, Ruby could already feel her headaches returning.

"Okay," Steve replied.

It was late when they arrived at Reefer Rick's place. Ruby had been silent the whole trip, where her leg had jittered, unable to stay calm while in the car — even with Steve driving as carefully as he could.

Even as she had tried to resist falling into her nightmare, Ruby's eyes had ended up stuck on the dashboard, unable to think of anything else but her father. In her mind, Ruby's screams were echoing, but now she was mute.

So, when the car came to a stop, Ruby was sticky with sweat.

Ruby was quick to leave the car, standing on shaky limbs. But, for the first time since the crash, Ruby had come away with two working legs and no one had died. 

As the others went to knock on the door, Steve lingered behind, catching Ruby's arm to stop her from joining the rest of the group. Turning, Ruby's wide, frantic gaze fell on him, offering him a familiar scowl that the man was becoming used to.

"Ru, you still holding up okay?" Steve asked.

"Well, I didn't die," Ruby joked, but it didn't sound or feel funny. "Or almost lose my leg again."

Steve frowned at that. "Maybe you should wait here."

"No, Steve," Ruby snatched back her arm. "I did not go through all that just to wait outside. If Eddie's here, then I want to help him."

"Great," Steve mumbled, switching on his flashlight. "Let's go find your boyfriend."

Ruby frowned. "Eddie's not my boyfriend."

"Does he know that?"

"It's none of your business."

"I care—"

"Steve, shut up."

"Can you two stop fighting for a minute, please," Robin pleaded, losing her patience with them. "Someone is gonna hear you."

"Are they always like this?" Dustin questioned.

"No," Steve and Ruby said together.

"Always," Robin clarified.

Shooting one last glare at Steve, Ruby drove the group forward up towards the front door of the house. It was Dustin who pounded on the door, calling out for Eddie.

"Great," said Steve in response.

"Shut up," Ruby told him again.

"Look, we just wanna talk, okay?"

Steve kept his flashlight focused on the door that Dustin was shouting at while Robin and Max were the ones to check the windows, using their torches to investigate the house. Inside, the house remained dark and still with no one likely home.

"No cops, I swear," Dustin promised someone who was not there. "We just wanna help."

Then, Dustin was pounding on the door again, calling out Eddie's name before he tried the doorbell.

"Rick!" Dustin shouted. "Reefer Rick!"

"You know he's a drug dealer, right," Ruby pointed out.

Dustin looked over at her. "So?"

"So?" Ruby repeated, laughing, but her eyes were on Steve again. "Harrington, sort your kids out before they end up dead."

Walking away from the two, Ruby fell into step behind Robin, sticking to someone who had a torch. Behind them, Steve and Dustin carried on bickering, where the girls had figured that no one was home.

"Hey, guys," Max called out.

Catching their attention, the group joined her to see that her light was directed to a metal shed at the back of the property. While it looked dodgy, it seemed the perfect place to hide.

They approached it with the blinding lights shining through the windows again, checking to see what was inside before they entered. It was Robin who was brave enough to open the door first with Ruby following, keeping close to her new friend.

"Hello?" Robin whispered, where her light crept around the darkness, chasing the shadows. "Is anyone home?"

The door creaked as it opened further, letting them all inside. Ruby's eyes roamed around the place where the light touched, finding nothing but the shadows.

"What a dump," Steve commented.

Ruby couldn't spot any hiding places, but she heard a noise, where she turned to see that Steve was poking at the tarp on a boat with an oar.

"What are you doing?" Dustin questioned him.

"He might be here," Steve said.

"So, take the tarp off."

"If you're so brave, you take the tarp off." 

"And you said we were bad," Ruby muttered to Robin.

"You and Steve are on another level," Robin told her, ignoring the two as Steve carried on stabbing the tarp. "I know Steve asked you earlier, but are you okay? I didn't realise you were so scared of cars."

"I'm all good," Ruby reassured with a fake smile.

