Chapter Text
“Really? She’s giving us a Lady or the Tiger ending?”
Elena is unimpressed. It wasn’t even that the book was particularly good, but you’d think the ending would be better than this. She spent an entire day's worth of time- vital DnD research time- reading this Danielle Steel book, and this is how it ends. It would be comical if Elena didn’t have a fucking deadline to make. Max, on the other hand, thinks it’s hilarious, “what? Not enough ‘pulsating members’ for you?” she waggled her brows, “did it need more ripped bodices?”
“Never say ‘pulsating members’ ever again,” the disgust practically rolling off of Elena’s body. “It’s like she forgot who her characters are. Damien would never abandon Felicity like that, and why did she use an entire chapter to explain something that could’ve been- like- a paragraph. What a rip off!” Flinging the semi-open book across her face, Elena huffs into the spine and wishes herself to be absorbed into a romance novel instead of the shit show she’s currently found herself in.
Sure, she’s reacting to this a little bit too much, but she spent a good portion of her life dedicated to this plot, and Danielle Steel does her like this?? ‘Hopefully this fucking show has a much better ending than what I just read.’
Instead of taking pity on her roommate, Max’s reaction was to snort and mumble something about a ‘drama queen.’
Everyone’s a critic. Typical.
“Don’t you have school?”
“Don’t you have work? You’re already homeless, do you want to be jobless too?” And Elena, as the adult, very maturely flipped her the bird.
_____________________
It's divine comedy that just as she’s about to eat a burrito from Taco Bell (a miracle in this dimension), she hears the telltale chime of the front door. A customer. Joy.
“Welcome to the Mermaid Cove!” all smiles until she hears it, the unmistakable sound of high school jocks. Not all athletes are bad, but Christ on a fucking Cracker, jocks of the 80s are ruthless. There’s something cruel about the way they interact with each other in their environment, and although Elena was scrolling her phone during the Stranger Things marathon at Thea’s all those months ago, that doesn’t prevent her from recognizing one of the boys who walked in as she turned to face her customers.
It’s him. The one who will be responsible for Max’s death in a few short months. Well, that’s unfair, it’s not like he’s the Freddie Kreuger inspired monster that causes death and destruction (fuck you, Vaca!), but he certainly does not help. This boy with his blue eyes and perfect hair is a monster in his own right. A monster currently skipping school.
“It’s 11:30 am on a Friday during football season. Shouldn’t you be in school?” Elena asked, making her voice as wry as she could manage. Several of the boys wrinkled their noses at being blatantly called out. ‘Good. Be ashamed of your actions.’
One boy, not the Monster, sneered and exclaimed that today was Senior ditch day. Oh goodie. “Lucky you,” face emotionless, “welcome to the Mermaid Cove, where we supply all of your musical desires across the seven seas. Let the symphony of the sea lull you from the tempest of society, come relax inside the grotto of Hawkins- release your inhibitions and feel the rain on your skin.” Elena stiffly moved her arms for added dry effect, hoping to either weird them into leaving or make them feel uncomfortably welcomed. “Now, do you need any help today?”
What happened next could only be described as awkward silence until the flood gates opened. “...the ‘tempest of society,’ what does that even mean?” One boy whined, sounding more like an elementary student instead of an almost adult.
“Where’s the mean bald guy?” cried another.
“Do you think she supplies desires that aren’t just musical?” Eugh.
The gaggle of midwestern jocks seemingly did not know how to respond to her level of bizarre- fair enough, not many people did, she’s an acquired taste. All of the boys’ reactions were within the same degree of shock, however one response stood out above the rest. “You need Jesus.”
It was Monster Boy.
Elena’s flabbers were gasted because what the fuck? You don’t just tell someone they need Jesus, especially after they nicely, albeit weirdly, offer you assistance!
“What?” she said with all her intelligent interdimensional wisdom.
“You’re new to Hawkins, right?” he paused, giving Elena time to hesitantly nod, not knowing where this conversation was going, “this town is different. We’re a community, we support each other, and help defend one another from Satan and the forces of darkness that threaten us within.”
He pauses for dramatic effect. All of the other boys are quiet, listening to their chosen leader. “I’m sure you’ve heard of the Salem Witch Trials, we have a similar issue happening with demons and witches taking over the minds of our youths. You don’t want to get involved with the wrong people.” He gives Elena a dazzling smile, and for a second she can see why people would follow this creep. “I’m Jason Carver, and I’m offering you a membership to my church.”
It’s quiet. Too quiet. “Jason” is still smiling at her, awaiting a response, and suddenly Elena is cognizant of the fact that she is alone with a group of boys from the 80s, which- historically- a girl being alone with a group of male strangers from any time period is usually a recipe for disaster.
‘Where’s Bobby when you need him? Napping in the back on that fucking couch, and I’m alone with a pack of teenaged Lindsey Grahams!’
Elena silently laments her life, before sucking up her pride and thanking the evangelist for his invitation. “Wow, I didn’t know that about Hawkins. Good thing I know, now I can avoid Satan and the forces of evil.” Because if there’s one thing Elena knows from all the dimensions: you don’t fuck with crazy, especially religious psychosis crazy.
