Against all odds || Stranger Things 4 | Hellcheer

Chapter 17

Eddie shouldn't keep his hand on Chrissy's cheek. Not when she's giggling like that, not where her lips are parted like that...not when all he wants is to push those lips more open and slip his thumb between them. Except she's not one of those girls he hooked up with to share one nighters. There haven't been much of them, but he never cared and neither did they. He wouldn't be able to look himself in a mirror if he treated Chrissy like that.

It still takes all his willpower to step away. He doesn't even trust himself for another kiss, for another glance.

"We should, uh, probably get some sleep."

He has to look at her when she takes too long to reply and the sight wipes out all trace of desire. Face down, fingers twisting the edge of the sleeves of his sweater, she mumbles, "I'm not sure I can." And of course she can't. Of course she's terrified of what awaits her once she closes her eyes.

He pulls her back against him, cursing himself, urging his stupid brain to come up with something. He searches the mess on his desk for an idea and stops on his copy of Dragonlance Chronicles - the first of a DnD based book series.

"How about I read you a story?"

She lifts her head and meets his eyes with something too close to adoration for his heart to cope. And despite the horror, despite the threat hanging over them - over her - he feels contempted to have her snuggling against him as they both sit on his bed. The radio plays the mushiest love song, his hand makes its way back in her hair, she has her own hand laying on his chest, close to his heart. It's almost like he's high again.

Still, he puts efforts in making his reading as animated and enjoyable as he can. When her hands slides down on his t-shirt and her head lolls on his chest, he lowers his voice but keeps going until his throat becomes too sore.

*

It's the screech of tires that wakes Chrissy up. She's curled up against Eddie, his arm around her neck, the book he's been reading to her snuck between his legs. She sighs. She didn't slept long, but she can't remember any nightmares. The radio is still playing in the room, she could let herself fall back to sleep, but her attention gets caught by the sound of car doors being flung close and knocks on the door.

Eddie's uncle must be awake and get it because the next thing she hears is the voice of the chief of Police introducing himself and his deputy. She lifts her head and her heart sinks as she listens to the conversation.

"We're looking for this girl, Chrissy Cunningham. She didn't come home last night."

Chrissy sits up, anxious. Wayne Munson did see her! Maybe not last night but he could still recognize her and tell the police she's been here before. She shuts her eyes. She should have known her mother wouldn't just wait for her to come back without doing anything.

"Nope, never seen her, sorry."

"No? Cause we've been told she was hanging out with your nephew, Eddie?"

"Funny, I don't remember you being so reactive when it was my nephew who went missing. That kid must be important, right? For the chief to go door-to-door looking for her."

"Is Eddie here?"

"Sleeping."

"Would you mind if we talked to him?"

Even from here, Chrissy can tell how fake his politeness sounds.

"I'll wake him up," sighs Wayne.

She jumps to her feet, Eddie moans and stirs. She doesn't know if his uncle genuinely doesn't remember she spent two nights here or if he's trying to keep Eddie out of trouble. Either way, she figures it's best if she hides in the closet before he can see her.

The door opens after two sharp knocks, just as she closes those of the closet on her.

"Police's here for you, son."

He pauses. Chrissy wonders if he's seeing the bruises for the first time.

"Please tell me you didn't do anything stupid..."

*

Eddie's brain is stalling. This is a lot to wake up to! His uncle claiming the police are at the door, Chrissy nowhere to be seen- he shakes his head, rubs the sleep off of his face and stands up to follow Wayne back in the living room.

He tries his best not to freak out about the fact that he really doesn't know where Chrissy is as he spills that lie at the chief of police's face and pretends he hurt himself by falling down the stairs. Some deputy is staring at the door of his bedroom while the chief asks more questions until finally, they leave.

"Jesus Christ, Eddie. What have you got yourself into this time?"

Eddie can't speak anymore, paralyzed by fear and that thought that bounces all over his head. Chrissy isn't here.

"Look...You want to spend time with your girl, I get it. But you know how people- are you even listening?"

He is. He just doesn't care how the police happened to think they would find Chrissy here, doesn't care about the sort of trouble it could get him too- doesn't care about nothing because Chrissy isn't here!

*

Chrissy tiptoes to the bedroom door and peeks an eye.

"Is she hiding in your room right now," is asking Wayne. "Cause I swear, I won't get mad. You know I won't."

Eddie turns to the door, white face and panicked eyes until he spots her. She barely has time to fully open the door that his arms are wrapping around her, pulling her into a tight hug she knows must hurt him.

"I thought you were..." he mumbles, and she's not sure if the tremor in his voice is from pain or emotion.

She realizes how it must have felt for him to wake up to an empty bed, hates herself for enjoying - just a little - the fact that he was so scared.

"I'm sorry."

"Okay love birds," says Wayne from the living room. "If you want to stay here any longer, the little lady is gonna have to call her parents and tell 'em she's okay."

He's not scolding, nor patronizing. There might even be a hint of amusement and some fondness in the way he looks at them, lighting a cigarette. Chrissy knows he's right, even though she doubts this will be enough for her mother. Still, she wasn't expecting such animosity from her. There's not a hint of relief in her mother's voice as she spits her venom.

"I can't believe you're doing this to me! Ana told us everything. What's got into you? Getting mixed up with some delinquent!"

"He's not-"

"This is not how I raised you, Chrissy! It ends now, you hear me? You're going to come back home and apologize to Jason in hopes he forgives you."

Anger bursts inside of her. She's tired of her mother's vision of how a woman should behave, especially when it means begging someone like Jason to get her back! She reaches for Eddie's hand and throws her "No" like a slap.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I'd rather die than have anything to do with Jason ever again. And I won't come home until you apologize!"

"Chrissy, this is ridiculous. Whatever you think this is-"

"Eddie's good to me, mom! Can you please just once let me have something good?"

She hangs up before she can hear her answer and flings herself at Eddie's neck. Tears of rage pearling at her eyes. She could have died! She could have died yesterday if it wasn't for Eddie, but all that counts for her mother is how her daughter messing around will make her look!