Chapter Text

James Hopper Jr.- Class of 1959

• Birthdate: July 28th, 1940
• Nickname: Jim, Hop, Chief, Junior
• Favorite Colors: Brown, Blue
• Signature Scents: Old Spice
• Best Subjects: History, Math
• Worst Subjects: English, Science
• Car: 1980 Chevy K-5 Blazer (Police Issued)
• Sports: Football, Baseball
• Clubs: Key Club, Car Club, Debate Club (Used this as a cover), Rifle Club
• After-School Activities: Going to Melvalds Diner, Driving, Dating, Hunting

John Michael Harrington- Class of 1959

• Birthdate: August 10th, 1940
• Nickname: Jack, Grade A Asshole.
• Favorite Colors: Silver Blue
• Signature Scents: 
• Best Subjects: History, Math
• Worst Subjects: English, Science
• Car: 1970 Aston Martin DBS in Charcoal 
• Sports: Football, Baseball, Basketball
• Clubs: Future Business Leaders of America, Key Club, Student Council
• After-School Activities: Going to Melvalds Diner, Helping his father’s business. 

Joel Ricardo Navarro- Class of 1959

• Birthdate: September 27th, 1940
• Nickname: Joel, Navarro, Atticus (by Rosie)
• Favorite Colors: Red, Green, Blue
• Signature Scents: Brut, Aqua Velva
• Best Subjects: History, Math
• Worst Subjects: English, Science
• Car: 1970 Chevy K-10 in Green and White
• Sports: Football, Baseball
• Clubs: Debate Club, Future Farmers of America
• After-School Activities: Going to Melvalds Diner, Fishing, Playing Guitar

Warren John Blackwell- Class of 1959

• Birthdate: October 2nd, 1940
• Nickname: Warren, War, Blackwell 
• Favorite Colors: Green
• Signature Scents: Old Spice, Guerlain’s Vétiver, 
• Best Subjects: History, Math
• Worst Subjects: English, Science
• Car: 1965 Pontiac GTO in Black
• Sports: Football, Baseball
• Clubs: Debate Club, Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Rifle Club
• After-School Activities: Going to Melvalds Diner, 

Maria Esperanza Salazar (Navarro) - Class of 1961

• Birthdate: November 13th, 1942
• Nickname: Maria, Slutty Salazar
• Favorite Colors: Blue, Yellow, Pink
• Signature Scents: Loves Lemon, Avon Honeysuckle
• Best Subjects: Science, Math
• Worst Subjects: History, English
• Car: 1970 Chevy Nova in Swimming Pool Blue
• Sports: Cheerleading
• Clubs: Student Council, Pep Club, Records & Dance Club, Roane County Catholic Youth Fellowship, Drama Club
• After-School Activities: Going to Melvalds Diner, Driving, Listening to Music.

Joyce Ann Maldonado (Byers) - Class of 1959

• Birthdate: June 25th, 1941
• Nickname: Joyce
• Favorite Colors: Brown, Green, Orange
• Signature Scents: Loves Lemon, Avon Honeysuckle
• Best Subjects: Math, English
• Worst Subjects: History, Science
• Car: 1976 Ford Pinto in Green
• Sports: Softball, Volleyball
• Clubs: Student Council, Pep Club, Records & Dance Club, Roane County Catholic Youth Fellowship, President of the Drama Club
• After-School Activities: Going to Melvalds Diner, Driving, Listening to Music.

Caroline Guilia Di Carlo (Harrington) - Class of 1962

• Birthdate: March 8th, 1944
• Nickname: Carol, Linny
• Favorite Colors: Pink, baby blue, pastel yellow
• Signature Scents: Chanel No 5, Guerlain’s Chant d'Arômes, Dior Poison
• Best Subjects: English, Math
• Worst Subjects: History, Science
• Car: 1955 Dodge La Femme (Inherited from her mother)
• Sports: Cheerleading, Volleyball, Tennis
• Clubs: Student Council, Pep Club, Records & Dance Club, Catholic Youth Fellowship
• After-School Activities: Sunbathing, shopping, tennis, babysitting

Elizabeth Elaine Williams (Munson) - Class of 1964

• Birthdate: July 31st, 1946
• Nickname: Lizzie
• Favorite Colors: Green, Purple
• Signature Scents: Avon Honeysuckle
• Best Subjects: Music, English
• Worst Subjects: History, Science
• Car: 1960 Dodge Dart in Green
• Sports: Basketball, Baton Twirling
• Clubs: Records & Dance Club, school newspaper, yearbook
• After-School Activities: Sunbathing, playing music, attending concerts

Adam Isidro Salazar - Class of 1981

• Birthdate: August 1st, 1963
• Nickname: Pretty Boy, Zepp, Isi, Salazar
• Family Ties: Rosie Salazar (Younger Half-Sister), Byers Family (Cousins), Jane Hopper (Adoptive Cousin)
• Favorite Colors: Green, Blue, 
• Signature Scents: Faberge Brut, Old Spice 
• Best Subjects: History, Math 
• Worst Subjects: Science, English 
• Car: 1968 Pontiac Firebird in Silver Blue
• Sports: Varsity Football and Varsity Baseball
• Clubs: Student Council, Pep Club 
• After-School Activities: Working on cars, playing music with friends, driving, partying (Keg Stand Champion 1977-1981), Former Hawkins Cubs Day Camp Counselor & Sports Leader. 

Edward Alexander Munson - Class of 1984 (originally), 1986

• Birthdate: January 26th, 1966
• Nickname: Eddie, Eddie ‘the freak’ Munson, Junior, Munson
• Favorite colors: Black and Red
• Signature Scent: Old Spice, leather, brut and aqua velva. 
• Best Subjects: English, Math 
• Worst Subjects: History, Science 
• Car: 1977 GMC G2500 Gaucho in ivy Green and white
• Vocal Range: Baritone - Tenor (Most comfortable in lower to mid tenor) 
• Sports: Baseball, Cross Country (Both only his freshman and sophomore year)
• Clubs: Hellfire Club, Corroded Coffin (Lead guitar, Lead Vocals), AV Club 
• After-School Activities: D&D on Fridays, Playing at the Hideout (out of town) on Tuesdays, attending concerts, selling drugs, working at Thatcher Tire. 

Steven David Harrington - Class of 1985

• Birthdate: September 25th, 1966
• Nickname: Steve, King Steve, Steve ‘the hair’ Harrington, Stevie, Harrington
• Favorite Colors: Blue, Red, Grey
• Signature Scent: Drakkar Noir, Ralph Lauren Polo (cedar/sweet/warm), Brut aftershave, balsam scent of Faberge organics shampoo. 
• Best Subjects: Math, History 
• Worst Subjects: Science, English (attention span)
• Car: 1983 733i BMW in Burgundy
• Sports: Varsity Baseball, Varsity Basketball, Co-Captain of the Swim Team
• Clubs: Student Council (Class Vice President), Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Prom Committee, Italian Club
• After-School Activities: Partying (Keg Stand Champion 1981-1984), Former Hawkins Cubs Day Camp Sports Leader.

Lucy Vivian McAllister  - Class of 1985

• Birthdate: December 18th, 1966
• Nickname: Luce 
• Favorite colors: Red, Black, Pink, Electric Blue
• Signature scent: Love’s Lemon Soft
• Key Makeup: Blue mascara, Black eyeliner, Great lash mascara, 
• Best Subjects: Science, Math
• Worst Subjects: English, History
• Car: 
• Sports: Softball, Volleyball
• Clubs: National Honor Society, Drama Club, Hellfire Club
• After-School Activities: Science and Math Tutor, Playing D&D, Hanging out with Rosie or Eddie.  

Kelsey Marie Russo - Class of 1985

• Birthdate: April 15, 1967
• Nickname: Kay, Kels, 
• Family Ties: Jesse Russo (Older brother, possibly deceased)
• Favorite colors: RedRed, Black, Pink
• Signature scent: Revlon Charlie, Anais Anais, 
• Key Makeup: Great lash mascara, cherry lip balm & gloss
• Best Subjects: English, History
• Worst Subjects: Math 
• Car: TBA
• Sports: Co-Captain of the Cheerleading Team
• Clubs: Student Council (treasurer), Prom Committee, National Honor Society,Yearbook,
• After-School Activities: Partying, Babysitter, Former Hawkins Cubs Day Camp Counselor, Working at Family Video, 

Anita Rosanna Salazar - Class of 1985

• Birthdate: June 7th, 1967
• Nickname: Rosie, Rose, Rosita, Slutty Salazar, Shotgun Salazar, Scout (by Joel), Pink (By Adam), Rosa (by Caroline Harrington)
• Family Ties: Adam Salazar (Older Half Brother), Byers Family (Cousins), Jane Hopper (Adoptive Cousin), Warren Blackwell (Biological father), Joel Navarro (Stepfather/Adoptive Father) 
• Favorite colors: Pink, Purple, Blue
• Signature scent: Loves Baby Soft, Max Factor’s Le Jardin, Jean Nate and Giorgio in the summer, green apple scented shampoo
• Gifted Guerlain’s Jardins de Bagatelle by Caroline Harrington for 16th Birthday
• Key Makeup: Great lash mascara, mint, Strawberry or Watermelon kissing potion gloss 
• Best Subjects: Science, English, History
• Worst Subjects: Math 
• Car: 1965 Ford Mustang in a custom dark Purple by her Uncle. 
• Vocal Range: Soprano  
• Sports: Captain of the Cheerleading Team, Soccer (childhood), JV and Varsity Softball. 
• Clubs: Student Council (Class President), Prom Committee, National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Hellfire Club, Yearbook, Drama Club.
• After-School Activities: Roane County Ballet, Performing at Hideout on Tuesdays, Partying (Shotgun Champ 1981-1986, Keg Champ 1984-1986), English Lit Tutor, Babysitting, Corroded Coffin (Lead & Supporting Vocals), Former Hawkins Cubs Day Camp Counselor. 

Hawkins High Tiger Cheer Team 

Marcia Jenkins

Scotty

Ryan

Brian

James “Jamie”

Rebecca

Hawkins High Tiger Basketball Team 1985

Seniors

Steve Harrington - Captain

Billy Hargrove 

Jake 

Derek (Rarely got off the bench)

Mark Lewinsky (never got off the bench)

Juniors 

Jason Carver 

Chance 

Patrick McKinney

Andy

Josh

Freshmen

Jermaine Demario

Lee Garroway

Unknown

Connor

Charlie

Noah

Jonathan Christopher Byers - Class of 1986

• Birthdate: August 28th, 1967
• Nickname: Jon, Jonny Boy, Byers
• Family Ties: Will Byers (Brother), The Salazars (Cousins)
• Favorite colors: Brown, Blue, Grey
• Signature scent: Old Spice, Irish Spring
• Best Subjects: English, Yearbook
• Worst Subjects: Math, History, Science
• Car: 1971 Ford Galaxie 500
• Sports: Cross Country
• Clubs: Photography Club, Newspaper, Yearbook, target shooting, making mixtapes. 

Nancy Louise Wheeler - Class of 1986

• Birthdate: October 26th, 1967
• Nickname: Nance, Nancy Drew, Wheeler
• Family Ties: Mike Wheeler (Younger Brother)
• Favorite colors: Pink, Yellow, Blue
• Signature scent: Obsession, Liz Clairborne, Salon Selections
• Best Subjects: English, Yearbook, Math
• Worst Subjects: Science, History
• Car: 1987 Marquis Colony Park
• Sports: Cheer Team (Freshman year), Varsity Volleyball
• Clubs: National Honor Society, Student Council, French Club, Model UN, Yearbook, Newspaper
• After-School Activities: Meals on Wheels, Hawkins Presbyterian Youth Fellowship, Writing Tutor.  

Robin Marie Buckley- Class of 1986

• Birthdate: March 10th, 1968
• Nickname: Rob, Rockin Robin, Buckley. 
• Favorite colors: Red, Orange, Blue
• Signature scent: Designer Imposters, Gee! Your Hair Smells Terrific!, Jergens Cherry Almond
• Best Subjects: English, History, Math
• Worst Subjects: Science, 
• Sports: Soccer, Marching Band (1st Trumpet)
• Clubs: Drama Club, Spanish Club, Band (French Horn, Trumpet)
• After-School Activities: Hawkins Public Library Volunteer, Watching Movies

Jane Elizabeth Hopper - Class of 1989

• Birthdate: June 7th, 1971
• Nickname: Eleven, El
• Family Ties: Chief Hopper (Adoptive Dad), Byers Family (Adoptive Family), The Salazars (Adoptive Cousins)
• Favorite colors: Purple, Red, Green
• Signature scent: Designer Imposters, Jergens Cherry Almond
• Best Subjects: Science, English
• Worst Subjects: History, Math 
• Sports: 
• Clubs: A.V. Club
• After-School Activities: Movies, Ice Cream

Dustin Clarence Henderson - Class of 1989

• Birthdate: July 15th, 1971
• Nickname: Dusty, Dusty Buns, Henderson 
• Family Ties: Claudia Henderson (Mother)
• Favorite colors: Red, Green, Blue
• Signature scent: Designer Imposters, Irish Spring, Farrah Fawcett Spray
• Best Subjects: Science, History, Math
• Worst Subjects: English 
• Sports: Hockey, T-Ball
• Clubs: A.V. Club, Hellfire Club
• After-School Activities: Going to the Arcade, Movies, watching Corroded Coffin play. 

Maxine Elizabeth Mayfield - Class of 1989

• Birthdate: December 17th, 1971
• Nickname: Max, MADMAX, Red, Rosie/Rosie Jr. 
• Family Ties: Billy Hargrove (Older Brother – Died 1985)
• Favorite colors: Red, Purple, Blue. 
• Signature scent: Designer Imposters, Jergens Cherry Almond, Giorgio Beverly Hills
• Best Subjects: Science, History, Math
• Worst Subjects: English 
• Sports: Skateboarding, Field Hockey, Softball, Volleyball
• Clubs: A.V. Club
• After-School Activities: Going to the Arcade, Movies, Skateboarding

William Byers- Class of 1989

• Birthdate: March 22nd, 1972
• Nickname: Will, Zombie Boy
• Family Ties: Jonathan Byers (Older Brother), Jane Hopper (Adoptive Sister), The Salazars (Cousins)
• Favorite colors: Blue, Yellow
• Signature scent: Old Spice, Irish Spring
• Best Subjects: Science, English, Math, Art
• Worst Subjects: History 
• Sports: T-Ball
• Clubs: A.V. Club, Art
• After-School Activities: Drawing/Painting, D&D, Movies, Making Mixtapes

Michael Wheeler- Class of 1989

• Birthdate: April 7th, 1972
• Nickname: Mike, Wheeler
• Family Ties: Nancy Wheeler (Older Sister)
• Favorite colors: Red, Blue, Yellow
• Signature scent: Old Spice, Irish Spring
• Best Subjects: Science, English, Math
• Worst Subjects: History 
• Sports: T-Ball
• Clubs: A.V. Club, Hellfire Club
• After-School Activities: Going to the Arcade, Movies, D&D, Watching Corroded Coffin.

Chapter Text

Wednesday October 31st, 1973

Hawkins, Indiana Lincoln Park Village

5:00 PM

It was a cacophony of laughter and screams, the heady scent of sugar and pumpkin filled the air accompanied by bonfires and fireplaces of the small Indiana town. They were blessed with autumn’s brilliant array of golds, reds, and oranges as the leaves turned late into the fall.

Mary Janes patted against the pavement of suburbia, a paper mache pail shaped as a pumpkin swinging gleefully in the right hand of a child. Her left hand, grasping at a doll’s arm as it dangled lifelessly and beheaded. The cherry tootsie pop stained the mouth of the young girl as they pulled into a toothy grin despite the lost baby teeth, creating gaps in her mouth, as she looked up at the street lined with ghosts, goblins, and the latest superheroes from comics scurried along the sidewalks.

“Rosie, mija, don’t go too far, okay?” Called a woman with long black hair, feathered similarly to the one and only Farah Fausett, her boots clunking leisurely against the concrete in front of their home as she passed out candy to the trick-or-treaters.

Anita Rosanna Salazar, the love-child of Warren Blackwell and Maria Salazar, was just six years old when she skipped through the fallen foliage of Hawkins. It was a small town where everyone knew everyone and nothing ever happened — including a championship win for the local high school basketball team. It wasn’t unusual for kids to be out and about, you could trust that the parents down the street would keep an eye on things. Despite the disapproving looks of many parents in the small town, she was dressed as her favorite character - Wednesday Addams for Halloween including her infamous beheaded doll, Marie Antoinette. The chill of the night added an extra shiver as she skipped ahead to join her group of friends calling out to her. Joined was a witch, a skeleton, superhero, and a grotesque zombie carrying pillow cases and paper mache pails with various facial expressions sculpted onto them. They ran after one another, chasing from one house to the next before all the good candy was taken over by the other kids.

“Rosie, why did you have to bring that doll with us? It’s creepy,” Steve Harrington, the product of fine marriage and money, dressed as Superman - as every well to do kid did in Hawkins - asked the girl.

Smirking, she shook the headless doll in his face, “OooOooo, Marie is going to haunt your dreeeeaaammss Stevie! She’s gonna get you!” He answered by jumping back and running from his friend and her haunted doll, her cackles following after him as they weaved through their friends and the townspeople.

The giggles fell silent as they dashed through the small playground in the older part of their town, a foreboding structure across from the slide, windows boarded up, shingles slipping and shattering upon the overgrown lawn. It had only been merely 15 years since life had resided within those walls, but time seemed to quicken in the murder house. 

“I heard he cut his eyes out like he did to his family a few years ago.”

“I heard he had to be locked in a special room blessed by a priest because he has demonic powers!”

The children exchanged rumors between each other, one more grand than the one before. Rosie, however, could not take her eyes off of the brilliant double rose puzzled piece together onto the front door. Why hasn’t anyone boarded up such a piece of art? It seemed to glow, beckoning her to come closer like an angler fish, baiting its prey before it swallowed the soul alive. She stepped closer, the porch railing opening its maw, waiting for Rosanna to step into its trap. Knuckles paled as she gripped her doll, climbing step by step until she was face to face with the door’s window.

Of course she loved roses, it was partially her namesake for her middle name afterall, but something about this particular piece was intriguing to a girl of such young soul and mind. Little did she know, this moment would alter her life forever.

“I dare you to go inside, Rosie! Tell us what it looks like!” The zombie, Jacob, called, bets being placed amongst her friends on whether she would turn heel and run.

“What if she doesn’t come out alive? Come back, Rose!” Steve called, worry etching across that baby face of his.

Maybe it was her own volition, or the need to prove she wasn’t a baby to her friends, maybe it was destiny to place her hand onto the knob and turn, entering the infamous murder house, and a new timeline of her life.

Rusted brass creaked endlessly as the door pushed open into the abyss, her small form seemed to stretch into the deepest parts of the entryway as the streetlights cast her shadow further before her. It smelled of molding wood, smoke, metal, and the sickly sweet scent of decay. It made her cough as she inhaled deeply, preparing herself to step inside. The kids fell silent behind her, refusing to come closer, watching intently as their friend ventured into the mansion, and into the mouth of the beast. 

Steve, however, pushed past their friends and rushed up the porch steps to meet Rosie. The boy, panting, slipped off his superhero mask to the top of his head. His little hand grabbed onto Rosie’s wrist pulling her back from the threshold and towards him in a panic, her headless doll thumping against him.

“I’ll go with you.” He whispered, fear dripping off of him as a small crease formed between his eyebrows. He couldn’t watch his best friend enter something so terrifying, so dangerous alone. 

“I’m not a baby, Stevie. I have to be by myself.” Her bottom lip pouted, and Steve sighed, rolling his eyes. 

“You’re not a baby, Rosie. You’re my best friend.” 

“You wait here, please? I’ll be okay. I promise.” 

Steve finally nodded, reluctantly letting her go and standing firm just within the doorway, “I want six of your Now and Laters for this!” 

Rosanna rolled her eyes then agreed to his terms.

“It’s just a house. All bones.” Her whisper wavered within her throat, hesitantly stepping through the doorway, her flashlight from her pail flickering on and illuminating the dilapidated home. Spatters of black ooze stained where her feet stepped. She did not dare think of what could have caused such a stain. Setting her pail down by the doorway, she gripped onto her doll and flashlight, floorboards creaked with every step, her movements slow and timid.

The staircase wound up in a gentle arc towards the second story, the moonlight filtering in between the slats of wood covering the windows, dust swirled and danced within the moonlight now that the airflow was restored to the home. The golden beam of her light passed over fresh footprints in the dust covering each step. Far too small to be of an adult, which piqued her curiosity - and you know what they say, curiosity often killed the cat.

Placing her feet into the prints, she climbed the steps to find what other kid could have possibly been brave enough to come into the murder house, and why couldn’t she have beat them to it?

“Hello?” She called nearing the top of the stairs, her hands sweating from anticipation, her grip loosening around the doll’s hand and the flashlight. A thud answered her call and her heart - a wild animal thrashing against the small cage of her chest - sent her body into a quicker pace. What if old Victor came back to the house to claim his next victim and she was to stumble upon the boogeyman himself? Would she stand and fight to save her fellow peer or would she run away?

Little Rosie knew only one thing and it was to find out the source of the noise.

The hallway was foreboding and silent just like each room she entered on the right of the stairs. Broken down beds, shattered beer bottles from a decade ago, and spray paint littered the walls, but nothing to signify that there was a young child within. Perhaps it was a ghost she’d been chasing. Perhaps she’s chasing her own ghost, forever stuck roaming these halls and the nightmare over and over again.

Such twisted thoughts for a young girl.

Another thud and dust sprinkled

Down

Down

Down

And down upon her head.

The brass of a tarnished door knob glimmered in the beam of her light, the pattern of fingers splayed across polished the surface. Someone definitely had to have been here and often. Her small frame rushed forward and placed her hand around the knob, nearly a perfect match to hers.

If there was a time to turn back, it’d be now. Any sensible child would. Hell, even the boys taunting her below would have ran before they made it up the stairs. She didn’t have to prove her bravery anymore, but she did crave to satiate her curiosity.

Another thud followed by a muffled voice was all the convincing she needed to turn the knob and creep inside the attic staircase.

Each step a tip toe, her footfalls nearly silent as she kept to the edges of each step where there would be the best support. It was a trick she learned in her own home when she would sneak down to sit outside and watch the stars past bedtime.

