Creep

Kryptonite

You step back and let the morning sun back in between you. As it squeezes its way back through, the reality of your surroundings and the fact that you really needed to get going suck you back into the here and now in a very unceremonious thud. Acutely aware you were just getting infinitely more late, but also because of the total weight of what just happened, all its possible terrible endings, or worse, the reactions of others, you'd stupidly put Eddie in a difficult position now. Oh, stupid, stupid, stupid!

Logic brain had re-entered the ring and was going a few rounds with Emotional brain. You weren't sure who was winning as you couldn't decide whether this should feel bad or good, but it seemed like it was definitely both.

You shake your head as if coming out of a daze. This was honestly potentially more terrifying than when you thought you were gonna have to try to knock him out moments ago in the van. Unsure what to do next, you focus on solving the problem of lateness.

You nervously rub your neck, your eyes move around, not sure where was the safest place is to look right now, but the tarmac and the sky were turning into two fascinating areas, just avoid Eddie's trained sights, like spaceship tractor beams they might just drag you back in.

"Soooo, I'm like pretty late, ha, um...yeah, so...I better-you know....er", you point a few times at the school, clicking your fingers for assistance as if it's going to help you remember the words for the building. Then, taking another step back into a tiny pothole, the surprise of which makes you flail your arms around for balance, you don't get to complete that sentence.

He gracefully approaches and catches your hand, intertwining his fingers with your own, the other at the small of your back to stop you from tumbling entirely to the ground. Forcing himself back into your line of sight, Emotional Brain sucker punches logic, and you are at his mercy.

"Uh-huh, uh-huh", he nods in a devastatingly charming but at the same time teasing way, "you better get to..." he assists with a raised eyebrow and self-assured smirk,

"Class. Yeah. I better get to class," you finish, pleased with yourself, like a child first learning to talk.

"Well, you know that's too bad," he feigns a look of disappointment before his Cheshire cat-like grin emerges, making his eyes sparkle, "because I'm also going that way too. Wait, wait, wait, don't move" he releases you and scampers back to his van making sure it's all locked up, he places a kiss on his hand and donates it to the door handle.

Before you've even had a chance to drop your hands from where they were last, you are scooped back up in a ballroom-type stance and waltzing, albeit poorly, in circles towards the door. His hair is catching in the breeze with every turn. You would like to say or do something, but it's such a bombardment of amusement, weirdness and enjoyment you just don't. It's not like you could get a word in edge-wise anyway.

"So here is what I think, ok, were gonna go in there, get to class, drag ourselves through to lunch. You are gonna come to sit with us today, right? Of course, yep. That makes the most sense. Then more of that old grey matter flexing, and then for the finale, oh the absolute cherry on top, you're gonna come to hellfire club." He beams at you, "Have you played D&D before? Trust me, you are going to love it. Understand I can't play favourites in there though, but you know, some ingenuity in the game could earn you an inspiration die, which can sometimes be the difference between the sweetness of victory and the bitterness of defeat." He is obviously relaying this information for your benefit, but the discussion is entirely a vocalised train of thought, with no room for argument.

"Eddie..."

"But then, of course, who could you play, hmmm, what are you. I have some NPCs for which I've already drawn out the stats, which is great for beginners. Clearly, you could make a spirited fighter, but I have magic users, too, if you'd prefer that. I kinda set the scene, then it's mostly just telling a story together, and a little bit of math, and you know inventory or spell management."