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Eddie was passed the note during the second to last class of the day.
“Meet me at the ‘spot’ after school. URGENT!!!
-Chrissy :)”
Before he could turn his head to Chrissy at the other side of the classroom, the bell rang, and she had already gone to her next class. Eddie had never seen such a cursive and pink “urgent” note.
That’s how Eddie found himself sitting at the old picnic bench behind the Hawkins High School track field just two minutes after the last bell of the day rang. He propped his head up with his left hand and anxiously drummed random rhythms on the wooden table with his right. Every time they requested to meet at the “spot” was done via passing notes in the one class they had together, World History. Though judging glances were always given by the students sat in between Eddie and Chrissy, the notes were always delivered. The “spot” was used as a place for the two to vent about their days at school or their homelives, or make the occasional transaction (Though Eddie rarely charged her anymore for weed, even if he could really use the money). But never had one of these notes ended in URGENT. The awkward run-walk Eddie did to get through the halls quickly to get outside and the stares he received better had been worth it. With each passing minute Chrissy wasn’t there, his hand drumming and knee bouncing got faster.
Once Chrissy appeared in the clearing of trees, Eddie instantly jumped from his seat and began to walk towards her and gesture wildly.
“I need to know what urgent means now before I explode trying to think of what urgent is! It’s been-“ Eddie looks down at his wrist as if he wore a watch, -“like twenty minutes since the last bell! I thought you died!”
Chrissy laughed at Eddie’s rambling but appreciated his concern nonetheless. “Sorry to keep you waiting, I was stopped by some of my cheer friends on my way here.” Her smile dropped slightly as she made her way to the table and sat down. “But here’s what’s urgent.” Eddie mirrored her and sat on the other side, looking at her with a worried expression.
“Ok.” She began with a deep sigh. “So prom is in about a week right?” Eddie nods, albeit a bit confused. “I do not have a single clue what I am going to wear.”
Eddie stares directly at Chrissy for a moment, then releases a relieved sigh as he places his head in both hands. “Oh my God Chrissy I thought something really bad was happening.”
“I’m realizing urgent wasn’t the best word to use, but I guess it’s time urgent? And I have no idea what I’m doing urgent?” She replied quickly. “I’m sorry that I worried you so much. It’s just shopping for any kind of clothes has been hard for me you know? And I can’t shop for a senior prom dress by myself! My mom is definitely not going to come with me, I’m not going to dress shop with my date because I want it to be a surprise, and my cheer friends already bought their dresses. So basically you’re my last hope!”
Eddie lifted his head back up. “Well…I’m glad that you’re alright.” He paused. “But how much could I really help? I mean look at me Chrissy.” He gestures his hands up and down his body. “I am nooo fashion expert.”
“Are you kidding? I love your outfits! How many boys here can make their own shirts and sew?”
Eddie laughed. “Guilty. And thanks.”
“You’re also honest, and you’re my best friend at this school! You could really help me with this.”
Eddie sits in silence, contemplating his response. Quickly making up his mind, he suddenly claps his hands together and stands up once again. “You have convinced me, dear Chrissy. Let the quest for the dress commence!” He says in a fancy medieval voice.
Chrissy stands as well and begins to trail Eddie out of the woods. “Right now?” She yells after him.
“Yeah! I don’t have any other epic quest to go on!”
After several minutes of waiting for the coast to clear, the two entered Eddie’s van in the back parking lot of the high school. Quickly speeding off, Eddie realized he had no idea where to look for prom dresses. Luckily, Chrissy explained before he could even ask.
“There’s a place in the next town over I’d like to check out. Shopping in Hawkins would be too nerve-wracking.”
Eddie could relate to that feeling. Too many prying eyes judging every move you make call Hawkins home.
Chrissy directed Eddie on the roads and turns he needed to take to get to the dress store as they listened to an Iron Maiden tape. To the surprise of Eddie, Chrissy was happy to listen to any type of music that was played in the van. She would tap her hands to the beat, hum a little, and even check out the track name on the cassette case if there was a song she especially liked. This was his favorite part of their friendship, Eddie thought. Just being able to enjoy each other’s main interests and company. Knowing someone genuinely took the time of day to understand and get to know him meant the world. Chrissy began to remember Eddie’s favorite bands, and Eddie would listen to all about the new cheer drills Chrissy had to learn for pep rallies.
Today, however, there was no humming to Iron Maiden or listening to Chrissy’s cheer stories. Even the typical comfortable silence was missing.
Eddie looked over to Chrissy in the passenger seat, her face pressed up to the window as she watched the passing scenery with a furrowed expression.
“So uh…what’s bothering you ‘Chris?”
Chrissy waited a couple of moments to speak. “I always thought shopping for the most important day of senior year would be fun, you know?” She said in a whisper. “All the girls in the movies go with their mom and their best friends…they do a montage until they find the perfect dress. I’m just scared. Scared that everything will feel wrong and I’ll just hear my mom saying how bad I look and how I should be skinnier and-“ She stopped as the van parked in front of the dress store.
Eddie leaned over and wrapped Chrissy in a hug. She quickly returned the gesture.
“We could still make it like the movies.” Eddie began. “I’m your best friend, therefore the possibility of silly dress montages is there.” He ended with a slight laugh.
Chrissy relaxed. “I don’t even know what color I’d look good in.”
“Ok I know this won’t be happening but you would look absolutely metal in a black dress!”
“Ha!” Chrissy pushed against Eddie playfully. “Maybe on you.”
“Yeah, maybe on me.”
Once in the store, Eddie wasn’t shocked that this was the place Chrissy picked out. The store was full of elegant (and pricy) dresses. The dresses were sorted by color, and the most expensive pieces were dispersed on mannequins throughout the store. He could imagine some of the princesses and ladies from his current D&D campaign wearing dresses with the most lace and decorations from this store. Maybe he’ll use some of these dresses for future character drawings, he thinks.
“Where do we start, ‘Chris?”
“Maybe by color, and nothing that’s too insanely tight?”
The two start at the white dresses but skip them all because it’s too ‘weddingy’ for prom. They go through each color, with Chrissy picking a Teal, Yellow, and Pink dress to try on.
The dress montage commences.
The teal dress is too form-fitting, short, and velvety. Too uncomfortable to walk in. Pass!
The yellow dress is off the shoulder with a lot of lace. Eddie likes the style but Chrissy decides yellow isn’t her color. Pass!
The final pink dress has puffy shoulders, a flowy skirt, and small pink flowers embroidered on the top.
When Chrissy steps out of the dressing room, Eddie makes a rectangle shape with his fingers and squints his eyes. “Yup, I can see it. Hawkins High Prom Queen!”
“You think so?”
“I know so! Buuuut there’s one more thing before we know it’s the one.” Eddie falls onto one knee dramatically and holds out his hand. “Chrissy, may I have this dance in the middle of this store?”
Chrissy laughs and grabs Eddie’s hand. He stands back up and twirls her around, before grabbing both of her hands and attempting to waltz.
“Oh my god, you have no idea how to dance.”
“There’s a reason I’m in a band instead of the cheer team!” He lets her go. “But now I’m 100% sure that dress is fit for dancing and winning!”
Chrissy beams. “Thank you so much, Eddie. For helping me and making this easier for me.”
Eddie returns a soft smile. “Any time ‘Chris.”