Under One Condition || Eddie Munson

chapter eight

Steve and I spent the day laying around, we didn't talk much. I could see that he was hurting, but I didn't know how to fix it. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion.

"Do you want to get dinner?" I asked my brother. He was laying on the couch, staring at the ceiling. He hasn't eaten since I made him food this morning. Steve fiddled with his fingers, his breaths were even but I could see the storm in his eyes.

"What do you imagine love to be like?" Steve's voice broke the silence. "I don't know if you've ever been in love, but I want your opinion." He looked at me with softness, a look I had seen since we were children.

I softly padded towards him, sinking myself down onto the floor next to him. I grew nervous at his gaze, talking about deeper than surface level feelings wasn't something we did. I watched my hands intertwine together as I thought about his question. I could hear his light breathing. I met his eye and furrowed my brows.

I didn't know why Steve was asking me this, he seemed to know how love felt. I had only read about it in the few romance books I had. Something about love made me feel uneasy, like deep down I knew no one would feel that way about me.

I took a deep breath, "a wildfire. From afar, it's beautiful and fascinating, but when you're in it... really in the middle, you can't breathe, it consumes you. You feel pain that you've never felt before. It destroys everything about you." I stopped, I felt anxiety fill my bones. My heart was thumping in my ears. I had never spoken my mind when it came to these things. My diary was the only one that had heard.

"Funny thing about fires, things grow in the place it once was." I finished. Steve sucked in a breath. I don't think he was expecting my answer.

He pushed himself up to rest on his elbows and stared at me. I didn't hold his gaze for long. I swallowed hard and looked back towards my fingers.

The phone ringing startled both of us. Giving Steve a shy smile, I stood up and went to answer.

"Harrington Residence." I answered. I felt Steve's eyes on me, I knew he was curious about who was calling.

"Aspen, it's Chief Hopper," I heard the man grumble through the phone. He sounded tired, his voice was gravely as he spoke. "We didn't get a confession. Due to the lack of evidence, we had to release them."

His words made my blood run cold. I didn't want to believe what he was saying. I felt the room spin and I slowly sank to the floor. "What?" I barely whispered into the phone. I knew it was a long shot that they'd confess, but realization that they were going to be out for revenge worried me. I felt Steve take the phone from my hand.

"What's going on?" Steve asked into the phone. I'm sure Hopper repeated himself because Steve looked down at me in worry. "Alright, thank you for letting us know... mhm, I'll let you know if we need anything... thanks Hopper." Steve hung up the phone and looked back down at me.

We were both at a loss for words. The room was still slightly spinning and I didn't think it would a good idea to stand up.

Steve's Point of View

I watched her with careful eyes, she looked so small. She really had lost weight— too much in the past 8 months. My sister- my sweet twin sister. I wanted nothing more than to protect her from the cruelty of the world.

I bent down to her eye level. She had brought her knees to her chest and hugged them tightly. I wish she'd tell me what was going on in her mind. After what happened this week, I'm surprised she didn't fully shut down.

That was a big coping mechanism for her. She'd shutdown once she realized things were bad.

I sat down fully next to her, unsure of what to say in this moment.

I don't think I had ever felt so much anger when I heard what Tommy confessed. I'm grateful Eddie was there, I would've had my ass handed to me.

—

"Hey, a question for you, how'd your fat ass get out of that dumpster we locked you in back in January?" The words coming from my ex best friends mouth felt like a hot knife going into my chest. I glanced at Aspen, who's eyes widened at the question.

I felt the anger rise inside of me, without thinking my fist swung to hit Tommy in the face. He stumbled on the impact but when he went to swing, he hit Eddie instead.

I don't think Eddie knew what was going on, but once I made the move to get out of the booth, he followed.

I tackled Tommy to the ground, I couldn't see anything other than red. My knees were placed firmly around either side of him as I laid my fist into his face.

Tommy bucked his hips and threw me off balance, making his move to get on top. I saw his fist but never felt the impact as Eddie pulled him off.

I could see Aspen out of the corner of my eye, her eyes looked glossed over as she tried to take in the scene around her. When I focused back on Eddie, he had Tommy by the collar as he used his other fist to punch whatever he could.

Blood was splattering everywhere; I don't think Eddie would've stopped if a man from the shop hadn't pulled him off of Tommy.

Eddie's rings were coated in crimson red blood. I grabbed the nearest rag and tossed it to him. Aspen shouldn't have to see all of this.

—

"Maybe we should go get dinner now," I said after awhile. We were still sitting there, none of us moving. I looked down at my knuckles, the bruising hadn't faded yet.

I don't regret what I did. Luckily, Hopper wrote down that Tommy attacked first and it was all self defense.

Aspen didn't respond, she just slowly stood up. I watched as her knees shook and she struggled to get up. When was the last time she ate?

I was worried for my sister, and I could tell that she knew. I stood up with her, placing my hand on her elbow. She leaned into me and let out a shaky breath.

Without another word she moved to put on her shoes. She's strong, strongest person that I know. I have always watched her put herself back together. No matter how much I share with her about myself, I'll never know her in the way I wish I did.

I was thankful for her. She always held it together better than I did. She'd control her emotions around people, lock them away for when she was alone. I hear her crying at night.

I knew she was close to her breaking point. I wanted to keep her away from it.

I followed her lead and put my shoes on as well, stopping and writing a note just in case mom showed up.

Left to go get food - A & S

I sighed as I looked towards my sister, I wish I could fix things.

Aspen's Point of View

I heard Steve sigh, I know he wants to ask questions but he refrains. I can't let him know that I'm close to my breaking point.

I allow Steve to drive us to get food. It was raining out and he knew I'd rather watch outside than drive.

I glanced over at him, he looked deep in thought. I didn't want to break the silence. I knew if I spoke I wouldn't be able to hold it in anymore. I kept trying to hold it together for his sake.

I didn't notice when Steve parked, I was watching the rain droplets race down the car window. I felt him touch my shoulder, pulling me out of thought. I gave him a closed lip smile and got out of the car.

Steve wrapped his arm around me as we walked into the cafe. His embrace felt warm, comforting.

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I promise Eddie will be in the next chapter 🤧

WE GOT STEVES POV

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