#there’s like so many to tag? is it fine if I don’t…

[inkonparchment]

Class of '95

Leon Kennedy x f!Reader

The tie rests in his pocket, feeling his throat constrict enough by the memories from a lifetime ago as Leon stands in his old high-school gymnasium. His breathing exercises carry him through the evening until his breath knocks out of him when he sees you again.

warnings/tags: older Leon. allusions to alcoholism. fluff. high school sweethearts.

word count: 3.5k

a/n: i dont know if anyone has seen '10 Years' but this heavily inspired from that especially the song 'Never Had'. that and 'From Eden by Hozier'. also i know thats infinite darkness Leon in the banner but i had more death island Leon in mind. anyways, happy reading! this may be lame but its all i have to offer

Leon is glad he decided to forgo the tie, a last-minute decision he made sitting in the shadows of his car, staring blankly at his reflection in the rear-view mirror. The silence had been too loud without the car in ignition, occupied by a sudden itch to grip the steering wheel and drive off, daunted too much by the expanse of his old high-school. He feels like a fraud returning, no longer finding any specks of the person who used to wander down the halls, sit in the classes and occupy the benches in the cafeteria, his carefree demeanour carrying him through the days. 

He could hear the muted drawl of music bleeding from the doors, the balloons and décor scattered across the entrance with a banner reading ‘Welcome Back Class of ‘95’ in greeting. God, that made him feel old, the constant ache in his back a constant reminder of the toll the years had taken on him. 

The walk in isn’t so terrible, wiping the sweat from his hand as he comes across the registration desk, a kindly looking face asking for his name. He nearly laughs at the ‘hello my name is’ sticker, the marker squeaking as he scribbles on his name and pastes it on his jacket right above his heart. 

Leon feels his fingers twitch when someone shouts his name in disbelief, turning around to blink in the face of two men who were previously occupied with their own conversation. He recognizes them in an instant, his teammates from the football team. Youthful faces drowned by wrinkles, grey sprinklings in their hair and torsos full of muscle now replaced with a softening belly; but their smiles are still the same. He walks over to them, gripping their hands firmly in handshakes, disbelief on their faces when they register that it is Leon. 

Where have you been, man? We thought you were dead! Wow, it’s been so long. 

It’s all the same set of questions and remarks he gets when he tours the gymnasium floor. Yes, he can’t believe it’s been so long. No, he’s just been busy with work so no time for a missus or kids. Ah, what about work? He doesn’t want to bore anyone with the boring mumbo jumbo. Yeah, he’s disappointed the police thing didn’t work out but what can you do? 

His words soon start to feel rehearsed, like an actor on scene waiting for his cue, a smile plastered on his face to dazzle the audience. Leon does a fine job of it, relaxing when he realizes that it’s easy with these people who are more eager to talk about their wives, husbands and kids. He feels envy grow within him as his eyes get stuck on their greying features, the softness of their added age and the glittering bands of their rings. 

It feels disorienting almost seeing his classmates living the life he had pictured for himself long ago, a life he didn’t realize he wanted so much now. Maybe there was something about coming stunningly close to death as of late, not that it wasn’t usual for him. Perhaps the one too many knocks against his head had finally straightened out his disarrayed thoughts into linearity.  

The praises that are aimed his way are quickly dismissed by Leon, shrugging all the ‘you look really fit’s and ‘your hair is in great condition, between the kids and job I don’t have the time to dye it’ like bullets clattering to the ground, puncturing him in the aftermath. He has nothing to show for his life save for the scar marks and the unhealed bullet wounds littering his body. Their voices would not carry a tone of wistfulness if they truly knew his reality. 

Leon needs a breather. And like a dog to a bone, he retreats to the bar in the corner. 

It’s mostly empty, smiling politely at the couple that walks away with their beverages. He leans against the bar, grateful for the coolness underneath his palm as he orders his drink. Whiskey on the rocks with a twist. 

Leon struggled with the concept of autonomy for the majority of his 20s and 30s, anger rippling through his system with his teeth grit whenever he would be dispatched at a moment's notice. Every reverberation of his trusty Matilda was doused in casual rage of the irony of his helplessness in deciding his fate as he ensured the normalcy of those back home. Mission success after success that Leon paid for with his freedom, his aching body and greying years, mourning the naive version of himself that saw the world with a gleaming lense. 

He accepted his fate soon enough, made peace with the life he knew he was too much of a coward to leave, courtesy of his survivor's guilt or hero complex, he doesn't know. He really doesn't want to find out. Perhaps it’s the shift in his reality, a peek into a life outside where he isn’t vital to the national or global security. It tugs at the strings of his heart when he realises there’s serenity here. This thought does little to alleviate the deep ache within his chest as he watches his old classmates. 

This is difficult for the reasons Leon never prepared himself for, bitterness flooding him as he mulls over the possibility of the life he could have had. Would he be like everyone else here? Would smiling come easy, a wedding ring on his finger and pictures of his kids ready on his phone, proudly brandishing it out on a moment’s notice? What does he have to show for himself apart from the scars and wounds that litter his body? 

The bartender slides Leon’s drink in front of him, parting with a polite smile. He stares at the amber liquid, ice floating on its surface and the itch in the back of his head that he had tried hard to bury returned. Leon grabs the glass, swirling it for good measure and brings it up to his lips. The whiskey barely grazes his lips when a familiar sounding laugh freezes him in place. His pulse flutters, a statue in poise, back turned to the crowd when the sweet noise filters through again to his ear. 

And suddenly Leon feels himself thrown back to the year 1995 on his own personal time machine, bubbling up memories that he had long forgotten, evoking emotions he thought he didn’t know how to feel anymore. The laugh is light and airy, so gentle and delicate, encompassing his entire being, intoxicating him once again like it did when he heard it for the first time during chemistry class. 

He remembers the softness of your skin when you two had accidentally bumped hands reaching for the popcorn, blushing bright in the darkened theatre before he gathered the courage to hold your hand firmly, never letting go again. 

Leon swears he can taste the butter on your lips when you had bravely kissed him on the doorstep of your home, a grin permanently latching onto his face. His ears ring with the sound of your cheers from the stands, louder than anyone, wildly waving your homemade posters for his games, always present come rain or hail.   

Leon is almost afraid to turn, not wanting to disturb the way his mind has painted you in beautiful strokes, conjuring up a picture so vivid that he feels he can touch if he reaches out. But curiosity gets the better of him, lowering the untouched drink down with a thunk and slowly turning around. Leon forgets how to breathe for a moment. Is it in, in? Out in? No, it’s in and out. He tries to catch up to missed breaths, eyes hung onto you. 

You look just as beautiful as the day he last remembers seeing you. It overwhelms him. Time clearly passed you by but not in the same way it had him; brutish, barbaric and aggressively tossing him on the hard concrete. No, time had been gentle with you, tenderly caressing you in its palm, nuzzling you softly as it swept you with it. 

Your smile is still the same Leon fell in love with, proud at having being the receiving end of it quite often, adoring the way you still throw your head back a little when you laugh. There is an air of elegance about you, evidence of the years that you had culminated, experiences under your belt that had transformed you into the person that was standing just a little distance away from him.    

Leon watches you intently as your eyes flicker over to where he’s standing, words fumbling from your lips as you jerk your head back up and do a double take. Your eyes blink furiously, widening in surprise as though you never expected to see him in a million years. You stumble off an excuse to the people you were talking to, eyes not daring to stray away from him. 

His drink is long forgotten, hands both nestled in his pockets, heart thrumming in his chest as he waits for you to make your way to him. There’s a certain peculiarity in how you do; a strange mix of shyness and disbelief. Your steps are light and airy, features softening as Leon grows more vivid in your line of sight. There’s something familiar in the way you walk to him, something akin to how he watched you descend the stairs of your house as he had waited at the bottom, staring at you in awe with a corsage gripped tight in his hands. Even in the picture your mom had snapped, Leon was still looking at you.  

Warmth floods him when you come to a stop in front of him, glee on both his and Leon’s face, hidden beneath timidness. He takes the first leap.  

“Hey,” Leon smiles. 

You laugh and it is oh so sweet, stronger than a shot of espresso. “Hi.” You tuck a strand of hair behind your ear.  

What do you say anyways to the most important person in your youth who you thought would be a constant? The breakup had been difficult but inevitable with the two very different paths you and Leon had picked out for yourselves. It was terribly heart aching with fingers gripping each other’s tightly, silent tears running down your face as you tried to inscribe every forehead kiss from Leon to memory with the sun setting in the far-off distance. Come morning he would be long gone, both of you deciding that it would be unbearable to start a new day without the sun shining on them both.  

What do you say after all these years have passed shaping you into different versions of the same person you once knew so long ago?  

“It’s really good to see you Leon.” Well you could say that for starters. 

