Eddie's POV:
"So, Chrissy has been taken into the Upside Down. What does that mean?" Dustin said. Max shrugged and said "I don't know. Sounds a lot like Will." "But it's not. This was way different." Steve said. Robin sighed and said "I mean, it's not the Mind Flayer cause he's dead, right?" Steve nodded and Dustin said "yeah. It's a new enemy which means new territory." "I know where Em is." I said. Everyone looked at me and Max said "where?" "Lovers Lake." Dustin looked outside and said "right now? It's freezing outside." "I need to go get her." I said as I stood up. "I'll come with you. We can take my car." Steve told me. I furrowed my eyebrows and Robin said "and what're we supposed to do?" "Stay here. Wait for us to get back." I said. Dustin nodded and Max did the same. I pointed to the freezer and said "there's tv dinners in there if you're hungry or uh just wait for us and we'll order pizza." "Ok." Max said. Steve and I got into his BMW and drove down the road. The Human League played softly and I sighed. "Why're you helping me, Harrington? Don't you have better things to do?" I asked. Steve looked at me and then back at the road. "I would've loved to have someone give me advice and try to help me get Nancy back. Or just be there for me. As a friend. I'm over her and I'm perfectly fine right now. But that look you had in your eyes today, I know that look. You were freaking out cause you knew you were almost going to lose her." Steve told me. "I kinda did." I mumbled. Steve shook his head and said "no. You haven't yet. You still have a chance. She loves you. Nancy didn't love me. At all." "Sorry about that, Harrington." Steve half smiled and the rest of the drive was silent. As we approached the lake, my heart sank. It was pitch black out here. I was mad at myself that it took me this long to figure it out. "Here. Stop here." I told Steve. He pulled her car off to the side of the road and I got out of the car. Steve held a flashlight in his hand and I looked around. I walked down towards the water's edge, knowing this was one of our spots. When I saw my girlfriend curled up on the ground I quickly rushed over to her. "Em." Her skin was cold to the touch. Luckily the ground wasn't muddy like it usually was. And it was kind of like a beach where she was. Mostly sandy. I shook her and said "Em." Her eyes slowly opened and she looked up at me. "Go away." She said. I brushed her curly hair out of her face and said "Em, I gotta get you out of here. You're freezing." "No, I'm not." She replied as she shivered. I took off my jacket and quickly put it on her. "I have a blanket in the car. I'll be right back." Steve said. "Hurry up." I replied. I heard his running footsteps and I scooped up Emmaline into my arms. She laid limp in my arms. "What're you doing out here, princess?" "We don't look good together, remember?" Emmaline wouldn't look at me. A twinge of pain shot through my heart. "I didn't mean that, baby. I didn't mean that. I know it's not an excuse but I'm super stressed out and I took it out on you. You were trying to help me. You always are. You're a beacon of light for me, you know? I love you, Em. I can't lose you." Emmaline's eyes drifted to mine. Her lip quivered and she said "you didn't go after me." "Yes, I did. You were already gone. Ask Harrington." "Steve?" Emmaline said. Steve came over with a blanket in his hand. He handed it to me and I wrapped it wound Emmaline as best I could. Her bare legs were unbelievably cold and I tried to warm her up. "He went after you. He was freaking out actually. All he could think about was you." Steve told her. Emmaline had small tears going down her face. "No. No. No." I quickly said as I wiped her tears. She sniffled and I kissed her forehead. "Don't cry. I'm here now, ok? I didn't mean what I said. I fucking need you, Emmaline. I said a stupid thing. I was frustrated and stressed. But please know that I love you, Em. You're my everything. I dunno where I'd be without you. I-I gotta take you home before you freeze. Can I do that?" Emmaline nodded. I half smiled and said "ok. I'm gonna pick you up. Ready?" I stood up, holding my girlfriend in my arms. She wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed me. "I love you." She sobbed. "I love you too." I replied as I walked to Steve's car. I went to put her in the backseat and she grabbed ahold of my arm. "Stay with me, Eddie." She whispered. I looked at Steve who nodded at me. I got in the backseat with her and she was quick to throw her arms around me again. "I got you, sweetheart." She hummed in response and Steve said "I'll put the heat on so she can warm up." We started to drive back to Emmaline's house. I felt Emmaline's hands go up under my shirt. "Are you sure you want to be with me, Eddie?" Emmaline said softly. I nodded and said "I'm sure, baby. I love you so much. With everything that's going on, if I didn't have you by my side, I'd go insane. My words get the better of me sometimes. But they would never change how I feel. They're just words. They don't mean anything." "They still hurt, Eds." My heart warmed at the nickname. "I know, Elionwy. And I'm sorry. I'll apologize for the rest of my life if it makes you feel better." "It's ok, Taran. I'll end up forgiving you." I half smiled and Emmaline did the same. She then kissed my lips quickly. I cupped her cheek and kissed her again. Emmaline made a surprised noise as I kissed her deeply. "I'm sorry." I apologized for the thousandth time. Emmaline pecked my lips and said "I know." She leaned her head on my shoulder and her eyes started to flutter close. I was so thankful I had my girlfriend back in my arms. I couldn't believe she had went out towards the lake with it being so cold. She hated the cold. She must not have been thinking. I played with Emmaline's curly hair as Steve drove. I said "thank you, Steve." Steve looked at me in his mirror and said "you're welcome, Eddie." The rest of the ride was filled with a comfortable silence. My eyes started to droop about halfway back.