"Hey, look over here," Max caught their attention, where the two walked towards the younger teenager, spotting the food wrappers. "Someone was here."

"Maybe he heard us," said Robin. "Got spooked and ran."

"Don't worry," Dustin said. "Steve will get him with his oar."

"I know you think you're being funny, Henderson, but considering everyone in this room has nearly died a hundred times—"

"Woah, sorry, what?" Ruby questioned.

"—Personally, I don't find it funny in the slight—"

From underneath the tarp, a dark shadow appeared, colliding with Steve, who cried out from the fright and shock. Ruby's eyes widened, seeing that it was Eddie with a broken bottle pointed at Steve's neck.

"Eddie!" Ruby shouted, along with Dustin.

"Eddie! Stop!" Dustin continued. "Eddie! Eddie!"

Hearing them, Eddie paused with their voices causing him to see reason. Though, without even seeing his face, Ruby could tell that Eddie was terrified.

"It's me," said Dustin, trying to calm him down. "It's Dustin. This is Steve. He's not gonna hurt you, right, Steve?"

"Right," Steve agreed. "Yeah."

"Steve, why don't you drop the oar?" Dustin suggested.

From Steve's hand, the oar dropped to the ground with a thud. His head remained still, unable to move with the glass pointed to the throat. Yet, Steve tried to move away with Eddie tensing.

"He's cool," Dustin told Eddie. "He's cool."

"I'm cool, man," said Steve. "I'm cool. I'm friends with Ruby, remember?"

"Eddie, please," Ruby added. "Listen to them."

"What are you doing here?" Eddie questioned, so quietly.

"We're looking for you," Dustin answered.

"We're here to help," Robin confirmed.

"Eddie, these are my friends," Dustin's soothing voice cut through to him with Ruby trusting that he could ease Eddie. "You know Ruby; she's new, but she's cool."

Eddie's head had turned, eyes falling on Ruby. The fear in his irises softened for a second with Ruby offering him a tiny smile.

"And, you know Robin," Dustin continued. "From band."

Robin imitated a musical instrument, though it did not lighten the moment.

"This is my friend Max," said Dustin again. "The one who never wants to play D&D." At that, Max rose her hand in greeting. "Eddie. We're on your side. I swear on my mother. Right, guys."

There was a chorus of agreement from everyone, all swearing on Dustin's poor mother. But Ruby was silent, as she stepped forward.

"Eddie," said Ruby. "This is not you; you wouldn't hurt anyone."

Finally, Eddie let Steve go with Ruby letting out a long breath. While she had known that Eddie would never have hurt Steve, her heart had still quickened from the fear. Ruby's eyes were on Steve, where his hand was clutched to his neck, but Ruby's feet were moving towards Eddie.

The man was sliding down a pillar towards the floor, clearly traumatised.

Ruby stood in front of him, falling to her knees as Dustin stood close behind her. With her eyes on Eddie, the man could not look at her.

"Eddie," Ruby said. "Talk to us, please."

Eddie still clutched onto the bottle as Ruby's hands lowered, wrapping around his hand with a gentle soothing smile on her face. At her touch, the bottle loosened as Ruby removed it, throwing it on the floor away from the two.

"What happened last night, Eddie?" Ruby asked, still holding onto his hand.

Then, Eddie's head rose, where his dark brown irises met Ruby's softer brown. Eddie sniffled, the tears toppling down his cheeks. "You wouldn't believe me."

"Try us," Max said from behind them.

"Ruby's still here," Steve commented.

"And Ruby can hear you," Ruby snapped at him, head turning briefly to glare at him. "Don't you dare suggest I leave, Steve."

"It's Ruby's choice," Robin told him.

Steve sighed in frustration, throwing his hands in the air.

Eddie sunk down properly to the ground, letting his hand fall from Ruby's hand. Around them, everyone else had stepped forward, listening as Eddie started to explain what had happened. First, he had started with the normal: Eddie had been selling drugs.

What came next, Ruby could not wrap her mind around.