A small puff of air leaves Leon’s throat, glancing down at the floor momentarily before looking back into your eager eyes. His heart clenches as he notices they still glow. “It’s good to see you too.” An understatement truly, it’s magical to see you again. He thought he never would again, his mind drifting to you in his moments of darkness, clinging on to the memories as they would rejuvenate him. His sentiment is a lot more loaded than yours, he realises, his guardian angel now materialised in front of his eyes.  

You flit about, mess with your hair, pull it behind your ears, trying to look at him whole with little glances. “I uh...I thought you didn’t attend these things.”  

“I didn’t know there were these things to attend,” He shrugged. Its true, it’s quite hard to reach him when none of his old contact numbers or emails work. Leon’s a hard man to reach. It was a surprise to him when Hunnigan had all but slammed the plane ticket and the print out of his old high-school reunion on his desk. He didn’t even bother asking how she got the information, feeling scrutinised under her hard gaze and her You need a break too, Leon. He’ll buy her favourite bottle of wine first thing back.  

“Well you know it is hard to reach you.” You tilt your head to the side, teasing glinting in your eyes. “No phone number, no address, no email either. Its almost like you vanished off the face of the earth.” 

Leon feels the tips of his ears grow hot, suddenly feeling a bit ashamed. You continue on with a casual shrug of your shoulders, “Every text or email I sent you bounced back so I just thought you didn’t want to catch up.”  

That turns him into a statue. What? “You tried to contact me?”  

A streak of blush colours your cheeks. “I mean not that frequently. Just like a couple of years back I guess? I don’t know I just did it on a whim. The text didn’t go through and neither did the email so...you know I thought you didn’t want to be contacted.” 

He didn’t know what to do with the information that you thought of him while he thought of you. He never imagined that you would actually try to reach out to him, why would you? Leon assumed you’d be well settled in your life now; husband, kids, the white picket fence. Isn’t that what the two of you would fantasise about, sharing whispered giggles huddled under the sheets?  

But there’s curiosity gnawing at his bones. He’s noticed the empty ring finger on your left hand about how you’ve spent ten minutes chatting with him here and no man has slipped his hand against your waist. You’re here, talking to him, in no rush to meet anyone else. Leon feels his fingers twitch, he would never let you out of his sight. 

He blinks, an easy smile settling on his lips, gazing at you softly at your confession. “I thought about you a lot too.” He wants to thread his fingers through your hair, tucking away the strands. “I’m sorry I went so far away.”  

You shudder, pursing your lips and looking away. You see to be shrugging your shoulders again. Cute. “It’s fine. Life gets in the way sometimes. I’m just glad you’re okay.” 

The music doesn’t bother Leon anymore. He likes it, foot tapping with the beat, letting the soft tune wash over him. The silence is nice albeit heavy, he imagines there’s a barrage of questions on the tip of your tongue. A gentle giggle pulls his attention to you, “What?” 

“Nothing. Its just,” You shake your head, “I don’t know if I should be concerned or not over how little the gymnasium has changed since we went here.”  

“Oh,” His eyes sweep the entire place, amused at your remark. “You’re right. I don’t imagine they’ve been very enthusiastic about interior decoration .”  

“They really have not,” You marvel. You seem to get lost in your thoughts, pulling your back straighter. “You think they changed the bleachers outside in the field?”  

Leon locks eyes with you, unrelenting stare as he grapples with the meaning behind your words. He spent a lot of time with you on them; shyly running to you after practice, talking with you there for hours, glancing at you cheering him on during games, the summer day you two had spent there laughing and kissing before Leon had scratched the two of yours initial on its surface, sweetly outlining it with a heart. It’s not cheesy sweetheart if you’re blushing into my neck this hard.  

Leon quirks his eyebrow, matching your smile. “Let’s find out.”  

The night is cool with clear skies and a soft breeze blowing through. Leon feels ridiculous, not in the stupid sense but in the makes-him-feel-young sense. Your hand is wrapped in his instinctively, your soft palm resting against his with a practiced ease as he tugs you along with him towards the football field. The music thrums away into the background until there’s only the sound of your shared footsteps and your soft laughs echoing in the air. He can’t help but glance at you time and again, marvelling at the soft wrinkles dusting the corner of your eyes.  

He doesn’t like it when he has to let your hand go, standing between the stands as the two of you  unspokenly begin the search for the same heart shaped mark left years ago in the dim light. 

“So uh,” You say standing a little above from him in the bleachers, attention focused on the seats as you try to sound casual, “Did you come alone?”  

“Yeah,” He’s quick to reply. “My pet goldfish gets really motion sick on planes.” He pretends to search for a while. “You?”  

You hum in reply. “I don’t think ex-husbands are too big on attending their ex-wife’s high-school reunion.”  

Leon turns towards you to see you staring at him already, fiddling with your ring-less finger. “Dead?” 

“Divorced.” 

“When?” 

“Few years ago.”  

“Why?” 

“He got his secretary pregnant.”  

Leon blinks, scoffing and surprised at the spark of anger that ignites in him. “What an absolute piece of shit.”  

You laugh. “Yeah.”  

The two of you go back to searching, a lightness on your shoulders now. He relaxes too, the stiffness disappearing from his back. “I thought a lot about you. Thought you’d have your white picket fence house by now. It’s...why I never reached out to you.”  

You bite your lip, smiling at the memory. “It’s okay Leon, really. The white picket fence seems like a lifetime ago now. Seems a bit silly honestly.”  

“It’s not what you want?”  

“I don’t know. A lot’s changed since we last spoke. I’ve learnt it’s better to let things happen as they are.”  

“Not taking chances anymore?”  

You look up at him, a sweet smile as you share a knowing look. “No, I’m taking them as they present themselves.”  

Leon’s stomach does that flipping motion again, sweat collecting on the back of his neck. He mentally notes to buy Hunnigan the snack she likes so much too. They resume their search, beckoning the other to their spot as they find something funny or worthy to see. It’s fun, his worries melting away as he laughs away the night with you. But that heart is nowhere to be found, tired of squinting.  

“Ugh, this low lighting isn’t really helping,” You sigh, trailing back to where he’s stood.  

“Maybe some extra help then.” He pats the front of his jacket, digging into his inner pocket and then brandishing out his flip phone nonchalantly. You stare at it for a second, watch him as he flips it open and then burst into laughter.  

“What?” He asks in disbelief, watching you wheeze with amusement. 

“Wow,” You manage to choke out, “Well no wonder its so hard to reach you. Does your phone even have an email app?”  

“It works fine for me,” He grumbles, hoping you can’t see how scarlet he is under the night sky.  

“No, no,” You grin at him, pinching his cheeks. “It’s cute.”  

Leon almost jumps at your fingers connecting with his cheek, inadvertently leaning into your touch. You still, realisation hitting you of what you’re doing. But you don’t stop. Your fingers splay out, hesitantly cupping the side of his face. Leon watches you carefully, trying his best to control his breathing. You shudder as the bottom of your hand grazes against his stubble, thumb slowly caressing against his skin. Leon shuts his eyes under your soft touch, a sigh leaving his lips. 

He holds your wrist, keeping your hand against his cheek, bringing you close to him by your waist. His eyes don’t stray from yours, keeping you in place. Your eyes glaze over, a sheen in them as they collect water.  

“Hi.” You whisper.  

“Hey, sweetheart.” He whispers back. 

“You look old,” You laugh, the sound mixing with a sob. 

“So do you.” He hums back, fondly brushing your hair back from your face.  

You bury your face in his chest, breathing him in. “Where were you? I waited for you for so long.”  

He pulls back to see you properly, tilting  your face up by a hand under your chin. He leans in, lips brushing over yours. You push yourself up on your toes, lips connecting with his. You feel so impossibly warm against him, lips slotting against his seamlessly. He breathes you in, tastes you deeply, gripping you against his body like he never plans on letting you go. You gasp against his lips as he steals your breath and noises.  

He pulls away just an inch, nuzzling his nose into your cheek, not daring to loosen his hold on you. “Not going anywhere now, sweetheart.” 

[bludhavens-finest]

Ok so this is the biggest blog I have so I will be talking about it here, also comics have always been inherently political so it makes sense to talk about here, this will be posted to the rest of my blogs as well

I’m going to tag this with tw’s, if you don’t want to see more shit about the election I get it believe me I do, that’s fine. If you do stay around I’m going to be incredibly blunt about this shit

1. Do not fucking kill yourself. The amount of queer and especially young people I have seen saying that they are going to is astronomical, these people are not worth loosing your life. If you need help, get help, talk to someone, at the end of this post I’ll add numbers/websites

2. If you are disabled like me, and you need something medically whether that be vaccines, surgeries, procedures, mobility aids, medications, or even certain information; get them now while you can. The medical system in America is a bitch to deal with and even harder to get into, most of my appointments take at least three months, but if you can get in and get things done before they switch who’s in office, get it done now.

3. If you are trans and planning to get gender affirming surgery or healthcare in the next few months same goes for you, get the surgeries while you still can and get on meds now, if you get on them now it’s going to be easier to keep the prescription for as long as you can.

