The Concert

After the show

Once everything was packed up and everyone was leaving, we decided that we had to go and celebrate. I said goodbye to Sara and thanked her for her help with Eddie and Mr Harrington, even though he didn't say she had spoken with him, the reference to friends in high places gave me the inclination she had. We decided that we would all go to Lovers Lake, have some drinks and grill some food. We extended the invite to Lovers Lake to everyone that was involved in the show, we suggested everyone meet up for 2000hrs. "Come on Nancy!" I said as she stood reluctantly at the doorway of the school entrance. She smiled, "Fine!" she said. We all smiled. As we were heading toward the cars, I realised I'd forgotten my jacket, I told Eddie to go ahead and put his beloved guitar away securely in his van. The others started to pile into Steve's car.

As I was walking back outside a familiar and unwelcome voice called my name "Freya?" I turned to see Mr Harrington walking towards me. "That was quite an impressive show!" I smiled, although I didn't make any effort to make it seem genuine "Thank you Mr Harrington" I said. He smiled "Please, call me Michael" he replied, he stopped in front of me "you'll be pleased to know that I've donated quite generously" I nodded "thank you, it's much appreciated!" Eddie called from his van "You ok Freya?" I looked back to him and noticed that Steve was starting to get out of his car "Yes, I'm fine" I called back. As I looked back to Mr Harrington he stood smiling, "Protective?" he chuckled. "Is there something I can help you with Mr Harrington? We were heading out" I said disgruntled, he stepped forward and lowered his voice "I thought I told you to call me Michael" he said. He was looking at me like a hungry dog looks at a piece of meat. I shook my head and went to take a step back, which caused Mr Harrington to take hold of my jacket and pulled it from my grasp. "Hey!" I could hear Eddie and Steve rushing over "take your God damn hands off her!" Eddie warned. Mr Harrington laughed and put his free hand in the air "Or you'll do what exactly?" he challenged. Steve was furious "What the hell is wrong with you?!" he demanded, before Eddie could respond. Mr Harrington turned on him "Watch your mouth!" Steve narrowed his eyes and stood glaring at his father. Eddie gently placed his hand on my arm "you ok?" he asked. I nodded, "I'm fine, lets go". I looked to Steve and placed my hand on his shoulder "Steve, come on lets go" I repeated. He broke his stare and nodded. As we walked away Mr Harrington started to berate Steve and Eddie. They both turned to return to him, but I placed my hands on their arms and pulled them back. "Stop, it's what he wants!" I gave them both a look then I calmly walked back to Mr Harrington, "What do you want? What's the end game here?" The fact that I had responded to him made him smirk. "You're a smart girl Freya, I've no doubt you've figured that out" I couldn't help but sneer "Oh, I've had you figured out for quite some time Mr Harrington!" this seemed to amuse him "is that so?" he taunted stepping inappropriately closer. I couldn't help but curl my lip in revulsion "I'm sure you think you're quite beguiling. And no doubt used to people doing as you tell them to do..." he gave a repulsive over confident smile "I've no doubt that you'd like for me to fall to my knees and be beholden to you" Mr Harrington's eyes darkened "Now 'that' would make you a very good girl" he said in a manner that was stomach turning. I smiled sarcastically "Well, unfortunately, I'm well known for not doing as I'm told...so if you don't mind, we will be leaving now". I turned and started to walk back to Eddie and Steve. Mr Harrington called after me "It's a crying shame that a woman as delectable as you, wastes her time and body on such lost causes!" Steve and Eddie flew past me "Son of a Bitch!" Eddie began. Steve was furious, "you're fucking disgusting!" he yelled. Mr Harrington stood confidently and defiantly in place, he ignored Steve and turned to Eddie "Do you even know what to do with such a fine specimen? I imagine she's quite something between the sheets!" Eddie squared up to him, they were nose to nose "Talk about her like that again!" he dared. Mr Harrington stood with his hands by his side and smiled "Or what?" he asked smugly "You'll hit me?" he asked and chuckled "you don't have it in you" he said quietly. Steve suddenly grabbed him "leave it, lets go!" Eddie's eyes stayed fixed on Mr Harrington, Steve looked to me and then pointed out the police car that had pulled up. I suddenly realised the situation we were in. "Eddie! Eddie, stop! He's goading you into a reaction, leave it! He's not worth it! The police are sat there waiting for you to give them an excuse to arrest you!" Eddie looked to me and then back at Mr Harington. Steve pulled his arm and he reluctantly stepped away. I held on to both Eddie and Steve "he's not worth it! Come on". Mr Harrington stood smirking in a last bid to antagonize a reaction from the boys. We continued to make our way back to the van and car. This seemed to be enough for the police car to pull away. Mr Harrington called out my name and held my jacket out towards me. I looked at Eddie and Steve, signalling for them to stay put, then I made my way back to Mr Harrington. I reached out to grab my jacket, but Mr Harrington didn't let go. He pulled it toward him and said in a low voice "When you want a real man, you know where to find me, or when he ends up in jail, either way!" he nodded towards Eddie smugly. I didn't say anything, but yanked my jacket free. I turned to walk away, but suddenly a wave of rage flooded over me. Without a word I spun back round and I kicked him in the balls, which made him drop to his knees. As he knelt in front of me holding his balls, he looked up at me and attempted to say something, but before he could utter a word, I punched him in the face and broke his nose. He cried out in pain and crumpled to the floor. There were gasps and cheers from behind me. I leaned in so he could hear me "Michael!" he looked up at me one hand holding his bleeding nose, the other cradling his balls, "You wouldn't know what a 'real' man is, not even if it walked up to you, kicked you in the balls and broke your nose!" I smiled "You are the loser! Swanning around thinking you're something special, womanizing and flashing the cash, when you're nothing more than a seedy, insecure old man, desperate for validation off young women!" he glared at me but said nothing "From now on Michael" I emphasised his name "You don't speak to me!"

