Wake Up / Eddie Munson

1

It is 1986 in Hawkins, Indiana and I am only a few months away from graduating Highschool. Don't get me wrong I'm going to miss seeing all of my friends everyday when I'm in college, but getting out of senior class and never having to see my brothers friend Eddie Munson anymore, seems like heaven to me. Honestly I cannot understand what Dustin sees in him. He is an annoying asshole whose life depends on making fun of me for being friends with my friends. If it were the basketball players I would totally get it, but what is his problem with Nancy Wheeler, Robin Buckley and Steve Harrington. Yeah sure they're kind of popular but they never did anything to him, so why won't he just leave me alone.

„April, honey. You and your brother have to leave for school or you're going to be late." my mom screams from the kitchen and seconds later I hear feet shuffling down the hallway and Dustin knocking on my bedroom door. „You can come in, Dustin." I mumble while putting my earrings in. „Hi, um I'm riding my bike to school with Mike and Lucas, soo you don't have to take me with you." I look at him through my mirror and smile. His curls are trapped under one of his hats and he's wearing his 'Hellfire Club' shirt again. „That's fine, cause Steve is driving us to school. And I guess you have a game today?" I say pointing to the shirt. Dustins face lights up and he hops up and down excitedly. „Yeah it is going to be epic! Eddie planned the story for this session for weeks!" „Yeah Eddie... anyway have fun and just use your radio if I have to pick you up or something. I carry mine everywhere." I laugh and point to my backpack. Having the radio with me, became a habit after all the monsters and the Upside-Down stuff that happened in the past years. You just never know.

„Will do!" Dustin turns around and practically launches out of the house. I wander over to my bed and pick up my bag, stuffing my Walkman and school papers inside so I'm ready to leave. Just as I tied both of my shoes the doorbell rings and I jog to open it. And like expected Steve is waiting outside grinning his usual dorky smile. „Henderson! Ready for a special transport to Hawkins High?" „Actually no, Harrington but do I have a choice?" He just laughs and I walk with him to his car. Robin and Nancy are already inside and start waving once they see me. I hop inside next to Nancy on the backseats as Robin always, and I mean always sits in the front. „Morning guys, how's it going?" „Heey, just fine. We were just discussing if we attend the basketball game tonight. Since Robin's playing in band." Nancy looks at me questioning. „Oh come on guys you have to come. Vicky is going to be standing right next to me and I can't do this without emotional support. Pleaase." „I think I can come. Dustin is in school anyway just like Mike so I don't think I will have to pick him up or something. Though please keep Jason away in at a minimum of a 10 feet range or I'll throw hands in front of the whole school."

Another thing I have to mention is our team captain Jason and I have some differences, because I won't accept him bullying my brother and just being awful in general. „He will be occupied playing basketball April so that won't be a problem." Steve laughs and turns on the car. „So I'll say it's settled. We're going to the game." Nancy states and we all fall into normal chit chat about classes. Once we arrive at the parking lot, Steve kicks us out of his car „Come on guys out of the car, the ride ends here." „It's fine Steve, geez we're leaving." I laugh rolling my eyes at him. As I'm about to leave with the girls, Steve calls after us „Oh and April! Don't let Eddie get on your nerves today!" I flip him off and continue walking. It's a little hard to not get pissed off, when Eddie Munson literally enjoys doing everything to destroy my patience. „You'll be fine April. Just ignore that idiot." Robin puts her hand on my shoulder. „Yeah, easier said than done."

Lunch break arrived sooner than expected and I wasn't really happy about Nancy's choice of eating in the cafeteria. All she said to me whining about it was, 'I should relax' and 'everything will be fine'. So my only option was to tag along or eat alone and honestly I wasn't up for it. Not under the circumstance that I have a meeting with Ms. Kelley our counselor later. Emotional preparation was definitely necessary for those.

