Eddie (self-insert x character)

Chapter 14 [FINAL]

*perspective shift back*

"Shit."
"What?"
"We gotta go right now."
"Why?"
"Don't ask, just brace yourself."
"What the fuck-"
Eddie was cut off as he slammed into the side of the van. He had decided to smudge paint on his mask and had climbed into the back to use some of the canvas paint when I heard Steve and Gareth hollering in the driveway. I couldn't hear most of their conversation since they were both further down the driveway but I sure as shit just heard one of them yell the name Jason.
Cursing the size of this van I swung around Steve's car and sped towards the road hoping to get a head start on the jocks who had yet to see us.
In my rear view I saw Eddie go flying and hit the other side of the van, smearing the canvas as he rolled on impact.
"Damn it Munson what did I say about bracing yourself?"
He clawed his way into the passenger seat and made a point of bracing himself against the seat before glancing around wildly to see what caused my alarm.
Gareth's car was directly ahead of us and he made eye contact with me in the mirror, giving a jaunty salute. Without a second thought he whipped his car around and blocked off the road as best he could so that the jocks would have to stop before they could reach me and Eddie.
I smiled and waved a final goodbye to his car and Steve's before pulling onto the road and burning rubber as we sped away from the lake house.
In the rear view I watched Steve's car pull up next to Gareth's, creating a wall between us and the jocks.
Eddie was also watching through the mirror and waved to them out the window, slapping his hand on the side of the van excitedly.
"Holy shit. We made it."
He turned to me beaming.
"We actually fucking made it."
I grinned back at him and focused on the road. We still had a ways to go before I felt completely safe and ready to celebrate but it felt good knowing we were getting closer.

We drove for about an hour with Eddie ranting and raving about all the places he hoped to see now that he had an excuse to "leave this god awful place."
I reminded him that our friends and family were also a part of said god awful place and he laughed, waving a hand dismissively.
"They're all great in spite of Hawkins. Speaking of that actually," he pulled his mask off and turned his whole body towards me.
"When can I call my uncle? Tell him what's going on?"
I shrugged and checked the rear view to make sure no one was on our tail. Confirming we were alone on the road I slowed down a little and looked at him.
"The moment we get out of Hawkins and we can safely stop for gas. Tell him you're okay and that our friends kept us safe. Maybe just don't tell him where we're going though, at least not yet."
He smiled and put his hand over mine. Our hands rested like that on the stick shift for a few minutes before he turned to me again.
"Do we even know where we're going?"
I laughed softly.
"You think I'd leave that up to chance? Yes I know where we're going."
I saw his brow arch in my peripheral vision and it made me laugh. He was so cute when he got confused. Unfortunately that happened more often than I would like and once again he was left bewildered by very simple foresight.
"If I hadn't planned for this would you have just had me drive around randomly until we found a place?"
Eddie shrugged and held his hands up in surrender.
"I mean I know not to tell you what to do but if it came down to it perhaps I'd make a suggestion or two."
I rolled my eyes and shook my head at him, amazed at how empty his brain could be sometimes.
"Well that's comforting. Thank god I have a brain that functions well otherwise we'd be a hopeless duo. To answer your question more specifically, we're headed to San Francisco."
He looked out the window and settled into his seat letting out a whistle of approval.
"Damn. California? Where'd that one come from?"
"I mean it's known for being a hippie town. Pretty colorful place too...in a few ways if you know what I mean."
He had rolled the window down and stuck his hand out to feel the wind resistance against his fingers and I could hear the wind whipping against his rings as he turned to gaze at me sweetly.
"You mean they like weed and punk dudes like me? Sounds fucking awesome."
I smiled at him and nodded, turning my eyes back to the road. We drove a few peaceful miles before I spotted lights flashing up ahead and realized we had neared our final obstacle: a Hawkins exit checkpoint.
Slapping Eddie's arm to get his attention, I pointed at the lights.