( Steve can't help but wonder if Eddie is only pretending to go along with all this, biding his time until he has a chance to escape. Steve certainly knows what he would be doing, were their roles reversed, and it sure as hell wouldn't be asking polite questions.

At this point he really doesn't have any other option than to believe that Eddie is being sincere, though. Not that it really matters. It's not like he has some grand plan cooked up. It's all he can do to shrug in response to the question, and offer a regretful: )

I don't know.

( Tonight would've been the night Barb disappeared. Steve thinks on that, running an idle hand through his hair as he does. )

If things go like last time, Barbara Holland disappears tonight. I think I've already changed enough stuff that it won't happen again, but –

( He shrugs again. How can he be sure? What if Barb is fated to die in the Upside Down, no matter where she is? Being a bit of a nerdy prude doesn't mean she deserves to die. (Despite what you might've heard people say lately.)

But neither does Eddie, and Steve's putting him at risk by even talking to him. )

You know what? Forget it. I shouldn't drag you into this shit. You should try to make your next class.