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certifiedlovergirlsstuff · 2 years ago

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a new chapter

summary: a new year has arrived in Hawkins, Indiana. I shall show you different months and interactions that our Byers sibling will be having. we will watch as she goes through the ups and downs of dealing with this new trauma. will she eventually come to terms and slowly start to recover and process everything?

WC: 4.1K

warnings: depression, ED mention

A/N: ALL THE STORIES CAN BE FOUND UNDER THE TAG- The Byers Harrington Story-

this is where i’m gonna be a bit worried about my writing because it’s fully just my imagination working at whatever speed it can. i’m not sure how many of these in betweens i’m gonna do, i want to try and do a couple for each month. i already have the last in between planned and after that one it will lead into season2. i hope everyone enjoys these little stories.

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January 5, 1984

“Mom, do you think you can get me a job here?” you asked while picking a lollipop from the display rack.

Joyce was organizing items behind the counter, and you were sitting on the checkout counter at Mendel’s. You were a bit bored at home so you felt like following Joyce for the next few hours of work.

It’s only been about three months since you quit, sorry, since you were fired from Lenny’s pizza. It was nice to have a break from working, focus on school, and you can freely be depressed in your room. Your sleeping was still not great, even with the weed you would buy from Eddie, but it didn’t help all the time. You were also on a tolerance break right now so you didn’t get too used to the drug and its effects. Plus, you didn’t want Joyce to find out, she was starting to get suspicious of your behavior, “Honey, did you get sprayed by a skunk?”

Anyway, you’ve enjoyed not working and all that, but you need to sum up all the money you can get your grubby hands on. You aren’t a big spender anyway, but still, you want to save up money for the future. Five months of paychecks, two a month, $3.75 an hour, it’s not a lot in the long run. You would look in the paper and check if anyone was hiring, see if something caught your eye. You may be a little desperate for a job, but you still have standards. You didn’t want to work in food again, you’re kinda worried about Carol or Tommy H showing up wherever you're working and making a scene. You thought retail would be the next best thing, always good to have different job variations.

“I don’t know honey, business isn’t exactly busy,” Joyce huffed from the ground where she was sitting.

“I know, but I’m just asking for a part-time job. Maybe I’ll get a second job when summer comes around,” you looked around the empty general store while the two of you were having this conversation.

Joyce stood from her seat behind the counter and looked over your hunched figure on the counter. You were sucking on the lollipop and just staring out the glass windows and looking out to the empty main street. You looked to the different stores that might be hiring. Sally’s Sugars and Sweets Bakery, Johnson’s Formal Attire, Hawkin’s Post, etc.

None of them caught your interest as you scanned the store signs. You sighed, maybe you could see if the library needs attendants, maybe City Hall could use interns or something. Maybe you could be a newspaper girl, Jonathan does that on the weekends.

“Honey, why don’t you just use this time to focus on yourself? You look like you could use it.”

“What does that mean?” you replied a bit timidly.

“Well I- I’m just saying you should spend time with your friends. You know, Steve sometimes calls for you.”

That got your head perked up. You already knew this information, but something in Joyce’s voice got your interest. The way she said Steve’s name and how he calls for you, no one else, just you in the Byers’ household, she was playing coy. Also, you could tell she was warming up to Steve and his new presence around the house and with you, Will also didn’t seem to mind, Jonathan though… “I know, it’s just sometimes I end up third wheeling him and Nancy, also Jonathan doesn’t like Steve, so I try to keep them separated from each other.”

“I know honey. What about that girl from school? Jonathan tells me that you’re together during lunch and after school sometimes.”

Robin. The two of you have been getting a little closer after your first study session. At first, you still tried to keep your distance a little, worried if you get attached to her, she’ll be dragged into this terrible predicament. But then her bright smiles and chipper attitude started to crack at the brick wall you placed around your heart, and each day the two of you hung out, a new crack would form in the wall. Eventually, you just gave up the cold facade and welcomed her in openly, but still trying to refrain from mentioning anything to do with the Upside Down and all that stuff.

