✔️| Stand By Me: Imagines and Preferences ('86)

#24 - Eyeball Chambers (pt. 2)

Eyeball flicks the porch light on, and opens the door to his house.

"My dad's at a bar. He won't be home 'till 4," He says, cooly collected.

The screen door shuts behind you, as Eyeball swiftly makes his way to turn on another light.

"Okay..."

He pauses to look back at you, studying your face with an unreadable expression on his.

"Follow me."

You nod silently, holding the rail of the staircase tight. Each stair was a challenge for you, one creaking after the other, following Eyeball into the upstairs hallway.

"Rich?"

A voice comes from the room opposite from where you stand. A boy younger than you, probably around 12 or 13 comes out, wearing a white T shirt and blue jeans.

"Dad's not here. Won't be back until four. Go back to sleep, Chris."

Chris Chambers?

The whole town of Castle Rock knew Eyeball and Chris as the lowlives of their schools. To see them like this now is almost heartwarming.

Before going back into his room, Chris turns to stare at you. You smile, and he smiles back.

"Sorry about your cut," He nods toward the left side of my face, "We get the same shit here."

The moon illuminates Chris's face. You then notice his eyes, glossy and very shiny. His cheeks are tear streaked and it breaks your heart. It's been obvious that he had been crying.

He smiles at you again, and goes back into his room.

"This way," says Eyeball, gesturing for you to follow.

He leads you into a bathroom, and gestures towards the toilet seat for you to sit on.

"So how the hell did you get this cut here, again? Looks like as if you bashed a window with your head."

"My dad smashed a beer bottle on the left side of my face. I got out of there as fast as possible and started walking."

He looks up from his cleaning and pauses for a minute, shooting you with what looks like a sympathetic face.

He then drops his gaze to continue.

"Where to?"

You pause. There wasn't a place where you were dedicated to go, or stay. You just knew that you weren't going back tonight.

"I don't know. No place in particular."

"Mm."

Minutes pass as he runs water on a cloth, and presses it down on your face. The sound of crickets faintly disappear, leaving only the sound of Eyeball humming.

When he's finished, Eyeball helps you bandage the cut, and smiles when the job is done.

You stand up and walk towards the cracked mirror, noticing his handiwork, and expertise.

You notice Eyeball washing his hands, still humming a tune you recognize as 'The Ballad of Paladin.'

Turning around, you ask the question that has been on your mind since he told you to come with him:

"Why did you help me?"

He looks up from the sink, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. His humming stops immediately.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, the average Cobra member wouldn't give a shit about any girl unless if it was for a good make out session."

He smirks, "You'd be surprised as to how right you are."

You smile, waiting for his answer.

He continues. "My old man, well, he's abusive too. My kid brother and I get shit worse than what happened to you, and I'm not lying when I say that's one hell of a cut."

You wince at the thought of it.

Going on, he says, "So, I thought it might be better for that person to be in a better shape than the Chambers kids will be. And besides, I couldn't help but notice how beautiful you were at that moment." ((that was cheesy, im sorry))

You smile, and let him lead you out the door. You thought better of it, knowing that your dad is passed out from his drunkenness, and decided to go home.

But before you could make another move, Eyeball kisses your cheek.

You blush and try looking away, but he directs your gaze to lock with his.

"I'm always here for you, if you need any help."

Your heart warms at his words and allow him to hug you.

"Thank you. So much," You say, your voice muffled into his shirt.

He pulls back and smiles.

"Anytime, (Y/N). Anytime."

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