Chapter Text
To hear that you’re the perfect, golden couple every day becomes exhausting.
Chrissy has to hold herself back from rolling her eyes at the constant compliments and how her and Jason are the King and Queen of Hawkins High.
While her cheerleader teammates just gush at his little speech during the pep rally, she gives a halfhearted smile back at her boyfriend. Nothing is wrong per se, their relationship has been the talk of the town since they started dating after homecoming sophomore year.
“You’re just so lucky Chrissy! You and Jason are, like, a match made in heaven.” Caroline Johnson squeals as they return to the locker room.
Chrissy nods at the redhead, “Oh yes. Jason and I are just two peas in a pod.”
She can taste acid in back of her throat and she’s unsure if it’s from her words or her lunchtime activity.
Caroline continues to drone about how sweet and caring Jason is while Chrissy examines herself in the mirror. Her face is still puffy and she sighs, splashing water to try and ease the redness.
“You’ll have to redo your makeup if you keep that up Chris,” Rebecca Jenkins’ cold voice echoes in the locker room.
Chrissy fakes a smile and turns to face the shorter girl. Just because you got to be a flyer this year doesn’t mean anything Becks.
“Guess I can’t borrow your lipstick? You know how red is just a harsh color.”
Rebecca flushes, but it looks cute on her olive skin, “Don’t act so high and mighty just because Jason dedicated his speech to you.”
There’s a small threat in the words, but Chrissy just shrugs,“If you’re jealous just say so Becca.”
A few of the other girls gasp and Chrissy hopes there won’t be a fight. Rebecca for all her posturing doesn’t add any more fuel to the fire.
“I’m just saying that Jason could have his pick of any girl. You’re not special Chrissy.”
No she supposes she isn’t. Jason’s speech was really just for show, just like the rest of their relationship.
Chrissy tries to smile and gestures her hand to the locker room door, “If you want Jason so badly. Make a move.”
Two freshman giggle at what they must think is pure confidence. To Chrissy it’s more of an invitation. The dark-haired girl blinks at Chrissy for a moment and then laughs.
“You and your jokes Chrissy! As if I would break up the prom king and queen.”
Chrissy hums and starts to pack up her bag. She can feel a headache coming on and wonders if she has any aspirin left.
“The ballots haven’t been officially posted yet Becca.” She retightens her ponytail and sighs when she can’t find any pills in her bag.
“Every knows you’ll win. It’s a sure thing, just like everyone knows that Freak Munson will fail again probably go to jail just like his father.”
Chrissy ignores the comment. Why everyone in this school chooses to badmouth Eddie Munson, but continues to utilize his resources is beyond her.
“I don’t know Becca, I heard from Sally Rider on yearbook that his name and picture is actually there or something.”
Caroline smiles goodheartedly and Chrissy wants to hug the girl. She might be a little ditzy, but her hearts in the right place.
Rebecca just scoffs and shrugs her shoulders, “Whatever you say Johnson. My mom says he’s trailer trash and being a drug dealer is the only job he’ll get anyhow.”
“You keep him employed,” Chrissy bites and she mirrors the look of confusion on Rebecca and Caroline’s faces.
“Oh? Defending the freak now Chrissy?” Rebecca spits and Chrissy takes three deep breaths before responding.
“I just don’t understand how you can be so mean to someone you don’t even know.”
Something sparks in Rebecca’s brown eyes and Chrissy hears her heartbeat in her ears.
“Well, then you get to know him for me Chris.”
She doesn’t respond.
“Apparently I just need to get to know him,” Rebecca mocks and the girls who are still in the locker room laugh.
The condescending look on her face reminds Chrissy of her mother and that very idea makes her blood boil.
“Fine. Maybe I will,” Chrissy crosses her arms. “Maybe I’ll become best friends with Eddie Munson. I just might join that club of his or whatever.”
Caroline gasps and pulls on Chrissy’s arm, “You can’t do that Chrissy! It’s like a cult or something. My dad read it in the paper.”
Chrissy rolls her eyes, “My brother has some of books under his bed. It’s just a board game Care.”
Chrissy is tired of this back and forth, all she wants is to take a nap in the nurses office before the game. Maybe Nurse Abigail will let her have a sour candy.
“I dare you then Chrissy. Meet up with him today at that old picnic table and tell me he doesn’t make your skin crawl.”
Chrissy straightens her spine, “You want me to pick up your order? What is it this week? Valium or sometime a little more white.” She puts finger under her nose and sniffs.
