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Steve had been waiting on the couch for Eddie to get home ever since he got back from the game and Wayne left. Eddie’s D&D games lasted literally forever. The TV was on but it wasn’t really hooking his brain. He just wanted to listen to Eddie ramble on about D&D, and the kids, and anything good that maybe happened to him at school while they cuddled. Work had kinda sucked for him that day, since he had a shift with Keith instead of Robin, since she was in school, so he needed the boost of joy. Not that watching Lucas make the winning shot didn’t bring him joy, he just wanted Eddie.
What Steve had not expected, at all, was for Eddie to walk in with Crissy Cunningham. By the look on her face when her and Steve’s eyes met she hadn’t expected to see him either. She blinked a few times before turning to stare at Eddie, his lack of shock probably wasn’t what she had expected either.
“I assume you’ve met Steve?” He smiled at her. She nodded. “It’s just him and me right now, my Uncle’s working, and don’t worry he won't go spreading anything around.”
“Spreading what around?” Steve asked.
“I-” Chrissy turned to look at him, “I just- I wanted-” She struggled to find the words.
“Drugs?” Steve suggested. She nodded, slowly. “I get it,” Steve shrugged, “Especially if you’re still dating Jason Carver.”
“She is.”
“It’s… not him.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “More like my mom, sort of.”
“Oh, yeah, that sucks, kinda why I live here now,” Steve shrugged, “Except my dad was more of a jerk than my mom.” He forced out a laugh. “I promise you need a distraction more than you need drugs, healthy coping skills and all.”
“Oh, since when did you have healthy coping skills?” Eddie asked. “Drink any beer today Stevie?”
“No, I haven’t.” Steve rolled his eyes. “Kinda wanted to though.”
“Mmm, bad day at work?”
“Keith hates me.” Steve whined, flopping over on the couch. “I’m trying so hard to be nice, and I know he doesn’t have to forgive me, that’s his choice, it just sucks.”
“Yeah, I know, sweetheart, I know.” Eddie pat his shoulder.
“Mmmmm.” Steve whined. “How about we all blast music, smoke some weed, and, like, dance or something, get our minds off everything else?” Steve suggested.
“Awwww, I knew you’d use music as a coping skill some time.” Eddie smiled at him.
“Yeah, yeah.” Steve rolled his eyes. “I included smoking in that too though. And Chrissy gets to pick the first song, since she’s the guest.” He smirked at Eddie.
“Fine.” Eddie sighed, before running to their room to grab all their cassettes. He dropped an armful on the kitchen counter and gave Chrissy a bow. She stared at them all. “I’ll roll a blunt while you make your decision,” He sped back into their room to grab some weed. Steve rolled his eyes, but a small laugh escaped anyway.
“See anything you like?” Steve asked, walking over to Chrissy.
“I haven’t heard of any of these actually.” She replied. Steve looked down at the pile.
“That’s because that mother fucker didn’t grab any of my music.” Steve scoffed. Chrissy giggled.
“How’d you end up here anyway?” She asked.
“Well, I wanted away from my parents, and Eddie’s kinda awesome so, you know.” He shrugged. “Even when he’s being a little shit and doesn’t grab my music as an option.” Chrissy giggled again.
“And… where do you sleep?”
“With Eddie.” Steve shrugged. “His Uncle sleeps on the pull out couch,” Steve pointed at the couch, “When he gets back from work, so we have to be quiet in the mornings, if we’re here. Anyway, I’m gonna go get my music.” Steve sped off to their room to grab a bunch of cassettes.
“Aww, you noticed.” Eddie whined. He was sitting on their bed rolling the blunt.
“Yeah, of course I did, asshole.” Steve shot back and Eddie laughed. Steve shook his head but he wasn’t able to wipe the smile off his face. He brought Chrissy more cassettes to look over and she picked a Billy Joel album. Steve placed it in the radio just as Eddie was walking back out with the blunt. He heard the first few beats and groaned.
“Damn it.” He whined. Steve laughed at him.
“I told you she got to pick.”
“Is it really bad?” She asked.
“What, no, I’m just teasing Steve.” Eddie assured her, “Pick whatever you want. I don’t actually mind.”
“Oh.” Chrissy sighed in relief. “Okay.”
“Yeah, he’s only being a dick to me because he thinks it’s funny.” Steve plopped down onto the couch.
“Hey! I don’t think shit, it is funny.” Eddie crossed his arms.
“See.” Steve Held out his hand to Eddie and Chrissy giggled.
“You guys are hilarious.”
“We know.” Eddie winked at her as Steve shook his head. At least Chrissy was starting to cheer up a bit. “Or at least I am.” Eddie smirked as he lit the blunt. Steve shook his head but he couldn’t actually deny it, Eddie was hilarious. Chrissy didn’t giggle that time though.
“You don’t think I’m funny? That’s hurtful Eds.”
“I did not say that.” Eddie pointed at him. “Don’t pout at me! Okay, okay, I’m sorry! You’re funny.” Steve laughed at how easily Eddie broke, but Chrissy still didn’t. He glanced over at her, she was staring off into space.
“Chris? You good?” He asked. She didn’t reply.
“Chrissy? Hey?” Eddie snapped his fingers to try to get her attention, but she didn’t even blink.
“Chrissy? You okay?” Steve got off the couch, stepping over to her. “Chris?” He placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn’t reply. Eddie dropped the blunt into the ashtray on the counter, stepping over as well.
“Time to wake up.” Eddie clapped his hands in front of her face. She was blinking finally but it was weird, not the way people are supposed to blink.
“Chris?” Steve asked again.
“Hello? Can you hear me? Wake up Chrissy. Chrissy wake up!” Eddie’s voice had taken on sing-song tone, probably because of the stress he was feeling. Steve’s hand dropped off her shoulder and he couldn’t remember how to speak anymore. What the hell was happening? “I don’t like this. Chrissy wake up.” Eddie started taping her shoulders. “Chrissy! Chrissy wake up now!” Eddie kept yelling. She obviously couldn’t hear them but he just kept yelling. “Chrissy!?” She lifted into the air “What the?” Eddie stepped back at her and stared at her until her body hit the ceiling. “Jesus Christ.” He shrieked as he took another step back, bumping into the counter and falling over.
Steve felt frozen, he couldn’t remember how to do anything. He wasn’t even sure he was breathing. How Eddie was still managing to move and yell he didn’t know but he certainly couldn’t. What the hell was happening? But then, Chrissy fell. She hit the floor and scrambled into a sitting position with a terrified look on her face. She started panting and crying. Steve still felt frozen but Eddie ran over to her. He’d never frozen up before.
“Are you okay? What the hell was that?”
“I- I don’t know, but it keeps happening.” She wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her face into them. “I thought I was going to die that time. He- he got so close- and the door was boarded up and he- he placed his hand to my face and I thought it was over but then- the music played and it- it led be back here?”
“Hold on, he who?” Steve asked, finally finding his voice again.
“I don’t know.” Chrissy tightened her grip around her legs. “He’s, like, viney, or something? it’s creepy.”
“Viney?” Steve repeated.
“Does that… sound like the upside down stuff?” Eddie asked. Steve nodded.
“Will mentioned vines, but… never… not like this.”
“The upside down?” Chrissy asked, lifting her head up. “What’s that?”
“It’s like a mirror world, but with monsters. We thought we closed the gate, and that all this was over, but, apparently it never ends.” Steve kicked the couch. He felt bad afterwards but just felt like he could never escape this.
“So what do we do?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been the idea guy. We, just- we should radio the others.”
“Yeah.” Eddie nodded. “I’ll get the walkie.” He got up and ran for their room.