My brain feels so melted right now, how do I even write?
Steve POV:
BEEP BEEP BEEP
I rolled over, groaning, and slammed my palm to the alarm clock. After its annoying blares were silenced, I laid back down in bed for a few seconds. My blinds were open, and it was far too bright to fall back asleep.
Was that all a dream?
No, it couldn't have been. Vecna definitely happened. Yesterday happened. But what actually happened last night?
Did hanging out with Robin happen?
I looked around. Surely it must have. We had a conversation about work. How else would I have known to set my alarm? It could have just been habit.
Did... Eddie happen? Did he die? Did I actually save him? I doubt it
Ok this was starting to stress me out.
I threw my sheets and blankets off. Normally I would've been hit with a wave of cold. But I was already sweating.
I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of my bed. Rubbing my eyes, the light shining directly on my face.
I sluggishly moved to my dresser, picking up boxers, socks, and pants, then went to my closet. I flipped through clothing until I found something that would make a suitable outfit for Family Video.
I picked up the clothes and moved to the bathroom, setting them on the counter. I turned on the shower to a halfway and waited a bit before getting in.
I took off my sleep clothes and stepped in. Wetting my hair. I massaged Faberge' Organics shampoo into my hair, rinsed it out, then put in the same brand but of conditioner.
I washed my body, my tired state finally recognizing my stomach wounds. There were two punctured holes in my lower stomach. Torn flesh open, the rims were scabbing but everything else was a mix of dried blood.
How the absolute fuck did I not realize this last night?
Now that I was looking at them, the more they started to tingle, then sting. The body wash I had rubbed across my chest was dripping down, onto the injuries.
I hissed in pain, grabbing the towel off the hook and dabbing at them.
Quickly, I tried to rinse my hair and the body wash off. Wincing at the water when it touched my stomach. Then I hopped out, towel-dried my hair, and put on my clothes. My wounds would have to wait, I guess. Since they weren't currently bleeding, it should be decently ok. Though every time I shifted my torso, I could feel my shirt scratch them, sending a shock of pain up my spine.
I looked in the mirror at my damp hair. Picking up the bottle of Farrah Fawcett spray, I used 4 puffs into my hair and styled it. Then I brushed my teeth and flicked the light switch.
At the door I paused, flicked the lights back on and picked up a purple hairbrush.
With it in my hand, I became confused.
Why do I need this again?
But I didn't put it back. Instead, I left the bathroom with the hairbrush.
I stumbled down the stairs. Not quite awake, but definitely no longer asleep.
I walked into the kitchen, setting the hairbrush on the table. Then I went to cook what I had every morning, bacon, egg, and cheese on a sesame bagel.
I watched the clock; it took me a minute to process the numbers
9:35 AM
Thankfully, I still had enough time before I had to leave.
Whilst my food was cooking, I went to the TV and turned it on. The first thing that popped up was some annoying news anchor. But it gave me all the information I needed. It was Wednesday. And yesterday and Vecna definitely happened. Not as if I needed any more proof
My toaster dinged and the bagel was done. I finished putting together the rest of my food, then I sat at the table and ate my food. I was still struggling to figure out if everything else that I remember actually happened.
I'm like 80% sure Eddie still being alive was a dream. Some sick, fucked up dream
When I went to throw away my empty paper plate, I saw into the bin. There were multiple soda cans and bags of popcorns.
I sighed in relief, then dumped my trash in
At least Robin wasn't a dream
I expected my shoes to be by the front door. But when I looked down, I saw them thrown carelessly across the floor, almost into the living room.
I shrugged and knelt down, putting them both on.
I turned back to the table, blank of everything but a hairbrush. The hairbrush might as well have the words 'go downstairs' in bold on them, because that's all I could think about when I looked at it.
Giving in, I went over to the brush and picked it up. The clock read 9:44, I still had about 6 minutes until I had to go. Though I want to get leaving soon because I normally take Robin to work as she doesn't have her own car.
I stared in the direction of the hallway.
My feet leave me to the basement door, I twisted the knob and stepped into the first step. It was decently light enough for me to see.
