Sparks 𝙀. 𝙈𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙣 (book 1)

Chapter 6. The Dive

"Another one? Why here?" Beatrix questions as they listen to Powell. "... The victim, an 18 year old senior from Hawkins High, Patrick McKinney-" 

"Holy shit he's on the basketball team." Max notes. "Yeah." Lucas says quietly. "We have also identified a person of interest," Don't say it, don't say it, don't say it. Beatrix's mind pleads.

"Eddie Munson." Her hand doesn't wait this time, it shoots straight up in flames. "Holy shit- contain that!" Steve whisper-yells, she doesn't bother trying to put it out. In fact she lets the flames lick her hands for as long as they can, because if she hold angry-flames for too long, it begins to sting just a little bit, and she likes the sting this time.

She doesn't listen to the rest, until Eddie comes in over the radio. Before Dustin can talk, she snatches it from him. "Eddie, you're in such deep shit, are you ok?" She asks, Dustin rolls his eyes. "No Bea, pretty goddamn far from ok." He says. "Where are you?" She asks, the flame in her other hand burning out. "Skull rock, you know it?" He asks. "No, but we're going to find you I promise-"

"I know it." Steve snatches the walkie and starts towards the car. "Jerk." Bea mumbles, following him.

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"So then, lets pretend I didn't just overhear that whole conversation." Beatrix says, coming up between to the two girls. "You gonna tell him?" Nancy asks. "Tell him what?"

"That you loooooove him." Robin teases. "I wish you two would shut up already." The noirette complains. "No we can't were to invested now." She says, looking over at Nancy. "I would call it, 'sparks. The journey of a love that burns brighter than her flames.'" Nancy says dramatically.

"Don't talk to me, either of you." She demands, they don't, but they stare at her awfully. "Ok yes, I will try to talk to him." 

"Talk to who, Vesta?" Eddie asks as she rounds the corner. "Edward Munson!" She shrieks, throwing her arms around his neck. "If you ever scare me like that again I'll kill you." She promises. "No idea what I did, but glad to know you'd kill for me, even if it was me." He smiled.

"Yeah well, it be lovely to be rid of you." Beatrix let go of him. Remembering the dynamic they were supposed to be having. "Wouldn't you like that, sweetheart?" He asked.

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"God, you're too obnoxious for your own sake, aren't you?" Beatrix asked, trying not to smile. "Only you would know, wouldn't you darling?" Asked Eddie as they hung back from the rest of the group. "Why do you say that?" She asks. "What?"

"Darling, Sweetheart, Love?" She lists. "Isn't it obvious? I like watching you struggle to keep your hands at the right temperature." He smiles. "See, its almost like you have a thing for me." She suggests. "Impossible."

"Is it?"

"What does that mean?"

"Eddie, you've been after me since you met me, its okay. You can admit it now." He pauses at this. "What if we die, soon?" 

"What?"

"We both have trauma, the two of us. So what if he comes after us next?" 

"Eddie we're not going to di-"

"How do you know that?"

"Because- because I can play drums, and I know any black sabbath songs would yank you out of that freaks grip."

"Ah.. but you don't have those drums with you?"

"What's the point of all this."

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Eddie, you're scaring me." 

"Answer the question, can. You. Keep. A. Secret?"

"I mean- Yeah?"

"Keep this one then."

And then he kissed her. Her hands went up in flames immediately, but she somehow, even with all the emotion washing over her, managed to settle them back down. She had some control over them, new found power in his arms. She didn't touch him, to afraid she'd leave a mark, but instead let her hands fall on his shoulders, where she couldn't hurt him. His hands were all over her, on her waist, the other on the back of her neck. She felt some strange connection to them, as though they were meant to be there, holding her.

Just then, she heard little giggles, watching was Robin, Nancy, and Max. Beatrix pulled away from him. "I'll scorch all three of you, I swear." She threatens, the group turns around, still laughing. "I think we're almost there!" Dustin says from the front of the group. Beatrix runs up to see where they are, Eddie following her.

"If anything comes out of that gate I'm burning the hell out of it." She says, standing beside the child. "Watch your step sweetheart." Eddie says, putting a hand on her shoulder before she steps into what looks to be water. "I thought I recognized these woods."

"Lovers lake." Robin realizes. "This is... confounding." Dustin says, searching for reason. "There's a gate in Lovers Lake?" Max inquires. "Whenever the demogorgon attacked, it always left an opening. Maybe Vecna's the same way." Nancy suggests. "Yeah, only one way to find out." Steve promises.

"Wheeler, Vesta." Eddie says, helping the two girls into a boat. Dustin approaches the boat. "Dustin, this thing isn't big enough for all of us." Beatrix tells him. "Holds 4 people, tops." Eddie agrees. Nancy steps towards him. "It's better this way. You guys stay here with Max, keep an eye out."

"You keep and eye out!" Dustin says. "It's my goddamn theory!" He narrows his eyes. "You heard Nance." Robin says. "Who put her in charge?"

"We did." Beatrix smiles, fist bumping Robin. "Compass." Nancy demands, taking it from him. Steve throws him a bag and gets in the boat. "You said 4!" 

"Sorry." He shrugs. "Bedtime at 9 kiddos! Miss you already!" Robin shouts.

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"Uh Dustin, your compass just went from wonky to wonky with a capital WAaaAh!" Robin says through the walkie. "Steve what are you doing?"

"Somebody's gotta go down there to check this thing out. Unless one of you four can top being a Hawkins High swim co-captain and a certified life guard for three years..." Steve says, removing his shoes. "Its gotta be me alright? No complaints." He says simply.

"I'm not complaining, I do not wanna go down there." Eddie says, taking out a plastic bag. "Me neither, my hair looks terrible when its wet." Bea agrees. "Good luck." He hands Steve the plastic-bag-covered-flashlight. "Thanks." He says, throwing his shirt to Bea and Eddie. Eddie takes out a cigarette and offers one to her, she takes it and takes her finger out to light both of theirs.

"Gross." Robin says, plucking it from both of them and throwing the cigarettes into the lake. "Steve?" Nancy asks. "Be careful." He nods before jumping into the water.

They wait for two minutes. ("Seriously, who the hell can hold their breath for two minutes?" -Beatrix.) Before he comes back up. And then hes being pulled under again. "Steve!" Everyone yells. "What the hell was that, man?!" Eddie asks. "Nancy, is this really happening?" Robin follows. "I swear to fuck I'm going to set this boat on fire if I get anymore scared!" 

Nancy props her foot up on the boat. "Wait!" Eddie yells, stopping her. "Nance you can't be serious." Beatrix says. "Stay here, I'll be back." She promises. "No, Nancy!"

"Goddamn it!"

Robin positions herself on the edge of the boat. "Wait, what're you doing? She said wait!"

"I heard her."

"Shes in charge." Eddie hesitates. "Are you kidding me? We made that shit up." She says before falling backwards. "No, no don't do it!" He says, turning to Beatrix. "How the hell are they gonna survive down there without me?" Bea asks. "Uh- send them your best wishes from up here?" He suggests.

"You're funny." She smiles before giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Christ on ice." Bea mutters before leaning off the edge of the boat and into the cold water, swimming towards the red gate.