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Who could’ve thought high-school could be fun?
To be fair, it was pretty shit at first. Troy and James were still assholes who loved to get on Mike’s nerves pretty much whenever they could, not to mention a lot of people were awfully judgmental of them.
Lucas was judged harshly for playing sports and also DnD, but he refused to give up either of them.
Max was the weird girl with the dead brother.
Dustin was missing bones, and spoke funny.
And Mike…
Well, Mike was the kid who’s home life was a complete mystery.
Everyone had heard about how his father went to jail. In a small town like Hawkins, it was hard to hide information. Nobody knew all of the reasons why, and naturally would make up their own stuff.
Some thing Ted was abusing his wife.
Some thing maybe he was raping his daughter.
Some thought he had a drug problem.
Nobody knew what to make of the situation, and sure there was a few people who assumed it must’ve had something to do with Mike.
But not as many as he would’ve thought.
It’s like because he’s a boy, they thought he was invulnerable.
It was the same mentality his father practically worshiped.
But it didn’t matter anymore; not really.
It was over now. Mike was safe, living with Steve, Nancy and Robin.
He and Holly didn’t have to be afraid anymore.
“So…what do you think?” Eddie asked with a grin, tongue sticking out briefly. His arm was wrapped around Chrissy’s shoulders in the cafeteria.
The boys, and Max, were reading over Eddie’s script plan for the next DnD session. Not the full version of course, as he wanted to leave some surprises, but they were all interested in learning proper script writing and had taken interest.
But the contents were…a bit more severe then expected.
One of the plotlines focused on their characters going to a foster home, where the parents were incredibly abusive.
A mommy who looked the other way.
And a daddy who never held back his punches.
And kids who were beaten black and blue.
Maybe it was mere fiction; for plot purposes. But…
It was too logical. Too exact.
It was clear Eddie had written all of it from research, not from experience, which wasn’t exactly a bad thing but…
Everything was so…in the face. Abuse is bad. Abuse causes trauma. Trauma hurts you for a long time, possibly forever.
It kind of made them feel sick, because it was like everything Mike thought and felt during…everything…was being put on display.
He’s worked so hard to get past it all…they didn’t want to see it all get ruined by a DnD game.
“It’s kind of…dark.” Lucas started hesitantly.
"Eddie, I get you want to make the plot interesting, but this is NOT the way to do it." Dustin insisted seriously, tossing the script down on the table.
Eddie practically scoffed, blown away by this. Dustin always loved his scripts, as did all of the others. "Are you kidding? It's packed full of interesting stuff, and the perfect mixture of dark and humorous."
Mike shifted uncomfortably in his seat, eyes narrowed at the table.
"W-We know..." Lucas started awkwardly. "We're just worried that um..."
Max took a deep breath. “It’s just…maybe not the right adventure for our group.”
“…Why not?” Eddie asked with a shrug.
Chrissy bit her lip. “Honey…” She started hesitantly, a bad feeling in her gut.
“Hey I worked hard on this,” Eddie protested. “Give me one good reason,” He insisted. “One reason we shouldn’t use this script.”
Mike got frustrated and slammed his hands down on the table as he stood up, grabbing his bag. "They're worried the abuse scenes would be too triggering for me." He stormed off without another word, leaving everyone at the table stunned to silence.
“…Uh…” Eddie started with wide eyes. “What was that?”
Dustin let out a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. Max and Lucas were impossibly uncomfortable.
Chrissy hesitantly stood up from the table. “I um…I’m gonna go talk to him.”
“Oh I wouldn’t do that-“ Dustin started, standing up.
Chrissy smiled at him. “Relax…I got it.” She assured him.
And something about her tone made him believe her.
She found Mike outside the school, sitting on the steps, hugging his knees. She sat down next to him. “I’ve never seen you react like that.” She commented. “I never realized you liked to cover things up with a pretty face too.”
Mike gave a half snort half scoff. “Oh yeah? What dark twisted thing are you hiding?”
Chrissy bit her lip. “…That I puke after every meal.”
Mike looked over at her with alarm. “…Seriously?”
“…I know,” Chrissy sighed. “Chrissy Cunningham, queen of Hawkins High, with an…” She shook her head. “E-Eating disorder…” She shuddered as she said the word. “Yeah um…my mom she…she’s made comments about my weight since I could remember, and I don’t mean the casual kind, I mean…” She didn’t finish.
Mike frowned, looking down at his lap. “My dad hit me…” He confessed softly. “A lot. When I was growing up.” Chrissy didn’t say anything. “I got out of it…almost two years ago. But it still…” He paused. “It still…haunts me.”
“Stuff like that doesn’t go away too quickly.” Chrissy told him in a near whisper, wrapping an arm around him and tugging him closer to her. “Eddie was excited, he wasn’t trying to hurt you.”
“I know that,” Mike sighed. “He didn’t. Not really...it…” Mike swallowed hard. “I just, I thought I was fine. Or at least…better. But when I read the scenes in that script…” He let out a shaky breath. “My hands started shaking, and suddenly I was right back there. And no matter how hard I try and hide it, I can’t because my friends know me too well, they knew it would bother me and I hate that they’re right.”
Chrissy sighed softly, pressing her face against the top of Mike’s head. “They mean well. Eddie tries, but he doesn’t always know what I need. But…he cares, a lot about the people he loves. He has…the biggest heart.” She smiled fondly.
Mike chuckled a little. “Nah, my girlfriend has the biggest heart, but he can be second.”
Chrissy giggled. “Deal, you little brat.” She ruffled his hair, making him laugh.
“Um…” The two turned to see a very shaken up Eddie stood there, tears built up in his eyes. “I…I don’t know what to say.” He confessed. “Mike I didn’t…I wasn’t…I just wanted to make you guys happy with an epic DnD game and instead I went and screwed up…again.” He sulked.
Mike smiled a little. “Says who?” Eddie’s eyes widened.
Hesitantly, Eddie sat down on the other side of Mike, taking Chrissy’s hand, locking Mike in a protective hold between them.
“I know I kinda suck at helping sometimes…but…I want to be there for you, as much as you’ll let me.” Eddie confessed softly. “You and the other kids…”
Mike chuckled. “We’re only a few years younger than you guys.”
“Babies.” Chrissy insisted playfully, grabbing his face and smushing his cheeks with her hands. “Complete babies~”
Mike shoved her hands away. “Cut it out.” He cackled.
Eddie couldn’t help grinning as he stared at two of his favorite people.
He wasn’t very good at comforting, or doing the right thing.
But Chrissy…she was the sun. She shined light down in even the darkest of places.
And Mike…he was like a little brother.
These two…were Eddie’s light. Them, and Dustin, Max, Lucas…
God, he loves these kids so much, and he loves Chrissy possibly even more.
He’ll never understand how someone as messed up as him could be so lucky.
But he’ll be grateful nonetheless.