Hell & Back

Chapter Twenty Nine

For the next couple days Steve and Eddie brought in old furniture from his moms charity donation drives. They could take a few things without anyone really noticing. The trailer was a mix match of things, some torn, but there was now furniture. Eddie found himself actually taking pride in his home, his own home. Chrissy was staying here as well but she was in school during the day so he did have some time alone. Steve was also staying but work kept him busy until nightfall. Vecna though was not leaving him alone.

The constant intrusion of his thoughts was making him more and more angry, which wasn't something that happened very often. Every time he would have a peaceful day, it was almost guaranteed that he would dream of Chrissy, Steve, Billy, or the little girl being broken in front of his eyes. If anything this only drove him into finding a way to kill him more. He was ready to watch the monster suffer the same way he had made all of them. Normally he shied away from feeling of wanting to hurt someone but these he accepted with open arms.

Steve had been picking Chrissy up from school and dropping her off over at Eddie's for the last few days. It was easy with him, like Nancy, they didn't pry or have expectations of her. She felt comfortable around her new friends, she felt like she actually had friends. "Doesn't driving me interfere with your work?" Chrissy asked tugging on a strand of hair. "Nah, Robins there and she doesn't mind covering. Plus she owes me." Steve said looking over at her with a grin "She's been skipping out to see her new girlfriend." He said as they pulled into the school.

"Chrissy! Hey, Chrissy!" She heard a female voice call from the side of the parking lot. Chrissy turned and was a little disappointed to not see Nancy even though she had no reason to be here, instead Alyssa was running up to her. "Hey." Chrissy said not sure how to talk to her old friends. Like what could she even say; see any monsters lately, morning sickness, basically moving in with her boyfriend who can talk to dead people now? "Hey, so I know you haven't really wanted to be a cheerleader anymore but I was kind of hoping you would be willing to fill in for a couple games? Please, please, please. We are short a girl and you already know all the routines." She said not letting Chrissy speak.

"I...I don't really know if I can." Chrissy said honestly. She thought back to this morning when she got up to quickly and had to run into the bathroom. It sent a chill down her spine to think of jumping around. Her old friend look at her with disappointment. Chrissy felt awful all of a sudden, she took hold of her necklace and reluctantly nodded. "I'll try." She said in a hushed voice. Her friend squealed and took hold of her arm. "I'm so excited. I know you'll be perfect." She said making Chrissy feel worse.

"Oh, by the way, great trade in." Alyssa said as they walked into the school. "What do you mean?" Chrissy said confused. Was she talking about her clothes? Before Eddie came back, she would only wear his T-shirts and sweaters but since he got back she had began wearing more of her own clothes. "Steve Harrington for Eddie The Freak." Her friend said with a laugh causing Chrissy to stop in her tracks. "I'm not with Steve. He is just a friend." Chrissy said making the other girl turn to look at her "And if you want me to cheer with you, I suggest you keep your opinions about my boyfriend to yourself." Chrissy finished walking past the girl and to her own locker.

Eddie was sitting on the ground playing a few cords on his guitar when Chrissy and Steve walked in. He really hadn't got any further on trying to get Billy to talk to him while everyone was gone. Eddie was starting to doubt that Billy was in his head anymore and it made him nervous. "Back into it." Eddie said seeing Chrissy walk in wearing her cheerleading uniform again. Seeing her standing here, wearing that was like the first time they were here all over again, and he didn't like it. "Just for a couple basketball games, only a month left of school anyway." Chrissy said walking over and sitting beside him and leaning against his shoulder "Will you come to the games?" She asked not looking up to meet his eyes. "Yeah, of course." Eddie said kissing her hair while strumming away "Steve, wanna go to a basketball game?" He yelled into the kitchen.

Steve came out holding a pot and spoon with an extremely shocked look on his face "Chrissy move, he has clearly been possessed." Steve said causing her to laugh and Eddie to flip him off. "Trust me Harrington, I'd rather be back in the Upside Down than watch a bunch of guys run back and forth throwing balls into laundry baskets." Eddie said which cause Steve to walk back in the kitchen laughing.

Chrissy looked down at the guitar in his hands, she placed on hand over his and looked up at him causing him to stop strumming and meet her gaze. "Show me." She said in a low voice. "Lessons will cost you." Eddie said so low she could barely hear him. "Maybe we could work out a deal." She said only inches from his face. "I have a few ideas." He said closing the space between them. She wrapped her arms around his neck, she felt him moving his guitar out of the way. When it was safely away, he put an arm around here while the other was placed on her thigh. She pulled away and kissed his neck as he pulled her into his lap."Really guys? You have a bedroom." Steve said as he walked into the living room, carrying a bowel of soup. "And you have a house." Eddie said pulling away from her.

Chrissy laid her head down on his shoulder. His hand on still in her hair. "I have to get ready." Chrissy said standing up and walking into the bathroom red faced. She was genuinely excited to be back into cheerleading, this was her world for years and it brought the feeling of some normalcy to her. She knew that Eddie didn't want to go but she was happy he would be there to support her and Steve was going with him so hopefully he wouldn't end up in any trouble.

Chrissy had to get there an hour later so Steve and Eddie were standing outside until the actual game started. "I can't believe I'm here for this." Eddie said taking a drag off his cigarette while looking around at the people arriving. "Yeah, we'll at least you know your going home with a cheerleader." Steve said with a sigh. "Find one possessed, worked for me." Eddie said with a smirk tossing the cigarette butt. "Let's go inside before I get the urge to run away." Eddie said leading the way into the gym. Everyone seemed to be starring at them. "Yep, the bats had better manners." Eddie said standing off to the side of the bleachers.

Chrissy noticed everyone had stopped talking and were watching people come in. She seen Eddie and Steve walk over and stop beside the bleachers. She walked over and hugged Eddie, he looked uncomfortable and ready to leave. "You okay?" She whispered and he only nodded burying his face in her hair. "Just not use to crowds anymore. I'll be okay. How are you?" He said pulling away and looking down at her. "Nervous." She said looking down. "Ill be right here." Eddie said and kissed her. "I got him." Steve said low enough that only she could hear as she walked past him. She turned and gave him a quick hug. "Thank you." She said, "Kill it." Steve said and she walked away.

The game seemed to take forever. Eddie and Steve walked to the top of the bleachers and sat there in the corner. Eddie stayed by the bannister with Steve on the other side so he wouldn't be anywhere near the crowd. Thank you for telling my sister Billy's voice said "Billy." Eddie said "Billy, your still here." He stood up excitedly as Steve grabbed his arm and pulled him back down "Dude, quiet." Steve said looking at him nervously. He's still here too. I have been trying to keep him at bay but I don't know how much longer I can keep it up. You have to find a way to kill him. "We are trying. Just hold on a bit longer, man. I won't let you die by his hand." Eddie said ignoring Steve and the murmurs of the people sitting close enough to hear.

"Eddie, come on. Chrissy is on." Steve said trying to get his attention. Billy was gone again, he felt him leave. Eddie tried to watch her but he couldn't focus on anything but what Billy said, he was trying to help him and Eddie wouldn't let Billy be trapped with Vecna forever. He completely missed the entire halftime cheer, everyone clapping brought his attention back and he joined in. Chrissy was smiling and looking around, this was her element, but when her eyes met his she stopped looking around and put her hand over her stomach for a moment, a shared secret between them. He returned her smile and she blew him a kiss before turning back around and walking off with the rest of the squad. "We have to get everyone together." Eddie whispered to Steve "Tonight."