-

"We made it." Steve said. I blinked a few times as I opened my eyes. "Shit." I mumbled. Steve chuckled and said "did you fall asleep back there?" "Yeah. Actually I did." Steve turned around to look at me and Emmaline in the backseat. "How is she?" I looked at my girlfriend and said "she's fine. I think." Steve said "she looks like she's doing a lot better. Let's go inside and get some food." I got out of his car, scooping up Emmaline into my arms once again. "Where're we?" Emmaline asked sleepily. I chuckled and said "your house, babe. Are you hungry?" "Yeah. I feel nauseous cause I haven't eaten in a while." I clicked my tongue and said "that's a problem, sweetheart." We walked inside and Steve told Dustin to order pizza. Dustin got on the phone and was quick to order about 3 pizzas. I took Emmaline to her bedroom, setting her down on her bed. "You wanna change into something more comfy?" She nodded. I held up one of her pajama sets, dinosaurs all over the front. "Dinosaurs?" I teased. Emmaline rolled her eyes and said "leave me alone, Eddie." "It's cute." "Can you just give me my Metallica shirt?" I held it up and Emmaline nodded. I offered it to her and said "you know, one day I'd like this back." "It's mine now." She replied. She took off my jacket, setting it on her bed. She then took off her sweater that was slightly dirty from being out near the lake. My eyes became wide as saucers as I saw she wasn't wearing a bra. Emmaline shook her head and said "Eddie, my eyes are up here." I tore my eyes away from her chest and she giggled. Her breasts were definitely bigger than usual. Emmaline took off her baby blue skirt that was covered in dirt. She pulled on a pair of shorts and immediately grabbed my wrist. She pulled me onto her bed and kissed my lips. I cupped her cheek and propped myself up on my elbow. Emmaline laid underneath me, staring up at me. I stroked her cheek with my thumb. "Getting warm yet?" Emmaline shrugged and said "kinda. I need you to sleep with me and warm me up." "Oh yeah?" My hand left her cheek as it went to her hip. Emmaline jumped and said "your hand is freezing." "Sorry, sweetheart." My eyes trailed down her legs to her socks. "You need new socks. What'd you do to those?" "Walked halfway to Lover's Lake with no shoes on." Emmaline said. I sighed softly and frowned. She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close to her. I laid my head on her shoulder and said "I'm really sorry." "I know. I'm sorry too." Emmaline whispered. I kissed her neck and said "what're you sorry for?" "I said some hurtful things too. And for that I'm sorry. I love you so much and to think that you didn't want to be seen with me...it really hurt." I quickly sat up to look at her. "I do want to be seen with you. After running into those assholes today, it usually doesn't bother me but today it seemed like I was just pushed over the edge. They got to me. And that almost never happens." Emmaline pulled her socks off and nuzzled her face into the crook of my neck. "I forgive you, Eds." She whispered. I smiled and there was a knock at the door. Dustin stood there, smiling like an idiot. "Pizza's here. I already saved the piece that has the most pepperoni on it for you, Em." Emmaline looked at Dustin and said "thank you." I moved out of the way so Emmaline could sit up. She held out her hand for me and I took it. Dustin led us downstairs as he talked about how Robin and Steve had already started arguing about the pizza. "No, that's Em's!" Dustin yelled at Steve. Steve rolled his eyes and brought the plate over to Emmaline. Emmaline grabbed the plate from him and said "thank you." "You're welcome." Steve said. Max pushed Dustin out of her way and he pushed her back. "Asshole." She said. Dustin laughed and said "you pushed me first!" "Move, dimwits!" Robin replied. I quirked an eyebrow as Steve was still standing in front of my