Rebecca bites her lip, but nods. “Whatever you say. He’ll be there and I just know you won’t last five minutes.”
Chrissy snorts and shakes her head, “I’ll meet him and nothing will happen because he’s a boy not some supervillain.”
Caroline whines behind her, “Jason hates him Chrissy. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Chrissy elbows her lightly, “What Jason doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
Caroline doesn’t seem convinced, and Rebecca laughs. “If you keep saying things like that Chris I just might think you have a crush on Munson.”
To Chrissy’s credit her facial features don’t change. Pros of living with her mother who has hawk eyes and can see any small movement.
“I’ll see him today and give you whatever illegal substance before the game. It’s not a big deal.”
It really wasn’t and Chrissy wasn’t going to make it a big deal. So what if Jason has drunken rants about Eddie every weekend that always rubbed her the wrong way?
So what if during their shared English class, Eddie make her laugh when he recited Mercutio’s monologue about Queen Mab? He did an accent and danced around the classroom.
It wasn’t like she thought about how his eyes seemed to brim with mischief or how she wanted to ask if his hair was naturally curly.
Chrissy definitely didn’t think about that one unnaturally hot day last fall when Eddie wore his hair up and it made the muscles in his jaw more pronounced. She didn’t stare at his lips while he gnawed on his pencil or memorize that song he was always tapping either.
No, speaking with Eddie wasn’t going to be a big deal at all.
Chrissy waits near the picnic table, staring off into the distance least she seem eager. Not that thought Eddie Munson would think she was eager to meet with him.
He didn’t know she was coming after all. He probably just knew her face and would vaguely recognize her name. The way you somehow recall a dream from the night before.
Chrissy fiddles with a loose string on her backpack. This is so stupid. I’m blaming Ms. Kelley for speaking up.
Chrissy gaps quietly as a squirrel climbs a nearby tree. Her heart racing for no reason. She puts a hand on her heart and closes her eyes when she hears a tree branch snap.
Turning her head so quickly that she feels a sting in her neck her eyes widen as she faces the cause of the sound.
“Whoa, didn’t mean to scare ya.”
He looks almost genuine in his apology. Eddie raises his hands in an effort to look harmless.
Chrissy swallows and nods; walking to the picnic table. She didn’t think this though. She was too impulsive in the locker room and wanted to wipe that smug grin off Rebecca’s face.
“So, uh, what are you looking for?” Eddie’s voice echoes in her ears.
What are you looking for?
She’s reading too much into this. He does these deals all the time. She’s not special, just like Rebecca said.
Besides, Chrissy’s here just as the middleman. To prove something or whatever. She takes a breath and manages to look Eddie in the eyes. He’s starting intently and she’s struck at how deep his gaze goes.
“I, um,” She licks her lips and hates how it sends a thrill down her spine when Eddie copies the motion.
“Rebecca Jenkins?” Chrissy squeaks and she can tell that Eddie is confused.
He taps on the wood table before snapping. “Short brunette? Looks at you like you’re a bug on the windshield of her car?”
Eddie finger guns and then stretches the back of his neck, “Unless that’s just me.”
He laughs awkwardly and Chrissy can feel some of the tension leave her shoulder.
“No, that’s Becca. She has quite the ego.”
Chrissy rubs her palms on her cheer skirt. She’s too jittery.
Eddie opens a metal lunchbox. “Not that I mind seeing you instead of her, but, uh.” He drops a small bag with something green inside them.
Just weed? Tamer than I imagined for all of Becca’s boasting.
“Why is the Queen of Hawkins handling a drug deal?”
Chrissy bits the inside of her cheek, “Becca just didn’t feel good.”
She hands him the money that Becca gave her. Make sure he doesn’t jack up the price. Honestly the things poor people will do.
Chrissy pulls away quickly when Eddie’s fingers touch hers. It’s barely a touch, but she swears she can feel the heat of his skin on hers. A sigh and she looks up.
“You don’t need to be scared of me. I won’t hurt you.”
There’s an emotion in his voice that she can’t place, and it tears up her insides. Chrissy carefully puts Becca’s weed in her backpack, hoping that her mother’s bloodhound nose won’t smell anything.
“No, that’s not. I’m not, I mean.” She stammers and Eddie smiles softly.
“Just teasing you a bit prom queen.” His voice is too gentle.
“You’re not what I thought you’d be like.” Chrissy mumbles and shakes her head.
Honestly, she thought he’d put on a performance. Some of his cafeteria antics that she’s subjected to hearing about from Jason every other day.