“I’m- I’m just nervous. What if she’s just a school friend?” “School friend? What?” “You know, someone you hang out with only at school. It’s a line you don’t want to cross ‘cause some people are completely different outside of school, like a whole new personality.”

Joyce was looking at you like you were a bit crazy with this whole “school friends” explanation.

Her brows were furrowed with the crease in the middle, her head cocked to the side and her lips were puckered. She was leaning a hip against the counter while her hands rested in the pockets of her work shirt.

Her hair was longer now, her bangs more grown out and the ends of her hair now touched her shoulders. She looked healthier, a bit happier after just these past few months. That twinkle in her eyes was back, it may still be a bit dulled, but it was shining again. That’s all that mattered.

You on the other hand. Your hair was disheveled most days or just thrown into a pony or low bun to tame the rat's nest. Your clothes were rumpled and mismatched, but not in your usual way, more in a ‘throwing on the first piece of clothing that you grabbed off the floor because you couldn’t bother putting in effort’ way. Your skin was growing ghostly white from not going outside unless needed, like school, or walking into the woods so you could smoke freely. The bags under your eyes were growing and the dark circles were starting to look like someone punched your eyes in a fight. You’ve probably lost some weight, your appetite comes and goes, sometimes you could eat three meals a day, or sometimes you would just eat breakfast and just chug water the rest of the day.

Joyce removed a hand from a pocket and gently tucked loose strands of hair behind your ear. Anytime she did the action you felt like a child like you were pulled back in time. It felt like she was protecting you from the outside world, wanting to keep you safe and wrapped tightly in bubble wrap. Like she wasn’t witnessing her daughter slowly destroy her body and mind because of something horrific that no one should ever experience. Like you weren’t staring into the eyes of the woman who birthed and raised you with such hollow emotions tucked behind your corneas.

No, the simple motion of the hair being tucked behind your ear brought dreams and childhood innocents.

“Honey, I just want to make sure that you’re okay. I don’t want to push you to do something that you don’t feel comfortable with, but I just want to see you happy. That’s all a mother could ask of her children after all.”

You felt yourself getting choked up, “I know mom,” you whispered.

The both of you are just gazing at each other with tears growing, but not yet falling over. It felt like a switch of who was taking care of who, when Will was missing it was you and Jonathan worried over Joyce and watching as she was slipping. But now you were slowly losing a hold on yourself and Joyce was trying to show that she was here for you. You know Jonathan and Will would also be there for you, but you tried to keep this side of yourself hidden from them, you don’t want them to worry about you.

“You know, you’re the best mom anyone could ask for,” you sniffled.

Joyce gave a slight chuckle at that, “coming from you, that’s the best compliment I could ever hear.”

The both of you just shared in choked giggles until the bell from above the door signaled a customer. You hopped off the counter and stared over the top of the small aisles to try and see who entered the store. With a quick look outside the windows, you were able to see the beige Hawkins Police truck before you saw the mystery person.

“Hi Hopper,” Joyce exclaimed.

You turned in the direction that Joyce was looking and saw as Hopper walked closer to the counter the both of you have been at for the past hour and a half. He held his hat in his hands and gave both of you a welcoming smile, “Hello Byers.”

“Everything good at the station Hopper?” you asked, making polite conversation.

“You know Hawkins, pretty quiet.”

“Right.”

You all knew that wasn’t true, but at least you weren’t the only one choosing to be a little delusional about everything.

Hopper hit your arm with his hat in a playful gesture and grinned at you, “actually I have something that you might like back.”

Your eyes widened and you stood a bit taller. You completely forgot about the rifle. Nancy took Lonnie’s revolver for herself and you had other stuff clouding your mind that you just forgot the rifle you took from the shed. Not like you planned on going hunting or whatever, but at least with the rifle back home you knew there was some protection for the four of you.