4. If you’re a woman or afab, get birth control while you can. Because they are going to get rid of birth control at this point, they’ve already gone after abortions and this is the next step.

5. But queer/feminist/punk media and books while you still can, because yes they can and will ban books they already do it in schools

6. Honestly I would even go so far as to say start buying physical copies of certain bands if you can, because most hardcore and just regular punk bands will probably be less accessible

7. Honestly probably just get a vpn at this point, I know you’ve gotten an ad for one from a YouTuber before, look into the company’s, find one you can afford and like

8. If non-Americans or even just some Americans who are republicans (which if you are fuck off.) think this is an over-exaggeration it’s really not.

America is the only first world country without universal healthcare, most people in this country either die waiting for a doctor, die because of a doctor (medical negligence and malpractice are leading causes of death in America, over a quarter of a million people die a year because of it.), public transit is non-existent, disabled people have been fighting for our rights for decades, women lost the right to control their own bodies after having that right for less then a life span. Many woman were there when roe v wade passed and still alive when it was overturned. Because it all happened in the span of 50 years. The amount of violence in our police departments (that are only getting more and more funding), the lack of education and lack of historically accurate information taught in public schools, the literal fucking constant brainwashing campaigns.

This is all coming from someone who is Afab, a Minor, living in the south, mentally and physically disabled, a lesbian, and trans. Believe me I understand how fucking scared people are.

It is 2024 almost 2025, not 1970. You have access to information and you are entitled to being informed, so inform yourself. Check your own sources, do your own research.

I’m well aware that this all seems fucking dystopian, I know that it seems like there’s no point, but keep yourself safe. If you need a break from seeing all this filter your tags, go outside for a while, get off the internet, play with your pets, talk to friends. Just don’t let yourself sit in this and worry yourself to death, it’s not going to help anyone.

Numbers you can call: 1-866-488-7386 (Trevor project), If you go to their website you can also text if talking isn’t safe, 988 (suicide and crisis line),

[spotsandsocks]

Trick or treat! 🎃 Word: spider

The last one… yay me and yay you my friend for sending me a trick or treat word and getting me to 15 mini fics.

Coming in at just over 500 words we have a ficlet based on 🕷️ so if you don’t like the 8 legged little bugs stay away😉🎃

The gasp is only quiet, almost no noise at all but it’s stifled and that’s suspicious.

The sudden twitch in the thick thigh muscles under his feet is also suspicious.

Together it’s enough to make Eddie lift his eyes from his book and stare at the man on the other end of the couch and ask a question.

“What?”

Buck’s response is also suspicious.

“Nothing.”

Now Eddie knows Buck’s various tones and that one requires an immediate response. Lifting his feet off Buck’s lap he leans forward.

“That not your nothing nothing that’s your something nothing. What gives?”

Buck won’t look at him his eyes are focused on where he’d dropped his hoodie on the chair. It’s slipped down onto the floor, an untidy pile of rumpled fabric. He studies it but sees nothing alarming. What’s alarming is the hint of tension in Buck.

“Nothing.”

It’s still a lie the second time round and Eddie looks again at the discarded hoodie. Buck’s body shifts, disrupting their comfort further. He obviously intends to get up.

“I’m just gonna go get something.” Then he stands, with a quick glance downwards, and Eddie knows.

“Where is it? His feet are already drawn up under him.

“It’s fine. I’ve got it.”

Buck’s voice is already too distant. What if it jumps him while his protector is off in the kitchen.

Eddie scours the floor for the invader. The disruptor of his peace. He can’t see it, but it’s there.

The spider.

“Jesus!”

The exclamation is caused by the sight of the biggest mug they own in Buck’s hand.

“Fuck! How big is it?” His muscles are starting to ache from the way he’s drawn himself into an even tighter ball now.

The noise Buck makes is probably meant to be reassuring but it isn’t.

“Buck?”

“It’s not, not small but it’s not, not big.”

That’s too confusing for the level of anxiety Eddie’s experiencing right now.

“Whatever! It just needs to be not here! Get rid of it. Please!”

“Ok, ok, calm down. It’s fine… I’m just gonna…. “

The last thing he sees before he closes his eyes is not particularly reassuring; Buck cautiously edging towards his hoodie, arm and mug extended. He doesn’t look particularly happy, a grimace on his face as he crouches lower and Eddie decides he doesn’t want to know how big the spider is after all.

There is no spider. No spider. Nope nope nope.

He startles slightly when Buck sits back down.

“Gone?”

“Gone.” Buck pulls him into a hug. “All gone. Promise.”

That’s enough, he doesn’t need details. Gone is good enough.

The kiss on his head helps him feel better. He always feels a little silly after a spider incident but they’re nasty little things. All those legs. Beady eyes… hairy legs too. Far too many of them, moving around all quiet and sneaky and …

“Stop thinking about it.” Buck’s voice is kind but there’s a ripple of amusement running through it. “Do you need me to distract you?, take your mind off the big bad….”

“Don’t…. And I saw your face, it was a big one, don’t tell me it wasn’t.”

“No idea what you mean…” Buck twists so he can kiss him which is a little bit distracting so he lets him keep doing it until it becomes very distracting and Eddie has nothing else on his mind but Buck.

Let’s add a few tags @daffi-990 @hippolotamus @thelikesofus @thekristen999 @theplaceyoustillrememberdreaming @hermscat @inell @diazsdimples @dangerpronebuddie @eddiebabygirldiaz @tizniz @lonelychicago @monsterrae1

[fxckadoodledoomunson]

A Heart Divided -5-

Previous

|5| Truth and Consequences

Summary: Chrissy and Max tries to find Roxy on her own so they can interrogate her about your sister and the diary, while Nancy questions Steve about his closeness with Chrissy. Meanwhile, Eddie is conflicted over his relationship your sister, whilst trying to figure out where you’ve gone.

Warnings: swearing, mention of weed, abusive parent, blood.

Tagged: @somethingvicked @ali-r3n @mirandasidefics @mewchiili @erisdogwood @hufflepuffobsessedwithmarvel @yourdailymemedelivery @pretendthisnameisclever @sadbitchfangirl

The next morning, Nancy was parking her car outside of the Family Video, when Max asked the older girls, “You think this will work?”

“It’s worth a try,” Nancy said, as they all took of their seatbelts. “Anything to help us prove to Eddie who really wrote that diary.”

“I just hope that we can use the database to find Roxy,” Chrissy replied.

“Well, if Keith’s there and says anything, I’m sure Nancy can put on the charm,” Max joked, as they got out of the car.

“Very funny, Max,” Nancy sarcastically responded, which made Chrissy giggle.

Meanwhile, inside the store, Robin and Steve were debating on which movie to play.

“I’ve told you before, Robin,” Steve spoke as he was pushing the empty trolley. “I don’t do double VHS.”

“Oh come on,” Robin retorted, as Steve followed her to the counter, before picking up a cardboard cutout of Freddy Krueger. “You picked the movie last time. It’s my turn.”

“Okay, fine. But I’m not-“ Steve with the cutout in front of his face, turned around when he heard someone yelp, as he almost bumped into that person.

“Smooth move, dingus,” Robin snorted, as she was about to take the VHS tape out of its cover when Steve passed her cutout, before beginning to apologise.

“I am so sorry. Are you okay? I didn’t mean to bump into you, I should’ve…”

“It’s okay,” a sweet voice replied, prompting Steve to turn back, to find Chrissy standing in front of him, smiling.

“Oh, Chrissy. Hey,” Steve grinned as he greeted her, whilst Nancy and Max padded behind her. As Robin waved at the two girls, Steve greeted them, before asking Chrissy, “What brings you here?”

“The girl’s been single for five minutes, and he’s already making a pass at her,” Robin teased.

Steve turned to Robin, as he asked in a serious tone, “Don’t you have a tape to put on?”

Robin was about to continue with her teasing when Nancy cleared her throat, before informing Steve and Robin, “Actually, we need your help with something. You see, we’re doing some investigating, and…”

“Investigating?” Steve asked, before asking if it had something to do with your disappearance.

Chrissy explained, as she held up the diary, that they were investigating on who was responsible for forging your handwriting.

“Can I see it?” Steve asked Chrissy, before she handed it over to him.

“Why? Curious about what it might say about you?” Robin asked, causing Steve to sarcastically laugh, as he started reading the contents.

“He won’t find anything anyway, it’s only about Eddie,” Chrissy informed them, confirming that she, Nancy and Max thoroughly checked every single page.

After Steve read through the pages, he closed the diary and gave it back to Chrissy, as he confirmed, “Well, whoever forged the handwriting, definitely needed a dictionary. So many misspelling errors. And doesn’t she like, doodle stuff on the pages or something?”

After confirming that you never wrote in the diary, Steve asked Chrissy, “Any ideas on who it could be? If I had to put money on it, it would be her sister.”