I turned around and headed back to Eddie and Steve. I noticed Nancy and Robin were now stood either side of Steve's car watching and laughing. Eddie and Steve were grinning. Eddie put his arm around my shoulders as we walked towards his van "Is it weird that I'm seriously turned on right now?" he joked. I smiled and hopped into his van. Steve and the others got into his car, and we set off to meet everyone else at Lovers Lake.

There was quite a gathering there already, people were laughing and having a good time. Someone had already made a pretty impressive fire that was crackling away. It was refreshing to see how many people had turned up, especially as there was such a mixture of people, from groups that wouldn't usually associate with each other normally. The concert had achieved bringing people together through their love of music. I felt quite elated and proud of that.

Steve started to cook some hot dogs and burgers on a makeshift grill. I helped to unpack some buns. "Are you ok?" I asked Steve, he looked at me solemnly "Yeah... Are you?" I smiled. He sighed "I always knew he was an absolute creep, but I've never seen it outright like that!" I placed my hand on his arm, he squeezed my hand and smiled at me. "Is another Harrington making moves on my girl?" Eddie joked as he came over. Steve laughed sarcastically "haha so funny!"  Eddie stood behind me and wrapped his arms around me. "How's your hand?" he asked nuzzling into my neck; I looked down and flexed my fingers "I'll live" I smiled. Nancy and Robin came over with some napkins as Steve started serving out burgers and hot dogs. Robin kept smiling at me, "What?" I asked light heartedly, as me and Eddie sat down, she chuckled "I can't believe you broke Steve's dads' nose!" she shot a look at Steve "Sorry Steve!" he just rolled his eyes and shrugged it off. "I wonder what he will say to your mom?" she added. Nancy started laughing as she sat down next to Robin, "it's not "that" big of a surprise really!" she laughed. Robin looked at her "how so?" Nancy looked at her knowingly "Come on! She used to hang around with Billy Hargrove! Of course, she knows how to throw a punch!" Everyone sat laughing awkwardly. Eddie raised his bear into the air "to those gone, but not forgotten!" he said, everyone raised their drinks and repeated "Gone but not forgotten!" Eddie kept his bear rasied then quickly added "to Freya breaking Steve's dads nose!" Everyone burst out laughing. After the laughter died down and everyone had eaten, there was a quiet moment where everyone sat thinking, no doubt remembering someone that they had known and lost within the last year. Lord knows there has been so much loss in such a short space of time in Hawkins.

We spent the rest of the night sitting around the fire, laughing and talking. Eddie sat leaning against a log and I sat in front of him between his legs leaning into him. His arms around me, cradling me, keeping me warm. Looking around and seeing everyone happy and laughing together I felt so happy and at peace as I watched the fire flickering away. I couldn't make it any more perfect if I tried!