not the freak ~ eddie munson

meant for you

two days later

i lay in my bed, numb. still dirty from last nights events, dirt, mud, sweat, demobat blood... eddie's blood. i look down at the make shift sleeping pallet dustin left at the foot of my bed, to see it's empty.

i hear a knock on my door and steve walks in. wearing clean clothes and looking freshly showered "hey.." he says quietly and shuts the door behind him. i sit in bed as he sits on the edge next to me "you haven't left for two days.." he tells me and i look over to him

"i- i need to shower... his blood-" "okay come on" he holds my hand to help me get out of bed. i grab a new bra, underwear, a pair of jeans, and a tshirt. i look down to see it's a black sabbath shirt. my lips part and i take in a sharp breath.

i look over to steve who's watching my every move "how's max?" my voice comes out horse. i remember steve telling me about her "she's fine lucas is with her" he says quickly, worrying about me more. i nod my head and open the door, walking out i see robin sitting in the living room with dustin. they don't notice me.

i lock the bathroom door and run the shower. i strip of my jeans and metallica shirt, along with my bra and underwear. i step in the shower and wash away every bit that was left of the upside down.

i walk out of the bathroom and into the living room. all eyes land on me. robin stands up and hands me a case. a glasses case. "i uh... yesterday while you were.. in bed i stopped by and talked the eye doctor into getting another pair with your prescription" robin tells me and i open the case to see the exact same frames i once lost. my lip quivers, thinking about what eddie told me.

"you really need your glasses back" he laughs and kisses me, i laugh against his lips "yeah i know" i say sarcastically "it's so cute, really, when you're lost in thought you push them up out of habit-" "shut up!" i hit his chest lightly and he laughs."

"thank you" the corners of my lips lift slightly. i look over at dustin who watching me intently, steve who's ready to hold me as if i'll crumble any minute and robin who's still standing in front of me.

i hug my sister and she hugs me back "i'm gonna be okay" i say quietly. steve clears his throat "we wanted to help with the donation at the gym and nancy needs our help-" "yeah let's go" i nod my head and grab my backpack from the floor.

it's dirty just like how my clothes were. steve waits for me as i throw it on my shoulder and walk to steve's car.

nancy's house.

nancy's mom walks out with a box of stuffed animals and nancy follows her. i take the box from karen and put it in the back of steve's car "did someone order a pizza?" karen asks as i turn my head to see a yellow van stop at the curb. i see will, mike, eleven, a long haired boy, and jonathan step out.

jonathan's lips part as he sees me "jonathan?" i walk quickly to him and he pulls me into a hug "it wasn't just an earthquake" i tell him and i pull away "i know i know... we couldn't risk contact but- i'll explain everything later" i nod my head and nudge him towards nancy. i bring eleven into a hug, then will, then mike.

i look to the long haired boy who leans against the van "mollie" i hold my hand out but he pulls me into a hug "argyle, jonathan's said a lot about you" he smiles down at me and i pull away "it's finally nice to meet you, jonathan's talked about you before" i say "it was nice finally meeting- and.. nice hair" "thanks, see you around" he tells me and i walk back over to steve and robin

"i'm gonna head to the hospital with the kids" jonathan tells me and i nod my head. he pulls me into another hug "i know something happened" he whispers and pulls away. i hold back tears and chew on the inside of my cheek "i'll uh- i'll explain later" i nod my head and get in the car with dustin, robin and steve as we head to the gym.

i luckily wasn't very noticed, gladly my name was cleared unlike eddie's still. we get to the donation table, robin lists off whats in the boxes as we set them down. "is there anything we can do to help?" i speak up and the woman takes us up on the offer.

she puts steve with the clothes, robin making sandwiches and me and dustin handing out water for everyone. i pass out a few small cups to some children and men. i look up to see eddie's uncle taking down a vandalized flier with eddie's information on it and putting up a new one at the missing persons board.

i put my tray down and walk over to him slowly, i feel a hand on my arm to see dustin "mr munson?" dustin asks and he turns around but keeps his eyes to the ground "can we talk?" he asks and mr munson grows a bit aggravated "i cant imagine we got anything to talk about. my nephew is innocent. he's still missin, i'll put up as many poster i need till he's found" he grabs his bag and starts to leave

"we were with him... when the earthquake hit" i speak up and mr munson stops in his tracks "and.. where is eddie now?" he asks and my eyes start to water. he looks at me then to dustin who also starts to get emotional.

dustin hands me eddie's necklace "i cant.." he tells me and i nod my head. i walk over to mr munson and hand him eddie's guitar pick necklace "i'm so sorry" i say with my voice quivering "i wish everyone would have gotten to know him.. i mean really know him" dustin says sitting next to mr munson.

dustin looks to me not knowing what to say "they would have loved him, mr munson. loved him. even in the end.. he never stopped being eddie. despite everything. i never even saw him get mad" i laugh through my tears. i sit next to mr munson on his other side "he fought... he died a hero" i finish saying as mr munson weeps quietly while holding his necklace.

dustin gets up and goes back to his job, i get up to do so "so you're mollie buckley?" he asks and i nod my head "eddie mentioned you in his note" he tells me as he takes the paper from his pocket and hands it to me along with eddie's necklace

"i think it was actually meant for you" he laughs with a sad smile. he pulls me into a hug "thank you for being there with him" he whispers and walks out of the gym.