“And noooooow! I shall perform a crowd favorite, Rock and Roll by Leeeeeeed Zeppelin!” Announced the voice, dragging out the words enthusiastically as if to rile a crowd up. Another thud as the voice hummed along to a rhythm recognizable but broken from taking deep breaths as feet thudded against the floorboards, vibrating the staircase with each step she crept up on.

Getting down on all fours, she crawled to the top as the voice began to sing out the lyrics to the song. Her hand grazed across broken glass, slicing into the flesh and blood beaded within her palm. She covered her mouth with her free hand, whimpering from the pain as a drop slid off from her palm and splashed against the wood floor which eagerly drank up the fluid from years of neglect. She gritted her teeth, and tried to focus on the voice ahead,

It's been a long time since I rock and rolled

It's been a long time since I did the stroll

Ooh let me get it back, let me get it back

Let me get it back, baby, where I come from

It's been a long time, been a long time

Been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time

There, as if the attic transformed into a stage, a young boy danced around the room, a stick lying diagonally across as his right hand strummed invisible strings of a guitar. The broken roof allows just enough space for the moon to provide a spotlight atop broken plywood atop milk crates. His cape wrapped around his small body as he spun, then flapped behind him as she dashed around the room and did a powerslide on his knees. The red lipstick smeared from the corner of his full lips as if he had strawberry juice dribbling out from his mouth.

The performer was a vampire. 

Rosie tucked her knees below her, resting her chin in her hands as she admired and watched the performance from her spot. How he seemed to be lost in his fantasy and yet brought the concert to life as she swore she could hear the drum beat and the strings of an electric guitar ringing out into the space between them.

It was strange to be so enamored with a voice so young and yet she couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. Every inflection was perfectly toned. Every rasp of a note aged him by decades and suddenly she forgot she was watching a boy merely a year older. His voice trailed out and soon replaced it with the singing of a guitar solo.

His cape dramatized his performance as he climbed up onto the makeshift scaffolding, the moonlight illuminating him and the biggest brown eyes she’s ever seen. Melted chocolate and warm amber glittered with passion and fantasy as he looked out to his ghostly crowd… Plus her.

Oh seems so long since we walked in the moonlight

Making vows that just can't work right, oh yeah

Open your arms, opens your arms

Open your arms, baby, let love come running in, yeah

It's been a long time, been a long time

Been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time

She giggled as he stumbled in his performance, thankful his own singing covered up her sounds so that he wouldn’t stop. A strand slipped free from the greased slick back of his hair in his movements and revealed a perfect coil of a curl. He was a total rockstar that Rosanna saw in the magazines she’d rip pages out to make posters for her room. A blush crept up her neck and across her cheeks which began to hurt from her constant grinning.

With a final strum, he lifted his guitar up into the air and smiled, a dimple forming on his left cheek, sending a deeper crimson shade across the cheeks of the girl.

It was incredible and magical all at once. She completely forgot she had been an unwelcome voyeur to this concert when she jumped up and clapped her hands together, cheering.

He stumbled backwards and fell off of the scaffold, “SHIT!” he gasped a curse, his skin draining of color as if he had seen the dead rise again.

Rosie rushed over to him, crouching down and immediately untangling him from his cape, “Oh, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have yelled. Are you okay?” Voice wavering, her limbs entwining with his as they patted dust off him.

He simply stared at her, eyes round and peering at her as if she began to glow from radiation. She reached her hand out to him as she stood up, his gaze sliding from her face to her hand as he slowly wrapped his hand around hers, pulling against to help stand him up. Stumbling a step, she managed to lean her body backwards until he stood, his height much shorter than she expected. He was only an inch above her.

It was this close that she could see the freckles across his cheeks, the golden flecks that rimmed his irises, and how he had the longest lashes she’d ever seen.

He stared at her in awe, her skin looked warm, a fading gold from the summer, the way she gazed up at him with straight lashed eyes. Her lips downturned, but left agape and a small line between her unruly brows as if she were always trying to solve a puzzle. 

She was the first to tear her hand away from his and to break the silence, softly this time so as to not startle him, “That was really cool.”

He blinked twice, then his lips twisted into a toothy grin, “Thanks. I want to be a rockstar when I grow up.” Then, his voice dropped to a whisper as he leaned in, “Did she send you?”

Her brows knitted together and looked back over her shoulder for who this ‘she’ he was referring to. “Who? I was dared to come inside because of the boogeyman.”

“The moon.” He pointed upwards to the brilliant light in the sky shining down on them, she shook her head in response before he continued, “I asked her to bring me an audience for tonight. I thought you were her for a second… Or a bat coming to eat me.”

She giggled, “No. I’m Anita. Anita Salazar.” His smile dropped and she frowned, ready for the words she heard often when her mom’s family would go out somewhere. The names that were deemed mean and cruel by her family. She steeled herself for the teasing, but was met with him shrugging it away.

“I thought your name would be Wednesday.” He reached and tugged on her braid before smirking down at her. She smacked his hand away and glared at him before the blood crept back into her features, tinting her skin in a rosy shade.

“I’m Eddie Munson. Soon to be the greatest guitar player in the world.” 

Their hands met once again, shaking the other in greeting, “I like your costume. Addams Family is funny.” he said, earning a smile from her.

“Thanks. Mama said I shouldn’t have the doll, but it's not the same without Marie.” Anita handed the doll over to Eddie, his hand wrapped around the body of it and examined the headless being with a grin.

“Well I think she’s cool. Very metal.”

“What?” questioned Rosie, a brow rising upwards.

Eddie shrugged, “It’s another way to say something is cool.” and he returned the doll to its rightful owner. She tucked it close to her body and nodded, storing the phrase into her brain for later use.

“So, why are you in the murder house? Isn’t it scary?” She asked, her eyes darting to the growing shadows of the attic, the magic from earlier fading away to the reality of her nightmare.

“ You’re here aren't you? Besides, my dad comes here all the time for business , he says. It's not so scary when you pretend you’re brave. Eventually you believe it.”

He was oddly well spoken for his age, she thought. She struggled to keep up with his words and meanings, but managed to patch them together in better understanding after some thought.

“Salazar!!! ARE YOU DEAD?!” Called out Steve from downstairs, causing her to jump and Eddie to laugh.

“I should go home anyways. I’ll walk you down.” He held his hand out to her to hold onto, “Here, the steps are uneven going back down.”

She nodded and took his hand into hers as they slowly climbed down the stairs from the attic and to the first floor. The darker it got, the tighter she squeezed his and he squeezed reassuringly in return. Steve was waiting at the doorway, promised to not step any further in when they emerged into the light of the street lamps. Steve jumped back seeing Eddie and scowled until seeing their hands clasped together.

“This is Eddie! He’s a rockstar!” She introduced him cheerfully, Eddie’s dimple returning across his cheek at her calling him a rockstar. Steve looked at him quizzically, “Isn’t he a vampire?”

Eddie laughed and let go of Rosie’s hand, picking up her candy pail for her before snatching a piece for himself. “I am, but also a rockstar.”

Steve simply nodded before turning to the girl, “Okay. Let’s go Rosie, it's late and we want to be able to trade candy before we have to go to bed!” He then left the doorway and ran back to the group of kids waiting at the playground.

Rosanna and Eddie followed suit, Eddie closing the door to the Creel house behind them. “I’m in the Second grade at Hawkins Elementary. Maybe I can see you at recess sometime? I can teach you guitar!”

Rosie laughed, “That was a stick, silly! I’m in First.”

He rolled his eyes, “You have to use your imagination silly,'' he mocked back jokingly.

Giggling she nodded and skipped down the stairs with her pail and doll, “Bye Eddie! I’ll see you at school!”

He waved back, smiling softly at his new friend and her headless doll - his first audience member, “Bye my number one fan!” he smirked as her braids illuminated within the glow of the street and moonlight.

Rosanna giggled as she took her place amongst her friends, the streets dying down from children and being replaced with rowdy teenagers. They trekked their way through the playground and back down the street where each friend lived, one by one saying goodnight, trading candy, and going to bed. It was Steve and Rosie left as he walked her to her house, stopping at her gate.

“His dad is friends with bad people, my dad says. I heard he sells bad things.” Steve warned Rosie, but the scowl on his face said that he believed such rumors were true and that Eddie was just like his father.

“Well, he wasn’t mean to me. I’m playing with him tomorrow at recess, you should too!” protested the girl, placing a lollipop into her mouth, determination and challenge furrowing her brows as she looked to her friend.

“Hey what was with him up there, anyway?” He questioned as they stomped up to her porch, the night and sugar crash wearing heavily on them.

“He said he goes there to see the world.” She pulled him closer to the home as her mom opened the door waving to Steve. Rosie dragged Steve inside, her mother laughing and ruffling Steve’s hair, “Welcome in, kids. Steve, I’ll phone your mother in an hour to give you two some time to hang out.”

“Thank you Ms. Salazar!” 

Rosie giggled, dragging him further into the house, past the family oferenda and the garlands of marigolds, up the stairs, and into her bedroom as their heavy pails of candy clunk together. They stumbled inside, the radio playing quietly in the corner beside her bed already tuned into the station her older brother always listened to. Steve grabbed her pillows off her bed to sit on as they always did, Rosie turned up the volume before settling beside him and dumping their candy into a huge pile before the eager children. 

In a shared, childlike wonder-filled gasp, Steve and Rosanna turned their heads to stare at one another, “Whoa.” 

Immediately, their hands were thrusted into the pile, each of them separating the candy in neat piles according to their type; Lollipops, chocolate, chewy candy, and the forbidden pile to which they would give their parents. 

Rosie heaved a sigh, plucking the cherry and apple flavors out of the pile, “This is unfair. We have almost the same favorite ones!” 

Steve snickered, his hand coming down into her open palm and gathering the red and green square candies, “Hey you wanted to go into the Creel house and this was our deal. What did it look like inside? Was there still blood?” 

Rosie’s little face scrunched up in disgust and she shoved him, “Stevie don’t you dare try to scare me now ! And no.. I don’t think so. I tried not to look. Inside was just… empty and dusty.” 

Steve cackled, righting himself back up, already dividing up his share of the fruity squares in his lap, “You know, that was really cool of you.” 

Rosie whipped her head to the side, her eyes wide, her lips pursed together as she fought against a grin, “Really? You think so?!” 

The boy nodded, grabbing her hand and dropping half of the candies she gave him back into her palm, “Yeah, the boys were totally buggin’. That place is like, so freaky, and no one and I mean no one has gone into the murder house. Especially not a baby like you.” He teased, his hand reaching up, squeezing the tip of her nose between his thumb and index knuckle. 

Rosie’s nose scrunched, the gaps in between her baby and adult teeth wide as she grinned to her best friend, her fingers working at the paper wrapping around the candy before popping a cherry flavored square into her mouth. They continued counting up their sugary treasure, exchanging flavors and types for their preferred. Steve’s mom loved chocolate and so Rosie offered some of hers so Steve could gift it to Mrs. Harrington. Steve reluctantly offered some of his pop rocks into Rosanna’s pile so she and her brother could have their little game of who could handle the popping candy longer than the other. 

The pair were giggling, stuffing their shares back into the pails satisfied when the bedroom lights cut out. Rosie shrieked, hopping into the lap of the boy who tightened his arms around her to keep her steady. Her arms wound around his neck, her breathing quick and he swore he could hear her heart beating rapidly against her chest. He assumed she could hear his as well. 

A cackle echoed from her bedroom doorway and the flight flipped back on to reveal her elder brother, shaggy brown hair and dressed as Paul, one of the Beatles from when he overheard them talk a few weeks ago. Rosie’s face dropped, her eyes narrowing into a glare at the boy who continued laughing, settling himself on the floor beside them. 

“HA-HA! Psych! You two should have seen your faces!” 

Steve heaved a sigh in relief before he giggled and dropped his arms from around the girl, “I thought he was after us!” 

Rosie grumbled, “That’s not funny, Adam!” 

The older boy shook his head, his bangs correcting themselves around his face as he crossed his legs beneath him, “Oh calm down, Scooby and Shaggy. Who could I possibly be?” 

Rosanna stuck her tongue out, climbing out of Steve’s lap and back beside him, brushing off her black dress, “Nothing. No one.” 

Steve shot the girl a look, there was no reason to lie or hide what happened especially after she so proudly boasted to their group that she was the bravest of them all. Adam knew Rosie and she had an awful poker face, so he rolled his eyes, “Oh come on, tell me, Rose. Or I’m telling Steve about the time you pissed yourself.” 

Her jaw dropped and Steve snorted, “She did what ?” 

Rosie lifted herself onto her knees and tackled her brother to the ground, “Adam, you asshole!” 

Adam landed on his back with a thud, laughing as Rosie gripped his shirt collar, pinning him down. Steve’s eyes widened at her cursing, and laughed harder with Adam. 

“What’s wrong, Rose, don't want your little Steeevie to know about that?!” His hand wrestled free and yanked on one of her braids roughly, sending her toppling over to her side with a yelp. 

“Shut up Adam!” She gritted out, Adam snickering and pinned her back down to the floor, his hair falling down and around his face, “Make me!” 

Rosie’s hand slipped free from her brother’s grasp and a fist came swooping in the air between them, connecting to the boy’s nose harshly, sending him onto his side, groaning as his hand covered his face. 

Steve stopped laughing, and all three of them fell silent until Adam sat up, blood running down from his nose and dripping onto his costume, “Puta madre–” 

He raised his hand which was covered in his blood and his eyes widened, turning to stare at his little sister who was panting beside him, eyes equally wide in shock as her right fist remained clenched and shaking. 

Steve’s stomach dropped, and he debated calling for their mother before a real fight began or to check if Adam’s nose had been broken – whichever would come first. Instead, he watched the shock and horror leave the brother and sister’s face as pride and amusement took over. 

Adam was the first to burst into a hysterical laughter, touching his nose with his fingertips, wincing, and showing the blood to both Steve and his sister, “Holy shit! Holy shit! You actually punched me!” 

Rosie’s brows came together confused, her eyes sliding to the left of her towards Steve to see if he was witnessing the same thing too, afraid to move. Then, she began to laugh, too, awkwardly at first and then into a fit of giggles, “You deserved it!” 

Adam wiped the blood off his hand onto his shirt and high-fived his little sister, “Right on, Rosie! You hit good for a little girl! Stevie, did you see that?!” 

Steve nodded, still half frozen in shock when he finally began to join in on their raucous laughter. It was an incredible sight, terrifying, as well. Adam was four years older and stretching high in height for only ten, and Rosie managed to give him a bloody nose so easily. 

In a matter of hours, Steve witnessed his best friend step into a haunted murder house alone, curse, and give an older boy a bloodied nose. 

“Far out.” He breathed, the siblings grinned at one another before turning to tackle him together. Steve’s back landed against the pink rug in her bedroom, the two of them landing on top, squeezing the air out of his lungs while they laughed. Steve winced as her elbow dug into his ribs, the strong scent of cherry escaping her mouth, her brother smelled of something funny and strong that reminded him of Eddie’s dad. 

“Jesus, Rosie. Get your bony ass elbow out of your boyfriend’s ribs, the guy can’t breathe!” Adam shoved her off as he laughed, Rosie slid and landed onto the wooden flooring with a thud, “He’s not my boyfriend, Adam!” 

Steve, full of puzzlement, stared up at Adam who rolled his eyes and mouthed, Just joking to him. Harrington’s cheeks flushed as turned his gaze back up at the ceiling. 

“So, are you going to tell me what happened today or what? And what the hell happened to your hand?” Adam settled onto the floor on the left side of Steve. Rosanna heaved an annoyed sigh on his right, holding up her hand to the two boys, a bloodied scab formed across her palm. 

Steve grasped onto her wrist, pulling her palm closer to him, “Oh my god are you going to get tennis!?” 

Adam snorted, “You mean tetanus?” 

“That’s what I said.” 

Rosanna frowned, fear filling her voice as it wavered, “What does that mean?!” 

Steve and Adam turned their heads sharing a silent agreement to not scare her, “Nothing” they assured her at once. 

“She went into the Creel house.” Steve finally relented, Rosie shifting uncomfortably beside him, his hands still holding onto hers. 

Adam sat up onto his elbow, peering over Steve and towards his baby sister, “You WHAT?! ” 

“Oh shit.” Steve whispered. 

“It was a dare and I proved them wrong.” 

Adam narrowed his eyes down at Steve, Rosie rushing to his defense, “Don’t be mad at Steve! He didn’t want me to, but I made him promise to let me go. He stayed at the doorway the entire time. The other boys wouldn’t even get onto the lawn!” 

Adam sighed, settling back onto the floor, “I know Harrington wasn’t going to let anything happen. Still, Rosie, that was stupid. I’m glad you’re okay.” 

“I made a new friend, too. Eddie Munson .” Rosie offered sweetly, Steve’s lips twitched into a thin line. 

Adam hummed, “Isn’t his dad–” 

“Yeah.” Steve followed, “Eddie’s nice though.” 

Adam hummed again, “Rosanna, you need to get more friends that are girls.” 

Steve and Rosie snorted, thinking Adam was only poking fun at her choice of friends as he always did, but from the corner of Steve’s eye, he saw the frown across Adam’s face. 

Adam, however, was more serious. At only ten he knew how the town would talk and unlike his little sister, he remembered hearing the slanderous words thrown to their mother when she fell pregnant with his sister. Later, he would understand what the word meant and why it had been difficult for them to have a father figure in life compared to all the other kids. 

Slutty Salazar . A name he didn’t want his sister to have as she continued to surround herself with more boys – She was only six, Steve a few months older at Seven. It was all innocent, he was sure, but the fear remained. 

They lay quietly, staring up at her ceiling when the familiar riff came from her radio speakers, Rosie and Adam at once gasped, and shouted, “SON OF A GUN!”

Steve flinched as Rosanna pushed herself up off the floor, Adam chuckling following suit, singing along to the radio, 

You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht,

Your hat strategically dipped below one eye

Rosie and Adam both extended a hand to Steve who now sat up, he placed his hand into each of theirs as they pulled him up, the elder continuing to sing.

Your scarf it was apricot

You had one eye in the mirror, as you watched yourself gavotte

Rosanna grinned, grabbing onto Steve’s forearms in an excited grip, her voice blending in with the woman’s on the radio, a young, childish contrast to Simon’s mature, 

And all the girls dreamed that they’d be your partner

They’d be your partner and–  

Steve rolling his eyes gave in, his right hand sliding into Rosie’s as he lifted them up, leading her into a twirl, as the three of them began to sing all together. 

You're so vain

You probably think this song is about you

You're so vain (you're so vain)

I bet you think this song is about you

Don't you, don't you?

Downstairs, Mrs. Caroline Harrington and Ms. Maria Salazar sat at the table over a couple of beers, chatting about the school year. Anita picked up Ballet classes and found a liking to Soccer, Steve was due to be back on the T-Ball team in the spring. Mrs. Harrington’s weariness was evident to Maria who asked how a Mr. John Harrington was fairing lately. Steve’s mother sighed, rolling her eyes and took a long swig from the bottle, “A business trip.”

“Mmm,” Maria hummed, her brows ticking upwards, understanding. 

“If Steve was older, I would be going on these trips myself just to ruin it for him, you know? I’d like to see you be unfaithful with your wife around.” 

Maria thought for a moment, the idea nearing on pathetic to the average person, but instead, a wicked smirk grew across her red lips, “Why be the wife of a cheating man in Indiana when you could be in New York shopping.” 

“Or Paris,” Added Mrs. Harrington

“Hell, what about Milan while we’re at it?” 

“A tall, Italian man would make me feel less weary, you know,” and she waggled her brows, Caroline giggling and blushing at the idea. 

Maria hiccuped a breath, “Your mother might actually approve even more if you ran off with one.” 

Caroline nodded, “She actually might. I could hear her now, crossing herself, thankful that I found myself a real man who dotes on his wife.” 

Maria sighed dreamily, “Oh imagine that. Bring me one back, would you?” 

Caroline agreed, sighing as well as she finished up her beer, “I’m so glad my little Steve has your daughter as a friend. Sure he has a lot of friends and the boys are so sweet, but he’s different around her, happier.” 

Maria shifted in her seat, her eyes narrowing slightly, payfully, “Does he have a crush on her?” 

The woman chuckled, shrugging, “I don’t know. It would be his first one. His father is… Well you know him and I think it makes Steve timid and worried constantly trying to keep his father’s approval. It reflects in the boys in their grade and it worries me that Steve is never going to be able to shake it. I mean, he’s only seven so it’s possibly far too early to tell, but even as a baby, he couldn’t please his father. A baby and he expects Steve to come out ready to take over the family business? Let him be a goddamn kid, you know?!” 

Maria’s brows furrowed in concern and reached her hand out, laying atop Caroline’s in support as she continued on, “Around Rosie, he can just breathe and laugh . I mean, Maria, you should see those two sometimes. They bicker often as kids do, but they just understand each other so perfectly for kids.”

Maria chuckled, “They know what the other is thinking just by looking at each other, huh? I’ve seen it, it’s so cute, but also terrifying. Those two are going to be such a handful when they get older.” 

Caroline paused for a moment, the picture of their upcoming years flashing through her mind, “Lord help us all.” 

A muffled cacophony of two sibling voices shouting, sounded above them. The women’s eyes casted upwards and at once they slid off of the barstools and made their way up the stairs. The radio grew louder as they ascended, Rosie and Adam’s voices singing out, followed by Steve’s. The women leaned against each side of the doorframe, watching as the children sang along, index fingers pointed at one another for emphasis. Adam’s voice died away, allowing Steve and Rosanna to sing together, their faces close and smirking playfully. 

Caroline grinned, her hand over her heart as she watched the endearing scene, sharing a glance with Maria. 

Well I hear you went up to Saratoga 

And your horse naturally won. 

Maria nudged Caroline with her elbow, nodding her head towards the kids as she sang quietly along. Caroline, shyly at first, whispered the lyrics. Maria grabbed her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. 

Then you flew your lear jet up to Nova Scotia 

To see the total eclipse of the sun.

The women’s voices grow louder together, blending in with the children as Maria pulls Caroline into the bedroom, both of them dancing in, joining with the kids, singing lyrics far too close to home and yet healing all at once. 

Well you’re where you should be all the time 

And when you’re not, you’re 

With some underworld spy

Caroline sang loudly, Steve’s eyes darting towards his mother and grinned to see her having fun with Rosie’s mom. 