"Her body just, like, lifted into the air, and, uh..." continued Eddie, unable to look at the puzzling expression on Ruby's face. While she believed something had happened, what Eddie was saying was not possible — maybe he was high or it was the trauma, Ruby supposed. "And, she just, like hung there. In the air. And her bones...uh, she..."

Eddie whimpered, sounding so fearful as his voice broke.

"Her bones started to snap," Eddie looked over at them with wide, petrified eyes. "Her eyes, man. It...It was like there was something, like, inside her head, pulling. I—I didn't know what to do, so I..." there was silence with Eddie so broken. "I ran away. I left her there." Then, when no one said anything, Eddie scoffed. "You all think I'm crazy, right?"

Ruby didn't think crazy but... could Eddie have been high? The things the two had come up with together, having believed it was real, but they had simply been high.

That seemed more possible.

"No," said Dustin. "We don't think you're crazy at all."

"Don't bullshit me, man!" Eddie's voice rose, triggering tears again. "I know how this sounds!"

"We're not bullshitting you," Max told him.

Ruby's brows furrowed, head turning to look at the group behind her to see that they were all so serious and afraid too. Seeing that, Ruby frowned.

"We believe you," Robin added.

Eddie let out a long breath, not believing that.

"Were you high?" Ruby asked him, panicking. "Was someone else with you?"

"No," Eddie answered, not looking at her. "It was just me."

"Look, what I'm about to tell you might be a little difficult to take," Dustin said. "You know how people say Hawkins is...cursed? They're not way off."

Turning again, Ruby's eyes caught Steve's stare — like always, Steve's gaze was on her: irises full of guilt, pleading for Ruby to leave. But Ruby looked away, focusing on Dustin as she found herself too shocked from what was going on to even speak.

"There's another world," continued Dustin. "A world hidden beneath Hawkins. Sometimes it bleeds into ours."

"Like ghosts and shit?" Eddie questioned.

Ruby's head whipped around to him, mouth parting in surprise that he was buying the bullshit. What Eddie had seen was enough evidence for him to believe.

"There are some things worse than ghosts," Max answered.

"These monsters from this other world, we thought they were gone," Dustin added. "But they've come back before. That's why we needed to find you."

"If they're back again, we need to know," Max said.

"That night, did you see anything?" Robin asked.

"Dark particles, maybe?" Max encouraged.

Eddie shook his head.

"It would almost look like dust, swirling dust," Dustin explained.

"No, man, there was nothing you could see, or, uh..." Eddie said. "Or touch. You know, I tried to wake her, man. She couldn't move. It was like she... she was in a trance or something."

"Or under a spell," Dustin decided.

Eddie met Dustin's stare. "A curse."

"Vecna's curse," Dustin stated.

"A spell caster," Eddie whispered.

"A dark wizard."

"You've got to be kidding me," Ruby snapped, losing her cool with it all now. "Is this part of your game?"

"No, Ruby," Dustin answered. "This is real."

But Ruby was shaking her head as she stood. The only logical explanation was that they were still playing their stupid game, acting out some real-life version. Even with Eddie's fear and panic, Ruby still wasn't buying it.

Backing away from them, Ruby looked from Eddie's frightful expression to Steve's sympathetic gaze. "If this is a prank, then this is too cruel."

"Ru, wait—"

Ruby, though, ran away.

♥

Outside, Ruby had nowhere to go: she was close to the lake, but so far from town that walking would be foolish. Instead, Ruby hid around the corner of the back shed, leaning against the metal as she shoved her head in her hands.

Honestly, Ruby knew there had to be a slither of truth to it all. At the end of the day, Chrissy was still dead, and Eddie's reaction was too real. But...to bring fanatical creatures and the impossible into it all was more laughable than anything.

"You were right," Ruby said, knowing Steve had followed her outside. "I shouldn't have come. I should just go."

"Not by yourself," Steve told her. "Look, this is serious now, Ru."

