Chapter Text
[Steve and Robin are riding in Steve's car on their way to the Hawkins High pep rally.]
"And then there's Heidi tomorrow night, but the problem with Heidi is that she's going out of state for college. So, it's like do I really want to start another relationship that has no point other than sex? I mean I just, I'm- I don't know. Does that make sense to you?" Steve pauses his rant, "Robin, are you listening to me?" Steve asks annoyed, "Uhm, yes I'm I'm, I'm listening!" Robin says not paying attention while doing her makeup. Steve starts getting annoyed. "What did I say?!?" "What did I just say to you?!?" Steve asks annoyed and testing-ly. "You said something about sex! with Linda!" Robin answers. "NOOOo!" "I'm talking about HEIDI!" Steve states angrily. "Cut me some slack, please! Your love life is one labyrinthine complexity, and its seven in the morning we have to go to this stupid pep rally and I woke up looking like a total corpse..!" Robin says frantically, "Oh" "You're- You're worried about a basketball pep rally, you expect me to believe that?" Steve states teasingly, "Yeah, so?" Robin says unsure, "SO! We both know what this is about, okay, I'm not buying that bullshit this is about your crush..!" Steve states. "Absolutely not.." Robin says while continuing to do her makeup, "Yes it is! And you know what else I think." "Uh-I really don't care what you thin-" "I think you gotta stop pretending to be someone else when you're around her okay! You just gotta be yourself..." Steve says supportively. "You're literally quoting me to me, you do realize that?" Robin states with a slightly sarcastic tone, "Well maybe you need to listen to yourself you ever think about that smarty pants? I mean I listened to you and now look at me boom! back in business.!" "It's not the same thing.." "Mm. Well" "Mmm! You ask out a girl and she says no, big deal! nothing happens, maybe your egos a little bruised but I ask out the wrong girl and baM! I'm a town pariah!" Robin rambles angrily. "Okay, yeah I buy that except that your crush is definitely not the wrong girl." Steve assures Robin, "We just.. don't know that, do we?" Robin says with a cocky tone, "Didn't you say she returned "Fast Times" paused at 53 minutes 5 seconds do you know who PAUSES "Fast Times" at 53 minutes 5 seconds??" Steve pauses to catch his breath and think for a second, "People who like boobies!! Robinnn, boobies!!!" "Ew, gross. Don't say BOOBIES!!!!" "It's not a big deal okay?!? I like boobies! You like boobies! ... She has to like boobies!! DEFINITELY!" Robin shakes her head in annoyance. "It's boobies!"
[Robin and Steve arrive at Hawkins High for the pep rally]
Robin gets out the car and says, "Hey! Wait up!" Robin then grabs her stuff out of Steve's car. Everyone starts to piles into the gym. Inside the gym the pep rally starts off with the cheerleaders doing their performance with the drum-line playing a tune. Once the cheerleaders start finishing up their performance the marching band starts playing their school fight song, while Robin is performing a special someone catches her eye. That special someone is the one and only! Nancy Wheeler?!? Yes, the Nancy "Priss" Wheeler! "What's Nancy doing at something like the pep rally?" Robin wonders. The marching band finishes their song right when the cheer squad finishes their set. Over the speakers we hear, "And let's hear it for your Tigers !!" The basketball team comes running out from the locker room. Thankfully the drum-line is playing a tune so Robin can drown out the god awful speech the basketball team captain has to give. Well, never mind! They stopped, guess she has no choice but to listen. That's alright because she can't stop glancing over at oh-so-gorgeous Nancy, as if the world would end if she stopped looking at her for two seconds.
Chrissy Cunningham the cheerleader who is Jason the annoying team captain of the basketball team's girlfriend was having a breakdown in the bathroom. This is where it all began. Chrissy had a terrible vision while hiding in the stall, creepy mutilated feet came up to the stall trying to get in and calling out her name while hurling insults at her. The lights flickered. Then it all comes to a stop. Normal again? Chrissy gets up and leaves the bathroom all shaken up.