“I checked your house to see if anyone was home to take it, but all of you are out.”

“Well, I was planning to head home soon, if you give me a ride I’ll take it.”

Hopper looked from you to Joyce behind you and gave her a ‘is that okay?’ look. You turned to see what her response would be, well you already knew, “yeah, that’s fine. I don’t want her riding out too late anyway.”

Hopper nodded his head. You looked between the two adults and noticed the looks they shared, mostly Hopper’s gaze. It peeked a bit of curiosity inside of you, but you weren’t one to meddle in other people’s business.

“How’s Will doing?” Hopper spoke after a cough.

“Um, he’s- he’s okay. He seems like he’s getting back to his normal self,” Joyce supplied.

You wanted to interject and say something, like how sometimes you could hear Will’s cries through the walls late at night when you couldn’t sleep and no one else should be awake. Or how sometimes the two of you run into each other in the kitchen and the both of you would just eat cereal at the table together. Sometimes when you couldn’t sleep you would go outside in the backyard and lay down on the grass and just stare at the stars, and sometimes Will would end up joining you. You two had each other in the dead of night when everyone else had peaceful dreams, the two of you had nightmares that sunk into your skin making it hard to fall back asleep.

“(Y/n), honey, are you ready to leave?”

You blinked a few times and realized you zoned off for a moment as Joyce and Hopper continued their conversation. You turned to Joyce and her expression was blinking like a sign showing that she was worried about you. You then make a glance at Hopper and he looked just as concerned.

“Yeah, sorry. I’ll see you later mom.”

“See ya, honey.”

…

You and Hopper drove in silence for a while. Neither of you not knowing what type of topic of conversation the other would be interested in. The radio was playing some AC/DC song, something as background noise. Hopper had the windows done just a crack allowing for the cool late winter air into the truck, it felt refreshing.

You noticed the way that Hopper was tapping his fingers against the wheel, either in rhythm with the song or just a mindless motion, you didn’t know. He was rubbing his free hand across his facial hair and then went back to rest it against the windowsill. While you sat in your seat you were twiddling with your fingers in your lap and looking out the window, watching as the trees and buildings whizzed past the moving vehicle.

“Hey, um…I know I probably sound like a broken record, but, are you okay? You’ve just seemed a bit out of it lately.”

You look away from the moving scenery and over to Hopper. He took a glance your way when you didn’t say anything right away and you noted the way his brows furrowed just a little in the middle and the concern pooling in his warm eyes. You were debating in your head if you should tell the truth. When people have been asking if you’re okay, you mostly just say “I’m fine” and they would just accept the answer. But you weren’t fine, and you did want to talk to someone about it, but you didn’t want to add any extra concern to anyone, and it’s not like you can go to a therapist.

You let out a sigh and looked to Hopper’s side profile, “if I tell you, can you not tell my mom?”

You noticed the way Hopper’s mouth opened a bit like he was gonna say something before the thoughts formed, “ah…Why- why would you not want me to tell your mom?”

“Well, she’s already worried about Will, and she does notice that I’m a little different now, but I don’t want her to know the extent of it.”

It was silent, you allowed Hopper to think about what you said. You want to talk about this stuff with someone you trust, someone who won’t judge you. You know your family wouldn’t judge you for anything, you and Steve were still getting used to your new friendship, you and Nancy were friendly but…eh, and it’s not like you could dump this stuff on the kids. Hopper was the only adult other than Joyce that you trusted.

When the truck pulled up to the house and Hopper shut the engine off, you turned to him. He was rubbing his facial hair again and then turned his attention to your waiting gaze.

“Let’s talk in the house.”

You felt a tiny smile on your lips.

The both of you slammed the doors close and Hopper grabbed the rifle from his trunk. With your keys, you unlocked the door and walked to the kitchen. You started to pull out stuff to make a sandwich and grabbed a coke from the fridge.

