The Break (An Eddie Munson Story)

Chapter 19: Humour Is Not A Distraction (+ 3K Views)

A/N: Well, it's finally here. Happy Stranger Things Volume 2 Day! As a quick reiteration of the previous Author's Note, I will not be including spoilers from Vol 2 in this book. Please be mindful of any references you use in the comments. It's not fair to spoil the anticipation for others! Be kind! Happy viewing and see you on the other side!

P.S. we made it to 3K views! That's incredible! Thank you, so, so much for the comments and the votes. They mean a lot to me, truly.

*****

"This feels familiar." you murmured with a wince, as Nancy dabbed at your bloodied features with a damp face cloth. She offered a swift reply but otherwise, continued on with her task in relative silence. "I can still remember the first time you patched me up."

In the cramp space available, you were once again sat on the closed toilet lid but this time accompanied by your friend and not Eddie, who had deposited you both at the trailer, while he went to hopefully collect your discarded belongings. That was if the garbage collectors had not gotten to it first, you thought sourly. He had offered for you to go with him and you would have accepted the invitation, if Nancy had not responded on your behalf.

You carefully watched her expression, as you saw the ghost of a grimace pass across her profile, in recollection of the makeshift stitches she had administered to your arm, using only the needle and thread available in her Mother's sewing kit. "I was hoping that would be the last time I'd have to clean up your blood."

"Well, you know, they do say two time's a charm." you tried to lighten the mood with humour but Nancy failed to even summon a smile.

"The saying is three times a charm but I swear, if I have to wipe blood off of your face ever again, it'll be a lifetime too soon." she grumbled, taking extra precaution to dab the skin around your swollen eye.

With a nudge to her side, you tease, "Ah, but I kinda like you playing Nurse Nancy."

All she could do was sigh, knowing that you had been well in your right to hit Andy, especially after his comments but, like Principal Coleman, she could not condone your behaviour. You could have risked your future and all for what? Five minutes of spending your aggression? Nancy could not agree with Eddie more, you needed to graduate but you had come so close to losing your future for a second year in a row. "You know what you did was really reckless."

The grin that graced your lips faded, as your mood turned sombre, as you realised that Nancy was not going to move on from discussing your rash behaviour. "I know."

"You're lucky Andy didn't send you to the hospital, it wouldn't be the first time he's broken someone's bones because they decided to fight back. The guy's a thug."

She really was not going to let this go, you thought wearily, as if the day had not being draining enough, you now had to survive a Mom lecture from Nancy. Although, if you had decent parents, a real Mother probably would have scolded you, while cleaning your wounds. So maybe you should have been grateful to have someone that cared about you, as much as Nsncy did. "I know." you replied weakly.

"Or even worse, you're lucky Principal Colemen didn't expell you."

Okay, now you definitely could not help but let out a small chuckle. How very Nancy Wheeler to care about grades more than inflicted injuries. "I'm not sure that's worse than broken bones but I get your point."

"It's not just about staying in school, Y/N. That's the problem right now. You can't afford to retake another year. Toxic places like Hawkins High make you forget that there's a life full of opportunities after school." she implored you to listen to her words and understand that you were destined for a life beyond highschool and petty people like Andy. Nancy could tell that Eddie saw the potential within you but you seemed so blind to your positive assets. It hurt to watch you wander aimlessly down a repeating path of destruction.

"World's my oyster, right? That's what you're going to say next, aren't you?"

"So, what if I did? I wouldn't be wrong." she snapped at you, momentarily losing control of her usually cool and calm facade. Not liking her own tone, she huffed but quietened down. Regaining her compisure, as she set aside the cloth, in favour of antiseptic ointment. "And what did you mean when you said you wouldn't be able to make it to Minnesota? What's waiting for you there?"

The day was really testing you, was it not? After everything you had been through, now you were potentially going to upset your friendship with Nancy, at the probability of starting a fresh in a new state. It was different for her, she had always been fated to leave for a fancy college and make a name for herself but you...you were supposed to remain in Hawkins, build a life and family for yourself, just as your parents had and never leave. You were definitely not supposed to get mixed up with the likes of Eddie Munson. "A new life."

"With Eddie?"

You nodded, watching for her reaction. "Here's hoping."

Nancy ceased her ministrations, dropping the tube of ointment onto the counter. The small thud was deafening compared to the suffocating silence that was building up around you, as each minute passed. "You're leaving Hawkins?"

You could not help yourself, you hated the tension, hated waiting for her to shout at you, just as your parents would. "I need to successfully graduate first, otherwise I'm not even leaving twelfth grade." you had often used humour to diffuse an unpleasant situation. Sometimes it would work and sometimes, most likely your Father would-

"I'm glad you're planning to leave."

You could have wept at her words. "Can't wait to get rid of me, huh?" you chuckled, masking what could have eaily been a sob. You blinked a few times to fight back the threatening tears.

Your fluttering eyelashes did not go unnoticed but Nancy did not comment on your emotional response but instead, calmly collected a tissue from the packet in her purse, which to accepted with a non-verbal thanks. "I think you deserve a fresh start, away from...well, not just your parents but everything."

"You deserve that too, you know. After everything we've survived, we're owed some normality."

"Have you told him about any of it?"

"The Upside Down?" you questioned.

She nodded in silent confirmation.

Your reply faltered on your lips, as you stumbled through a massive list of internal reasons, why you thought that it was a bad idea. "I..."

"You could, you know." her smile was sad but she was right, you could tell Eddie. You could make him aware of the horrors that surrounded Hawkins but, "It's just...I don't want to tarnish the one link I have to normality. He's so far removed from all of that crazy shit and if I told him about the Upside Down- assuming he'd even believe me- then he'd know that out there, right now, there's a dimension of pain just waiting to break through and hurt us. I couldn't live with myself if I traumatised him too, you know?"

"I do know." there it was again, that sad smile. The one she shared with you on more times than you had fingers. You were starting to forget a time when there had been no grief behind her eyes, when her laughs had not been tinged with unspoken emotions and you hated that for your friend. You hoped that after graduation, she too would find real happiness with Jonathan outside of Hawkins and away from the Upside Down. "But maybe don't say never. Think it over and who knows, maybe he's tougher than he looks."

The sound of the front door opening and closing cut through your conversation, ending your discussion about things you believed were best left unsaid in front of Eddie. "Speak of the devil." she laughed, starting to clear up the used cloths and bowl of water.

"Hey, I'm back!" Eddie called, the sound muffled through the closed door.

"We're in here!" you shouted back in reply.

"Right," she cleared her throat and wiping a rogue tear from her eye. "Enough moping. You've got a test to pass and a graduation to get to."

"Only you, Nancy, would have me study after I've been beaten." you laughed heartily, taking her offered hand, as she helped you up.

"You've faced demogorgons and a mindflayer, I think you can handle a few practice questions and an activity book." she teased back, a rare twinkle in her blue eyes.

"Touché, Wheeler. Touché." you grinned, following her lead, as she exited the bathroom.