✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　four　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

- little freak, harry styles

" starry haze, crystal ball
somehow you've become some paranoia "

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　dead cheerleader　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

The game was over, Hawkins High had won and the cheering had continued as well everyone exited the gym.

Gracie smiled as she went and hugged Steve. "Uh, I have to go do something but I'll catch a ride, so don't worry. I'll see you at home, though."

Steve's arms tightened around her shoulders. His head rested on top of hers, taking in the hugs she barely gave anymore.

Gracie used to always give meaningful hugs, but after everything she truly stopped caring and it was always the side-hugs. Steve hated those, especially from someone who was like his sister.

"Just be safe, okay? That's all I ask for." Gracie nodded against his chest, his heartbeat calming to her hears especially after the events that happened in the hall.

She held on to him a few seconds longer really taking it in. Being truthful, Gracie was scared. It seemed so real. He seemed so real, but he wasn't. That wasn't the Billy she used to know, that was the one who hurt her friends and attacked them at the mall.

"Okay. See you later." She sighed, pulling away from the hug. Steve smiled and ruffled her hair on top of her head.

She smacked his hands and away, sticking her tongue out at him and running away once she spotted Chrissy.

"Hey," she let out a deep breath before scanning the parking lot.

"He said to meet him by his van, and he'll be out in a minute, but I need to talk to someone so will you be fine waiting on your own?" She quickly let the words flow from her mouth and her hand filled with the ring on her thumb.

The blonde shyly nodded before wandering deep into the parking. Gracie's eyes flicked back and forth searching the lot for the one person she truly wanted to talk to.

Once she saw them her feet carried her there in less than a minute. "Mike." She rushed out grabbing his forearm and dragging him over to a lone car to talk. "I need to talk to you."

To say Mike was confused was an understatement. His head turned ti make eye contact with Dustin and Eddie who both looked curious to the conversation. "Um, about what?" He slowly looked back at his older friend almost in worry.

"Will." He almost took a step back as questions warped through his mind. Was it happening again? Is he having episodes again? Is his best friend okay?

"Is something wrong with him?" He held onto her wrist, squeezing a little too hard for her liking. "Um, ow?" She informed as she tore his hand from her skin.

"He's fine, from what I know. I just know you're you're going to California for spring break tomorrow..." Her voice trailed off and he suddenly knew what Gracie was on about.

They had always been close anyway, like siblings but stronger than her and Steve's friendship.

"Can you just tell him that I love him and I'm going to come visit soon. He better have that campaign ready because I've been dying to hear it. Also, can you tell him I said thank you for the locket and sweater he got me for my birthday!"

A big smile crossed her features, forgetting about what terrified her so much in the halls. "Oh! Don't forget to tell him, El, Jonathan, and Joyce that I miss them all very much and give them a hug for me, please."

Mike nodded along, understanding why she felt this way. She had never been this far away from the people who were basically her family and with her father dead it hurt even more.

"I will, don't worry, Gray." Her arms suddenly wrapped around his torso as he was incredibly taller than her.

"Thank you so much, Mike. And please do give them the new number Steve got for my room phone." He smiled against her head, he could tell she truly did care for them. "Okay, Gray." Mike's voice was soft as he spoke to her, barely above a whisper.

"I've got it go, but I promise I'll tell him." He let go of the hug, waving goodbye as he walked away to his bike with Dustin railing behind him.

Her eyes then found her guy leaning against his van with Chrissy looking nervous inches away from him, not wanting to be too close.

"Hurry it up, babe. We've got places to be." He removed his cupped hands from his mouth with a large silly smile being revealed.

Her heart fluttered his at words and a warmth took over her ears turning them a bright red. "Don't call me that." She muttered walking up to the two.

She secretly liked it. She wanted him to be able to call her that whenever and she wanted be able to call him hers, but she couldn't.

So she huffed and got into the passenger seat of the van, crossing her arms as she stared at her lap.

Eddie knew she secretly liked it. He wanted to be able to call her that whenever he wanted and he wanted to call her his and be hers, but he couldn't.

So he opened the side door of the van for Chrissy like a gentleman and walked around to the drivers side once she was in.

When Eddie was situated inside his eyes were stuck on Gracie sitting next to him. He forgot about Chrissy sitting right behind them and he just couldn't look away.

The way the street light shined on her was just perfect. The light freckles that were spread out on her nose were now brought to light and eyes shined brighter than he'd remember.

Once she began to turn to look his way, he quickly turned his head to his dash, cranking up his van. Swallowing harshly fingers tapping against the wheels as nerves filled him.

Chrissy's face contorted into one of confusion when she saw this. Eyes flicking back and forth between the two. Her mind began to wander and she began to think the Munson boy had a crush on the former Chief of Police's daughter.

"Well... let's get going..." He pulled out of the school parking lot and the car was taken over by stuffy silence.

Once the van pulled up to his trailer and got out and opened the door for the two girls. Sauntering to his front door with his arms in a bow, "This is, uh, my castle." Using the same words he always used when Gracie came to his home.

Chrissy giggled slightly, nerves easing away as he led the two inside opening the door for them.

Eddie began to clean the trailer slightly, originally Gracie wasn't supposed to come over today but that changed with the drug deal. "Sorry for the mess. Uh, the maid took the week off."

He began to pick up stray pieces of paper sitting on a shelf. It felt odd to Gracie to have to pretend she'd never been here before, but with with amount of times she'd come to the Munson trailer she could tell you where everything was.

It was more hard to pretend she didn't know Eddie on the levels she knew Eddie. Chrissy's eyes wandered the trailer, staying close by Gracie in settle of her worries.

