⇢ ˗ˏˋ ✰🎨 🎸 ࿐ྂ

"𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐝."
➶-͙˚ ༘✶ ˗ˏˋ ✰꒰ 📎 🍒 ꒱✰ ˎˊ- ➶ °*ೃ
════════════════════════

CERISE COULD NOT GET THAT MAN out of her head. Her hands were firmly gripping the black leather of her steering wheel, her sweaty palms sticking onto it. Cerise could have sworn she had seen that man before several times in her dreams, but she shook it off, considering it sounded absurd for it to ever become a reality.

It was nearing sunset when Cerise arrived back at Family Video and her mind was exhaustively engulfed in jitteriness and nervousness. She shakily retracted the keys of the ignition of her car and shoved them into her bag.

Her face felt like it lost all of its colors and her trembling body was a conspicuous sign that something was disturbing Cerise. Knowing Steve would read her without blinking an eye, Cerise quickly scrambled from the lessons she was taught one semester in drama class to hopefully divert her brother's suspicion.

She put her hand on the bracket of the door, not even able to open her mouth when Steve emerged from nowhere, folding his arms across his chest and standing in front of her. Steve's appearance was so sudden, that Cerise didn't even realize she slammed onto his chest.

"Where the hell were you?"

Oh.

"I told you, I was with the cheer squad–"

"Bullshit, I called Kimmy and she said there was no mention of a meeting this week, so where the hell were you, Cerise?"

Steve was pissed. Cerise hasn't seen him this angry ever since she told him that she was going out with Billy Hargrove. That conversation led to regretful words from Steve and Cerise was starting to get a sudden wave of deja vu, wondering if that similar conversation was about to resurface.

"I told you, I had a meeting with the cheer squad. Kimmy wasn't there and it was only with some of the girls, not everyone. End of story," Cerise spat, her tone of voice rising, earning wary stares from Dustin, Max, and Robin who were sure that a fight was going to unravel between the Harrington siblings.

"No—don't tell me that crap again. My god, do you think I am that stupid to not tell when you're lying?" Both Cerise and Steve's voices were increasing by the decibel, the gradual rise in their tones starting to become unsettling.

"Are you sure you're thinking straight Steve? Or are you too dumb to comprehend that I am telling you, I was out with the damn cheer squad? Get your shit straight, and shut up."

Realizing that Steve's fists were clenching in pure anger and his eyes darkened to obsidian, Robin stepped up, her nervous tone starting to become fearful of what was about to happen between the siblings.

"Um, Steve, maybe you should back off—"

But Steve interrupted her, his fuming eyes still searing onto Cerise. He was incredibly blinded by the anger, the words that slipped out next, were going to cost him a lot.

"Fine, don't tell me. But don't come running back to me when you realize you are a lying manipulative fuck-up just like Dad." Everyone was quiet, absolutely silent. Nobody dared to move an inch as Steve's cruel words seemed to affect not only Cerise but the other teens in the room.

Cerise felt like she was stabbed in the back by one of the people she loved the most in the world. The excruciating pain of what seemed to be a white-hot branding iron being scorched onto her face, made Cerise gasp from the impact of Steve's words.

In the back of her mind, Cerise knew he was simply angry, but another part made her body believe that she was what her father always told her she was.

Worthless.

"Y-You really think that?" Cerise's words were turning into choked sobs that were racking in her throat. Her brain was internally filling up with self-hatred, both of the Harrington siblings knowing that being compared to their dad, was like being compared to the devil.

"Ressie, I'm so—"

Steve didn't even finish his thoughts when Cerise indignantly shoved him out of her way, sobs escaping her mouth as she ran to the back room, slamming the door shut. Once she locked the door, Cerise slowly slid down it, her cheek rubbing against the splintery wood of the old door, but she did not care.

She let out an ear-piercing sob, her eyes swollen shut with tears, and bloodshot from betrayal and unworthiness.

Frantic knocks were being heard on the other side of the door, however, Cerise's mind was completely preoccupied, unable to comprehend her befuddling surroundings. She held her knees up to her chest, rocking her distressed body that was bathing in abundant anguish.

Her ears were entirely deafened from her sobs, she barely made out the frantic pleas of the teens on the other side of the door. The only words she was able to decipher were idiot, dipshit, and stupidest dingus, which Cerise presumed was a scolding from Robin.

She heard faint arguments for a minute until there were padding footsteps receding away from her and towards the main desk of the store. A soft voice broke Cerise out of her trance, knowing that it was too high for it to be Steve.

