The Protector

Vecna's Curse Part 2

Dustin reacted first throwing his bag over the counter. "What are you doing?", Steve asked Dustin annoyed.

Dustin ignored the teen before hopping over the counter himself knocking off a stack of tapes. He quickly ran into Maddie's open arms.

Maddie squeezed him tightly which he returned. "I thought you came in tomorrow", Dustin said confused. "My flight was moved up, I only got to tell Steve, Max, and Mike before I left", Maddie answered simply.

During this time, Max walked around the counter like a normal person would, and hugged Maddie tightly. "Hey, Maxi", Maddie mumbled out.

After their quick reunion, Dustin and Max go to work. "What are you doing?", Steve questioned for the second time that day.

"Setting up base of operations here", Dustin replied. "Base of operations?", Steve asked confused.

"Get off", Steve told Dustin who was using the store's computer. "I need it", Dustin responded. "For what?", Steve questioned.

"Eddie's friends' phone numbers", Dustin finally answered. "Your new best friend you think is cooler because he plays your nerdy game?", Steve asked irritated.

"Yes. I never said that", Dustin told Steve. "Aww, Stevie misses his bestie", Maddie teased with a smirk causing Steve to glare at the teen.

"Seriously, you guys, maybe on a Monday you can play around, but it's Saturday. It's our busiest day", Robin stated panicking while picking up the fallen tapes.

"Robin, I empathize, but this cannot wait until Monday", Dustin replied. "Calling Eddie's friends is an emergency?", Robin questioned. "Correct!", Dustin responded quickly.

"Want me to strangle him or you want to?", Steve asked Robin who answered, "We could take turns".

"Why is this so urgent?", Maddie questioned Dustin. "Can you fill them in while I do this?", Dustin pleaded to Max. "Fill us in on what?", Robin asked annoyed. Max rolled her eyes while the teens got ready for a long story in the making.

Maddie was sat on the counter on "help the customers" duty with Steve, while Max, Dustin, and Robin were on the phones. A younger woman walked into the door causing Steve to jump at the opportunity to "flirt" with the girl.

Watching Steve pick out a movie for the girl only for her to reject him by saying she had a "boyfriend" reminded Maddie of the old days where she worked in the small ice cream shop with the two teens. Steve would always try to flirt and always got rejected even with his awesome hair.

Maddie started to chuckle before she felt a liquid running down her face. She quickly reached up to find yet another nose bleed. Maddie quickly turned to face the other side of the counter before heading for the bathroom.

Max grabbed her arm before she could make it all the way. "Are you alright?", Max questioned worriedly. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine. It's weird though. This is the third nose bleed I've had since I've been in Hawkins, It never bled in California", Maddie told Max with a small chuckle.

Maddie walked away from Max leaving the red head behind looking towards Maddie with a very nervous face.

Maddie cleaned up her bloody nose with a sigh before exiting the bathroom. She heard Max say, "I might have a lead", as she walked out causing the group to crowd around the red head.

"Apparently, Eddie gets drugs from some guy named Reefer Rick, and sometimes Eddie crashes there", Max stated. "Sounds promising", Robin said before Maddie added, "Where does this Reefer Rick guy live?".

"See, that's the thing. No one knows. He's more of a... a legend than someone that people actually know", Max responded. "What about a last name?", Dustin asked. "I don't know that either", Max replied quickly.

"Bet the cops know the last name", Steve stated from across the room. "What?", Max questioned irritated. "Cops. I mean, listen, if this Reefer Rick is actually a drug dealer, I guarantee you he's been busted at some point. Means he's in the system", Steve explained.

"Cops? Really, Steve? That's your suggestion?", Dustin asked in disbelief. "At this point I think they should probably be filled in on what we know, what's going on", Steve answered.

"You think Eddie's guilty, don't you?", Dustin questioned. "Whoa! I believe in innocent until proven guilty all that constitutional shit. I just, you know, I just don't think we can rule it out", Steve tried to defend himself.

"That's precisely what we're trying to do here, Steve", Max said. "And maybe we'd have a little bit more luck if you spent less time trying to find a girlfriend and more time trying to find Eddie", Dustin stated.

"Somebody has to attend to the customers", Steve replied. "Especially if they're babes, right?", Maddie and Robin both asked at the same time. "Hey, not fair. Okay? I attend to all customers equally, babes and non-babes alike. We've got a very big selection in here, okay. It can be super overwhelming for these people", Steve responded.

"Yeah, it can be", Robin stated with a smile while turning towards the computer. "What are you doing?", Max questioned confused. "Maybe we don't need a last name", Maddie said catching on causing Robin to hum out in agreement.

"Twelve Ricks already have accounts here", Robin stated. "That's a lot of Ricks", Max added after looking at the rather large list on the computer. "So let's narrow it down", Robin said.

"Rick Alderman's latest rentals are Annie and Dumbo. What are the chances our drug dealer has a family?", Robin asked after reading through the first account. "Not likely", Max responded while Dustin shook his head "no".

"All right. Rick Conroy. Sixteen Candles, Teen Wolf, and Romancing the Stone", Robin listed off receiving a "no" from the group that was currently hovered around her.

"Okay. Rick Joiner. Mask, Footloose, and Greece", Robin continued reading the list. "Nah", the group replied.

"Rick Kimbrough. The Blue Lagoon and Splash", Robin stated with a chuckle making the whole group laugh with her.

"Okay. Rick Lipton. Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Cheech & Chong's Next Movie. Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams. Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke", Robin finished causing Dustin to laugh before saying, "Bingo!".

"Lipton?", Maddie and Max questioned at the same time. "Spelled like the tea. 2121 Holland Road", Robin responded.

"That's out by Lovers Lake", Dustin stated quickly. "In the middle of nowhere", Max added. "A perfect hiding spot", "It's a perfect place to hide", Maddie and Robin answered at the same time.

All five teens turned off the electronics before heading out. Maddie quickly ushered everyone out of the store while Robin flipped the open sign to closed. The gang finally started their drive to Reefer Rick's place.

Important A/N: Hey guys! I just wanted to know if you wanted Maddie to have a shot with Eddie during the remainder of this season? Please feel free to comment, I would love to hear your opinions! As always I hope you enjoyed and don't forget to vote. Love from the author, over and out!