One true love | Eddie Munson

17 : H A I L E Y

. . .

We were in the waiting room of the hospital.

"Barb didn't make it." Nancy frowned, her lips trembling trying to hold in her tears.

I went over to Nancy and hugged her tightly as she cried. Jonathan and Joyce were in the room with Will, they were able to find him and get him here safe and alive. I was happy for them, but everything felt off. I felt closer to everyone in the room because we've shared the same fear and shock from that thing... A demogorgon according to Nancy's little brother who was bouncing his leg anxiously and his friends were asleep. He looked sad, like a part of him had gone missing. I kissed Nancy's head gently before walking over to Mike.

"You alright?" I asked him as I took a seat in front of him on the floor

He shrugged and nodded, "Just waiting for Will to be alright..."

"There's something else, right?" I asked and looked at him, "You know you can talk to me. I know I'm not your sister, but she's like family to me, so that makes you family to me too." I smiled, "I'll listen."

He looked at me and smiled a soft but sad smile, "Well uh- there was this girl. Her name was Eleven, we all called her El for short." He began, and told me everything about her, down to every last detail from when they first met till when she disappeared saving them from the demogorgon, "I just miss her..."

"She sounds really special" I smiled, "She saved you guys from the demogorgon?! She must be really brave."

"Mhm." He smiled, "She was. Thanks for listening, Hailey."

"Always." I smiled and gave him a fist bump before getting up and going to the empty chair next to Nancy.

Jonathan walked in. He told Mike and his friends that they could go see Will. Mike was the first one up and shook Dustin and Lucas and they got up running after one another to get to see Will. Nancy got up and followed Jonathan leaving just me in the waiting room. I didn't want to go in, because they should all have their moment. Steve walked in with a cup of water and M&M's from the vending machine.

"Where'd everyone go?" He asked, looking around and taking a seat next to me.

"They all went to see Will. Nancy went with Jonathan and I stayed here cause... they all needed their time alone, and I would've just stood there awkwardly anyway." I said.

"Oh," He sighed at the mention of Jonathan and Nancy, "M&M?" He asked shaking them into front of me and I stuck my hand out.

"Thanks."

"You okay?" He asked, taking a look at me.

I shrugged and looked at the ground, "I don't think I know what it's like to be okay anymore." I chuckled followed by a sigh, "Everything in my life is a mess. Now this just made it a whole lot messier, and I have a bruise on my whole left side from falling over the bed."

He chuckled at the end, "I feel the same way, with the whole 'life being a mess' thing," He looked at the bag of M&M's in his hands, "I don't think I have a shot with Nancy anymore." He frowned.

I placed my hand on his shoulder, "I thought back at Jonathan's you had a chance, when you took the bat and hit the demogorgon to defend her. It was pretty heroic, Harrington."

"Yeah?" A smile spread across his face.

"Yeah." I nodded with a smile.

 "Want me to take you home?" He asked and I nodded and got up and walked beside him, "You gonna say goodbye to Nance?"