Or the wife of a close friend, wife of a close friend 

Maria’s left hand grabbed onto Steve’s, her right clasped in Caroline’s while Caroline’s right hand was clasped in Rosie’s. Adam held both his sister and her best friend’s hands as they sang together, their hands raising upwards, stepping in close before they let go, all spinning around to dance to their own volition.  

There, in a young girl’s bedroom was a ten year old boy, far too aware of the family’s reputation; a well to-do woman in a loveless marriage; a mother whose only crime was loving too easily; and two best friends, unaware that this night would haunt them in the future, setting them onto a path that no one could imagine. 

Across town, in an abandoned mansion once filled with music and love, a hand on a grandfather clock that should no longer function, creaked forward one second. 

That night, Rosie dreamt of an adventure with rockstars and a hero, but like all dreams she would have later in life, there would be an inky blackness growing like a fungus on all good things. A warning, an omen, a promise of what would come from the house with the rose stained glass door.

Chapter Text

Thursday November 1, 1973

Hawkins’ Washington Elementary School

The Playground

11:00 am

The magic of October gave way to the dreary dull browns of November when all the little monsters shed their capes and masks for the jeans and knits of Hawkins children. Thankfully, the sun peeked out from the clouds, warming the earth below as the playground erupted into a symphony of laughter and rhymes. Hands gripped the steel bars of the dome jungle gym as the small body climbed up the side, Chuck Taylors finding grip before pushing her up another foot from the ground. It was there it seemed the world of Hawkins’ Elementary was endless.

Though the afternoon air was crisp, the sun provided enough warmth through the striped sweater Rosanna wore, perspiration beading at her brow as she climbed her way to the top of the dome, laughter breaking away into white noise as she focused her mind to the task and ignoring the unease oozing from the pit of her stomach. She really needed to get over her fear of heights if she ever wanted to prove something, but at still merely six years old, some things were harder to break.

Hand over hand, foot meeting bar, she had reached the homestretch and the ground pitched and bent below her. She shut her eyes, nose scrunching as she brought her heart rate down, her breathing slower and the unease settling back into its gooey pond. It was the hardest part of the climb - the web of bars flattening out at the top and yet one dared not to stand and walk each bar until at the apex. Where the soles of her shoes made contact with the bars, her knees wobbled as she crawled over to the peak, surely to be bruised by the time she made it down… Though she did not seem to think past getting up.

The breeze tousled the stray strand from her hair as she neared her destination. Only a little more to go and she would have finally made her first trip to the top. The bars seemed to be further apart here, and so with one miscalculated crawl, her knee slipped, her legs now dangling down from the peak, bars caught right beneath her arms as she kicked trying to pull herself up. She was hanging from the ledge of a cliff, jagged rocks mocking her downfall from below, waiting to eat her alive if she let go. For anyone older it would have been a bruise on the legs or the ego, but for Rosie it was much worse. Far smaller, far more frightened than she let on, she felt this was her final moment on earth.

A hand gripped around her right bicep, pulling her up with a grunt. She pushed with her left and tucked her legs close to her body so that a knee would find purchase at the bar. Another hand gripped at her left bicep, pulling her forward until she was back on all fours, each limb claiming a bar. A sigh of relief escaped her lips until she stared back into eyes the same shade as the chocolate bar that melted in the pocket of her jacket.

“Welcome to the top of the world, Anita.” Eddie smiled at her, the dimple in his cheek deepening like the crater of the moon they looked at the night before.

Rosie shifted herself so that she sat on a bar, legs dangling now in triumph rather than fear. The breeze tousled through the loose strands from her braids — this time, a satin ribbon in a crimson shade was woven into the braid and tied into a bow at the tail ends. Her cheeks and nose tinted the same pink as the boy next to her, his curls wild around his head and freckles dotted across his face like the stars in the sky.

“I can see the whole playground from here!” Her head swiveled about, taking in the layout of the playground. The swings off on the edge by the grass, the slide that sent everyone rocketing for the gravel if they didn’t land just right and burned their legs in the summer. The black top where girls jump roped and a teeter-totter where people took turns launching one another into the air.

“Thanks, Eddie.” He smiled at her before she fished for something in her jeans pocket, leaning over close to him and he braced his hands out, ready to catch her if she’d ever fall. The sun glimmered on the object pinched between her thumb and index finger. The circular gem in the middle swirled with color as the cold air hit the stone. “It’s a mood ring! It’s too big for me, but I always see the rockstars wearing something like it. Maybe you can play a song based on the mood you’re feeling!”

He stared at the ring for a moment, lashes fluttering as he blinked rapidly. He never had someone give him anything before at school, let alone remember any of his interests. For someone so young, he felt the weight of his surname and it only grew heavier with each day. Surely it seemed more of a girly thing according to his father, but he couldn’t find it in himself to deny the girl. He may find it hard to deny her anything for the rest of their lives due to how bright her eyes shone when she got excited. How her voice fluctuates dramatically as if she were always putting on a play for the world.

He held his hand out towards her, spreading his fingers so she’d have access. She obliged eagerly, slipping the ring onto his left middle finger. The gem swirling in color until it settled on the brilliant hue of violet. Neither one dared say the meaning and so they just looked up at one another and shared a cheek aching grin.

“It’s very cool you could climb up here already. It took me an entire summer of practice before I finally could,” amused Eddie after a moment of silence between them. He wouldn’t admit it, but he had been scared of heights as well, but not because of the falling, but of the feeling in his stomach. It had been the same when his dad would raise his voice at home or when he would stumble in from the night. A feeling he couldn’t quite shake and never will as time would tell. It was a black mist that would creep up on the edges of his vision, thickening and engulfing the rest of his sight until it became nothing but a pinhole… If his father would raise his fist, Eddie saw nothing but darkness and the cold icy weight of dread.

Even now he couldn’t quite see much except the inside of his closet and the door that kept him away from the battle raging in the family kitchen. There was however, a glowing light at the edge of his memory, it was still cool, but in a way it felt like drinking ice water in the sweltering Indiana summer. Soft flesh slid across the top of his right hand, enveloping his into a tight grasp. He looked over, seeing the dark brows furrow together as those doe eyes peered through his prison and into him. She sat right there with him in his nightmare, locked in the closet of his house as his father’s booming voice shakes the wood paneled walls.

“What’s wrong, Eddie?” She whispered into the space between them, the soothing sound of a guitar strum breaking apart the voice in the kitchen and matching her voice in a melody as if she suddenly burst into song. “Eddie?” She spoke clearer this time, announcing herself in his waking nightmare and shattering the darkness around him.

Rosie’s eyes refused to leave his face even when that shroud of darkness shrunk away from his eyes, allowing the molten chocolate and mischievous twinkle to return. She sighed when he shook away the remnants of worry from his features and offered a toothy grin. She could see the gaps where his baby teeth had fallen away.

“Nothings wrong. I think I shouldn’t have stolen Tommy’s cookie at lunch.” Her laugh eased away the tension his small body held and he swung his legs as he returned her giggle.

“Hey Anita, why do you always end up somewhere scary? You were at the Creel murder house last night and you climbed the dome today even when you seemed scared.” No other kid in their right mind would enter the Creel house. That’s why his father chose it as a place for “meetings.” Eddie always thought he would be safe there from the snickering and judgy eyes of his peers if he played in the attic. Not to mention, it was a massive structure in his eyes. He could only dream of living in a home like that someday when he became a rockstar. He would have a room dedicated to guitars and instruments that interested him. He would also be able to play as loud as he wished. The Creel house was a playground for his dreams even though the blood of nightmares still stained the floorboards.

Eddie supposed that nothing could be scarier than what he lived with.

Rosie bit down on her lip and peeked towards the ground, the nausea settling back into her veins before she raised her gaze back up to the sky. “Everyone treats me like a baby. I’m small and the only girl in my family and friends. I want to be brave. I want to show them I’m brave. I can do all the things the boys can do and even more.” She shrugged, the whine in her tone dying away with a sigh, “What if the princess didn’t always have to be rescued? What if her prince never comes? What if she doesn’t even like the prince?”

His brow perked up, it was a first, but he also didn’t talk to girls. They were either too mean or thought he was scary. In fact, Rosie was the first girl, let alone kid that didn’t look at him as if they were scared. “You don’t want to be a princess?” He questioned, trying to understand what the girl could possibly be talking about.

“It seems fun, but they only show up at the end of the story or are always locked away. I want to go on the adventure. I want to fight monsters and save the day too. That seems like real fun.” There was a look of longing etched across her face. She didn’t seem too young at that moment to him, she seemed older and… Tired. As if she had been rescued one too many times and jealousy poisoned every move whenever the tale of the hero was spoken. As if she was done watching the world from the window of a tower.

His lips twisted into a smirk as he pictured the girl, sword in hand, that same look of determination pulling at her brows and pinching her lids over those round eyes of hers. Brown hair pulled into a braid, strands dancing in the breeze just as they did now. His brain must have slowed down at the image, because he could feel his mouth moving, voice slipping from his throat, and her gaze softening, “You can adventure with me.”

The tip of her nose reddened along with her cheeks in that moment, and he wanted to capture the color forever and paint the world with it.

“Promise?” Her pinky finger held out towards him, the eagerness coated each syllable until it practically jumped out of her heart and into his lap.

He wrapped his pinky around hers and tightened, “I promise.” 

“Eddie?” the girl added, and he lifted a brow, nodding. 

“You can call me Rosie. My middle name is Rosanna,” She shrugged, “but everyone calls me Rosie.” 

Eddie watched her for a moment, “Rosie…” he tested the name, “Like the girl on the poster?” 

Rosanna snorted a laugh, “Yeah!” 

He smiled at her, “I like it.” 

Hawkins’ Washington Elementary School

3:00 PM 

God how he tired of hearing that shrill ringing rattling within his skull at the end of the day. That same shroud darted at the edge of his vision like shadow creatures, taunting him as he gathered the worn and battered books into his backpack. He froze, that same shimmering glow breaking through the dark fog rolling in as his eyes cast upon the simple mood ring - a token of unadulterated friendship. The boy hadn’t been used to such kindness from another, let alone so soon after meeting. The warm settling in his gut and gentle drumming ache in his heart was new and uncomfortable to navigate for someone so young and already so jaded from the world around him. Eddie couldn’t quite figure out what or when he could have ever felt anything close to it, and so he sighed, shoving the last of his schoolwork into his bag and tugged on the canvas jacket over his body.

The sun now shrouded in the grey and silver clouds of the late autumn. That chill settled down onto the town and leaked its way through layers of clothing, leaves fell like dreary confetti around him as he shuffled his feet to the child pick-up area. He sat alone on a bench as the other school children chased each other around, shoved past him or climbed onto their shiny new bikes. He was merely a spectator to a world he did not belong in though he desperately yearned for someone to pass him a ball, offer him to ride over to the comic shop, to come over and play.

And there it was

That all too familiar melodic sound of laughter dampened the chaos around him. His head snapped towards the direction he heard it from and saw the girl running towards a group of boys until she leapt up and launched herself onto the back of a particularly tall one of the group (other than Anita) - Steve Harrington. Of course they both fell to the ground, leaves tangling in their hair as they laughed and helped one another up. A pair of other girls walked by snickering at her, sharing a look of disgust that she could possibly play with boys or get herself dirty. Eddie rolled his eyes and tucked his arms closer to his body to preserve what warmth he may have left.

“Rosie, where are you going!?” Shouted Steve, the sound of stomping shoes came bounding towards him until a body threw itself down on the bench beside him. She was panting, cheeks and nose a bright red and crumbs of earth still stuck in her hair.

“Come on Steve! Look, it's Eddie!” She called out over her shoulder, her breath heavy and lips swollen pink from the brisk air. “Hi Eddie!” Her grin, toothy other than the gaps in her teeth, warmed him immediately, easing his arms back to his sides as Steve caught up to them both at the bench.

“Oh, Hi, Eddie!” Not nearly as enthusiastic as Rosie, but considerably more friendly than on Halloween when he and Rosanna walked out of the Creel house together. Steve always had the nicest clothes in their grade and even in the entire school, even more so, Steve already showed a gift for sports and took it seriously at recess or during gym, putting Eddie in the dust despite Eddie being a year older. Now he was practically sitting on Rosie’s lap, forcing her to scoot beside Eddie, the outsides of their thighs touching. Eddie shifted uncomfortably. No one dared get this close besides his mom or dad… Usually his dad and when he was angry. He fought back the shadows creeping in from the dark of the school grounds. 

A weak smile forced onto his lips to the two, “Hi Steve. Hi Anita.” and he immediately saw the glow of the girl flicker when he used her real name instead of her nickname. Those brows of hers knitted together, searching his face for any clues as to why the sudden change.

He’d only come to know years later that this was precisely the moment when she knew her attic rockstar was capable of lying and masking his true emotions.

Steve only looked at Rosie as she stared off, a new path unwinding between Eddie and her. She blinked twice, the shades of brown in her eyes shifting as if he had stirred a mug of hot chocolate, bringing the settled flavor back up to the surface. He shivered.

“You’re cold.” She simply stated before forcing her arm through the crook of his elbow and pulled herself in tight as if she could possibly share the warmth from within her jacket to him. It was the thought that counted, besides, the extra insulation provided some of his own body heat to warm his arm. The girl with moonlight in her hair always just acted on every thought that seemed to cross her mind. Perhaps it was naivety or her untainted view of the world, but he admired the girl for it. Steve smiled, knowing this was common for her and wrapped his arm through hers in turn - The three of them sharing warmth on the bench pink-nosed and giggling.

“So why were you at the murder house last night? Didn’t you hear the stories?” Steve asked him, leaning his head forward to look at the boy. Eddie chewed on his bottom lip, contemplating how to navigate such a question without leaving any crumbs for Harrington to pick up and give to his dad. Eddie shrugged, “The only scary thing is splinters and the spiders in the attic. Maybe it only looks scary because no one cares enough to see what’s inside.”

Just like me. He thought.

Steve quirked his head to the side as he thought, the brows furrowing as if he were trying to decipher a foreign language. Perhaps he didn’t quite understand, but Steve shrugged and stated, “I guess so. Maybe you can show me someday.”

Eddie froze before he whipped his head to look at the boy at the end of the bench. Steve Harrington asked him to hang out, to show him his favorite spot. To perhaps play with him. It hadn’t even been twenty four hours and Eddie’s life had seemed to have uncovered a hidden path within overgrown vines. One step on this path and everything had turned Upside Down. Eddie smiled in return, “Yeah. Plus you can see the old neighborhood from the attic. It’s like standing on top of a castle.”

“It’s true. Eddie, you have to show him the tower!” Rosie beamed remembering the ladder to the top of the home, a 360 view of the neighborhood where the bats made their home in. He laughed seeing her practically jump out of her seat before he nodded, agreeing with her. Steve no longer looked like his father in that moment - the set jaw and rigid stance - softened with the wide eyes of wonderment and imagination running wild.

“I thought Princess Rosanna hated being locked away in a tower?.” Steve joked, pulling on a strand of her hair. Eddie shook his head remembering their promise at the top of the dome, “That’s why she’s an adventurer with us instead.”

He’d come to never forget the way Rosie squeezed her arm around his, the way dark lashes fanned around her round eyes, the way her grin seemed to consume her face. He’d never think anyone could be so happy before and have him as the source of it all. Eddie vowed to do whatever he could to keep her as happy as she was in those moments.

The three of them continued their plans of trekking through the land of MiddleHawk to the Tower of Murder. How they will cross Lover’s Bay full of dangerous sirens and meet with a band of thieves at Skull Island. The richest kid in Hawkins, the bravest girl, and a Munson clung to one another in the late afternoon, dreaming together as the rest of the school children dwindled away.

“Steve, hunny! Time to go home!” A woman in a shiny new Mercedes Benz rolled up, hair in perfect mousey brown waves and pearls across her neck. Mrs. Harrington waved hello to Rosie, her eyes stopping at Eddie as her jaw slacked open in shock before she smiled warmly to the boy. Steve threw his arms around Rosie tightly in a hug before rushing towards the car. Eddie smiled back, waving to her and Steve as he climbed into the passenger seat. “I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Eddie frowned as he noticed he and Rosie were now the last kids waiting in the schoolyard. Did her parents ever forget her like his did to him? The picture made his stomach churn. The girl with her toothy grin and bright eyes waiting alone until giving up and walking home alone in the cold. How her smile will falter and her eyes drip with tears. His knuckles clenched white until a car drove up, a woman, frazzled and exhausted, smiled similarly to his friend. Tired, but grinning just as wide, her mother stepped out of the car and crouched down before them. Her hair feathered, ebony, and her skin significantly darker than Rosie’s, but in every other way, she was a mirror of her daughter. Eddie stared at the woman in awe, he’d never seen anyone look so alike that weren’t siblings close in age. He couldn’t help but become excited to grow up just so Rosie could be just as beautiful as her mother’s features predicted.

“Mom, we can't leave yet. Eddie will be all alone!” Rosanna whined, tightening herself around his arm. Her mother placed her hands on Rosie’s pink cheeks, warming them up with her hands and placing a kiss to her forehead. Jealousy panged through his chest at the sight. It was tender, genuine, and something he couldn’t remember feeling in a while.

“What time does your family normally pick you up, sweetie?” The woman shifted to face him, her eyes searching his clothing and face for clues, and yet she knew deep down that his family would not come for him. Because unlike Rosie, Eddie looked a little too much like his father, and everyone knew the Munsons for their crimes.

Eddie sighed, he should have left an hour ago so that he wouldn’t walk in the dark, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave Rosie nor their plans to take over the Tower with Steve, “They’re not coming. I can walk home. I normally do.”

The woman shook her head and grabbed ahold of Eddie’s hands, leaning close as if conveying some secret language to him, “How about you come over to play and have dinner, then we can drive you home? There’s supposed to be a storm tonight and I can’t let you walk out in the cold.”

You’re safe here. You can be happy for a bit longer, eat an actual hot meal, and get home safely. She seemed to say instead.

You deserve to be treated better, Eddie .

He only nodded. His stomach growled dreaming of having a decent meal for the first time in weeks, his heart drummed in his chest as he thought of spending more time with Rosie. To be welcomed into a home in the suburbs of Hawkins instead of kept out like a stray animal when he would walk through the town.

As the woman motioned for the two kids, Rosie chose to sit in the back with Eddie, pushing the seat forward and sliding in after throwing her bag onto the floor of the 1968 Ford Falcon. It was a standard middle class family vehicle, beautiful muted green in color and smells heavily of beauty products. It was a stark contrast from his dad’s rusting pickup that cigarette smoke and beer assaulted the senses once the door opened. Rosary beads dangled from the rearview mirror, the sunlight casting stars within the vehicle and across Rosie and her mother’s hair in rainbow brilliance. To Eddie’s surprise, familiar riffs of Zeppelin and Pink Floyd drifted from the radio, easing him into his seat, a smile spreading across his chapped lips as he watched the last of the autumn’s hues fly past in the Hawkin’s suburbs.

2708 Lincoln Park Village

4:00 PM 

It was your average home in Hawkins, two story, manicured lawn, large tree out in the front to line the suburban street, a garage to fit two small cars if empty of everything else. It must have been built sometime in the late fifties or early sixties and still decorated in halloween decor outside from the night prior. It was much larger than his own home, the shingles weren’t missing, the door was aligned with the frame, and the lawn hadn’t been haphazardly cut by his own hands because his father never bothered to do so. Of course nothing beat the magnitude of the Creel house, but it was strange to see a structure so alive, warm, and oozing with love without having stepped foot inside.

Rosie giggled and gave him a nudge to get out of the vehicle, the air shocking his skin from the drop in temperature and an unfamiliar scent that made his nose tickle. She grabbed his hand and dragged him inside, his feet fumbling at the entrance when the house launched an assault on his senses.

“Shoes off at the door, Mija!” Yelled her mother as she dropped her bag at the door and worked her way into the kitchen before calling out over her shoulder, “Make yourself at home, Eddie. Rosie will show you around until dinner.”

His eyes watered as the scent wafted from the kitchen clung to the walls of his lungs. Eddie never thought air could have a taste so strong. That warm silvery laugh of the girl’s warmed his face until he blushed a crimson red. He had never felt such a sensation before nor did he feel particularly embarrassed like he did in that moment.

“You’ll get used to it. Come, let's go say hi and play!” 

The home had been in the typical browns of the seventies, but there had been bursts of color in the form of flaming hearts on the wall, woven blankets unlike the crochet afghans in his own home. These were heavy and fringed at the ends, striped in monotone or bright neon colors that he wasn’t so used to seeing in the homes of those that his dad did business in. Everything smelled faintly of incense and spices. There was an underlying scent that was so strong but pleasant that came off of Rosie and every fabric in her home. He wanted to lean in and dissect every possible aroma so he could replicate it somehow for it was unlike anything he knew.

They weaved into the family room, a TV playing softly as three teenage boys sprawled onto the couch and on the floor, a soda in hand. All three of them looked up to say hello to the girl, her hand gesturing in introduction, “This is my brother Adam and his friends.” She turned to them, smiling wide so that the gaps in her teeth showed, “This is Eddie.”

Rosie didn’t know, and neither of the boys in the room told her that they knew each other already, but through his father as they were frequent customers in the past. Their purchase of choice was the usual marijuana teenagers indulged in. Instead, they kept quiet, a silent agreement between them all as they nodded and waved hello. A brotherhood pact to protect the girl they cared about most.

He hated that they knew his father, not because her brother bought weed off a grown up, but because they now knew the reputation his surname carried and though they were pleasant, he couldn’t help but be known as the Munson boy. The son of a criminal drug dealer, a violent man when angry, a drunk at the bars, and the monster in his nightmares. The cause of his mother’s tears.

Her small hand found his and pulled him along upstairs, photos of the family littered the walls going back to what looked like the early century due to the old frame and the odd clothing they wore. He tried to keep up and take in every detail of her home from the colorfully decorated vases, the warm browns of the carpet and wood paneling walls, the images of the virgin mary, the brilliant red heart with flames. He was in awe and particularly loved the odd painted skull figurines. At the heart of it all, was a table draped in colorful fabric, an array of old photographs, candles, fresh orange flowers that smelled sweet, and plates of breads, fruits and tiny skulls made of sugar littered the table. There was a bottle of tequila tucked beside a statue of the Virgin Mary and a single red rose. He wanted to pause and get a closer look at their peculiar display, but she was relentless and tugged him away.

