[ It doesn't escape Eddie's notice the way Gareth reacted. He kind of expected it, after all. He doesn't like the idea of leaving the rest of the band, the rest of Hellfire behind, but he knows even if his name gets cleared, he wouldn't be able to look at Hawkins the same again.
The way everyone rallied to the cause of tracking him down, that's just not something he's ever going to forget. ]
Yeah, or maybe even further. If I can wrangle enough cash together.
[ He's not sure how he's going to make this work without finishing high school, but it's not like he'd survive the rest of high school. He wouldn't trust his teachers not to fail him again simply because of what happened, too. ]
But, um. Let's take it one step at a time, yeah?
[ Because there's no point in looking that far ahead when there's no guarantee Eddie will even be able to get his name cleared. And if he doesn't, then he's going to have to tread very carefully to get the hell out of Hawkins without being caught. ]
[ Of course Eddie of all people would pick up on the fact that Gareth wasn't happy about everything.]
Right, I mean sure.
[ Gareth sets about finishing his portion of the food and his soda before he finally says something again. Cleaning off his fork to set on his bedside table before scooting back to rest against his pillow, pulling his knees up to his chest, he stared at Eddie for a bit. ]
So...what's the plan from here? I wanna help, Eddie. And don't sit there and tell me I can't because I'll be damned if I'm not allowed to help my best friend escape an angry mob of idiots.
[ Even after all he's been through, Eddie still has known Gareth for way too long to not pick up on that. He wishes he could reassure Gareth that he'll still stay in touch, but he doesn't even know if he can promise that.
A part of him just wants to disappear, become nothing more than a memory. While the other part just wants everything to go back to normal, so he can go back to pretending he didn't just almost die in an alternate dimension. ]
I don't know. [ His voice sounds strained. He doesn't want to put Gareth in any more danger than he already has; it had already been bad enough, the damage Jason Carver did while seeking out Eddie and Dustin. ] If we can get a message to Henderson..
[ But even that feels like it's risking a lot. Dustin is awful at keeping his mouth shut, and even worse at lying convincingly. He can't put all of that on the poor kid. ] Or, I don't know. Think you could get to Buckley or Harrington?
[ This was a bad idea. A really, terribly bad idea. But at least he can count on Steve to keep his mouth shut, and to drive him out of town safely. And Robin, he feels a surprising amount of kinship with, after everything. If nothing else, they deserve to know he's still alive...right? ]
[ Gareth sighs a bit as he leans back and looks at the ceiling. He could easily get ahold of Henderson, he had the guys number. Harrington and Buckley might be a bit harder, granted he could go to the video store and use that as a cover? Might work so long as Keith wasn't there. ]
I can try at least? I've got Henderson's number so I can call him but I'd have to like...go to Family Video or something to talk to Harrington or Buckley.
[ Picking at his sleep pants Gareth thought on it more before snapping. ]
Or I could look them up in the phonebook. There's no way the Harrington's aren't in there.
[ It's risky, but Eddie is pretty sure Harrington's parents aren't home. He doesn't trust that the phones aren't being listened into somehow, but maybe they can get to him in person? ]
No phones. Coded messages only. Though Henderson's probably smart enough to get the idea, not sure about Harrington.
[ He frowns at the mention of Family Video. It would figure that life would go on as usual despite the fact that the town is broken. Eddie can't help but wonder if Robin and Steve even felt the weight of Eddie's supposed death at all. ]
I'd, um. I'd like to see them in person, if we can get a hold of any of them. It might be stupid and dangerous, but I don't care. The world might end fucking tomorrow, anyway.
Seriously Eddie? Okay I can see about getting them over maybe? I'll call Dustin tomorrow and tell him to bring Harrington and Buckley over?
[ Looking confused Gareth just sighed and shook his head. ]
This shit is weird, Eds...and you are so not going to waltz right into fucking Family Video when you're still wanted. They are like...lynch mob mentality here with you. I'm still surprised the rest of us haven't been targeted.
( Eddie raises an eyebrow at Gareth's response and deflates a little bit, curling in on himself. He had hoped that with him being assumed dead the town might have backed off a little, but he supposes if it turns out he's alive after everything, the town would be right back to wanting to hang him. )
I'm just a scapegoat. It's, uh. Jason's fault that you all were targeted in the first place. Without him leading the mob I guess it's a little harder to stomach targeting kids.
