You can't quite remember when it stopped being casual.

At first, it was just Eddie coming into the record shop way too often, leaning on the counter like it was part of the furniture, asking you about records he already knew you didn't have. Then there was the conversation—that first real spark—when you realized you both preferred the loudest records, the distorted guitars, the lyrics that didn't quite fit Hawkins.

"Heavy metal." You said.

Like a confession.

Eddie smiled like he'd just found someone from his own planet.

From then on, everything was too easy.

┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ♬ ┊

Eddie likes to say he knew your brother before he knew you.

It's not entirely true, but it is true that Dustin Henderson appeared in his life long before you started sneaking in. D&D club, worn dice, endless afternoons in the empty high school classroom. Dustin was younger, but never stupid, and Eddie knew it from the start.

Now, the summer of '85 finds the three of you sitting on the garage floor, surrounded by boxes, old posters, and a makeshift table with the game board spread out. Loud music sounding in the background from a nearby radiocasette.

"If you die, it's your own fault." Eddie says, pointing the die at Dustin. "I warned you."

"That's not fair." Dustin protests. "You said I had an advantage."

"I said you might survive. They're different things."

You watch the scene from a folding chair, a can of soda in your hands. You like seeing them like this. Eddie exaggerates every sentence, Dustin plays along without fear. There's no tension. No barriers.

"Are you going to roll or are you going to cry?" Eddie asks.

Dustin throws the die hard.

"Twenty, plain!"

"No way!" Eddie mutters. "This is rigged."

Dustin looks at you, triumphant. "See, big sis? I'm good."

"The master of dungeons likes you." You reply.

Eddie looks up at you.

"Don't tell him that. He'll believe it."

Dustin leans back against the table. "Hey," He says. "Are you staying over tonight, Eddie?"

"Dustin!" You say a bit flustered.

"What?!" The boy responds quickly. "Mom already knows you are with him."

Eddie watches the exchange between siblings with a small amused smile for then speak calm. Calmer than he actually is when parents are mentioned.

"Your mom's a saint. And a visionary."

Later, when Dustin gets up to grab something to eat, Eddie approaches you, lowering his voice.

"Your brother is awesome." He says. "Seriously."

"He adores you." You reply, kinda of amused.

"That's worrying." Eddie smirks.