ic inbox.

[heatmetal]

[ his voicemail greeting is just a guitar riff ]

Comments

[cheerleader]

You know what? We should make a video of you actually trying to do that.

[heatmetal]

Hell yes. You've got a great mind for viral videos.

[cheerleader]

I really just think that "stoned metalhead chokes on pizza saver" needs to be made and seen by as many people as possible!

[heatmetal]

Choke? Please. Those puny plastic legs don't stand a chance against these pearly whites.
Do you want anything? Soda? Beer?

[cheerleader]

Could I get both? A Sprite for when we have pizza. And a fruity beer drink for after?

[like any teenage girl let loose in the wild, she's discovered a fondness for Smirnoff Ice. Which is in fact not a beer at all, but oh well. She's trying!]

[heatmetal]

You got it.
On my way back.

[cheerleader]

thanks eddie 😘

[She's waiting for him outside the building, so they can walk in and head up together. He's balancing some things and she's got a shopping back or two on her arms, but he still gets a hug anyway.]

OKAY NOW THAT THE BF THING HAS BEEN SORTED

[heatmetal]

[ He grins at the sight of her and she gets a one armed hug in turn, the arm staying around her shoulders as he turns to steer them back into the hotel. ]

So I also picked up some shit to bake cookies, but I've never baked anything that didn't have a little something special in it so this might turn into a disaster.

♥

[cheerleader]

You've never baked anything but edibles?

[She laughs, not really all that surprised. They get to the elevator and since his arms are both a little occupied she presses the buttons and handles getting them to their floor.]

It's your lucky day. You happen to be talking to an award winning baker.

[Okay, she only won a contest in Girl Scouts back when she was ten to try and earn a new badge. But he doesn't have to know that!]

[heatmetal]

Oh ho. Teach me all you know, baking master. I am but your humble disciple.

[ he can't say he'll miss needing to ride an elevator up to their space when billy finds them a proper house. ]

[cheerleader]

[The elevator here always has a moment when it reaches its destination where it rumbles a little, causing the lights to just barely flicker. To anyone else, it would be unnoticeable. To someone like Chrissy, it makes her breath catch and nearly sends her into a panic. At least this time, Eddie's right there, his arm is around her, and nothing bad is going to happen.

She still hurries them out of the elevator and into their space, moving ahead to open the door and hold it open so he can slip inside first.]

I promise to share all of my cookie baking wisdom with you, padawan.

[oh my god, she's using a star wars reference. she's so proud of herself.]

At least until the pizza gets here.

[heatmetal]

[ his grin broadens at the reference. ] Leading me away from the dark side, are we?

[ he saunters through, plunking his heavy load down onto the counter and - miracle of miracles - starts to put things in their proper places. the man can be trained. ]

So... is this a conversation that needs food to fill awkward silences? Or did you just wanna shoot the shit?

[cheerleader]

[Well, that gets her to take pause, cheeks turning red as she stands there awkwardly for a second.]

I mean, I have something I want to ask you. But it doesn't have to be awkward.

[she's still holding onto hope that it won't be entirely awkward, at least.]

[heatmetal]

Consider me an open book.

[ god he hopes it's not awkward. he's had enough awkward conversations for a lifetime. he stands up straight, resting one hand on his hip and the other on the counter. ]

[cheerleader]

[okay, she can do this. All she has to do is be brave.]

We... we're friends, right? I know I'm not your best friend or anything, but we're still friends, aren't we?

[heatmetal]

[ his expression softens a little. ]

Yeah, Chrissy. Of course.

[cheerleader]

[She nods, biting at the inside of her cheek.]

It's been hard being here sometimes. You guys are all so close. I know you all want me around, but I've been trying to figure out my place to fit. And —

[She pauses, exhaling slowly.]

I guess what I wanted to ask is, are you and Steve...together? Like more than just friends.

[heatmetal]

[ eddie freezes. the smile is momentarily plastered on, fake as can be. like he's expecting the floor to drop out from under him, or for the next words out chrissy's mouth to be... unkind, to say the least.

it takes a second to remind himself that's not who she is. or - who he thinks she is. but good people can believe shitty things, especially in small town indiana.

he takes a deep breath and nods. ]

... Yeah. Yeah. We're... we're together. Boyfriends.

[cheerleader]

[She nods in understanding, hands now anxiously fidgeting together.]

Have you been afraid to tell me?

[She wants to be able to be a friend that he can talk to. Not someone that he's afraid to confide in because he thinks she'll judge him or something. But she knows that's on Eddie to decide his comfort level. Just because they had a trauma bonding moment together doesn't mean he's obligated to tell her anything.]

[heatmetal]

[ eddie sucks his teeth. debates on how to explain. ]

It's not because of you, Chrissy. Don't think that for even a second.

[ .... ]

I didn't even wanna tell Steve at first. You know what people can be like back then... back there.

[cheerleader]

[She thinks of Jason. Her mother. The entire basketball team. And tries to imagine Steve and Eddie being able to be together in Hawkins. All she can do is frown at the reality of what would've happened.]

Yeah, I know.

[Her voice is soft, maybe a little too thoughtful.]

But I've seen the two of you together. Even when I think you were trying to hide things so I wouldn't see. You're happy here, Eddie. And I guessed that a lot of the reason why is because of him.

[She's smiling when she says it, hoping it's obvious that she doesn't think that's a bad thing at all.]

[heatmetal]

[ it is. his shoulders relax a little, lips quirking in that lazy half-smile. ]

... Yeah. It is. Not just him. Billy, and you, and Buckley. The future's a gift to people like us.

[cheerleader]

[Maybe another time, she'll tell him about her silly crush on him. This isn't that time. It's better to wait until they can both laugh about it. And right now, she isn't sure she can do that. So she leaves romance there, and instead focuses on the other thing he's said. There's not a chance she wants to risk wiping that smile off his face.]

You know, I've been so worried that if I didn't figure out what my place here with you guys was, I'd end up being left behind or kicked out or something. But you're right. The future's a gift. Even if I'm not sure what mine looks like yet.

[heatmetal]

Never.

[ he says it with conviction, giving his head a shake. wondering if maybe... maybe. this is something she needs to hear outloud. ]

Chrissy, your place with us - it's just being you. Being here with us. You're not intruding. We want you here, and we want you to feel comfortable being you - not whatever you think you gotta be for us.

[ his expression is soft. big brown eyes warm and fond. ]

We're basically that group from that movie that came out in Feburary... Shit. What was it called? The Detention Club?

[cheerleader]

[For someone that's always had their path defined for them, it's been hard trying to navigate making one for herself. Harder than she thought. To hear Eddie lay it out so simply feels like a weight's been taken off her shoulders, and she almost wants to cry.

Embarrassingly, she kind of does, but she's wearing a broad smile so it's the good kind of tears at least.]

Do you mean The Breakfast Club, Eddie?

[Her nose scrunches up as she laughs and says it, and before she has time to talk herself out of it, she's stepping in to tightly hug him.]

I love that movie.