girlfriend. "I'm glad you're feeling better. You didn't look too good." He said. Emmaline looked away from Dustin and said "I'm sorry you had to see that. I usually don't do things like that. I wasn't thinking." "I'm glad we found you. You had this guy super stressed." Steve gestured to me. Emmaline looked at me and then back at Steve. She half smiled and said "I'm sorry about that." "No, you're fine." Steve said. I pulled Emmaline along with me as I went to get some pizza. "Bye, Steve." Emmaline giggled. The group of us talked in the living room and ate pizza. It seemed like just for a little bit everything was fine. I didn't know what terrors The Upside Down and Vecna would bring. They would bring things I couldn't even dream up in my worst nightmares. Emmaline gave everyone sleeping arrangements. "Do you or Max want the guest room?" Emmaline said to Dustin. She stood in front of them and I had my arms wrapped around her waist. Dustin looked at Max and said "did you want it?" She shrugged and said "sure." Emmaline pointed up the stairs and said "it's next to Willard's room which has a gigantic poster of Rae Dawn Chong." Max nodded and walked up the stairs. Steve offered the couch to Robin as he made himself comfortable on the floor. "There's a chair, Steve." Em said. Steve looked at the chair and went to sit down in it, the chair immediately reclining. Steve's eyes widened and he exclaimed in fear. Robin laughed loudly and Emmaline giggled. Dustin sniggered from the makeshift bed he'd made on the sofa. "Smooth, Harrington." I said with a smirk. I kissed Emmaline's cheek, my hands going up under my Metallica shirt that sat on her body. Emmaline pushed my hands down and said "I'll grab you guys some blankets." Dustin had already made himself at home and grabbed his own stuff. She detached herself from me and I rolled my eyes as she walked to a closet. Emmaline handed Steve and Robin each a blanket and a pillow. "If you guys need anything, I'm the first door on the left. I don't think my brother will be home until late afternoon." Robin nodded as she laid her head on the couch. Steve's eyes fluttered closed and Dustin was already asleep. I followed Emmaline upstairs. "I think I'm gonna call Wayne." I said. Emmaline closed her bedroom door behind us and said "go ahead." She went into her bathroom and I picked up the phone, dialing the number. "Munson." Wayne grumbled. "Hey, Wayne. It's me. Sorry I haven't kept touch. I've been with Em. Uh, spring break has been crazy so far." I made up the dumbest lie I could think of. Wayne sighed on the other end and said "I figured. You two are more than welcome to spend a day here. I'm at work most days this week. Did you guys know that Chrissy girl?" "Yeah. Me and Em went to school with her." "It's kinda sad. Hopefully they find her." I nodded in agreement and said "yeah. I hope so." "Well, I'm glad you called to check in. Keep in touch will you?" "Will do, Wayne." "And Eddie?" "Yeah?" "You and Emmaline be careful. I don't wanna be told that the two of you died doing something stupid during spring break." "Won't happen, Wayne. We're doing small things. I'll call you tomorrow." "Bye, Eddie." The phone hung up and Emmaline walked back into her bedroom. She sighed softly as she laid down next to me. "I'm cold." She whispered. I turned out the lamp next to me, pulling her close. Emmaline immediately wrapped her arms around me. She hummed as she nuzzled her face into my chest. "I'll keep you warm." I told her. I kissed her head and watched as she fell asleep. It took me a little longer to fall asleep. My mind was running of course. Dustin was going to make sure that I wouldn't get blamed for Chrissy. Em would make sure everything was ok. I just had to keep telling myself that.

Ok so season four is popping off!! I know this is a little bit different than the show but bear with me! I have a plan for everything!!
~skylar🦇🖤🦇🖤