The Break (An Eddie Munson Story)

Chapter 57: Please Leave A Message After The Tone

A/N: Apologies for the delayed update, I am currently ill, so this chapter just took a lot longer to wrote and in all honesty...I'm not sure I like it. Thoughts?

*****

Monday 27th February

"I'm sorry, the person you trying to call, is currently unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone or try again later."

Beep.

"Uh...hey, Y/N. it's Eddie here. You probably already guessed that based on my voice. Heh. Ahem, anway. Uh, we got your voicemail about Sunday dinner. You were...you were missed. I hope you're doing okay. So, um, yeah. I'll try calling again another day. Joyce says hello, by the way. Alright, bye."

Wednesday 1st March

"I'm sorry, the person you trying to call, is currently unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone or try again later."

Beep.

"Hey, Y/N. It's been a few days now and I've, uh, I've not heard back from you. Not trying to sound like a total Mom right now but...if you could give me a call back, just to let me know you're okay. I'd, um, I'd really appreciate. Okay, call me, yeah?"

Wednesday 7th March

"I'm sorry, the person you trying to call, is currently unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone or try again later."

Beep.

"Hey, Y/N. It's Eddie again. Look, it's been over a week, are you okay? Starting to get worried over here. Just...let me know you're- I don't know- alive or whatever. You know how to reach me."

Thursday 8th March

"I'm sorry, the person you trying to call, is currently unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone or try again later."

Beep.

"Damn it, Y/N, will you pick up already? I'm going out of my mind here. Call me back, for fucks sake. I'm really worried about you."

Friday 9th March

"I'm sorry, the person you trying to call, is currently unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone or try again later."

Beep.

"You know, I can't even tell if something has happened to you or if you're just ignoring my calls at this point."

Saturday 11th March (09:00 AM PST)

"I'm sorry, the person you trying to call, is currently unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone or try again later."

Beep.

"Hey Y/N, it's Steve. I don't really know what's going on with you right now but do me a favour and call Eddie back. The guy keeps asking if I've heard from you and it's getting super annoying. I hope you're doing alright. I'm here if you need anything. Don't hesitate to get in touch. Anyway, just call him, would ya?"

Saturday 11th March (14:00 PM PST)

"Inbox full."

Saturday 11th March (19:00 PM EST)

"Hi, you've reached the Munson residence. Uh, nobody's home at the moment but if you leave a message, someone might get back to you...Eddie, will you turn down that music already?! I won't ask you again!"

Beep.

"Steve...Stevie, it's-it's Y/N. I'm sorry for calling so late and for worrying everyone. You can tell Eddie I'm okay. I just..."

Your words echoed in the brunet's ear, as he packed his bags. 'I really need you here right now. Will you visit?', that's what you had tearily asked him through the receiver. How could he refuse such a heartbroken request, especially when it came from you? Previous romantic feelings aside, you were Steve's friend first and foremost, that was- but unfortunately, had not always been- his main priority. If you needed him all the way in California, then he would find a way to get to you.

Getting Robin to cover for him at work had been the least of his worries. As soon as he had called her and explained the situation, she had not hesitated to lend her assistance. They had it all worked on, Steve would pretend to be sick with some horrible, catching flu and Robin would work the extra shifts and keep the extra cash. Simple.

What Steve had not expected, was to end up in a car, driving across country with one Nancy Wheeler. Apparently, Robin had not only agreed to cover for him but also had a plan up her sleeve on how he was going to travel from Hawkins to California. Admittedly, the route had been Steve's biggest conundrum. He only just had enough money saved up to cover the transportation fees but the journey itself would be an arduous one. There was no way he could just jump on a flight and be with you in a matter of hours. Crossing the country would take at least a day and a bit by car and longer, if he relied on public transport.

So, when Nancy had knocked on the trailer door, bags packed and ready to embark on the non-Demogorgon-related adventure, it was fair to say, Steve had had to pick his jaw up off of the floor. The brunet could not deny, he had been vehemently against the whole concept at first for multiple reasons.

"But...you have school-" he had stammered out, trailing after the young woman like a lost puppy, as she unfazedly loaded his packed bags into the popped trunk.

His concern had only made her scoff and roll her eyes, as if she had not already considered all factors, eventualities and consequences to her impromptu trip. "And a perfect attendance and GPA. A few days off won't ruin my track record, Steve."

"What are you going to tell your parents?" it was a stupid question and he knew it. If Nancy did not already have their blessing, then this conversation would not have been happening but what worried the brunet, was what excuse she had used as a pretense for her need to leave the state.

"I'm going out of town to cover a story for the school paper."

He in turn had easily mimicked Nancy's own snort of disdain, as he had begun to reach for his bags, prepared to undo her progress so far. "Pfft, yeah. Like they'll buy that."

But Nancy had not been so quick to back down in the argument. With an uncharacteristic slap to Steve's hand, she had reached up to shut the truck with a satisfactory click to the look, before rounding on the young man for a final say on the matter. "I'm here with my car and a packed bag, aren't I?" she voiced what Steve had already concluded in his own mind. "Now, are you going to stand there and argue or are we going to hurry up and hit the road?"

There was something to be noted about an angered Nancy. Arms folded, chin raised in defiance- such a far cry from the girl he had dated all those years ago. While Steve was proud to have seen her grow into the strong woman she was, it saddened him to know the cause and the cost, that had led to the developed steeliness within her.

He could not help the lazy smile, that had tugged at the corner of his lips, when he eventually had conceded with, "You've changed, Nancy Wheeler."

Returning the smile, Nancy could only shrug at Steve's observation. "Fighting monsters does that to a person."

Not much more had been uttered, before the duo had finally climbed into the car and set off on their trip. The journey had begun under the guise of night but, as the sky began to change to a myrade of pastel hues, Steve found himself behind the wheel, hoping you would be able to cope until his arrival. Though his mind was focused on only the wonderment of your wellbeing, there was a tiny voice of doubt, that whispered irritatingly in the back of his head. Reminding him again and again, that he had forgotten to do something back in Hawkins. It was only when they were about to making a turning onto a highway, that Steve suddenly suddenly stalled the car and cursed. "I forgot to call Eddie!"