"Hey, Cherry, can I please come in? I promise you, the dingus isn't here." Cerise stared at her feet for what felt like years, tears that were rimming on were waterline, falling onto her sunflower Vans.

Her mind was having an internal war, debating whether or not she should open the door, but after her mental contemplation, she sighed lightly and stood up on her feet. She unlocked the door and instantly pulled Robin into the room, earning a small yelp from the blonde.

When Robin steadied her feet, she took in the full sight of the girl and her eyes softened, while also making a mental reminder to scold Steve until the end of the earth.

"Oh, Cherry," Robin whispered in sympathy. She did not hesitate to pull the young Harrington in a hug, rubbing comforting circles on her back in an attempt to hopefully ease her pain.

"He meant it," Cerise sobbed, her lips quivering in the pain that was welling up in her throat, her mascara likely staining Robin's work clothes.

"No, no, he did not." Robin pulled away from the hug and placed her hands on Cerise's shoulders, verifying that she had her undivided attention.

"Robin, he has never said anything like that before, and—" Robin did not hesitate to interrupt Cerise.

"What he said was bat-shit stupid, but Steve would never mean anything like that. From the time I have known Steve, I know how much he loves and adores you. You are the most important woman in his life and it's obvious in everyone's eyes."

Cerise held her head down, refusing to believe the words that were spewing out of Robin's mouth. Steve's words were extremely hurtful and when Cerise held grudges, she held grudges.

"That's ludicrous, Robin. It's impossible, stupid, and completely absurd. Maybe Steve's right, maybe I am a fuck-up." Cerise shook her head, her eyesight drawing towards the floor, tracing every crack in the old used tiles.

Before Robin could deny the accusatory words Cerise was saying about herself, the sound of shuffling footsteps and the tarnished golden door knob turning, grabbed the attention of the girls. There stood Steve who was standing by the doorframe. He was fumbling with his fingers anxiously, his eyes refusing to meet Cerise's.

"You didn't lock the door?" Robin held up her arms in the air, mimicking a small shrug. She chuckled nervously while walking out the door, leaving the two Harrington siblings with the thick viscous tension between them.

Nobody said a single word, the only sounds being the air conditioner and the acceleration of their incessantly beating heart. Steve made the first move by taking a step closer to Cerise, but he felt a pang in his chest when she took a step back.

"Cerise, what I said was absolutely not true. I don't even know what I was thinking, I-I was just saying hurtful words in the spur of the moment."

Cerise felt like her body was entirely numb. She couldn't move and her eyes were wavering into space, so when Steve hesitantly wrapped his arms securely around her body, she didn't move. She wanted to hit him, wanted to tell him to go 'fuck himself,' but another part of her was saying to not do anything and give him the silent treatment.

And that is exactly what she did.

"I am sorry, Ressie," Steve mumbled, placing a small kiss on Cerise's forehead. She ignored him, simply letting him do so. She broke out of the hug with a deadpanned look and walked out of the room, making a beeline to Robin and the two freshmen who had sympathetic and concerned looks on their faces.

Dustin spoke up, attempting to ease the tension between everyone. He cleared his throat awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head.

"Um, we found where Eddie was hiding. We're going there now," Dustin apprehensively declared.

I knew where he was hiding first, Cerise thought in her head, smiling internally at the intimate memory with Eddie earlier in the day. She sniffled loudly, catching everyone's attention. Cerise walked sauntered towards the door but stopped when she didn't what any following footsteps.

"Well, are we going or not?"

With that, everyone followed, rushingly, getting into Steve's BMW for the most awkward car ride in the world.

✰*ੈ✩➶༄✰

The ride to where Eddie was hiding was harrowingly painful, the deadly silence in the car being nothing but a suffocating blanket of awkwardness. Steve was driving, excessively gazing at his rear view mirror concerningly to look at his younger sister. He noticed the way her eyes were still red and his heart sank.

Cerise was gazing out the window, leaning her arm on the side of the door and admiring the emerald green of the many trees that resided in Hawkins. It was nearly dark, but she still noticed the way the dimming moonlight illuminated the leaves of the trees.

Once the group arrived at Rick's house, Cerise instantly got out of the car, not wanting to be sitting in it for another second with Steve. The group walked towards the front door, Cerise standing next to Robin, not wanting to be anywhere near her brother.

Dustin repetitively knocked and rang the doorbell, the headache that was residing in her cranium, starting to grow worse. She rubbed her temples gently, hoping to ease the pain, but nothing was helping. Max noticed her distress and grabbed some painkillers from her bag, offering them to Cerise, but she kindly denied them.