“You want anything to eat, I could make a sandwich or something?”

You called out to Hopper who was still in the living room. You didn’t hear a verbal response so you looked up and saw as he walked into the kitchen and just sat at the little table.

“I’m fine, (Y/n).”

You just nodded and when you finished making your sandwich you put everything back and sat in the seat across from Hopper. The air was slowly building in tension, the tension mostly coming from you because you were suddenly deciding if this was a bad idea.

Hopper speaking broke through your loud decision-making thoughts, “what’s going on (Y/n)?”

You kept your head down and just stared at the sandwich you made and tapped your nails on the plate or the table. Running your teeth along your bottom lip you looked at Hopper, he was leaning forward and had his arms on the table with his hands clasped together. His hat was also off, it allowed for you to stare freely at his face.

“Well, I-I…you know how me, Jonathan, and Nancy along with Steve went up against the Demogorgon?”

“I do, also I remember telling you and Jonathan not to do that.”

You just gave a cheeky smile at the comment, “well you can thank Nancy for bringing the idea back.”

“Anyway, so I’ve been having these nightmares, and this was before the attack. I had one the night we went looking for the monster the first time.”

“The first time?” Hopper questioned.

“Yeah, we went into the woods. I know it probably wasn’t the smartest idea, but we’re dumb kids.”

Hopper breathed a laugh at the statement. It made you smile for a moment.

“So these nightmares, how bad are they?” Hopper asked after a few seconds.

“Umm, on a scale of 1-10 I would say that they sit around 10 for 10.”

Hopper gave a solemn nodding at your answer.

You continued to just stare at the sandwich, you don’t even know why you made it, you had no appetite while talking about this. You just huffed a sigh out through your nose.

“Do…Do you want to talk about what happens? In your dre-nightmares.”

You were hesitant, but after a few seconds, you gave a timid nod to Hopper. He didn’t say anything or move closer to you, he let you take your time in formulating your thoughts and kept a good distance so you didn’t feel suffocated.

“It’s kinda always the same format, someone else and I are running away from the monster, and then it would get to them first. It was like it was taunting me, enjoying that I was witnessing it rip this person to shreds and I would just freeze from fear and stare as the life drained from their eyes. And then when it was satisfied it would drop their body onto the floor and stalk towards me as I was shaking and coward against the wall or in a corner. It would lean in close with its flowered face and open allowing for me to stare at the rows of teeth within and then it would get me, but that’s when I wake up. And I’m a cold sweat and shaking when I wake up and I wouldn’t be able to go back to bed. I would be up until my body just collapses from exhaustion.”

The tension in the air you felt earlier dissipated and all you felt now was a form of exhaustion but it wasn’t in the air or from Hopper, it was you. Just talking about them made your body feel like it was running laps without stopping until your legs just gave out. You heard the creaking of the chair and looked at Hopper who now moved to the seat next to you instead of across from you.

“Do you take any sleeping pills to try and sleep?”

‘Weed’ you answered in your head, “yea, they worked for a little, but it still wouldn’t help,” you half lied out loud.

“If you could, well want really, could you tell me who is usually running with you?”

You hesitated a bit in this part. Yeah, it would be fine if you said Joyce or Jonathan, but mentioning Steve or Hopper, to Hopper, you weren’t sure if it would be weird for him. You don’t know how Hopper would feel if you just said ‘hey sometimes I dream that you get eaten by a monster and I can’t do anything but watch’ you don’t want to scare him off, but he asked and you need to talk.

“Sometimes it’s Jonathan, especially how I remember the scene that played out in the house. Where it pinned him down and stood over him, drooling like he was dinner. Other times it’s Joyce, but not often luckily. Um, for this next one could you not mention it to anyone, like at all?”

Hopper looked a bit worried and confused but nodded his head.

“Sometimes- Sometimes the person I’m with is Steve. And as we’re running he’s always protecting me and that’s how he got killed and I can’t even do anything.”

