Raising Hel | a Stranger Things fanfiction

Chapter 11

Timeline check: sets during ST4 episode 4, on Monday 24th of March 1986 (or is it during december 1980?)

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Eddie storms out of the apartment, dodging whatever junk his father threw at him and runs down the stairs. As he pushes the door of the building, the winter air bites his bare arms but he keeps running until he reaches the next block.

He looks back to make sure the drunken asshole that stands for his father didn't follow him and slows down. There's no way he's coming back home tonight but he wished he'd taken a jacket. It takes about an hour to walk to the trailer park where uncle Wayne lives now.

A car stops a few feet ahead from him and Eddie recognize Hellen from the D&D club as she unloads a bag of groceries off the passenger seat. Fuck. He wants to disappear. He can only wipe the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand before she sees him.

– Eddie?

– Hi.

– Are you okay?

He gives her a vague 'yeah', she doesn't ask more, like why he's out in the cold in a t-shirt. She probably doesn't care. She shifts the grocery bag she's holding on her other hand, he looks away. They never talk much unless it's about D&D, why would they start now?

– I need to..., starts Eddie.

He tries to come up with a lie but ends up pointing at a random point behind her.

– Are you sure you're okay, she asks as he strides past her.

– Yeah, yeah.

He shuts his eyes and crosses his arms on his chest in a vain attempt to warm them up.

– Wait, Eddie!

He's not sure why he stops. He knows hope never brings him any good. His head feels like it's going to explode from the tears he tries to hold back, he's sure she notices it as she faces him again. She seems... concerned. Maybe she does care?

– I–... I'm on my own tonight and I've rented Lord of the Rings... Do you want to come and watch it with me?

Their eyes meet briefly, she gives him a queasy smile, Eddie bites his tongue. She radiates the affection he craves for, he nods without thinking.

– You can come right away if you want.

He nods again, his throat too clenched to speak, and follows her to the apartment. He never realized they lived so close to each other. The place is roughly the same size as his, but tidier and cleaner. It doesn't smell of cold tobacco and sweat, there are no empty bottles lined up on the kitchen table and no stains on the couch.

He's not sure whether it's the warmth of the living room or the genuine concern on Hellen's face that makes him cry. The way she whispers 'come here' as she pulls him into a hug opens up the dam and he finds himself bowling against her shoulder, unable to stop.

They stand by the couch for long minutes, Eddie's sobs the only sound breaking the silence. Every now and then, Hellen strokes his back or gives him a squeeze but never does she say a word. His hands are clenched on her pullover like they will never let go. It's only when his body starts to ache from staying in the same position for too long that he steps back. She releases him, he wipes his face with the bottom of his t-shirt and they stare at each other.

– If you don't want to talk about it, we can just start the movie, she says.

– Yeah, let's do that, he mumbles.

She waits a little before acknowledging. That's the moment it happens. The moment he falls head over heels. While she looks at him with the same care aunt Joane used to. It's foolish, delusional, but it swells inside him.