"Okay, I guess that's settled. He's not here," Steve sarcastically murmured, his arms flying up in the air.

"Eddie? It's Dustin!"

Max noticed there was a shed behind the house and she called every one, Cerise wincing slightly from the loud voice. Cerise knew he had to be hiding there, it was very much of an Eddie thing to do.

Robin was the first to walk in, murmuring a soft 'hello,' Cerise was the second one, scanning her surroundings in the dark dim-lit room, cautiously walking on the creaky wooden floorboards. Max followed Cerise while Dustin went with Steve.

"Are you okay?" Cerise whipped her head at the soft voice, seeing Max with an expression of apprehension. Cerise being the bright person she was, forcefully smiled, hoping to reassure the girl.

"Always am," Cerise mumbled, barely above a whisper. Max knew the signs and she certainly was not okay, but also knowing how her mind worked, the redhead did not provoke any further.

Cerise was treading quietly with peace until she heard the cacophonous sounds of the tarp soaring in the air, revealing a threatful and weary Eddie. A broken beer bottle was pressed against Steve's throat, just like how he did with Cerise when he first saw her. But what was different was that when Eddie recognized Cerise, he instantly pulled the weapon away, but with Steve, he did not falter once.

"Eddie! Eddie!" Dustin desperately yelled, but his attention was still sporadic. Eddie was pressing the bottle deeper into Steve's skin and despite her anger towards her brother, Cerise was not going to let the boy she was intrigued by, hurt Steve.

"Eddie, please," Cerise croaked, her voice still hoarse from crying. Hearing the angelic voice, Eddie rapidly turned his head and his eyes widened, a glint of happiness and relief in his eyes. He didn't miss the way Cerise's voice cracked and he instantly knew something was wrong. He made a mental note to ask her about it later.

"Please, put down the bottle." Cerise cautiously stepped closer, her hands lazily up in surrender. Once she was right in front of Eddie, Cerise could hear his panicking heartbeat and once he stepped away from Steve, she took the bottle out of his hands and put it on the table without hesitance.

What caught her off guard was the way Eddie threw his arms around Cerise, the familiar warmth of her body radiating comfort to the boy. His aching body knew Cerise was the key to his broken state and he was grateful to have his medicine with him now.

"Are you really here, sweetheart?" His head was burrowed in the familiar crook of her shoulder, his hands drawing shapes on the small of her back, while Cerise massaged the back of his curly locks with her fingers. She heard a low growl from Eddie and she chuckled dryly.

"I'm here, honey. I'm here." Cerise didn't know what happened next, perhaps it was the adrenaline, but she placed a long comforting kiss on Eddie's head. He looked up at her, his face filled with surprise, yet a longing look of devotion written on it.

"You sure? Maybe you're just a figment of my imagination and I'm seeing an angel because I miss you so much." Cerise playfully scoffed, twisting Eddie's curls with her fingers.

"Does my body not feel real enough for you? Maybe I should just go—"

Cerise was about to walk away from the boy, until she gasped when she felt Eddie pull her waist towards him, the forcefulness making the girl land in his lap.

"Nuh-uh. You're mine," Eddie childishly said in a faux possessive manner, earning a chuckle from Cerise. But his expression soon turned back to serious when he heard Dustin clear his throat.

"What are you doing here?" Eddie asked everyone else, his voice becoming sharper and more irritated, not enjoying the company of others besides Cerise.

"We want to know what happened," Robin muttered in a prudent tone. Eddie scoffed, backing away from Cerise slightly, but still close to where he had the physical comfort of her touch.

"You wouldn't believe me."

"Try us," Max countered.

And that was that. Eddie told them everything. From the moment Chrissy bought drugs from him, to where her bones cracked on his ceiling. Every word he explained, felt like needles were lodged in his throat. He could barely speak without sputtering, but Cerise was with him the entire time, rubbing comforting circles on his hands.

"I-I didn't know what to do—so-so I ran away." Eddie stopped and looked at the teens around him, seeing they had bewildered yet tamed looks on their faces. "You all think I'm crazy."

"No. We don't think you're crazy," Dustin assured, but that seemed to enrage Eddie even more.

"Don't bullshit me, man! I know how this sounds." His booming voice was petrifying. Cerise jumped in her place slightly at Eddie's loud tone and he instantly noticed the way she flinched away from him. He frowned and gripped her waist tighter, pulling her closer to his body, his lips ghosting over her ear. "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to scare you."

Cerise waved him off, muttering a small 'it's okay' while snuggling closer to Eddie's surprisingly warm body. He was like her personal heater and she loved that, considering her hands were constantly cold.

