#cheerandfear

It was stupid to have had any sort of presumptions, clearly. He had been surprised that she had approached him at all, but it wasn’t nonsensical. Some people tried pot around finals, to help them cram and focus. To ease the stress. Even if it was a case of good girl rebellion, that wouldn’t have been... that would have been impressive. A first timer, asking for something even stronger? That was more... concerning, than anything else.

“-and remember, just because the last game went well doesn’t mean we can relax when it comes to our routines. Keep working on those Double-T Jumps and stay hydrated.”

One resounding cheer of ‘Goooo Tigers!’ echoed through the gym as the team ended practice for the evening. As soon as she stepped through the doors to the locker room, it was like the heavy weight of the last week draped itself like a blanket over her shoulders again. Chrissy was exhausted- her smile faded to something more meek, like a false brave front while everyone’s eyes were still on her. The locker room was bustling as her fellow cheerleaders made their evening plans.

“Can’t tonight- my mom’s making a big family dinner. Can’t miss it! See you girls later.”

Never mind that she didn’t intend on eating any of it - why would her mother bother to make the food she would criticize Chrissy for eating anyways? The strawberry blonde gathered her things quickly and took her duffel bag from the locker. Her senior sweater cloaked her small frame and gave her a sense of power, authority, despite her stature. This fabric meant something to all the underclassmen. It set her apart from the rest. So far apart, it seemed she was more alone than ever.

She was headed to the first floor bathroom near the English classrooms, about as far as she could get from the gym. One stop before going home- it would be fast, quiet. But as Chrissy walked, she couldn’t help but feel those eyes on the back of her neck. Her footsteps quickened, and she hummed below her breath, praying not to hear the clock chime that had been haunting her, tickling and clicking at the back of her neck like it was just behind-

Chrissy didn’t have much of an appetite today. Not after her mother muttered something under her breath after the cheerleader had considered some of the eggs and toast her father had prepared for breakfast. It was fine, those first few periods before lunch flew by anyways. 

Jason had to stay late for practice tonight, otherwise he would have totally driven her to school. Just as well, because Chrissy was about to be late thanks in part to Mrs. Cunningham fussing with the seams of her cheer uniform skirt, which she knew they’d purchased too small to begin with. “It’s almost finished, sweetheart. I thought you said it would fit you by the time the season started.” Well, it did fit, just not the way her mother thought it should. There wasn’t a home game for another two weeks, which was plenty of time to...

Speaking of time, Chrissy had to snatch the garment with a loose thread still trailing in order to catch the last bus before homeroom. Bounding off of the bus, it was clear she was among the last of the stragglers- the parking lot was mostly cleared out except for the kids who didn’t care on any day ending in ‘y’. Her steps were light and full of that cheerleader spring, but her backpack slung hastily over one shoulder, it was only a matter of moments before the loose strap snagged on the side mirror of a rather sleek looking blue Camaro. Chrissy went one way, the bag went another, and she fell with a soft thud on the parking lot asphalt. She groaned.

Of course it was such a bad idea to try drugs to ease the headaches. Of course it was dangerous of her to expect the secret would stay secret for long. The only comfort Chrissy had, slim as it was, is that it was going to be her word against the Hellfire Club if the rumor started up that the Queen of Hawkins High was talking to Eddie “the Freak” Munson for weed and narcotics. Ms. Kelley would have a field day with that one. Jason too. And that wasn’t even entertaining the idea of her mother finding out...

Emotions were swirling as Chrissy approached the front of his trailer. The orange sunset after school was far broader daylight than she would have been comfortable with in any circumstances, but she was upset. Scared. Confused. More than usual, at least, with her constant nosebleeds and waking hallucinations. Things weren’t worse, but they weren’t better yet. And if what Max Mayfield had said was true- which, Chrissy couldn’t quite decide on just yet- then things were about to get a whole lot more complicated for her and Eddie.

“Eddie? Hey, Eddie, open up,” Chrissy called into the trailer, her delicate fist rattling the iron screen door that served as a rather weak barrier into the cramped quarters.  She checked over her shoulder to make sure no one else was in sight.