Saving Throw

Over and Out

Eddie's POV:

Steve is sitting on my Uncle's couch.
King Steve in all his glory...on the couch. In his little red shorts.
He's tapping his foot. My handkerchief is still tucked into his waist band.
I have my knuckle in my mouth.
I'm leaning against the kitchen sink.
Dustin is switching between channels on his radio.
"Code yellow, code yellow. I repeat I've got a code yellow, over."
He switches the channel, then switches it back.
"Come on, Mike you son of a bitch. Answer me, over."
He's frustrated.
I'm frustrated.
Steve's frustrated.
"Lucas? Mike? Will? It's Dustin, I've got a code yellow. Pick up, we need to confer. Over."
The static is so loud.
"Son of a bitch, Lucas. Pick up!"
Dustin looks over at me, pleading.
We both sigh, ready to give up when a chatter comes through on the other end of the radio.
"You better be joking, nerd."
Dustin's face lights up.
"Erica?"
I'm staring at Dustin.
"Duh. What's a code yellow? Does it mean you just peed yourself? You need a new pair of pants?"
"Alright, alright. Just Shaddap and get the hell over here. Trailer park. 10 minutes."
Then after a moment,
"Bring everyone. Over and out."

Robin's POV:
She's crying.
It's the first time I've ever seen her look ugly.
It's really a ghastly sight. All puffed up and red...it's almost like her face is folding over on itself. She's angry too.
Why is she crying?
"You said we could figure this thing out together, Robbie. You said it." She has a hand on my arm and she's squeezing it.
It's too tight.
"Vick, stop you're hurting me."
"You said you'd help me." She's digging her nails into my arm and I wince.
"Stop, that hurts." She doesn't let up.
"What, you think this is acceptable? That you can just break up with someone over a letter? No conversation, just hide behind a piece of paper?"
I'm...disgusted frankly.
"Hide? Also...break up?" I laugh. "We weren't even together, Vick. Well, not according to you."
I use the arm she's digging into to bring her face closer to mine before I spit,
"Or the inside of Dan Shelter's mouth."
She looks guilty. So, so guilty. Nancy was right to send the letter. She was right about Vickie. About everything.
Her grip on my arm is so intense, I want to yank it away but I'm frozen. I don't want to hurt her. I don't want her to think that I don't want to fight for this. That I don't care.
"I told you I was scared." Vickie's face is so twisted at this point, I just want to push my hands over her skin and flatten it out.
"I know. I'm scared too. But...I can't keep doing this, not if you're...actively looking for something else. I'm a person, ya know? I have thoughts. Feelings. I can't sit around and watch you figure out your sexuality. I can't keep being on the other end of your experimental phases. Especially if you turn to goddamn Dan Shelter for comfort and support. The man can't even do fractions."
My arm stings.
"Let go, Vick."
"No." Her voice is darker than I've ever heard it.
"Let go. It hurts."
"No, you're not leaving."
"Vickie, stop." I'm trying to push her off but I'm not strong enough. I'm not trying as hard as I should.
"Please, stop. Just let go."
Right when I'm about to give up, a familiar foot fall rounds the corner.
"Hey, asshole!"
Then Nancy Wheeler is there. In all her 5 feet and 4 inches, looking fiercer than I've ever seen. She's put herself in between us and has a hand on me and a hand on Vickie.
"You heard her." Her tone is chilling, she gets right in Vickie's face and says,
"Let. Go."
And Vickie let's go. And Vickie takes two steps back. And Nancy turns to me to look at my arm. A rage is burning deep in her eyes. I'm bleeding. I think that's why.
"It's okay. It's just a little scratch."
She looks up at me with all the intensity she can muster. She's trying to keep her cool.
"No, it's not." She turns back to Vickie. "It's not just a scratch. It's horrid. And you can't be here anymore. So go."
Nancy turns back to me, she's looking at the marks and Vickie takes a step forward. Nancy turns on her and gets in her face again,
"I said, go. You know where the door is. Or do you need help getting there?"
Vickie. She's never looked so ugly to me. She's still crying...but she goes. And I can finally breath.
When the door slams, Nancy takes my hand and ushers me to the sink.
"Bitch." She mutters under her breath. I laugh softly. Mostly because I don't know what else to do.
"She got me good." And she really did. 4 little crescent shaped marks now live on my arm. It hurt a little. It hurts worse because it was her. Vickie hurt me. In every possible way.
"It's not funny, Rob." Nancy is tenderly mending me. She has a bag of gauze in her purse.
On hand.
Because this happens too often to our party.
Nancy always has gauze, matches, a radio, a gun. Nancy always has exactly what we need.
What I need.
I'm watching her as she labors over my arm. She wraps it just right.
"Steve's gonna have a cow when he sees this."
Nancy looks at me then.
"I'm sorry I sent the letter without telling you. I'm sorry I had to be the one to tell you everything else. I'm sorry about Vickie."
"Hey...don't apologize. I just...thought she was it, you know? My chance."
"Your chance at what?"
Nancy wants me to tell her. She doesn't just ask hollow questions. She's not like everyone else.
"My chance at something...kind of normal." I look down. It sounds so stupid coming out of my mouth.
"Ironic, I know." I go to turn away but Nancy stops me, gently.
"Hey. There is nothing abnormal about the things you want. Or who you are."
We're looking at each other for a very long time and I have no inclination to look away. Nancy has these big, intense brown eyes that just catch you completely off your guard.
I start to count her eyelashes, when Nancy gets on her tip toes and kisses my cheek.
"Fuck Vickie. You deserve to be loved by someone who isn't going to hurt you. In any way."
We're chest to chest, her hands are on my arms. I swallow.
Nancy just kissed my cheek.
"Nancy-"
My radio on the counter clicks on.
"Robin. Dustin's screaming his dumb, nerd head off about a code yellow. Trailer park. 10 minutes."
Erica. A code yellow?
Nancy and I look at each other.
"Oh, and bring Nancy. Over and out."