I jogged down the stairs. Desperate to get whatever satisfaction I wanted by coming down here to be quick. I had to leave soon.
I walked into the room. Squinting at the 2 small windows flooding light in.
Then I looked around and froze. The hairbrush slipped from my fingers, and I struggled to catch it with my other hand.
What
ok...
ok
This is fine
Eddie is alive
Eddie is in my basement
And no one knows but Dustin
I took a deep breath. At least the hairbrush made sense now.
Eddie was half covered by the blanket, and one of his legs was dangling off the couch.
His hair was splayed behind him, showing the bandages on his face, and the rest of his face. His mouth was partially open, and his eyes were closed, of course.
I carefully walked over and slowly put the hairbrush down on the small table beside the couch.
I sat crisscross in front of him, leaning over to the table to grab a white newspaper. A long strip was blank, and I ripped it off, trying not to make much noise doing so.
On the table, I pressed the piece of paper down and took a pen. In small writing, it said,
I'm leaving to go to work, I'll be back at 6. Try to entertain urself. Don't leave the house. ples brush your hair (i left u a hairbrush) Help urself to anything in the kitchen. Don't die
if u are, call Family Video ***-***-****, either me or Robin will pick up (phone is in kitchen)
-Steve
I read it over again, then added a smiley face next to my name.
Content with the brief message, I set it down on the small table.
I can't believe I'm doing this. I really need to tell Robin. Oh God she's gonna freak
I looked at Eddie. He was starting to bleed a bit through his bandages. I really hope in the time I'm gone they don't get infected.
On the leg dangling off the couch, his (technically my) pant leg was rolled up. Specks of blood and bruising could be seen around his ankles and calves.
Now that is so gonna get infected.
I couldn't find myself to have much time to think about it though, because I had been down here for far too long.
I booked it for the stairs, skipping half of them.
Bursting through the basement door, my shoes squeaked as I sprinted into the kitchen. Stopping my momentum with the counter, I snatched my keys and turned to bolt to the door.
I slammed it open and jumped over the porch steps.
Hitting a button on my keys, the car beeped and unlocked.
I turned on the ignition and didn't even buckle my seatbelt before leaving the driveway. Out of my side mirror I could see the black marks on the ground from last night.
The little clock on my car showed the time
9:48
~
I didn't know if Robin needed to be taken to work, she never really clarified last night. But I normally did take her so I figured I could at least stop by her house to see.
When I pulled up, I could see her pacing outside her front door, in the middle of checking her watch. I checked the time, it was 9:51.
I pressed my palm to the middle of the steering wheel and honked the horn, rolling down the window and turning down my music
"You need a ride?!" I shouted to her
She looked up and me and jogged to the car.
"Took you long enough" She grumbled, getting in and fastening her seatbelt
"We're not that late, it takes less than 10 minutes to get there." I rolled my eyes and started driving
"Yeah, yeah. Anyways... did you watch the news this morning?" She questioned
"...No?" To my knowledge, neither of us really cared much about the Hawkins news.
"Jason Carver died in the 'earthquake' last night!" She exclaimed
I slammed the breaks and jerked the wheel, both of us jolting forward
'What?!" I turned to look at Robin
"I don't know! Apparently, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time! I don't know the details"
I didn't really know how to feel. Jason was not a great guy for many reasons, but no high school asshole deserves to die. Not that I have any experience in said position.
"Thats... awful" I mumbled
"Yeah" She paused, "And you know what else is awful? How dead we will be if we're late to work. Keep driving" She clapped her hands at the end of her sentence, snapping me from my trance
"...jesus" I rolled my eyes, putting my foot back on the gas pedal
I turned the music back up. Robin spent the next five minutes singing and dancing to music, clearly over the information she dumped onto me at the beginning of this car ride.
~
We made it to the building at exactly 9:57. I picked up my nametag from my center console and pinned it to my shirt.
Robin was already out of the car and unlocking the store door when I finally attached the pin to my shirt.
This was going to be one hell of a day
words: 1715
I was going to keep writing but realized it would get too long, so all the robin and steve work content will be next chapter lmao (this is kinda but not really proofread)