𝑮𝑹𝑬𝒀 - Eddie Munson [2]

ELEVEN

ELEVEN|GIRLS TRIP PT.2

Birdie groaned to herself as she slid out the backseat of the car, silently questioning why Nancy and Robin rushed into the house. She followed after them, trying not to trip down the creaky basement stairs.

"Okay, so, we have a plan." Nancy announced to Steve, Dustin, Lucas, and Max who walked over to join them. She handed Steve a folder before the three girls sat down with the others.

"Thanks to Nancy's minions, we are now rock-star psychology students at the University of Notre Dame." Robin explained to the group.

"I'm now Ruth."

"I'm Rose."

"And I'm the getaway driver." Birdie raised her hand, excited for her part. She noticed Max hovering beside her, hesitant and sleep deprived. The older girl reached her hand out, holding on to Max's tightly. Through the carefree facade, Bernadette Harrington was scared.

"We won't need a getaway driver." Robin stared at the girl quizzically.

"Uh huh, you keep saying that till you're being chased." She laughed, knowing three was a crowd but also wanting to stay with the girls.

"Nice GPA." Dustin complimented as he read through the forged identities.

"Thanks." Nancy smiled at the boy before going back to explaining the plan. "So we called Pennhurst Asylum, told them we'd like to speak with Creel for a thesis we're co-writing on paranoid schizophrenics-"

"To which they said no."

"But we landed a three o'clock with the director."

"Now all we have to do is charm him and convince him to let us talk to Victor." Robin concluded the plan.

"Hopefully he can give us a clue on how to get rid of this curse." Birdie squeezed Max's hand. "And we can save Max."

"Can I talk to you, Birdie?" Max mumbled down to the girl, letting go of her hand and moving back towards the desk against the far wall.

"What's up, Max?"

"I want to give you this." Her amber eyes darted down to the envelope now placed in her hands, her face instantly breaking as she realised what it was.

"Max." She said slowly, refusing to meet Max's sad eyes. "I- you're not going to die. I won't let you. I promised Billy."

"I know." Max wrapped her arms around the older girl, knowing she needed the hug just as much as herself. "But just in case something does happen."

"No matter what, I won't lose you too." Birdie embraced the girl back, the letter crumpling in her hands as she squeezed the girl close. "I promise we will find a way."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

___

Bernadette leaned against Nancy's car, waiting for the other two girls to follow her out of the house.

"Birdie." Steve called out to his sister, stopping her from getting into the car. "Be safe."

"I always am." Birdie wrapped her arms around her brother, giving him a quick embrace before pushing her sunglasses over her eyes and sliding into the backseat of the car.

The drive was quiet, mostly filled with Robin fiddling with the radio, trying to find a station with an enjoyable enough song. She finally decided on 'Running Up That Hill' by Kate Bush. Birdie hummed along to the familiar tune, the lyrics reminder of her Max. She slipped her hand into her pocket, finding the letter and sighing as she realised she was failing Billy.

"Stay hidden." Nancy turned in her seat as they pulled up to the hospital, a stern look on her face. "If anyone asks, lie."

"Aye, aye, captain!" Birdie gave her a two finger salute in reply. She watched as the pair quickly walked into the building. She jumped into the driver's seat, playing around with the radio and settling on AC/DC.

Her eyes widened as she spotted Nancy and Robin running across the grass straight towards the car. She instantly sat up straight, getting the car into gear and revving the engine as the two girls jumped into the car.

"I told you!" Bernadette laughed at the two girls, wheels squealing as she stepped on the accelerator, speeding away from the asylum. "I fucking told you you'd need a getaway driver."

"Okay, you were right." Robin rolled her eyes dramatically, laughing loudly as she slumped back against her chair, quickly loosening her tight clothing, trying to breathe. "But you can't tell anyone I said that."

"Never." Their joyful moment was quickly interrupted by the walkie talkie coming to life.

'Robin, where the hell are you? This is a code red. I repeat, a code red!'

The three girls glanced at each other, Robin immediately reaching down to grab it and reply. "Dustin, it's Robin. We copy."

'Holy shit. Finally! Please, please tell me you guys have this figured out.'

Robin relayed the knowledge they had learned, discovering music helped distract Creel from his apparent Vecna attack. Birdie pressed her foot harder on the accelerator, speeding through the streets to the location Dustin had given them. She knew it well. Too well. They were at Billy's grave.

Bernadette didn't know if she had the strength to return to Billy's grave, a place that filled her with heartbreak and grief. She was moving on. She was finally getting her life back. This would only drag her back to the beginning. But Max's life was more important to her than her emotions. In any situation, she would always choose Max.