“At first, I thought for sure that it was her sister who wrote it,” Chrissy mentioned. “But after comparing her friend, Roxy’s writing in the yearbook, I’m wondering if she’s involved too.”

“Okay, so what does that have to do with us?” Robin asked.

“We need to use your computer system to find Roxy,” Max bluntly responded.

“Well, even if we let you use it to find her and prove that the diary, do you really think that it would make a difference to Eddie?” Robin asked, before commenting on his recent ill treatment towards you.

“Maybe not, but it’s gotta be worth a try,” Chrissy replied. “So, can we please use the computer?”

Robin and Steve silently turned to each other, before Steve shifted his attention to Chrissy, silently giving the girls permission to use the computer by gesturing at it to them.

Chrissy smiled, as she thanked him. As the three girls started gathering around the computer, Nancy quickly turned to glance at Steve, whose eyes were fixated on Chrissy when Robin started making a kissing face at him, prompting Nancy to swiftly turn away. As Steve took notice of Robin, he glared at her, telling her, “Go and help them.”

Robin raised her hands with an innocent expression on her face, as she went to help the girls.

Suddenly, the phone started ringing, prompting Robin to turn her head when Steve picked it up, he answered, “Family Video, how can-? Oh, hey Mom. Why are you-?”

As the girls continue to search on the database, they heard Steve ask, “Really? Where?”

Chrissy turned her head, hoping that he was given some information about your whereabouts, as he Steve jotted down something on a scrap of paper.

“Okay, thanks for letting me know…I’ll go there right now.”

After Steve had put down the phone, he immediately took his work vest, as he asked, “Hey Nance, can you drive me to the tow yard? My mom said that the cops called, saying that they found my car.”

“Sure,” Nancy replied, before asking Chrissy and Max, “Will you guys be okay finding Roxy by yourselves?”

Chrissy remained silent, worrying about you when Max responded, “Yeah, sure.”

Nancy silently nodded, as Steve told her, “Let’s go.”

They were both about to leave when Steve noticed Chrissy’s worried expression.

Steve deeply exhaled, as he approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder, softly telling her, “Don’t worry. I’ll ask the cops about her. If they’ve found my car, then maybe they’ve found her too.”

Chrissy chewed her lower lip, holding back her tears, as she silently nodded.

“Listen, we can wait until you find Roxy’s address, and we’ll drop you off there before the yard,” Steve suggested, before asking Nancy. “Right, Nance?”

Before Nancy could respond, Chrissy replied, “It’s okay. I can call Aimee and ask if her brother can take us to her.”

“Are you sure?”

Chrissy silently nodded, when Nancy said, “We better get going before they destroy the car.”

Steve briefly rubbed Chrissy’s shoulder, before moving his hand away, as he stepped outside, following Nancy, who sprinted towards her car.

Meanwhile in the hospital, Eddie was still in bed, rereading your diary, ghosting his fingers against your drawings when he heard the door knocking.

As he quickly closed the diary and hid it under his pillow, the door opened, as a gruffly voice announced, “It’s only me.”

It was Wayne.

As Wayne entered the door, carrying a plastic bag, he told Eddie, “I’m not supposed to be here out of visiting hours, but the nurse allowed me to come and drop off a couple of things.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks,” Eddie replied, as Wayne placed the bag on top of the table, before taking out some comic books and a couple of cassettes for him.

“Did you managed to do your homework?” Wayne asked.

“Some,” Eddie grumbled, as he crossed his arms when Wayne leaned over, and asked, “Eddie? Are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Eddie retorted. “I’m being discharged soon.”

“Well, it’s just…your eyes are puffy. Have you been crying?”

Eddie scoffed, as he shuffled in his bed, before denying, “Of course not. Just tired, that’s all. Didn’t get enough sleep.”

If there was one thing that Wayne knew, it was the fact that his own nephew wasn’t good at lying.

However, Wayne decided to let him lie, saving the interrogation.

As he took the empty plastic bag, Wayne told him, “Well, I’ll come and see you again during visiting hours. Has your girlfriend been to visit?”

Eddie stayed silent, not mentioning that your sister hadn’t been to see him.

Wayne sighed, “If you want, I’ll ask if she wants to visit when I go over-“

“Don’t bother,” Eddie coldly replied. “She’s probably busy.”

Wayne shook his head, before telling him, “I’ll ask anyway.” He then mentioned you. “It’s been a week since she went missing, I hope she returns home soon.”

“Me too,” Eddie mumbled. “I know we’re not close anymore, but I hope she comes back.”

Wayne furrowed his eyebrows, wondering about Eddie’s sudden change of heart about you.

“Well, we’ve got people to look out for her, so someone’s bound to see her,” Wayne replied, as he headed to the door, before replying, “ I’ll see you later, kid.”

Eddie silently waved goodbye to his uncle, who had closed the door behind him.

After he had gone, Eddie took the diary from under the pillow and opened it, rereading the pages. The more Eddie read, the more he was finally convinced that the diary was yours, especially how you described your sister as a succubus. Looking back, Eddie realised that you were right. He remembered the day when your sister showed him the fake diary…

“No…” Eddie tearfully said, as he sat on your sister’s bed, reading the insults about him in the diary, which your sister allegedly found under your bed. “No, that can’t be true.”

“I’m sorry, but it is,” your sister replied with fake sympathy. “You don’t know what she was like after you leave. She’s always badmouthing you for failing senior year twice.”

Eddie sniffled, as he slammed the diary shut.

“I didn’t want you to find out this way, but…maybe it’s for the best,” your sister said, as she cupped his cheek and pulled him into a kiss.

Eddie instantly pulled himself away, confused with your sister’s sudden move.

He knew that your sister wasn’t always nice to him when she was in his class. But then he thought maybe she had changed.

Your sister flashed a smile at him, as she seductively stroked his arm, before whispering to him, “She doesn’t have to know, not that she’ll care anyway.”

Eddie wasn’t sure what to do. On one hand, he didn’t understand why she would make a move on him. On the other hand, he was too angry to care. He thought that maybe being with your sister would help him get over you.

“You know what? Fuck it,” Eddie exclaimed, as he dropped the diary, leaning into a passionate kiss, making your sister squeal with delight…

Eddie snapped himself out of that memory, as he closed the diary. At that moment, he realised that maybe you were right about your sister being a succubus, wondering if she had anything to do with the fake diary. Looking back, he should’ve left immediately after she kissed him and gone to the training camp to ask you about it.

He sighed, as he leaned back, trying to decide to whether break things off with your sister, or wait until she confessed.

A few moments later, Steve and Nancy were at the tow yard. After Steve signed and paid for his car to be returned, they waited for the car as Steve commented, “I hope that she’s been found.”

Steve stared at his watch, wondering how long it’ll take when Nancy spoke up, “Hey, Steve?”

“Yeah, Nance?” Steve asked, as he lowered his arm.

“I hope you don’t think I’m prying, but I uh… couldn’t help but notice how you are with Chrissy lately.”

Steve furrowed his eyebrows, as he asked in a confused tone, “How do you mean?”

“Well, I noticed how you were ogling her earlier and-“

“Okay,” he let out a little laugh, before explaining. “I was not ogling her. I’m just worried about her, that’s all.”

He then mentioned that Chrissy was your best friend, and that you were like family to him, before carrying on saying, “So obviously, I am protective of her, especially after what happened with Carver. I mean, I’ve known Chrissy since we were kids, and-“

“Okay, I believe you,” Nancy interjected, before letting out a small laugh, as she turned to face the counter.

“Well, speaking of prying…How’s things with you and Jonathan?”

Nancy turned to him for a split second before facing forward, faking a smile, as she replied, “Great, we couldn’t be more happier.”

Steve furrowed his eyebrows, as he saw through her. “Nance?”

Nancy turned to him, as she sadly sighed, before telling him, “Let’s just say…Things are a little complicated for us right now.”

Steve attentively listened, as Nancy revealed, “We got talking about college, and we got into a fight after I found out that he’s going to community college instead of Emerson. I tried calling him, but he’s either with this Argyle guy or the line’s busy because of Joyce’s job.”

“I’m sorry to hear it,” Steve sympathetically responded, before placing his hand on her shoulder, telling her, “You’ll get through to him, and you guys will fix it.”

Nancy smiled, as she thanked him when the officer came back with Steve’s keys.

“Here you go,” he said as he passed him the keys.

Steve turned around, before asking, “Uh…Where’s my car?”

“Yeah about that, it’s outta gas,” the officer revealed. “So, we couldn’t bring it over.”

Steve turned back, as he asked about you.

“There’s no report about your friend. Just your unattended vehicle.”

Steve’s face turned pale, as he thought about the worst case scenario.

“Don’t worry,” Nancy began to assure him. “I’ll get my dad’s gas tank from home, and-“

“Never mind the gas tank,” Steve frantically interrupted as he gripped his hair, before asking, “What about her?”

He cursed under his breath, before asking the officer if he could make a phone call.

