Bloody Negatives {Stranger things}

Chapter Thirty-Seven

《Chapter Thirty-Seven》
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Tally's entire body was rigid as he stepped into the vehicle.

"Tally—" Steve began to say, slumping into the driver's seat.

"Let's go," Tally said bitterly, biting his bottom lip so hard it drew blood.

"Are you okay?" Nancy asked gently, eyebrows furrowing as she sat next to Steve. She seemed genuinely concerned, which only made Tally feel like more of an asshole.

"Let's go," Tally repeated, crossing his arms as he slumped back into his seat. He looked out the nearest window, trying to keep his eyes from glazing over with tears.

Everyone was quiet as Steve started up the RV and began driving off.

Tally's leg bounced as Eddie slid into the seat across from him. He pushed his hair behind his ear in a way that Tally would have considered shyly, if it weren't Eddie Munson who'd done it.

Neither of them said anything for a moment, and Tally wasn't sure if he was relieved or frustrated.

"You okay?" he finally asked, raising his eyebrows, eyes darting around the space, as if he was looking for something.

Tally didn't answer. He knew he was being stubborn. He didn't care.

"Robin told me what happened," Eddie said, refusing to be quiet. That was normal, at least. "I don't know why you care so much."

"What?" Tally asked, looking up, and immediately afterwards cursing himself for speaking.

"You know," Eddie shrugged, wincing with what Tally assumed was regret, "about Blondie."

"Jason."

"Yeah."

Tally looked at his hands. He was trembling. "I don't know, he's my friend."

Eddie tilted his head. "Huh."

"Yeah."

Tally wanted to tear off his ears. Anything to make this conversation stop. It was horrible. It felt like his bones were vibrating inside of his skin. It was a very... unnatural feeling.

Though of course, Eddie would never do him the mercy of ending the conversation. He bit the inside of his cheek and continued talking.

"He seems like an asshole," the older boy remarked, even though Tally really hadn't asked.

"He is," Tally said, leaning back in his seat and hitting his head against the wall behind his seat. "I've known him since I was like, four though so," he shrugged, looking out the nearest window again. "I don't know. I got attached."

"Right," Eddie murmured. "I thought you'd be an asshole, too."

Despite trying his best to be solemn-faced, Tally smirked. "Thanks."

"No, no, no, I mean—" he laughed, resting his head on the table between them. "You're not, I just thought you would be."

Tally grinned, shifting in his seat.

"I guess not all basketball players are jerks," Eddie said, eyebrows crinkling into one point on his face with mock confusion.

"Hey, yeah," Tally agreed. "Pretty good ratio, right? Me, Lucas, the others are so-so."

They both fell silent for a moment, though it wasn't uncomfortable like it had been before. It was more like an... understanding silence.

Tally reached into his pocket, feeling the sharp lead of Eddie's pencil poke his palm. He could just toss it across the table, pull up his hood and hide. He'd never have to think about it again. This was so stupid. He was willing to bet money that no one else would care about something like this.

So why did it bother him so much.

He grasped the pencil firmly inside of his coat. Letting the lead dig into his skin. He'd always respected the way pointy pencils managed to hurt so much when they looked so flimsy. It was impressive.

"Hey—" he began to speak, though the RV jerked to a stop, cutting him off.

"We're going to pull over here," Steve called back to the others. "Figure out the gameplan."

Everyone was quick to stand up and file of the
vehicle, leaving Tally filled with exhaustion, and wiping away a new bloody nose.

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