Freak | Eddie Munson x Reader

16 - Revenge

WARNING: This chapter contains spoilers from Season 4 of Stranger Things, themes of death, injury and mature language.

HAWKINS HIGH SCHOOL / REFUGE
1:06pm

RETURNING TO HAWKINS HIGHSCHOOL was nothing how Eddie has imagined it would be. Since the terrible "earthquakes" that had torn the cursed town into quarters, the school had become a refuge for many, rather than a place of education. The main hall was decked out with spare beds, medical supplies, a small kitchen feeding those in need at the very back, tables lined with basic essentials and survivals kits, blankets, water. For all those reckless enough to remain in Hawkins, many of whom weren't trying to face the chaos but simply didn't have a choice, Hawkins High was quickly becoming their home and everything else the school had been best known for, had become a second priority. After speaking to the former head of the school, Principle Higgins, Y/N and Eddie soon found out that many of the teachers had in fact stayed on - to allow students in their last year or the year below, to stay on a finish their exams with the hope to take themselves and their new qualifications far from Hawkins, for better opportunities.

Classes had continued right where they left off and Y/N was beyond surprised to see Eddie turning up to each one - waking up so early to leave that Y/N barely ever got to say goodbye, the bed beside them often empty by the time they opened their eyes and began to get ready. With little else to occupy themselves with now that Eddie had made an almost-full recovery, Y/N had also resumed their classes. Dustin, Mike, Lucas and now Will had also decided to continue with their students after fighting with their teachers about how "first years should still have the same opportunities" - and it was needless to say that they won. It wasn't so much that the boys needed the grades, or even the qualifications - with their connections to the government, to so many important people, if they really did survive the next few years they basically had their futures guaranteed in whatever field they could dream of. But it wasn't about any of that - it was for the sake of routine, structure, having something concrete to distract themselves with while Eleven continued to work with others to try and figure out how to fix Hawkins and keep 001 at bay. Until then - there was nothing any of them could do, so school seemed like as good of a distraction as any.

Y/N dragged themselves into the main hall, dodging people and their belongings on the way inside to cut through to their first class. The hall was constantly alive with chatter, murmured sobs and groans of pain in varying volumes. People slept there now, curled up in corners and on spare mattresses, holding their loved ones before going off to work. Many people had lost their homes to the quake, sucked down into the abyss like Jason, like the town hall - their entire livelihoods rushed out from under their feet and dragged down into the dark without warning. Y/N had already donated all that they could to the cause, childhood blankets and toys, spare food and buckets - but they always wished they could do more. Across the room, Y/N caught eyes with Steve who promptly waved at them, beckoning them over to the table. It was on their way anyway; so Y/N squeezed their way through the crowd toward him. When they reached him. Y/N held onto the edge of his table tightly to stop themselves being swept away by the traffic. "Hey Steve - you doing okay?"

"Okay as ever. I'm glad you didn't drown in the crowd - it's wild out there, huh." Steve laughed, pouring them some water into a foam cup. "Want something to drink?"

"Thanks." Y/N nodded, downing the water and humming as the cool liquid soothed their throat. It was unbearably warm at the best of times in Hawkins, but even more so with so many people around. "I can't believe how many people are here... we had basketball games in here. This was a school."

"Not anymore." Steve shrugged, pouring himself some water, sipping it as he eyed the crowd over the rim of the cup. "Welcome to the new world."

"Do you remember... when I spilt Principle Higgins coffee all over him in this hall?"