Eddie (self-insert x character)

Chapter 12

The ride into town was almost completely silent. I opted to go with the boys since Dustin and Lucas were both not exactly cut out for a life of crime or subtlety...and I wanted another adult figure there in case shit hit the fan and Steve couldn't be in two places at once.

Steve kept anxiously drumming his fingers against the steering wheel like he was working up the courage to speak and eventually he did.
"I gotta be honest with you guys here: I really don't like this plan. I mean trust me I'm gonna love seeing Eddie stuffed into a girl's outfit with makeup on BUT this part here where I take these guys back into Hawkins,"
he gestured towards the back at Lucas and Dustin muttering amongst themselves,
"Feels wrong."
I nodded sympathetically and leaned in a little in the hopes of not being heard by the two in the back.
"That's why I came with you guys. I know I may not look like much but I can throw a punch or two. If the boys need protection I'm there," I promised, snapping for emphasis.
Steve still looked concerned but his finger taps had slowed dramatically.
I guess he just needed to know I would throw down for these guys.

From the backseat, Lucas spoke up.
"You know we're still back here and can hear you both, right? But anyways we don't need protection. I've got some muscles coming along nicely and I'd love to use em on a jock or two,"
he flexed his arm and grinned.
Dustin popped his head between the front seats and looked from me to Steve.
"He might be fine but feel free to protect me all you want, guys."
Steve laughed and his posture visibly relaxed.
"Yeah alright Henderson. Oh shit," he muttered.
"What? Oh shit what?," Dustin asked anxiously.
Putting the car in park Steve turned to the backseat and looked briefly at me before pointing out his window.
"We're here."
***
Stepping out of the vehicle I realized I didn't bring anything to hide the license plate in once I'd snagged it. I mentioned this to Dustin as subtly as possible so Steve wouldn't freak out and Dustin handed me his backpack.
"Be careful with it. And again," he noted, "Feel free to come back here and protect me and Lucas when you're done."
I patted his shoulder and smiled, swinging the backpack onto my shoulder.
"I can do that."
He nodded and ran to catch up with Steve and Lucas.

Scanning around the parking lot I didn't see any plates that looked promising. Plus the cars were parked along the front of the store facing it and the cars one row behind them had their trunks facing the storefront.
I needed more rows of cars to obscure anyone's view of me and swiveling around I spotted a dense parking lot across the street. Praying I could make this quick and be back before the boys needed me, I jogged across the street and located a car tucked away from view of both stores on either side of me.
I dug around in my pocket and found the two things I was hoping to find: tweezers and a coin. I dropped the coin and made sure it rolled under the car, bending down to look like I was retrieving it. Using the tweezers as a mini-screwdriver I slowly removed the plate and stuffed it into Dustin's backpack. As I stood up I glanced around to make sure no one had seen me and felt my breath catch in my throat.
Jason's truck was parked about 100 feet away from where I had been crouched. It was empty thank god but that hardly made me feel better. I didn't waste time looking inside the building for him and ran back across the street to warn the boys it was time to go.

As I neared the storefront I could hear yelling from inside and hauled ass towards the door.
Guess my warning wasn't necessary.
Steve bolted out the door with Lucas and Dustin right behind him. Looking past them I could see a large man wielding a bat stomping after the boys. Realizing we might be in a lot of trouble, I hopped into the car and pulled Dustin's radio out to warn Eddie and the girls.
Trying and failing to get through to anyone I pushed open the drivers-side door for Steve and willed them to run faster.

