Hidden Within the Shadows

all grown up

Eddie threw the tarp over himself. Adrian was hidden behind one of the support beams. Adrian could hear some people shouting Eddie's name, trying to find him. There were flashes of light before the boathouse door was creaking open.

"Whose is the motorbike?" a voice asked, and Adrian had to clasp his hand over his mouth. That was Steve The Hair Harrington. Adrian shut his eyes, and found the minds of all the people coming in. Harrington, Henderson, Robin Buckley and a girl Adrian didn't know. He was quick to find her name in Henderson's mind. Max Mayfield.

"Hello?" came Robin's voice. "Is anyone home?"

The door continued to creak as the rest of their group entered the boathouse. Adrian clenched his jaw, going into their minds, making them not notice him as they moved around. He was invisible to them, so long as he kept still and concentrated.

"What a dump," Adrian heard Harrington say, and he had to stop from rolling his eyes. Harrington's parents were loaded and the asshole lived in a mansion. Of course he thought that the damn place was a dump. Then again, Reefer Rick didn't really care for his stuff so long as he could get paid for his drugs.

Concentrating on making sure the four newcomers couldn't see him, Adrian stepped out from his hiding spot, watching them move around. Dustin looked so much older than when Adrian had last seen him, what, three, four years ago? The boy had gotten tall, and his teeth had come in. His hair was still stupid curly, and he was wearing a hat to try and control the mass of hair. He was taller too, and it was odd seeing how much the kid had grown in such a short amount of time. Harrington was closest to him.

Fucking Harrington. His hair was somehow bigger and better than when Adrian had last seen him in person. It was big and ... looked weirdly nice. Adrian wondered what stupid products he'd been putting in his hair to get it like that. He looked less like an asshole too, with how he was dressed. He remembered the things Eleven had told him, how Harrington had supposedly changed and helped the kids, looking after them as best he could against the monsters from the Upside Down.

Adrian frowned before an amused smile crept over his mouth as Harrington grabbed an oar. Robin and the Max girl were on the other side, inspecting Rick's shit. The smile vanished from Adrian's face as Harrington started hitting the tarped-over boat. Eddie was in there, hiding with his stupid broken bottle. Adrian watched as Dustin and Harrington had an almost brotherly spat together before Eddie jumped out from under the tarp, scaring the shit out of the four intruders.

"Whoa, whoa, Eddie!" Adrian yelled, ceasing his concentration as Eddie slammed Harrington into the wall, sharp glass pressed to Harrington's neck. The others were shouting at Eddie too. "Eddie," he repeated as the four looked at him in shock. He'd lost concentration, panicked and kinda scared Eddie would accidentally kill Harrington.

"Nina?" Dustin asked, and Adrian had to ignore the feeling of dread and disgust settling in his stomach.

"Eurgh. It's Adrian now, Dusty-bun," he said to him. He looked back to Eddie and Harrington before he rolled his eyes, and with a swish of his hands, Eddie was pulled away, shoes making a sound as they were pulled across the floor. It separated the two boys and had Harrington stepping back, touching at his neck. Robin moved over to him as Max stood beside Dustin.

"I told you fucking Henderson would be on your side," he said, giving Eddie a pointed look. He held his hand out and the glass bottle shot out of Eddie's hand and into Adrian's. Eddie made a noise and settled in behind Adrian, like he was going to use him as a human shield if needed. Not that Adrian cared because he knew what he was capable of with his powers. "They're here to help," he said, shrugging a shoulder at Eddie, who only looked slightly manic now.