Steve stared back and forth between Cerise and Eddie, seeing how handsy the boy was with his sister. The Harrington boy was internally fuming, his nose flaring in protectiveness.

"What the hell is going on between the two of you?" Even though Steve was just threatened by Eddie, he still stood tall, his overprotective nature overwhelming him as he trod closer to him. "I thought I told you to stay away from her."

Eddie stood up, reluctantly letting go of Cerise's body, standing face to face with Steve. "You want me to show you what will happen if I press that bottle further into your throat?"

Before the boys could step closer to one another, Cerise stood in between the two, forcefully pushing their chests away.

"You." Cerise pointed at Steve. "Don't think I forgive you already and need your 'protectiveness' because I'm still incredibly pissed and upset about what you said to me."

Eddie's head shot up at this statement. He looked at Steve and saw the guilt-ridden expression on his face and Eddie's fists clenched in anger, his hostile glare not leaving Steve.

"Did you do something to her!?" Eddie was fuming once again, his eyes growing completely dark. He charged toward Steve, however, he couldn't reach him when he felt Cerise flat-out embrace him in a hug, rubbing repetitive small circles on his spine, a habit Cerise found that eased Eddie's uneasiness.

"He didn't do anything that will land him in jail. It's just sibling stuff." Cerise tried to reason with Eddie, seeing how his glare was still penetrating Steve's eyes.

However, a lightbulb imaginatively formed on top of Cerise's head, and she smiled at the thought. Turning to Steve, Cerise stared at him with a deadpanned look.

"You want to make it up to me, Steve? Then let me spend the night here." Overlapping gasps and chatters filled the room and Steve looked pissed.

"Uh, no way. Hell no, it's out of the question," he sternly said, his voice not faltering once.

"Cerise, it's not safe—" Eddie started, but was interrupted by her.

"I wasn't asking. I need a night away from him anyway." Cerise glared at her brother, folding her arms across her chest. She noticed the way Steve was looking at the other teens for help but they were no help.

"C'mon Steve, it's only one night. Leave them be," Robin tried to reason. Steve stared at her incredulously, internally questioning if his best friend was serious right now.

"Are you really on her side right now?" Steve asked with malice and Robin simply shrugged her shoulders, a minuscule smirk forming.

"I mean, I'm not opposed to it."

What seemed to be like a thousand years for Steve, he begrudgingly agreed with Robin and sighed exasperatedly. He glared at his sister lightly before treading towards Eddie, whose demeanor did not fall once.

"You touch her, you're dead, Munson." Steve's voice was low, filled with seriousness and acrimony.

"See you in the afterlife then, Harrington," Eddie smirked, causing Steve to nearly charge at him once again until Robin pulled him away before any blood was shed.

Steve was the first to step foot out of the home, Max next sending Cerise a smirk. Robin winked at the girl while Dustin gave the pair a thumbs up and a mischievous smile. Cerise snorted in a laugh and Eddie stared at her, adoring her the sound and he took in the sight of her.

Her soft lips have tugged the edge of her mouth and she looked beautiful. Eddie was at peace.

"So, what do you want to do now that we're alone, Munson?"

Eddie stared at her, many thoughts swarming his mind. But only one came to the surface and he stepped closer to Cerise, their body warmth radiating onto one another.

"Can I just hold you? I need your warmth right now." Cerise smiled softly and pulled interlocked her hands with his. She raised his knuckles up to her lips and kissed them softly.

"Of course." The pair walked back into the main house, hand in hand, and gently sprawled themselves out on the empty bed of the home. It wasn't perfect, especially with Cerise's lifestyle, this home was far from her style, but she did not care one bit.

She felt the comfort of the springy mattress as she laid on the right side, feeling the sinking feeling when Eddie took the left. Eddie took off his jacket and gently placed them over Cerise's body so she can stay warm for the night.

When she felt his arms slither around her bare waist, she gasped slightly from the cold touch of his metal rings.

He burrowed his face in her shoulder, inhaling her lavender vanilla shampoo. Cerise would be lying if she said she didn't feel anything right now because her emotions were certainly everywhere when she was with Eddie.

Eddie leaned forward and pressed a firm kiss onto her cheek, Cerise's cheeks flushing with heat. She smiled and interlocked the fingers that were already touching her stomach.

"Goodnight, Eddie."

"Goodnight, baby." 

this entire chapter was a whole rollercoaster wtf

but steve you little fuck smh.

also, for what i have planend for cerise, you guys will proabbly hate me for a bit heh.

PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT! <3