Me And The Freaks

Thirty eight.

Luna sat on her porch steps as she silently stared at her college letter. She could still hear the commotion inside the house from her mom and dad as they paraded around celebrating. 

She read the words again and again.

Dear Miss Martin, we are a pleased to inform you have been successfully accepted at NYU (New York University). Majoring in English, creative writing. 

She read over it, for what felt like the hundredth time. She couldn't believe it. 

She actually thought she would've got into Portland, but having just finding out her dad fought for her to get pushed through for New York and not Portland made her heart ache a little. She was grateful, yet gutted.

The familiar engine revved up her street and she looked up to see Eddie pull up and swing open his truck door. His grin so wide across his face made her heart ache more. 

"Honey, I'm home!" He joked as he jumped from the truck and closed over the door. He grabbed his keys and did his funny jog up her pathway. 

Luna swallowed the lump in her throat as she tried to smile.

His face dropped.

"Are you okay? What wrong?" He instantly asked as he got closer to her. Luna sighed as she dropped her head down again.

"I got my letter..." She quietly told him.

Eddie sat himself down beside her before wrapping an arm around her. 

"I got accepted..." She told him and watched a grin began to spread across his face. "Into NYU." She finally nodded and sighed. His grin dropped to a smile before he sighed. He took in a deep breath and embraced her into a hug.

"Why the long face? This is awesome! Congratulations." He spoke in her ear before taking her face in his hand.

"I thought...maybe I would've gotten into Portland." She shrugged. "I almost knew for sure, but I guess not - " Her words got caught in her throat as her eyes began to well up.

"Aw sweetheart." Eddie sighed as he wrapped his arms around her again.

They sat holding onto each other for a few minutes before Eddie sat back and smiled at her before taking her hands.

"You. Miss Martin, are going to be great! You're gonna be the best damn writer that place has ever seen! Do you hear me?" He stared at her intensely. 

Luna began to shake her head. "I want to stay here." She told him.

"You - " He cleared his throat as he glanced away. " - You're going to go. You're going to be your amazing self, and...I'll see you off at that airport." He began as Luna gripped onto him, tears finally falling from her eyes. 

"No!" Luna told him.

"Yes! You are going, and that's final!" Eddie told her with wide eyes, that were glazing over. "We're only going to be a couple of hours away. Luna, I'll drive all night to see you if I have too. We'll be fine." He smiled before sniffing a little.

"I don't want to leave you again." Luna told him as she pulled him into a hug. Eddie smiled as he rested his chin on top of her head, as he slowly rubbed up and down her back. 

"Aw well I'm flattered, Martin." He joked. "You won't be, we're not going to let that happen. We have much better mobile services compared to middle school. We have texts, phone calls and face time!" He reassured her.

"Hey look, before you know it'll be thanksgiving. You'll be home for that and Christmas! Then spring break?! After that it's practically summer and you'll be back in this shitty town with me before you know it." He chuckled as he took her face in his hands again.

Luna frowned at him as she sniffed and nodded.

"You'll...you'll come to New York too?" She asked.

"Pfft! Try and stop me!" He chuckled as they laughed together. 

"Okay." Luna simply told him. 

Eddie lowered his head a little to meet her eyes before smiling. "I promise." He frowned to mock Luna a little which made her giggle. They began to laugh as they held onto each other.
"We're going to make the most of the next couple of months." He told her as his smile faltered a little before sighing quietly.