„Why can't we not just eat outside guys. You know how much I hate the cafeteria." Nancy just looked at me „April, you also know it will never get better if you don't even step a foot in this room." Robin and Nancy both had one of my hands grasped and pulled me along with them to our usual table from last year. I haven't sat at it after what had happened with the mind flayer in Star Court Mall, it just brought back bad memories. They sat down as we got there, but I stood in front of my seat frozen to the ground. „April? You okay?" Robin looked at me concerned. „Listen I know this is hard for you but you can't run away from this for the rest of your life." „And you didn't see him get killed right before your eyes..." I mumbled but actually sat down with them. After sitting and listening to the conversation about todays game for about ten minutes, I just couldn't keep the flashbacks from hitting. „I'll be back in a minute okay? I just need some air right now." I grabbed my Walkman and turned for the door. „April wait! We can leave if you want." Nancy said to me. „No, it's- it's okay I'll be back in a few."

On my way outside I had to pass the table my brother sits at aka also the table where Eddie sits and like he always does, when I cross his vision, he leaps up on the table and runs to block my way. Right now it made my blood boil. „Ah the little Henderson princess. Where are we going in such a hurry?" He had a mocking grin plastered on his lips and I was tempted to wipe it off him. „Listen Munson, right now is not a good time. So just go away and annoy someone else. Heard Jason is a good candidate." I tried pushing past him but he kept on being in my way. „Eddie I swear to god get out of my way." My eyes spit fire at him. „Alright, as you please darling." He turns to the side to let me through only to run up behind me again, bombarding me with stupid comments. „Where is fancy hair Steve Harrington? Meeting him outside?" He laughed in my face. I just stopped and turned his way. „Cut the crap Munson. I'm not in the mood. Do it any other time but NOT right now, do you understand?" my voice dripped of anger. „Jesus, someone is grumpy today. Have fun where ever you are going, princess."

I didn't care about what else he said, I just put on my headphones Queen blasting on max volume and got out of there as fast as I could. The girls restroom was the best option in the moment. I would be alone and able to clear my head. The ice cold water on my face did wonders and I sat down on the floor leaning against the wall. Sitting up against the wall in the school toilet became my thing after what I call the worst day of my life or waking up at night shaking after another nightmare. Mom forced me to go and see Ms Kelley after she found out about the nightmares and I hate going there even more than Eddie Munson's shit behavior. She always pressures me to talk about what happened to make it easier for me to 'let go'. As if I could ever let go of seeing someone get murdered by a monster. Especially someone I was very close with.

About five minutes later I felt ready to go back and as I got outside into the hallway, I almost crashed into Dustin. „April! Are you okay? Was it one of those times?" he looked at me with big worrying eyes. „Just flashbacks Dustin, I'm fine. Don't worry." I force a smile at my brother. „Are you sure? I can call Steve and get Robin and Nancy? Or I call mom and tell her to let you take the rest of the day off!" „Dustin. Dustin!" I had to break him out of his rambling, „I'm okay, really." He opened his arms and I willingly stepped into my brothers hug. „I love you, you little genius." „Love you too. Can we go back to the cafeteria now?" „Yeah sure. Lead the way."

Back at the table I'm instantly hit with apologies and are-you-okays. And honestly I don't even know how to feel. „Guys can you calm down for a second? I came back so it can't be that bad." „Yes but I forced this on you and you should have done this in your own time. I know you miss Bil-" Nancy started apologizing and as I winced before she finished saying his name she stopped. „Please don't say his name." „Sorry, it slipped." „It's alright. Just can't bear to hear it outside of Ms Kelley's sessions. That is torture enough." I laugh. „Another session today?" Robin asks. „Sadly yeah. Really love talking to her about my dead boyfriend." Nancy and Robin looked at me as if they saw a ghost. „What?" „You just talked about it without falling into one of your episodes." Nancy smiles brightly at me. Shocked I realize I actually did and a smile breaks out on my face. „Did I actually make progress just now?"

„Progress in what? Hair styling?"