Her room was  at the end of the hallway on the second floor. Eddie stopped at her doorway, looking around at the array of photos, drawings, posters, and decor that surrounded them. It was all what a girl’s room would include, but there were elements that added an edge he immediately spotted; the skeleton drawings in bright colorful clothing, the umbrella stand of wooden swords, a dollhouse with a monstrous dragon perched at the roof. Books littered every surface they could find. The spines worn and broken from being well loved by the girl.

His eyes though, immediately darted to the familiar figure in the corner of her bedroom, tucked away between the wall and a desk. The tuning keys reflected from the warm glow of her lampshade, the slim black neck plummeting down until it met with the warm wood grain of the body. Rosie grabbed his hand again, catching his eye on the item and pulled him further into her room so that they stood in front of it.

“It was my abuelos. My mom learned how to play on it and someday I want to as well. It was brought here from Guanajuato.” He could feel her eyes burning a hole into the side of his face as he gazed at the instrument before him, dreaming to get his hands on the strings and play something. 

“I can let you play later if you’d like?” She softly said, and Eddie nearly fell dizzy to the floor with the force of his turned head, and God, he was thankful she promised it for later. He would hate to barge into a home and play endlessly on such a special piece. What if he was terrible and that was all she could think about the rest of their time together?

He’d be damned if he’d let himself be that embarrassed so soon.

“Okay.” He simply said, the air trapped within his lungs. 

He wiped the sweat from his brow, the howling finally quieted down from outside the tavern, the smells of a hot meal and a warm bed filling his senses. His gloved hands exposed at the fingers throbbed with the growing calluses and his throat burned with thirst. He fought victoriously and won. Across his back was a stringed instrument and beneath that was a longsword, matching the smaller one within its sheath on his hip. Silvered, the blade sculpted into a wave along the edges. A brilliant ruby set within the hilt, glimmering in the firelight and catching the eyes of those who tracked the man to the bar top of the tavern.

His face was worn, dirtied with soil and dried blood. Black leather boots tracked in mud despite his best efforts to clean them off before entering, his white tunic torn and his dark blue and black leather coat barely kept him warm from the elements. It was a rough fight, but he was here. Safe, warming up, and the scent of incense entered the room before she did.

“Why are you COVERED IN BLOOD?!” She shrieked, rounding the corner, wispy waves of her brown hair twisted into a half up style with a small blade. Her bodice was black with colorful embroidered florals atop a lavender blouse exposing her shoulders to keep her cool whilst hanging out within the tavern.The long forest green skirt gathered up on one side and a leather belt kept a bag full of essentials on her hip.

His eyes softened as his gaze locked onto hers, a smile creeping across his lips and into a smirk with her exasperated sigh. “I brought you a gift. It wasn’t easy to get.”
Jumping up and down, she practically leapt over the bartop and into the seat next to him, her hands clapping excitedly to hear of his new adventure.

“All is forgiven if you sing me a song!” With that, his gloved hand slipped into his bag and pulled out a large, dinner plate sized scale of iridescent blue and purple. She gasped, her fingers gently wrapping around the edges, brushing against his as a blush crept across her cheeks. “For me? You could have gotten yourself killed!”

He shrugged, allowing her to examine the scale in the light. The underside is a pearl white with pale iridescence, perfect for jewelry and to be crushed into potions - exactly what he knew she would do with it.

“Oh, to see the world and to fight such creatures on your adventures. You are so lucky, Edward.” She sighed, chin in hand, and ignoring the grumblings of thirsty patrons of the tavern. It had been some time since the Bard had come for the first time, requesting food and shelter in turn for a song. Of course, she patched him up after his adventures and promised to always have a room ready for him. The maiden went as far as fixing his instrument when damaged in a fight.

He was her favorite customer and a brave man. She had grown jealous of his adventures, wishing to have seen it all in person. Though he had implied she should join him sometime, she refused due to being merely a barmaid with lack of experience. Instead, she would cherish these nights and bid him farewell in the morning when he left for a new world. 

Just like every visit, she had fed him, gave him plenty to drink, and sat him in his room as she mended his tunic. His fingers plucked away at the strings, singing of the Dragon he met and how it had given him a scale in exchange to fight a murderous demon, taking over the caves in which the dragon lived in.

The maiden finished her mend, a piece of red fabric cut into a heart sewn onto the chest of his tunic, “For bravery” she said as she finished the last stitch before handing it back to him, a soft, sad smile on her lips. She knew this was how it ended every time. He would promise another gift, another song, and she would keep the candle lit for him until he returned.

Hesitating, he grasped her hand just as she turned to leave, his voice soft as a whisper, “Come with me.” It was no desperate question, but a statement. Final and secure as if he knew the answer this time.

“Edward the Thief.” She whispered, “Fighting monsters, saving villagers, sharing the songs of his adventures.”

Edward continued the sentence, his voice just as soft, the smile forming across his lips, savoring the taste of the words on his tongue as he spoke them,“With his trusted friend, the former barmaid, free to adventure. Rosanna, the-”

6:00 PM 

“KIDS, DINNER TIME” Called Anita’s mother from downstairs, the air thick with the scent of spices and rich broth. They dropped their props where they stood, rushing downstairs with the fever of famished children. Eddie had never had what Rosie called ‘pozole’ but was promised it would be delicious and filling. 

It was just as he imagined, but better. The bowl held a brilliant red broth, the pale green of sliced avocados, fresh yellow onion, shredded white cheese, the purple rimmed radishes, and chopped cilantro floated in a beautiful arrangement on top of the stew. Lime wedges sat in a separate dish in the middle of the table, Rosie quickly plucking one from the plate and squeezing the zesty juice into the soup. Eddie followed suit, trusting her guidance.

There was a silence before anyone dug in, hesitant, unsure, and uncomfortable before her mother cleared her throat. Hands lifted up and lightly tapped at the forehead and across their body in the sign of the cross. Eddie’s hands followed instinctively.

They were Catholic just like his family.

He couldn’t help but smile, feeling much more at home, safe, and so similar to Rosie in a town where most were Protestant. His mother would need to meet Anita’s mom, he thought. They would get along well over their shared love over soap operas, catholic upbringing, love of cooking, and… He paused, remembering his dad. Eddie’s father would hardly let his mom out of his sight, especially within the last year.

Pushing the dark reminder, he lifted his spoon, gathering a bite of everything onto it as he could, and tasted.

It was incredible.

And spicy as all hell.

He choked, swallowing down the soup and immediately reaching to his glass of water. Rosie’s mom rushed over and patted his back, her face twisted with worry. “Oh I’m so sorry, I tried to make it not as spicy.”

Rosanna practically fell out of her chair laughing at the reddening of her friend’s face. His eyes watered, and glared at Rosie only making her laugh harder. Her mother’s worry turned to glare back at her daughter for being rude, but eased when Eddie’s own laughter choked out. The family followed suit, and easily overcame them as her mother sat back in her place at the table. Eddie decided to only dip his tortilla into the broth to cut the heat, Rosie gladly taking over the meat and potatoes inside for him as he leaned over to her, whispering, “I’ll get better next time.”

Next time. The words hung in the air between the two like a promise. Rosanna stared into his wide, chocolatey eyes, searching to see if he only meant it to be polite. Eddie never wavered, his dimple pulling in as he smiled softly to her, assuring he meant it. It was over a bowl of soup at an old, beat up wooden table that the two had sealed their friendship.

Just as the Thief and the Maiden set forth onto their adventure in the tavern together.

7:00 PM 

“Hello. Is there an Elizabeth Munson?

Oh yes, hello this is Maria Salazar, my daughter goes to school with your son, Eddie? Yes. He wasn’t picked up from school today and so I brought him to ours, I hope that is okay.”

Where the corner of the thumbnail and finger pad met was chewed feverishly between Eddie’s teeth. He knew his mom would be at work due to the absence at school, but it was the coming fight with his dad that churned his stomach.

“Oh he’s such a sweetheart it is no worry at all. He and Rosie get along so well, it’s nice to see her make some more friends.”
 

Tottering back over to the sofa, a cup in hand, Rosie plopped herself beside Eddie and offered the cold milky liquid, “Horchata! It’s better than cereal milk.”

Wrapping his reddened knuckles around the cup, he inspected the drink before sipping. An explosion of sweet and cinnamon spice danced along his tongue. It was indeed much better than any cereal milk he has ever had. Why couldn’t the school offer any was a wonder to him for this was going to be a new craving of his in the future.

“I understand.” Ms. Salazar nodded, the phone cord wrapping around her finger, “Her father did the same, but eventually he stopped coming around.. Well, you probably heard of Warren… I guess he did feel the same as his family after all. That’s just how the rich folk of Hawkins are.” 

Eddie had lost interest as the two women continued to speak, hearing a chair being pulled closer to the phone and the occasional laughter. It had been about an hour, which was enough time for an entire episode of the Carol Burnett Show, when Rosie’s mother stepped into the living room keys in hand and their jackets.

“Eddie, I’m going to drive you to the hospital so your mama doesn’t have to make the trip out here.”

His heart sighed in relief that he got to spend time with just his mother on the long drive home. Rosie gasped, leaping off of the couch and shoved her arms into her jacket, “I get to meet your mama!” 

7:40 PM 

Hawkins Memorial Hospital 

“Hi! I’m Rosie, I’m Eddie’s friend!” she jutted her arm out towards the woman at the front desk, coral painted finger nails shimmering in the light as a confident smile spread across her lips. She was standing on a chair dragged across the room so she could chat with the receptionist.

The woman, Loretta, raised a brow looking between the boy and the young girl beside him before reaching across, shaking Rosie’s hand, “Well, nice to meet you Rosie… Salazar, right?” 

“Mmhm!” Rosie grinned, and leaned herself onto the reception desk, “You know my mama?” 

Loretta leaned around Eddie to take a look at Maria Salazar who leaned against the far right wall, gazing at the nurses making their rounds, a cosmo being ignored in her hand. The heel of her platform boots clicking against the flooring, the open fur trim on her long coat blowing as she sighed heavily. She didn’t even pay attention to the passing glances the men — including the doctors — took when passing by her. Some of them watching her as if looking into a memory. 

“Oh, I know your mama, alright” Loretta adjusted herself in her seat as a crease formed between Rosie’s brow. Eddie watched his new friend go from looking up at the woman in front of her to looking right through her, the receptionist scoffing to herself, unknowing of the shift in the girl, “So does everyone else in his damn town…” 

Eddie’s heart lifted upon seeing his mother turn the corner, a clipboard in hand and white heels clicking against the floor when there was movement beside him. Rosie’s head cocked to the side as she leaned toward the woman, the edge of the desk pressing against her stomach, her eyes narrowing as her voice picked up, catching the attention of the nurses, “What the hell is that supposed to mean?!”  

Loretta’s head shot up, her eyes widening as if she’d never dare been spoken to in such a way. The nurses immediately brought clipboards up to their mouths as they began to whisper to one another, distant giggling. Another pair of heels clicking behind him hurriedly as Ms. Salazar wrapped her arms around Rosie and lifted her up and off of the chair, “ Rosie !” 

“Actually,” Mrs. Munson interjected a slow, sweet southern drawl in her words, her arms crossed and a raised brow, “I’m just as interested in what you have to say as Rosie was, Loretta.” 

The woman stammered, her eyes darting between the two mothers and the little girl that glared up at her. Eddie had only known her for one day and yet he couldn’t ever imagine seeing her angry. He knew the stories of her brother and the fights he got into often. Eddie would sit beside him some days waiting outside of the principal’s office, ice on his knuckles or a tissue up to his nose. Other times, he would see him in action on the old Miller Sandlot when a neighborhood game of ball turned ugly. Rosie, within these twenty four hours, had seemed to be the complete opposite of Adam. She was bright, giggly, and loved to talk, but a girl willing to step into the murder house all alone had to have some sort of grit and perhaps she wasn’t so different from her brother after all. 

“Perhaps you can tell me more when I’m done visiting with a friend?” Mrs. Munson’s head ticked to the side before stepping around the reception area and towards her visitors. Loretta sulked into her seat as the nurses shook their heads and returned to their tasks at hand. 

Maria frowned, tugging Rosie close against her, their hands clasped tightly as Eddie rushed over to his mother, throwing his arms around her. She chuckled gently as she lowered herself down, returning the hug and pressing a kiss to his forehead, “My sweet boy. Sorry dad didn’t come pick you up.” 

“I’m glad he didn’t,” Eddie bit out earning intrigued glances from the girl and women around him, “I mean… Uh, I got to hang out with Rosie. I’m glad I got to hang out with her.” 

Mrs. Munson guided Eddie to the side as she gazed across to Rosie who leaned against Maria, her hand playing with a golden medallion at her neck and dragging it along its chain, “You must be Rosie! I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s so nice to finally meet you!” 

She held her hand out towards Rosie and she looked up at her mother who nodded encouragingly. Rosie stepped forward, getting a better look at Eddie’s mother. She was tall, slender, high cheekboned, and eyes so round and richly brown. Mrs. Munson looked more like Eddie’s beautiful older sister than his mother, then again, her own mom didn’t look like other moms either. In truth, Rosie wasn’t that far off in being taken aback. At only twenty seven, Ms. Munson was among the youngest parents in Eddie and Rosie’s grade. Her hair was a gentle chocolate brown with hints of red and swept up into a neat bun, her nurse’s cap pinned securely to her head. Rosie gripped Mrs. Munson’s hand into her own and they shook, sending a giggle through her. 

“Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Munson!” Ms. Salazar cleared her throat behind her and Rosie sighed, adding, “Sorry for yelling at Loretta…” 

Mrs. Munson smirked, leaning in towards Rosie with a whisper, “She spends all day yelling at everyone else, it’s nice to see someone do it back to her for a change.” 

Maria snorted behind Rosie and nodded towards Eddie, “Why don’t you two say your goodnights so I can talk to Eddie’s mama here?” 

Eddie grinned, gripping Rosie’s hand into his as he tugged her down a corridor, “Come on! I wanna show you something!” 

Rosanna giggled, her feet stumbling over each other as she tried to keep up with him, “Okay!” 

He led her down a hallway, quiet and secluded on slower nights like tonight. There, a vending soda machine sat against the wall. He fished out a coin from his pocket, a string of dental floss tied securely around it, “My dad taught me this trick. It’s how I get all my sodas!” 

Rosie raised a brow unconvinced, “Well, duh, Eddie. Everyone knows it’s a quarter to get a soda!” 

“But not everyone gets a soda and their quarter back every time!” He argued, a mischievous grin forming as he unraveled the coin as it dangled from the floss, “You pop this in like any quarter and make your selection, which one did you want?!” 

Rosie squinted, looking up at the options and pointed to a cocoa cola, “That one! I like to get mine at Benny’s because he puts cherries into it for me!” 

Eddie paused, his nose scrunching, “Cherries inside a coke?” 

“I wanted to keep mine cold so I poured my bowl into the glass,” she shrugged, “It tastes really good and it keeps them nice and cold!” 

Eddie nodded, a shiver running through him, “Anyway, you want a coca cola right? You just hold onto the end of the string and pop the quarter in like this,” he tipped the quarter into the coin slot and it slid through with a clink. Then, he pushed the button for a coca cola as the bottle rolled across inside and popped out on the side dispenser. Rosie reached in, plucking the bottle from the dispenser and watched Eddie as he grinned, tugging the string and the quarter back out from inside. She gasped as her eyes darted between her drink and the quarter on the string, “It’s like magic!” 

It’s stealing, but sure , Eddie thought as he nodded, swallowing roughly. 

Rosie’s mother called for her down the hall. Rosie giggled, her coca cola in her hand as she leaned up and kissed Eddie’s cheek before running down the hallway, “I’ll see you at school! Thank you, Eddie!” 

He stood frozen, his eyes wide as she ran away from him, giggling the entire length of the hallway. His mother peeked around the corner, a furrow in her brow when she saw how still he stood. She had her jacket on, keys in hand as she made her way towards him, “Eddie, what’s wrong?” 

Closer, she could see a glossy print on his cheek and the subtle scent of strawberry. His hand raised, his fingers touching the thick gloss on his cheek and his brow furrowed, “She kissed me!” 

“Mmhm, I see that, Eddie,” She watched him carefully, her weight shifting from one leg to the other, “What made her want to do that?” 

“I got her a coke—” 

“The quarter trick?” She snickered, her arms crossing in front of her and he looked up meekly, “... Yes.” 

“Was that the first time a girl kissed your cheek, Eddie? She questioned, her arm wrapping around his shoulder as they headed towards the exit, plunging them into the frigid temperatures of the night. 

He nodded, “Yeah. I only knew her for a day and she’s already kissing my cheek!” 

“Well, you did a really nice thing for her — It was stealing, but you risked getting in trouble because you wanted to make her smile,” Mrs. Munson shrugged, “Sometimes a girl is so happy about something, she doesn’t know how to express it other than—” 

“A kiss ?!” He shivered again, “I guess… She’s always holding hands with Steve. They’re like glued to each other. Maybe he makes her really happy too?” 

They stepped out of the hospital and into the cold November night, “Did you not like it? It’s okay if you don't, you know.” 

“I did like it!” Eddie confessed, his face twisted in disgust, “That’s the problem!” 

Mrs. Munson began to laugh as they neared their car, the little puffs escaping her lips from the chill, “I have a feeling she’s gonna keep on surprising you, Eddie.” 

Chapter Text

Tuesday November 19th, 1973

Forest Hills Park - North Hawkins 

1:00 PM

Jack O’ Lanterns were replaced with cornucopias, ghouls, and witches were replaced with pilgrims and little native american cutouts. Every final gilded and scarlet leaf tumbled to the earth in a brown blanket until the green buds of spring. Rosie pumped her legs out to the greying sky as she climbed higher until she swore she would begin to take flight. The giggle of a boy next to her caught her attention, catching him grinning at the girl, his elbows bent between the chains and his palms gripped towards his face. He had readied himself to jump off at the highest swing.

Rosanna looked horrified, “You’ll get hurt!” she shouted. Her own swing wavering with her shift in weight.

“I’ll fly!” He shouted back, his small legs giving one last pump before he swung backwards. That brown gaze of his locked onto the patch of dying grass before them, Oftentimes, he forgot to tuck and roll and instead found himself jarring his shins and sending himself face first into the earth. Not this time.

Like two birds sitting on a branch, Rosie and Eddie reached the back peak together, suspended in the air, Eddie’s freckled smile grew wildly as Anita watched in wide eyed wonder. They rushed forward, climbing up to the front peak until he spread his wings and took flight. The swings came down empty.

An old beat up pair of dusty converse skidded in the gravel until hopping safely onto the dead grass. A tooth speckled grin as the boy cheered, “Did you see that Rosie?! That was the furthest I ever jumped! I practically flew in the air like a super-”

She coughed as the dirt settled around her in a brown haze. Her back towards Eddie, hunched on her knees… Further than Eddie landed. The world held its breath as her tears cleared away the dirt on her face, her knee tickled and grew uncomfortable in her position. Slowly, she pulled herself up, dusting her hands on her shirt as she turned to face her friend. Those doe-brown eyes widened in awe before his brows crinkled close together as he looked down at her knees.

It was wet, hot, and trickled down her shin until it grew cold. Rosie didn’t want to look down at the wound, but Eddie’s face made her all the more curious. The gash dragged down from the inner side of her right knee to the outer edge. More jagged lacerations trailed her shin and matched her left thigh, which was much less damaged. The two looked to the spot she landed and like a thief’s pouch had spilled out, shards of broken beer bottles were littered and concealed in the dirt and grass.

Rosanna had landed right into it.

The pain seemed to hit her instantly and she wavered, Eddie rushing to her side to stabilize the girl, his heart hammering within his chest as her plump bottom lip trembled.

And yet she did not cry.

“We’re close to home. My mom is a nurse, come on.” The boy encouraged her as he wrapped his arm around her side and placed her arm around his shoulder. Thankfully, she was smaller and lighter than him so it wasn’t difficult to walk themselves from the playground. Once they had reached the sidewalk of the suburbs, they had at least level ground to travel on.

“If my neighbor is outside, just ignore him. He always has something to say about my family.”

Rosie nodded, gripping onto his shirt with her hand around his shoulder. Warmth dripped down her leg and cooled with the november air as she continued to bleed. She could feel each piece of gravel and glass shift in its place whenever her knee would move. Tears begged to stream from her eyes, but she held them back with all her might and all her focus.

They staggered along the sidewalk, small drops of blood trailed behind them from the park like crumbs left behind Hansel and Gretel, only the old witch’s hut was the white picket fence of the Carvers and the monster outside working on his new car.

“Up to no good like your daddy, Munson? You see son,” he turned to a young pale blond boy holding onto a wrench like a preacher on a Sunday condemning all those who don’t follow to Hell, “You play with scum, you get hurt.” He laughed and looked over at Rosie, scanning her fading tan skin and limping body. “Stealing migrants from the fields now too, boy?”

Eddie froze, her eyes now snapping to Rosie as she gritted her teeth against the pain or anger, he couldn’t tell. He had been used to the words the man would throw at him, but to hear anything against Rosanna had flipped his world on the side.

Rosie shifted their bodies forward to keep going to his porch and Eddie followed the cue, his hand around her shoulder slid at her neck and lifted a middle finger to the man out of her sight.

With gritted teeth, the girl lifted one foot up onto the Munson porch and allowed her weight to lean against Eddie as he assisted her injured leg up with his own body. One excruciating step at a time, they managed to make it to the front door.

Rosie grew dizzy, sweaty, and pale. She had been in so much pain and full of anger with the neighbor. Eddie fumbled with the key in the door and swung it open before grabbing onto the girl and dragging her inside. In a tangle of legs, they collapsed against the door, shutting it closed and sliding down to the floor in exhaustion.

Rosanna whimpered, her lip trembling harder as she balled her fists at her side. Eddie leaned in and whispered quietly to her, “It’s okay to cry, you know.”

The dam broke open and tears flowed flooding the browns of her eyes and pouring out against her lashes and down her cheeks. She drew in a shuddering breath and sobbed, leaning her head against Eddie’s as her tears dropped onto this shirt.

Hearing the little girl, a brunette woman rushed from the kitchen across the house, concern twisting her freckled features as she spotted her son and a young girl on the entryway floor. 