( He shrugs, just looking tired more than anything else. )
But fine, I'll stay hidden until we can figure all of this out.
[ Shaking his head Gareth just watches the other before nodding again. ]
For now just rest up, like I said I'll take care of it. You can lie low here, either up here or in the garage. Hell we might be able to make you a crash pad in the crawl space above the garage. No one goes up there because it just has a bunch of dads stuff he left here.
no subject
The way everyone rallied to the cause of tracking him down, that's just not something he's ever going to forget. ]
Yeah, or maybe even further. If I can wrangle enough cash together.
[ He's not sure how he's going to make this work without finishing high school, but it's not like he'd survive the rest of high school. He wouldn't trust his teachers not to fail him again simply because of what happened, too. ]
But, um. Let's take it one step at a time, yeah?
[ Because there's no point in looking that far ahead when there's no guarantee Eddie will even be able to get his name cleared. And if he doesn't, then he's going to have to tread very carefully to get the hell out of Hawkins without being caught. ]
no subject
Right, I mean sure.
[ Gareth sets about finishing his portion of the food and his soda before he finally says something again. Cleaning off his fork to set on his bedside table before scooting back to rest against his pillow, pulling his knees up to his chest, he stared at Eddie for a bit. ]
So...what's the plan from here? I wanna help, Eddie. And don't sit there and tell me I can't because I'll be damned if I'm not allowed to help my best friend escape an angry mob of idiots.
no subject
A part of him just wants to disappear, become nothing more than a memory. While the other part just wants everything to go back to normal, so he can go back to pretending he didn't just almost die in an alternate dimension. ]
I don't know. [ His voice sounds strained. He doesn't want to put Gareth in any more danger than he already has; it had already been bad enough, the damage Jason Carver did while seeking out Eddie and Dustin. ] If we can get a message to Henderson..
[ But even that feels like it's risking a lot. Dustin is awful at keeping his mouth shut, and even worse at lying convincingly. He can't put all of that on the poor kid. ] Or, I don't know. Think you could get to Buckley or Harrington?
[ This was a bad idea. A really, terribly bad idea. But at least he can count on Steve to keep his mouth shut, and to drive him out of town safely. And Robin, he feels a surprising amount of kinship with, after everything. If nothing else, they deserve to know he's still alive...right? ]
no subject
[ Gareth sighs a bit as he leans back and looks at the ceiling. He could easily get ahold of Henderson, he had the guys number. Harrington and Buckley might be a bit harder, granted he could go to the video store and use that as a cover? Might work so long as Keith wasn't there. ]
I can try at least? I've got Henderson's number so I can call him but I'd have to like...go to Family Video or something to talk to Harrington or Buckley.
[ Picking at his sleep pants Gareth thought on it more before snapping. ]
Or I could look them up in the phonebook. There's no way the Harrington's aren't in there.
no subject
No phones. Coded messages only. Though Henderson's probably smart enough to get the idea, not sure about Harrington.
[ He frowns at the mention of Family Video. It would figure that life would go on as usual despite the fact that the town is broken. Eddie can't help but wonder if Robin and Steve even felt the weight of Eddie's supposed death at all. ]
I'd, um. I'd like to see them in person, if we can get a hold of any of them. It might be stupid and dangerous, but I don't care. The world might end fucking tomorrow, anyway.
no subject
[ Looking confused Gareth just sighed and shook his head. ]
This shit is weird, Eds...and you are so not going to waltz right into fucking Family Video when you're still wanted. They are like...lynch mob mentality here with you. I'm still surprised the rest of us haven't been targeted.
no subject
I'm just a scapegoat. It's, uh. Jason's fault that you all were targeted in the first place. Without him leading the mob I guess it's a little harder to stomach targeting kids.
( He shrugs, just looking tired more than anything else. )
But fine, I'll stay hidden until we can figure all of this out.
no subject
[ Shaking his head Gareth just watches the other before nodding again. ]
For now just rest up, like I said I'll take care of it. You can lie low here, either up here or in the garage. Hell we might be able to make you a crash pad in the crawl space above the garage. No one goes up there because it just has a bunch of dads stuff he left here.