Nancy's POV
[Nancy is in the newspaper room of Hawkins High with her co-worker/classmate Fred]
"Maybe I'm just missing something, but why can't Johnathan just come down here for break?" Fred asks curiously, "Because!" Nancy says in a harsh tone, "Because why?" Fred pushes, "Because! Johnathan and I broke up remember?!? And don't you think it would be pretty weird and awkward to see each other again after we distanced and broke up over the phone?!?" Nancy snapped. "Um, do you mind if I... take a crack at this Candace?" Nancy asks nicely, "Um, go ahead, all yours!" Candace answers politely, "Well don't you guys think it would be nice to see each other again and maybe solve some of this tension you have going on between the both of you?" Fred is really letting his curiosity get the best of him, "Why are you being so nosy?" Nancy asks, "Let's call it journalistic instinct." Fred hopes this will make Nancy crack, "Okay, well honestly I don't want to see him right now! I mean we literally broke up?!? I don't even want to think about that and I have bigger problems to deal with right now, I still have to find a headline for the front page of the newspaper!" Nancy does indeed crack at how determined Fred was to get this out of her. "I mean who wouldn't want to visit the most desired girl in Hawkins?" Fred is so puzzled about this whole situation. "Okay, I'm just going to try and forget that you said any of that, Fred!" Nancy says with a slightly disgusted tone. Mike then slams through the door calling out Nancy's name looking around the room to find her, he then finds her and says, "Nancy, hey! Um, do you wanna join hellfire tonight?" Mike asks, Nancy angrily sighs.
[Outside of Hawkins High]
Chrissy starts to walk somewhere, maybe home? She walks down some steps, through some grass and into the forest. She finds a picnic table in the forest. She screams out, "Hello?" A clock chimes. BLAM! It starts to tick. Tick Tock Tick Tock... Chrissy turns around, she finds a mysterious grandfather clock stuck in a tree. BLAM! She starts to walk closer to the clock. BLAM! The glass on the clock starts to shatter and she backs away. BLAM! She ends up bumping into Eddie "The Freak" Munson?!? "WHOA! Whoa, whoa, hey hey hey hey, sorry!" Eddie calls out while putting his hand up to reassure, "Didn't mean to scare you. You okay?" Chrissy looks back at the tree where the grandfather clock was, it isn't there. They both sit down at the picnic table, Eddie slams a box onto the table. "There's uh, there's nothing to worry about, okay? No one ever comes out here. We're safe. I promise." Eddie reassures Chrissy. He opens up the box to reveal drugs inside. "So, how does this work, exactly?" Chrissy asks unsure, "Ohhh, just like any other old sale, except uhhh, cash only, and uh for obvious reasons. No receipts." "I'll do you a half ounce for uhh... 20. What do ya say? It's plenty of bang for your buck. Should last you a while." Eddie explains, a twig snaps because of a nearby animal and it causes Chrissy to gasp. "Hey, uh we don't need to do this, just give me the word and I'll just walk away." Eddie realizes somethings going on with Chrissy, "No, it's not that I don't want you to go. It's just- Do you ever feel like... you're losing your mind?" Chrissy says this like she shouldn't say this, "Eruuhmmmm, you know, jus- ... on a daily basis. I mean I feel like I'm losing my mind right now doing a drug deal, with Chrissy Cunningham, the queen of Hawkins High," Eddie chuckles, "You know, this isn't the first time that we've umm, ... hung out." "No?" "Ya don't remember?" "I'm sorry, I-" "That's okay." Eddie pauses, then dramatically fakes stabbing himself and topples over. Chrissy gasps at his antics. "I wouldn't remember me either Chrissy," Eddie says while stumbling to get up, "Honestly, uhmm do I have stuff in my hair?" Chrissy laughs at this, "You don't remember me?" "I'm sorry." Chrissy says while laughing, "Middle school. Talent show. You were doing this cheer thing, you know the- the thing... you do. It was pretty cool actually," "And I... I was with my band," "Corroded Coffin" "Corro-" "Oh my god!" "You do remember! Right!" "Yes, No! Of course! With a name like that, how could I forget?!?" "I dunno, You're a freak." "No, you just... You looked so-" "Different? Yeah. Well, uh my hair was buzzed and I didn't have these sweet ol' tatties yet." "You played guitar, right?" "Uh huh, still do, still do. You should come see us. Uh, we play at "The Hideout" on Tuesdays, it's pretty cool. We.. We- We actually get a crowd, of about five drunks." Chrissy laughs. "It's not exactly "The Garden", but uh gotta start somewhere! Right? So," "You know, you're not what I thought you'd be like." "Mean and scary? ... Yeah, well I actually thought you'd be kinda mean and scary too." "Me??" " Terrifying! .. Uh so, in other good news, flattery works with me, so... Twenty-five percent discount, for the half. Fifteen bucks. You're robbing me blind here, you know..." Eddie says cheerily. Chrissy is thinking about what to say, "Do you have anything... maybe... stronger?"