“Eddie, my sweet boy, what happened?” She squatted down level with the two, eyeing the girl sobbing against her son’s shoulders. His eyes darted to the girl’s bloodied knee and torn jeans and his mother followed. She forced a gasp away as she nodded and dropped her voice quieter, “I’m going to pick you up, okay? That way I can clean this for you and we can get you patched up okay?”

Rosie nodded, lifting her head from Eddie’s shoulder as his mother closed in and picked her up bridal style, holding her close. Rosie rested her head against the woman’s chest, immediately enveloped in the scent of sweet honeysuckle and the clean sharpness of Clorox bleach. 

“Eddie, baby, grab me a pair of your shorts and then wait in the kitchen, okay?” The boy paused, concerned and watching the girl in his mother’s arms. “I’ll take care of her. I promise.” Reluctantly, he nodded and left his mother with a pair of his shorts, then dragged his feet to the kitchen where he waited anxiously, listening out for any sign of cry from his friend.

He had trusted his mother more than anyone, but he found himself not liking the idea of leaving Rosanna alone in his house without him there. The reminder of a patched circle in the wall where a gaping black hole had been punched.

Tuesday November 19th, 1973

Munson Home

Sycamore St. 

1:20 PM

“I had a cut like this once when I was young, too” her voice smoothed every hard surface around the girl like a layer of warm honey. The spiraling brown curls were held up by an elastic as stray pieces framed her face. The bangs curtaining across her forehead to showcase her most prominent feature - Those big doe brown eyes.

She sniffled, “Really, Mrs. Munson?” and shuddered another breath as the woman ran the warm washcloth over her legs as she sat on the bathroom counter stripped of her pants that were now soaked in the tub to be cleaned. Her feet soaked in warm water as Eddie’s mother irrigated out the loose gravel and glass. Her slender fingers worked with tweezers in such precision, Anita hardly felt any pain from each removal of the embedded pieces.

“You can call me Lizzie. You’re a very brave girl, Rosie, you know. Intelligent for your age too. I’m glad Eddie has someone like you. He has a hard time making friends lately.”

Sniffling, the girl smiled, “He’s really nice. He doesn’t treat me like a baby.” Lizzie laughed as she tore open gauze and placed it on the deepest part of the cut then slowly wrapped a bandage around the girl’s leg snugly. 

“From what I’m told, lord help anyone who treats you as anything less than a wonder woman.”

Rosie watched her admiringly. She was so sweet, smart, and beautiful in not just looks but there seemed to always be a feeling around her you would get as if you had the sunshine on your cheeks after a long midwestern winter.

Lizzie picked up the girl and set her on her feet on the bathroom floor before pulling the shorts that belong to her son. “We’re going to need to go to the hospital to get you stitches, honey. I will not lie to you that it won’t hurt a bit, but no need to be afraid. You’ll have to wear these shorts so they can get to your leg, but I’ll have your pants cleaned and mended by the end of your break. I promise.”

Rosie gulped, but nodded as she stepped into the shorts that belonged to a boy bigger than her. They dropped past her knees and were only secured to her waist by a shoestring Eddie’s mom tied through the loops. She followed as Mrs. Munson descended the stairs before she collected Eddie and her car keys. Eddie slid into the backseat beside Rosanna where Lizzie placed a blanket across the two to keep them warm. The engine sputtered before it hummed, warming itself from the cold. A cassette clicked into place at the radio and the comforting guitar strums filled the vehicle’s cabin with lyrics of leaving behind everything for California, girls with love in their eyes and flowers in their hair.

Elizabeth sang softly to the radio, a voice so melodic and ethereal Rosie couldn’t tear her attention away from it all until she could hear Eddie whisper singing the song along with his mother. Rosie studied the way Eddie and his mother’s skin reflected the sunlight off their cheekbones. Freckles splattering across their faces in similar patterns of melanated constellations. Each wild curl of hair going from a deep chocolate brown to a golden halo around their heads. He was a spitting image of his mother in this moment, not that Rosanna quite knew what the infamous Alan Munson looked like these days outside of a grey toned yearbook album. 

“He was always so dramatic,” said her mother looking back on her days at Hawkins High during the end of the 50’s. “A shifty shit, but mostly harmless at the time. He was in Joyce’s play with us their senior year. He tried to steal my bike once running from the Chief, but I scared him off.”

Eddie’s smile turned to a frown when his eyes drifted to a lock of his mother’s curl caught at the knit of her shoulder. He leaned forward and pulled it off, alerting Lizzie to it. “Oh, you sweetheart, always keeping me beautiful.” her voice strained now as she opened her palm for him to drop it into her hand. The edges of her mouth twitched downwards before she tossed it out the window. “There. All better.”

“That’s the second clump this week, mom.”

“I’ll be gentle next time. Remember what I told you about brushing our curls gently, Eds?” She lifted an eyebrow, a forced smile across her lips.

Eddie nodded, repeating the instruction like a proud boy “Always start from the bottom and slowly work up.” 

Tuesday November 19th, 1973

Hawkins Memorial Hospital

1:40 PM

The emergency room patient bed was cold, a paper sheet crumpling beneath her with every movement. Eddie’s mom had gotten her a warm blanket as he sat in the chair across from her, kicking his legs back and forth. His mom waited with her coworkers, catching up. “Do you think the needle is big?” Eddie finally spoke up. Rosie shot him a look between horror and annoyance.

“It's shaped like a fishing hook.. And sometimes you have to come back because the thread tears open!” His speech quicked and his hands formed a ball until pulling out in a dramatic splay of fingers resembling an explosion.

Her stomach churned, and lip quivered thinking about the situation. She didn’t think it would be so traumatic. Eddie’s dramatics only made things worse, “Shut up. That’s not helping!” She finally yelled, his eyes snapping up at her and nodded. “Sorry-”

“Eddie fainted when he got his stitches. So he doesn’t remember it.” Elizabeth recalled as she pushed past the curtains, shooting Eddie a similar look of, ‘behave’. Rosie laughed and the nerves rolled off with each burst. 

The doctor followed in after Lizzie, gloves being placed over his hands and a tray being carried in by a nurse after. Rosanna spotted the hook and gulped, though thankful it was not nearly as big as Eddie said it would be. “Hello Miss Salazar. Liz tells me you’ve fallen onto some glass at the park, correct? Well, you’re a brave girl to make it this way and Eddie was a good friend to take you to his mother.” He nodded towards the boy, offering him a smile.

“Speaking of, could you give us your number so we may call your mother—” 

“NO!” She grabbed onto the white coat of the doctor, causing everyone to jump wide-eyed. She swallowed hard, “I’m not supposed to be out. She fell asleep because she works at night and I didn’t want her to be tired. So I walked here.” 

Lizzie’s brow raised high as she settled into the guest chairs in the ER, “You snuck out of your house?!” 

Rosie shrugged. “I do it all the time, but normally I go to Steve’s since he lives close by.”

“Would you like us to call Mrs. Harrington, Rosie?” The doctor offered gently and she shook her head, “They’re busy today.” Her eyes lit up, a gasp filling her lungs, “You can call Mr. Navarro. He’s probably at Benny’s right now. He’s who I’m supposed to call for emergencies.” 

The nurse choked, her eyes growing wide, “You mean, Joel Navarro?!” 

The doctor tilted his head curiously, “I mean, it would make sense. He and your mother were… Close growing up.” 

Rosie nodded her little head, wiping away the stray tears, “They were best friends! Like me and Steve!”

“Uh-Well…” The Doctor stammered and little Salazar reached out to Eddie, “And me and Eddie!” 

Eddie grinned, shuffling closer to Rosie and slipped his hand into hers. She tugged onto him roughly, sending him stumbling forward as she threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek, cackling as he blushed. 

The Doctor rubbed the back of his neck, “Yeah uh.. Something like that I guess?” 

“History does repeat itself, that’s for sure…” the nurse muttered before stepping out of the room, “I’ll call Navarro.” 

Tuesday November 19th, 1973

Hawkins Memorial Hospital

2:10 PM

He had nightmares just like this. Always like this. 

They used to be of his time in the war, then of what horrible sequence of events his wife and unborn child went through when they died. Beginning six years ago, they were now constantly of her. Her as a terrified teenager, bleeding to death in his arms with a bullet lodged between her fourth and fifth rib. As a grown woman hemorrhaging knowing your baby is dying and she will be following shortly afterwards in a crumpled car. 

It was exactly why he tried to get out of babysitting her as often as he could. It was driving him insane. 

Still, his reluctance was quickly forgotten once Benny Hammond called him over to the phone, a worried look on his face. 

“This is Navarro.” Joel’s furrowed brow deepened as he inhaled another puff of his cigarette. 

“Hello, this is Valerie from Hawkins Memorial. We have Rosanna Salazar here in our emergency room—” 

He didn’t even have a chance to pay the bill when he rushed out of the diner and towards his Chevy and he surely didn’t have a chance to remember the stop sign downtown as he headed to the hospital. The hospital was slow, often quiet minus the gossiping chatter of nurses over the happenings in town and in the world. News of the war still followed him after his service and left a hollow ache in his gut. Everyone still saw him as the troublemaking best friend of James Hopper Jr. and key player in both the football and baseball teams. For him, he could hardly remember what life was like before Vietnam. 

He couldn’t really remember what life was like before the death of his wife and unborn child. Now, he was hardly remembering what life was like before Maria Salazar thrusted a baby girl into his arms and a toddler to babysit so she could go to work. His boots thudded softly against the floor as he stalked through the corridors, wandering eyes of the nurses dragged across him and for some, he looked back and admired. Standing at over six foot four, dark brown wavy hair that was styled neatly back, a thick mustache above his upper lip, warm brown skin and the build of a man who worked hard. Besides Hopper, he was the most eligible bachelor for the ones who love a rougher man. Joel’s flannel was tucked neatly into a pair of blue jeans; the top two buttons popped open, a tooled leather belt around his waist and secured with a belt buckle that had turquoise embedded into the design. Elizabeth Munson waited outside a room, her head perking up as he made his way down a hallway. Her hands raised cautiously to stop him from barging in and he huffed out, tension wound up tight in his muscles. 

“She and Eddie were swinging and jumped off, there was a broken bottle hidden in the sand. She’s just getting some stitches and she’ll be fine,” She caught him up to speed, the urge to push past her evident in his eyes, “She’s fine. Don’t barge in like some caveman, Navarro. She’s shaken up enough as it is, but she’s a brave girl.” 

He sighed, rolling his head as his shoulders slumped back down, “Where’s Maria?’ 

Lizzie sucked in a quick breath through her teeth as she tipped her head to the side, “Rosie… Snuck out. She didn’t want to disturb her sleep and was bored so she walked over to play with Eddie.” 

His brow furrowed, his right hand coming up to rub at his jaw as he tried to keep his voice low, “That’s almost two miles! She’s six!” 

“She’s also very persistent,” Lizzie added, her hands placing onto her hips, “I’m honestly impressed.” 

Joel scoffed, his eyes rolling before Lizzie stepped aside, opening the door to let Joel in. Immediately, Rosie looked up, red rimmed along with the pink tip of her nose. She sat on the edge of the examination bed, the doctor about to push the needle through her skin for the final stitch. The young boy dropped her hand and moved away so Joel could step in beside her, taking her hand into his. She sniffled, her grip tightening around his. Even for crying, she couldn’t take her eyes away from the doctor at work, craning her head to get a better view to study how he pinched the skin together and just how hard of a tug is needed to close the wound. He moved her hand across him into his right hand as his left reached up to pat her head, smoothing her hair, “Sana, sana, colita de rana, si no sanas hoy, sanarás mañana.” 

The doctor finished the stitch and quickly wrapped a bandage around her knee, “Alright Miss Salazar,” he patted her calf gently and stood up from his rolling stool, “keep the area clean and dry for two days and then afterwards you can wash as close to the stitches as you can with cool water. Don’t rub the area and pat gently to dry. I’ll send home some fresh bandages and instructions for your mama and… Joel here.” 

Rosie rubbed her eyes and nodded, repeating back, “Dry and clean for two days.” 

“Very good!” The doctor grinned, tapping beneath her chin, “Mr. Navarro, come with me to sign some paperwork, please?” 

Joel nodded, patting Rosie on the shoulder before he slipped out of the room with the doctor. Eddie returned beside Rosie and Lizzie watched the two, leaning against the far wall. Eddie settled onto the stool, his eyes straying to the bandage on her knee, “So… Is that… Your dad?” 

“Eddie,” Lizzie warned quietly and he answered with a shrug, turning to Rosie, waiting. She shook her head, “No, he’s my mommy’s best friend. He babysits me and Adam sometimes.” 

Eddie looked between his mother and Rosie before leaning closer, his lips parting when Rosie cut him off, “I don’t really have a dad. I do, but he’s never around. He’s… A soldier… Kinda?” 

Munson’s head cocked to the side, “Kinda?” 

She shrugged, “I don’t know much about him. I see him a few times a year if I’m lucky.” 

“Is his last name Salazar?” He asked cautiously, Lizzie watching carefully and waiting to interject if she showed any sign of discomfort. Rosie’s head shook again and she yawned, “My dad’s name is Warren Blackwell. My mommy never married.” 

“And Adam?” He questioned further as his mother sighed softly behind him. 

Rosie shrugged, “His dad died in the war before he was born. His name was Adam Prescott, my brother was named after him. It's just me, Adam and mom.” 

Eddie always wondered if the other dads in town often came home in handcuffs or made a call from the local jail, if they also taught their sons how to steal a soda from the vending machine or practice pulling the wires from beneath the steering wheel of a car. Even his father’s faults, he couldn’t imagine not having him there to teach him guitar and his love of playing music, he couldn’t imagine not listening to Zeppelin or The Beatles, or discuss how sometimes a man has to do whatever he can to provide for himself and his family — Albeit illegal ways. 

Then he wondered if Ms. Salazar ever got as lonely as his own mother did when his dad was away. His father caused many tears for his mom, but he did always come back, Eddie supposed. Adam Prescott was dead and Warren Blackwell never came back to Maria and Rosie. Watching her and how she swung her left leg from the top of the bed and hummed softly to herself, Eddie wondered if the reason why Adam always fought was because there was no one who ever fought for his family. As she leaned against him, Eddie wondered if Rosie clung to Steve so tightly was because everyone else in her life left. 

He tried to make a silent promise he wouldn’t be another one to go. 

Tuesday November 19th, 1973

Hawkins Memorial Hospital

3:15 PM

The door opened as Adam Salazar snuck in, a smirk on his face and Rosie groaned. 

“You’re in such deep shit, Rosie…” He whispered with a snicker as the door closed. Eddie looked over to his mother who glanced up from her COSMO, intrigued. Adam paused, turning around and blushing as he saw Mrs. Munson, “Oh shit – I mean shit – I mean sorry!” 

Rosie and Eddie turned toward one another and began to giggle as Lizzie shook her head, stifling a giggle of her own, “It’s okay, Adam. I won’t tell.” 

“I left a note!” Rosie slapped Adam’s arm with the back of her hand as he barked out a laugh, “Rose, your handwriting sucks. The only legible thing was Eddie Park. Mom picked me up and we went to every goddamn park in Hawkins looking for you!” 

Her jaw dropped open before snapping back shut, “Well, I was at the park with Eddie, but I had to get stitches.” 

“The only reason why we even found you is because we ended up going to Benny’s and he said Joel rushed out because they got a call from the hospital!” Adam shook his head, plopping himself into the seat beside Mrs. Munson, “Mom was about to go full mental when even the Harringtons didn’t know where you were.” 

“You called Mrs. Harrington?!” Rosie cried her hands slamming to her face in frustration before dropping back into her lap, “What did they—” 

The door swung open, a panting child, jacket misbuttoned and hair a mess as tears prickled his eyes and his skin was blotchy and red. A bouquet of flowers gripping in his hand, hanging upside down as his jaw dropped, his eyes staring right at her knee, “You asshole!” 

Steve swiveled onto Adam and slammed his fit against his arm, sending him bumping into Mrs. Munson as he hissed in pain, “OW!” 

Steve tried to tower over Adam in the chair, his eyes narrowed and his chest heaving, “YOU SAID SHE LOST HER LEG!” 

All at once, Rosie, Eddie and even Mrs. Munson turned to Adam exclaiming, “YOU WHAT?!” 

Rubbing his arm, Adam shrugged, “It was a joke! I didn’t think Stevie here would take me seriously!” 

Steve rolled his eyes, stomping over to her and hoisting himself to sit beside her on the examining bed, “It’s Rosie. It’ll always be serious!” 

He squeezed himself close to her, his right arm looping through her left as he handed her the flowers. She gladly took them, and brought them up to her nose for a deep sniff relishing in their sweet scent. Steve rested his head on her shoulder, his face stained with dried tears and his voice soft, gentle and full of worry,  “What happened, Rosie?” 

“I was swinging with Eddie when we jumped off the swings and there was a broken bottle in the sand.” Her fingers danced along the edge of the bandage as Eddie patted her hand above her knee, “Eddie helped me to his mama and she took me here. I had to get stitches.” 

After a quiet moment, Steve broke the silence, “Badass.” 

Eddie snickered and nodded in agreement, repeating, “Totally badass.” 

3:45 PM

The door opened once again and Ms. Salazar stood in the doorway watching her daughter. Lizzie looked up, settling herself on edge immediately waiting for the eruption, waiting to see the stories shared by those in town and by her own husband about a force that was Maria when she was angry. Little Rosie gulped down, shrinking in on herself when Maria crossed the room swiftly and threw her arms around her daughter, sighing, “I’m so upset with you for scaring me like that, but I’m glad you’re okay.” 

Eddie and Steve unwound themselves from Rosie and scooted away from her on each side to give her mother room. Rosie hugged back, sniffling as tears threatened to fall again and her voice waivered, “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to wake you up because you were so tired from work! I tried to write as neatly as I could!” 

Maria pressed a kiss to her daughter’s forehead before moving on to Eddie and did the same to his, “Thank you for helping Rosie, that was really sweet of you.” 

She then moved to Steve, a gentle chuckle as her hands cradled his face, brushing some of his hair back, “Oh Stevie, sorry my little shit of a son gave you a heart attack,” she threw an unamused glare over her shoulder at Adam beside Lizzie Munson before kissing Harrington’s forehead as well, “Thank for you checking on her.” 

“Rosie’s my best friend!” Steve exclaimed, a grin across his face as he tucked back beside the girl, “I’ll always check on her, Ms. Salazar!” 

“I have two best friends, now!” Rosie giggled, throwing an arm around both Steve and Eddie, tugging them roughly against her, “Eddie and Stevie!” 

Adam quietly groaned, slumping further in his seat before crossing his arms before muttering beneath his breath, “More like two boyfriends…” 

Lizzie, with a slightly arched brow overhearing the elder brother, peeked at her son and his flushed face as he gazed over at Rosie. It had only been a little over two weeks and she’s never seen her son grin or giggle as much as he did since he met Rosie and Steve — Rosie in particular. She couldn’t help but chuckle softly to herself as the girl reminded Lizzie of herself and her best friends back in Memphis. Staying over at one another’s houses so often, there had been their own special places carved out within the homes and in one another’s lives. And while on the outside, she had worries of the Harringtons, there was something particularly special and intimate as Caroline Harrington entered the room next; polished, beautiful, and graceful and a worried crease in her brow when she spotted Rosie on the bed. She quickly crossed the room and as Maria stepped aside, she hugged the little girl, kissing her cheek. 

Throwing all prior judgement Lizzie had against the citizens of Hawkins, Caroline stepped towards Eddie and hugged him, too. His wide eyes, meeting Lizzie’s as she nodded encouragingly. If this was how they came together for friends over a simple stitched knee, Lizzie could only wonder what length they would go for one another during something much more serious. 

The two mothers turned to her now, and she raised herself from the seat carefully. At once, they descended upon her in a group hug that smelled of cheap laundry detergent, spices, and expensive perfume. 

 It was, for the first time ever, a sense of peace for her son and herself after her last doctor’s appointment. 

Salazar Home 

Lincoln Park Village

8:45 PM

The kitchen illuminated in a warm golden glow, the fireplace crackling in the family room giving off the scent of burning pine and incense that the Salazar family often placed with the wood. Around the kitchen table extra plastic chairs were dragged out from the backyard for their guests. Steam filled the edges of the windows and the first box of Christmas decorations sat in the far corner of the family room ready to be opened for this year. Bottles clinked against one another and onto the table as ladles of sopita are carefully placed into bowls before being passed around to the party. Sliced limes, cilantro, raw onions and radishes piled on a platter in the middle of the table beside fresh marigolds and roses and a sleeve of homemade tortillas. Outside was just cold enough that the heat inside was welcome and the radio played softly on their local stations. Laughter, rolled eyes, and forward leanings of intrigue from the parents of the new trio (quartet if you count Adam) plus the elder Salazar Matriarch — Rosie and Adam’s grandmother. 

After the girl’s adventure that ended in a hospital visit, Maria offered everyone to gather at the home as a thanks. Caroline and Lizzie Munson sat beside one another, both fascinated at their different lives. Elizabeth was amazed by how much of the world Caroline had seen already and Caroline admitted being envious of Lizzie’s free-spirited life and what incredible stories she’s had on the musical streets of Nashville. 

Their voices carried softly upstairs and into Rosie’s bedroom where she lay on her bed, a pillow tucked beneath her right leg to elevate and prevent any swelling, an old t-shirt wrapped around a bag of water and ice at the worst of her wound.She watched, propped on more pillows to help her sit up, as Eddie and Steve picked up the wooden swords and began to put on a play for her. Adam waited just beyond their makeshift stage with a serape tied around his shoulders and a bandana around his head as if he were Zorro. The boys delved deep into an adventure of treasure, betrayal and love all leading into an incredible sword fight as they took turns playing the villain, which Eddie was at the moment. 

He jumped up on the wooden stool, sword raised in his hand, “Even if you defeat me, I will never disappear for I live in your nightmares and I’ll….” Eddie paused, his eyes darting around trying to find his next line before pointing the sword at Rosie on the bed, “Terrorize her until she grows mad and has no choice but to drown herself in the lake! Just like she did when she leapt from the tower in her sleep!” 

Adam and Rosie looked to one another, impressed, and nodded. Steve’s jaw dropped, his gaze falling to Rosie, imagining her haunted by nightmares, crying, and dark circles growing around her eyes until she walked into the depths of Lover’s Lake. It was all only a child’s game, but for a moment the threat was real and horrifying and he knew exactly what it was like when she did have nightmares during their sleepovers. 

