No one has ever said anything like that to her before. No one has ever encouraged that line of thought, never mind thought that she would actually be capable of anything else. Of course, she never tried to step outside of that box, but there wasn't really any way to when it already felt like she was just barely getting by, a thinly-veiled disappointment in every aspect of her life. No matter how much she balked against the rigidity of those expectations, Chrissy never honestly thought she would get away from them, or that it would be worth trying. Looking over at Eddie now, she's not sure she shares his confidence, but it's nice — moving, really — that he seems to believe what he's saying.

"I think... high school bullshit would have carried into college bullshit would have become general Hawkins bullshit," she admits, pulling a face as she does. There was no getting away from it, not for her. Maybe not for him, either, with the way people there saw him. "Does it ever feel daunting to you? Having all this... space?"

It's not quite a confession, not quite the same as saying that it feels like that to her. It's pretty close, though, and she has a feeling that he'll see it anyway.