Long Live The Hellfire King

chapter 003: Looking Youthful Munson

"Callie? Is there a reason that you didn't come to me first before going home? Is everything okay? Are you sick? Are you hurt?" He spits out more questions that Jim Hopper ever did. I could hear Dustin's heavy breathing all over the phone.

"I'm actually fine. But yes I do have a reason why. Like an actual reason that I came right home. I swear. I only left after lunch and my last 3 periods were only student aid classes" I explained as I started biting my nails.

All I heard on the other end was a big giant sigh. Thankfully a sigh of relief. I knew exactly what Dustin was about to say. Along with the rule of talking to him before going home we also had a rule that if I didn't go to him first before leaving that I call him when I get home and tell him that I just have a good reason and we'll talk about it when we get home. This is the first time I've come home without telling him. I wouldn't call him a strict guardian, or a carefree one. There were rules and boundaries and as long as they were respected everything was peachy.

"Okay sweetheart, I trust that you have a good reason and we'll talk about this after school hours. I'll swing by after school before heading to the shop and we'll talk okay? Do you need anything?" He asked.

"No uncle Dusty I think I'm good for now but I promise this is definitely a really good reason and I can't wait for you to get home to have this talk." I started cheering. Eddie walked out of the bathroom right as we were saying our goodbyes on the phone. Eddie just stood there with a twinkle in his eye and a big smile on his face. He caught my eye as I looked up from my phone. With the grime and dirt and blood on him, I saw him. Like actually saw him. Damn he is good looking. Sheesh I couldn't help myself but stare for a good moment before he caught on to my gaze.

"Sweetheart?" Eddie called catching my attention. I've been called 'Sweetheart' alot today damn.

"Uh.. yeah?" I perked up. I started fixing my skirt flattening out the crease from my sitting.

"Thanks for letting me use your shower. It smells really... Nice in there" he said grinning once again. I'd swear this man was flirting with me. I shook it off. I looked at my watch and realized that there was no way I was going to be able to do Hellfire. At least not now. I looked back down at my phone to send a text to the Hellfire Group chat I had.

Sorry y'all h8 to do this, but can't do HF tonight. Family emergency.

My eyes focused back to eddie.
"Of course. Umm. So I just got off the phone with Uncle Dustin and he's swinging by to check on me before heading to the shop. I'd rather you chill in here when he does. I don't want him to have another heart attack." I sigh.

Dustin had a heart attack the night Aunt Suzie passed. All we had known that she was sick. We had went to the hospital because it had gotten bad. One minute she was with us trying to talk and laugh with us and 10 minutes later she passed while dustin was outside taking a work call. When the doctor came out and told him what happened, he completely lost his breath and had one right there. He lost his "Suzie-poo". His soulmate. I would've had a heart attack too.

Eddie and I spent the rest of the afternoon talking as I tried catching him up on all the latest news and cultural changes. I told him about how same sex marriage became legalized in all 50 states the year before and how everyone realized he didn't kill Chrissy Cunningham. People just stopped talking about it and moved on one day.

"So is being gay like embraced now? Like is it more accepted?" Eddie asked.

"Well yeah. I mean there's still Homophobia and racism and sexism and all the bad shit that still goes on. I'd say we've come a long way since the 80's I'd say. It's still pretty shitty now but we may have progressed a little more." I smiled at him. His lips curved into a smile and his eyes lit up. I couldn't help but gaze at him. There was just something about him that seemed. Perfect. He was very very beautiful. There was something about him that I found very comforting and that made me feel safe. It made me wish I had been born 30 years earlier because this man was gorgeous.