change of pace

mine

chapter twenty

After sixth, I raced to my locker to start grabbing my things to go. Conversations mentioning my name rang through the hallway and it sent shivers down my spine. I heard loud footsteps coming from behind me. Turning around, I spot the familiar mess of brown wavy hair bouncing as he meets up with me.

"Let me hold this." Eddie says grabbing my backpack as I struggle to unlock the code. He unzips it and holds it open for me. I grab my books and place them in.
"Do you know where he's at?"
"He usually hangs by the planter near the lot entrance..." Eddie says shaking the bag to make the books fit before zipping it up and clinging it over his shoulder.
"Then let's hurry!" I say and he grabs my hand and starts walking fast out of the building.

Dustin sat at the spot Eddie had predicted, finishing up an assignment.

"What ya workin on, dude?" Eddie says plotting a seat next to him. I take the opposite side. Dustin looks at us confused.
"Just...some homework." He says placing it back in his folder.
"Want a ride home?" I ask finishing with a smile.
"Y-Yeah actually, that would be great." Dustin says zipping up his bag. Eddie patted his back giving a kind smile.

My steps kept the same pace as Dustin's very slow steps, something was bothering him bad. Eddie's naturally quick pace made it to the car and he opened up the back for Dustin to climb in. I sat in the back with him and Eddie decided to join. He slammed the doors shut and took a seat.

"Thank you, guys, I really appreciate it." Dustin says sighing, clutching his backpack.
"No problem, man. We're a little worried about you though." Eddie says grabbing an old bag of Dorito's that sat in the back and started munching.
"It's nothing."
"Come on, Henderson." Eddie says offering me the bag.
"Fine...It's just, I don't...I don't want Lucas to..." he struggles finding the words he wants to say.
"You don't want to lose Lucas." I say beginning to understand.
"Yeah..." he says softly looking down. I look at Eddie who's looking at me concerned.
"Jason is horrible, I get it. I've been in school with him since 6th grade. That doesn't mean Lucas is going to turn out like him." I say trying to give some comfort.
"But what if he finds hanging out with those assholes more fun?"
"More fun than hanging out with you, Henderson? Come on..." Eddie says and I smile at him.
"Well, maybe with everything going on with his girlfriend he needs something new." Dustin says.
"Girlfriend?" Eddie asks.
"Yeah, Max. Max Mayfield? You guys know her?"
"Wasn't that Hargrove's sister..." I ask looking at Eddie's face change. Talk of Billy's death flooded this town for awhile, someone so young.
"Yeah...Billy." Dustin says looking down. "But Max and Lucas are having some...issues."
"Then maybe this is a good relief for him. Just try not to focus on Jason. I'm sure Lucas is smart enough not to get caught up in his agenda." I say which Eddie chuckles and I give him a confused look.
"Thank you...for letting me talk about this." Dustin says and Eddie pats his shoulder.
"Anytime, buddy." he smiles.
"Shall we get you home, then?" I say which they nod.

Eddie makes his way to the driver's seat and I offer Dustin the passenger's seat. He quickly buckles his seatbelt and tightens it and I keep my grip tight on Eddie's chair. He drives surprisingly slower than usual, but still blasts his same obnoxiously loud radio with an Iron Maiden tape he shoveled in. We bid our goodbyes to Dustin and I move up to the front seat. Eddie focuses on Dustin to make sure he gets inside safe and I watch his intent look smiling.

"What?" he asks seeing me.
"You care."
"Huh?"
"You care about him."
"N-No, I wouldn't say tha-"
"Eddie..."
"Okay, fine. I may care about that little fuck..." he says looking down embarrassed and I smile big.
"It's cute." I say and he snaps his head toward me. He tries to hide his smile.
"Let's go to my place..." Eddie shifts the car into gear.

We braked fast into the spot and Eddie grabbed my backpack from the back for me. I stepped down onto concrete and watched his quick and uneven pace make it to his door to unlock. I followed close behind him. Eddie sets my backpack in his room and then goes back into the kitchen to meet me. My body leaned up against the sink and he made his way over to me towering above before placing his hands on my waist.

"How was your first day back?" he asks brushing my stray hairs out from my face.
"It was good." I say.
"Liar."
"I'm not lying."
"You are. You were upset earlier, before fourth."
"Eddie, that was nothi-"
"You can talk to me, Jess, you know that." he says with furrowed brows. He was worried. I paused.
"It's just...some girl in my class was talking shit and-"
"What's her name?"
"No."
"I just want to know her name."
"And I'm not going to tell you, Eddie. Anyway, it just continued to happen with each class and passing period...like I couldn't escape it from happening." I finish and Eddie's expression changes to a more upset one.
"I can ditch class to walk with you so the-"
"You aren't going to do that."
"Fucking come on, Jess. I don't want you getting hurt."
"I'll be fine. I just don't want to graduate before you do."
"Low blow." he says with a weak smile.
"This is your year, Eds. Make it count." I whisper reaching up and kissing him. He kissed back and lifts me up over his shoulder as I laugh.

We find ourselves in his room and he throws me onto the bed. His body shifts on top of me and his deep brown eyes meet mine. I push his hair behind his ears, examining every one of his soft features.

"I can't believe you're mine." he says with a quiet voice. I smile at him before kissing him. He slowly takes off his shirt and I follow as we lift the covers over us.