Strange Love • Steve Harrington

Listen

"Why?"

"Just asking, it is bad to ask?"

"Joel, you know." He smiles down.

"I do. What about a house? What do you want?" I sat long and hard but I did know.

"I want a white house, with a garden in the front. A beautiful living room so we can invite the family and have the kids over. I want a room where I can have all my designs all over the place." I sat on his lap as he played with wire of the headphones.

"What else?"

"I want a huge yard where we have our kids to play on, have parties, have Joel run around. Oh! I also want a special room for my aunt Joyce, incase she wants to live with us." I had a big grin on my face.

"Whatever you want." He kisses my cheek. For a moment it was quiet, Robins snores echoes and Lucas' mumbling. "What about a kid? Names?"

"Are you trying to get me pregnant while we are hunting for a guy who kills teens?" He stumbles on his words but I was playing around. "Too soon Stevie, one day." I patted his thigh. "One day."

—

"Hello!? Anyone!? Henderson?!" Eddies voice woke me up. I got off of Steves lap and fell to get the walkie.

"Eddie, this is Wendy." I coughed.

"Byers! Thank god!" He stops for a second. "I need food, mind getting me some pick me ups?" I rolled my eyes, hitting myself with the small talking device. "And beer?" I groan and snuck out to get Eddie some stuff and ill be back. I grabbed Steves car, even though I shouldn't, stopped to get him some food and head to the cabin.

"Eddie? Its Wendy." I walked in as I carried a bunch of stuff. He comes out from hiding and helps me.

"Wheres everyone?"

"Sleeping, i came to the rescue." I huffed as I tossed the case of beers onto the table. He rumbled through the bags and got some chips and a beer, so early?

"Thank you!" He shoves a handful of chips into his mouth.

"Slow down Munson, the food isn't going anywhere."

"Shut it Byers, try being hunted down and staying this filth for days." He shoves more into his mouth. I sat back, watched him and looked around the creepy cabin. "Wheres your prince in shining armor?"

"You mean Steve? Hes back at the Wheelers place, i was the only one who woke up to your yelling." I crossed my legs.

"Nobody knows?"

"I left a note, and hopefully i get back before they wake up and start freaking out if I got caught up."

"Wait wait." Eddie drops his beer. "What do you mean caught up?"

"Im one of Vecnas victims." I sighed. He gets up and hides away from me. "Dont worry, im not going to turn into a pretzel, i keep listening to HeartBreaker unstop until we kill him, Ill be fine." I pointed at the headphones. "I dont want you go through what you did with Chrissy again."

"How kind." He comes back and sits. I was about to leave until he stops me, grabbing my arm. His rings pinched my skin from the grip.

"Eddie..."

"Stay... please." The look in his eyes said everything. He's scared. Eddie lets go as he noticed the hard grip he had on me, he didn't want to hurt me. "Please."

"Yeah. Yeah i will." I sat back down and watched him. "Eddie, we will get you back, we just need more time. I know that explaining all this is going to be hard but, trust us." He didn't say a word after that. We stayed in place for awhile until he spoke again.

"Not to be creepy, but every night when I drive home, I used to drive by your aunts place, I would see you play in the garage, playing some Bon Jovi at like 2 am, your aunt yelling for you stop and come back to bed." I chuckled as i sat back. Eddie turns red.

"Really now?"

"You're not bad."

"Thanks Munson. Ive seen you and your band play at the bar a few times when i went with Robin, you're not half bad either." We laughed.

"Do your cousins know? You know, Vecna?" My smile faded.

"They haven't answered me. Im getting scared. Honestly, i think something happened to them, Will, he never does this." I felt a lump in my throat. "I want them to know, but at the same time I dont."

"What about your parents? Are they not answering?"

"I cant because they're gone."

"Wendy, im sorry, I didn't-"

"You're fine Eddie. You're fine." I took a long pause. "I was 5 when they died. Ever since then, i wished it was me instead of them. Its hard not having them here. They would've love Steve, they would've been proud. They wouldn't like the way I was treated, and what ive been doing when I grew up, i felt like a disappointment to them." I wiped my tears away. "Is it bad that im slowly forgetting them? I have photos and tapes but, its not the same. Im forgetting the way my mom smiled, and how my dad talks. The older I get, the more i forget. My aunt Joyce would say that i look like them, especially my mom, but I know one day it'll stop because nobody has seen them when they got older." I sighed and looked down at my hands. "Dick and May. They met here actually, Hawkins High."

"Dick..." he chuckles a bit, making me do the same.

"Short for Richard, you're so immature." I pushed him gently.

"I know whats that like. My mom died from cancer and my dad hated me and dropped me off at my uncles and never spoke to me again." He chugs his beer. "I know what its like." Eddie leans back on the boat, looking back at me. "I remember when you came here, you're hair was in a awkward stage where you were growing it out from your mullet days."

"Oh stop! Thats so embarrassing! How did you remember that!"

"I dont forget a pretty face."

"EDDIE CODE RED!! WENDY IS MISSING!" The walkie goes off. Shit! "I REPEAT WENDY IS MISSING!"

"I gotta go!" I grabbed Steves car keys and and rushed back to the Wheelers. I ran to the backyard, and head downstairs to the basement where everyone was freaking out.

"Wendy!" Robin runs to me and hugs me. "Dont ever do that!" She punches me on the shoulder. "We thought Vecna had you!"

"Im fine! I just dropped off food for Eddie." Steve sighs of relief and hugs me tightly. "Steve. Im sorry."

"Just dont ever do that again. Please. I thought I lost you."