Steve’s eyes narrowed, rushing forward as he shoved Eddie off the stool as his voice cut out harshly, “Fuck you!” 

Eddie tumbled from the stool and landed upon her floor with a thud and a groan. Adam’s eyes bulged from his skull before snapping towards Rosie who mimicked a similar shock. Steve dropped his sword, watching Eddie on the floor and his face palling, “Crap, I– I’m sorry, Eddie.” 

The Munson boy’s gaze snapped to Steve, his lips parted as he panted, his body growing sore after the impact on the floor. Steve held a hand out, his bottom lip jutting out in a worried pout when Eddie began to cackle, his hand reaching up and gripping Harrington’s, “That was so cool! Come on!” 

Steve hefted Eddie up with a grunt and they threw one of the stuffed dolls onto the floor in place of Eddie as the villain. Adam giggled, tossing Steve’s sword over to him to which he caught at the handle and whirled it in a circle as he took his stance. Eddie grinned as Adam joined them, all swords in their hands as they hovered over the doll, “For Rosie!” 

Rosanna cheered from her bed, her hands clapping wildly and a grin across her lips. The boys bowed before leaping up onto her bed, carefully dodging her knee. Adam tucked himself on her right side as Steve climbed in on her left, resting his head on her shoulder as Eddie stayed at the foot of the bed watching her, “How long will it be until you can play outside again?” 

Her shoulders shrugged and she sighed, sagging back against the pillows upon her bed. The corners of Adam’s lips twitched downwards, but quickly faded away into a neutral expression, almost verging on one of hope, “She could still play and hang outside, but she can’t run for a while or do any jumping off of swings until the stitches come out.” 

This time, she frowned deeply, her voice shaking, “I was supposed to start dance classes, but now I’ll have to sit out until I feel better. We were going to be in the nutcracker next month!” 

Eddie cocked his head to the side, his eyes drifting around her room, settling upon a neat pile in the corner by her desk of a leotard, tights, and ballet slippers. Steve’s hand came down, patting against Rosie’s left thigh roughly as he grinned, “Don’t worry! You’ll be all better soon and you’ll be the coolest ballerina there is!” 

Adam, Rosie, Steve and Eddie shared a look, falling into giggles. With a yawn, Rosie leaned against Adam’s shoulder as Steve clung close. Eddie stretched across the foot of the bed, grabbing onto a stuffed animal and tucking it beneath his head. 

Downstairs, Mrs. Munson sighed after a particularly hard laugh with the mothers when blood began to trickle from her nose. Ms. Salazar gasped, rushing to hand over a napkin to wipe the blood. Silence befell the room and Caroline watched everyone else’s expression turn grave the more Lizzie sunk into her seat. Eddie’s mother sighed, as Joel watched her carefully from across the room, the grip on his beer growing tighter. 

“Does he know?” Joel asked quietly, the women all turning to him, their brows furrowed. Elizabeth shook her head, “No. I uh… I was on the phone about options when Eddie and Rosie came into the house.” 

Caroline’s hand slowly covered her mouth as she stared at Lizzie in horror. Maria hung her head sorrowfully, “Allan?” 

Lizzie sighed once more, “He’s in jail. He got caught selling so I could afford whatever treatment I may need. He’s always been in and out of jails for drugs, but he flew a little too close to the sun hoping to make some big deal and pissed off the wrong guy. You know it’s funny, actually…” Elizabeth wiped her nose once more and took a sip of her beer, “We were headed for separation until I started getting sick. He’s awful at showing he loves someone and then he does this all in some attempt to have more time with me.” 

“When are you planning on telling Eddie?” Caroline asked softly, her hand reaching across, laying atop Lizzie’s. She shrugged, “I guess on our way to the next round of treatment. He grew up visiting me at the hospital as a nurse, he’s going to wonder why I’m suddenly the patient. I got away with it for so long, but this time I’m starting to lose my hair and he’s noticing. But I can’t tell him and let him watch me in a room full of possibly dying people. I could get better from this, but I don’t need him to lose hope.”

Caroline and Maria shared a knowing look, both of them nodding softly, “The kids are already such great friends. Let us watch him while you’re gone, they won’t know anything other than a fun children’s sleepover” Caroline offered and Maria placed her hand atop the other two’s, “We’ll take turns and the other will drive you and watch over you.” 

A tear fell from Elizabeth’s eye as she quickly swiped it away with her free hand, “You’d seriously do that?” 

It was unbelievable. In a matter of weeks she went from mostly isolated in her wing at the hospital to suddenly forming some alliance between what was rumored to be the local tramp and the richest housewife in Hawkins. They were more than that though. 

Maria was funny, brave, and a leader than someone who worked night shifts at the diner and cleaned houses on the side. Caroline was gentle, sweet, and far more philanthropic than presented among the city council. Maria’s lips slid into a smirk, a determined tilt to her head, “Our kids are best friends, so why can’t we?”

Chapter Text

September 5th, 1975

Hawkins Elementary School Field

5:00 pm 

Voices shouted all around her both men, women, children and her own teammates. The sun hung just above the treeline, the golden intensity of summer fading into the soft champagne of the autumn. With every bound across the field, she could smell the damp earth below and the slow rot of the leaves in the woods behind the field. It was one of those days where it was chilly in the morning, but you still broke a sweat by afternoon and chilled again by evening. Everyone in the crowd slipped their jackets on as the football field lights switched to illuminate the field below. 

Blue and grey. Those were the colors you wore from pre-k until you donned the orange and green of high school. For the Hawkins Patriots, they were a force in blue and grey striped polo jerseys. Clouds puffed from Rosie’s lips as she huffed out, bending over as her hands rested onto her knees to catch her breath. Her braids began to loosen as strands stuck out all around her head and clung to her perspired face. Off to the sidelines was her mom in her long wool coat, bellbottom jeans clinging to her thighs and her curled hair blowing in the crisp breeze. Her hand wrapped around a to-go cup of coffee offered to the adults from the concession stand, her bright red nails stark against her brown skin and the white of the cup. Beside her was Elizabeth Munson, her new curly hair hanging just to her shoulders and the rosiness returning to her cheeks. On Lizzie’s right was Caroline Harrington, houndstooth skirt peeking behind a fur coat with her suede boots zipped up high to her knees. Eddie and Steve sat a few rows up to get a better view of the field, both of them deep in conversation; Steve still wearing his football practice uniform, a kit cap and open jacket, Eddie in a striped long sleeve tucked into a pair of jeans and a denim jacket, his curly hair hitting down to his chin. And beside them was Adam, all bell bottoms and a green sweater beneath a corduroy jacket, a girl on his right and watching the field intensely when their hands were being held together.

Just down the field was the new girl on the team number 5; younger, but tall, lanky, and freckles dotted across her face. She moved awkwardly when she ran, but her height gave her the advantage of crossing the field quickly. The ball was unexpectedly passed to her and her eyes widened before darting around for another teammate. For a brief moment, her eyes met Rosie’s and that gave her all she needed. Salazar wove around the girl guarding her and rushed forward, her voice ringing out through the crowd running after 5, “Pass it to me!!” 

The girl paused, the side of her foot hitting the ball towards her right where Rosie was headed just before two other girls piled around the girl and shoved her to the ground. Rosie sped up, pushing the ball further forward and between the legs of the opposing team before catching up to it on the other side. She hung further right, swooping around a line and with a final swift kick, the ball skidded across the field and just outside the ankles of the goalie, landing against the net. Number 5 sat on the grass, panting where the other girls left her after their shove. Rosie came over, hand out to help the girl up, “Are you okay?” 

“Yeah,” the girl panted, her strawberry blonde hair littered with blades of grass from where she landed. 

Rosie plucked a few blades out and nodded, “I’ll get them back.” 

5 cocked her head to the side, her brow furrowing, “What?” 

The referee whistled and they returned to their positions. A gap formed as the ball neared her. She pushed forward the ball just inches from the reach of her foot when something gripped the left braid on her head and yanked back hard enough to send her flailing backwards to the ground. The air knocked out of her and squinting through the bright lights on the field, she recognized the faces of the two girls that shoved number 5. Rosie gritted her teeth, pushing herself up onto her feet as the girls giggled. Her eyes narrowed as she barreled towards the girl on the right, her palms connecting against her chest as she shoved her hard to the ground. Her friend gasped, but Rosie wasn’t done yet, her own assaulter went forward to shove her when Rosie swiveled around to the girl’s side and shoved her instead. The girl gripped onto Rosie’s jersey, bringing her down with her as they fell into a tangled mess. Rosie’s braid was wrapped around the girl’s hand and yanked again, a yelp escaping out of her. 

She had enough. Her right hand clenched tightly into a fist and swooped around, slamming against the girl’s face blindly. Rosie didn’t stop until the grip on her braid loosened and she heard nothing but crying and the blaring whistle coming near her. 

5:15 pm

Number 5 limped off the field and towards the sideline where the older girl sat with her arms crossed and a scowl on her lips. It was unlike anything she expected when her parents made her join the team. Just after she saw the girl be yanked backwards, chaos erupted all around her. The game stopped and coaches rushed forward to pry her teammate off. The band snapped at the end of her braid and her hair fell in wild waves on one side of her head as the other girl stood up, her nose and lip bleeding as she cried, one of those snotty types of cries. 

Her teammate didn’t cry, she didn’t look afraid. Instead, she giggled on her way to the bench until she glared at the girls on the other team. She assumed what could be her mother, argue with the ref, three boys up in the stands atop the seats as they pointed and began to join in on the arguing, defending her. 

The girl looked over at her, her knuckles red as she clutched her jacket around her body. The older girl scooted towards her, “I told you I would get them back.” 

It was crazy. She never asked for this, she didn’t even want to play on the team and she certainly didn’t want to get the attention of a girl who could beat the shit out of another kid for looking at her wrong. The girl scooted closer, reaching into her jacket pocket and pulled out a round disc-like object with a rose stamped on the outside. Her fingers worked at the wrapper to reveal a beige sweet-smelling treat. Almost immediately when she pulled away the first two flaps, it cracked and pieces of it began to crumble. She sighed, but broke apart a half, handing it over, “Here, it’s one of my favorites!” 

She held it up to her nose and sniffed. It was the sweetest smelling thing with a hint of something bitter just beyond it and slightly salty — Almost like peanut butter but with more sugar, “What is it? It smells like peanut butter cookies” 

“Mazapán” The girl popped it into her mouth, and the sound of her voice muffled as whatever she shared began to grow stickier, “It’s way better than peanut butter cookies!” 

She wrinkled her nose, carefully taking a small bite. At first it felt like biting into something full of sugary dust, but immediately began to thicken and soften with the saliva in her mouth. It reminded her of the shortbread cookies that came at Christmas with jam in the middle, but just like the girl said — Better. She tossed the rest of the treat in and savored it, her tastebuds bursting with the flavor and sensation of it thickening and dissolving just as quickly. She couldn’t help but giggle with the girl, her head nodding excitedly in approval. 

The final whistle blew and the opposing team won, though she thought it had a lot to do with the fact this girl sat on the bench for the rest of the game and to make amends for the fight on the field. The rest of their team didn’t even have the time to line up for the end hand shake when three boys appeared at the end of the bench, their voices trying to outdo the other in volume. They spoke to the girl who got into the fight, their hands pawing at her arm to look at her knuckles, giggles of excitement and questions full of worry. She shoved one playfully, and he was incredibly recognizable even beside the two taller boys. Steve Harrington. Everyone had a crush on him, everyone knew him and everyone knew his family. She could hardly believe someone like him would be so close to a girl like that. 

They all quieted, staring over at her as the girl leaned back towards her, a hand out once more, “I’m Rosie Salazar! This is my brother Adam and my best friends Eddie and Steve!” 

She shrunk in on herself, her face growing hot even against the chill. She didn’t expect to play with anyone let alone three older boys — one that was in middle school. Rosie, the girl, leaned further towards her, grabbing her hand and shaking it for the two of them, “Uh… I’m Robin. Robin Buckley.” 

“Robin!” The girl gasped as Steve leaned towards Eddie, his voice a mutter, “She was named after a bird?” 

Rosie elbowed Steve in the gut, sending him bending forward with a groan as the other boys snickered. Robin stared at her, wide-eyed. This girl was serious business and rough. Rosie had to be making a mistake in thinking Robin could ever keep up with her… Robin wasn’t even sure if she wanted a sudden group of friends so quickly. 

Rosie turned her attention back to her, and scooted closer, almost pressed against her side, “Do you wanna play with us tomorrow!? We meet at Lincoln Park!” 

The boys all snapped their gazes at Rosie, their brows high up on their faces. Robin had the sneaking suspicion Rosie didn’t immediately make many friends, let alone that were girls. She knew what everyone said at school about how Rosie only hung out with the boys, how she was weird and sometimes a little pudgy and rough. Others said she hung out with the two boys because she was kissing them both — Robin didn’t believe this. A girl like this didn’t kiss boys, she wrestled and fought with them. They all watched her now, waiting when she could hear her parents’ voices just in the crowd. Robin giggled nervously, sliding away from Rosie and then broke out into a run the other way. 

September 19th, 1975

Hawkins Elementary School Field

3:00 pm 

Two weeks. 

Rosie didn’t forget about it for two entire weeks and spent every day forcing Eddie, Steve and even Adam to pretend to be Robin as she practiced what to say the next time she asked her to play. 

“Maybe she just doesn’t like playing with girls either?” Steve swung upside down from the monkey bars as Eddie perched atop, his legs swinging. 

Adam snickered, “Maybe she doesn’t want to play with you because you scare the shit out of her.” 

“What is there to be scared of?!” She cried, “I was being nice to her!” 

“Rosie,” Eddie began as Steve grunted, pulling himself upright to sit beside his friend, “You kicked that girl’s ass on the field. Everyone is a little afraid of you now.” 

It was after practice, the leaves began to take on their golden colors now as the air began to grow colder. Rosie still had yet to be promised to be allowed to play in a game and not sit on the bench. Robin stood semi alone near the snacks, gathering her jacket. Rosie rushed forward as Robin began to walk towards the parking lot and skidded in front of her. The girl halted, her eyes wide as she looked around her trying to find where she suddenly came from so quickly. Rosanna panted, her brows knitting together, “The boys are going on a fishing trip with Joel and they said I can’t go this time and I’ll be all alone this weekend and I really want to be friends!” 

Silence as the girl blinked back at Rosie and then her head cocked to the side, “You want to be friends? With me?” 

Rosie nodded, “I live in Lincoln Park Village or I can ride my bike and meet you by yours!” 

Robin watched the girl, her eyes big and pleading and her chest heaving with every pant. She felt bad for running away every time Rosie came to speak with her, but she was sure Rosie didn’t want to be friends, especially when Robin was an entire grade below her. She was smart from what she heard, she was faster and stronger and punching others wasn’t something out of the ordinary for her. Rosie was everything that Robin’s school bullies were except for the fact that when it came down to it, she defended her without even knowing her name. That had to count for something, right? Even if her parents constantly preached how violence wasn’t the answer especially after the past two weeks from the fight. It wasn’t Rosie’s fault, the other girls picked on her first and were going to continue picking on everyone in their team if she didn’t do anything about it. 

She nodded her head and immediately Rosie’s eyes lit up, “I live on 19th street, just behind the Cherry–”

“Chery park!” Rosie gasped, her hands clutching onto her sleeves, “I know it! My friends are there right now! It’s right between all our houses! Meet there tomorrow at noon?!” 

Robin nodded once again, “Uh, sure!” 

Rosie grinned, jumping up and down before running towards the woman calling her voice. She looked over her shoulder, waving, “See you tomorrow!!” 

September 19th, 1975

Cherry Park 

3:45 pm 

She barely had time to change into a pair of jeans and play shoes before she dashed out the front door. She couldn’t waste any time and from how much excitement built up in her body she felt as if she never ran as fast as she did right then. Rosie leapt over curbs, did a brief look each way before crossing the street, and even wove around other kids and adults walking their dogs. Her lungs began to burn, her legs felt like jelly the closer the treeline became. Her mind raced with every possibility she and Robin could be up to this weekend; the playground, sharing snacks, maybe riding bikes up to Benny’s, maybe even a sleepover! They could watch a movie, play at the arcade, go rollerskating at the rink, maybe even bowling! They could pick out a new flavored lip balm from the store and point out pretty new clothes on the rack. 

She didn’t just make a new friend, it wasn’t just a girl friend, either. This was proof that perhaps there wasn’t something wrong with her after all if she could be somewhat normal like the other girls. 

Rosie shoved the park gate open, her feet threatening to stumble beneath her as she quickened down the slope towards the playground in the center of the park. Dogs chased alongside her, people hollered at her to watch where she was going. There, she saw them, giggling as Steve ducked around a boy coming to tackle him and lifted his hands up to catch a football. He grinned, his arms thrusting into the air in a cheer as the other boys groaned, rolling their eyes and placing the blame on one another. She couldn’t stop herself, she was too used to running and the hill sloped further down and she began to shout, wanting to spare no time in giving them the news. 

The boys looked around them, searching where the voice came from when something small and in shades of purple blew past them and tackled Steve to the ground with a thud. The football rolled out of his grasp as he groaned, gently pushing Rosie off of him as Eddie and Adam ran towards them, “Damn, Rosie. Too bad you’re a girl, we could use you on the team.” 

Rosie panted, her breathing coming in wheezes earning concerned looks from the boys as she and Steve stood back up, dusting the dirt from themselves, her words coming out rushed and fragmented they just furrowed their brows, glancing at one another, “Rose, what the hell are you talking about?!” 

She took a deep breath, her shoulders bunching up and she swallowed hard, “ROBIN!! I made a friend!! And she’s coming over to play tomorrow!! We’ll get to hang out all weekend!!!” 

Steve’s shoulders dropped as he turned Rosie towards him, “Wait, what?! All weekend?! I thought she didn’t want to talk?!” 

Rosie giggled, “I changed her mind!!” 

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Adam began chuckling, “Rosie’s finally gonna be a normal girl.” 

Adam tugged on his sister’s hair playfully, “Just don’t scare her away.” 

She gasped, her hands swatting at his as he snickered, running away from her. She chased him, slews of curses thrown at one another as the neighborhood boys laughed at the two. Steve nudged Eddie, his voice lowering to a whisper, “Is she going to hang out with girls a lot more now?” 

Eddie shrugged his shoulders, “Maybe. But that should be a good thing, right? We hang out without her, she should be able to have a girl to hang out with.” 

Steve frowned, his hands shoving into his jacket pockets, “I guess so, but what if she wants to be her best friend instead? What if we don’t want her to be a normal girl?” 

“It’s Rosie,” Eddie offered, nudging him back playfully, “She’s never going to be normal. Besides, she stayed your best friend when I met her. Nothing’s going to change that.” 

“Yeah…” Steve shrugged, “That’s true.” 

Eddie nodded, gently slapped Steve’s arm, “Come on, I think if we all gang up on her, she’ll kick her brother’s ass!” 

Eddie and Steve shared a mischievous grin, rushing towards the siblings and flanking the girl. She dug her feet into the ground as the boys continued forward and swung right, intercepting Adam as she leapt onto him. He gripped her arm and kneeled forward, guiding her past his side and dropping her to the ground. She groaned, and Adam leaned over her, offering a hand. She swatted it away at first and as he relaxed, she gripped his hand and tugged him towards her as she rolled to the side. He landed upon the dying grass as he chuckled. Eddie and Steve giggled, throwing themselves to the ground beside them, looking up at the greying sky as they planned on what fish they were catching and Steve’s 9th birthday party next weekend. Steve rolled to his side, gazing over at Rosie and Adam, “Can we have a sleepover?” 

Rosie nodded excitedly and Adam perked a brow, propping himself up on his elbow, “It’s your house, Harrington.” 

“Actually,” Steve began, tearing at the grass below him and chewing the inside of his cheek, “I was.. I was wondering if we could have it at your home. Eddie and I can stay in Adam’s room or in the living room?” 

Rosie’s grin dropped, propping her chin in her hand, “Is your dad home this weekend?” 

“Yeah,” Steve murmured, “He doesn’t like anyone staying over when he’s home and I don’t want to be home.” 

“My dad’s home too,” Eddie mentioned, a hand coming up to pat Steve’s shoulder. 

Adam nodded, but before he could open his mouth, Rosie perked up, “Let’s all sleep in a fort in the basement!” 

Eddie grinned and chuckled, “Fort Salazar.” 

Steve, Rosie, and Adam nodded and in unison cheered, “Fort Salazar!”

Chapter Text

Thursday January 8th, 1976 

Lover’s Lake 

11:00 am

Everything sparkled, encapsulated in ice mimicking a world full of diamonds and crystals. Snow crunched beneath the chain-wrapped tires as the pickup rolled to a stop, a healthy distance between each vehicle up the slope from the lake’s edge. Children giggled, snow-packed munitions being thrown overhead, exploding into a cloud of flakes on the backs and arms of their enemies. Sleds barreled down the hill across the lake and people glided across the frozen surface, creating dazzling etches into the ice from their skates. Lover’s Lake was large, deep, and situated just perfectly in which the winter winds forged a solid layer by January each year until the thaw of early March. 

The sky remained a deep grey, filtering out the sun and the air frigid that everything seemed to form frost once exposed. Still, nothing stopped the excited giggles as four children tumbled out of the passenger side door of the cramped pickup. Adam shoved both Eddie and Steve out, cackling as they fell into the snow, Rosie leapt out, pointing and giggling at the boys which returned the favor by throwing a snowball at her face, reddening her nose. Joel, rolling his eyes, rounded the back of the truck pulling out the skates and sled for the kids, “Alright, come on! We’ve got a few hours of daylight — or whatever this,” he motioned upward at the grey skies, “is called.” 

Adam grinned, plucking the sled up by the side before turning to the rest of their group, “Rock, Paper, Scissors on who gets sled first?” 

Rosie smirked, dropping her skates by her feet, slipping her mittens off and putting her hands into position, “Milkshake that I win!” 

“Yeah,” Adam snorted as he got into position, “You fuckin' wish!” 

Rock… 

Paper… 

Scissors… 

Shoot!

Rosie held two fingers out and Adam had his form as a rock, his fist thrusting into the air triumphantly, “Ha! I won the sled and a milkshake!” 

