Billy's gone.
Ruby Buckley's world ended with him.
But Hawkins isn't done with her yet.
When strange deaths begin again, Ruby is pulled into the heart of the storm. Between shadowy nightmares, the town's newest outcast, and someone she was never s...
( songs for the chapter ) fever // the cramps this will be our year // the zombies
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Ruby recognized Robin's voice before she even saw her, sharp, worried, cutting through the echo of the gym courtyard. It was getting closer.
"Shit," Ruby muttered under her breath, scrambling to her feet. "Uh- Eddie, I'm so sorry, I have to go." She started grabbing her things, her bag, her sweater, though she didn't even remember setting them down. None of it really registered.
Eddie raised his hands, still crouched near the wall. "It's all good, princess. Duty calls." He tried to sound casual, but his laugh came out nervous, frayed around the edges.
"It was really nice talking to you," Ruby said, meeting his eyes for a brief moment. "I hope we can... do this again. Sometime soon."
"I'd like that," he said softly. Then, with a small grin, "But it sounds like your sister's about to go full rescue mission."
They both laughed at that. He stood and held out his hand to help her up. She hesitated only a second before taking it. His rings were cold against her palm, grounding, strangely gentle.
"Thanks," she said as he pulled her up.
Eddie gave a mock bow. "Anytime, Buckley."
Ruby started backing away, still facing him as Robin's voice echoed again, louder now.
"See you around, Munson."
"Yeah..." he called back, rubbing the back of his neck. "See you around."
She turned and jogged toward Robin's voice, her bag bouncing against her side. Eddie stood there a while longer, watching her disappear around the corner, her hair catching the sunlight for a brief, perfect second before she was gone.
Only then did he realize how hard his heart was pounding.
"Jesus Christ," he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair.
He'd spent years telling himself the crush was dead, that whatever small, stupid thing he'd felt for Ruby Buckley when they were kids had burned out long ago.
Apparently not.
Because right now, standing in the shadow of the gym with the smell of her shampoo still faint in the air, Eddie Munson felt sixteen again.
And completely screwed.
***
Robin burst through the gym doors, the brass of the marching band still echoing faintly behind her.
Her heart was pounding, half from running, half from panic. Ruby had taken off fifteen minutes ago, and this was the first moment Robin could actually go after her.
