𝗜𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝘁

𝗖𝗛. 𝟮: '𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗜𝘁 𝗨𝗽, 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗽'

June 10, 1985, in Hawkins, Indiana.

Another round of screams shook the trailer, likely waking most of the neighbors. It took Steve only a few steps to get to the older boy whose screeching face was buried into a pillow. While Eddie was unresponsive, he was still yelling, so Steve called Dustin and Lucas for assistance.

"Henderson! What the hell did you do?!" Steve demanded, lightly shaking Eddie.

"Dude, don't look at me! It's your fault for freakin slamming the door open!" Dustin yelled, violently waving his hands as he spoke.

"Shut. Up!" Eddie screeched, quickly shoving his face back into the pillow to muffle a pained groan. "My ankle is literally on fire! Help me, goddamnit!"

"Hey man, calm down! Tell me what happened," Steve said, nudging his shoulder.

"I'm pretty sure my fucking ankle is broken, man," Eddie half-sobbed. "I just said that!"

"He needs to be taken to the emergency room." Steve ran his hands through his hair as he spoke.

"No shit, Sherlock!" Dustin shouted, louder this time.

Steve ignored Dustin and turned to Eddie. He awkwardly stood up and extended his arm to the boy. 

"Can you stand?" he asked stupidly.

"Nah, dude. I think I'm dying." Eddie scoffed and grasped the boy's hand, but failed to pull himself up.

"Fuck," Steve muttered. "All right. I'm gonna carry you to the car. Don't scream too much, 'kay?"

Eddie groaned again. "Yes, yes, hurry it up, Harrington."

Steve slid his hands under Eddie's knees and back, huffing as he picked up the dark-haired male. He stiffly waddled out of the small trailer entrance and down the uneven steps. The four kids hurriedly followed the two outside and bombed Steve with questions.

"Is he going to be okay?" Dustin asked, concerned.

"Did you hear Lucas scream? He sounded like a girl," Mike cackled at his own remark. Lucas smacked him over the head.

"If y'all keep chit-chatting and Eddie dies, you know damn well I'll say I told you so," Erica snapped at the boys.

    Steve sighed, refusing to answer. He was thankful for Erica's sarcasm keeping the others quiet. At the car, he gently tucked Eddie into the front seat and awkwardly pat him on the shoulder. "Okay, let's get going."

"Wait, what? Take us too, dude!" Mike exclaimed, scrambling for the back seat.

    "No, no, no. There isn't enough space for all of you. Go inside and call your mom. Tell her to take you guys home," Steve said, blocking the kids from entering the car. The others tried to protest, but he shut them down. "No means no. Shoo!"

    Mike sighed and trudged back to the trailer with Lucas and Erica. Dustin, however, refused to leave.

    "I'm going too," the boy stated firmly.

Steve rolled his eyes. "No way. It's already past ten. Go home."

Dustin sprinted at him, wrapped his arms around Steve's waist, and dragged him to the ground. While Steve was stunned, he dove into the backseat and locked the doors.

    "Oh, come on!" Steve muttered a paragraph of unfriendly words and got into the driver's seat. "Get out of the car, Henderson."

"Steve...please man," he begged. "I promise I won't ask for rides after tonight. Just let me go."