Eddie and Steve both thumped the back of their hands against each of Rosie’s arms, disappointed and annoyed as they clicked their tongues. Rosie glared at each one before rolling her eyes and a small stomp of her booted foot, “Fine! You have until 2 then we get it for the rest of the day!” 

“Deal!” The elder Salazar shrugged, plucking the sled back up, “ I’m getting that milkshake, anyway” and he left, trudging through the snow towards his group of friends from middle school, including Dylan, his best friend. 

Rosanna sighed, turning to her friends as she picked up her skates once again, “That’s okay. By then most of everyone will be gone and will give us alllll the room to sled!” 

Eddie and Steve glanced at one another, considering the outcome before nodding in approval, filling Rosie with relief, “Cool, now come on!! We gotta keep practicing with Eddie’s skating!!” 

12:30 PM

The blades of their skates carved across the ice; two pairs confidently, one pair slid in place every so often. The sun broke out behind the clouds momentarily as Lover’s Lake and surrounding woods sparkled and glimmered. Though the rays caught across the surface of the lake, the air remained frigid, biting at every exposed piece of skin. Eddie’s arms were outstretched, one hand holding onto Rosie’s as the other held tightly to Steve’s as they led him backwards, encouraging him to push horizontally on one blade and alternating to move forward. 

“There you go!” Praised Rosie, “Just like that!” 

Eddie’s right foot turned out, pushing off from the blade as he kept his left forward and then lifted his right to plant it straight. His left out turned and pushed off from that one next. Steve whooped as his head nodded excitedly, “See, look! You’ve got it!” 

The Munson boy grinned, his confidence growing with every stride as his friends slowly began to let go of his hands. Rosie giggled, skating further away as Steve hung back beside Eddie, “We should come back next weekend! Maybe by then, Eddie wouldn’t need us!” 

He scoffed, as his feet began to lose rhythm and slip, his arms flailing until he caught his own balance back. Steve nodded in approval, his arms out to try and catch him, “Yeah, sure Rosie.” 

“I’m serious!” Rosie skated a circle around them, “We can practice at the roller rink so you can get the motion and your balance right!” 

Eddie rolled his eyes, “That’s not the same thing! Those have four wheels… This is a goddamn blade!” 

Rosie dug her skates in and stopped before the boys, her hands on her hips, “Yeah, no shit, Munson! Your balance is awful and I think once you get it, you’ll be able to skate both on ice and in the rink! You’re halfway there already!” 

“Speaking of,” Steve interjected, looking over his shoulder, “Look how far we’ve gotten! This has got to be the furthest the ice has gone in years!” 

“By February, we’ll have the entire lake to skate on!” Rosie cheered, “Or at least half of it! We’ll be able to skate longer without the hockey boys ruining it again!” She turned further out in the lake and ran parallel to the boys, pushing herself faster, “I could have so much room to learn how to jump!” 

Eddie and Steve turned to one another, rolling their eyes as Harrington nudged his friend, “Who the hell does she think she is? Dorothy Hamill?” 

Rosie lifted a middle finger as she circled around the boys once more, skating faster towards their right. She bent her knee low, turning forward with one foot and swooping around until she rolled forward on the tip of her skate. She lifted upward, but her speed was too much and the world spun an entire rotation until she landed on her opposite foot and it slid out from beneath her until her side crashed against the ice with a thud. Rosie groaned, her mittens pushing against the slick surface as she wavered standing up. Her right side was damp and she dusted the ice shavings off of her, “I swear I almost had it that time!” 

The boys snickered when a subtle crack sounded around her. She shifted her weight, ready to push off from her spot towards them when her right foot sank into the ice, water flooding around her shoe. Rosie gasped, pulling her weight onto the left skate when the ice gave way beneath her, plunging her into the frigid water below. A scream ripped from her throat as her pants and jacket slowly began to saturate. Her mittened hands thrashed around, desperately clawing against the more solid surface. Eddie and Steve shouted at her, causing the many skaters in their vicinity to begin to shriek in terror as they scrambled towards their friend. Eddie slipped, his hand grasping onto Steve as they both tumbled. They crawled carefully towards her, Eddie at the back as Steve instructed him to grip onto his ankles. Steve reached out his hands as Rosie continued to scream, tears falling as she begged him to help her. 

Joel Navarro stood with the rest of the men on the shore’s edge, all sharing a mug of hot coffee from their thermoses and a cigarette fixed between two fingers. He didn’t plan to join them, but Bill and some of the old veterans spent much of their days here ice fishing. The local fathers slowly absorbed into their group sharing coffee, snacks, and stories of the old days. Joel always hung on just on the outside of the group quietly. The chaos on the ice caught the men’s attention as skaters slipped and rushed towards the shore, a boy from the high school hockey club waved his arms frantically, his voice shouting over the panic-ridden crowd. 

Bill cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting back for the boy to repeat what he said. The boy motioned towards the emptied ice, two boys flat on their stomachs reaching towards something and one name echoing out from his lips. Coffee dropped to the snow, the dark liquid steaming and melting through each packed layer from their winter as Joel launched himself from the circle towards the ice, thankful that he tied on a pair of ice cleats to his boots to give him the traction needed across the lake. His heart sank further and further the louder the screaming grew as he neared the opening of the ice. Steve was dangerously close, the water leeching further and further, dissolving the frozen layer slowly that he lay on. Eddie seemed to catch this as he dragged Steve further back from the water’s edge despite his protests. 

12:45 PM

Her jacket and snow pants weighed her down with every second it began to take on more water. Every edge of ice she grabbed onto only broke apart into pieces under the weight as her head bobbed further down into the water. Her heart stuttered and every bit of her skin felt as if it were on fire despite the frigid temperatures. Rosie willed her legs to keep kicking, to keep her afloat even if she had to break all the ice and swim to shore, but the cold quickly began to numb her and she could no longer tell where she ended and the water began. She couldn’t even see Steve or Eddie anymore now that her head tilted upward, desperate to keep breathing air as her ears filled with the water. Everything muffled around her except for the sound of her chattering teeth and the coughing she continued from the water she breathed in when she fell through. Rosie couldn’t even tell if she were still trying to grab onto the ice or Steve’s hand anymore just as she couldn’t tell if her legs were kicking as much as she wanted them to. 

All she saw was the break of blue in the clouds when the water shocked across her cheeks. A small glimmer of a sunny day, and a memory of riding bikes through her hometown as the smell of pine sap fills the air. The water was so cold, so painful, she couldn’t help but gasp as water filled her lungs. She knew it wasn’t supposed to be there and yet her body began to welcome it as every sound muffled away beneath the surface. It was beautiful for a moment as the faded light poured through the ice and bathed her in a sea of blues. She wondered if the fish ever thought it was just as pretty as she did until darkness crept in on the edges of her vision until it was all she could see. 

Rosie’s last thoughts were how badly she wanted to ride her bike in the heat of the summer, rainbows dancing in the spray of sprinklers across the grass lawns, the sweet scent of roses in full bloom and the sap seeping out of the pines. How the golden light filtered through the canopy of tree-lined streets and bathed Eddie and Steve in a halo. They’re laughing a belly aching type of laugh on either side of her, a humidity hanging in the breeze with the promise of an evening storm. She knows this path; they’re on Scott Street, heading towards Kerley where they’d meet up with Adam and his gang for a game on the sandlot. Afterwards, they’d grab ice cream at Benny’s and then spend the rest of the afternoon in Steve’s pool until their eyes and nose burned from chlorine. That’s what life was all about to her. Her favorite people, the warmth of the sun, laughing, and ice cream. If she could go there now, she promised to never complain about the heat again. 

And her dream came true. 

Rosanna sat in their booth at Benny’s, the sun pouring in so bright it almost hurt to look at it. She was warm and the air smelled like pool water, sugar, and fried foods. The jukebox played softly along with the sounds of the kitchen. She was alone, waiting. The bell rang from the front door and one of the most gorgeous girls she’d ever seen stepped in, her gaze falling right to Rosie and she smiled. The girl wore a cheerleading uniform for the local high school, her hair was voluminous and curled away from her face. She stopped at her booth, motioning to the seat in front of Rosie, “May I sit here?” 

Rosie nodded, her eyes wide and in awe. Her skin looked soft and tan and she smelled of jasmine and powder and green apple candy. “I think I’m waiting, but I don’t know for how long,” Rosie said, tucking her feet beneath her so she sat taller in the booth. The girl nodded understandingly and Rosie added, “I don’t remember coming here.” 

“That happens a lot,” the girl shrugged, “I think most of us don’t remember.” 

Rosie nodded, her hands folding on the table to match the older girl’s, “Are my best friends going to be here? We normally come here for ice cream.” 

The girl shook her head sadly, “One day, but not for a while, Rosie.” 

“Is that why you’re alone, too?” 

The girl shrugged this time, “I have one friend here, but I’m not sure if I’m too early, yet. I think you’re too early, though.” 

Rosie leaned forward, her voice lowering, “You do?” 

The girl matched her and nodded, “I do. You have a lot you’ve still gotta do, Rosie.” 

Rosie waited for a moment, her head cocking to the side before her voice lowered further into a whisper, “Am I dead?” 

The girl simply shrugged, “Only if you want to be.” 

Taken aback, Rosie leaned against the booth’s seat, the vinyl cool against her skin — not warm as it felt when the sun poured into the window and she melted into the fabric. It felt… Not necessarily wrong, but it wasn’t exactly right, either. A feeling formed in her gut that while she was safe here, she was not yet warmly welcomed. The girl across from her furrowed her brow as she cast her gaze down to a carving on the table closest to the window. Her manicured fingers tracing the initials. Rosie had the suspicion that the girl may feel it too, “Do you?” 

This surprised the girl and she leaned back in the booth thoughtfully as she looked out around her in the diner. She sighed and shook her head, “No, I don’t think so.” 

Rosie leaned towards her once again, her head cocking to the side curiously, “Are you God?” 

The girl laughed this time, and Rosie flushed as she shrugged defensively. The girl shook her head, leaning forward once again, “No, but I think meeting God in the form of a cheerleader would be really funny.” 

“Then who are you?” Rosie asked. 

The girl shook her head again, “I can’t tell you. It’s time for you to go home, though.” 

“Wait,” Rosie held a hand out, “What if I’m scared? I was somewhere cold and dark!” 

“You won’t be there anymore,” the girl offered as she got up out of the booth, her hand held out to Rosie, “Besides, I’ll walk with you. I think I need to go home, too.” 

Rosie took her hand and she felt as if the sun entered her body, warming her from the inside out, “Will I ever see you again?” 

“Maybe, but hopefully not soon,” The girl giggled, leading the way through the diner and towards the door. A bicycle bell rang out, joined by another as two boys skidded to a stop in front of Benny’s Burgers. One boy, tall, lanky and a mop of curly hair down to his chin as the other boy’s hair was kept shorter, but in light brown waves. Rosie gasped as she turned back to the older girl, a toothy grin spreading across her face, “It’s my best friends, Eddie and Steve!” 

“We have a game to finish, remember?” Eddie called out in a half whine and half tease. Steve reached over, patting the rack behind his seat on his bike, “Come on, Rose!” 

The older girl let go of Rosie’s hand, nodding towards the boys, “Go on, Rosie, they’re waiting.” 

Rosie threw her arms around the girl, hugging her tight and breathing in the powdery jasmine scent of her perfume, committing it to memory, “Thank you for sitting with me!” 

“You’re welcome, Rosie.” She let go and the girl nudged her towards the boys, “Don’t keep them waiting too long, now.” 

Rosie rushed over, throwing one leg over the rear wheel and settling on the rack behind Steve, her arms coiling around him. Looking back once more, the girl waved to Rosie and the three of them were off down the street, the sunlight filtering through the canopy overhead. 

12:47 PM

Joel tore off his jacket, tossing it over to Steve, “You two need to get back, now! Once I get her, I need you two to pull her out and get her as far away from the opening as you can get, okay?!” 

Steve nodded, the tears that fell from his eyes already frozen droplets on his face matching Eddie’s. Joel lowered himself down, sliding the bottom half of his body into the water as a gasp ripped through him. His teeth gritted, the cold cutting across his flesh like a thousand knives. He pushed himself down with a last intake of air as he opened his eyes below the surface. It was dark, murky, but there she was, just two feet below him. Joel swam down further, his hands fighting against the chill as he ripped the zipper of her jacket down, shoving the fabric away as it floated to the abyss. She was lighter now and with one arm snaking around her, he kicked his legs and dragged her back towards the light of the opening. 

He broke the surface with a gasp and with gritted teeth and a guttural grunt, he lifted Rosie out from the water where two pairs of hands gripped around her upper arms. Steve and Eddie groaned, digging their skates into the ice as they dragged her up out of the water and onto the frozen surface of the lake. 

Neither of the boys were prepared for the sight once they got her a healthy distance away from the break. 

She was limp, soaked, and gone was any color to her skin until she was a ghastly shade of blue. Already, icicles began to form in her hair and on her lashes. Steve and Eddie reached out, their hands tearing free from their gloves to try and shake her away. The moment their skin touched hers, they jolted back and Eddie gagged. Joel dropped himself beside her, the water still dripping off of him as he tore the buttons until they popped off of her flannel and exposed the shirt she wore beneath. He shivered violently as he pressed his ear against her chest. 

Eddie and Steve didn’t think anyone living could be as pale as Joel looked when he sat back up, staring down at her. 

“Eddie, I take it your old man taught you a little bit of driving already?” Joel interlocked his fingers and pressed them against the center of her chest. Eddie looked up, his head nodding, “Y-Yeah?” 

Joel pushed his hands down, his body rocking forward as her chest dipped beneath his weight, “I need you get the truck and swing it around to the edge of the lake. I need you to take your jackets and lay them on the bed of the truck and make sure we have enough room–” 

“Room for what?!” Eddie asked, as he struggled to get himself upright, “For us both. If I can’t get her back on the ice I’m going to need to keep trying on our way to the hospital and I need Adam and Steve here to get her back across the ice as fast as they can in case that happens. Do you understand?” 

… 27, 28, 29, 30….

Eddie was gone, his heart racing as he recounted every instruction she gave him just minutes before the accident, Steve’s jacket clutched in his hands. Joel leaned in, squeezing her nose shut as he tilted her head back, pressing his mouth to hers and blowing air into her lungs. He pressed his hands back to the center of her chest, pushing in steadily. 

“I-Is she dead?” Steve whispered, watching in horror as Adam dug his skates in, ice dust flying past Joel and the sled crashing against Adam’s feet as he stared down at his lifeless sister. He dropped beside Steve, silently save for his panting. 

Joel lifted his eyes to Steve and to Adam and back down to Rosie beneath him, “God willing, not for long."

12:51 PM

He ignored the crack felt beneath the palm of his hand as he continued the last three compressions of the cycle. He leaned over, pinching her nose and blew air back into her when something fought back. Joel sat up as water bubbled out from Rosie’s mouth and he tilted her to her side. She let out a horrible cough before vomiting more lake water, her hands trembled as she flailed them across the slick surface trying to grab onto something. Steve scooted closer, his hand slipping into hers as she continued to cough until a gasp finally racked through her shivering body. Rosie cried out, her other hand reaching to her chest as tears began to gather in her eyes. 

Joel looked up to Adam who stood up, positioning the sled just at the head of her, “We gotta get her out of here, now. Harrington, hold onto her and try to keep her awake and warm. Adam, pull them to where Munson is waiting with the truck. If you lose her again, she goes into the back and if you don’t she goes into the front where you try to keep her warm until I get there.” 

Steve hooked his arms beneath hers and dragged her onto the sled with him where Joel dropped his jacket over the both of them. She leaned against his chest, groaning and coughing between ragged breaths. She was still soaked through, shivering, and pale. Almost immediately Adam began to pull them across the ice, the world flying past them as Steve kept talking to her about anything, everything. 

When she didn’t answer him, he resorted to tugging a lock of her hair until she groaned and her arm twitched to swat him away. Joel was running, but lagging behind. Steve was thankful they were teaching Eddie to skate because they hadn’t even gotten close to the center of the lake as Rosie tried to convince them both in an attempt to encourage their friend. The sled stopped against the snow drift, jolting the two as Eddie jumped out from the truck, rushing towards them. 

“S-She’s st-st-ill awake!” Steve managed through chattering teeth, the boys working together to get Rosie up and into Adam’s arms. He stayed quiet the entire time, his eyes glazed over and his jaw clenched. Steve and Eddie jumped in, all throwing their jackets onto her, each taking turns shaking her, gripping her chin to try and get her to look at them. Adam looked between the two other boys, a pact forming that if Joel didn't make it to the truck within the minute, they were going to drive her to the hospital themselves. 

9:15 PM

It was the same feeling you got after swimming late into the evening and pulling a towel that had been sitting in the sun all day around you. You weren’t quite cold, but you weren’t exactly comfortably warm either. The towel smelled of sunshine, fresh cut grass and laundry soap and felt soft and welcoming that it could almost pull you right to sleep even if you were still standing. She half expected the Television to be playing softly in the Harrington family den as she lay on the couch napping or to be stretched out in a blanket fort on Steve’s bedroom floor. A TV wasn’t playing and instead a constant steady beeping could be heard. The squeaky wheels of a cart in the distance being pushed along cold tile. The gentle click of heels and dress shoes up and down a hallway, occasionally around her. She tasted metal or glass and her nose tickled from time to time. She wanted to roll over, press her face against her bedroom pillow or against the fancy laundry soap scented linens of the Harringtons, but a sharp pain shot across her chest. 

And all at once she remembered. 

Her foot fell through a weak point in the ice until her entire body dropped, submerged into the frozen waters of Lover’s Lake. She remembered how the ice filtered everything into a blue hue and how dark everything seemed below her. She remembered her lungs burning, the sensation as water filled her jacket and dragged her into the depths. Rosie remembered the feeling of water rushing into her lungs. She gasped, her eyes snapping open as her arms reached out for something, anything. The beeping quickened and her lungs rattled inside of her. The back of her hand smacked into something solid and warm against her mattress. A startled groan as a hand raised and rubbed at its head, “Ow! What the hell Rosie?” 

A beat and another gasp as they sat up, their eyes wide as they stared back at her. She blinked her vision coming into focus on Steve beside her, his jaw slacked open. Rosie relaxed back against her pillow, her voice coming out in a rasp, “Stevie?” 

He scooted his chair closer, her hand reaching out into his to which he gladly took it and he looked at her as if he were looking at God himself… Or his best friend suddenly back from the dead, “Yeah, I’m here.” 

She licked her lips, her throat raw and dry, “Where’s everyone at?” 

“Mrs. Munson made everyone leave to eat something in the cafeteria.” Steve grabbed a cup from the bedside table as he crawled on top of the bed beside her, carefully holding the cup to her lips to drink, “Joel was in the ER for a while getting checked out and warmed up, he’s with your mom now.” 

The water was room temperature, but it was so far the greatest water she’d had in her whole life thus far. She coughed again, Steve held onto the water for her and was about to get off when she stopped him, “Why are you here, then?” 

“It was my turn to keep watch. Eddie was here for three hours with Adam,” He held the water up to her lips again, helping her take another slow drink, “Even Father Joseph is here.” 

The priest? Rosie’s brow furrowed, taking another drink of water, “Why is he here?” 

A crease formed between Steve’s brow, his lips downturned into a frown as he looked away from her. She nudged him impatiently, “What’s wrong?”

Steve sighed, his shoulders slumping, “You died, Rosanna. It was terrifying! Joel pulled you out of that water and you were dead. Even when you came back, the doctors weren’t sure if you were going to make it because of how cold you were, your ribs, and how much water you inhaled. Father Joseph was called just in case, but it pissed your mom off something bad. Even Father Joseph didn’t want to be here, but he said he didn’t want to risk not showing up.” 

Everyone knew if you saw a priest or a pastor at a hospital, it usually meant someone was dying. This time, he was there for her and she thought of her dream at Benny’s and the bright sun that poured through the window and of the girl who sat with her. 

“Rosie?” Steve asked, setting the drink on the table and turning himself so he could face her. In the dim light of her room, she could see his eyes were red and his skin remained blotchy. She covered her mouth as another cough rocked through her body, the pain in her chest so sharp, her eyes began to prickle with tears. She slumped back against the pillows and gazed back at him. He leaned forward. His voice pleading and low and quiet, “Promise me something?” 

She nodded, as her eyelids began to feel heavy again, “Okay.” 

“Don’t ever die again—” 

Rosie rolled her eyes, cutting him off, “Stevie, don’t we all die someday?” 

“Well, you can’t!” He leaned further forward, his eyes darting across her face as his voice trembled, “You’re my best friend!” 

She sighed, the fight draining from her, “But you’re my best friend too? I don’t want anything to happen to you either — Or Eddie! That’s not fair!” 

Steve groaned, his eyes rolling. Then, his head cocked to the side, his hand reaching across with a pinky finger out, “Then when we do die, we die on the same day.” 

Rosie watched him, he breathed hard, his eyes wide and the whites were streaked with red. He was so damn serious, it began to scare her and the weight of everything that happened began to settle. She remembered how she was not yet welcomed at Benny’s and how scared she felt in the moments before the girl came and sat with her. She remembered how alone she felt despite how safe she felt. Rosie winced as she forced herself to sit further up meeting Steve, “And at the same time, that way we won’t have to be apart.” 

Steve nodded, the terms of their vow sounding even better, “Pinky swear?” 

Rosie nodded, her pinky finger hooking with his, both of them tightening as much as possible, their gaze never dropping, “I pinky swear.” 

9:45 PM

His boots squeaked against the floor as he ran through the hallways past disgruntled doctors and upset nurses. It felt as if he never stopped running that day, his heart never relaxing since that early afternoon. The elevator was agonizingly slow and as the bell tolled, the doors opening, he shoved past visitors and dashed towards the end of the hallway where the cafeteria resided. His hands shoved open the double doors, his breath coming in harsh bursts as the diners fell silent, staring at him in horror. He could barely speak, and impatience grew amongst the crowd. Steve offered a grin and with a gulp he cried out, “Rosie’s awake!” 

Eddie and Adam were the first ones up, their cutlery clattering against the trays as they each grabbed hold of Steve and dragged him with them back to her room. 

They were the first back in her room as the boys hounded around her, carefully throwing their arms around her in a hug. She giggled between her coughing as Eddie held her hand tight, raising it gently in the air, “Long Live Rosanna Salazar!” 