After the cop had let make one call, Steve dialled Dustin’s phone, before hearing Dustin answer, “Henderson residence.”

“Dustin, it’s me.”

Steve then asked him to contact Max for them, informing her and Chrissy that you still haven’t been found by the police, before telling him that he and Nancy were going to find your last location.

On the other side of town, Max and Chrissy got out of a taxi which they had to take as Tony was unable to take them to Roxy.

After paying the driver, they started walking towards the street, as Max asked, “Do you think she’ll talk?”

“I don’t know,” Chrissy sighed. “But it’s worth a shot.”

Chrissy continued to talk as they approached the door when they heard Max’s supercom beep before hearing Dustin’s voice.

“Max! We’ve got a code red! I repeat, we’ve got a code red!”

Max took it from her backpack, as she heard Dustin say that you were still missing and Steve and Nancy were going to where the car was located.

Suddenly, Chrissy snatched the supercom from Max’s hand, and quickly answered, “Ask them where to meet-.”

Suddenly, the connection was cut off. Her lips started to tremble, as she dropped to her knees and started to sob.

Max kneeled down beside her, and placed one hand on her shoulder whilst grabbing the supercom from her with the other.

“Don’t worry, they’ll find her,” Max assured her.

“What if they don’t?” Chrissy blubbered. “What if she’s been taken? What if she’s…?”

Chrissy continued to sob, as Max wrapped her arms around her, trying to comfort her.

“After we deal with Roxy, we’ll find her, okay? If Steve’s car’s been found, then maybe she’s close by.”

Suddenly, they heard a door unlocking, causing the two girls to get back on their feet, as realised that it was coming from Roxy’s house.

As the door swung open, an older man, presumably Roxy’s father, with a beer bottle in his hand, leaned against the frame, supporting himself.

“Can I help you?” He slurred.

“Uh, I’m not sure if we have the right address, but does Roxy live here?” Max enquired, before mentioning Roxy’s full name.

“Roxy?” The man scoffed. “She isn’t here.”

The girls turned to each other before facing the drunken man, as Chrissy asked, “You mean, she’s not home or…”

“Home? Ha!” The man exclaimed. “That little harlot hasn’t been here for a long time. Now leave me be!”

After the man slammed the door in their faces, the girls stepped back and turned around, as Max sarcastically said, “What a charmer. So, what do we do now?”

“I don’t know,” Chrissy replied, before mentioning that they may have no choice but go to your place and ask your parents if they know Roxy’s whereabouts.

“Excuse me?” A female voice spoke. The girls turned to find a woman in a nurse uniform approaching them. “Did you say that you were looking for Roxy?”

“Yes, we are,” Chrissy replied. “Do you know where we can find her?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. She’s living with her grandparents. I’m actually heading there now to take care of her grandfather. I can you take you there, if you want.”

Before the girls could respond, they heard a door swing open. The carer groaned, “Here we go again.”

They turned around to find Roxy’s father throwing numerous items out of the door, as he shouted out to the carer, “Hey Shelia, next time you see my old man, give these back to that whore!”

Max and Chrissy stared in disgust as Shelia shook her head, about to say something when he slammed the door shut again.

Shelia sighed, as she picked up some clothes from the lawn.

Chrissy and Max, who had found a couple of pieces of paper before stuffing them in her pocket, helped pick up the remainder of the stuff, as Shelia thanked them, before walking to her car.

“You can put them in the box in the boot,” she told them.

“Does he always throw her stuff out every time he sees you?” Chrissy asked.

“I’m afraid so,” Shelia replied.

“What a piece of shit,” Max muttered.

After putting everything in the box, Shelia told them, “Listen, my offer still stands. If you two want me to drive you to see Roxy, I can take you now.”

The girls exchanged glances before deciding to go with her.

After finally getting fuel for his car, Steve and Nancy left the Wheeler’s residence, before heading to the location of where his car was found.

As soon as Nancy parked her car, Steve jumped out of his vehicle, trying to find anything that could help track you.

“Steve, wait,” Nancy called out, as she got out of her car, while Steve quickly followed footprints through the woods.

“Please be close by,” Steve muttered. “Please be close by.”

He continued to follow the tracks until he got to the edge of the lake.

He stopped, and turned his head, seeking for more tracks and any boats near the lake. However, he had no luck.

“Shit!” He growled, as he scratched the back of his head.

“She might not have gone far,” Nancy spoke. “Someone must’ve seen her-“

“Do you see anyone else here, Nancy?!” Steve shouted. “Where else would she go?! You don’t understand-!”

“I don’t understand?”

Steve’s face softened, seeing Nancy’s angry expression, as she continued, “Of course I understand, Steve! Have you forgotten about what it was like for me when Barb went missing before she was killed?!”

Steve slowly approached her, as he softly spoke, “Nance…”

“Let’s just keep looking,” Nancy retorted, before storming off in one direction, leaving a remorseful Steve behind.

Meanwhile on the other side of town, Shelia had pulled her car in front of a bungalow. As the girls got out, Chrissy asked the carer, who had grabbed Roxy’s belongings, with both girls helping her, “Do you think Roxy will be in?”

“Well, every time I’ve been to visit, she’s always been there,” Shelia recalled, as they walked up the pathway to the bungalow. “Especially as she’s got her baby to look after. She doesn’t like shifting her responsibilities to her grandparents.”

Chrissy and Max exchanged confused glances, wondering if it was the same Roxy they were seeking, as Max asked, “Baby?”

As Shelia knocked on the door, Max asked if you had mentioned to Chrissy about Roxy having a baby.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard about it,” Chrissy replied. “She would’ve said if she knew already.”

Suddenly, the door swung open, as an elderly woman stood in the doorway, and happily greeted the nurse. “Shelia.”

As the woman hugged her, Shelia said, “Hello Eunice. How’s Ronald today?”

“He was a little bit achy earlier, but Roxy helped him with his exercises, so he’s a little bit better.”

As she stepped back, Eunice told Shelia to come inside when she noticed that Chrissy and Max were standing outside. She smiled, as she greeted them, “Oh, hello dears. Can I help with something?”

“We’re here to see Roxy,” Chrissy replied, as Shelia went inside the bungalow. “Is she here?

“Yes, she is. Is she expecting you? She didn’t say anything about having visitors.”

“Well, we only met recently,” Max fibbed. “We were outside her Dad’s when Shelia mentioned that she was here. We thought that we could hang out with her today. That is, if she’s not busy.”

“Well, if you’re her friends, then I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you. Come on in.”

Eunice took them through the hallway, as she told them, “She and her grandfather in the backyard with her son.”

As they stepped into the back garden, Max and Chrissy noticed Roxy picking up a boy, no older than three months, from her grandfather who was in his wheelchair.

“There we go,” Roxy said, as she held her son, while Shelia pushed the wheelchair, heading back inside when Roxy saw her grandmother with the two girls. She instantly recognised Chrissy, but didn’t know Max. When she noticed the diary in Chrissy’s hand, she started to worry.

“Honey, these sweet girls are here to see you,” her grandmother informed her, before offering Max and Chrissy a drink.

“They’re not staying,” Roxy interjected in a panicking tone.

“Roxy,” Eunice began to sternly say. “There’s no need to be rude.”

Before Roxy could say anything else, Max explained, “We’re not staying long. We just need a moment of your time for five, ten minutes tops.”

Roxy turned to her grandmother, before shifting her attention back to Chrissy and Max. She then huffed, before telling them, “Ten minutes.”

After she had put down her son in his crib, Roxy sat down on the couch, opposite the two girls, when Max asked, “What’s his name?”

“Look, just what you gotta say, and then leave,” Roxy coldly retorted.

There was a brief silence when Max began to calmly speak, “We just wanna ask-“

“Did you do it?” Chrissy abruptly asked, as she lifted up the diary. “Did you write all of this about Eddie Munson and framed my best friend?”

Roxy crossed her arms, as she denied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Chrissy scoffed, “Bullshit.”

“Hey!” Roxy shushed her. “There’s a baby here, so mind your language.”

The girls turned to look at the boy sleeping, before turning to face each other.

Chrissy exhaled, before calmly telling her. “Look, I’ve seen your handwriting in her sister’s yearbook. It had identical spelling mistakes like in this diary. Can you explain that?”

“That doesn’t prove anything.”

Chrissy was about to speak again when Max asked, “Well, what about the sick note?”

Chrissy turned to her with confusion, while Roxy’s eyes widened, as she had let out a nervous laugh before she hesitated, “Sick note? W-What sick note?”

Max pulled out a couple pieces of paper from her pocket, one revealing a scribbled handwriting for an old sick note, and the other revealing an I.O.U from Roxy’s father with similar handwriting.

“This was amongst your stuff which your dad threw out when we went to find you earlier,” Max explained. “Care to explain?”

A worried Roxy avoided eye contact with both girls, as Max said, “Pretty good forgery…shame that some of the words aren’t spelled correctly.”