[Later that day, everyone is in the gym for the basketball Championship game at Hawkins High]
The horn blows and the players come out onto the court. Everyone is cheering and the drum-line is playing a tune. The cheerleaders are cheering and saying, "Lets go, Tigers!" The marching band starts to chime in with the drum-line. Nancy is standing on the sidelines with Fred and the photographer. She has a notepad and pencil ready in hand. Steve walks into the gym with a girl and she says, "Does it bother you that like, we might win a championship like right, after you graduated?" Steve responds, "You know, yeah yeah that's an interesting point. Thank you so much for bringing that up, Brenda ." Everyone sits down and the band stops because the announcer is coming up to the microphone. The announcer announces, "Everyone now, please rise for our national anthem! ... Singing for us tonight, we have a very special guest. All the way from Nashville! Our very own, Tammy Thompson!" Robin and Steve are immediately surprised that the Tammy Thompson is here. "Holy!" Robin mouthes to Steve. Tammy starts to sing the national anthem and woah immediately everyone's ears are bleeding, not literally of course. Robin rolls her eyes and shakes her head, then turns to Steve. Steve turns to Robin with a very confused? look on his face. Steve whispers, "Told you. Muppet." "Okay, she does sound like a muppet." Nancy overhears Robin saying that Tammy sounds like a muppet. Nancy responds to Robin's side comment, "Oh my god, totally. She sounds like kermit." Robin is surprised that Nancy heard and said something but she continues the conversation, "I was thinking it was more like Miss Piggy." Nancy laughs at that, Robin begins to ramble, "I used to think she sounded good 'cause I had this massive crush-" "I'm sorry?" "Um... we we- took um a massively hard class together. We were uh We were uh in Mrs. Click's class together. Yeah.. Uh.. Sorry? Were you asking me a question?" "Nope." "Oh... okay." The Tigers are starting to struggle a bit, the basketball team captain is starting to slow down and get upset.
Nancy's POV
Nancy is back on the sideline with Fred and the photographer. "Looks like my headline has a shot!" Fred boasts. The basketball team is really wearing out now and the game is almost over. Some of the players are getting injured, they are tired and just really slowing down now. Will they win? Lucas finally gets put in the game after riding the bench all season. He scurries onto the court. Now that Lucas is on the court the Tiger's pace is starting to pick back up, they might actually have a chance now. They are scoring points again, "Finally!" Everyone thinks. The games getting tough for both teams now. The teams are making shots back and forth. Jason the basketball team captain asks for a time-out. The team huddles up and creates a plan. Jason takes a shot but it bounces off the rim. Lucas catches the ball. Lucas steps away and takes the shot right at the last second. Will it go in? The ball is bouncing around on the rim and backboard. Will it go in? IT GOES IN! The crowd roars. We did it! We actually did it, we won the championship game. Nancy is happy and starts scribbling something down on her notepad. Everyone starts gathering around Lucas to celebrate.
Yet, Lucas's friends weren't there to celebrate with him. Where were they? Everyone starts going home and the basketball team is still celebrating Lucas. While Lucas was walking with the team he sees his friends. Of course . They were at "Hellfire" without him. His sister was his sub?! He sees them celebrating. Without him. That means they finished Eddie's campaign without him. His expression drops and becomes more gloomy than what it once was. Patrick whose on the basketball team brought Lucas back to reality. "Lucas! Come on, man!" At least, they were able to get the conference title for the first time in 22 years.