“Harrington? Why- Are you two close or something?”

“It's a- It's a new development you could say,” you muttered.

“Is there anyone else in these scenarios? You seem a bit hesitant.”

You turned your gaze on Hopper and tried to see if this silent answering of just your eyes could answer his question. It seemed he understood, but not exactly, so you cleared your throat and said, “actually the only other person in these scenarios is…its-its you, Hopper. I sometimes watch you get ripped apart before my eyes.”

Hopper looked taken aback by this information you laid out for him. You just told Chief Hopper, a man who you didn’t converse with before this crazy government stuff, that sometimes you watch him get killed. Maybe your subconscious was trying to say something, maybe you were starting to latch onto Hopper because he was the only older male figure in your life at the moment. A.K.A, daddy issues.

“Hey,” Hopper quietly said, he tapped your hand on the table to draw your attention.

You kept your head tilted low so you looked up a bit with your brows raising. You were gnawing on your bottom lip anxiously because you weren’t sure what he was going to say. You weren’t trying to overstep any boundaries, you didn’t want Hopper to stop checking in with your family because of your disturbing nightmares.

“These are just nightmares, dreams. They aren’t real.”

Real, it felt weird, but you had to mention this detail, “Hopper, I know this sounds crazy, but sometimes when I do have dreams they manifest in some way or another. When I first dreamt of being chased by the Demogorgon I pictured it with the flowering head and rows of teeth, I didn’t even know what it looked like, Nancy didn’t even describe it to me. And another dream, Steve was in it and he was giving me a gift, a piece of jewelry, and for Christmas, he said a similar line from the dream and gave me a ring. It’s not like I think I’m psychic or whatever, but with these dreams or nightmares, I get worried that they’ll come true somehow.”

Your body started to lightly tremble and your vision was blurring around the edges, the tears were coming. Distracted by your anxious state you didn’t pay attention to Hopper and his actions. All you felt was the slight shift in the air from his movement, heard the chair move and his feet taking steps. Then you felt his hands on your upper arms moving you into a standing position, and then he pulled you into a hug. It took you by surprise for a moment, but then your arms moved into action and you wrapped them around Hopper’s waist, and just lightly, barely anything, you clenched some of his uniform into your fingers and held on.

One hand moved to the back of your head to keep you pressed against his chest and the other was resting high on your back and was moving between your shoulder blades in a comforting motion. You felt the hard pressure of his chin soon resting on the crown of your head. The tears kept slipping from your closed eyes, but it wasn’t because of your nightmares. No, it was because, for the first time, you felt like you had a father. The only time Lonnie ever touched you was to give you an undeserving beating, whether it was because of a stupid accident or cause he was drunk, he never even gave you even one hug you could remember.

Hopper, a man who mostly kept to himself, a man who somehow became a welcoming presence in your life, and a man who could have just ignored your paranoid and tired behavior. Hopper was someone who was comforting you because he knew you trusted him and just needed someone to listen and just be there for you.

“Hey, it’s gonna be okay.”

He whispered these kind reassurances into your hair and with each one spoken, you lessened in your shaking and your tears were drying. Soon when all you had was tear streaks and a few hiccups escaping from your mouth you loosened in the holding of Hopper’s arms. He moved his hands back to your upper arms and leaned back to look you in the face.

“Thanks, Hopper, I really needed that.”

He gave you a reassuring smile and rubbed his thumbs over your clothed arms, “anytime kid.”

“I’m here for you whenever you need me.”

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#The Byers Harrington Story #stranger things reader insert #stranger things self inster #reader insert #strangers things byers!reader

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certifiedlovergirlsstuff · 2 years ago

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a september chapter

summary: two different scenarios play out with robin and eddie

WC: 2.4K

warnings: cursing, use of drugs, one mention of killing, a quick nonconsensual kiss. should be it.

