𝑮𝑹𝑬𝒀 - Eddie Munson [2]

SEVEN

SEVEN|THE TRUTH

Bernadette sat back against the post, watching Eddie as he paced back and forth, mumbling something to himself. She placed a cigarette between her lips, lighting it and sighing contently as the nicotine entered her lungs. After arguing with her brother, she had convinced him to leave her with Eddie to look after him, promising she would behave.

"Why?" Eddie broke the silence, stopping in front of her and crossing his arms, his eyes scanning over her figure.

"Why do I smoke? I guess it's a bad habit." She shrugged, teasing him as she looked up at him innocently. "Why am I wearing shorts? Because I'm dumb and apparently like the cold."

"No, why are you here?" He rolled his eyes at her answers, crouching down in front of her. "Why did you stay? Why didn't you tell me about this other world? Just why?"

"Someone has to keep an eye on you." She grinned at him, leaning forwards so their faces were inches apart. "You apparently attract danger."

"And hot cheerleaders." Eddie joked, gripping her chin and pulling her closer till their lips touched.

Birdie put the cigarette out on her boot, fingers lacing in his hair as she pulled his mouth on to hers. The kiss was short and sweet, both too exhausted for anything more.

"Do you want a hug?" She asked with a goofy expression, mirroring his question he had asked her on her first day back. "I've been told I give good hugs."

Bernadette stood up, his tall frame towering over her as she opened her arms, welcoming him in. Eddie caved, hesitantly wrapping his arms around her and holding her close, burying his face into her neck. She rubbed circle into his back, feeling him breakdown in her arms.

Eddie pulled away from the hug first, thanking her as she dried his wet cheeks. His usually playful smile quickly returned to his lips as she started to fix his messy curls, tucking them away from his eyes.

"Us freaks have to stick together, Eds." She hummed, smiling up at him as she cupped his cheek. "I just wish you weren't dragged into this shit show. You could have had a normal life. Play guitar with your band, do D&D campaigns, find a pretty girl, live happily ever after."

"I did find a pretty girl." Eddie grinned, kissing her forehead gently. His lips lingered, enjoying the closeness between them. "And maybe we can live happily ever after."

"You're so cheesy, Eddie Munson." She chuckled, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder. "But I would like that."

Birdie moved the pair towards the boat, laying back against the tarp as he cuddled in beside her. Eddie stole her packet of cigarettes, placing one in his mouth and lighting it as he lay back, debating his next words.

"I noticed you have a scar on your thigh." He stated, stroking his thumb on her bare leg as he breathed out the smoke. "And another one on your arm."

"The one on my thigh was an accident. He wasn't himself and did the one thing he never wanted to do." Birdie chuckled sadly, trying to forget about summer break.

"Billy?" Eddie nodded in understanding, noticing the sudden distant look on her face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up past memories."

"It's okay, I moved to L.A. and therapised myself through new hobbies and the sun." She explained, shrugging off the notion. "I've healed and I'm back now. I will always love him, and the memories still hurt but I know he would want me to be happy. The one on my arm is a funny story."

"It looks like bite marks." He looked at it confused, rubbing his thumb over the pale white marks.

"Do you remember when Will Byers went missing?" He nodded quietly, remembering back to the first time something shook the once quiet town. "He somehow ended up in the Upside Down. But he wasn't the only one who survived it. I was dragged there and attacked by a Demogorgon."

"Demogorgon?" Eddie stated at her, wondering why she was referring to a D&D monster.

"Dustin named it." She explained, grinning as he realised Dustin was the one who was going to teach her D&D. "I managed to escape it and was saved by Nancy. I owe my life to her in more ways than she knows. I almost died in that horrible land. I just hope you never have to go there."

The sound of an engine woke the pair up, Eddie throwing on his coat and grabbing his broken bottle as he ran to the window to investigate. Birdie sat up in fright, fixing her clothes and following after him. She hid behind him, peeking over his shoulder.