Chrissy baby thank god you weren’t there. That freak thinks he can just walk around like owns the place. As if he’d ever own anything. I swear next time he says something about the team I’m going to get Chance and Patrick and we’re-
“What mean and scary?” Eddie’s teasing voice breaks into her mind again. He covers his face with a few curls looking almost sheepish. Chrissy nods and tilts her head.
“Wanna know a secret?” He whispers and Chrissy leans closer to hear him. “I kinda thought you’d be mean and scary too.”
Her eyes widen and she gasps, “Me?”
Eddie breaks into a smile. “Terrifying. I mean you must be superhuman to move your body around in that, uh, cheer thing you do.”
He inmates waving pompoms above his head, and she laughs.
“I guess you’re right. Cheerleaders can be scary.”
Eddie’s smile grows larger, and she notices that one canine is larger than the other. Would it feel sharp if she were to run her tongue across it?
Stop! Bad thoughts Christine.
“You, uh, don’t want anything?” Eddie gestures to the lunchbox and Chrissy’s eyebrows rise up so high they hide in her bangs.
“Oh! No, I’m not-“ Allowed? What are you ten?
“I’ve done anything like that before.” She shrinks and prays that he doesn’t think she’s a complete square.
“Do you want to?” Again the kindness in Eddie’s voice shocks her and Chrissy only shrugs; her nails digging into her palms.
“It would be my first time.”
She catches a flash of something in those dark eyes, “I’d give you anything.”
Chrissy blinks and she could swear that his words have an underlying meaning. She considers his offer.
What would Jason say? Never mind him; what would mother say?
She’s heard from a few girls on the team that smoking makes them hungry and while she doesn’t want to binge, the sleep that might come would be nice.
“I have nightmares a lot. Or I just can’t get my brain to turn off.” Chrissy digs her nails into her palms. “Endless thoughts all throughout the night. It feels like I’m going insane.”
Eddie reaches a hand towards hers but doesn’t touch.
“I know what you mean.”
He makes a clicking sound with his tongue and she looks at him. She suddenly wants to share everything that’s been burdening her.
Things she hasn’t even mentioned to Ms. Kelley. Applying to non-Christian colleges, how she fakes being happy with Jason, the fact that she’s sure her mother actually hates her, not wanting to get married at twenty and start popping out kids.
“I don’t have any more weed here, but we could, uh.” Eddie taps his fingers against the wood table rapidly. “You could come to my place?”
There’s a faint blush forming on his neck and Chrissy’s heart races.
“It’s the championship game tonight.”
Eddie nods and shakes his head. “No, uh, of course. I have my own thing tonight, and uh, you’re probably doing something with Carver.”
Chrissy can hear the venom in the way that he spits out Jason’s name. Like it tasted horrible just to have the word in his mouth.
“What about after?” Chrissy asks and she hopes that she’s not reading too deeply into this. That he isn’t just being friendly.
Eddie’s chokes on his next words. “You’d want to come over? To my trailer in Forest Hills?”
Chrissy frowns, “You’re the one that offered.”
Eddie waves his hands and shakes his head rapidly. It’s a wonder he doesn’t get whiplash.
“I’d be honored for you to grace my humble abode with your presence, Your Grace.”
Chrissy snorts, “You’re ridiculous, Eddie Munson.”
A breathy laugh, “I’ll be whatever you want me to be Chrissy Cunningham.”
She memorizes the way his lips move around her name, like it’s a spell.
“Okay.” Then adds, “I’ll meet you by the back door after the game?”
In hopes that it doesn’t seem like she wants him to be whatever she wants. Chrissy doesn’t know what to do what that kind of power. Everything in her life is already planned and she only has the illusion of having wants anyway.
Eddie nods and whispers something under his breath.
“Suppose it’s a date then? I'll only tell if you want me too.” Eddie winks before hoping off the bench.
Chrissy stays for a few minutes, trying to say those calming mantras to hold off her traitorous heart.
If Jason notices anything off about Chrissy’s demeanor, he doesn’t let on. Far too consumed with winning the championship game to talk of anything else.
“Did you see the look on Conner Barren’s face when I stole the ball away from him? Serves that smug jerk for knocking me down last game.”
Chrissy hums along like the dutiful girlfriend, but her mind is stuck on dark curls instead of blond.
“Chrissy baby?” Jason nudges her and the way he says baby makes taste bile.
“Hm? Sorry, I’m just so happy we won!” She shakes her pompoms for emphases.
