end zone | STEVE HARRINGTON

forty-eight

C H A P T E R F O R T Y - E I G H T

season 4 episode 8 continued.

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THEY GATHERED AROUND THE TABLE AS EDDIE PLACED SOMETHING ONTOP OF IT. "Check this out. The war zone." Eddie announced, as he looked around at everyone. "I've been there once. It's huge. They got everything you need for, uh...well, killing things, basically."

"Do you think fake Rambo has enough guns there?" Robin inquired before she pointed down at the newspaper. "IS that a grenade? I mean, how is any of this legal?"

Eddie smiled sarcastically at her. "Well, lucky for us it is, so...This....This place is just far enough outside of Hawkins. As long as we stay clear of main roads we oughta be able to avoid cops and, uh, angry hicks."

"If we're trying to avoid angry hicks...maybe we shouldn't go to some store called the war zone." Erica sassed.

Nancy agreed with Erica, but they needed the weapons to help them fight Vecna. "Normally, I'd agree, but we need the weapons. So I think it's worth the risk."

"Same here, at least we'll be able to get something to help us." Delilah shrugged, agreeing with what Nancy was saying.

Dustin sighed, weighing the other side of the argument. "Yeah, but is it worth the time? It'll take all day to bike there and back."

"Who said anything about bikes?" Eddie questioned, peering over at Dustin.

Steve squinted his eyes. "You got some car we don't know about?"

Eddie stood up slowly, tilting his head to the side as Steve stared at him. "It's not exactly a car, Steve. And it's not exactly mine, but, uh...it'll do." He smiled mischievously to everyone and turned to Max. "Hey, Red, uh, you got a ski mask or a bandanna, something like that?"

Max thought about it for a moment before disappearing off her to her room to get a Michael Myers mask. Eddie put it on, taking on the lead as he led them all to a mobile caravan that was parked up. He got inside first, closely followed by Delilah who helped to get in with Anna. They quickly locked the doors and started on the car, taking out the wires as Eddie started hot wiring the car. Steve leaned over him, closely followed by Anna. "Where'd you learn how to do this?" Steve questioned.

"Well, when the other dads were teaching their kids how to fish or play ball, my old man was teaching me how to hot-wire." Eddie replied, fixing together the wires with his hands. "Now, I swore to myself I wouldn't wind up like he did, but now I'm wanted for murder, and soon, grand theft auto. So, uh, I'm really living up to that Munson name."

"Eddie, I'm not sure I love the idea of you driving." Anastasia pointed out, putting her hands on Steve's shoulders.

"Oh, I'm starting this sucker. Harrington's got her." Eddie grinned, clearly he was flirting with Steve who was oblivious to it. "Don't ya, big boy."

Steve pulled his head back, glancing back at Anna who was staring at them wondering if she was no involved in a love square now. The engine fired to life as the owners started banging on the windows and Steve pressed on the pedal, driving the car as the others screamed at him to drive. Anastasia held onto the side as Delilah and Eddie clung onto one another, just as Steve drove away.

Nancy allowed Anastasia to get into the passenger side of the car as they drove down the forested roads. Steve glanced over at her, still feeling a sense of dread about what was going to happen. Anastasia smiled, "How's it handle?"

"Not half bad." Steve shrugged, "Considering that this is a...house." They stayed in silence for a moment before he continued. "Uh, yeah...it's silly, but I...I've actually...I always had this dream that I'd have this really...really big family. I'm talking, like, uh, a full brood of Harrington's. Like five, six kids."