#DUFFER BROTHERS WHEN I CATCH YOU

[johnnyutah]

when i’m in a Losing and being pathetic at everything and sucking competition, and my opponent is stranger things: 😰😰😰

[jonathanbyersphd]

RIP Argyle u would've loved Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

[flowinniego]

why they do my girl max like that. I’m mad asl bro

[kathopsia]

what if stancy is endgame and all the jancy/byler parallels were for nothing…..

[pinkerthings]

the significance of mileven simply not understanding each other (pt 1):

(others have brought this up before but I think it’s a bit overlooked imo)

There are numerous times throughout Stranger Things where Mileven is shown to not be on the same wavelength, and the Duffers like to make it quite apparent to the general audience.

Starting with the obvious scenes:

“BLANK makes you crazy”

El is literally staring at Mike like she has NO idea what he’s trying to say.

Shes STILL confused even after he tells her it’s something old people tell each other:

Like girl…. i KNOW you were watching them soap operas and old timey romances during that year in Hopper’s cabin. You really expect us to believe you have no clue what he’s trying to say?

This scene was written like this on purpose for two reasons: comedic effect and diving deeper into mileven.

Back to not ever being on the same wavelength:

I talked in this post here about Mike being okay with El standing up to bullies in the past when it came to Mike or Will, but Mike suddenly not understanding when it comes down to El defending herself against Angela, showcasing the idea that they are definitely not in agreeance over what happened at Rink-O-Mania.

The Duffers like to purposefully write Mileven out of step with one another.

It seems as though every season has something negative in store for the couple, and not in a fun, slow-burn agonizing romance type of way, but in the frustrating “why can’t they just work it out” kind of way.

Season 1 obviously has El “dying” and leaving Mike for a year, but on a smaller note also has Mike trying to explain to her that if she moved into his house, Nancy would be like her sister, but he would not be like her brother. She does not understand this, and has her classic confused face on.

Season 2 has her being gone and coming back to see Mike with Max, and even though nothing happened between the two of them, El was still cold to Max when they first met, showing even if El is incapable of knowing what the word “love” is, she still somehow knows what jealousy is.

Season 2 also brings us an interesting scene with Erica and Lucas, where the dialogue just seems….really off and random.

Lucas catches Erica playing with his He-Man action figure and gets mad, taking it from her. To which she says, “Hey! They’re in love!”

Lucas responds with:

The scene is extremely random and the dialogue is just weird to me, the only explanation it being a metaphor for something in the show, and the only viable explanation is Mileven.

Season 3 has the entire “boyfriends lie” side plot, resulting in El dumping Mike for lying to him about his grandmother after Hopper’s talk with him. Their relationship the entirety of season 3 is the epitome of immature pettiness caused by jealous and hormonal teenagers who don’t understand what being in a real relationship entails--

We get El and Max spying on the boys:

Eleven is a mystery to Mike, he pretty much says it himself.

Their whole relationship is based on immaturity, and the audience knows that. The audience can see that the two of are clearly immature and don’t have what it takes to be in a real, committed relationship. That’s the point. Their relationship in season three is almost entirely to move the plot around in whatever way the Duffer’s want, and to showcase the idea that their relationship in screen is nearly always shown in either a comedic, pre-teen immature light, or a jealous, misunderstood, and petty light. There is almost no stable relationship between the two of them in season 3. It’s either too clingy or too toxic or full of lies or immature, blah blah blah. The only scenes of them either not making out or fighting is the last scene of them together right before the Byers move, and that’s a whole scene in itself to unpack!

Season 4 is where things get a little chaotic, as if things weren’t chaotic enough.

There are so many miscommunications and misunderstandings with Mileven this season, but the big ones include:

El feeling like Mike thinks of her as a monster-

and Mike looking at her like she just spoke badly about his favorite Star Wars movie-

Directly after that we have Mike saying El is being "ridiculous" because she's upset that he won't tell her he loves her, and him calling her a superhero, the complete opposite of what she wants to hear in that moment, but Mike doesn't understand that, because who wouldn't want to be called a superhero? (his way of thinking)

Later on we get Mike recounting this to Will, saying, "and if I would have said that thing..." etc.

Mike can't even say that he loves El to other people, and we're expected to believe it's still true?

We also get this:

another misunderstanding on Mileven's part. El thinks Mike doesn't love her (at this point, does he?) so she finishes her letter the same way he has: From, El.

Next we have Will and Mike's conversation on top of the car:

"I think it's just scary to open up like that, to say how you really feel, especially to people you care about the most, because...what if they don't like the truth?"

I've said it before and I'll say it again,

why would El NOT like the truth if the truth is that Mike loves her?

Mike nods at Will's words and looks away, seemingly lost in thought. Why would he agree with Will---that it's hard for him to open up to El because she might not like the truth---if the truth is exactly what she wants to hear?

It literally makes no sense.

We also get the Byler van scene, where Mike compares her to a superhero yet again, something she clearly does not like (I don't have a vid but here's the official script, where he says the same thing):

Also El being Superman and him being Lois Lane in the analogy....okay.

Next we have him calling her a superhero YET AGAIN ! during his monologue:

Like girl if I was El I would just give up at this point. This is the last thing she wants to hear. She doesn't want to be a superhero all the time, she just wants to be a person ! a girlfriend ! a friend ! a daughter ! yet Mike is making it seem like the main reason he loves her is because she's a superhero, which she hates.

And lastly we have:

"Did she...talk to you at all?"

"Not much, I mean...a little bit."

Let me get this straight......you finally confess your love to your longtime girlfriend in the midst of her fighting a literal monster & monster from her past while she is being strangled and held captive all while she's also trying to save her friend from death, and she doesn't say anything to you for TWO days after?

Ladies...the Mileven break up is writing itself, really.

And that is a thread on how the Duffers intentionally write Mileven to be on different wavelengths with each other every single season without fail to showcase how incompatible they really are.

They are setting this relationship up to where you want more for both parties; El deserves to be loved the way she wants to be loved, and Mike deserves to be loved the way he needs to be loved (if u know what i mean)

In part 2 I will discuss the importance of byler understanding each other, juxtaposed to mileven hehe bye !

part 2 analyzing Mike & Will here !

[stranger-fanfiction-n-things]

CHAPTER 1: THE VANISHING OF WILL BYERS

This is an Original Character fanfiction. All Stranger Things characters and content are owned by Netflix and The Duffer Brothers.

a/n: Meet the Sinclair Family!

Word Count: 1603

Masterlist

PROLOGUE || PART I || PART II

Monday November 7, 1983 - SINCLAIR RESIDENCE

The shrill of my alarm clock wakes me out of my sleep. Reluctantly, I reach over my bed pressing the top of the clock to stop the alarm. I roll onto my back staring up at the ceiling. Last night I dreamed I was on Fame dancing before Debbie Allen. Her character, Lydia Grant told me I should audition for Juilliard. 

You've got big dreams? You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here is where you start paying ... in sweat.

I count down from five in my head, mentally preparing myself for the day ahead. Flipping the warm covers off, I shiver at the chill running through my body. Although the days have been relatively warm the past couple of days, it was winter in Hawkins. After making up my bed, I go straight to my closet rummaging through my clothes to find an outfit and settle on a pair of black denim jeans, a light pink button up shirt, a thick white cardigan and black penny loafers. I neatly place my clothes on my bed and shoes on the carpet before tiptoeing towards the door. I wince at the loud creak as I open my door, peeking my head through the small gap. My eyes dart towards the bathroom. It was empty. 