Jason kisses her forehead, “Love how you support me. Are you coming to Benny’s? Patrick nicked a keg from his cousin and Carla’s boyfriend is bringing jungle juice."
Chrissy grimaces. The last time Carla O’Connor’s college boyfriend came to a party he tried to feel her up. Jason was too wasted to noticed and shrugged her off saying that she dressed like she wanted to be touched.
Jason denied it the next day and swore he’d beat up anyone who even thought about touching her.
From the way that Jason spoke about the party, Chrissy doubts he remembers that promise.
“Oh Jay I’m sorry!” She bats her eyes. “My mom needs me to help clean out the basement for the donation drive this weekend.”
Not a total lie, but Laura Cunningham only needs her on Sunday. Jason sigh and takes his arm off her shoulders. The lightness she feels should not be as relieving as it is.
“You have be such a saint all the time?”
He means it to be a backhanded compliment, but Chrissy continues to play dumb blonde and laughs. “Proverbs 19:17. Your father just spoke about it last weekend, silly!”
She kisses his cheek and waves goodbye, “I’ll see you at the drive. Have fun.”
Her face falls from its practiced smile the second she’s out the gym doors.
Eddie’s driving is nothing like she’s used to. Chrissy white knuckles the handle in his van the entire ride to his trailer. Eddie puts on some loud song with police sirens has her looking over her shoulder in fear that Office Powell is behind them. Eddie laughs as she screams when they speed over a bump in the road.
“What? Carver never takes you joyriding?”
The spark in his eyes is enough for her own laugher to bubble up.
“You’re crazy. I can’t believe we got here in one piece.”
Eddie turns off the engine and purses his lips. “I’ll have you know that it only took be three tries and one bribe to get my license.”
Chrissy shrieks in astonishment. “Eddie! You can’t bribe government workers.”
Eddie rolls his eyes and unbuckles her seatbelt before his own. “Tell that to everyone in the government, sweetheart.”
She blinks twice before following his lead out of the van. Eddie has his hands in his back pockets as he walks up the concrete steps.
“Uh, welcome to Casa de Munson.”
He opens the door for her and gestures for her to go in first. “It’s, um, not much.”
There’s a twinge of embarrassment in his words. It takes all of thirty seconds for Chrissy to see everything from the small living room with a TV and couch to the kitchen that holds a table with two chairs. A hall that must lead to the bedroom and bathroom is shaded in darkness.
“Sorry about the mess. Maid took the week off.” Eddie jokes as he kicks some cans to the side.
“You live here alone?” She asks looking at the dozens of mugs that line the wall in the kitchen.
“With my uncle. He works nights at the plant. Makin’ the big bucks.”
Eddie moves some papers in a drawer and Chrissy pretends she didn’t see the Sally Field in a bunny suit. Biting back her smile, Chrissy tries to make conversation.
“Did your game go well?”
Eddie continues to rummage through a few drawers.
“Oh yeah! Tiny Sinclair was really something. Defeated Vecna during the final roll. Her brother is going to be so pissed when I tell him on Monday.”
Chrissy’s brain sparks in recognition with Sinclair.
“Like Lucas Sinclair? He scored the winning basket tonight!”
She made sure to give the skinny boy a hug before he was dragged away by the basketball team. Eddie makes an appreciative sound and turns to her.
“Hate that he plays that dumb laundry basket game, but I can’t help but feel proud of him.”
Chrissy smiles at the sentiment. Jason’s face took on a cruel look before he masked it and slapped Lucas on the back in an attempt at congratulating him.
“Gotta say I’m a bit embarrassed.” Eddie turns to face her, hands empty.
Chrissy knits her brows. “I think your home is fine Eddie. At least it looks like people live here.” She crinkles her nose. “My mother keeps ours like it’s going to be put up for sale any minute.”
Eddie taps her shoulder, so she meets his eyes.
“Not about the place being a mess, thanks for that though.” He tucks some hair behind his ear. “I thought I had enough to make us both a joint, but.”
Eddie points behind him to what she thinks must be his room. “I’ll check my room to be sure though. You can, uh, make yourself comfortable.”
Chrissy nods and sits on the tiny couch. There’s a stain of what might be food, but the cushions are soft and she can sink down without having her mother berate her for ruining the structure. Her sleepless nights start to catch up to her and she allows her eyes too close. Just for a few moments.
She’s fast asleep when Eddie comes back not a minute later.
“Chrissy, wake up.”
She feels someone’s warm breath on her face. With a groan she snuggles into the warmth at her side.
“Chrissy, hey.” The same voice tries again and she groans.
