Romanticized Life ✰ Eddie Munson

✰2✰

✰ Harley's POV ✰

My vision going wavy because of the temperature outside is common for Hawkins' upcoming summer. It's hot like hell, concrete is so heated my shoes might simply melt off on it's surface. I just left my parents' house and pushed my board through the town center. I never thought i'd want to get in a car so badly, but here we are.

My foot stops the skateboard in the shadow of some building, as i rewind my cassette. I cross the road, looking down again, as i hear a familiar voice call me out. Gareth was just about to enter Family Video when he noticed me.

"Harley, hey!"
"Morning."
"On a walk?"
"Funny, really funny, Emerson." I mutter, resting the headphones on my neck. "Going home."
"I was about to rent some shit, lucky to see you today. I need a favor." He announced, entering the building, signaling for me to follow him.

I weight out all the chances to meet other students inside, for i do not want to be seen with Gareth, and since it's a hella hot early morning, chances of being spotted are pretty low. I step inside, following the boy in the depths of the cool room.

I notice Robin at the counter and she squeaks as she notices me.

"Harley! Hey!"

"Hey Rob." I wave. We haven't really spoken for a while after she went to work in the Starcourt.

"Listen, i really need to speak to you." Her eyes are blown wide, lips twitching, signaling me how delicate the situation is.

Robin was that one girlfriend who i almost killed with my guitar. We dated for a year and a half before i was attacked by the flower creature in the woods. I stopped sleeping, eating, and she found it really hard to keep me afloat. I tried to explain to her what is happening, but she never understood. To be honest, if someone told me t what i told her, i would expect them to end up in a psychiatric ward. She too thought i went berserk, and maybe i did. I broke up with her shortly after my first wave of adrenaline died down. I was burning from the inside, paranoid even. Relationship wasn't something i needed. The only support that worked was the one my parents gave me, taking my awful state as a 'teenage thing to go through'.

Robin actually was an awesome girlfriend. Caring, funny, hot. I also was a nice date. I believed i was. Not anymore though. That's why i avoid talking to her ever. Don't want her to see what i am now. So now i'm freaking out here, horrified if she'll bring up a 'get back together' talk. If i was her, i wouldn't, though.

"M'kay." Playing it cool was always pretty easy for me. "Hey Gareth!" I call him out, signaling for him to keep searching through the horror movies he stood by. "Give me a minute." Wavy haired guy nodded and turned away, while i faced Rob.

"Shoot. I'm all ears." I fake interest, trying to hide how anxious i am, as i rest my elbows on the counter in front of the shorthaired woman.

Her lips twitched again, as if she tried to form words, then she jerkily turns back and calls for someone named Steve.
He shows up immediately, turning out to be the famous 'King Steve' who lost his crown. The guy is actually attractive.

"Hey there." He nods to me, a flirty smile slides onto his lips. Of course.

"Steve, this is Harley. My ex girlfriend. Harley, this is Steve, my friend."
'The Hair' chokes onto air, i'm assuming because of the 'ex' part, his widened eyes blinking at me dumbly. "Really? You're... you're into boobies too, or somethin'?"

The choice of words Steve used has me try my hardest to fight an urge to smile. "Well yeah, you can say that. Not just them though, pretty boy." I tilt my head with a smile i couldn't hold back, observing his interesting reaction. He's relieved. Funny.