Loop Number 312-418
Steve spends 106 loops giving up. He doesn't try anything new. Sometimes Robin dies, sometimes Eddie dies, once he tripped and he died. It all feels pointless.
Of everyone in the party he's the one looping. The idiot, the screwup the disappointment. Nancy would've figured it out after the first loop. Steve didn't even realise he was looping until loop 5. Robin would've done it in a hundred loops. Dustin eighty if he charged his radio. He's tried asking them for help. Sometimes they believe him, but one loop isn't enough to help. Sometimes they think he's crazy, he doesn't blame them, he thinks he's crazy too.
Maybe this is a punishment. Maybe he already died and this is some kind of weird hell. His dad did say if he ever looked at a boy like that again he'd go to hell. Eddie doesn't look like someone you'd find in hell though.
He doesn't even eat in these loops. What's the point, the food tastes stale even though it's new. He doesn't sleep either. Sometimes he welcomes the bats cutting into him, at least then he feels something.
Sometimes when Robin dies he just closes his eyes and waits. He hears Nancy begging him to help but he knows that Robin dies in 68 seconds. He wishes Robin died faster, it makes him feel worse.
He starts turning off the radio after the signal. He doesn't want to hear Dustin scream, he knows Eddie is dead if Robin lives.
The loops blur together.
"I miss your smile Steve."
That was new.
He glances up confused at Eddie who's finished his shield.
"You used to smile all the time in school, even if it was fake half the time. All I'm saying is I miss it."
Steve cracks a smile at that.
Maybe he can try a few more loops, if it means getting his smile back for Eddie.