At this point the jocks are roaming the music store, looking at the new supply that had just arrived. “The forces of evil come in many shapes and sizes,” he lectures, eyes flickering briefly to her DnD handbook.
‘Yes, because Lucas’ little sister screams “forces of evil” fucking creep’ she turns away to roll her eyes, just in time to see Eddie Munson walk through the door with a shit eating grin. Fuck.
What happened next could only be described as an old spaghetti western. As soon as Eddie walked through the doors of The Mermaid, him and Wonder Boy stared at each other, daring the other to speak first. Eddie made the first move, smirking while proclaiming “Doth mine eyes deceive me!? Is Lord Carver socializing with the rabble?” bowing comically, “we are not worthy, my liege.” winking at Elena as he stood up.
Carver’s face took upon a look that said, ‘ew, gross.’ Instead of responding to the resident metalhead, he gave Elena a once over and said “see you on Sunday,” before calling his pack of cronies. Within 3 minutes the group of jocks had left, and Elena was- yet again- questioning why Eddie Munson seemed to be everywhere. Now that they were neighbors, her run-ins with Eddie were becoming even more frequent.
‘At least this time he saved you from being jumped into a religious cult, even if he called me…’
“The rabble!? I’m the rabble now??” The audacity of this man. Elena would describe herself more as a ‘scoundrel’ or a ‘menace to society.’
The mirth in Eddie’s eyes could only be described as warm. He’s got those honest eyes. “You and me both, doll.”
Doll?
“Nicknames? You barely know my actual name, and now we have nicknames?” Never let it be said that Elena beats around the bush. If anything, she plows over that bush like a John Deere riding lawn mower.
Eddie’s face turns pink. What a cutie. This is probably one of the rare times he’s been able to flirt with someone in town. Well, maybe not, he seems like the type of person to flirt with everyone, but receive no flirtations in return. That’s going to change. “Well…we’re friends aren’t we? Friends have nicknames.”
And because she’s a glutton for shame, Elena asks, “do friends go on movie dates?” Eddie- ever so calm, cool, and collected- chokes on his spit. Poor guy.
He tries to hide his choking by clearing his throat, “well…they go to the movies, that’s for sure.” Nervously playing with the ends of his hair, he quickly adds, “which is why I’m here in the first place! I’ve come to collect your debt. Let’s go to the 12:30 pm showing of The Nightmare on Elm Street.” Smooth, Munson. Very Smooth.
She really needs to invest in chapstick, because biting on chapped lips in her anxiety is not helping the situation. But, ‘he didn’t confirm that it’s a date…but he also didn’t not confirm that it’s a date.’
Honestly, this would be the best thing. It’s in the daytime, and everyone knows daytime movie dates are practically not dates at all. The only problem is, “I have work.” Spinning on her heel, she moves down the ‘Whale Music’ aisle (a leftover from the 1970s), and turns back towards the metalhead, arms wide like crucified Jesus. “I can’t leave the ‘Maid unmanned.”
Eddie grabs his chin and looks around in thought. After 5 seconds he says a quick, “Gimme a sec, " and heads for the backroom where Bobby was currently “balancing his checkbook.” He walked into the inner sanctum, and all was quiet for 5 min until a bleary eyed Bobby stumbled out from his office, Eddie trailing behind him with that shit eating grin.
Instead of communicating, Bobby grunted and pointed at the door, which Elena interpreted as “Be free, my child!” And, like a wyld stallyn, she sprinted out the door.
Eddie caught up with her, and pointed out his van- as if Elena didn’t already know which one was his, considering they’re neighbors.
On the drive over, Elena finally managed to ask how he convinced Bobby to give her the rest of the day off, “I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
Ok, so drugs. He offered him drugs.
________________
“What an awful ending!” Eddie lamented, purposefully bumping into Elena, “All that waiting for this?” sagging onto her shoulder in misery.
‘He’s touching me, oh my god.’ They left the movie theater together after watching one of the worst movies Elena has ever seen. ‘If he leans any closer, his mouth is going to be on my neck!?!?’
Eddie, blind to his companion’s internal crisis, kept complaining. “I think I’d’ve preferred if they didn’t even make that movie, it completely killed the character.” The last word was said with a huff, and the heat of his breath grazed the sensitive skin of Elena’s neck, leaving gooseflesh in its wake. She could smell the spearmint gum from here.
“Didn’t the first movie come out last year? You haven’t been waiting that long.” trying to regain some of her dignity and composure.
Eddie stopped pouting, and stood straight with a charming grin, “What can I say, doll? I’m impatient.” He winked in her general direction.
When they finally got back to the trailer park, Elena tried to return the leather jacket that started this whole adventure. “Nah, you keep it. I have my uncle’s old jacket.”
“But, what about ‘settling my debts’ ?”
Eddie, who was currently walking across the street to head back to his house turned and winked, “guess we’ll have to go on another date then.”
Well…shit.