Emmaline's POV:
I climbed off my bed and sat down in front of the box that Wayne had given me. I took a deep breath and opened it. I was met with a sticky note in Wayne's handwriting.

Some stuff I think Eddie would want you to have

I half smiled and took the note off the framed picture of Eddie and I from the spring dance. When my mom got the pictures developed she made sure to give Eddie a copy. I set the picture next to me on the floor. Tons of T-shirts and sweaters laid in the box. I brought one of Eddie's infamous Metallica t-shirts up to my nose, inhaling his scent. I gasped softly as the familiar smell of earth and nicotine filled my nostrils. Small tears welled up into my eyes and I took all the clothes out of the box. I didn't want them to lose their smell. I refused to let Eddie's scent go away. His dungeon and dragons dungeon master kit was inside the box. I gulped as I pulled it out. I wouldn't have much use for this. As much as it made me happy that it was his, Dustin would prefer it I'm sure. I stood up and went to my phone. I dialed Dustin's number. "Henderson residence." His mom answered. I half smiled and said "hi, Mrs. Henderson. It's Emmaline." "Emmaline, how are you?" "I'm ok. How about you?" She sighed and said "going day to day. I'm assuming you needed, Dusty." "Yes. I have something for him and want to see if he'd want it." "I'll send him over in a few minutes." "Thank you." "Of course, honey. Oh, and if you ever need anything, you can always call. I know you and Dusty are both...grieving." I swallowed a sob and said "yes. I will. Thank you." I quickly hung up the phone and wiped my tears that went down my cheeks. I sighed and grabbed the tee from earlier. I smelled Eddie's scent and then I quickly set it back down in the pile of clothes. "I miss you, Eddie. God, I miss you so much. Why'd you have to go and be a hero? You already were to me." The doorbell rung and I left my bedroom and went downstairs. My mom was cleaning the kitchen. "I could've got it." She said. I shook my head and said "it's for me." I opened the door and Dustin stood with his shoulders slumped. "Hey." I said. "Hey." He said in a monotonous voice. My mom came over and said "hello, Dustin. How are you?" "Fine." My mom frowned and said "you know what? I'm gonna make those chocolate chip cookies you always loved when you came over." Dustin smiled a little and I said "we'll be upstairs." Mom nodded and I led Dustin to my room. I closed the door behind us and I said "Wayne gave me a box full of things that were Eddie's. And there's something in it I think you might want." Dustin furrowed his eyebrows and I picked up the dungeons and dragons kit. Dustin gasped and then covered his mouth. He shook his head and tears filled his eyes. "His dungeon master kit?" He asked as he went to take it from me. I nodded and said "I don't have a use for it. I think he'd want you to have it. You could use it or understand it more. As much as I loved watching him make the campaigns and come up with ideas, you should have it." Dustin set the kit down and then gave me a hug. I hugged him back and he said "Wayne gave me a box too. Not sure why that didn't end up in mine but there's this." Dustin pulled a bracelet out of his pocket. I furrowed my eyebrows as he put in my hand. I gasped softly. It was a charm bracelet. I held it up so I could see each charm. Flowers and fairies dangled from the chain. There was also an 'E' charm on it. "This is definitely yours. Eddie talked about giving this to you for days! It was in a dnd dice container that was given to me. He specifically got those charms cause of The Black Cauldron. And he planned on making a necklace for me and him so it was like our thing but he was going to give that to you during spring break. And..." Dustin didn't finish as he looked down. "He never got to." I whispered. I laughed sadly and Dustin did the same. "I absolutely love it. I wish he knew." Dustin leaned his head on my shoulder and said "he knows. I'm sure. We should visit him more." "He's not buried there. It's so weird. It's just a plot." I mumbled. Dustin sighed and said "it helps me. To talk to him. To pretend he's there. Maybe it'd help you." I shrugged and said "maybe." Dustin put the charm bracelet on my wrist. The both of us sat down and continued to go through the box. My mom came in with the plate of cookies and two big cups of milk. "Thank you, mama." I said. She kissed my head and did the same to Dustin before leaving. I pulled out knick knacks Eddie had on his desk, lots and lots of cassette tapes. I froze when I saw the vhs tape in the bottom of the box. "Fuck." I said. Dustin looked in the box and grabbed it, pulling it out. "It's The Black Cauldron." I shook my head as I started to cry. "We should watch it." Dustin said. I sniffled and said "I can't. It makes me think of him." "Yeah and he loved this movie. And so did you. You're Elionwy. I'm Gurgi and he's Taran. It's us. Our own adventure." My breath was shaky and Dustin said "it'll make you feel better. I have a lot of pictures of us during hellfire and looking at them hurts but makes me feel better. And I feel closer to him. Like he's here. Watching over us." I started to put everything back in the box, wanting to hide it, regretting I opened it. "I'll be right here with you. We can eat these cookies and it'll feel like Eddie is in the room with us. You'll feel so much better." Dustin reassured. I nodded and told him to put the tape in. My guess is that Eddie never returned it and Steve had done him a solid, letting him rent it out longer. Dustin and I got on my bed and the movie started. The two of us watched the movie in silence, the both of us crying. When the fair folk appeared on the screen I looked down at my bracelet. Eddie must've taken inspiration from the movie. Elionwy gasped in awe as they flew around her head, the pretty colors shining in the cave. I did feel a little bit better watching this. Eddie wouldn't want me to not ever watch this movie again. It made the both of us so happy. After we finished up the movie, Dustin took the dnd kit and went home. I took the tape out of the VCR and put it back in the box, pushing it in my closet. I took the dirty dishes downstairs and cleaned up a little. It kept my mind off things. I still barely left the house and couldn't sleep and I wished I could. Everything was so hard right now. Everyone keeps telling me it'll get better. But honestly it seems like it's only getting harder. I miss Eddie with everything inside me. I feel like a part of me died with him. It doesn't feel the same. It feels wrong. Vecna and Eddie's death haunt me every time I try to go to sleep. The gates terrified me as well. I kept waiting for something to crawl out of there and kill someone else I care about. I told my parents to stay away from the cracks in the ground. My father reluctantly agreed but my curious mother had to be told multiple times. She wouldn't go near it but she was always trying to help in town and be present for things. I just needed my mom. I didn't need her to save the city of Hawkins. It's already gone. I was just hoping one day that everything would change. For the better.

Another sadddd one but I hope you guys are still enjoying this book!! Next chapter will be from third person pov because it's alot easier to write! I also think you guys will really really enjoy the next chapter. I'm quite sure of it.
~skylar🦇🖤🦇🖤