It was a battle every morning for the bathroom Lucas, Erica and I all shared. No one was allowed in Mom and Dad's en suite bathroom. I grab my towel on the hanger behind my door and scurry to the bathroom before I got caught in the crossfire between Lucas and Erica. 

Closing the door behind me and hanging my towel on the rack beside the shower. I quickly turn the shower on to let Lucas and Erica know I was in the bathroom then lean over the basin inspecting my appearance in the large mirror. I sigh in disappointment. Yet another morning without a liberal amount of breasts. Mom says they’ll grow when I least expect it and she didn’t have breasts until eleventh grade. I saw her old high school year book. It was a bold lie. I am severely lacking. I know I’m small for my age and its annoying when strangers ask if Lucas and I were twins. I roll my eyes. I am four years older than Lucas. If I had bigger breasts, no one would question my age. 

I snort combing my fingers through my hair. What I lacked in breasts and height, I made up for in hair. I have a lot of hair. More than I knew what to do with. I got it from Dads side of the family. Thick, curly and long. My jet-black hair is the longest it’s ever been, falling down to my waist. I also inherited Dads body hair. I had a unibrow until seventh grade and begged Mom to pluck my eyebrows the night before picture day and haven’t looked back since. My arms are hairy and Erica never failed to point it out. Erica noticed everything. From my sideburns to the faint hairs above my lips that I now wax off. Coming to terms with what I lack and made up for, I quickly pull off my clothes, chucking them into my slot of the hamper. 

The smell of pancakes and bacon fill my nose when I open the bathroom door. I can hear my parents shuffling about downstairs, bacon sizzling on the pan. Steam in the bathroom evaporates mixing hot and cool air. My skin prickles with goosebumps as I tuck my towel close to my body padding to my room. I am halfway down the hall when a body bumps into me hard. I shriek catching my towel before it fell and whip my head behind me. 

“Sorry!” Lucas calls out slamming the bathroom door. Erica runs out of her room bumping into me. Not enough for my towel to slip out my hand, but enough to make me stumble back. Was I a ghost? 

“I told you I was after Diana, nerd!” 

Lucas cackles. “What? I can’t hear you!”   

Erica snarls and stomps to the door. “Get. Out. Now.” She shouts, hitting the door with each word. 

I roll my eyes and continue to walk to my room, closing the door behind me before Mom came. The real battle will start and I don’t want to be anywhere near it. 

Before the summer holiday, Nancy, Barbara and I made a pact to elevate our looks going into sophomore year. I convinced Mom to let me get bangs like Jennifer Beals in Flashdance and Nancy, Barbara and I went shopping every other weekend. Barbara was the only one out of us three to get her license because she turned sixteen and her parents bought her a cute car for her to drive around town in. I tied half my hair up in a high ponytail with a pink scrunchie, combing my fingers through my curls. Taking a step back, I admired my outfit of the day in the mirror, smiling at my new clothes. 

I look at my eyebrows in my vanity mirror, checking to see if Mom missed any hairs. She plucked my eyebrows last night after my shower. Turning my head side to side, I inspect my face for any blemishes. My skin is flawless and smooth. Lucas, Erica and I all have perfect skin. Grandma Giselle says it’s because she made my mom bathe us in buttermilk when we were babies. I don’t know how true that is, but I am thankful for it. 

I touch my cheeks, wishing I could wear a little blush to look more mature. I’m not allowed to wear makeup to school. Dad is strict about that. Mom is usually my shortcut through to him, but even she agrees with Dad. No makeup to school until I turn sixteen. I’m already short and small with no breasts and to top it all off, I have a baby face. I never lost my chubby cheeks and when I smile, my eyes disappear. I need makeup or at least mascara. I’m not even allowed to wear lipstick unless it’s for performances. I sigh, blowing my bangs up in the air. 

By the time I go downstairs the table is set with pancakes and bacon on each plate. A pitcher of orange juice and a carton of milk are on the table as well. Mom is finishing up with our lunches and Dad is over the stove scrambling eggs, humming a tune. 

“Morning!” I greet, putting my book bag and shoes by the stairs. 

“Morning sweetheart.” 

“Good Morning.” 

Mom and Dad say at the same time. I sit down in my usual spot when I hear Lucas and Erica bustling down the stairs. 

“You two better stop all that noise this morning.” Mom scolds. 

“Erica won’t leave me alone.” Lucas responds, pulling out the chair across from me. 

“That’s because you’re a freak.” Mom shoots Erica a look. 

“Well, he is,” she mutters under her breath, sitting in the chair in between Lucas and I. 

Dad turns around, hot skillet in hand and goes around the table spooning eggs on everyone’s plate except for mine. I hate eggs. I cringe at the smell picking up my fork. Lucas snatches the maple syrup from the centre of the table pouring a small amount on his pancakes. He then passes the bottle to me which I accept with a smile. Erica loves to drown her pancakes in syrup leaving us with almost nothing to use. Mom and Dad finally sit in their chairs, Dad beside me and Mom beside Lucas. Dad opens the newspaper and begins to read as he does every morning. 

“Just a reminder, Barbara and I will be studying for chemistry at Nancy’s after school today.” I say to Mom and Dad, slicing through a fluffy pancake. 

“Will you be home for dinner?” Mom asks, adding sugar to her coffee. 

 “I’m not sure yet, but I should be.” 

“When you get back, how about we drive around the block a couple of times.” Dad said, glancing over his newspaper. 

I wrinkle my nose in discomfort. In the summer I got my learner’s permit and Dad has been forcing me to drive ever since. Going to the grocery store? I have to drive. Accompanying an errand run? I have to drive. Going to school? I have to drive. Lately, Mom will let me stop once we were at the end of Dearborn and Maple and swap places with me driving all the way to school. Whether it was because she feared for her life and my siblings life or she was saving me from doing something I clearly didn’t want to do, was up for debate. It all came down to one thing: I was a terrible driver. 

“Diana can’t drive, dad.” Lucas says with a grin. Erica snickers into her cup of milk. 

Mom shoots Lucas a look and he bites into his pancake avoiding her glare. My cheeks warm. I glance at Mom silently begging her to help me. 

“She needs to study, Charles.” Mom says. “Kaminsky’s tests are known for being really hard, isn’t that right Diana?” 

“Yes. Yes, they are.” I nod. “I need to study as much as possible.” 

Dad looks at Mom and then at me. I wait with baited breath for his answer. 

“Tomorrow then.” 

I try not to look too relieved and bite into a piece of bacon. From the corner of my eye, Erica is shaking, trying not to laugh. 

NEXT -> PART II

[emblazons]

a post in defense of (a very much alive) S5 Jonathan Byers

under the cut b/c this is more frustrated commentary than strict analysis, and you shouldn't have to read if you don't want to.

I feel like it must have come from the dry spell between seasons, but I have to say it: all of this “Jonathan is gonna die and that means Stancy could happen” stuff lately is not only giving "I just like angst for its own sake," it's lowkey nonsense if you look at it thematically (in context of the Jon/Nancy/Steve madness yes, but especially in context of the Byers family).

—like? Friends.

Given the Duffer’s track record of refusing to fully kill off major characters even when it could have made sense to (cc: Hopper and Max), I don’t think anyone is actually meeting their end, but let’s be SO serious about who is actually likely to get axed: the boy with a mom, brother, step-sister and girlfriend who have been central to every single moment in this show…or the one they've put into a triangle we all thought was over until S4, who they’ve honestly written into a corner, & whose primary drive in four entire seasons was getting a girlfriend and protecting a bunch of teenagers?

