Three Worlds Collide

Chapter Nine

~Fall 1985~

I wake up suddenly in a cold sweat, I wipe my face quickly and stop once I realize tears have fallen from my eyes. The nightmares haven’t stopped since I was thrown into the very weird world of monsters and alternate dimensions a few months ago. I take a deep breath to steady my nerves and slow my racing heart before slowly climbing out of bed to start my day. It was the beginning of a new school year and I was having to repeat my senior year yet again due to the school system being shit. I am also afraid that Eddie will avoid me since I haven’t been able to talk to him for the past few months due to everything and healing. 

I have opted to keep what has happened at Starcourt between my new group of friends, Steve, Robin and I. I don’t think he would believe me anyways if I told him so for now he is going to be kept in the dark on what is really going on in Hawkins. Once I have showered I begin to rummage through my closet for something to wear, I throw on the Hellfire Club shirt Eddie had given me last school year when he finally asked me to join the club. I pair it with my favorite ripped skinny jeans and combat boots, I quickly throw up my hair into a loose ponytail before grabbing my bag and heading out the door.

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I take a deep breath to compose myself before exiting my car, I sling my bag over my shoulder as I make my way into the school building. I quickly make my way to the office to get my schedule for the year. I am about to turn the corner down the hallway when I bump into someone’s chest. I yelp out in surprise, my arms are caught by two strong hands to keep me from falling backwards onto my ass. I look up to meet a familiar pair of soft brown eyes, “Oh hey Eddie.”, I finally say once I catch my breath. He eyes me quickly before speaking, “You good? I didn’t mean to nearly knock you over.”, he states with a soft smile.

My heart flutters at the sight of his dimples, my attraction towards the eccentric metal head has grown even stronger since the previous school year and getting to hang out with him more. I can also say the same about my former coworker and still best friend, Steve Harrington. My crush and attraction grew even more when he saved my life over the summer from Billy Hargrove and the Mindflayer. The mere action of Steve putting his life in danger for mine made me realize I can’t live without him, and the thought of dying and never seeing Eddie again nearly broke me. I guess I can say I have fallen quite quickly and hard for the two young men.

I give him a quick nod, “Yeah, yeah I’m good. How are you Eds?”, I ask him, his eyes sparkle upon hearing the nickname I gave him last semester. He then frowns, “Good besides having to repeat my senior year again, wait…what are you doing here?”, he suddenly asks. I hold up the slip of paper that shows my schedule, “I guess we are in the same boat my friend, because the school system is shit and hates me, I am now a three time senior.”, I explain. He sighs softly, “Jesus Christ that is bullshit.”, he says with a slight tone of anger at my situation. 

He takes my schedule into his hand as we walk down the hallway, his smile grows bigger as he looks it over, “Fuck me, we have majority of our classes together this semester.”, he tells me. “Thank fucking god, I don’t know how I would get through this year without you.”, I tease while playfully shoving his shoulder with mine. He chuckles and nudges his shoulder back against mine while we continue our way to our first class. We take seats in a pair of desks at the back of the classroom while we wait for the class to start, I twirl one of my rings around my finger while I am lost in thought.

I am brought out of my thoughts when a small piece of folded paper slides onto my desk, I look over to see Eddie looking at me intently. I open to read what it says, “What’s going on in that pretty little head of your’s doll?”, my heart flutters at reading the little pet name Eddie started calling me after joining Hellfire. I take out a pen and begin writing away, “Nothing much, just thinking about things. Do you mind meeting me at our spot during lunch, I need to talk to you about something.”, I slide the folded paper back over to his desk once I finish writing on it. I watch his eyes read over my words before he looks up to give me a nod in response, I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.