Just...you know, be careful, man. You think you're doing okay and next thing you know you're up shit creek with no future. ( P a u s e. ) That's what I've heard, anyway.

( Steve shrugs as he hops up to sit on top of the picnic table. He rests his feet on the bench, leaning forward to prop his elbows on his knees. He knows he isn't acting normal, but nothing about this is normal. He just wishes he could tell Eddie what's going on without sounding completely insane.

Now that they're out here, he's beginning to regret asking Eddie to ditch class with him. It's not just that he doesn't know what to talk about without sounding like he's been stalking Eddie or something. It's worse than that. When he looks at Eddie, he sees sightless eyes and gaping wounds. He hears Dustin wailing for help. He remembers how heavy Eddie was as Steve dragged his body across the trailer park.

Maybe this is Vecna. Maybe Steve's curse is watching everything unfold again, powerless to stop it. )

Hey, uh, ( he says after a moment, eyes fixed on his own hands — hands that don't yet know the weight of a baseball bat with nails driven through it or a Molotov cocktail. ) Can I bum a smoke? ( He drags his gaze back to Eddie and offers a sheepish half-smile. ) I'll pay you back. Promise.