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Lucas and Mike had already gone home and Max didn’t come to school again. This left Dustin by himself. Most of the students had gone home. Dustin was getting ready to leave until he walked passed the gym and overheard Jason and his friends talking shit about Eddie.
“I swear if that freak doesn’t stay the hell away from Chrissy, I’ll beat his ass.” Jason said.
“What if he turns Chrissy evil with all his satanic shit?” One of his buddies asked.
“I’ll kill him.” Jason said.
Dustin didn’t know why he did this, well of course he did. He wanted to stand up for Eddie. Dustin has always had people protect him, but what about Dustin protecting them? Now Dustin could do that even though a small part in him knew he was stupid for this and he’d definitely get his ass kicked but it would be worth it if he could stand up for Eddie who wouldn’t hurt anyone. Dustin knew that and he was going to make sure they did too.
“Hey asshole!” Dustin said stepping in the gym. “Stop talking shit about Eddie, he isn’t gonna do anything to your girlfriend!”
Jason and his friends started walking towards Dustin. Dustin knew there was no going back now, all he could do was stand tall and stand his ground.
“Well, well if it isn’t Henderson.” Jason said earning some giggle from his friends.
“You’re friends with the freak right?” One of Jason’s friends asked.
“Yeah I am and he’s not freak!” Dustin said.
Jason got close to Dustin’s face. “He is and so are you. You both are in that devil club where you play your little dragon game for nerds.”
Everyone started laughing, Dustin didn’t know why, it wasn’t even funny. They probably did it to make Jason feel better about himself.
“We’re not nerds, Eddie isn’t a freak and we’re not some devil club dumbass. Leave us alone” Dustin said firmly.
“What are you going to do about it Henderson?”
Dustin didn’t say anything.
“Yeah that’s what I thought.” Jason said as he pushed Dustin to the ground. They all started laughing and walking away.
That was it, they just pissed Dustin off, really pissed him off. He stood up and shouted Jason’s name as he walked towards him. The group turned around laughing at Dustin expecting him not to do anything. Welp, he proved them wrong.
Dustin punched Jason square in the nose. Yeah definitely was going to leave some bruised knuckles on Dustin’s hand but wow did that feel good.
Jason looked at Dustin with his bloody nose “You’re so dead Henderson.” He said as he punched Dustin back. Dustin fell to the ground again, with a bloody nose, well shit.
Jason got a top of Dustin and grabbed the collar of his shirt. “I don’t know who you think you are. You’re weak Henderson.” Jason said punching him again leaving him a busted lip. Another punch that was for sure going to leave a black eye.
Jason got off of Dustin. “Finish him off boys.” He said giving them orders like they were his dogs. The pathetic part is they actually did whatever he told them to do.
They started kicking Dustin. All he could do was protect his head. His sides and stomach were getting kicked making it hard to breathe.
“Alright that’s enough.” Jason said making them stop. The boys started leaving but before Jason left Dustin there he grabbed a good chunk of his hair and whispered in his ear.
“You’re so pathetic it’s actually kinda sad.” Jason dropped his head and walked off joining the rest of his teammates.
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Nancy stayed late because she wanted to finish up some things with the school newspaper. After she cleaned up everything she locked up the room and was going to head home. When she walked out to her car she noticed Dustin’s bike was still there which was odd because he was supposed to have been gone by now, usually he is.
Something wasn’t right, Nancy went back in the school looking for Dustin just to make sure he was alright. She checked the gym first because sometimes when the gym wasn’t being used kids would go in there to relax and work on stuff.
Sure enough Nancy saw Dustin and when she did her heart stopped.
“DUSTIN!” She said running by his side. She placed his head on her lap. “Dustin can you hear me?”
“N-Nancy?”
“Yes okay, me Nancy.” Nancy smiled. She wasn’t sure what to do and there wasn’t anyone around to help or so she thought.
“Wheeler? Oh shit! Dustin!” Eddie said running to Nancy and Dustin.
“Eddie?” Dustin asked.
“Yeah, hey buddy it’s me.” Eddie said reassuring Dustin.
“We should take him to a hospital.” Nancy suggested.
“NO! S-Steve! Steve!.” Dustin shouted.
“Hey, hey shhh, we’ll fix you up at Steve’s. Is that what you want?” Eddie asked with a soft voice.
Dustin nodded his head yes.
Eddie picked Dustin up bridal style and Nancy grabbed his backpack and hat. Dustin leaned his head in the crook of Eddie’s neck. He was comfortable but most importantly he was safe.
They got in the car, Nancy was driving while Eddie was in the back with Dustin. Dustin laid his head on Eddie’s lap.
“How do you feel?” Eddie asked as he ran his fingers through Dustin’s hair for comfort.
“Just a headache.” Dustin said.
“Okay that’s good. When we get to Steve’s you’re gonna tell me what happened alright?”
“Okay.”
