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PARTIES AT STEVE HARRINGTON'S PLACE WERE ALWAYS A WILD AFFAIR. The entire kitchen was littered with a ridiculous number of cans, both intact and crushed. Most of the surfaces were occupied by couples in various stages of entanglement. The house was practically a hotbox, a combination of the bodies squeezed into each room and the endless clouds of smoke.
Margo hadn't seen Billy in over a half hour. It wasn't unusual for him to disappear, especially if his Basketball buddies were in attendance. He was most likely off somewhere competing in keg stand competitions, or getting stoned, but she couldn't shake her unease. With Steve off pursuing Nancy and Jonathan refusing to attend, she was completely alone. A year ago, her life had been entirely different. As Head Cheerleader, Queen of Hawkins High, she was adored. Everyone wanted to know her, to be her, but she was still miserable. Things were better now. The entire squad despised her, and being Jason Carver's ex meant that the Basketball team gave her the cold shoulder too. Despite her social suicide, she was the happiest she'd ever been.
Giving up on her search for Billy, she slumped down into a couch at the back of the room. Nursing a lukewarm can of beer, she was mildly content.
"Are people supposed to look this miserable at parties?".
Margo's gaze snapped up in an instant at the familiar voice, a smile growing upon her lips. He showed up. Eddie stood before her, can of beer tucked under his arm as he grinned down at her playfully. He looked no different than usual, same creased Hellfire tee and ripped jeans, wavy hair a wild mess. Something felt new, though. His dark eyes twinkled down at her in the hazy lights.
"You came!" Margo smiled, standing briefly to envelope the boy in a hug. They barely knew each other, she shouldn't have been this glad to see him, but she undeniably was. His energy was refreshing, and it was exactly what she needed right now.
Withdrawing from the hug, she sunk back down into the pit she'd developed in the couch. His body followed, sitting a little away from her and stretching his arm across the back of the seat. He took a moment to crack open the can, a little foam over spilling onto the fabric of the couch. His brows raised in surprise, but he shrugged it off nonchalantly.
"Not to stick my big nose in" Eddie began, casting his eyes across the room awkwardly. "But was everything okay yesterday? You know, with boyfriend of the year?".
Margo refused to meet his gaze, eyes drifting over the faceless strangers as she sipped at her beer. She blinked, trying to appear casual. "What do you mean?".
"I mean, not that I'm swimming in romance or anything, but uh... the way he acted with you. Is that, normal?".
"Billy is just..." she sighed, unable to find the words. Usually, the lies came quickly, but being a few drinks deep her improvisation was a little off. "He just gets frustrated sometimes, it's nothing".
Eddie shifted in his seat, his eyes now on her. He was quiet for a moment, as though he was trying to select the right words. "He put his hands on you, Margo".