I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's just talk Jonathan.

The Duffers (Matt especially) have openly gotten upset at even the notion of Mike dying because "that's depressing" AND "that's Nancy's brother" (showing the familial ties are a HUGE part of what would keep them from ending someone), in addition to them saying they've thought through every imaginable scenario" on who might die—

—and you think its Jonathan whose meeting his end? King of championing "not liking what you don't have to" and the outcasts in all areas from music taste to being queer...after all the Byers have been through and knowing The Duffers write toward championing the outcasts and those who embrace their differences?

That, combined with the fact that the only "evidence" I've ever seen for him potentially dying has been that speech he gave to Will in the SBP somehow being connected to (you guessed it) setting up angst for Will...I'm gonna take a hard and wild educated guess based on the entirety of the rest of the show and say that was literally written so Will could catch a goddamn break, not as a death tag.

The fact that Noah confirmed it wasn't in the Duffer's OG script, was written day of filming + was done because "it was important for people to see will wasn't alone" is evidence enough for that.

Even so, the fact that there are still at least 4 unresolved plots Jonathan is part and privy to makes his death even less likely, because it wouldn't make sense for resolving anything for him to die at all, never mind in the episodes before our supposed timeskip.

Jonathan's messy relationship with Nancy, the fact that he's the only one who actually knows Will is gay, and the fact that he's the only other character who saw & understood the ULTIMATE Chekhov's gun in the form of that painting (on top of also having a longstanding relationship with Mike )should make it clear he isn't going anywhere from a narrative perspective...and I'm not even sure where the idea that he would die popped up, other than fandom warping the canon and projecting onto the plot.

The Duffers have always been clear about not doing things solely for the sake of surprise + not liking things that don't make narrative sense...and Jonathan's death would be both of those things, done solely for shock value.

I just. Be so serious right now. if you want to imagine the weight of Jonathan dying SOLELY for fandom angst DO THAT...but don't pretend like his death in the show wouldn't be the most poorly foreshadowed thing in this entire show, on top of not matching a single theme of the ongoing Stranger Things narrative. ☠️

Put some respect on his name lmao

Bonus: If you really want to talk about character's dying (and not just jump into angst for its own sake): they haven’t given Steve a proper love interest EVER outside of Nancy, made Dustin cry over Eddie instead of staying close to Steve S4, and haven’t ONCE referenced that boy’s family properly more than a few times in passing (and only by Steve himself).

He is the only character who craves normalcy despite this show being about championing the outcast, was supposed to die seasons ago but stayed because Joe Keery was so beloved, and has now been written into a corner where every single person who is central to him (esp Dustin and Robin) either have a new love interest or are worried about something else more than him, which...if you want canonical evidence for a possible death, you're looking in the wrong corner of this love triangle.

[risisthis]

The Upside Down is what once used to be “Hellscape”

It isn’t a new concept that the Upside Down could be sort of a doorway between two dimensions: our dimension and Dimension X. We know that Hawkins replicated to the Upside Down on November 6th when El opened the gate.

But, where did Hawkins replicate exactly?

A while ago, I was playing with circles; trying to draw what this dimensional relation between the worlds could look like (it looked stupid and made no sense). I was very adamant to make something that could maybe feel right. Well, nothing did… until I looked at one of the samples – very frustrated – and realized I was looking at things too figuratively. All it took was a small giving up and one last look at those stupid circles, just as they are and BOOM CLICK (maybe).

The drawing looked very familiar.

They already showed us “The Upside Down” in a 1979 flashback, except it was called "Hellscape".

Let me tell you why I believe this could be true.

I went back to look through Michael Maher’s (concept illustrator for st) storyboards and concept art. It’s very interesting to me that he distinguished the realm Henry was falling through as “Hellscape” instead of calling it “Dimension X” as his other concept arts.

I looked at some of his storyboards, and noticed a very small detail there that I managed to miss before.

Remember, this was the final storyboard for 4x07.

Now what do we have here? To me, it looks like Henry was just about to fall through a gate, but instead, they slowed time and zoomed into him to make a transition back to 1986 Vecna. One of the reasons for that may be that they didn’t want to reveal this just yet.

That gate was an opening to the Dimension X.

Yes, sounds a bit far-fetched, but bear with me.

I mean, we never saw Henry fall down, nor does Hellscape resemble the Dimension X shown to us in episode 9. It would make a cool s5 revelation that wouldn’t be hard to pull off.

Let’s go back a bit.

El sent Henry straight through the gate in 1979. She didn’t make a connection with the Dimension X, just a physical crack in our dimension. This sends Henry flying through an inter-dimensional space, as described by Maher once again.

And by this concept design that was ditched because of, I believe, either filming complications or time/budget consumption, the gate opened from one of those cloud planes.

The future Upside Down is that inter-dimensional space.

I think that’s why the gates always opened weirdly; there are no rules for up and down because this place has no sense of direction.

Here is my take on how the Upside Down formed. I’ll talk about how the Philadelphia experiment plays into all of this after, because there is still one little catch here.

I didn’t add 1984 and 1985 to save space, but you get the gist.

When Henry landed in the Dimension X, he went through one more gate, and that gate never closed. My theory here is that the Mind Flayer and Henry very soon after started spreading into and shaping the Hellscape (no hawkins yet, just vines and stuff).

So, this started happening in 1979 and would be a pretty good explanation for, I believe the Duffer brothers’ comment, that there is somewhere “where the creatures are coming from”. Once he settled in the Hellscape and started “building” this new realm, he just waited for the moment for another gate to open and for that barrier between Hawkins to officially weaken.

When El made a psychic connection with Demogorgon, the creature was already out of the Dimension X.

All of this would mean that there is already a gate somewhere in the Upside Down that leads to the Dimension X.

I think there is one more very important detail here – electricity.

We all know that electricity plays a big part in Stranger Things; hell, Joyce’s lights are practically what made this show this famous in the first place.

I want to talk about the role electricity has in connecting these dimensions and what those light particles in the Upside Down could be.

I made a theory back in July where I talked about the possible importance of The Storm and how it could be much more than just for the "aesthetic." You can check out the theory here. Keep in mind this was written before we found out Henry is controlled by the Mind Flayer and not the other way around, but everything else still stands.

As I said, the electricity connects and flows. I see it almost as a current between dimensions. Now, if my theory is correct and the Upside Down is this inter-dimensional space in between, when someone plays with lights in the Upside Down that disrupts this current, and causes things to light up in Hawkins. Those light particles we saw are, I believe, just photons.

Eddie said, “It tickles”, so that would make sense.

What does all of this have to do with the Philadelphia Experiment? (The First Shadow spoilers)

Brenner’s dad took part in the experiment, trying to make a ship invisible, but what happened instead was that they transported the ship directly into the Dimension X. This incident wasn’t a result of someone’s supernatural powers, but rather just scientific testing. Wouldn’t it be interesting if, by channeling enough energy, you could actually connect to those currents and, with that, create a direct pathway from one dimension to the other?

This could also possibly explain how the Russians got a hang of the demo creatures; they also opened a gate scientifically – the same way Brenner’s father did – creating that same pathway directly into the Dimension X and not the Upside Down.

Again, the duffers implied already that demogorgons, demodogs, demobats… don’t originate from the Upside Down and that there is a reason why the characters don’t run into all of them constantly.

