Chapter Text
September, 1982 First Day of School
Eddie slammed his locker shut, fussing over his shaggy hair that started to curl whenever it got even a little bit wet.
“I swear, you mess with your hair more than Daniela,” Marco snorted from next to him, balancing his books with his trumpet case.
Eddie rolled his eyes. “You’re just jealous I have hair to mess with.” He just barely dodged a punch in the arm, twisting around to rub the pattern in Marco’s short buzz cut. Marco smacked his arm away, finally landing the punch on Eddie’s arm.
“Hey! Maybe don’t do this when I’m trying to balance fifty fucking pounds of books and crap while gettting this fucking shit locker open.” Liam Dugan glared at them, slamming his fist into the locker. “You’d think Juniors would get better fucking lockers. This is bullshit.”
“They do get better lockers. But you gotta diddle a ball or shake your ass and do splits in a tiny skirt to get it,” Gael quipped, his eyes trailing after a cheerleader who’s gaze lingered on him. “Though I don’t hate those skirts.”
“You would if it was Smith in that skirt.” Eddie rolled his eyes at the big goon in question, yelling and whistling at the cheerleaders like a neanderthal.
It was the same thing every year with the four of them, but Eddie found comfort in the consistency. Every first day of school, Marco always got hung up on whatever new thing he decided to do with his hair; last year dying it pink, and this year he shaved a lightning bolt design on the side of his head. Liam always took on way more after-school activities than he could handle making him a nervous wreck for the first week of school, Gael made eyes at whatever girl he would inevitably end up taking out that weekend, and Eddie didn’t have a clue what his class schedule was but had already planned the DnD session for the first Hellfire Club meeting in two days.
Eddie glanced at the locker and proceeded to slam it with his fist a few times before it banged open. “Man, this locker is not going to hold all your shit. How much did you sign up for this year?” He grabbed Liam’s schedule out of his hand, glancing over the ridiculously long list. “Math Club, Drama Club, Latin Club, Debate Club, newspaper- since when the hell does this school have an Origami Club?! This is crazy man, and you better not bail on me for Hellfire. I need you for the first campaign of the year.”
Liam snatched his schedule back, glaring at Eddie while he pushed his glasses that slipped down his nose. “Of course I’m not bailing on Hellfire. I spent the last two weeks working with you on that campaign.”
Eddie grinned, throwing his hands up in defeat. If there was one person that matched his love of DnD and fantasy, it was definitely Liam. That guy went as far as going to the tournaments and making his own costumes. The guy was a pretty badass Paladin. “Just making sure. We gotta be on the lookout for new members after lunch.”
“Which isn’t until after English. And we all got the same homeroom, and I’m not gonna be late because of you assholes again! Let’s go.” Liam basically treated the three of them like he was a drill sergeant, although it was for the best. He was the only one of the four of them that not only had his shit together, but also the only one that actually liked school.
Liam grabbed Eddie and Gael and pushed them forward. “Let’s go. We got Schwartz for homeroom, so you guys can do whatever crap you want in there anyways.”
“Hey! Watch the jacket, I just put the Iron Maiden patch on yesterday!” Eddie complained, checking the patch on his shoulder.
Gael rolled his eyes. “Gotta be careful with how you handle his precious outfit Liam. He could be discovered any minute and that’s our ticket to meet Cindy Crawford.”
Eddie adjusted his jacket, shrugging at the taller guy. “Nah. I’m more of a Joan Jett kinda guy. Besides, you’re the pretty boy in the group.” He clapped Gael’s shoulder, laughing under his breath.
Gael smirked, practically preening despite the annoyed look Marco shot them. “I resent that. I’m the only one of you that even managed to keep a girl.” It wasn’t a lie. Marco and Alice had been together for over a year at that point, which in high school time meant they were basically an old married couple.
Gael snorted. “We both know I got the looks in the family.”
“We’re identical twins, asshole.”
“I said what I said.”
Eddie shook his head, grinning while the twins went through the familiar routine over arguing the same argument he heard since they were thirteen. It was comforting that some things didn’t change.