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Steve had the house to himself, nothing new really. His parents are never home anymore. Robin was with him though since they had the day off. The door bell rang, Steve went ahead and opened the door to see a worried Nancy and a beaten up Dustin in Eddie’s arm.
“Put him on the couch. What the hell happened?” Steve said sounding both pissed off and worried.
“I’ll grab the first aid kit.” Robin said rushing to the bathroom.
“I don’t know I just found him like this and he wanted me to bring him here.” Nancy said.
“I’m fine.” Dustin said obviously lying.
“We need to clean your face up.” Steve told him.
Robin finally came back with the first aid kit.
“I need to get going. Call me and update me on how he feels.” Nancy said heading out the door.
“Thanks Nance.” Steve said.
“Anytime.”
“I’ll go get a ice pack to put on your eye and a damp wash cloth to get some of the blood off your face.” Robin said going to the kitchen.
Eddie and Steve sat on the couch with Dustin sitting in the middle of them.
“Dustin, what happened?” Steve asked.
“It’s nothing, I’m fine.”
“Stop lying.” Eddie said.
“I’m not! I’m fine.”
“Damn it Dustin!” Steve said grabbing Dustin’s chin so he could look at him. “You’re not fine, you have a black eye, your lip is busted and your nose is all bloody. Your knuckles also look like hell. Tell me what happened.”
Dustins eyes weld up with tears and Steve let go.
“The guys Lucas plays basketball with were talking shit about Eddie and the hellfire club. I guess I just wanted to stand up for someone for once in my life since I’m always the one being protected and never do anything. Jason got pissed off and pushed me so I got pissed off and punched him then they all jumped me. Jason gave me a few hits, the others kicked the shit out of me.”
Before the other two could say anything Robin gave Eddie the wash cloth and Steve the ice pack.
“I have to get home early tonight but I’ll see you guys tomorrow! I’m really sorry! Call me and let me know how you’re feeling Dustin. Bye guys.” Robin said leaving.
Eddie place his hand on the back of Dustin’s head for support so he could clean the blood off of Dustin’s face with the wash cloth.
“Eddie I can do it myself.”
“Stop talking, I got it. You need to ice your eye or knuckle.”
It was quiet for a little bit. Eddie was still trying to clean off Dustin’s bloody face and Steve was wrapping up Dustin’s knuckles.
“Are you guys mad at me?” Dustin asked breaking the silence.
“No.” They both said at the same time.
“Okay then what the hell is wrong?” Dustin asked. Shouldn’t they be grateful?
“Jesus Dustin! Nothing is wrong! You didn’t have to do that, you know stand up for me. I’m not worth getting your ass kicked over.” Eddie sounded aggravated.
Eddie was about to wipe more dry blood off when Dustin grabbed his wrist to stop him.
“Eddie, that’s not true. I don’t care what you think. If I have to get my ass kicked to prove my point I will. I’d do it for Steve too.” Dustin’s voice cracked.
“Dustin-“ Steve tried to say something but was cut off my Dustin.
“No one gets to talk about people who I care about and love. I mean if you over heard people talking shit about me you’d say something, you too Steve. So why can’t I do the same?” Dustin’s eyes were watering.
“What’s so different about me? What’s wrong with me? Why cant I for once be useful and do something?” Dustin started full on sobbing after he finished.
Steve and Eddie wrapped their arms around him. Dustin sobbed in Steve’s shirt.
“Dustin, nothing is wrong with you. It’s just it hurts me seeing you hurt. You know like the way you feel about hearing people talk about us is how I feel seeing you hurt.” Steve tried to explain.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just, I don’t know. I’m so tired.” Dustin continued to cry.
“I know bud, you don’t need to be sorry. Im grateful for what you did for me. I just want you to be okay. Seeing you hurt is worse then some assholes talking shit about me.” Eddie reassured Dustin.
Steve pulled Dustin back and cup his cheek. “Let’s finish cleaning you up.” Steve said with a soft smile. Dustin nodded in agreement.
After his face was cleaned the swelling went down and his knuckles were wrapped.
“Is okay if we look at your stomach and back for any bruises?” Eddie asked.
“Here I’ll go grab you a shirt, your shirt has blood on it.” Steve said as he heading to his bedroom.
Dustin removed his shirt.
“Oh Dustin buddy.” Eddie gentle touch some of the bruises causing Dustin to wince at the contact. “We’ll ice them okay?” Dustin nodded. He was so exhausted.
Steve came back with the shirt, his heart broke when he saw the bruises Dustin had and how tired he was.
“Here.” Steve said handing Dustin his shirt.
“Thank you.” Dustin put the shirt on. Steve sat back down on the couch.
“Can we just- just ice my bruises after I take a nap?” Dustin asked laying his head down in Steve’s lap.
“Yeah, sure.” Eddie said softly rubbing Dustin’s knee since his legs were on Eddie’s lap.
“Whatever you want bud.” Steve tild him as he ran his fingers through the younger boys curls.
Dustin fell asleep peacefully knowing he was loved and cared for.