I can't find that specific interview, so if anyone has it, please share with the class. For now, you’ll have to be satisfied with this

Anyways, this is my little theory that had a bit of reaching (understatement), but I think it’s a fun one. I’m very curious about all the Upside Down lore that is in front of us and how they’ll explain stuff.

[will80sbyers]

Willel is one of the best new bonds that were born form this season no doubts, the Duffers wanted to show they love each other now and they have done it even with the few scenes they got together, when they "fight" in the first episodes they were acting like siblings because they ARE siblings now, they spent months living together going to school together and hanging out just them because they didn't have friends there, they love each other like brother and sister and act accordingly, El doesn't know about Will's feelings for Mike... she obviously would have acted differently if she knew because she doesn't want to hurt her brother

They are the only ones that can really understand the other, the two most connected to the upside down, the two that lived through being treated like experiments. Will understands El better than anyone right now because he knows how she feels about being different and how she feels like a monster and a mistake and she will understand Will too completely when she understands what Will was hiding all this time and I can't wait to see this, I really hope El and Will get to have even more scenes working together next season! I want to see more of Will trying to protect her as he can and wanting to make her happy and I want her to get fucking angry with Vecna exactly like she did with Brenner when the first thing she thought about was Will being possessed by the mindflayer and getting almost killed

The Duffers SHOW the dynamics between the characters through little things, they don't have to have super long conversations to know that all of these characters love each other to death and would do everything to keep the other safe, I think you can feel that from the show and even if they can't show everything we know they spent YEARS together, having fun, playing games, going to parties etc etc they ALL have interactions and conversations and sweet moments between each other but they can't show it all because the show is also plot driven and so the focus was put in the most important relationships for the plot in the little time they have to show all of it and give time to all of the characters to develop at the same time, it still works, we still catch all the little things between the characters that make us BELIEVE that they love each other, it is believable and if it is that means it's well written!

Stranger things is not a hit show because of the plot alone, but because you can feel the found family dynamic and you fall in love with the characters and the bonds between them!

[munson-blurbs]

My Name is Erica

I've always felt like the dynamic between Eddie and Erica had so much potential if the Duffer Brothers weren't dumb-dumbs, so I wrote a little blorbo about it. I hope y'all enjoy.

WC: 578

--

Ever since Erica Sinclair led Hellfire to a victory over Eddie’s sadistic campaign, she’s become a regular fixture at meetings. Lady Applejack is a total badass, and Eddie himself wouldn’t be surprised if she becomes a Dungeon Master once she officially starts high school. 

With only a few weeks left until graduation, Eddie’s been pulling out all the stops, each campaign more malicious than the last. And though the guys are often left stumped, unable to defeat Vecna, Erica easily navigates the tasks. 

Today, on a warm May afternoon, Erica rolls the dice. Some of the members blow on them first for good luck, but she doesn’t need it. Not when she has her brilliant mind already thinking three steps ahead.

With the boys huddled around her, she squeezes her eyes tight. All she needs is an 8. The dice leave her fingertips and clatter on the board. Slowly, she opens her eyes and gasps.

She’s rolled an 8.

Everyone–Eddie included–cheers, slapping each other five. Lucas wraps her in a tight hug, and a grin spreads across her face. But the joy is short-lived once the rest of the club starts congratulating her.

“Nice job, Little Sinclair!”

“Who would’ve thought that Lucas’s sister was our secret weapon?”

“Yeah, dude, your sister is a better player than you are!”

And though their praise should make her happy, Eddie can’t help but notice her smile falter. It completely juxtaposes the victorious chants surrounding her. As the boys make plans to get pizza–it’s like they’re constantly hungry–Erica helps the DM clean up the game.

“Hey, kid,” Eddie says softly, “y’alright?”

“Mhm,” Erica hums, placing the dice in their velvet pouch, but Eddie remains unconvinced.

“Okay, let’s try this again–what’s wrong, Little Sinclair?”

Erica lets out a small sigh, blinking back the tears in her eyes. “My name is Erica.”

“Yeah, I know.” Eddie’s expression shifts from concern to confusion.

“My name is Erica,” she repeats, “but everyone calls me ‘Little Sinclair’ or ‘Lucas’s sister.’”

“Oh.” But he’s still a bit lost. He’s dealt with nicknames like ‘The Freak’ his whole life; what’s so bad about ‘Little Sinclair’? “I mean, you are his little sister…”

Erica rolls her eyes. “And Mike is Nancy’s little brother, but no one calls him ‘Little Wheeler,’” she explains pointedly. “I’m tired of living in Lucas’s shadow. He’s a great big brother–tell him I said that, and I’ll kill you–but I want people to see me for me.”

Now that, Eddie can understand. He knows all too well what it’s like to live in someone’s shadow. Anyone who knows about his dad’s past automatically assumes that Eddie is just like him, when that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Shit–shoot–I’m sorry,” he exhales, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “I didn’t realize how much it upset you.” She usually hides her emotions well, but that isn’t an excuse for him to steamroll over them. “And I can make sure that those idiots don’t call you that anymore, either.”

“Thanks,” Erica says, a genuine smile returning to her face. “You’re pretty cool–y’know, for a long-haired freak.”

Eddie scoffs in mock-offense before offering her a grin of his own. “C’mon, Erica,” he laughs, “let’s go catch up with those animals before they put anchovies or some other nasty topping on the pies.”

“I mean, you like olives on yours. That’s pretty nasty, too.” She giggles at Eddie’s shocked expression. “What? It’s just the facts!”

--

[henrysglock]

Hey, I know you do some movie analysis and one of the movies I recently watched is “The Good Son” which is on the inspo board. Spoilers, but the plot is literally about a “child psychopath” named Henry who murdered his infant brother in the backstory and in the story proper tries to murder his sister and especially hates his mother for catching on to his troubling behavior and for trying to have him institutionalized (so he tries to kill her in the climax but he dies himself after his mother concludes that he was born evil and the movie lands on that message). I am curious as to what yours and aemiron’s take on this is movie is because of how clearly this is inspiration for Vecna’s backstory and just how contradictory it’s messaging is to what you guys interpret/theorize about it. I’m on anon because I don’t want to get ostracized for even suggesting that Vecna was born evil (I disagree with that message but I’m being neutral on whether the duffers agree with me), and this is why I decided to just ask the experts.

Personally, I haven’t seen The Good Son, so I can’t speak in depth about that movie’s specifics.

However I think it’s important to remember that inspiration ≠ direct copy. We should also keep in mind that there are a multitude of contradictory plot points in Henry’s backstory.

For one: He physically could not have killed Alice (I’ve made this point several times across the past months). Alice was still clearly alive before Victor went into his trance. As we know from later in the season, given that it was a critical and heavily focused on part of Nancy’s plan: Vecna can’t do anything else while he’s trancing someone. Thus, Henry could not have killed Alice, since she was still alive when Victor enters his trance.

Point blank. He could not have killed Alice.

Second: He never says he despised his mother. He says his mother despised him. Very different things.

Third: There are a multitude of signs that Virginia was less than stellar as a mother (including but not limited to whatever the hell her bathtub vision was referring to [shudders] egh), but relatively few signs that Henry was anything but weird. Virginia was planning to ship Henry off to MARTIN BRENNER at a DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY MKULTRA LABORATORY. I mean, my god. Henry was twelve. Victor describes Henry as sensitive, the same way Joyce describes Will as sensitive.

