The Break (An Eddie Munson Story)

Chapter 27: Sneaking Out Of The House (+7K Views)

A/N: I just want to say thank you so much for the 7K views. I'm so overwhelmed by the continued votes, comments and support. Thank you for sticking with this story so far. Never did I think I'd write past Chapter 1, let alone write 27 instalments. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this book and for Eddie and Y/N's story.

The content warning for this chapter is mentions of abusive parents and boyfriends, a bad relationship with food and domestic violence. Please proceed with caution, if these topics are potential triggers for you.

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He was reluctant to leave your side, feeling it inappropriate to simply return to school for his final period, after you had just cried your heart out during the car journey home but you insisted that you were fine. Though Eddie could have argued that there was nothing 'fine' was about your reddened nose and tear-stained cheeks. Despite his best efforts to convince you that one cut class would not hurt his attendance, you stubbornly disagreed and had him back in the truck and on his way, before he could so much as utter another reason why he should stay.

Of course you did not want the brunet to leave, you were emotionally hurting and in dire need of comfort but his grade for Art class was already scraping a D grade. Eddie could not afford to let it drop more. So, you sent him off with a watery smile and in return, were promised a multitude of cuddles upon his return.

Alone in the trailer, you were at a loss of what to do with yourself. The groceries had already been packed away and you felt uncomfortable looking through Eddie's things for something to preoccupy your mind. You stole a glance at the few black garbage bags, that sat discarded in the corner, that were filled with your cast aside possessions, courtesy of your ever-caring parents. You knew they could not remain unattended to for much longer but you were in no mental state to sort through them that afternoon.

Little did you know that across town, on the societally-agreed "right side of the tracks", sat at her vanity, Chrissy remained trapped in her pastel prison for another day. The reflection that glared back almost mockingly at her in the mirror, was a caricature of her usual bright self. The ugly bruise that darkened the skin around her eye, a smudge on her otherwise perfectly pleasant features, served as a painful reminder of just how far from perfect her life truly was.

When she took notice of Jason's punishment for talking to Eddie, she wondered if you too shared a similar mark upon your face, as she recalled your brutal fight with Andy. If you stood side by side, would you both look as if you had fought in the same battle? Chrissy wished she was as brave as you, who had taken a stand against your bully, whereas she...

...continued to date hers.

You two were more alike than you probably realised, she mused, knowing that no one would ever believe that the head cheerleader had more in common with an outcast, than the rest of her squad but it was true. From difficult parents, to wanting to leave Hawkins as quickly as possible- you two were two sides of the same children with toxic parents coin.

Speaking of parents, hers were downstairs. Oblivious to the daughter's suffering or if at all aware, choosing to blatantly ignore it. Chrissy never knew which it was, she did not want to know. Some questions were best left unanswered. Her Mom would be in the kitchen no doubt, fixing a calorific dinner, which Chrissy would not be welcome to partake in- it would be salad again for her. Actually, salad was too generous of a title for something so inedible and devoid of flavour.

When she and the basketball team would go and hang out at the diner, all Chrissy would fantasise about was ordering a burger with cheese fries. Maybe even a shake! But no, Jason would order her something akin to what rabbits ate because it's what her Mom would approve of her eating and goodness knew how well Jason and her Mom got along. They were like two peas in a pod. Both as nasty and manipulative as each other.