change of pace

freak

chapter two

Surprisingly, there were few disruptions from Eddie Munson during fourth period. His stare still confused me though. I ignored it and stood up from my seat and began to the door. As I walked through I noticed Eddie standing at his seat, watching me exit the room. I shivered.

Not only do I not have any friends in this fucking town, but now I have Eddie the Freak staring at me. I passed the thought and decided to rush to lunch to grab some food.

After grabbing a horrendous looking sandwich and a sugary soda to wash down the rancid taste of the food, I sat down in the cafeteria. A table a few others sat at, but it was just the kids who got bullied every day. I didn't mind not talking with people, it gave me a chance to look out the window and not enjoy the food my oh so kind cafeteria lady has prepared for us today. Hawkins special!

I pulled out my notebook again and starting doodling. A pound on the table almost knocked over my Tab all over my pages. I angrily looked up to find Eddie smiling, staring directly down at me.

"UGH! What do you want now?" I said shoving my items away back in my bag.
"Well, hello to you too, sweetheart! I'm Eddie!" His tone of voice sounds like he is looking for something as he sits down right in front of me.
"Eddie Munson, I know."
"And who might you be...Jessica? Perhaps?" his condescending tone takes over.
"Jessie. Jessie Lawson. I don't like Jessica." I said looking up at him, now amused by what he has to say.
"Jessie! Well, Jess, I had a little proposal for you, my sweet."
"Don't call me that, and what do you mean 'proposal'?" confused, I saw his eager smile appear.
"Jessie, I want to meet with you after school. It has to do with your groovy little drawings in that there notebook of yours."
"Are you setting me up or something? I really don't wa-"
"Meet me by the phone booth after school. I have a feeling you'll like what I have to show you." Eddie winks at me and the bell conveniently rings.

He slowly backs away keeping his eyes locked on me and smirking. I gather my things and throw away my trash and set my tray.

I rush to my locker to gather my next textbooks to lug to fifth and sixth period. I still wonder what he could possibly want with me. There's some club he runs after school, but I know nothing about it other than their goofy matching shirts.

Anxiously I waited for school to end. Maybe it was the not having any friendly social interaction in a while or the scared of what the freak might do, but I really wanted to walk out and meet up at the phone booth and see what he had to say.

Sixth periods bell finally rang signaling the end of the day, and I hurried to my locker to collect my things before rushing to the phone booth. I sat down looking out for that long haired weirdo the pop out of nowhere. 10 minutes had passed. I was tricked, so I stood up to start walking my way home.

"Jessica! You actually made it! Sorry I'm late, had a LONG talk with Ms. Fletcher about her 'expecting more from me after years'. Anyway, let's go for a walk!" Eddie makes his way over wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I quickly slip out from under it.
"Where are we going?" I ask him confused and slightly scared.
"Somewhere that is going to change your life forever!" Eddie says enthusiastically, giving me an almost menacing smile.

We walk into the building near the gym, which is where most clubs take place. He leads me down the dark hallway only illuminated by the light coming through the small windows. We stop in front of a door. Eddie opens it and extends his arm forward while bowing.

"After you, madame." He smirks at me.

I walk into a very dark room. Keeping my eye on him in case he tries anything. He shuts the door and I hear shuffling towards the wall and a click of the light switch. The light illuminates a very small room, covered in old curtains and what looks like sets from previous plays put on at school. A sign reads "Hellfire Club" overlooking the room. A table sits near the back surrounded with chairs. Stacks of books and papers, not yet laid out, sit on the table waiting for their organizer.