Hairspray

IV.VIII.III

Eddie and Dustin are hammering some nails into garbage can lids.

"Is this legal?" Max asks as Nancy saws the guns barrel off.

"Actually, I think it's a felony."

"Right."

"But it guarantees one thing. I won't miss." She slams the saw down and the metal falls to the ground.

"How's she feeling?" Dustin asks.

Eddie tries it out, "Light, but durable. Deadly, but reliable."

Dustin chuckles.

"Hear me now," Eddie says dramatically, "There will be no more retreating... from Eddie the Banished."

"Hey, you're really ready for bat-tle," he laughs. "You get it?" Eddie just gives him a look. "Bat-tle? B-A-T. No?" He groans. "I thought I had a good one."

Eddie puts down his shield and tackles Dustin.

"What are you doing?" Dustin shouts holding onto him.

Eddie tosses him aside.

"Son of a bitch!" Dustin runs at Eddie trying to get him back. "No wedgies! No wedgies!"

Eddie laughs and grabs Dustin, "Never change. Dustin Henderson. Promise me?"

"I wasn't planning on it."

"Good. Good."

Dustin laughs, "Good."

"Hey, Sinclairs. How are those, uh, those spears coming on?"

Lucas gives him a thumbs up.

Erica rolls her eyes, "Flip that damn thumb around."

"What?"

She takes his, "It's too loose, Lucas. This isn't a basketball game where they blow the whistle when your shoes fall off."

"Ok, ok, for the record, my shoes never fell off."

"Okay, for the record, it's kinda hard for your shoes to fall off when you're riding the bench."

"Yet for some reason, you show up to every game."

"Mmm, except the one that mattered. Plus Mom and Dad forced me."

"Bull, Mom and Dad can't force you to do shit."

"Well, even though you're a bench-riding loser, you're still my brother. Just the facts."

Eddie sighs and looks at Dustin, "Think your sister is going to be ok?"

"Um," Dustin shields his eyes and looks at her sitting on top of the RV. "To be honest I have no idea."

"When she was in the Upside Down, without her bag... it was like... it was like she was going mad."

Dustin sits down, "Yeah. Dad got like that sometimes, before the accident. When he would have too much going on and it got hard for him to process. Mom told me that when it happens we just have to give them time. And if they ask for anything, we give it to them."

Eddie nods, "So you think her sitting on top of the RV is the best idea?"

"We're lucky she isn't in one of these massive trees," Dustin laughs. "I think that's only because she wants to keep a close eye on Max. I can see the worry on her face."

"She does have a very expressive face."

They both laughed.

Steve holds the bottle, "It just doesn't make sense."