Everybody Hurts

Chapter 24

Five Months Later

The air was cool and crisp, the sun shining down brightly as people moved in and out of the house, hauling boxes. The trees blazed a multitude of shades of orange, red, and yellow, crunching underfoot and rustling as they fell off the trees, floating to the ground like a colorful snowstorm with each gust of wind. It was that kind of fall day that you wished you could bottle so you could experience it again and again.

The neighborhood was an autumn wonderland. The yards were lined with pumpkins, scarecrows, and skeletons. Jack o' Lanterns grinned widely from porches. Everything was spooky and festive as if Halloween had taken over the entire world. The energy was full of mischief, children running and biking down the streets, their laughter and chatter filling the air, anticipating the holiday that was now only a couple weeks away.

The season brought with it a feel of transition and change, a moment to step back and reflect on everything that had led to this moment. A sense of peace settled over Sam as she watched her friends: Eddie yelling at Steve for slinging his guitar over his shoulder, Dustin and Robin bickering about who had to carry the box of records, Nancy taking charge and directing everyone, Max snapping at Lucas for drinking the rest of her water.

They were all here, this group of people that had somehow become family to her over the course of a few short months. Hopper had even pitched in, offering the use of his Chevy Blazer. Him and Joyce were currently somewhere inside the house. Uncle Wayne was just pulling in with the last load, Mike and El crammed into the front with him. Jonathan and Will walked over to meet them, all five of them grabbing boxes to carry inside.

The idea to move in together had been fairly sudden. What had been even more sudden and shocking was that it had been Eddie's idea. She couldn't believe he was ready to take such a big step after only six months of dating. But it hadn't taken much thought on her part. Sam smiled at the memory.

The wedding was a grand affair, full of pomp and circumstance. Of course it was. Cam wouldn't have allowed it to be anything less, never passing up an opportunity to show off for the masses. Eddie and Sam had sat toward the back of the church. She'd picked out a new dress for the occasion, teal with gold, brown, and red details, a plunging neckline and a high slit up the thigh.

She wasn't trying to get Cam back but that didn't mean she couldn't try to make him regret what he lost. Besides, the look on Eddie's face when she'd opened the front door had been worth every single penny it had cost. His fingers kept grazing the ample amount of skin on her leg that the dress exposed, a promise of what was coming once they got out of there. Every brush of his hand, his lips caressing over her jaw, dirty words detailing what he wanted to do to her whispered against her ear, sent shivers of desire straight down her spine.

The doors opened, Cassie appearing in mountains of tulle, looking stunning. Not that it was a surprise. Her friend might be a snake but she was a beautiful one. Cam smiled at the sight of her but then the smile faltered, his eyes widening, when he noticed Sam sitting there. Eddie gave him a little wave and a wink, wiggling his fingers and winding his arm around Sam, pulling her in close to his side.

They sat through the service, Eddie whispering in her ear the entire time, making Sam giggle. He asked her which bridesmaid Cam would have in his bed before the honeymoon was over. He whispered how Cam looked like he needed to take a giant shit as he was struggling through his vows, his eyes darting back to the two of them laughing. When Cassie began rocking back and forth on her heels nervously, he quoted Spaceballs.

"Going right past the altar, heading down the ramp, and out the door. Run Cassie. Run before it's too late."

Sam had to clamp her hand over her mouth to stifle the laugh that was threatening to burst from her. But Eddie was accomplishing exactly what his goal had been. He was keeping her from sinking into her feelings, keeping her from bursting into tears or raging in anger, sitting and watching the two people who betrayed her promising to love each other forever.