"Can you please stop calling me Ru," Ruby pleaded.

The tears sparked in her eyes as Ruby moved away, stepping closer to the lake. Steve had pushed forward, fingers catching onto her fingers as if to stop her.

"For once, please listen to me," Steven said, sounding so desperate. "Please, Ru. I never wanted you involved with any of this, but you have to take it seriously. This is not a game — not a prank. I wouldn't do that to you."

"You generally believe this shit, don't you?" Ruby questioned, meeting his stare as she shook her head. "Oh, Steve."

"That Christmas, I didn't come to you as I had promised," Steve reminded her, causing Ruby to tense, hand pulling away from his hold at the reminder of the holidays at the end of 1983. "I didn't want to give you a reason to come back to Hawkins. I've seen too much, Ru. People have died. People have gone missing. So, I wanted to do the right thing: to protect you."

Ruby felt her heart drop, finding this the cruellest part.

"You ruined our friendship over made-up nonsense?" Ruby whispered, her voice breaking with her throat burning as she forced herself not to cry. Instead, a devastating bubble of laughter broke from her lips, overshadowing how she was truly feeling. "Steve, the truth would have hurt less than this."

It was obvious: Steve never felt the way Ruby had. Instead, he had taken a vulnerable moment between them and Ruby had just been another girl to use. Ruby had been just like her mother, ruining a good friendship from one mistake.

"I get it, you don't believe us, and I don't want you to," Steve told her. "All I want is for you to be safe. Just wait for us and I'll drive you back. There's still a murderer out there now."

"You are so full of shit," Ruby told him.

"If that keeps you out of this, then so be it," Steve decided.

Ruby laughed. "Wow, my hero."

Steve frowned at her.

"What will happen with Eddie?" Ruby asked, still worried about him.

"I don't know," Steve answered. "He's wanted, so he'll have to hide. The police won't believe any of this. You, uh... can't tell anyone, Ru."

"Steve, if I go to the police, then my chance of getting Chase back is gone," Ruby reminded him. "If I go back, then I'm associated with a murderer and, who knows, I could end up a suspect myself."

"So, what are you going to do?" Steve questioned.

"I'm not gonna run," Ruby decided. "You are all batshit crazy, but, for some reason, Eddie believes you, so I just gotta figure out what's true."

Ruby had to prove that Eddie was innocent.

Heading back inside, everyone was about ready to leave with Ruby lingering, wanting a moment alone with Eddie. He was still sitting on the floor, head resting against the wall as he looked so lost and tired.

"I get you don't believe this," said Eddie, not looking at her. "But... the only scrap of good I can take from this was that you weren't there. You know I would... I wouldn't ever hurt someone, let alone..."

"Eddie, I believe you are innocent," Ruby reassured him.

Eddie's head turned, finding a hint of comfort.

"I just... the rest is crazy, Eddie," whispered Ruby. "Could you be turning what happened into a game as a way to cope?"

"Ruby, what I saw... I couldn't make that shit up."

And Ruby believed him, but her lips pressed together, unable to accept what they were trying to tell her. Though, what they were saying was far more believable than Steve and Eddie teaming up to trick her or to even play dungeons and dragons together.

"Ruby, you should go," Eddie then told her.

"Go where exactly?" Ruby looked over at him again. "I have your back, Eddie."

There was a hint of a smile that encouraged Ruby to knot her fingers with his, wanting him to know that no matter what — even with all the bullshit craziness — that she was there for him. Someway, somehow, they would get through this together.

"I'll stay with you," Ruby promised him.

Eddie stared down at their joined hands for a moment. Then, his dark stare rose, irises colliding with Ruby's. "Do me one favour, Little Red."

"What?" Ruby asked.

"I can't believe I'm saying this," said Eddie, unhappily. "But go back with Steve. If you are caught with me... well, I've already screwed things up for you enough as it is."

Ruby's heart ached, eyes falling downwards.

"If not for me, then leave for Chase," Eddie encouraged, knowing those words were enough to persuade Ruby to go.

