The Break (An Eddie Munson Story)

Chapter 14: Dustin Demands A Movie Night

A/N: Today's content warning is a mention of smut and losing of virginity. This book is in the 18-25 category on Wattpad, so if you're not 18+, maybe give this a skip? Just listen to this warning and make good life choices.

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He dropped you off by the curb, promising to come and pick you up a few hours later. Watching the truck taillights disappear into the distance, you could not shake the uneasy feeling, that sat like a stone in the pit of your stomach, rooting you to the spot.

It was not until you sensed someone standing beside you and the resounding sound of a slushie being slurped through a straw, that you refocused your attention from the empty road, to the young boy who was stood beside you.

"Hey." Dustin offered you a toothy grin, his usual overly happy and content self. He was the only other person in Hawkins who had a sunny disposition that could rival Eddie's bright personality, you chuckled to yourself. Apparently, the highschooler had been sent by Steve to fetch you and bring you back into the video store.

Despite it being a Saturday morning, there was a surprisingly low amount of customers, allowing you to chat freely with your friends. You could not recall the last time you had been awake this earlier on a weekend, let alone actually socialising with people. While your communication skills were somewhat rusty, you still managed to keep up with the continuous chatter and even earned yourself a few laughs with the occasional quick remark.

You sensed that perhaps Dustin had been prepped about your current mental state because he not so subtly avoided mentioning your lack of presence at Hellfire Club and other group activities but overall, he did a good job of acting like you had not been missing for the better part of a year.

While he and Robin bickered about whether or not Mad Max 2 was a worthy sequel to the original masterpiece, you left the two to their debated and joined Steve by the stack of VHS tapes, the he was slowly sorting through for inventory. "Need any help?"

"Umm, I'm good but you can definitely keep me company." he grinned, before returning his gaze to the battered copy of Nightmare of Elm Street, that he held, checking over the damaged case. "Who rented this, a bear?"

"Maybe Yogie really loves Robert Englund?" you attempted to make a joke but even you had to admit, it was terrible.

"I think that might be the worst pun you've ever made." the brunet chuckled, casting the tape to the side with a tut.

"I'm sure I can think of worse."

"Oh really?" Steve challenged you, with an arching of his brow, as he looked at you incredulously.

"Really. Like do you want to hear a joke about paper?"

He regarded you with caution, unsure where exactly you were going with your punchline. "Uh...sure?"

"Ah, I can't possibly say it. It's tearable."

Steve rolled his eyes so hard, that he was in danger of causing himself brain damage. "Fucking hell, Y/N. That was actually painful."

"Oh, that's just the tip of the iceberg, Harrington. I had another joke about insanity but I lost it."

That one actually had his doubled over, as a full-bodied laugh escaped his lips and he gripped the counter for support. Damn, you had missed this, making him laugh and generally just being with friends. You had forgotten that life could be full of these small moments of joy, that is was the simple things that were worth enjoying.

The sound of Steve's cackling, Robin looked over in your general direction. Seeing her counterpart with the inventory sparked her to call over to you, "Oh, yeah! Y/N, how was the movie night yesterday, did you guys hate The Funhouse, like I said you would?"