Fourth: As I’ve detailed here:

Henry doesn’t meet any of the markers for conduct disorder (child psychopathy doesn’t exist, anon).

It’s also important to remember that the Duffers love a good twist…which is what I absolutely believe they’re setting us up for.

The Good Son feels more like an inspiration for this cover story to disguise the twist, if you ask me.

We’ve only been shown the briefest, most disjointed glimpse into Henry’s childhood. On the surface, before you actually study the scenes, it may seem like “oh he’s a psycho killer monster, that’s easy and simple”…But that’s NOT what Stranger Things has ever been about. It wasn’t like that for Billy, or El (who, for her age, has a FAR higher kill count than Henry at the same age), or any of them. Everyone is a product of their circumstances, and there are no innate monsters. Just people.

I mean this with all the kindness in the world: You have to actually watch what’s happening in the scenes, Anon. There’s a ton of shit that doesn’t add up.

You have to pull back the curtain, Anon. This is the “common interpretations aren’t the right ones” show. They literally tell you to look “too deep” in S1-3. Henry’s story is no different. Henry is not exempt.

[thebestfriendstoloverstrope]

An excerpt of Will coming out to Joyce, Season 5 Episode 5 (if I were the Duffer Brothers and wrote script excerpts in an afternoon)

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Will sobs, falling into his mom's arms. Joyce rocks him gently, stroking his back as he chants into her shirt, "I love him, I love him, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Hey, hey, honey," Joyce cups his face, bringing his face back out. Will doesn't meet her eyes. "What do you have to be sorry for?"

His red eyes flick up to hers. At his incredulous look, Joyce presses on. "You have nothing to be sorry for. No, you are good, Will. You are so good. And all that love you have inside of you? That's what makes you so good. Don't be scared of it, Will."

Will's eyes flit away, and Joyce leans into his space. "Hey. Don't be scared. There's nothing to be scared of. Loving Mike? It will only make you stronger. So don't be scared of it. Don't push it away. Don't push him away."

"But, Mom..." Will protests, faltering. "He's, he's not... like that."

"How do you know? Sweetie." Joyce looks him straight in the eyes. "I can't tell you how that boy feels. I can't tell you what he'll say if you were to let him know that you love him." Will looks away, forlorn. Joyce watches him, then ducks her head, trying to catch his eye. "You know what I can tell you?"

After a moment, Will lifts his head. His eyes widen as he catches the smile playing at the corner of his mom's lips. "What?"

"What I can tell you... is that there is nothing that boy wouldn't do for you. He has searched for you, he has fought for you, and he has believed in you for as long as I've known him. I think he'd follow you into hell if you'd let him."

Will sits with that, thinking. "Probably even if I didn't," he then quips, making Joyce laugh.

"Probably. We're gonna have to keep a lock on him," she teases back, coaxing a laugh out of her son. Once the laughter dies down, though, she continues:

"I can't tell you if Mike knows."

Will's face grows hesitant.

"Knows... about me?"

Joyce shakes her head. "Knows himself."

Will stares at her, hope shining in his eyes. She smiles softly, and cups her son's face again.

"But I can tell you that he loves you so, so much. Even if he hasn't said it, we all can see it. And when that boy finally pulls his head out of the sand, I can't imagine anyone outside of this family who could love you better than him."

Will laughs wetly, then throws himself back into his mom's embrace. She holds him tight, combing her fingers through his hair.

"I love you, sweetie."

Will exhales, then squeezes his mom tighter.

"I love you too, Mom."

[bloodycreaturee]

here’s my thing tho and it’s something that i don’t see a lot of in the st/byler tags. el is not stupid. we know this, the characters know this, hell even the duffers know this considering they’ve literally put that exact line in the show. so if she has been aware that will had been working on a painting for someone that she thinks he likes and hasn’t really been working on anything else, and mike comes up to her and mentions something about a painting that will gave him that was supposedly commissioned from her, then why the Fuck would she ask “what painting”. she would know exactly what painting that is and she would absolutely cover for will’s ass in the moment and ask him about it later in private. i would find it Very Very hard to believe that she doesn’t catch on immediately. i find it slightly more easy to believe that mike doesn’t catch on as fast despite knowing these two facts because he doesn’t know whether or not will had been working on multiple paintings considering they didn’t talk at all, but i do think he would also eventually piece it together bc he’s not stupid either. anyway that is all sorry for the rant lmao

wait you're so right. ok now i like the idea of el covering for will more than el being confused about what the hell mike is talking about lol

i have a feeling she already knows there's Something going on between mike and will. there're just so many scenes where she gives them the i know what you are dog look 😭 and i think that maybe mike showing her the painting and asking about it will confirm it for her. like a little yup these bitches gay moment jfksndks

i would really like to see a scene with will coming out to el. i think it would be really sweet. another accepting sibling moment like with jonathan but this time with el 🥹 i remember reading in a fic this one scene where something like this happens and will is like crying because he's different and el is just really comforting like i'm different too :D there's nothing wrong with you and her telling him he's her brother and she loves him and ahhhhhhh

as for mike i'm SO convinced he figured out what will was trying to say in the van. that boy did NOT look like he thought it was actually from el lol he either has rocks in his head and his only thought was wow will's pretty 🥰 and he didn't hear shit of what will was saying or he Knew and that's why he looks like That. i personally think he knew. but then i think that he had a moment of oh i read this all wrong, those were actually el's words not will's when will was pushing him to tell el he loved her at the pizza place. my boy looked DEVASTATED :((

anyways i went off a bit but yeah. i'm really excited to see how this whole painting will play out :) thank you for the ask!! 🫶🏼 hopefully my thoughts made sense lol

[perexcri]

Stancy is Officially out as my fav poly Jancy ship,😌 esp after this new fic of yours, which made me wiggle around like a delighted little sea slug.

Honestly, Nancy deserves to smoke some weed and admire her bf with Argyle. When’s the last time she’s gotten a break like this tbh?? Ever??

Jonathan Byers, simp extraordinaire for his gf and bf(f). (This fantastic dynamic feels a little bit like how I feel Merlin/Arthur/Gwen would have been if bbc hadn’t been Cowards(tm).) also…\o/ shotgunning shotgunning shotgunning sho—

Also, the undercurrent of Ow in regards to Jonathan’s Extreme amount of trauma? you somehow managed to thread a bit of Pain into this lovely interaction. (“He’s sick of being domestic–he just wants to be a teenager!” & “I’m fine,” he lies, and it’s an easy one to roll off of his tongue. He’d been doing it all his life.” &!!!! V much!!!!! “Secondary parent, half-mother and half-father, always up in the morning to make breakfast for his little brother, and always relegated to haunting the back of classrooms and the edges of hallways–the creep and the weirdo.” Crying screaming on the floor eating my phone bye). (Also also Jon doubting that Will needs him anymore, nonoo oh dear no he does need u I promise. Crying yelling throwing up curling into a ball. He’s always gonna need his big bro and Jon doubting that is sending off death flags which are oh dear 😭)

Argyle is just. Such a good, kind guy, and good for Jon and Nancy. Like a soothing lotion/sun screen on the burn that is their horrific lives.

“Jonathan and Nancy both stare at Argyle’s mouth, watch it catch against the joint.” 🤭hohoho honestly making me ship Both of them equally w Argyle,

“My fair little Wheeler” orz on the floor bye

If there is not at least One (1) interaction between the three of them in s5 that is even a quarter as good as this one, honestly I’m throwing tomatoes at the Duffers’ houses.

