March 11th, 1986 was a quiet Tuesday.

You sat alone, nose in a book at the counter of Family Video, waiting for either a customer, or for the clock to strike 10pm so you could close. Whichever came first.

You weren’t supposed to be working today, but you picked up one of Steve’s shifts after he begged you to. He was off, somewhere, doing something with Robin. You owed him one anyway, considering he took your last Saturday shift.

You were new to Hawkins, Indiana. You sprung up one day, walking out of the woods wearing men’s clothes that were two sizes too big, along with an ’013’ on your left wrist. You kept that latter hidden, of course.

In your old life, you were a number. Now you were a person.

Everyone believed your story. You were the new kid, living in a renovated church just outside of the city limits, and your parents just so happened to always be out of town. No one knew what really happened, that you killed your way out of Hawkins National Labratory and lived alone in a slightly moldy, rundown church.

You fit in easily at school, managing to fake your records, and you were even able to snag the job at Family Video. You impressed yourself.

The bell above the door rings and you quickly shove the book under the counter. “Hi, welcome to Family Video.”

Eddie steps around the corner, hands in his jacket pocket. He smiles softly when he sees you. “Hey.”

You smile back. “Hi.”

“Is uh…” Eddie leans on the counter. He smells like cigarettes - menthols, specifically - and the warm spicy notes of Calvin Klein Obsession (for men, of course). “Is Steve here?”

“No, he’s with Robin.” You say. You shift on the bar stool. “Do you need to call him or…?” You’re already reaching for the store’s phone.

“No, no.” Eddie waves it off. “I wanted to talk to you, actually.”