“Few more minutes.” She grumbles and hears a low laugh.
“Doesn’t look like you need the joint after all, princess.”
No one’s called her princess since her sixth birthday. The smell of pine and nicotine fills her nose. Her brain starts to work again and she quickly jerks her head up.
“Oh my! I’m sorry, I just closed my eyes for a second.”
Her face must be so red. How humiliating! Falling asleep on Eddie Munson’s couch is one thing, but snuggling into his shoulder? Becca would never let her live that down and she’s sure that Jason would do some very unchristian things.
Eddie shrugs and leans back on the couch, “Looked like you needed some sleep. You know you wiggle your nose like in I Dream of Jeanie?”
Eddie laughs and she blushes harder.
“It’s cute.”
He says and Chrissy hides her face in her hands. Eddie gently places a hand on her shoulder and she finds it somehow comforting.
“I’d let you sleep on my shoulder any day Cunningham, but, uh,” Eddie points to the clock on the wall. “You don’t have a curfew do you?”
Chrissy clenches her teeth as she looks at the time. 2:43. She shrieks and jumps off the couch, passing back and forth.
“My mom is going to murder me! If she doesn’t have the entire Hawkins police department looking for me already. I’m not allowed to be out past eleven unless I have five gold stars.”
Eddie repeats gold stars, but Chrissy can’t think straight. Laura Cunningham will be angry that Chrissy comes home late, but she’ll be furious if she sees Eddie drop her off. She starts to nibble on her thumbnail and looks at the clock again. 2:48, Chrissy groans.
Eddie comes up to her and holds her still. “Take a second to breathe. In for three and out for three. Follow me.”
He demonstrates and Chrissy repeats. She slowly feels the blood stop rushing to her head.
“I can drive you back right now?”
She must look terrified because Eddie backtracks, “Or you can stay here?”
At her gasp he sputters, “I didn’t mean! Wheeler lives near you right? Maybe I can call her and you can say you did that thing girls do on weekends?”
Chrissy whines, “A sleepover?”
Eddie nods and takes her hand to walk her to the phone in the kitchen. Chrissy takes notice of how he intertwines their fingers instead of only cupping her hand.
“Nance owns me for babysitting her brother. Hope she’s not with Jonny-boy.”
Chrissy’s mind is blank as Eddie uses the phone. Would her mother accept she was sleeping at Nancy’s?
Nancy Wheeler used to come to church every week when she was little, but stopped when high school started. She used to play with Chrissy and they would talk about how annoying their little brothers’ can be.
Chrissy hasn’t spoke to Nancy since sophomore year when she started dating Jason and Nancy broke up with Steve Harrington. Everyone spoke about that and how Nancy was slumming it with Jonathan Byers, even Chrissy’s mother made comments.
She had such a bright future. I don’t know why she would ruin it. You can’t ever do that Christine, you hear me?
Chrissy always though Nancy looked much happier with Jonathan. Her smiles reach her eyes instead of just the corners of her lips.
Eddie ends the call with a, “see you in ten.” Before hanging up the phone. “Looks like you’re in luck. Wheeler’s gunna cover for you.”
Eddie pats her hair to soothe her still shaking body. “Everything will be alright Chris. I promise.”
That breaks her and Chrissy starts crying. Tears blur her vision, but her hands grip tightly on the bottom of Eddie shirt.
“Why are you so nice to me?” She moans as Eddie helplessly pats her back.
“Jesus Chrissy. Why wouldn’t I help you?”
She shakes her head against his chest and makes a mental note to give him some dry cleaning money.
“I don’t deserve it.” She hiccups and Eddie lightly pushes her chin up.
“Don’t deserve it? Shit Chris. All you did was fall asleep for a few hours.”
He whips away her tears and she can feel his callous. A memory pops into her head.
“You play guitar, right?” A shaky breath and Eddie lets out a small laugh.
“Still do. You remember the talent show?”
He fills a glass of water for her and she nods. “My mom hated it. Spoke about how you were disturbing the peace.”
Chrissy takes a sip and puts a hand on her heart it hopes that will help calm her. “I thought you looked cool. Plus you wished me good luck before I went on.”
Eddie’s face takes on a bashful expression and he points to the door. “I thought your cheer thing was kinda cool, too. Ready to go?”
Chrissy nods and prays for what must be the millionth time that day that she makes it through what comes next.
She’s still hiccuping when Eddie pulls up at Nancy’s house. Chrissy’s always like how the Wheeler’s front yard is forever filled with bicycles and toys. Such a contrast from her own perfectly pruned garden.