Anyway, lovely wonderful fic!! Hope you are having a good week and thank you for improving mine🥰

VEEEEE i'm glad you liked the Jarncy fic hehehe. i know it's not my typical wheelhouse, but it was so fun to write, so it's nice to hear you enjoyed it!! :D tbh the biggest compliment i was hoping for from this fic was hearing at least one person say they ship it a little more than Stoncy after reading it, so you have fulfilled my wish 😌 (no hate to Stoncy ofc lol)

LITERALLY let Nancy Wheeler smoke weed. or just something - she's going through it just as much as anybody else, and i think she deserves a chance to relax 😩

and you're so right about Merlin and you should say it louder

yeah we can't have anything nice around here without a little pain right :) idk Jonathan is a very personal character for me because i grew up as the eldest in a single-mother household, so there's a lot about his position in life that i relate to too much, hence the angst bleeding over a little into this fic. maybe someday i'll post that other Jonathan one shot i wrote! it's got plenty more of some of the stuff discussed in this one 🙃

and yeah him and Will :') listen the most surprising thing about this fic for me was realizing that, in this scenario, Jonathan would actually be in a very similar position as Mike. furthermore, I think Jonathan struggles with being needed like Mike, too. i think Mike's is more wanting to be needed and getting sidelined while Jonathan's is more having been needed for so much of his life that he doesn't know what his life would look like without being needed. and that definitely showed here :') my poor dude i want to give him a hug

...but that's what Argyle's for, right? GAH i thought the same thing that you said!! i think there's something appealing about having Jonathan and Nancy, who are both really tightly-wound and damaged by The Horrors, buddying up with Argyle, who's pretty mellow and chill (as long as he doesn't like, you know, have to bury a guy in the desert lol). i thought his character would be a good contrast for both of them, and i'm glad that came across :D

Vee i am once again saying that i am so glad you liked this fic :] i knew it was gonna be a kinda niche thing and wasn't sure how it would go over, but tbh, just hearing that you liked it makes me smile :] also this one really challenged me just for its subject matter and working with different characters, so it ended up being personally rewarding? listen i know people really liked irresistible, but it didn't particularly challenge me in any way and subsequently i didn't end up liking it as much as some of my other fics,,,like it was fun and all, but i didn't feel really connected to it. this one, though, made me feel a lot better!! it was fun to try something new and challenge myself!!

i'm definitely gonna be writing more byler next tho lol. i promise i've got stuff i'm working on. i just gotta get my shrimp brain organized 🍤

this has gotten so long :') anyway Vee it is always lovely to hear from you, so honestly, thank you for improving my week :] i hope the rest of your week goes well!! 💜

(also i'm still staring at your aftry art btw 💐💐💐)

[mad-dawg451]

Proving that Stranger Things 4 (2022) is simply a retelling of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)

aka the greatest film of our generation

You better hold on to your butts, brochachos because you’re in for a wild ride here.

Exhibit A: The roller rink incident

It’s no secret that these scenes are similar but I don’t think I’ve seen anyone talk about just how similar they actually are. These scenes are practically identical and you cannot convince me otherwise.

To start: A couple of nefarious DJs put on fast/loud music with the intention of intimidating the target in the middle of the rink (on the top we have ST and on the bottom we’ve got RR)

Then the target is skated around and humiliated while the music plays:

Ok, seems like pretty standard bullying at a roller rink. Not enough to make this much fuss over. But wait, there’s more. A third party intervenes to stop the music (in ST it’s Mike and in RR it’s Greg’s mom):

But the humiliation continues after the music stops and the lights come on. El gets milkshaked and Greg has to be bridal carried off the rink by his father:

Excuse me Duffer bros, what is this? But just you wait, there's more

Exhibit B: Peeping tomfoolery

While we’re on the roller rink I might as well address the other similarity that happens here (at least in ST, it’s at a completely different place in RR). Both Mike and Greg enter a woman’s restroom for innocent reasons, Mike to find El and Greg to hide from everyone at the nursing home, but are then forced out of it by the women already in there

Ok maybe not the exact same situation, but similar enough that it feels right to include it.

Exhibit C: The failed presentation

Now for what I consider one of my strongest pieces of evidence alongside the roller rink incident. I honestly don’t know how this hasn’t been talked about before because it’s almost completely identical. Let me set the scene for you: the characters are presenting history projects in class. The presentation before our main character is called up is an extremely well done powerpoint-esque project that is praised by the teacher

Then our main character is called up and encouraged by their friend who is sitting next to them

Our main character starts with their project and it’s immediately obvious that they didn’t do the assignment correctly, much to the amusement of their peers

Especially the “mean girl” (I fully believe that everything Patty did to Greg was well deserved because he’s annoying but she’s presented as the antagonist so my point still stands)

That is the exact same shot. Duffer brothers I know what you did, these scenes are the same

Exhibit D: The van

What’s the main mode of transportation in RR and ST4? Oh yeah that’s right it’s an iconic and recognizable van driven by the older brother of one of the main characters and their friend

With the older characters riding in the front while the younger sibling and their friend are in the back:

Mike and Will are having a moment while Rowley’s catching some real airtime there. Iconic

Exhibit E: The concert

Now maybe this one is a bit of a reach but I’m going for it. The grand finale of both ST4 and RR includes a concert. ST features Master of Puppets by Metallica which sounds suspiciously similar to... 

Explöded Diper by Löded Diper. Obviously Master of Puppets came first and Explöded Diper is based off of it, but why did the Duffer bros choose that song to be their grand finale instead of countless other 80s metal songs? Was it because it happened to be a popular song when the show takes place or was it because it has ties to Rodrick Rules? I know which one I believe

Exhibit F: Men with bangs

Stranger Things has a male character who has bangs, is a guitarist in a rock band, and hangs out with people much younger than him?

So does Rodrick Rules (Bill):

Not much else to say here only that at their core they are the same (sorry Eddie but it’s true)

Exhibit G: “Deny, deny, deny”

The theme of lying/denying the truth is a central motif in RR. In fact, the phrase “deny, deny, deny” is used frequently throughout the movie.

Who’s out there doing a lot of denying in ST? Oh yeah, it’s Will:

Conclusion:

Does this mean anything? I don’t know, man. All I know is that the Duffer bros have absolutely seen the American cinematic masterpiece Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and have some explaining to do because not only one, but several moments in their own show are a little too similar here and I would like an explanation

And with that I will leave you with this:

[stranger-fanfiction-n-things]

CHAPTER 3: HOLLY, JOLLY

This is an Original Character fanfiction. All Stranger Things characters and content are owned by Netflix and The Duffer Brothers.

a/n: This was not how I expected this part to turn out. You know those moments when you just keep typing and writing? Anyways, introducing Ronnie. In reading Flight of Icarus, I pictured her character looking like Emmy Rossum, more so Fiona Gallagher-esque. Ronnie is Eddie's wingwoman.

Have you ever been with a boy and just don't think? Like you're so present in the moment with them, you don't know what you're doing or what's happening in the world around you? That's how Diana feels around Eddie.

Warnings: None.