A/N: ALL PARTS UNDER THE TAG -The Byers Harrington Story-

give me your opinion on the eddie part of this story, cause i just wanted to do a moment were reader does something hella stupid, because shes human and we all do dumb shit.

shout out to my dad and Beyoncé since their birthday is sep4. also i was on the phone with my dad and he would not stop talking about greta van fleet, man is obsessed.

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September 4, 1984

“Robin,”

“(Y/n)”

“Do you ever feel…do you ever wonder what it would feel like to be-to be someone normal?”

A beat of silence followed.

“What- what do you mean, ‘to be someone normal?’…(Y/n), what?”

You don’t know how you even thought of that question.

You and Robin were just sitting on the abandoned bleachers during your lunch period, the cool autumn breeze would join the two of you and cut through the fabric of your coats and hit deep in your bones. The bleachers were your go-to spot now at school, wanting away from everyone? bleachers, eating lunch? bleachers, wanting to have conversations about certain topics and not want anyone butting their nose in? bleachers. Maybe that’s why you randomly chose to ask the question.

It was a pretty loaded question, it had a deeper meaning underneath, but you weren’t gonna just say the actual question out loud. There were two versions of the question you wanted to ask, ‘what if you could be normal? Normal as in being a part of the popular group, someone who had a pretty normal family life, didn’t have to worry about being picked on just for breathing in someone’s direction.’ And the other version you wanted to ask was something you can’t outright say without digging your grave, ‘what if you were normal? Normal as in…as in someone who didn’t have to worry about asking that one person the wrong question or doing the wrong thing in public and worrying about possibly getting killed.’

You turned to Robin who was already staring at you, her eyes bugging and her teeth worrying at the plush skin of her lips. Her freckled face was turning a bit red, whether it was from the cold wind hitting her face or because of your abrupt question, you weren’t hundred percent sure. Just from hanging out and interacting with Robin for almost a year you could tell, you could tell she was someone you wanted to keep in your life. She was someone you would be able to tell your deepest secrets to and she would somehow be able to keep them from spilling even though her mouth sometimes runs faster than her brain when forming sentences. She wouldn’t judge you and would understand some of the things you’ve had to deal with because both of you came from similar home lives.

Robin felt almost like a haven in a way for you. You weren’t sure if you could even describe out loud what you feel, what you mean, but she just felt safe to be around. It was nice to have that feeling with someone who wasn’t in your family, it gave you a type of hope. Hope that you would be able to find this comfort and safety with non family members, you could have your blood family, people who will be there until the day you die, and down the line in the future, there will be people who you meet and make this connection with that makes you happy.

You hesitantly reached out your hands to try and hold one of Robin’s that was on the bench beside her. She must have seen the action you were doing because she held the hand palm side up and wiggled her fingers in an open invitation. With your clammy hands you held onto Robin’s like a raft and what you were about to tell her could be the push to send you over the edge of the waiting waterfall.

“Robin, what I’m about to tell you, I’m telling you ‘cause I feel safe with you. The only other people who know about this is my family, and even then I was nervous to tell them about this part of myself.”

“(Y/n), please don’t tell me you’re pregnant or- or that you murdered someone. Because I don’t think I could keep that last one hidden for long.” You giggled at Robin’s nerves as they calmed your racing heart down just by a beat or two. After a moment you inhaled a deep breath through your nose and exhaled with your eyes closed before blurting out, “I like girls, the same way I like boys.”

It felt like the world stopped moving, even the wind stilled. You weren’t sure if your heart was still beating or if you were breathing. With your eyes still closed, you weren’t able to see the expression on Robin’s face. You couldn’t see that her mouth was agape with surprise, her lips moving but no thought was coming to mind as she was processing what just happened. You couldn’t see the look in her sea green eyes, the sullen gaze pulling her brow, the slight heartbreak peeking into her iris.

