OUTCASTS • Eddie Munson

Lifeguard in Training

The group rowed in the same direction in which the compass was pointing, Robin shouting patronising comments towards the three that were still left on the shore.

"Dustin is going to kill you when we get back." Ellie laughed as Robin sat back down.

"Oh please, that kid saved the world by singing Never Ending Story with his girlfriend. He couldn't hurt a fly." Robin laughed.

"Wait, what?"

"Another story for another time, my friend." Robin smiled, leaning back as best she could against the motor at the end of the shallow boat.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down guys." Nancy said, intensely staring at the compass in her hand.

Eddie and Steve pressed their oars into the water to slow down and ultimately stop them from continuing to glide across the water. They turned and peered towards the compass that was spinning wildly.

"Whoa." Steve remarked.

"Guys, what's going on?" Dustin called through the walkie. "Come on guys, talk to me, what's going on?"

Robin picked up the communicator, "Uh, Dustin, your compass has gone from wonky to wonky with a capital "ahh!"" she told him.

Steve began to untie his shoes.

"Steve, what are you doing?" Nancy asked, concern radiating from her words.

"Somebody's gotta go down there and check this thing out. Unless one of you three can top being a Hawkins High swim co-captain, and a certified lifeguard for three years, then... it's gotta be me. No complaints, all right?"

"Does being saved by a lifeguard when I was five count?" Ellie asked.

Steve chuckled at her as he stood up, causing the boat to rock. "Maybe you stay here no matter what, Ellie. Can't have you drowning before we get a chance to break you from this curse."

"Touché, my man." Ellie quipped.

"Hey, I'm not complaining." Eddie told him, referring to Steve's 'no complaints' line, "I do not wanna go down there."

Steve removed his shirt and threw it back into the boat, Nancy stared up at him as he did, not looking at his face, purely at his body.

Robin and Ellie looked at her, and then to each other and both of them had a knowing look in their eye.

Eddie wrapped the flashlight in a plastic bag, waterproofing it as best as he could. "Hey. Good luck." He told Steve, passing it to him.

"Thanks." Steve replied, as Eddie's attention diverted to Ellie, holding up the pack of cigarettes he had acquired from the bottom of the bag.

Ellie nodded in response, so Eddie pulled two out of the pack, lit them both, and handed one to her.

"Gross." Robin said, taking Eddie's out of his mouth and throwing it into the lake.

"Hey, what about hers?" Eddie exclaimed.

"I trust her to make her own decisions." Robin replied, a smug smile on her face as Ellie exhaled the smoke into the air.

"I'll share, don't worry." She told him.

"Steve!" Nancy shouted, before he was about to jump in the lake. "Be careful." she told him, looking to him with doe eyes.

Steve stared down at her, not knowing what to say, so instead just jumped into the water, sending a large splash into the boat, dousing Ellie's cigarette.

"Well I guess my decision was made for me." She huffed, throwing her cigarette into the lake.

"Oh, here you go!" Robin said, snatching the pack from Eddie and handing it to Ellie, as well as the lighter.