Liam was clearly tired of it though. “This is the dumbest fucking argument ever. There are literally a thousand other things we could be talking about instead of going back to this dumbass argument.”
Gael sighed, looking like a kid being scolded by a parent for being told not to do something that was forbidden for no real reason. “You know what-” He paused, his eyes falling on something ahead of them and making him pause. “You’re right. Way better things to talk about. Like all the new freshmen girls this year.”
Liam rolled his eyes for the upteenth that day. “Are girls the only thing you think about? Can’t you find a hobby or something?”
“I think girls are a great hobby. I’m a great admirer of the beauty of the female form.” Gael said it with such unnecessary dramatics that Eddie snorted.
“Just say what you really mean. You are a whore.” Eddie smirked at him, though Gael was as shameless as Eddie was so it didn’t really matter.
“I never denied it. I’m the three things girls want. I’m hot and I’m smart.”
Liam sighed. “Idiot. That’s two things.”
“I know, I count hot twice. I mean look at me.” Gael waved at his form. It was no secret that the twins were widely regarded as the best looking guys in their year. They had the height, the body from working at their dad’s construction company since they started high school, and cheekbones that rivaled Val Kilmer.
Eddie glanced over at him, holding back a snort. “Your shirt’s on inside out.”
The other two snorted while Gael quickly looked down at his shirt and groaned. “And none of you assholes wanted to mention that earlier when I was talking to Lainey Caldwell?”
Marco shrugged. “We didn’t want to cramp your style.”
“We wanted to be supportive as you express yourself,” Eddie added, trying to look as earnest as possible but failing miserably.
“It was hilarious, and she noticed,” Liam said in a deadpan tone, breaking the hold Marco and Eddie had on their laughter.
“Fuckers.” Gael muttered, before stopping and grinning mischievously. “Guess I’ll have to change.” He stopped short and dropped his backpack, making a show of taking off his shirt as obnoxiously slowly as possible, right there in the middle of a crowded hallway before first period.
Eddie and Marco started wolf whistling and making all sorts of hollering noises at the obnoxious show Gael did of taking his shirt off. Liam just looked to the ceiling like he wondered why he put up with them.
“Shut up Freaks, put your shirt on!” One of the basketball players, Timmy or Tommy, honestly Eddie never bothered to learn the names of those assholes if he can help it.
He stopped and stared at him with his most pearl-clutching horror filled expression. “Oh no. Looks like you made someone feel bad about themselves, Gael! Naughty, naughty. Now he’s going to feel even worse in that locker room,” Eddie mocked, bringing his fists to his eyes to move them as if he was crying.
“Well, that is sad. It’s okay, I’m sure his mommy will tell him he’s a handsome boy.” Marco’s voice dropped to an exaggerated baby tone.
Timmy or Tommy or Tobias glared at them, shoulders squared and chin jutted out. “Least I have parents. Fucking trailer trash freaks.”
Liam sighed loudly, already looking bored. “Your insults are as original as your personality. As hard as it might be, at least try to appear clever.” His tone was droll as he plucked his glasses off to wipe the lenses on his shirt.
“Why Liam, he’s just doing what’s expected of him! Society says that his ability to diddle balls comes with a shitty attitude. He’s being a good little conformist.” Eddie’s eyebrows waggled, his grin widening when the little jock group all glared back despite being visibly uncomfortable from their run in with the ‘Hawkins Freaks.’
A sweet and full laugh caught his attention, making Eddie’s head whip around at the sound.
A tall girl he had never seen in school before was leaning against the lockers by the jocks, and for the first time in his life Eddie stopped short from his mind going blank. He was vaguely aware that Gael, Marco, and Liam were still talking and mocking the jocks, but he couldn’t hear them. His focus zeroed in on the prettiest eyes and smile he had ever seen.
She looked so familiar but he couldn’t for the life of him remember where he’d see her before, but fuck if he’d ever forget her now. Her hair was a mass of soft and inviting looking curls, not teased and hair sprayed to extreme like most other girls, and the same color as dark honey, framed her heart shaped face. Eyes the color of a storm, freckles smattering her a cute nose, and a sharp pout painted a bright red formed a smile that his heart pound and the grin on his face turned dopey.