Only when you felt the tiny pressure of her hand giving a squeeze did you slowly open your lids. The sunlight blinded you for a moment and then you saw her. She was holding your hands with both of hers and was fully facing you now, her legs crossed over each other on the dirty bleachers. She was just observing you, her eyes taking in every inch of your face, from the stray brow hairs to the tiny pimples along your jaw. When her eyes finally settled on yours a warming smile overcame her.

“(Y/n), I will keep this secret until the day I die. And just because you like girls doesn’t change anything about you, you are still the wonderful, amazing, extremely kind-hearted (Y/n) Byers that I have come to know as my best friend. And no one can change my mind about that.”

Your eyes stung from the tears gathering, but they were tears of relief, of joy, nothing to be sad about today. Moving your hands out of Robin’s grasp you moved your arms to pull her into a hug around her shoulders and her’s flew to a warm grip on your waist.

With your face buried into Robin’s dirty blonde hair, you smiled and whispered, “I love you, Robs.”

You weren’t sure if she could hear your declaration, but you got an answer back, “and I love you too, Byers.”

…

September 20, 1984

The car was clouded in the hazy and thick smoke, the dark interior of the van making it seem like you were sucked into a black hole. The cushioned rug in the back of the van made your high feel extra warm like you were wrapped in a giant blanket burrito. The lids of your eyes felt like twenty-pound weights and you were struggling to keep them open, the whites of your eyes overtaken with red veins inching their way closer to your iris. Your lips tug into a Cheshire grin against your will and light chuckles make their way out through your open lips.

“What's got you so giggly, Byers?”

You giggled before replying, “absolutely fucking nothing, Munson. This weed is just perfect,” you ended on another round of giggles.

You heard the shuffling and felt the movement of the van before you saw Eddie now leaning over you. His arms were on either side of your shoulders, his curly dark hair just barely falling past his shoulders, Eddie says he wants to grow his hair out, really living his rockstar fantasy to the max.

He was grinning mischievously down from above, his eyes darting over your face, you think, your vision is kinda hazy and blurring at the moment. You reached out a heavy hand and swirled your cement-feeling fingers into the dark tendrils of Eddie’s growing mane.

“Pretty,” again another string of giggles.

Seeing the grin growing stronger on Eddie’s lips made you copy his actions. Then the feeling of skin on your forehead and then your cheeks made you feel warm inside, the feeling of Eddie’s soft, but slightly rough fingers brushing hair away from your face made you think of him just for a split second.

“Steve?”

“I’m sorry babe, it’s just Eddie.”

“Oh, oh that’s okay,” and then you did something bizarre for your medicated brain.

Leaning onto your elbow that was still on the floor you leveled yourself just a breath away from Eddie’s face, the tips of your nose barely touching. With a glance and not a coherent thought running through your mind, you closed the small space and-

“(Y/n)!”

It was now open air, the ghostly feeling of Eddie’s lips against yours gone in a second. He was away from your body and now sat beside your stretched-out legs, one hand laying on your lower leg, just below your knee. Fully pushing your upper body off the floor and then pulling your legs into your chest making Eddie drop his hand with a thunk.

It took just that second to understand what you did and why you did it. It makes you feel an acidic feeling bubbling within your intestines, worried for a second you might throw up. You tried swallowing a forming lump in your throat, but it wouldn’t leave.

“Eddie, I’m- I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t- fuck I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Hey, hey, (Y/n), it’s okay. You're high, you're not thinking fully. I know you didn’t mean it.”

You sniffled the oncoming snot, “I’m sorry, I- I just thought maybe…fuck I’m so stupid. Thinking if I just kissed you I might stop thinking about Steve for one second.”

A moment of silence passed in the small space of the van, it was still foggy inside from the hotbox, so you could only hear your breathing which sounded like a fog horn in your ears. You can’t even fully tell what’s happening with Eddie, yeah you sobered up just a fraction from your high, but you still couldn’t comprehend everything around you.

And then you heard a deep sigh, “well, I’m flattered you thought I would help your little problem, but I don’t swing that way, babe.”