"I'll come back," Ruby promised.

Then, maybe for them both, Ruby's head had fallen forwards to kiss Eddie. His hand cupped her cheek, the rings on his fingers cool and comforting. After, Eddie offered her one of those fake smiles that Ruby had mastered.

"Don't miss me too much," Ruby told him, starting to stand.

"In my head, I'm back to Thursday night."

Ruby smiled at that, wishing she could go back to that night too. In her pocket, Ruby still had the guitar pick that Eddie he let her keep.

"Just don't be alone."

♥

All Ruby wanted to do was go see Chase, but she did not know what was happening with the police. If her name had been dropped, then the police would be at Variety Logan's place, questioning her whereabouts, believing Ruby might be there.

So, Ruby had found herself at Steve Harrington's house. Already, the place felt like a haunted house with memories, where Ruby felt like a ghost.

Steve's parents tended to work away from home a lot, where the two friends had often crashed at his together. Ruby had always known that Steve had hated being home alone; always preferring to be around people.

"You can crash in my room," Steve offered. "I'll sleep on the sofa."

"I'd rather take the sofa," Ruby decided.

"Of course, you would."

"I heard that."

"You hear everything."

Ruby frowned at him, dropping her rucksack by the sofa.

"Fine, you take the sofa then," Steve gave in. "I'll go get you some pillows..."

"Steve?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you, uh, have anything for headaches?" Ruby asked.

Steve nodded. "Yeah, I'll go see."

Steve's voice trailed off as he disappeared. As Ruby waited, she sunk onto the sofa, staring at the familiar living room with the few pictures of Steve. Eventually, Steve returned, passing Ruby a couple of pillows and a cover for her to sleep with, as well as the pills.

Though, that night, Ruby stared up at the darkness unable to sleep. The events of the day had caused her head to throb with her mind spilling, trying to figure everything out.

As Ruby eventually fell back to sleep, her mind tumbled into a nightmare. It was always the same: Ruby was trapped, wailing until her throat tore for her dad to wake up with the pain splintering, blinding her with so much red.

"Ruby, wake up! Wake up!"

Ruby had darted upwards, eyes wide as she almost headed butted Steve. The shock of seeing him tore Ruby from her nightmare. There was still the chill deep within her leg, causing Ruby's stomach to tighten.

"What are you doing?" Ruby snapped at him.

Pulling the covers tighter, Ruby sat upwards as she looked away, hoping her hair hid her tears. In her hands, Ruby's fist tightened around the covers, trying to hide her shakiness.

Steve had sat down on the other side where Ruby had been sleeping. He was shirtless with pyjama bottoms on, where the lamp glowed behind him.

"You were having a nightmare, Ru," Steve explained.

Ruby shrugged, trying to seem unbothered. "It's nothing new."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," Steve told her. "If I had known..."

"But you weren't there," Ruby reminded him, feeling her eyes burn. "You didn't know."

"I should have been there."

Ruby couldn't say anything as she stared at the carpet on the floor, teeth gritting together to stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks. The headache was still there — constantly reminding Ruby of everything that had happened.

"Can I do anything now?" Steve asked.

"Can you tell me everything?" Ruby found herself asking.

"I thought you didn't believe us."

"I still think it's bullshit," said Ruby. "But if you all believe it, then I want to know."

"It's long and complicated," Steven said.

Nothing could be worse than reliving her father's death every night.

Steve could see that too.

"We've got time," said Ruby. "I'm not gonna be able to sleep again. Just put a top on first."

Steve grinned, trying to lighten the moment. "Distracting you, am I?"

In response, Ruby had thrown her spare pillow at him that Steve had caught. Again, Ruby was glaring at him, but Steve had settled for holding the pillow to his chest instead of heading back upstairs for a top.

Then, Steve started from the beginning, catching Ruby up.

And the truth (even if Ruby struggled to believe it) was enough to distract her mind.

♥

who do you ship more?