Chrissy looked at Max with astonishment, as the younger teenager asked, “So, why did you forge her handwriting in the diary?”

“I…I…” Roxy stammered, before breaking down in tears.

Chrissy and Max exchanged glances, before shifting their attention to a distraught Roxy, who was drying her eyes, as she apologised, before blurting out, “I didn’t want to, but she-“

Suddenly, her son started wailing, distressed by his mother’s change in mood.

“It’s okay honey,” Roxy softly said as she picked him up and held him, trying to calm him down when Chrissy asked if it was your sister who made Roxy write in the diary.

Instead of confirming, Roxy told them, “You need to leave.”

“But-“ Chrissy began to speak when Roxy hissed, “Now!”

She then burst into tears, as she begged them, “Please…”

Max stepped back, as she pulled a disappointed Chrissy, telling her, “Come on, Chrissy.”

The girls were about to leave when Chrissy turned around and said tearfully, “I don’t know what kind of hold she has on you, but all I know is that her sister and my best friend is still missing, and you’re both at fault for it. Actions have consequences, remember that.”

Chrissy sniffled, as Max put her arm around her, softly telling her, “Come on.”

As soon as they left, Roxy held her little boy close, as she sat back down on the couch, sobbing, unaware that her grandmother heard everything.

Max and Chrissy stepped out of the bungalow and started walking down the path. “She kinda admitted to writing it,” Max assured.

“But it’s still not enough,” Chrissy sniffled, worried that you might not get any justice.

“Excuse me.”

The girls stopped and turned to find Eunice standing in the doorway. At first, they thought she was going to scold them for upsetting her granddaughter. However, she sweetly smiled, as she asked, “Why don’t you come back inside? There’s something you need to know.”

The girls glanced at her in confusion when Roxy stepped out, as her grandmother held her hand.

After a long investigation with no success, Steve and Nancy headed back to their cars. As Nancy got in her car, she was about to close her door when Steve called out to her, “Nancy?”

She turned her head, as he approached her. She silently looked up at him, as he began to apologise, “Look, I’m sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

Nancy deeply exhaled, before telling him, “It’s okay, Steve-“

“No, no. It’s not okay. I should’ve been more empathetic. I just…I just can’t help but think of the worst.”

Nancy sympathetically gazed at him when Steve pinched his nose as he turned around and headed back to his car.

Nancy called out his name when Steve ignored her, as he got into his car. His first thought was to contact Dustin about the situation. He suddenly remembered that there was a spare supercom which Dustin left previously in the glove compartment. He opened it up to reach for it when he realised that it was gone.

“What? No way…”

He continued to rummage through the compartment when Nancy approached him.

“Listen, Steve. I…”

“It’s gone,” Steve muttered. “She must’ve taken it.”

“What?”

Steve revealed that the spare supercom was missing.

“Are you sure that Dustin didn’t take it?” Nancy asked.

Instead of answering her, Steve started the car and drove off, leaving Nancy to get in her own car and follow him.

A few moments later in the hospital, Dustin and Lucas were walking through the hallway, on their way to see Eddie. They were about to approach the door when Dustin heard his supercom going off in his bag. “Dustin, this is Mike, do you copy? Over.” He heard Mike say, as he quickly rummaged through his rucksack.

“Pick up, you little butthead!” He heard Steve yell.

“Get your hands off it,” Mike scolded Steve.

“Guys, seriously,” Nancy scolded from the other end, as Dustin finally got it out.

“What is it?”

Nancy asked him if he took the spare supercom from Steve’s car.

“No,” Dustin replied. “Why do you ask?”

Steve then told him to try to call it, in case you had it.

“Give me a sec,” Dustin responded, before he changed the frequency, attempting to contact you. “…do you copy? Over.”

However, there was no response. He and Lucas tried again several times, before realising that you might’ve switched it off or the battery had died.

Dustin sighed, as he reverted back to Mike’s frequency, before confirming that you were not responding.

“Well, keep trying,” Steve told him.

Before the two boys could respond, he heard the door swing open. He turned to find Eddie, who was in his own clothes, storming out of his room. They immediately followed him, as Lucas asked, “Eddie? Eddie, what are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” Eddie retorted. “I’m discharging myself.”

The two youngsters turned to each other, before catching up with Eddie.

“Eddie, Eddie wait!” Dustin called out.

“I’ve waited long enough. I’m gonna find her myself.”

Dustin stammered, as Eddie exited the hospital. “You can’t be serious. Wayne will lose his shit if you leave-“

“Yeah like I give a shit,” Eddie retorted, as he grabbed Dustin’s bike, before getting on it.

“Hey! You can’t take my bike,” Dustin scolded.

“I’ll get it back to you,” Eddie replied, as he started pedalling.

“Eddie! Eddie, come back here!”

Ignoring Dustin, Eddie continued to ride down the road, leaving the youngster to curse, “Son of a bitch!”

Lucas immediately took out his supercom, and contacted Mike, “Mike! We’ve got another problem. Eddie’s gone to find her.”

“And he stole my bike!” Dustin retorted before hearing a gruffly voice asked, “Eddie’s gone where?”

The boys turned to find Wayne standing in front of them.

Meanwhile in the bungalow, Max and Chrissy silently sat on the couch opposite Eunice and Roxy, who held her son close. “Tell them the truth, dear,” Eunice softly told Roxy. “Whatever happens next, your grandfather and I will give you support.”

Roxy turned her grandmother, before shifting her attention to the girls. She took deep breaths before revealing that, not only did she forged your handwriting, but your sister had made her do it.

“I didn’t want to,” Roxy sniffled. “But I had no choice. If I didn’t, she would tell my ex boyfriend who Shaun’s real father is.”

Max and Chrissy gazed at a grizzly Shaun, as Roxy tried to calm him down, as well as herself.

Eunice placed her hand on Roxy’s shoulder, encouraging her to tell them more.

Roxy exhaled, before confessing that a year ago, she had a fight with her ex boyfriend after she had found out that he and your sister hooked up while he was still with her.

“I got angry, and I wanted to get back at her,” Roxy revealed . “So, I.. I slept with this guy she was seeing at the time. She caught us, and got pissed off. She told the dean that I’ve been writing papers for some people in campus in exchange for cash, which led me getting expelled.”

She had let out a small chuckle, before confessing, “She got her karma though. Without me helping her, she got caught cheating on an exam, getting herself kicked out of college.”

Max and Chrissy glanced at each other with confusion, before Chrissy asked “Kicked out? I thought she dropped out.”

“Well, that’s what she told her parents. I’m guessing they still don’t know.”

“I don’t get it,” Max spoke. “Why would you still hang around with her after what happened between you two?”

Roxy sighed, before explaining, “If it weren’t for the fact that we share a mutual friend in Diana, I wouldn’t be hanging with her. Sadly, wherever I go with Diana, she would tag along.”

She then revealed that your sister wanted to ruin your friendship with Eddie for revenge. So, she made her forge your handwriting, making out that you were the one who wrote the entries.

“I guess my dyslexia gave it away,” Roxy had let out a small chuckle, before admitting that she was surprised that your sister didn’t catch on sooner. “Mind you, she was always a self absorbed bit-.”

“Roxy,” Eunice interjected.

“Sorry,” Roxy apologised, before Chrissy asked why your sister wanted revenge against you.

Roxy sighed, as she shrugged her shoulders, before telling her, “I don’t know. Probably jealousy as her sister have their parents’ attention. I wish I could tell you more, but-“

Roxy stopped , as she heard the door knock.

The four of them turned to find Shelia standing in the doorway, before she spoke, “Sorry to interrupt, but Ronald wanted to stop the physio session for today. He said that he’s getting tired.”

“Thank you for letting us know,” Eunice replied.

“No problem. I’ll be back later to give him his medication.”

Shelia turned to Max and Chrissy, and asked if they needed a ride back.

“Yeah, thanks. Could you drop us off at Family Video please?” Chrissy asked.

“Sure, I’ll need to get some supplies in town anyway.”

Chrissy thanked her, as they both got up and began to leave when Roxy spoke up. “I really am sorry for all of this. If I knew what the repercussions were going to be, I would’ve told my ex the truth sooner. I take it that Munson’s still in the hospital?”

“Yeah, apparently he’s gonna be discharged soon,” Max replied. “Why?”

“I wanna tell him that it was me who wrote it,” Roxy said, before telling them that she owed you that.

Chrissy gave her a small smile, before thanking her, when suddenly, she and Max heard Nancy’s voice on the supercom, “Guys? Are you there? I’m heading to Roxy’s house, can you let me know where you are?”

Max took out the supercom, before responding, “We’re on the other side of town. Can you meet us at Family Video? We’ll explain everything when we get back. Is Steve still with you?”

“He’s gone to find Eddie.”

Chrissy took the supercom from Max, before asking, “Why? I thought he was recovering.”

Nancy revealed that Eddie might be trying to find you.