The boys jumped in seconds later and Steve jammed the keys into the ignition, flooring it out of the parking lot before he'd even closed his door all the way. I heard engines start nearby and searched the parking lot across the street fearing I would see Jason's truck revving and ready to chase us down. What I saw was possibly worse.
"It's gone. Shit."
"What's gone?" Steve breathed, still disgruntled from the encounter.
I looked back beyond Dustin and Lucas's heads and tried to see if I could spot the truck tailing us but couldn't see anything.
Whirling around I ran a hand through my hair nervously and took a deep breath.
"Jason's truck. It was in the lot where I snagged the plate from before y'all came running out."
Steve gripped the wheel and glanced up at his rear view mirror. Seeing nothing, he side-eyed me.
"And you're sure it was Jason's?"
I snorted.
"I had to convince them Eddie wasn't at the lake house a few weeks ago and very distinctly remember that truck. I mean shit they're hunting my fucking boyfriend," I shook my head.
"I'm not gonna forget that truck or the guys coming after him."
Steve nodded and stared straight ahead, his heart still pumping with adrenaline.
Behind me Dustin spoke up.
"Well that was terrifying and I am never doing it again."
Lucas looked at him and squinted.
"We've literally fought a demagorgon and that guy was terrifying?"
Dustin shrugged.
"Fear is a spectrum soooo yes."
Lucas rolled his eyes and tapped my shoulder.
"I know what the truck looks like too. They may or may not have convinced me to join them on the lookout for Eddie before I found these guys again," he said sheepishly.
I stared at him and he quickly realized how it sounded.
"No I mean I love Eddie. I was actually leading them on a false trail so they wouldn't find him, trust me. The lead with Gareth and Jeff was something I couldn't stop though," he looked down embarrassed.
I gave a half smile and shrugged.
"Yeah I figured you weren't after him. You're in his little club after all."
Lucas looked up and smiled, sitting back in his seat and looking out the window.

After hearing about Jason's truck Dustin's eyes were darting everywhere anxiously scanning the road. Every few minutes or so he would look back behind the car to see if anyone was following us.
Finally Steve got annoyed with his constant shifting.
"Christ Henderson, would you chill out? No one's after us."
Dustin scoffed and continued looking behind the car.
"We don't know that for sure now do we Steve?"
Steve looked at me and rolled his eyes.
"Dude we're fine. I'll even take a few wrong turns just to throw off any pursuers," he reasoned, the last word dripping in sarcastic disbelief.
Dustin folded his arms and shrugged.
"You better be right Steve or I'm gonna be super pissed."
"I think I can live with that, Henderson," Steve chucked. Even so, he made a left instead of a right and pulled into a nearby neighborhood to throw anyone off our scent.

The longer we drove through the complex the more familiar it looked. Suddenly it clicked and I slapped Steve on the arm.
"Go right here. Turn!"
He turned hesitantly and looked at the boys with a crinkled brow in his rear view mirror confused as to what I was doing.
"Okay now make that left."
He obliged and I made him stop in front of my favorite house from middle school.

The boys of Corroded Coffin were predictably playing their instruments loudly from the garage and I jumped out of the car and ran up the driveway.
They looked up and saw me coming towards them with a smile and Gareth immediately set his drumsticks down.
"Holy shit guys. Okay so," I huffed, wanting to get everything out before we were in one place for too long.
"Eddie's safe. He's at the dealer's house by Lover's Lake. Jason knows where it is but I convinced him Eddie wasn't there. We're all good and the guys there," I pointed behind me, "are helping me and Eddie ditch town. Jason's on the lookout still though so if he comes by here again," I grabbed Gareth's hands in mine, "do not tell them we were here. Or that you know where Eddie is. Please. We just need an hour to get away so if you can buy us time-"
"Of course. Anything for you guys," Gareth cut me off and smiled.
"Take care of our leader, yeah?"
I smiled and nodded.
"Always. Thank you. Shit I think we've been here too long," I said, noticing Steve beckoning me back to the car.
"I hope we'll see you guys again some day when this all dies down," Gareth called out as I made my way back to the car.
"We'll find a way!," I yelled back.
He saluted me and ventured back into the garage I'll miss way more than I care to admit.

As I got back into the car Steve looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
"You know those guys?"
I nodded.
"They're Corroded Coffin guys. We had some history a few years back...nothing crazy."
He sat back in his seat and nodded slowly absorbing the information.
Lucas tapped his shoulder.
"Uhh dude shouldn't we go now?"
Steve shook his head as if to clear his mind.
"Fair point. Let's blow this popsicle stand," he laughed, wiggling his eyebrows at Dustin and Lucas in the rear view.
Dustin sighed and shook his head in disappointment.
"You're such a dad."
Steve held up finger guns with a self-satisfied smile and turned up the radio, the ride back to the lake house a much more bonded experience than the trip into town had been an hour earlier.