Wake Up / Eddie Munson

3

The thought of me thinking Eddie Munson is actually attractive has been bugging me the whole day. I'm not supposed to find a liking in him even if it's 'only' physical. It could develop from physical to emotional and that's the last thing I want.

After school was over I did not go home like I actually planned before the game, but walked to the movie store to hang out with Steve while he has to work. At this time of the day there wouldn't be many costumers around so I had all the time in the world to annoy him or just talk with him. Unlike Nancy and Robin, who never had anything to do with Billy, Steve knew him. Even if their relationship was a little bit rocky. He understood what I felt for him and how hard it was for me better than anyone else. Maybe Max understands it best, but after that night we haven't talked to each other. She didn't even really talk to Mike, Lucas and Dustin anymore. It was just as hard for her as it was for me, the only difference being that I was the girlfriend and she was his sister.

Once I stepped foot on the store's parking lot, I sprinted up to the entry and slammed the door open. Steve was leaning on the counter and looked like he would fall asleep any second. „Harrington! Time to wake up and entertain me." I must have startled him cause he shot up within a second. „April what are you doing here?" „Making your day better. Duh." He started grinning. „Ah I don't know Henderson. But you'll definitely help in me not being bored." „See! I'm making it better." „Whatever", he laughs , „what got in such a good mood? You weren't as happy in the morning." „Yes that is true, but I snapped at Ms Kelley today AND I actually had a conversation with Eddie Munson that was shockingly decent? Can you believe that?" I threw my hands up in the air. „Wait so the freak didn't annoy you today?" „First of all, Steve, don't call him a freak. It's like you call Dustin one and I never said he didn't annoy me. All I said was that we had a decent conversation after I ran out of Ms Kelley's office." The expression on his face was gold.

„You. April Henderson. Ran out of the counselors office and had a conversation with Eddie Munson. Which wasn't bad? What?" „Yeah actually did. Crazy right?" „You can say that, yes." „Also I sat our table in the cafeteria today." My voice got quiet now and I looked at the floor. „Oh god. Are you okay?" He took my hand in his and squeezed it. „I think so, but I miss him Steve. I want him to be here and look at me with his awfully cocky smile and tease me because he likes it when I blush. Why did it have to be him? What did he do to deserve what happened?" A single tear rolled down my cheek and Steve walked around the counter to engulf me in a hug. „Listen. I know how upset it makes you but he's always with you okay? And he would want you to be happy and move on." He pokes the chain around my neck and I place my hand over it.

„You're right. Now tell me something funny that happened today." I hop up on the counter and grin. „Oh you won't believe what happened..." I loved listening to his absolutely boring stories about what happened at work. It made me calm down and forget the whole situation I had going on.

Steve and I talked for the rest of his shift and all the way back to the school to go and watch the game. And I would never pick a favorite friend but if I had to in a life or death situation I'd pick Steve. He is just the perfect mom of the group. Inside Nancy was already waiting for us on the stands, greeting us happily once we made our way to her. „Where is Robin? Is the band already out yet?" I asked and looked across the gym. „Yes, on the far left is the band and Robin is third row all the way to the right." My view swept over and as I spotted her I couldn't help but laugh. She looked like a seven year old who got lost in the grocery store. Her whole appearance just screamed nervousness. Like she said Vicky was next to her. As she spotted me, I gave her a big grin and a thumbs up, because she definitely needed it.

Robin mastered playing her trumpet perfectly and I was reminded how awfully boring it was to see the school team play. I went all the time when Billy was on the team, but only for him and not because I liked basketball. I was more into different kind of things than sports. Still the game was boring and I was happy when it was over. I said goodbye to the others and went outside to find Dustin. He should be standing at the side entrance of the building where their club room was located. Though as I got there, my brother wasn't there and all the bikes were gone. My anger slightly burned up inside me and I pulled out my radio to ask him where he is.