“Thank you.” She whispers and wipes a final stray tear.
Nancy’s bedroom light is on and Chrissy can see her silhouette through the window. Eddie taps lightly against the steering wheel. He’d been prattling on about the book he was reading while she slept. Chrissy only half listened but it sounded like something her mother would burn.
It mostly takes place on this sand planet with these giant worm things. Everyone wants take over the planet because of this thing called spice. And like, the main character is basically their god. Or will be I guess. I’m still sort of confused on that part.
She tries to smile at Eddie because he really has been so kind to her and this was not how she wanted the night to turn out.
“Chrissy are you sure you’re okay?”
She sighs and nods. “I’ll figure out how to deal with my mom. She’ll probably just need me to buy her a gift or something.”
Eddie furrows his eyebrows and Chrissy realizes that maybe having to buy your parent’s forgiveness isn’t something everyone can relate too.
She waves her hand, “Just forget a lot of what I told you about her. I’m not thinking obviously.” An awkward laugh and then a knock on the window.
Chrissy turns to see Nancy in a matching baby blue pajama set. Chrissy opens the door and takes one last look at Eddie. “Thank you again. I’m sorry I was so weird.”
Eddie shakes his head. “I like weird.” He half-waves before leaving the girls in the cool night air.
Nancy doesn’t ask any questions for which Chrissy is very appreciative. Since she wouldn’t know how to answer anything.
“You want to leave a message for your mom?” Nancy points to the phone at her bedside.
Chrissy digs her heel into the corner of Nancy’s bed. “I’m scared she’ll still be up and answer it.”
She takes a shaky breath. Nancy’s eyes soften as she hands her a t-shirt that must be Jonathan’s.
“Sleep in this and we’ll figure it out in the morning. Everything will be okay.”
Chrissy nods and turns away to change out of her cheer uniform.
“I wasn’t going to ask, but,”
Chrissy tenses and shakes out her hair from it’s too tight ponytail.
“Eddie Munson calling me at three in the morning is bizarre even for him.”
Chrissy sits on the bed and Nancy sits next to her. “When I heard it was to help you, I almost fell to the floor.”
Chrissy holds her arms around her waist. “I wasn’t meant to fall asleep.”
Nancy looks at Chrissy intently, like she’s just become a key witness.
“I didn’t know you two were friends.”
Chrissy closes her eyes and falls back on the bed. Nancy’s sheets smell like the laundry detergent her grandmother uses.
“We aren’t, not really anyway.”
It’s the truth, but Chrissy isn’t going to tell Nancy the real reason she was at Eddie Munson’s trailer. Suddenly there’s the sound of static and Chrissy hears Nancy groan.
“That little brat always leaves his walkie-talkie in here.”
Chrissy lifts herself up onto the elbows to see Nancy reaching under her bed.
“Mike likes to come in here, talk to his friends, and snoop around my stuff. I swear I’m going to run this thing over with my car.”
Nancy’s brown hair bobs up and down before popping back up. A triumphant smile on her face.
“You know he has a huge crush on you right?”
Nancy’s voice is in a near whisper. Her eyes shine bright in the dim lighting of the room as she waits for Chrissy’s response.
“Um Mike does?”
Nancy makes a scoffing sound and plops down by Chrissy’s face. “You’re smarter than that Chrissy. Even though you never act on it.”
Anxiety bubbles in Chrissy’s stomach as she works to think of a way to switch the conversation around.
“Why do you think your boyfriend hates him so much? Eddie does not hide it well, honestly I’m surprised he didn’t try anything tonight.”
Nancy yawns and stretches her arms above her head.
Chrissy shifts slightly so that her hair moves in front of her eyes. She blows air up to clear her vision. “He was perfectly nice and didn’t look at me like I was crazy. Even when my mascara got messed up from crying.”
Chrissy follows Nancy’s lead and does a small stretch. She remembers the feeling of Eddie’s hands on her checks brushing away her tears. His fingertips so gentle like she was made of glass.
“Well, all I know is that not even my brother and his friends.” Another yawn and Nancy keeps her eyes closed. “Who practically worship the ground that Eddie walks on; have been allowed in his van.”
Chrissy can tell that Nancy is close to sleep. Each word comes out slower than the last, “Let along his trailer.”
There’s a long moment of silence and Chrissy’s body finally relaxes completely into the bed.
Her ears just barley catch Nancy’s mumbled, “You must be special for him to bring you.” Before she allows sleep to take her as well.