At the Wheeler’s house, Mike was on the phone in the basement when Nancy came downstairs. She announced, “I have to meet Max and Chrissy…what are you doing?”

“What does look like?” Mike retorted. “I’m trying to call the Byers. I need to talk to El.”

Nancy sighed, before telling him, “Look Mike, I know you said that El got her powers back, but how can you be sure that she can help you find her? She’s never met her.”

What Nancy and Mike were unaware of was that Eleven was already in the void, listening to them…

“I know, and I’m not gonna force her to find her,” Mike told Nancy, as Eleven slowly approached them. “I just don’t know what else I do.”

While the siblings were debating on whether or not Eleven should find her, she turned to find a framed photo of him with the Hellfire club. It was the same photo that Mike showed her and Will when he came to visit during spring break. He had mentioned everyone in the picture to them including you.

Eleven turned to the siblings, before leaving the void….

In California, Eleven had removed the blindfold from her eyes, and wiped her bloodied nose, letting herself rest for a moment, before she had the image of the Hellfire members in her head, as she tried to remember your face. She was about to put the blindfold back on when she heard a knock, before hearing Will’s voice, “El? Jonathan’s making lunch, do you-?”

Eleven turned to find Will going into her room, as he stopped talking.

“El? El, what are you doing?” He asked as he knelt down beside her.

“I wanted to talk to Mike, but Joyce was on the phone, so I decided to check on him,” Eleven explained, before telling him that he and the others were still looking for you.

“El, you only got your powers back not so long ago. You should take it easy.”

Disobeying Will, Eleven wrapped the blindfold around her face, as she searched for you…

In the void, Eleven was walking towards a couch. As she moved closer, she realised that you were napping.

Eleven knelt down in front of you, as you mumbled in your sleep. “No…no…”

Eleven slowly moved her hand and placed it on your shoulder, causing you to jolt, as pieces of visions came to Eleven…

Broken down car…water…lake house…

The images repeated before they vanished, as you quickly moved away…

“El? Eleven?!”

Eleven left the void, as she heard someone call for her. As soon as she took off the blindfold, she turned to Will, who had brought Hopper to see her.

“El?” Hopper began to ask. “Why are-?”

“I think I know where she might be,” Eleven interrupted.

Before Hopper and Will could say anything, Eleven ran out of her room, heading to the dining room where Joyce was sitting, making calls.

As soon as Joyce hung up and placed the cordless phone on the table, she heard quick footsteps, causing her to turn her head when Eleven ran up to her and grabbed the phone.

“El…?” Joyce began to speak, as Will and Hopper caught up Eleven.

“What’s going on?” Jonathan asked.

As soon as Eleven finished dialling the Wheeler’s number, she waited for an answer, as Will explained what Eleven had seen.

“Wheeler’s residence,” Mike answered.

“Mike?” Eleven spoke.

“El! I tried calling-“

“Your missing friend… I think I know where she might be.”

Meanwhile in Hawkins, Eddie had finally reached your house. As soon as he got off the bike, he ran up to the door, about to knock on it when he heard a honk. He turned to find Steve’s car pulling up to the driveway.

“Hey!” Steve called out, before getting out of his car. He marched towards Eddie, as he told him, “Are you nuts? You should be resting.”

“Spare me the lecture, Harrington,” Eddie retorted.

“If you think that she’ll be back here, you’re wrong. Or are you here to see your stuck up girlfriend?”

“She’s not my girlfriend!” Eddie growled, which confused Steve. He was about to explain why he was outside your house when the front door swung open, as they heard a female voice shriek, “For fuck’s sake! I’m trying to get ready for a party-oh…”

The boys turned to find your sister standing in the doorway, in her dressing gown with a mud mask on her face. She quickly pulled a fake smile, before greeting Eddie with a baby voice, “Hey baby!”

Eddie felt his skin crawl, as he heard her speak. Jesus Christ, was her voice always annoying? He thought to himself.

She quickly grasped her gown, covering her chest, as she giggled, “I didn’t know that you were gonna be discharged today. I was just getting ready to come and see you.”

“Was that before or after the party?” Eddie coldly asked, before barging through the door, almost knocking your sister out of the way. She gasped, as she watched Eddie run up the stairs when Steve slid past her, as he apologised, following Eddie, who was searching your room.

“Eddie, what are you doing?” Steve asked, as he watched Eddie going through your drawers and closet, while your sister yelled from downstairs for barging into the house.

“What does it look like?” Eddie retorted. “I’m looking something, anything that might lead us to her.”

Steve sighed, before telling him, “Look, Eddie man. I don’t know how to say this, but…we, Nancy and I think that-“

“DID YOU NOT HEAR ME?!” Your sister shrieked, as she stomped up the stairs, and barged into your room. “YOU CAN’T JUST STORM IN HERE-“

“Recognise this?!” Eddie interrupted, as he pulled out your diary, which made your sister’s eyes widen, and Steve confused.

Your sister scoffed, before speaking, “What are you-?”

“It’s your little sister’s diary. Her actual diary, and not that fake bullshit one you showed me.”

Your sister had let out a nervous giggle, before asking, as she pointed to the diary, “How can you be sure that’s even hers? Are you sure that it doesn’t belong to that Cunningham girl?”

Eddie smirked, as he pulled out your letter, before telling her, “This was left in the diary, which she left for me in my room.”

“Wait,” Steve interjected. “She was there?”

Eddie handed him the letter, which Steve immediately read, feeling heartbroken reading about how no one was on your side, before your sister snatched it from his hands.

“Hey!” Steve exclaimed, as Eddie continued to search through your room when your sister snickered, before mockingly reading aloud, “I cannot stay somewhere where I’m not welcome nor can I be somewhere where no one’s on my side…”

She then started fake crying for a few seconds, before letting out a laugh, which made both boys angry. “God, she’s so dramatic,” she commented.

Eddie growled, as he turned around and marched towards her, before getting stopped by Steve, “Eddie, cool it,” he told him.

“It’s her fault that her own sister’s missing!” Eddie retorted.

“Well, you’re no saint either,” your sister replied. “You’re the one who jumped into conclusions.”

“Shut up.”

“ You’re the one who decided to jump into bed with me-“

“I said shut up!” Eddie moved closer to your sister, as his eyes darkened.

“Eddie, enough!” Steve pulled him back, before telling him, “I know you’re angry, but this…” He gestured between your sister and Eddie, as he continued. “This won’t help us bring her home.”

“How do you know that she’s not home?” Your sister snidely asked. “For all I know she might be hiding in the basement, or even in the Cunningham’s basement, like the rat that she is-“

Eddie was about to scold her when an angry Steve growled, as he turned and pointed at her. “Don’t you dare talk about her like that!”

“Aww…touched a nerve, Stevie?” Your sister asked mockingly. “Didn’t realise that you liked her in that way.”

Eddie faced Steve in confusion, wondering if he also had feelings for you.

“She’s family to me,” Steve dismissed her claim. “And I’m sure she feels that way about me too. At least I’ve treated her better than you do.”

“Oh my heart bleeds,” your sister sarcastically said.

The two of them continued to argue, leaving Eddie to search for clues, as he placed the diary on the desk when he noticed some of items on it. A Corroded Coffin tape, a few Polaroids of him, Steve and Chrissy. He then scanned the desk to find a pair of goggles. He picked it up and realised that they belonged to Reefer Rick. As he gazed at it, he remembered when you went with him to see Rick…

Eddie sat on the couch, as he waited for Rick to come back with his supplies.

He got up and turned to the window, looking through it as he watched you dove into the lake, wearing the goggles Rick lent you, so you could swim while Eddie was doing his deal.

He didn’t want to drag you into his deals, but you insisted on going, making sure that he attended the tutoring session afterwards.

“Here we are,” he heard Rick say, as he heard footsteps approaching. He turned to find Rick placing the bag on top of the table.

“Good old Mary Jane,” Rick commented, as he opened it.

As Eddie handed him the money, Rick said, “Pleasure doing business with you, junior.”

Eddie thanked him, as he picked up the supplies, and the spare towel from Rick, before heading outside, as he called out to you, letting you know that he was ready to go.

You swam towards the lake house and jumped out of the lake, approaching him.

You lifted up the goggles to the top of your head, as Eddie handed you the towel to dry yourself off.

“Thanks,” you said as you wrapped the towel around you, when Rick approached you both, asking how your swim was.

“Definitely refreshing,” you chuckled, before you thanked him for lending you his goggles. You were about to hand them back to him when he insisted, “Keep them.”

You thanked him again, when he said, “You know, I keep a spare key in the plant pot outside if you and Eddie wanted to come over anytime for a swim or something.”

Eddie was about to decline, not wanting you to get involved when you spoke up, happily accepting Rick’s offer.

“How could you say that about your own sister?!” Steve yelled.

Your sister continued to bitch about you, while Eddie’s eyes widened as he realised where you might be. He grabbed your diary and swiftly turned and ran out of your bedroom, leaving your sister and Steve confused.