That got just a baby of a chuckle from your throat, but then you went back to moping. You felt awful and disgusted with yourself, you tried to- no you kissed Eddie while the both of you were stoned. It’s like you got possessed by a frat boy in that split-second decision, and you fully hated yourself for that. You started to gather your belongings, throwing your coat back onto your shoulders, rushing to make sure nothing from your bag dropped onto the floor, and then you were rushing to throw your shoes back on.

“(Y/n)-”

“I- I should probably head home, my mom’s probably worried. Eddie, I’m really sorry and I understand if you don’t want me aro-”

“(Y/n)!” Eddie raised his voice an octave and held you by your shoulders.

“It’s okay, it was just a quick peck. And I know you didn’t mean any harm from it. Just- just let me take you home, okay? I don’t want you walking by yourself.”

Your bottom lip pulled between your teeth, nostrils flared and brows pinched in the middle, you stared at Eddie with a worrying glaze over your eyes.

“Please, (Y/n), at least for my peace of mind. Just let me take you home.”

You were hesitant, you know Joyce wouldn’t like you walking home by yourself, but you felt like you couldn’t look Eddie in the eyes. Finally, you gave in, for Joyce.

With just a timid nod of your head, Eddie moved to the driver's seat and started up the engine. You stayed behind still in the back for a couple of minutes until you decided to join in the front.

“Ah, finally, some company. I thought there was a cemetery around with how quiet everything was.”

A quick chuckle from you, “Eddie, again I’m so sor-“

“(Y/n), I already told you, I forgive you. Everyone does stupid shit when high, especially after you took a nine-month tolerance break. Yeah, you weren’t gonna be very lucid for a lot of things. I’m just happy you’re doing it with me because if it was someone else, I would be extremely worried for you.”

You turned your head to look at Eddie as he drove down the quiet highway, the moonlight and sometimes a lamppost would illuminate down through the front window. The moonlight bathed Eddie in a ghostly white sheen that looked hauntingly beautiful, it hurt your heart in a way, you weren’t sure of the reason, but it just did.

With your finger twiddling and picking at the skin in your lap, you spoke up, “Eddie-“

“I said I already forgive you, babe.”

“No, it’s not that- well not exactly, but also I should probably just stop smoking now. Anyway, I’m sorry that kissed you because I was trying to rid Steve freaking Harrington from my mind. That was a dick move.”

“Byers, a question for you,” Eddie spoke with a teasing tone.

“Why did you have to fall for Steve Harrington? ‘King Steve’ ‘The Hair’, just why? You’re way too cool for him. Plus he doesn’t deserve you in the slightest, because what I see is that all of a sudden he’s now taking an interest in you, and it’s got me a bit worried about his intentions with you.”

That last part got a snort out of you, “his intentions with me? this isn’t the 1700s, also that’s something for Jonathan to mostly worry about.”

“Yeah, well I see myself growing as your friend slash brother figure, although you trying to kiss me is very Luke and Leia of you.”

“Eddie, gross! Please can you…can you- ugh!”

The two of you filled the silence with your giggles and sometimes ugly laughing that escaped from deep within. The low humming of whatever cassette Eddie had in the car already was just soothing background noise along with the noise of the van as it drove just a bit of the speed limit. The starry night sky and the moonlit your path back home.

When you turned your head to look out the window and only saw the darkness of the never-ending woods, shivers crept up your spine and goosebumps arose on your arms. The knowing that something dangerous could be lurking in the shadows, just watching, waiting to pounce. It made you uneasy.

Tapping on your upper arm stole your attention, “You okay, Byers?”

You looked between Eddie and the open road, “yeah, probably just getting sleepy.”

You lied right through your teeth.

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#The Byers Harrington Story #stranger things imagine #stranger things fic #stranger things #stranger things series #stranger things self insert #strangers things x reader #strangers things x female reader #strangers things byers!reader #byers!reader #robin buckley

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