[At the trailers where Max and Eddie live]
Eddie pulls up to his trailer with Chrissy, in his van. "This is uh, my castle." Eddie says to Chrissy getting out of the van. Eddie opens the door for the both of them, they go inside. "Sorry for the mess. Uh, the maid took the week off." Eddie says as he's desperately trying to clean the mess, "You, um... You live here alone?" "With my uncle. But, uhh, he works nights at the plant. Bringing home the big bucks." "How long does it take?" "Sorry?" "The "Special K" .. How long to kick in?" "Oh! Ah, well, it depends if you snort it or not. Uh, if you do. Ah, then uh yeah, it'll uh, kick in pretty quick. Ohhh, shit..." "You sure you have it?" "No no, no I got it. Uhm, somewhere. .. Uhh." Eddie walks into his bedroom to find it. "Sorry I'm late sweetheart." He says to his guitar and kisses it. "You're beautiful." Eddie starts rummaging through his drawers. A clock starts chiming again. BLAM! It ticks. Tick Tock Tick Tock... Chrissy quickly turns around and slowly starts walking towards the window to check it out. BLAM! She cautiously looks around for the clock when she gets to the window. BLAM! She can't find it and slams the curtains shut. BLAM! "Eddie!? Did you find it? .. Eddie?" She starts walking over to Eddie's bedroom. She ends up finding her mom in the corner of his room sewing her cheer outfit. "Mom?" Chrissy calls out. "Just loosening this up for you, sweetheart. You're going to look absolutely beautiful." Her mom says then turns her head around. Theres something wrong with her mom, her eyes are white and theres something up with her face... It's different?!? Chrissy gasps and leaves the room, slamming the door shut. When she gets out of the room she realizes shes in her own home now. Then the "mom" tries to open the door so she holds the door shut. "Chrissy! Chrissy, open the door! .. LET GO! LET GO!!! Chrissy!!" Chrissy keeps screaming "No!" The door swings open and Chrissy runs away. She goes downstairs and finds her dad. "Dad! Dad!! Dad?!!" He turns to her and his eyes are sewn shut and his mouth is sewn shut. Chrissy screams. The dad tries screaming but it comes out muffled. Eddie finally finds the "Special K" and says, "Gotcha." He walks out his room and says, "Found it! .. Peaceful bliss just moments away." Eddie says to Chrissy. He stares at a blank Chrissy and calls out her name, "Chrissy?" "Chrisssyyyy?" He says while waving his hand in front of her, "Hello? Chrissy!." He tries to lunge at her and "scare" her. "Hey, Chrissy, wake up. Hey?! Hellooo?? Chrissy? Hellooooo? Hey! Chrissy!" He's snapping his fingers in her face. The lights start to flicker. The lights are also flickering in Chrissy's vision of her house. "Chrissy?" A distorted, creepy voice calls out. Wet footsteps travel down the stairs. A mysterious figure with a claw is coming down the stairs. Chrissy starts running away, leaving her dad behind. She walks into the dining room to find a huge amount of food with swarms of flies and spiders all over it. "Chrissyy..." The distorted voice calls out again. Chrissy starts running the other direction to the front door and opens it. Only to find that its boarded up. "No! HELP!! HELPP!!!!! SOMEBODY, HELP ME!!!!" Chrissy yells out while trying to slam her body into the boards in hopes they will come down. "Time to wake up! Okay?! Hello? Can you hear me? Wake up, Chrissy! CHRISSY, WAKE UP!! I DON'T LIKE THIS CHRISSY! WAKE UP!" Eddie is desperately trying to bring her back to reality. "HELP! HELP! HELP!" Chrissy screams out hoping someone will hear. "Chrissy." The mysterious figure calls out while coming closer. The figure approaches her. "Chrissy! Chrissy! Chrissy! CHRISSY, WAKE UP NOW! CHRISSY!" Eddie calls out for her, trying to help. The figure keeps inching closer and closer to Chrissy. The figure puts its claw up to wipe Chrissy's tears and says, "Don't cry, Chrissy. It's time... for your suffering... to end..." Its claw reaches up and spreads out over the top of Chrissy's face. "Chrissy!" Eddie's doing his best to wake her... Just then, she started to float. "What the-" Eddie says as he backs away from her. The creature stabs its claws into Chrissy's face, sending her flying into Eddie's ceiling. "Jesus christ!" Eddie screams out. All her bones start to crack. Eddies on the floor screaming. Her eyes pop and blood starts to drip out of the sockets.