𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘴 ~ 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Six
savior

"You're staying with him?" Steve repeated in shock, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Steve, he's not really in a position to be left alone right now." Ramona pointed out, "Okay? I'll be okay for an hour, Steve."

"Ramona.." Steve sighed, dropping his head. "I just have a bad feeling."

"Get the guy some food," She stood pressed a short kiss to his lip, smiling as Steve pulled her back in for another. "We'll be fine. I'll be fine."

Steve sighed, resting his forehead against hers. "Okay. But if anything happens-"

"We'll run like hell, Harrington."  Eddie interrupted, shifting his position in the boat.

Steve couldn't help but feel annoyed at the interruption, but he relented and pulled away. "We'll be back soon."

Ramona nodded, watching as he left the boathouse and disappeared behind the actual house. She hoped Steve wouldn't worry too much. There were more important things going on.

Minutes passed in silence, silence that Ramona didn't mind, watching the car speed away.

"So.." Eddie trailed off, tossing a fishing bobber into the air and catching it repeatedly. "You and Harrington?"

Ramona smiled sheepishly, looking away from the window and towards Eddie. "Yeah. Yeah. I know, right? Last time we actually talked I wanted you to run him over with your van."

Eddie laughed, a genuine and real laugh, "You begged me to do it, even said you'd do it yourself."

Ramona chuckled, hair falling into her eyes as she let her head dip down for a moment. Eddie smiled at the sound, grateful for something actually innocent, it was a nice change from what he'd been experiencing in the last twenty-four hours.

"Weird, isn't it?" Ramona tilted her head, "Now, I can't imagine living without him."

"When'd that happen?"

"Uh.. July, last July." Ramona leaned on the old table, elbows resting on either side of her torso. Eddie nodded, eyes drifting down her arms and to the tip of the brand peeking out of her shorts.

"Can I ask you something?" Eddie's voice was tender, eyes softening as she grew visibly uncomfortable. "Now, if you don't wanna answer. Don't. Tell me to shut up, and you always used to, and I will.. But can I?"

Ramona shifted under his gaze. "You just did."

Eddie scoffed, sitting straight up. "Come on.

Ramona inhaled shakily, motioning for him to ask. "What happened to you?"

Ramona blinked, brows furrowing. Her jaw fell open as she tried to form a proper sentence. "What do you mean?"

"You're different," Eddie said, eyes following her actions as she cleared a spot on the table big enough for her to sit. "You've changed."

Ramona nodded, nervously laughing as she moved to sit on the table."I'm not fourteen anymore, I'm actually eighteen now, so-"

"That's not what I mean." Eddie cut her off. Ramona bit her lip, sighing and shaking her head.

"I know." She admitted, knuckles turning white from the grip she held on the old wood.

"You're quieter now. More reserved.. sadder."
Eddie pointed out, "I ask again, what happened?"

"Do you remember the mall fire? Last summer?" Eddie nodded, causing her to continue. "It wasn't a fire. There was Russians, and.. people were being mind controlled. But-But, ask Max about that. I don't know much, I was in the Russian lab. It was under the mall."