Converse | Eddie Munson x OC x Billy Hargrove

Chapter 6

It had been three weeks.

Three weeks ago, my whole world turned upside down. Literally. Ever since, I'd been spending more time with the whole group, learning what I could- being completely confused as to how the situation was so normalized. I'd learned about Will, witnessed the lead up to his exorcism, been dragged into the tunnels linked to the Upside-Down, and got a rundown on Eleven. I'd prodded harder about Steve and Nancy's past, and eventually he had given in and recalled what actually happened to Barb- and finally, everything was starting to piece together. And still, it was falling apart. I didn't know how to go on after this. Steve assured me nothing would change- he wouldn't let it- and I should enjoy being a normal teenager while I had the chance. But it had all shifted. Just the way he looked at me was different. Like he was assessing if I would have another breakdown- which was possible at any secon,d really. I didn't want to go to parties, to talk with anyone that hadn't experienced that night. And on top of it all, I was evading Billy at every corner. He'd shown up at one point, gotten into a huge fight with Steve that was coming for a while now- and ever since, he'd been seeking me out. At school, on the phone- I was lucky he hadn't come to my house in person. I could only imagine the fight that would ensue.

Tonight, I turned on my stereo, clambering out onto the roof. The music eased some of my more erratic thoughts, but a new level of self-reflection was still present. I found myself pondering everything I'd known, lately- whether it was how good different music could be when I gave it a chance, or how much of my life had been in shadow of the horrors that lurked in Hawkins. Suddenly, different types of things seemed important. Others felt like small little details that had become pointless in the grander scheme.

I was completely draped in a blanket, which was doing it's best to shield me from the beginnings of winter- but failing miserably. I chilled, and decided to head inside. Nights had fallen quicker, with it only being 6 and the light of the moon already beginning to illuminate the ground rather than the sun. The cassette player clicked, and my tape came to an end. I hadn't even been listening to most of it- in fact. I'd been replaying the same four cassettes for weeks now, finding solace in one of the only other new parts of my life- one that seemed far less a foreign concept. I popped the tape out, turning it in my hands.

I'd pulled my jacket on quickly, zipping down the stairs.

"Woah! Hey, hey, slow down," Steve called, hands on his hips, and I skidded to a stop.

I pointed to him, backing up very briefly. "I'm fine and in stable condition and I'm stealing the car."

"That doesn't sound stable!" He grouched in response, annoyance practically emanating off of him in waves.

I rushed away, snagging the keys hung up by the door. "I'll only be out for, like, an hour."

"Lana," Steve called, and though I had one foot out the door already, I paused in place. His tone was now one of frustrated concern. I backed up a little, giving him a hard look.

Steve shrugged exasperatedly, hands flicking with the motion. "You gotta know why I'm worried."

I roll my eyes, but there's guilt I have to swallow down. "I'm fine. We're fine. This whole situation- it's fine. Totally over it."

"Yeah? Because I'm not even over it." Steve calls my bluff, crossing his arms at me. "I mean- you don't talk to me about anything outside that night, you don't leave your room unless it's for school. Neither of us are over this."

I find myself looking around exaggeratedly, as if the surrounding area will answer the very obvious question I breach next. "And this helps my situation... how?"