“Eddie?” Steve called out, as he followed him down the stairs. “Eddie, where are you going?”

“I know where she is,” Eddie replied, as ran out of the house and towards Steve’s car, opening it when a confused Steve stopped, as he asked, “How did you-?”

Steve stopped, as he rummaged through his pockets, realising that Eddie had stolen his key.

“Not again!” He growled, as he ran towards his car, and got in front of it, telling him to get out of the car.

“No! I need to find her!” Eddie bellowed.

“Jesus Christ Eddie , just switch seats, and let me drive!” Steve elaborated.

Eddie reluctantly got out of driver’s seat and got in the passenger side, letting Steve drive when he saw Wayne’s truck driving nearby, before parking.

“Oh shit,” Eddie exclaimed, fearing his uncle’s wrath when Lucas and Dustin came out of the passenger side. Dustin started marching towards him, as he pointed at him. “You idiot! Are you nuts?!”

Eddie tried to answer, but Dustin continued to give the third degree for leaving the hospital prematurely, as he grabbed his bike, with Wayne and Lucas following him.

“Going off like that! You could’ve passed out-“

“Easy, son,” Wayne interrupted, trying to calm the youngster.

He then turned to his nephew, as he lectured him, “He has a point though, Eddie. What were you thinking? Your recovery could be delayed-“

“Hey!”

They turned to find your sister standing in her dressing gown with most of the mud mask removed, as she asked Eddie, “Are you seriously going after her?”

“Yeah, I am,” Eddie retorted. “Like I should’ve done ages ago.”

As he got in the car, she marched towards him, threatening him, “If you go after her, I’ll make your life a living hell.”

Eddie glared, as he retorted, ”You already did, when you ruined my relationship with her.”

Her mouth gaped, as he continued to speak, “Oh, and the way…”

He then pointed at his cheek with his middle finger as he told her, “You still got some right there.”

As she rubbed off the remaining mud, Eddie then flipped her off, which made her gasp.

“See you in hell, succubus!” Eddie cackled while Steve started the car and drove off, leaving your sister seething.

“You’ll be sorry!” She yelled, as she threw her hands up. “No one breaks up with me and gets away with-“

She then cried in pain, as Dustin pushed his bike, running the wheels over her feet, making them dirty.

“Oops,” Dustin sarcastically said as Lucas stifled his laughter. Dustin continued to push his bike, before telling her, “I guess we won’t be seeing you at Hellfire again.”

Your sister growled, as she stomped towards him, about to hit him as Lucas warned Dustin to look out when Wayne grabbed her hand, stopping her.

“Young lady, if you lay a hand on either boys or harm my nephew, you will be in big trouble with not only me,” Wayne sternly told her, whilst pointing to Dustin as he continued, “But with their mothers.”

“Yeah! My mom might look like a sweet lady,” Dustin retorted. “But she would kill you if you even tried to hit me!”

Wayne immediately let go of her hand, and marched towards his truck. Dustin was about to get on his bike when Wayne told him to put it in the back of his truck, so they can both follow Eddie and Steve.

After putting the bike in the back, Wayne, Lucas and Dustin drove off, leaving your sister screaming.

As Wayne drove, he and the boys heard Mike via the supercom, “Lucas, it’s Mike. El called.”

He then mentioned you might be at a lake house.

“Lake house?” Dustin asked.

A few moments later, the older boys drove up to the lake house, before Steve parked the car, with an impatient Eddie immediately getting out of the car.

He then squatted down and lifted the flower pot to check if the key was there, only to find that it was missing.

“Eddie, you do realise that Reefer Rick was incarcerated not so long ago,” Steve spoke. “And the cops might’ve seized everything including any spare keys-“

“Or she might have used it, and is inside,” Eddie retorted as he stood up, before peeking through the window to see any signs that you were in the lake house.

He was sure that you were inside, as he could faintly hear music playing in the background, specifically the Human Racing album by Nik Kershaw.

He continued to peek through, not noticing that Wayne, Lucas and Dustin had caught up with them.

“Is she there?” Dustin asked.

Steve was about to respond when Eddie heard a smash, prompting him to run around the back, with the three of them following him.

When they got to the back, they could see that you were just standing still, not reacting or even picking up the broken cup.

Steve wondered what was going on when Eddie, who realised what was wrong, cursed, “Shit.”

He grabbed the handle to open the back door, only to find that the door was locked.

“No no no, not again,” he mumbled, leaving his uncle, Dustin, Lucas and Steve confused, unaware of the horror that was approaching.

Next

[spashahoney]

Well-deserved shuteye for our fearless, gentle leader of the Autobots. Please make sure he gets his rest, heroes!

-

My piece for the To Be Gentle: an Optimus Prime Fanzine by @allsparkzines can now be viewed! Totally check out the fresh and funky zine about the hero of Cybertron! I had a whole lot of fun making it!

[azure-clockwork]

I love three houses discourse because I'm pretty sure everyone just picks their route based on which house leader they're the most gay for and then tries to defend their pick by pointing out the other sides's war crimes via twitter memes. Reader, all four of them do substantial quantities of war crimes. So many. We're just here because the woman with Issues and a big fuck-off axe said so, and then we gotta justify everything she did in the name of dismantling the class system. I mean, I'm here for that, but you could also try justifying Charm Man uses poison and perfidy to try to stop racism, A Sad Little Meow Meow gives no quarter instead of doing therapy, or the Thicc Pope tries to bring back her mom via human experimentation, depending on your tastes

[sad-endings-suck]

and if I said that lots of mizu/akemi shippers are actually mizu/fem self-insert and mizu/fem oc shippers then what?

[canon-gabriel-quotes]

one one time my friend had a dream about the bomb gianni plush playing a trombone better then them. he was really upset about it in the morning

Thank you for being the only normal anon of the night <3

How did your friend lose to a plush with no arms though. Skill issue tbh

[tmnt-on-the-mind]

they’re taking a break :)

[cuteniaarts]

Digitalised + coloured + redesigned version of my Suiren and Vaatu sketch from two days ago, as promised!!

Coming up with Suiren’s design was a very long process of trying and failing because after you’ve drawn 9+ different versions of one character, the creativity starts to run a little dry, but I’m actually really proud of this one, she looks absolutely adorable <3

(Also yeah I did mostly just scribble Vaatu’s pattern because who has the energy to draw the all out accurately. Not me, that’s who, I’m chronically tired. People who draw him on the regular have my utmost respect. He’s still a funky little guy though :D)

Bonus, Raava incessantly screaming inside Suiren (and being completely ignored because Suiren is tired of her) while all this is happening:

[scionshtola]

tbf i do think the story could have given the wol more of a connection to it/the antagonist outside of solely through wuk lamat and that probably would have alleviated a lot of ppl’s problems with it

[electragapi]

I’m so over the dismissal of Louis as a character on his own, the constant misinterpretations of Louis, the unwarranted villainizing of Louis (not saying he’s an angel, but blaming him for things that are not his fault), the sidelining of Louis, all of it!!!!!!!!!!! and it’s almost always just in service of boosting Armand or Lestat🙄🙄🙄🙄 Stop it!!!!!!!!

[spider-man-2o99]

the current lplan is to see ATSV this weekend because of drs appts eating up my thursday and friday (fucking exhausting) so Remember everybody remember it’s only canon if i like it . if mig’s Only Goddamn Movie writes him bad then it IMMEDIATELY is getting thrown in the fucking massive heap of spider-man media that Also Features A Shitty Adaption Of Spider-Man 2099 In It! and i will just sit in the theater crying painful quiet devastated tears in my seat and Frown whenever his scenes come up if so need be. but. if it’s Good my autism will b Fed for ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever i think

[the-brainrot-central]

Writing over 30,000 words worth of content for a fic only to realize it’s all pointless because you have no interest in it anymore and you were never gonna finish it anyway….

What even is The Point anymore

[acesammy]

Honestly growing up is realizing that normal people don’t have to set timers to remember they’re cooking ramen… which notoriously only takes 3 minutes to cook… and maybe I do have adhd

[no1ryomafan]

With more older anime I watch that’s specifically about androids the more I noticed all the influence mega man pulled from it despite it not being a anime nor the robot timeline ever getting a proper anime but I think what gets me more then “the basis of mega man is like astro boy, casshern and POSSIBLY kikaider all in a blender with mega man x making the second two inspos more apparent” is realizing how many villain characters inspired proto man.

You have the obvious one, char from Gundam, you have rock holmes from Astro boy who’s not a confirmed one but seems to track given classic takes a lot of Astro boy influence and then you have Saburo from Android kikaider, the most likely inspo for proto in EVERY category- and then you remember how while these characters are evil for a complex reason, proto man really shines to be different as he changed his ways. He’s still a rival to his “brother” in a sense but bass takes more of the role of the evil mega man, while proto just watches from afar and comes in to help when he thinks he’s needed.

I’m going to rotate this red robot fuck for awhile again FUCK