The Devil's Gift/The Bloody Handed

2

"You?" I say tilting my head down.

"Yeah, me! I've taken plenty of chics on dates.." he leans back and bites his lip jokingly.

"Oh I'm sure. Well, where will we go?" I ask.

"Well, we are leaving Hawkins to see the rest of them, so somewhere around there. I'll get creative."

"Where's that?"

"Columbus, Indiana. Short drive."

"Hm, okay.. you just don't strike me as.. the dating type. You give me more of the 'let's just hang out and blast music in my car' type." I say laughing.

He opens his mouth, pretending to be offended and puts a hand on his chest. "Gregerson, I am deeply offended you would say such a thing... but you're not wrong." He look over at me and smirks.

He turns the volume knob up to full blast and rolls down the windows, bobbing his head to the music and singing along. I shake my head and laugh as I look outside of the window and tap my foot to the beat.

How I wish things were simple again. But if they were I'm almost positive that I would have never known Eddie as much as I do now.

***

Our small road trip comes to an end when we stop in front of a small house. It had a field filled with flowers, the most color I've been introduced to in a long time. It was on a hill that overlooked most of Hawkins- or what was left of it. Outside were a handful of people I didn't even know. Eddie slams on the van breaks, his vehicle retaliating with a grunting noise.

I slowly step out of the car. For all everyone knew, I was as good as dead. Everyone looks our direction, almost as if they were about to have a coronary. I see a girl with a shaved head wrapped around Mike (which I'm guessing was Eleven), a woman with brown hair wrapped around a thin but tall bald guy, a bigger guy with facial hair and wire glasses who was smiling creepily, a boy with Nancy (who I presumed was her boyfriend), a guy with real long hair smoking weed, and a boy with a bowl cut. That was a lot of people I did not know. I catch sight of Robin, and she comes sprinting up to me, Eddie dodging her just in time.

"Oh my God, Clary!" She almost knocks me over as she runs into me giving me the tightest bear hug. I hug her back awkwardly and she pulls back, her eyes immediately searching for answers. "Are you okay? What happened?" I then see Dustin run up, scream my name, and hug me as well.

I shrug. "I just.. woke up. I don't remember how but it just happened. And I guess I'm lucky I did."

"Damn right!" Dustin exclaims. "I thought- as all thought you were.. gone. But I just knew you'd pull through somehow!" Eddie, Robin, and I walk towards the porch where everyone was. I awkwardly wave my hand, trying to smile at these strangers.

"Oh- let me introduce you!" Robin says. "This is El, Hopper, Joyce, Argyle, Johnathan, and Will."she points at each person.

"And Murray!" The short big guy comes from the back. "Everyone forgets Murray!" They all laugh and I manage to as well. Everyone welcomes me at the same time, all saying different things.

Steve comes up to me and wraps his arms around me. I can see Eddie tense up from the corner of my vision and walk to the rest of the group. Someone was puppy jealous, huh?  "Hey, glad you're alright Gregerson. Had us all worried there." He digs his hands into his pockets.

"Same. I couldn't imagine not being here with you guys.. I'm sorry about Max. What Jason did. If I had-" he holds his hand up.

"If you're about to apologize for your own cousin's doing, don't. I promise it's fine. We will find a way." He looks back at the crowd and then back at me. "Always do." He clicks his tongue and nods slowly.

"So.. that's her boyfriend huh?" I motion over to Johnathan.  I could tell that's what he was gesturing to.

"Sure is. I knew it was too good to be true, but it's fine. We had our moment already. We all have our certain someone out there, yeah?" He shoves hair out of his eyes.

"Yeah. It's strange seeing everyone so.. clean." I laugh. "It's weird to say, but true."

"Honestly," he agrees. "I think Robin, Argyle, and I are all going to hit up the grocery store later, grab some alcohol, and chill out. Would you be down to do that?"

"Sure, can Eddie come?"

Steve timidly nods. "Yeah, yeah!" He walks away with a swift wave of his hand and I follow behind him.

Everyone was inside, talking and laughing. Eddie was introducing himself, making his casual jokes and being his loud and ignorant self, which we all have grown accustomed too. Except those poor people who just met him. I walk over to Eleven, who's sitting in the corner talking with Mike and Hopper. I should probably talk to her about what happened in the Upside Down. Maybe she had an idea of what to do from here.

"Oh, hey Clary!" Mike exclaims. He looked happy.

"Clary. Pretty name." Eleven smiles. "I've heard a lot about you from Robin, Nancy, Steve, and Dustin."

"And you're Eleven?" I ask.

"You can call me El." I look to the tall man and smile. "This is Hopper. He's my dad- well pretty much dad." She smiles up at him.

"Oh- wait!" My brain clicked. "You're the cop that went missing. I remember seeing it on the news. Wow.. I'm sorry."

He smiles down at me and shrugs. "I'm alive now, aren't I?" I nod in response.

"El. I have to tell you something." She looks around the room and Hopper walks away. Mike stays by her side.

"Your abilities." She says insightfully.

"How did you-"

"Dustin. You know him." Mike laughs. Mr. Loud Mouth, but still loved the kid.

I nod slowly. "So what do you think?"

"I'm not sure. It's strange for that to happen to you.. but then again this works is full of secrets. Too many secrets." She wraps her arms around herself.

"Okay bitches you ready!" Robin screams.

I look back and wipe my face with my hand. "I have to go. Thanks for the small talk, El." I softly smile and she returns the gesture. Eddie, Robin, Steve, Argyle and I all pile into Eddie's van.

"So, we gonna get lit up tonight or what, man?" Argyle says his long hair hitting my arm as he leaned over in the seat.

Eddie, who's in the drivers seat, looks at him then at me. "Hell yeah we are!" I exchange looks of worry with Robin and Steve who are unfortunately in the back with Argyle. I laugh and shake my head as Eddie floors it on the pedal.

"Remember. Tonight is about relaxing and having fun. Then we can configure a plan on how to get Max back and kill Vecna for good." Robin says.

"I full agree with that statement." Steve says.

"Enough with the chatter, let's jam out!" Eddie blasts Metallica and him and Argyle are nodding their heads to the beat. A stoner match made in heaven.