The Freak

The Fantasy Game

"BROOKE!!! GET UP WE'RE GONNA BE LATE!"  The sound of my younger brother's voice startled me awake "shit." I tripped getting out of my bed as fast as I could and half-awake stumbled to find clothes. I managed to grab a pair of black ripped jeans, a metallica tie-dyed tee and nike blazers in my half asleep daze and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror "yikes." I couldn't help but laugh at my appearance...guess I would be doing my makeup in the car.

I sprinted to the front door to see Dustin already in the back of Steve Harrington's car, while Steve leaned against the hood. "You've looked better Brooke." He stated laughingly. "Shut up Harrington." It had been a rough few years. I tended to lay low at Hawkins high...sort of. It wasn't a secret I existed...I just tried to let Dustin not associate with me so people wouldn't link him to me. Poor kid deserved to make a name for himself without his shitty older sister interfering. None the less...everyone knew me. I sort of had a thing with Billy Hargrove before the whole..."Mall fire" thing. 

Steve pulled up to the school and I quickly gathered all my things. I shot him a quick smile and a thank you before running to catch up to Robin. "The last thing I want to do is be at this stupid pep rally." I nodded in agreeance and rubbed Dustin's head before he broke off to walk with Mike Wheeler. "I just want a normal year for once." I said to Robin while walking into the gym. "Good luck with that" she said with a smirk on her face. I looked around the gym while ultimately finding a spot next to Max Mayfield...Billy's little sister. She was friends with Dustin, but had a soft spot for me, for obvious reasons. She gave me a quick smile and asked if I had any tylenol on me, I handed her two while king of the jocks Jason and the rest of the basketball team ran onto the court. 

At that point I zoned out- until Jason said some bullshit about how them winning the game was for Billy and Hopper...he didn't know the half of it. I rubbed Max's back seeing her face drop and waited for the dismissal. Lunch time. My least favorite part of the day. I wouldn't say I didn't have friends. I just...only had Steve and Robin...sometimes Nancy, and then Dustin and his friends. "Shit he looks riled up today" Suddenly Dustin and Mike were next to me, "He's always riled up." Mike replied. "Who?" I joined in. "Eddie." Dustin looked nervous. Mike nudged me to sit with them, my gaze looked immediately to Eddie Munson. Better known as the freak. I knew nothing about the kid, but for some reason he wasn't well liked. 

I sat at the end of the table next to Mike while Eddie read some magazine in a weird accent. "BUT." He shrugged and climbed onto the table. This oughta be fun. he went on... "As long as you're into band..or..science...or...PaRtIeS...or a GAME WHERE YOU TOSS BALLS INTO LAUNDRY BASKETS!" Jason stood up and yelled something in his direction which Eddie raised his hands to make horns and a devil face at him. He jumped off the end of the table scaring some cheerleaders in the process and continued on his rant. I couldn't help but laugh. The kid was funny. 

I felt him gaze in my direction "whos the girl?" He asked the table...clearly he hadn't noticed me sit down..but the rest of the guys had. God they looked like they had never seen a chick before...I was average in my mind for girls in Hawkins. Long blonde hair and green eyes, but I had more of a...edgy personality. Dustin perked up, "Thats my sister, Brooke." Eddie was staring my direction, I could feel it. I looked up and smiled softly. "Come here sweetheart" he said softly. The nickname made my stomach flutter but I quickly pushed away the feeling. I had NEVER met the kid..plus, I wasn't that easy.  "Sweetheart?" I said slyly "Ah" Eddie laughed "She's feisty like you, Henderson" 

"Correction," I stated "Dustin picked that up from me." The other guys laughed at my comment. By this point, Eddie was just...watching me. "Speaking of uhh..balls in laundry baskets" Dustin started slowly. "Lucas has his game so..he wont be able to make it to Hellfire Tonight!" I quietly stood up and gave Dustin a goodluck pat on the back and left the room. Didn't feel the need to wait and hear how that ended up. but damn...Munson made me nervous. Not in a bad way..just nervous. I had never even officially met the kid but he had such an energy to him. 

A few more hours passed and I waited for Steve to pick me up. Dustin and Mike came running up out of breath. "Hey Brooke!" they said in sync. I looked them up and down, "What can I do for ya kiddos?" They looked at each other before asking me to sub for their hell? fire? club. I had never played DND...but I knew what it was from them playing it for years. I started to say no before considering the chance it could give me with Munson. "Eh yeah why not." I said dryly. 

The excited teens raced away excitedly and I got into Steve's front seat. "They seem? giddy?" I gave him a sideways look "I agreed to play their weird game tonight." Steve nodded slowly but didn't say any words. It wasn't a secret Steve was into me. But honestly, it came down to me and Nancy Wheeler. Total opposites. Plus he wasn't my type, but he still got jealous sometimes. "Relax" I said laying my seat back "It's just one time, I won't become a nerd." My mind raced back to Eddie calling me sweetheart at lunch, why did it give me butterflies? "Earth to Brooke?" Steve waved his hand in front of my face. "sorry" I shook my head and got out of the car, "breakfast tomorrow?" steve asked. "9am sharp Harrington!" I closed the door and raced inside to shower and prep myself for tonight. It was a better option then the basketball game anyways.