Mike's POV:
Everything is a blur.
El won't let Will go. Their foreheads are together and he's finally calm.
I want more than anything for that to be me.
I want to be the one who calms him down, who comforts him.
But I'm the one who sent him running. Who made him feel ashamed for something we both felt.
I hate myself for feeling unsure. But I was and I am.
It was too fast. Too real.
And I don't even know if I like guys...or if it's just Will. I can't lie to myself anymore, it's always been Will.
I'm an idiot. I should have told him I was scared. I should have told him I was nervous and a little freaked. He would have understood. He's always understood me.
I sit on the edge of the bed where El and Will are. They're holding each others hands and their eyes are closed. She's whispering reassuring things to him.
It's nice to see them like this.
But nevertheless I'm jealous. I want to be where El is.
I put a hand on Will's back and he flinches slightly. It hurts.
He turns around and looks at me.
I mouth,
'I'm sorry,'
And he smiles. He lets go of El's left hand to grab mine. El looks up.
For the first time in a long time we look like we used to. She smiles at me. I smile at her.
Then I turn back to Will.
He looks between me and El and then down to the bed. I want to pull his face into mine and kiss him and tell him I want him. That I would choose him.
I bring his hand up to my mouth and I place a small kiss against his knuckles.
Will looks up at me, a gleam of hope washes over his eyes. I can see El furrowing her brows in my peripheral. She's about to say something when the radio on the side table screeches out with static.
Everyone in the room turns their heads to it at the same time.
"Lucas. It's Erica. Your boyfriend is whining about a code yellow. Get the party together. Everyone. Trailer park. 10 minutes. Don't be late."
Lucas picks up the radio and says back,
"Erica, when you're done you have to say "over," over."
Lucas looks over at me and then down at mine and Will's hands, still holding each other. Will takes his away.
"Uuuuugh. I'm over this. Get your asses here, now. Before I file a formal complaint. Over and out."

Let's all take a moment for Erica. I love her sm.
Also sorry for the startling LACK of Steddie. Lots of stuff needs to happen story wise. Thank you for sticking around. It'll be worth it! 🧡 stay cool, rock on. 🤘🏼