The Monsters Within // Eddie Munson

ii. Pep Rally & a DnD Campaign

Hawkins, Indiana.

Hawkins High.

The trio separated when they arrived at Hawkins High, as Robin got ready to perform in the band and Steve met up with a girl. Darlene? Bridget? Heidi? She didn't know which one this was. Katherine let out an excited noise as she saw Mike and Dustin file up the bleachers. 

Pushing past the other sweaty freshmen, "You haven't joined a cult while I was gone have you?" Katherine asked pointed at their shirts with a laugh. "Kat!" Dustin yelled, running past Mike to give her a tight hug. Mike laughed and gave her a side hug, "No cults. Just DnD." "Cool, Steve said you were hanging out with an older man.. he isn't weird is he." "Kat. Steve is an older man too." Dustin rolled his eyes. "That's actually, yeah."

She stood in between them as the bleachers continued to fill up. "So how are things?" "Lucas is ditching us for the basketball team, so not great. He doesn't want to be with us anymore or something." Mike scoffed as the basketball team ran out onto the court. "Maybe he just wants to try something new. He still loves you guys." The two kids shrugged next to her, watching their friend bro hug a tall senior boy.

Katherine saw a familiar red head walk up and stand a few people away. "I'll see you two later." She scooted down to Max Mayfield, someone she saw as a younger sister, saying excuse me to the people she bumped into. She lighted touched the girls shoulder making her jump and spin around, "Sorr-" Max hugged the girl tightly. "Kat." The twenty year old held the girl, flashbacks of last year, the mall, Billy and the mind flayer. "It's okay Max. I have you." The red head wiped her tear quickly. "I'm glad your back." "Me too."

The duo held hands tightly, as the captain of the team started a speech. Her jaw dropped when she heard Hoppers name fall out of his mouth. "That fucker." Katherine said, taking a step towards him. Max held onto her pulling her back. "And one of our own Billy Hargrove."
The pair froze, hearts arching, tears in their eyes. Their Billy. Max's late step-brother. Katherine's late boyfriend.

"Oh God. That's in poor taste." A guy spoke next to her as the captain preached about how they needed win the game for them. A basketball game. In honor of her loved ones. It was bullshit.
Katherine turned to the guy, long shaggy hair and a shirt that matched Mike and Dustins. 

Katherine sniffed back tears, "You're the guy looking after Dustin and Mike huh?" The guy stared down at her and her clasped hands with the red head who stared forward. "I guess so, yeah. We play DnD together. Ya know all that satanic cult stuff." He replied with a sly smile, sticking his hand out. "Eddie." Katherine stared at him, "If you hurt them, I will slice your dick off." She said shaking his hand. "Kat."

"Noted." They turned back to the basketball team, Kat took a deep breath as the captain went on and on about winning for their town. "I have to get out of here." She whispered down to Max, who nodded. The pair angrily walking out of the gymnasium after Katherine gave a quiet goodbye to the boys friend, Eddie.

~~~
The pair of girls walked to the bathroom in silence, "I'm sorry Max. I shouldn't have left you here all alone." The young teen shook her head, "I wanted you to go. Plus I still have my mom."

//Flashback//
"Max, I can stay here with you." Katherine said, wiping her tears off her cheeks. "No Kat, they need you. Johnathan, Will, El, your mom, they all need you.

"But so do you." Katherine's heart broke as tears fell down Max's cheek. "I'll be okay, you need to leave this place while you have the chance. Please."
The two girls sobbed as they hugged each other tightly.

//Present Day//

"I should have known better, I mean, are you even sleeping Max?"
Max was about to respond when, they heard a girl throwing up in one of the stalls behind them. They turned around and saw a cheer uniform kneeling on the ground. "Hey are you okay?" "Yes! Leave me alone please." A shaky voice responded. "Do you need anything?" Katherine asked taking a step forward. "Just leave!" She screamed out with a cry. Making the two look at each other before scrambling out of the bathroom.