Word Count: 3124

Masterlist

PART I || PART II || PART III

HAKWINS HIGH

I sit in my usual spot for first period, my books and stationery are set neatly on my desk as I wait for class to start. People begin to trickle in but there is no sign of Barb or Nancy. I didn’t wait for either of them outside the school or by our lockers like I usually do, instead I walk straight into school, straight to my locker to switch out my textbooks and straight to class. Despite being upset about what happened last night, I can’t help but glance at the door every time someone enters the classroom just in case it is Barb or Nancy. I chew my lip, tapping my pencil against my notebook. Class starts in two minutes and neither Nancy or Barb are in class. Part of me wonders if they both decided not to show up to school today. It’s not until Nancy rushes into class with flushed cheeks, I relax only a little. I avoid eye contact as she sits in her usual spot across from me. I can feel her looking at me but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, I hear her talk to Ally beside me. 

“Hey, Ally. Where’s Barb?” 

“Um shouldn’t you know?” 

“You haven’t seen her anywhere at all?” Nancy presses. 

I purse my lips. Why would Nancy ask that if Barb waited for her while she was upstairs with Steve? I turn my head slightly not trying to be too noticeable, but I’m not inconspicuous at all because I catch Nancy’s gaze for a second. Her lips twist into a perplexed frown as she looks at the empty seat beside her. I sit forward swallowing and glance at the door hoping Barb will walk in at any second, but as soon as Mr. Flaim enters the classroom and instructs us to take out Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, I focus on the lesson.  

Nancy and I don’t have the same second period so I haven’t seen her since homeroom. Everyone is rushing to the cafeteria as usual; I pass by and from the hallway I have a clear view of Steve, Tommy H, and Carol. Steve wrinkles his nose at Carol who has her foot on the table. Tommy H is laughing, chewing with his mouth full of whatever food they are serving at the cafeteria today. I am surprised to see Nancy join them at the table. A knot of dismay forms in every muscle, it seems as I observe my best friend. She doesn’t look around for me or Barb, slipping comfortably beside Steve who smiles welcoming at her. I clutch my bag closer to my body and walk away ignoring the hollowness I feel inside. 

As I walk down the hall, I slow down approaching Barb’s locker. It doesn’t look like it’s been touched at all today. I also haven’t seen her at all this morning. I linger, rubbing my lips together. It’s unlike Barb to not turn up to school unless she was sick and last night was cold and with everything that happened with her finger…I rationalize but there is still an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. I look at Barb’s locker one last time before walking away.

I approach my locker and put in my combination to open it. I rise on relevé to see deep into my locker and pull out my chemistry textbook and my lunch. I shove my lunch in my bag and hold the textbook in my hand. When I close my locker, I notice a head full of hair. Eddie and Ronnie stand by the lockers in the sophomore hallway, talking amongst themselves. Eddie’s back is to me, but I can see the same dark brown curly hair of Ronnie. I think Ronnie is pretty in a rocker girl type of way. She exudes a carefree, nonchalance that deep down I envy, in her black leather jacket and hoodie. I am wound up so tight it’s difficult for me to relax sometimes. 

I am surprised when she catches my eye and smiles, waving at me as she did two days ago in the school parking lot. Eddie turns around with a frown on his face wondering who she was waving at and catches my gaze. The lines on his forehead smoothens and is replaced with a look I can’t explain. I can never explain the looks Eddie gives me, only the feeling that it conveys in me. Butterflies. It’s like they wake up all of a sudden and I feel warm and tingly. Ronnie says something and grins walking past him. The look on Eddie’s face is replaced with horror. The butterflies in my stomach turn into moths fluttering wildly.

It takes me a split second to realize Ronnie is walking towards me. My mind screams at my legs to move, to at least meet her halfway, but they don’t and I am standing here like I’ve been caught. Which technically I was. Eddie quickly scurries behind her, curly hair flapping behind him. Ronnie of course reaches me before him. 

“Hi, I’m Ronnie,” she greets with a smile. Eddie stands beside her, looking out of breath despite the short distance. 

The way I have to tilt my head look at her is a little embarrassing. She’s even taller up close. Dark brown eyes look down at me. Not in a dominant way where I feel threatened. Though her height is intimidating. But in a way that shows me she’s interested. Interested in me. I blink feeling my brain short-circuit for a moment and pan down. Her hand is extended. Waiting. I take her hand, shaking it. Her hand is warm. Mine feel clammy and I want the ground to swallow me up. 

“H-Hi,” I stutter. “I’m Diana.” 

“I know,” she says and her smile widens. Ronnie doesn’t look at Eddie when she says this. It’s like he doesn’t exist. I have to fight not to acknowledge his presence. We let go of each other’s hand and I clutch my book close to my chest. “Eddie’s told me about you.”

“Jesus.” He mutters, looking away.

My eyebrows shoot up in astonishment. “Really?” 

“Absolutely.” 

“Oh.” I don’t know what to think or feel or say. The back of my neck feels hot. 

“And any close friend of Eddie’s is a friend of mines.” 

I blink. Not understanding what she means. Maybe I missed something because Eddie and I are not close friends. It makes me wonder what he has told her. I look at Eddie now and he seems like he’s a second away from bolting out the door. He’s fidgety and a little sweaty. 

“Sorry,” he says to me. “She was dropped on her head as a baby.”  

Ronnie flicks him on the nose and Eddie reaches to grab her wrist, but she’s too fast, taking a step back, putting her hands behind her back. She laughs at him and he sticks his tongue out at her. I giggle quietly, enjoying their antics. They truly did seem to have a brother/sister relationship. It reminded me of my relationship with Lucas. 

“I forgot something in my locker.” Ronnie says, eyes darting between Eddie and I. “I’ll see you in class, right?” She’s talking to Eddie now. 

“Of course, wouldn’t want to miss chemistry for the world.” 

Ronnie gives him a warning look, but smiles kindly at me. She waves again and walks away leaving Eddie and I alone. When Ronnie turns the hall, Eddie turns to me, scratching around his mouth. He gives me an apologetic smile. 

“Sorry, about that.” 

“Don’t be. Ronnie seems very nice.”

“When she wants to be,” he comments under his breath. Eddie looks at me again. “I’m guessing you didn’t get caught last night.” 

“No, I didn’t.” I shake my head. “Thank you so much again for driving me home. Really. I don’t know what I’d do if you didn’t.” 

“Just don’t walk home in the middle of the night. Please.” 

“I won’t.” 

“I’ll drive all over Hawkins looking for you if I have to.” I tilt my head at that, looking up at him. Eddie scrunches his nose, closing his eyes. “That sounded so much better in my head.” I giggle. Eddie chuckles softly, opening his eyes. His cheeks are slightly pink. “It’s just creepy when I say it out loud.”

I scrunch my nose. “A little,” I admit. “But I understand the sentiment.” 

Eddie doesn’t respond, eyes looking around him. I follow his gaze, wondering what he was looking at. He stands straight taking a step back. I don’t realize how close we were until he does. 

“Do you want to have lunch with me?” he asks, out of the blue. The question throws me in for a loop. Lunch with Eddie. I open my mouth, but close it. Something shifts in Eddie and he clears his throat. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. You’re probably going to meet up with your friends in the cafeteria.” 

Friends. My best friend is sitting in the cafeteria with Steve, Tommy H and Carol. My other best friend isn’t in school today. I am alone. I think about my dream. The way I was screaming for help and no one bothered to look. I didn’t think about where I was going to eat lunch today, because usually it’s with Nancy and Barb, but now…I don’t have anyone. The change I feared would happen had already started. Maybe it’s time to stop resisting it. 

“Yes, I’ll have lunch with you.” 

Eddie’s jaw goes slack for a moment but he quickly closes his mouth and smiles, with dimples this time. “Okay, um…” he scratches the back of his neck. “My lunch is actually in the van, so.” 

