↣ 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘖𝘳 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘺

Bailey patiently waited for the other person to detect the otherwise while holding his phone against the wall. He was patient and knew that he will get an answer

"𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰?" He grinned when the other voice, emanating from the phone, spoke.

"Happy birthday, Will," he said while manipulating the cord entwined around his finger.

"𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘉𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘺." The boy's cheerful tone on the other side elicited a smile from Bailey.

"I hope you're doing well in California. No one has been bothering you?" He inquired as he sensed arms encircle his waist; he cast a glance at Steve, who merely shrugged.

"𝘕𝘰, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺." Will remarked, although he understood that Will was being deceitful based on his manner of speaking. "𝘐 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘨𝘰, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘺."

"No issue, Will." He states that before to placing the phone, he twisted in Steve's embrace and encircled Steve's neck with his arms.

"You are overly concerned about them." He states that as he kissed Bailey's lips.

"Indeed, I am aware, as are you." He remarks with a playful grin. "Do you not have work shortly?" He inquired while they both gazed at the clock. Steve glanced at him nonchalantly with a smirk.

"Not for an additional hour." He states that he pulled Bailey from the ground, causing the boy to gasp audibly. "There is plenty of time." Steve sprinted away while Bailey giggled upon reaching the bed.

𐬽𐬼𐬽

Bailey rested his elbow on the counter, supporting his head with his palm, while listening to Robin discuss a particular form of love. He was gazing at the television while observing a report being broadcast.

Robin grasped the television controller while increasing the volume. "We're in the Forest Hills trailer park in east Roane County. We don't have a lot of details now, but we can confirm student was discovered early this morning. Police have not released the name..."

"Holy shit." Steve commented as he looked at the tv.

The television continued to operate, but Bailey remained oblivious, his thoughts solely focused on Max. If she were well, where she may be, assuming she was the one injured. Steve observed him as he began to withdraw and promptly approached.

The door chimed upon opening, prompting everyone to turn, and Bailey exhaled in relief. Max and Dustin were standing there, observing from a position of safety and security.

"Max," His concerns were gradually disappearing as he hurried forward to hug the girl. The girl with red hair hugged him back, "we saw the news. I thought you were.."

Max gave him a saddening glance. Robin and Steve were given an explanation by Dustin. Bailey was the first person Steve looked at. "Bailey, how about we have a private conversation?"

"What's happening?" As he observed the four individuals, he inquired.

"Bailey, the Hawkins High student who was murdered was Chrissy." Max observes her, as Bailey falters slightly backward in response to her gaze.

He gazed at her with astonishment. "Chrissy... no, Chrissy is with Jason. She's fine." He remarked while observing the others, yet no one responded. Max attempted to extend her hand towards him, but he withdrew his hand from her grasp.

He retreated slightly, the realization dawning within him. Chrissy was gone , his closest companion gone. The first individual he ever discovered as a genuine friend is now gone. Teardrops began to cascade down his visage. "Bailey, it is okay; I need you to breathe." Steve stated as he approached Bailey.

"No, no, no, no." He said turning away, rubbing at his face to try to clear the tears. Get away from me, get...get." He says while stooping down to the ground. He sobbed loudly, his hands in his hair. Steve dropped down to gently cradle the youngster.

"It's okay baby; it's going to be okay." He says as he lightly kisses the boy's hair.

"Hey, guys, I might have a lead." Max announced, Bailey was resting against the wall, holding a cup of water while gazing upward.

"Seriously?" Dustin remarked while directing his gaze toward Max's line of sight.

"Apparently, Eddie gets drugs from some guy named Reefer Rick, and sometimes Eddie crashes there." Max answered.

"Sounds promising." Robin says from behind her shoulder. "Where does Reefer Rick live?"

"See, that's the thing. No one knows." Max spoke with a shake of her head. "He's more of a... a legend than someone that people actually know."

Bailey gazed at the cup of water, his emotions surging, yet he was uncertain how to manage them.  He was uncertain on how to proceed.  He simply collapsed, shattered.  He was immersed in his own realm, his own sphere.  He could no longer run to Chrissy; he could no longer see her.

Eddie Munson was deemed accountable and blamed for Chrissy's death, however he felt otherwise in his heart. Bailey was skeptical about the assertion.  Chrissy sought assistance from Eddie, who appeared to possess no malevolent traits.

"Bailey?." By the time Steve was before him, he had pulled himself out of his reverie. "We're gonna go find Eddie, you don't have to come with us."

"I'm going to accompany you."  Steve got up to object, but Bailey quickly straightened herself and set the glass on the counter.  "There was tenderness in Chrissy; she would never want Eddie to go to jail for something that wasn't his fault."

Along with Steve, he walked out, determined to make things right even if it lead to his own death.

────────────────────────

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀

- Chrissy was Bailey's everything, Vecna took away Bailey's light. Bailey's out for blood.

To all the people that have supported me closely- Tags: @norasnetflix @wrensofvizla @KleeAlise11 @kiesluverr

𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵e