Angie takes her time riding to the library.
Usually, she rushes the journey to get back home before her uncle does, but today she lingers, savoring thoughts of her newest friendship with Jonathan Byers.
Sounds funny, sure—but it's her first real friendship since middle school.
To her, it feels as monumental as winning a new car.
Pulling up to the doors, a curly-haired boy catches her attention.
He hops off his bike so fast it crashes roughly against the pavement, yet he barely flinches.
Whatever he's in a hurry for, it must be important—enough to outrun reason.
Angie decides immediately that his errand is far more interesting than the stack of new mystery books she came to check out.
She casually observes him from a few aisles away.
The boy darts through the wildlife section, pulling book after book off the shelves until he hits his limit.
"Mr. Henderson," the librarian calls, voice sharp, "you know the rules. Five at a time."
He points to each book and counts aloud. "One, two, three, four, five—"
"Ten. You already have five checked out."
"My mistake," he says, trying to charm her, "but I am on a curiosity voyage, and I need my paddles to travel. These books... these books are my paddles."
"Five at a time," she repeats, unmoved by his theatrics.
"Are you shitting me?" he mutters under his breath.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh shit, he's in trouble," Angie mutters, walking over.
"What the hell is—go!" she shoves both librarian and boy toward the door.
"Mr. Henderson!"
"I need my paddles!"
"He needs his paddles!"
They burst out the front doors, skidding slightly on the concrete.
"Why did you help me?" he asks, astonished.
"Why do you need paddles of curiosity?" she counters.
"Who are you?"
"Who are you?"
"Alright," he says, holding up a hand, "I'm Dustin Henderson. And you...?"
"Angie Munson. Nice to meet you."
They shake hands, a curious spark in the gesture.
"So, once again, what are the metaphorical paddles for?"
"I've made a discovery."
"A discovery?" she asks, inspecting the stack of wildlife books in his hands. "Discover a new species or something?"
"Y-Yeah, actually. How did you know that?"
"The books in your hand kinda said it all. Sorry for inspecting—you know, not my intention. I just like mysteries."
"Well, this is a pretty big mystery. You eat lunch with middle schoolers, right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I want you to meet me and my friends in the AV Club room during lunch. I'm revealing my mystery to them."
"Okayyy... why exactly am I doing that?"
"You said you like mysteries. Be there."
"O-Okay, bye?" she asks, stepping back uncertainly.
YOU ARE READING
Angelica "Freak Two" Munson
Fanfiction"Hey, Harrington!" she reverses against her heel, flipping him the bird, "The names Freak Two, actually. If you're gonna insult me, you might as well do it right." ---------- Angelica Beatrice Munson, aka "Freak Two" is Eddie Munson's younger sister...