Eddie had no idea what the rest of them were saying as he locked eyes with the pretty girl in the dark blue crop top and black lace mini skirt with leggings underneath and pink flats. She was definitely no Joan Jett, but he didn’t care. Joan Jett definitely didn’t have a smile that made him feel like he stepped into a hot shower on a cold day.
His eyes were locked on hers and the two stared at each other, Eddie only slightly aware of the fact that he was now moving toward her and past her, turning his head so he could still look at her. She didn’t look away either, grinning at him so sweetly with that hint of mischief that made him feel light headed.
“Whoa!” Marco broke the spell that Eddie seemed to be under by pulling on the back of his shirt, and not a moment too soon since Eddie was less than a foot away from the door of an open locker.
“Shit!” Eddie cursed, shaking his head, glancing back at the girl who was now giggling, though not maliciously, and was much further away than he realized. He grinned widely back at her. “Thanks man. I got distracted for a bit.”
“Yea, no shit. Who were you looking at?” Marco followed his gaze to the pretty girl that was still glancing back at Eddie. “Oh shit! That’s the girl that Santi’s friends with!”
It clicked in Eddie’s head immediately where he had seen her before. Santiago was the oldest of the Reyes kids that lived right next door. He was a cool kid, and often came over or hung out with Eddie when his four other siblings got a bit much. He’d seen this girl at his place a few times, though not for a while. “Oh man you’re right.”
“Who are you talking about?” Liam asked, also following both of their gazes to the pretty girl who was still looking over at Eddie and smiling. “Oh yea, that’s Cheryl Henderson. Or Cherry, if she likes you. She was volunteering at the community theater with me this summer.” Liam looked over at the dopey look on Eddie’s face and grimaced. “Hate to tell you, but she’s taken. She’s dating that guy with the hair on the basketball team.”
Eddie balked, blinking in surprise. “ Harrington?! She’s dating that tool?!”
“Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear,” Liam muttered, as Steve “The Hair” Harrington came up behind Cherry and grabbed her by the waist, startling her and making that same laugh that captured him earlier. Harrington spun her against the locker, leaning down and covering those pretty red lips that had smiled so sweetly at him with a kiss, which she responded to happily. Harrington crowded her against the locker, hand buried in those soft dark honey curls.
A sharp pang of something went through Eddie, and it took him a moment to realize it was jealousy. He was not a jealous person. Hell, he could honestly say he didn’t remember any other time in his life that he felt jealous before that moment. “Well. Shit.”
Gael clapped his shoulder. “Eh, forget about it man. She’s a bit too preppy anyways. Money says if she’s with Harrington, she’s going to end up on the cheerleading team. Besides, she sorta dropped Santi. Pretty sure she’s one of the stuck up types.”
“Hey! Cherry’s cool!” Liam defended. “She made volunteering at the theater bearable, and she’s a lot of fun. Plus, crazy talented at making costumes. She made me the jacket and tunic for my Paladin outfit. You guys are gonna lose your mind when you see it at the session.”
Eddie gave a half grin, glancing back at Cherry and Steve who were both pretty wrapped up in each other, that sharp feeling still present in his chest. “It’s fine. Girls like that are outta my league anyways. Hey, you guys up for a jam session later on?”
None of the guys mentioned his abrupt change of subject, but they went with it and happily started talking about where they would practice their fairly new instruments after school.
Eddie glanced back at Cherry one more time before he headed inside the classroom for homeroom. He didn’t know how to feel about that sharp feeling in his chest. They hadn’t even exchanged a word with each other, but it felt like that smile she gave him was seared on his very soul.
He wasn’t going to kid himself though. Girls like her were out of his league, and he wasn’t going to get his hopes up about something that would never happen. Once a girl like that heard of his reputation, they all tended to look at him with that same expression of disdain. Like he was something foul that they stepped in. The idea of those pretty eyes looking at him like that made his chest hurt.
No. Eddie wouldn’t dwell on it. He couldn’t dwell on her. Despite his love of fantasy, he had a very realistic view on who he was and how the people in this town viewed him. Guys like him didn’t get girls like her.
Cherry Henderson was not for him.