“Okay,” I nod, pushing myself off my locker. Eddie follows my stride as we walk towards the door and out the school. 

The weather is surprisingly mild for the winter months. Eddie and I walk through the parking lot towards his large van. I can’t believe it’s been hours since I’ve sat inside. The past few days have been nothing but bizarre. 

“What I mean to say is,” Eddie says after a few minutes. I realize he’s correcting himself from earlier. “If you ever need a ride anywhere..." he doesn’t finish the sentence and I can tell he’s not going to. The sentiment is there and it shocks me. I’ve only known of Eddie for 24 hours and he’s already offering to give me a ride, so I’m not out late at night by myself again. 

I look up at him, but he’s looking at the ground. I turn my head back, looking in front of me. The moths, turn into butterflies. I bow my head down, fighting back a smile. We arrive at his van at the back of the parking lot and I walk to the passenger’s side opening the door just as Eddie opens the door to the driver’s side. I climb inside the car sitting in the passenger’s seat and close the door. When I look up, Eddie stares at me, paper bag in hand. It takes me a moment to realize, he never said he wanted to eat in his van. My hands fly to my mouth. 

“I am so sorry.” I gasp, opening the car door. I can’t believe I forgot my home training. Mom would freak out if she knew what I did. 

Eddie blinks out of his stupor shaking his head. “It’s okay,” he says, climbing into his car. He closes the door. “I wasn’t clear. We can eat in here, if you want. I don’t mind.” He sounds relieved. I close the passenger door cringing at my blunder. How did I not realize what I was doing? 

We sit in the car in silence neither of us moving or both of us waiting for the other to start. I’m suddenly hyperaware of his presence. Eddie and I look at each other and start to laugh. The awkwardness dissipates and we both get our paper bags. Turns out we both have sandwiches, mine is turkey and cheese, his, peanut butter and jelly. The silence is comfortable between us and I find myself enjoying it. The past two days have been a whirlwind of confusion, fear and change. It feels nice to just be with someone in silence without feeling the need to talk all the time or feel like I’m being judged for just existing. 

“I didn’t forget the song you recommended, by the way.” Eddie says, between chews. “I’ve added it to my list.”

“I haven’t forgotten yours either.”

Eddie crumbles the plastic bag in a ball dropping it in his paper bag. He pulls out a bag of pretzels. I smile, knowing I have pretzels in my bag as well. I take a bite out of my sandwich observing Eddie. His hair is less frizzy today and I wonder what changed in his hair routine. I gaze down at his clothes, like Ronnie, he’s wearing a black leather jacket and hoodie with jeans and black boots. I think about Ronnie and Eddie calling each other to coordinate their outfits of the day and smile. Eddie is careful opening the Ziplock, pulling out a handful of pretzels.

“If you ever want to go to Main Street Vinyl sometime,” He pops a pretzel in his mouth. “We can listen to music.” 

“You listen to vinyl?” 

Eddie finishes chewing nodding his head. “Always.” 

“My dad only listens to vinyl.” I say, opening my bottle of water. “Says records sound better.” 

“He’s right.” 

I shrug taking a sip of water. “It all sounds the same to me.” 

Eddie looks as if I insulted him. He shakes his head popping another couple of pretzels in his mouth. “Oh man,” he says, voice muffled. “I definitely need to take you to Main Street Vinyl.” 

“Okay.” 

I accept the invitation feigning nonchalance. I don’t look at him as I close my water bottle, setting it beside me and continue to eat my sandwich. My heart is actually beating so fast and I’m surprised I don’t miss my mouth while taking a bite. I can feel him looking at me and meet his gaze. He’s staring at me like he did back in school and when I practically jumped into his car like I owned it. Like he didn’t expect my answer. 

Eddie blinks. “Cool.” He says, his voice hoarse. Scarfing down salty pretzels can do that to a person. “Just um…let me know when you’re free and I can pick you up.” His shyness makes me shy as well. 

“O-okay.” I stutter, my confidence waning. 

Eddie clears his throat reaching for a water bottle in the drink compartment. He takes a long drink and I think he’s going to finish the whole bottle in one sitting, but he stops, putting on the lid. “I’ll introduce you to all the greats.” 

“Judas Priest, KISS, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne.” I list the names of the people he covers with his band. 

Eddie smiles. “And more.” 

I arch my brow. “Like who?” 

He turns to me and squints playfully, leaning close. “It’s a secret.”  He says lowly. I giggle.   

“Why does vinyl sound better?” I ask. My Dad says it does too, but I never understood what he meant. 

Eddie thinks for a moment. “It sounds…warm,” he starts, looking out the windshield. “That’s the best word to describe it.” He looks at me again. “It’s rich and deep. You feel like you’re watching the artists perform live. Like you’re in the same room as them. It’ll make sense when we go to the record store.”

“You seem to know a lot about music.” 

“Not as much as you think.” 

“It’s more than I know.” I add. I play with the plastic bag in my lap. “I like listening to you talk about music. Your connection to it is…sweet. I can tell you really love it.” 

“Sweet?” 

“Endearing.” I correct. And cute. But I’ll never say that out loud. 

Eddie’s cheeks are pink. So cute. He smiles and his dimples poke out. Really cute. “Thank you.” He chuckles. I beam. 

Eddie leans back against the door, fully facing me. He looks up and down and size to side at my face like he did last night. It’s intense and I thank heavens my brown skin hides the flush in my cheeks. He tilts his head, studying me. 

“So, Candy Girl,” He teases. “Tell me about something you love. Tell me about dance.” 

I’m vibrating. Not the kind you feel when you’ve been sitting down too long. The type you feel when you’re excited and slightly overwhelmed. I have only felt this way before a performance. My time with Eddie though brief, hasn’t felt that way. I’m a shy person; a person of few words when I’m getting to know someone. My true self saved for my family and best friends, but with Eddie I talk. I want to talk. I talk a lot, about dance. The Nutcracker auditions, Mei Wong, rehearsals. I felt myself stepping outside my shell. It’s weird and slightly off-putting. Eddie listens, asking questions if he doesn’t understand. He even tells me what he’s thinking. The conversation flows effortlessly. With everything that has been happening, I’m glad Eddie is around, even if it’s just for a moment. 

“Diana!” 

I blink out of my thoughts and turn my head. Nancy is rushing towards me and I am no longer vibrating. Just my normal self. I feel myself stepping back into my shell and it’s discomforting to feel this way about my best friend. 

“Diana, have you seen Barb?” Nancy asks me outside. 

It’s the first time Nancy and I speak since last night. During English I was too busy highlighting and making notes to talk. I shake my head, holding my chemistry textbook close to my chest.  

“Not since last night.” 

“Didn’t Barb drive you home last night?” 

“No, Barb decided to stay.” I walked home.  

“She stayed?” 

Nancy’s surprise causes me to look at her fully for the first time today. I glare at her. “Yes, to make sure you didn’t do anything stupid.” 

“I didn’t see her when I left.” 

“What? What do you mean?” 

Nancy shakes her head. “I didn’t see her.” 

Something unsettling swarms in my stomach but I push it down, shrugging my shoulders. “Maybe…she’s home sick. It was cold last night.” 

“Yeah…” Nancy says, but she doesn’t sound too convinced.

The silence between us is awkward. The remnants of last night weighing heavy. I start to walk away hoping to walk to class before the lunch crowd tumbles in and I am caught in a storm of elbows and backpacks. 

NEXT -> PART III