"You, um, you live here alone?" She questioned the boy.

Eddie walked further back into the kitchen where the kitchen was placed, cleaning a tad more as he figured there was a chance Gracie would stay the night.

"With my uncle. But, uh, he works nights at the plant. Bringing home the big bucks." His last comment was kindly sarcastic as he now began to search his home for the drugs.

Gracie noted his actions and almost wanted to help him, she really wanted drugs after the incident at the game but she promised him she stopped.

He didn't want her to have the possibility of getting addicted so she didn't do anymore of the weed he had given her when they first talked.

She ended up giving it back to him and he even gave her a full refund which wasn't necessary at all in her opinion.

"How long does it take?" Chrissy suddenly asked him, fiddling with the ends of her sleeves. Gracie for a second thought she and Chrissy were in the same situation but it couldn't be possible.

What Gracie saw was real even if it wasn't, it wasn't another nightmare or a vision like in the past. It was real, his hand on her jaw was real.

Even if she didn't want it to be.

Gracie blanked out, her body now sitting on the sofa his uncle had in the living area.

She blinked rapidly for a moment as she came back to realization of what was happening, hearing Eddie rummaging through his bedroom.

But all of a sudden Chrissy just froze, stiff a board. Gracie stood cautiously from her seat, the slabs of the floor creaking under her feet with each step. "Chris?"

Her hand reached out to touch her shoulder as her eyes came to view her face but was pulled back when she only saw the whites of her eyes.

"Chris? Chrissy?" She called out to her as she shook her friend in her place. But she wouldn't move, she couldn't move. "Eddie!" Gracie was scared now and she didn't know what to do.

Her friend was here but she wasn't here.

At the call of his name he exited the bedroom holding the drug in his hand. "Got it! Peaceful bliss just moments away." He dropped on the counter with a smile but it slowly faded when he saw the tears threatening to come from his girl's eyes.

"What's wrong?" He stepped closer to her, his eyes switching to the cheerleader who's eyes had rolled to the back of her head.

"Chrissy?" His hand waved in front of her face hoping to awaken her somehow. Gracie's hand gripped into his right subconsciously and she was frightened of what could of happened to Chrissy.

"Hello? Chrissy?" His finger lightly tapped against her shoulder but she didn't make a single movement.

"Hey, Chrissy, wake up!" He waved in her face again but it still had done nothing. "Eddie..." His head spun hearing her soft angelic voice cry his name.

"It's okay, hold on." He gripped her hand tighter for a few moments before returning to the normal pressure she loved.

He pulled Gracie behind him slightly so she wouldn't be able to see Chrissy anymore as he tired to wake her.

Her eyes started to twitch as she stood there, unresponsive. His fingers snapping in her face trying to pull her out of this trance.

Suddenly the lights began to flicker harshly and he felt a tight grip on the back if his jacket from the girl behind him and her face pressed up against his back.

Eddie clapped in her face, holding onto her shoulder, "Time to wake up. Hello? Can you hear me?" He was beginning to grow scared, he had no idea what to do with the girl in his living room.

"Wake up, Chrissy." His tapped her shoulders with his palms as the lights flickered faster and the electricity buzzed in their ears. "Chrissy, wake up! I don't like this, Chrissy! You're scaring her! Wake up!"

Tears bean to fall from Gracie's eyes, and cries spilling from her mouth. His hands grabbed her face and began to slap her cheek lightly, calling her name over and over again.

"Chrissy, wake up now!" Chrissy suddenly began to float in the middle of the trailer, Eddie in shock backed up into Gracie who newly screamed at the sight.

His arms wrapping around her tightly as they both watched the girl float. He jumped in surprise bringing the two down to the floor, still in his hold, when the back of her body suddenly slammed into the ceiling.

"Chrissy?!" Gracie yelled out in fear, wanted it to stop. She wanted her friend back safe.

The cheerleaders bones began to snap and the cracking was overbearing. Gracie's mouth hung open, tears openly flowing into her mouth as she stared at the scene.

Eddie even though nearly frozen in shock pushed her head into his chest so she wouldn't have to see it anymore.

He screamed as blood began to flow from her eyes and her jaw brown with a snap. Her body looked horrific and Eddie never thought he would see something like this.

His grip tightened and his scream became louder as her eyeballs were squished into her skull, and her body dropped to the floor.

He stared at the body for a few moments before trying to pull Gracie up all while still hiding her face in his chest, which was a gray struggle.

His hands shook trying to lift her up. "Is she okay? Please tell me she's okay, Eddie." She begged and pleaded with him but he couldn't answer.

He pushed her head further into his chest as his left arm looped under her legs to hoist her up bridal style.

"Just don't look." Her wet, red eyes accidentally caught a peek of the now deceased cheerleader in the middle of the room when Eddie reached for the doorknob.

A screamed erupted from her throat and he quickly pushed her back against his chest. "I know, I know. I-It's gonna be okay."

He knew he was lying, she knew he was lying... but they wanted to believe it.

"We need to call someone, Eds." Gracie pleaded, looking up at him teary eyes as he walked out of the front door.

"I can't. We need to go, okay? I'm sorry but we have to go." Deep down she knew he was right but she didn't want to leave her lying there.

Yet, she had no time to argue when he rushed her to the passenger side of his van, placing her hurriedly but gently in the seat, buckling her seatbelt up before he ran and nearly tripped trying to make it it the drivers side.

Once he was in he didn't even worry about his own buckle, hastily pulling out of the dirt driveway with hah hand wrapped around hers.

-from honey
i loved chrissy 😭