The door opened again, Maria Salazar gasping at the doorway. She was still in her student Nurse uniform of pale blue striped blouse beneath the white apron dress. The white cap was still pinned in her hair and the short white leather heels clicked against the floor as she rushed over beside her daughter’s bed. Steve moved over to the side, allowing her room. Ms. Salazar bent over, her head resting against the pillow Rosie lay against and pressed kisses across her daughter’s face, a sob rocking through her, “Oh thank God, thank God my baby’s okay!” 

Shortly after Rosie and Eddie became friends, Mrs. Munson helped Ms. Salazar apply for the Hawkins Nursing program where she’d been a student for the past two years. This May, Ms. Salazar would take the exam and hopefully become a registered Nurse in Indiana, working alongside her new friend. She was here, training when the accident happened and when they rolled her daughter into the ER followed by a hypothermic Joel Navarro. 

Mrs. Munson entered next, a smile across her face as she joined beside Eddie, her hand raking through his curly hair. Steve looked back, hearing another pair of heels against the floor and his mother entered, a bouquet of flowers in her hand. Her eyes fell onto Rosie in the bed where she lay pale, her lips still tinted blue and a rattling cough rocking through her. She took a step back, her hand covering her mouth as she gasped softly. Steve stepped towards her and her gaze dropped to him, her eyes filling with sadness as he ran into her arms. He pressed a kiss to his head, breathing him in, “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.” 

John Harrington stood just behind Caroline, staring at his son’s best friend in the hospital bed, his hat held tightly in his hands. Steve looked up at his father, seeing something he never thought would ever display across the man’s face; sympathy. Mr. Harrington tore his gaze away from the bed and down to his son, the poker face slowly settling back into place when Steve whispered out to his parents, “We were ice skating and she fell through the ice. She was under for only a minute, but by the time Eddie and I helped pull her out, she was already dead. Mr. Navarro had to give her CPR and we rushed here. She just woke up half an hour ago.” 

John’s eyes widened slightly, his voice low and quiet, “My God” he ushered them towards the bed, his stoic expression back in place as Caroline reached out to pat Rosie’s leg, greeting her, their group settling in comfortably, offering their support for the girl.  

11:30 PM

The door creaked open softly, a pair of boots gently thudding against the floor. Warm amber light was the only source on the bedside table, the steady beeping of the vitals monitor and the hiss of the oxygen tank filled the silence around them. Joel had changed into dry clothes after arriving; now in jeans, and a sweatshirt with a blanket pulled around him. Rosie lay in her bed deep in a slumber, her skin pale but color slowly coming back to her cheeks. He settled himself into a chair beside her, his eyes never leaving the girl. 

The memory of that day playing over and over in his mind. The sound of the screams on the ice, the way the water bubbled, how her lifeless body felt in his arms and the crack in her ribs beneath his palm. He thought of the contrast between her smiling, playful and daring self and the drowned girl lying on the ice. How close he became to losing her entirely and how quick it all happened. No one could figure out how she broke through the ice when so many have skated there before. Some suggested perhaps it was an old ice fishing spot left abandoned  as a fresh layer began to form until it eventually gave way. The game warden now ordered that everyone mark where they’ve fished with paint or a flag marker so skaters can steer clear and to designate a side specifically for fishing to avoid such an accident. 

None of that mattered anymore because it happened and it happened to her. 

The Doctor and Mrs. Munson both spoke to him and Maria, warning them that Rosie wasn’t out of the woods just yet. Because of the hypothermia and the water she inhaled, it was a waiting game until she fell ill. The best they could do was keep her in as long as possible and keep watch for when her symptoms would show. Even now, just watching her and hearing the rasp in her heavy, sleepy sigh, Joel knew it wouldn’t be long. 

But even that didn’t matter right now. She was alive and warm and breathing. 

Joel slipped his hand into hers and hung his head, a tear dropping from his eye and onto the blanket. She stirred, her hand tightening around his as she groaned, her eyes fluttering open. Joel quickly wiped his eyes, looking over at her as she slowly smiled, “Joel?” 

“Hey babygirl,” he whispered, leaning forward, propping his elbows on the edge of her bed. She coughed and settled back against her pillows, turning her head to face him, “I’m sorry you had to jump in.” 

Joel chuckled, placing her hand against his cheek, “I’m not. I’m glad you’re still with us.” 

Rosie yawned, relishing the warmth of Joel’s cheek, “I was too early, anyway.” 

Navarro cocked his head to the side as he lowered her hand back beside her, their hands still clasped, “What do you mean?” 

She nestled against her pillows, her eyelids falling heavy, “I was at Benny’s, but it was different. Brighter. There was a girl who sat with me and told me I was too early to be there and that I should go home. She was too early, too. Then I had this dream… It was summer and I was on the back of Steve’s bike. Eddie was with us and we were going home.” 

Joel stared down at her at a loss for words as she yawned again. He slipped his hand free from hers and brushed his fingers through her hair, “Get some rest, Rosita. You’re home now.” 

Rosie nodded, her body relaxing and her head pressing back against the pillow further. She whispered, her voice slurring, “Thank you for saving my life, Joel.” 

He leaned over, pressing a kiss to her forehead. His eyes caught sight of a rosary left over by Father Joseph and he thought back to her dream. He shook the thought from his head, chalking it up to delirium from the both of them after the day’s events. 

Across town in the Harrington home, Steve was shuffling towards his bedroom from a warm shower when his father stopped him in the hallway. He looked up, his brow furrowed and waiting for whatever cold, distant thing the man may say. Instead, John Harrington reached for his son and pulled him into a hug for the first time in three years.

Monday January 26, 1976 

Hawkins Elementary School Cafeteria 

11:45 am 

Frost gathered along the windows of the cafeteria, the light a cool grey pouring in and over the children. Eddie and Steve sat beside one another, silently, a button pinned to Eddie’s shirt with big bubble print reading, IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!

He was less than enthused that he had to wear it. Nothing sparked the beginnings of who will be popular and who won’t be than the birthday button. If you were popular everyone treated you like a king and if you weren’t well…You felt like an imposter. Eddie felt much like the latter despite the multiple people who did wish him a happy birthday. Objectively, it was the best year yet and it was his tenth birthday. 

None of it felt as special with an empty spot on their lunch table. 

“Cheer up, Munson!” Steve offered, patting him on the shoulder, “Mom said she’s taking us to the hospital to see Rosie after school! We’ll have a real party there! Maybe we can sneak some Benny’s in!” 

Eddie lifted a brow, unamused as she pushed his lunch away from him. His mother packed it the night before with an encouraging birthday note and a slice of chocolate cake. He sighed, “I guess so.” 

“And!” Steve gulped down some of his chocolate milk, “My mom says she’ll take us to the city… Maybe even Chicago if you’d like! We can go to the big comic store there or a record store! Or the arcade! It’ll be fun, man!” 

Eddie’s shoulder slumped, “Nah, man. My dad needs me this weekend. He’ll flip his lid if I take off!” 

“Screw your dad!” Steve groaned, “This is your birthday! When does he ever take you anywhere that doesn’t involve… You know?” 

Eddie shrugged, dragging his lunch back towards him, shoving a fork into the slice of cake, “Maybe I’ll get lucky and he’ll get busted again. No old man sounds like a real great birthday gift.” 

“Plus!” Steve draped an arm around Eddie's shoulders, his free hand waving in front of them setting the scene, “With him gone, you can spend the night all week! My dad’s out on business again and won’t be back for two!”

Munson cocked his head to the side, a slow, sly grin forming, “To the city this weekend, huh? I’ve had worse birthday parties.” 

A voice behind them piped up, “Can I be invited? I want to pick up Bowie’s Station to Station!” 

The boys yelped, startled as they hissed out a slew of curses. Steve untangled his arm around Eddie’s shoulder as they whirled around on the voice behind them, Eddie’s brow furrowed, “Hey don’t you know better than to sneak up on—” 

Rosie Salazar stood before them, her long hair french-braided into two stopping just at her shoulders where purple ribbons were tied into bows. The rest of her hair fell wavy and shiny and healthy again. Even the color of her skin was back to normal and her cheeks tinged pink with so much life. She looked smaller, though, her purple flannel hung loose on her frame and even the belt was notched in further than usual after her two and a half weeks in the hospital. Still, she was alive and she was right there with them. 

Steve and Eddie gasped, stumbling out of their lunch seats as they threw their arms around the girl, squeezing her tight, praising her name in a series of, “Holy shit!!” and “Rosie you’re back!!!” 

The girl wheezed heavily and the boys parted, watching her carefully as she coughed, “They released me this morning! I had to beg my mom to let me come to school for the rest of the day! Plus, I had to give you this!” 

Rosie handed over a tiny cardboard box, a deep red silk ribbon tied around it towards Eddie. Steve watched her and she grinned at him, a giggle escaping her. Eddie plucked the box from her hands and tugged the end of the bow, unraveling the ribbon until he shoved it into his jean pocket. Rosie bounced in place, eagerly awaiting for him to pop open the top. The lid was removed and inside was a single guitar pick in a brown/gold and black tortoiseshell pattern, etched on one side was the letter E in cursive and golden ink filling the inside. His eyes bulged out of his skull as he snapped his gaze back to her. Rosie clapped her hands, jumping up and down, “Happy tenth birthday, Eddie!! You’re always losing your guitar picks so I got you one with my allowance! I asked my uncle to engrave it with your initial so everyone knows it’s yours!” 

Eddie rushed forward, throwing his arms around her in a hug. She giggled once again, hugging him back as he lifted her up off the ground and set her back down. Rosie reached out, gripping onto Steve’s shirt and tugged him back into their circle, forming a group hug as they fell into a fit of giggles with Eddie exclaiming, “Best birthday ever!”

Chapter Text

Sunday April 17, 1977

Market Square Arena 

Indianapolis, Indiana 

7:59 PM 

There was no way in hell or in every universe, dimension, plane of existence that three kids would have ever been able to step foot in this venue tonight. Yet, by the powers that be, they managed to pass by every security with little hassle minus a few side glances and bloodshot eye grins. Already the air was thick with the heady aroma of beer and smoke from smuggled in cannabis, all sandwiched between English Leather cologne and hair spray. Eddie’s hand slipped into Rosie’s and held her tight as their fingers intertwined, worming their way through the sea of people — mostly teenagers and those in their early twenties. Adam was at the front of their line. Already grazing close to six feet tall and the muscles forming across his once gangly early teenage body, he provided the perfect plow to their spot. Rosie gripped onto her brother’s hand as well, desperately trying to keep up with him as Eddie trailed behind her and Mrs. Munson and Ms. Salazar giggled endlessly at the tail-end of their group, the wooden heel of their platform boots clunking against the floor and boosting them high. Eddie hadn’t seen his mother dress so extravagantly in years and he certainly never saw her look this young despite barely breaking through to thirty. Next to Maria, they could pass as freshly twenty four in their button down halter tops and the bellbottom jeans that swept the floor. Earlier that day, they ogled as they dressed Rosie up as a mini version of them; bell bottoms and a button paisley blouse tied up just above the belt buckle of the high waist of her jeans. 

Adam dragged Rosanna and the crew through a packed entryway and carefully up the steps into the stands. The youngest of their group argued in wanting to fight their way onto the floor to get an up-close glimpse of the band, but their height — Or at least Rosie’s short height would mean she would see nothing but the backs of every concert goer. Up here, in the stands just placed high enough to see over the tops of everyone’s heads, they were nearly eye-level with the band. That, as Rosie concluded once they parked themselves directly across from the center, was all worth it entirely. Maria Salazar giggled, holding two bottles of beer in hand as they clinked the glass against one another in a cheer. Adam gazed over longingly, catching the attention of his sister who raised a brow, a promise to discuss this later when they weren’t in the vicinity of any responsible adult. He may have been able to hide his own blatant affinity for alcohol, but the smell clung to him when he came home from hanging with his friends along with a certain aroma that Rosie was surrounded by in that moment in the arena. The cool glass slipped past her and towards Adam. All three of the kids stared, gaping, at Maria Salazar. She shrugged nonchalantly, “Not that I believe Adam if he says otherwise, but might as well have your first taste at a Zeppelin concert. It’ll beat all the other kids’ first taste in some field or some sorry sack’s basement.” 

Adam and his sister shared a glance and he shrugged, happily taking a single gulp down and rocking his head back in a ahhh. He passed the bottle to Eddie who looked to his own mother and she chuckled, “I spent so many nights arguing with your father to not get you into his vices… But I’d be lying if I didn’t want this one all to myself with you.” 

The arena light glowed behind Lizzie, illuminating her curled hair in a halo of golden silk. It took three years for it to grow just past her shoulders after her final cancer treatment and in that time, the Munson family were hit with the worst news just before Christmas. The cancer had returned with a vengeance and seeing no point in spending her remaining months to years in fragile agony, Elizabeth Munson decided against any further treatment. Mrs. Munson was someone Rosie could see herself as in the future; kind, fierce, intelligent, beautiful, talented. Lizzie should have spent her early womanhood traveling the world and enjoying music as she always dreamed of instead of being caught with Allan Munson and living in a barely held-together house on Sycamore… But she never let that fact live on display. In fact, most would have never known her to be unhappy and Rosie only knew because of Eddie and because she enjoyed listening in on the parents’ conversations at the dinner table between Lizzie, Maria and Caroline. Even now, gazing at Lizzie as she tilted her head back, a melodious laugh escaping out from her, there was no way in knowing this was a dying woman. But Rosie knew no matter what, she was angelic either way. 

The smack of Eddie’s lips pulled Rosanna out of her trance and her brows shot high on her forehead as he stole another gulp of the beer, his head nodding in approval, “Far out.” 

He stuck the bottle out towards Rosie, urging her to join their ragtag group in their night of minor debauchery. Her fingers wrapped around the glass, the liquid feeling heavier in her hand. Slowly, she placed her lips on the opening of the bottle and tipped her head back, the golden liquid filling her mouth and sliding down her throat to settle warmly in her stomach. She shivered, her tastebuds warring with one another in an attempt to decide whether she enjoyed it or not. Rosie licked her lips as she belched, a shiver rolling through again, “It tastes… Weird.” 

Handing the bottle back to her mother who had been hysterically laughing with Lizzie, the lights cut out and plunged the arena into darkness. Eddie’s fingers wove through hers in an instant, squeezing tight and she returned with a squeeze of her own. There was something about being a kid in a place that was not meant for kids, especially their age, that sent sparks of excitement and fantasy and whirling their stomachs around like the rides they enjoyed at the Roane County Fair. Even more than that, there was something about seeing musicians you spent so many days and nights staring at the album covers or torn pages from magazines as their voices came through the grooves etched into vinyl. In just a few short minutes, these musicians were going to be in the flesh and their voices were going to envelop them further than any stereo system could ever do. Rosanna thought about that Halloween night now nearly four years ago. She thought of the way the moonlight and streetlights filtered through the exposed slats of the Creel House attic and shone down on the young boy, dressed as a vampire as he pretended an old broom was a guitar. The faint sliver of a scar on her palm tingled against his palm as he held it, remembering how she cut it as she crept up the stairs to become a voyeur in his solo concert. Rosie had the feeling Eddie was possibly thinking of that day too as she looked over in the dark, feeling his doe-eyes already gazing at her. The right side of her body grew warm as he leaned in close, his shoulder pressing against hers as a stray curl in his hair brushed against the side of her head, “Rosanna Salazar, I think you’re my favorite person.” 

Small bursts of light flashed across his face and Rosie grinned, her shoulder nudging against his, “I’ll remember that when Stevie and I fight over who gets the last fry from your basket.” 

What Rosie had no idea was Eddie continued to stare at her, his chuckle fading away as a sense of stranger fear settled in the pit of his stomach and his heart raced and ached and his brain began to fire rapidly, begging the muscles in him to move. For the first time, Eddie looked over at one of his best friends and quickly realized she wasn’t just his best friend anymore. Half of him wanted to push her away, terrified of the way she began to make him feel and the other half wanted to close the distance between them. 

His thoughts were interrupted when waves of screams began at the front of the crowd, growing louder and louder until he could feel the anticipation building up. The stage flickered on, a backlight showing the silhouettes of each member as they took their places. The golden curly mane of Robert Plant igniting a full on craze. His mother and Ms. Salazar melted, their hands gripping onto one another as they giggled hysterically and knocking years off of their ages. 

Rosie’s hand ripped out of Eddie’s as Adam gripped onto her shoulder and shook her once. She turned towards her brother, their eyes wide and their grins spreading across their faces until their cheeks hurt. They gripped one another’s forearms and began to jump excitedly, screams of joy ripping from them as they joined the crowd. Rosie leaned back, her hand gripping around Eddie’s bicep as she guided him to jump with them. The excitement was incredibly infectious and with the spotlight switching on, illuminating the band before them, it was as if the floodgates opened and at once the crowd lost their collective minds. 

Her jaw dropped, her eyes glued to their lead singer and his golden curls shimmering in the light. He wore an unbuttoned blouse with delicate fabric and watercoloring. Every time he grinned, a dimple formed in his cheek and his smooth accent filled the arena. Rosie felt her face grow hotter and she couldn’t help but giggle as both Eddie and Adam swiveled around to stare at her with their brows raised. She shrugged, and with a bit of the stage lighting flashing across her face, her eyes were tinged with a pink shade matching her cheeks. She coughed as her lungs rattled at the end of a deep inhale and Adam patted at her back, “I think my sister is getting high for the first time.” 

Nothing would have ever prepared them for the first chord to ring out from the band as The Song Remains The Same began. 

For the next two hours and forty five minutes, Rosie lost herself in the light show and the deafening music ringing out from the speakers. Eddie, however, as he gazed up at the band before him, felt what others must have felt when they entered a church. There, on that stage was something akin to the vatican and every song was a prayer and an answer from God. Now, Eddie knew that there was absolutely nothing more that he wanted than to live this life. 

They were left stunned, and begging for more as the band left the stage. The cheers never stopped and people refused to budge. Even their group, sweaty, eyes burning, and ears ringing couldn’t bring themselves away from what they’ve just experienced. Like a miracle, they returned to the stage. 

And Rock n Roll poured out from them. 

Rosie gasped, a whistle sounding in her lungs as she whipped around, grasping tightly to Eddie. He stared down at her, a slow, enamored smile growing across his lips. He already knew what she was about to say because he was thinking it, too. 

“This is the song when we first met!!” She exclaimed, giggling as she shook him. Her voice rasped from the screaming and cheering and the singing of lyrics and the smoke that no doubt bothered her lungs, but even through the roar of the crowd, he could hear her voice no matter where they were. He would always hear her voice. 

Rosie shook him again before she threw her arms around him, giggling wildly, “This is our song!!” 

He froze. Our song. 

He loved his friendship with her, Steve, and Adam. Eddie adored Steve and while Rosie was his favorite person, Steve was also his best friend… But there was something that belonged to just them. Something that she shared with only him. She pressed her lips against his cheek before turning back to watch the band play on, the lyrics he sang in the attic when he thought he only existed in this world alone. The song that interestingly enough, changed his life. 

Monday April 18, 1977

Motel 6

Indianapolis, Indiana 

2:30 AM 

Curled up in bed, Rosie rolled over after hearing a horn honk in the distance. Her eyes fluttered open, the amber light filtering in through the crack of the curtains. She looked over where Lizzie Munson curled up with her arm around Eddie, snoring away peacefully in his own oversized Led Zeppelin shirt they scored from the bottom of the merch barrel. Adam was stretched out on a cot borrowed from the check-in window, his left arm tucked beneath his head and the blanket haphazardly draped over him. She could feel her mother behind her, facing the window, a comfortable gap between them since they both relished their personal space. The air was cool on her face as Indiana began to settle into the warmer months and they were in that time of year where the heat nor the fan needed to be on. Even now, hours later, she could still feel the bass rumbling through her bones and the guitar amps ringing through her ears with the melodic wail of Robert Plant. Something felt different and new in her life, but all she did was watch a concert and still, nothing quite felt the same after. Rosie pictured what other musicians she loved would look like on stage in front of her, letting her imagination pluck all her favorite songs and colors and what the light show would entail with the beat. A small thought, a tiny fantasy, bloomed in the deepest part of her mind’s eye; What would she look like on stage? What would Eddie look like? 

What an adventure to travel the country or even the world with your closest friends and to play music for a living? Would they get to see the lights of the Eiffel Tower shine in the night? The toll of the clock tower in London? Would she get to feel the waves of a beach in some coastal or tropical place crash against her skin? How big did the Hollywood sign really look in person and which starlet would she run into? What if she and Eddie did all these things together? 

She smiled to herself at the thought. An older Eddie took shape in her imagination; towering in height as he did now,  his curly hair hanging down to his shoulders or even past them, and that same dimple against his cheek as he smiled. Already he was on his way there with each inch he grew and the lower tones in his voice that slipped through now. Even his face began to look different as his chubby freckled cheeks began to slim and expose the angular bone structure beneath. It wouldn’t be too long until Steve began to look different, either and one day she assumed he wouldn’t be the same height as her anymore because just like Eddie’s, Steve’s parents were tall. She toyed with the image of an older Steve with broad shoulders and his light brown hair darkening. He would grin and lean against the link fence of the sandlot, a cap turned backwards now that the sun was setting behind the trees and the first pops of fireworks bursting in the sky. 

And then her stomach did a flutter. 

Rosie sunk into the bed, her hands clutching the covers close as her eyes widened in the dark. The image formed even stronger as she pictured him riding his bike alongside her, his laughter echoing around as the sun glowed against his skin. Suddenly, the blanket forts and hushed conversations held in the night sent her skin aflame. She gripped the covers tighter thinking of them holding hands as they always have. Rosie swallowed roughly as she stared at the shadows and streaks of light on the far hotel room wall. 

I think I like him 

Her heart hammered; she was afraid it would wake everyone around her, giving away her secret. There was no way she liked him. That she liked a boy at all! She shook her head and tried to convince herself she was just excited to see him again and tell him everything. She convinced herself she was still feeling funny as she did during the concert when the smoke around her filled her lungs. 

No, she thought, it's just the same way I feel before a field trip or when we reach the top of the ferris wheel at the county fair. 

She willed herself back to sleep, repeating she was just excited, that they were all just three best friends, that nothing was changing whatsoever. The clock on the wall ticked louder, startling her before she finally gave into her slumber.