The Break (An Eddie Munson Story)

Chapter 2: Locked Doors

A/N: And we are back for chapter two! What did you think of the previous chapter and are you excited for more? I don't think this chapter requires any warnings but let me know if you think differently. Anyway, on with the story!

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It was bad, it was really bad. You thought in a panic. Someone was at your window, someone was outside your car! Your car that refused to start and constantly stalled, no matter how many times you turned the key. Stupid, stupid! You berated yourself for being so foolish. It was one thing to be careless about your safety and nonchalant when there was no immediate danger, it was another to actually be murdered because of your own recklessness. Why, why could you not get one thing right in your life? You could not even properly be depressed in a parking lot without getting-

"Y/N?" the muffled calling of your name cut through the spiraling fear in your mind, causing your clammy fingers to halt their fumbling with the keys in the ignition. You...you knew that voice. An icy dread ran down your spine, prompting you to shiver. Oh, could this night get any worse, you wondered, almost wishing it was an axe murderer beyond the window.

"Y/N." the voice said again, this time it was not a question but still an equally concerned tone. What a state for your ex-partner to find you in. You had done so well avoiding the brunet at all costs this semester and yet, on today of all days, there he was, waiting in the cold for you to acknowledge his presence.

With the way things were, you had very limited options. Maybe you could still drive away, you considered and pretend that this encounter had never occurred but just as Eddie knew you like the back of his hand, you too knew that there was no chance of him forgetting this chance meeting. And as you had early surmised, even if you did drive away, where would you go? With such limited resources, it was unlikely you would make it very far alone.

Your other option was to face him, which would undoubtedly lead him to question why you were crying in an empty car lot. The truth would have to come out and just the mere idea of having to talk about your current state of affairs, had you hyperventilating. When had all of the oxygen disappeared?

Eddie could not do much but watch your rising panic from the other side of the glass. He noted that this was probably the closest in vicinity that you two had been in for the last few months. Not that he had wanted to be kept at arms length away from you. Over the Summer you had started to become distant but by the time the Fall semester had begun, you had virtually become a ghost. Only haunting the school corridors of Hawkins High, as and when you felt like attending class.

There had been no definitive ending to your relationship. No last goodbyes or bitter tears, not even a singular conversation. Nothing but you completely pulling away from everyone you loved and cared for. He had tried to talk to you but you were so elusive, so cold towards everyone, he had only been able to assume that something had happened or he had done something wrong.

At school, the brunet still attempted to keep tabs on you but you were attending less than he was, which greatly worried him. Out of the two of you, you had always been the more studious one. Your grades were not perfect but always tried your hardest to at least pass your exams.

Failing your final year and having to retake your classes for a second time had definitely been a shocking blow to your self-esteem but he could not imagine it being the sole reason for your social decline. Whatever had been effecting you in the Summer was obviously still an unpleasant factor in your life because in all of his years of knowing you, Eddie could not remember a time you had been this distressed.

All he wanted to do was comfort you, if only you'd open your car door.

"Y/N," Eddie tapped again, trying to regain your attention. He just needed to get you to calm down, then he could do everything in his power to help you. Or at least, he would try if you let him. "Y/N, open your door." he called to you, feeling particularly hopeless and unsure how best to reach you. "Sweetheart, please. Let me help you-"

The brunet did not think it possible for you to cry harder but somehow his words made you sob even harder. Some help he was being, Eddie thought wryly, annoyed at himself. You were always better than him at being a comforting presence. All throughout your relationship, whenever he was sad, defeated or just generally frustrated with life, you were the one to wrap him in our arms and know just what to say to make the bad thoughts go away. Now it was his turn to be your security blanket, your confidant- whatever you needed him to be, he would do his best to fulfil your wishes.

"Look," he calmly reasoned with you, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I don't know what's got you all upset and I can't promise to fix anything. Hell, I'm probably the last person you want to see right night but I'm here and, uh," come on, Muson, he thought, use your words, dude. They're obviously in a bad place. Stop overthinking everything. "let me...let me help you. I want to help you. It's really late and I don't think I can leave you here in a parking lot alone, okay? So just...open the door, sweetheart. For me? You can do that, I know you can." he coaxed you, speaking as gently as he could, with no idea if you were paying him any mind but still he continued to talk to you, while standing in the cold. Hoping- maybe even praying slightly- for you to just pop the lock op-

Click.