Wake Up / Eddie Munson

4

„April? What are you doing?" Dustins voice appeared right in front of me and because I had my eyes closed, I obviously couldn't see him.

„AHHH!" I let out a piercing scream. „Fucking hell Dustin! You scared me!" My hand was pressed to my chest. „Sorry! Didn't mean to. But seriously, what are you doing?" „Uhm me? Nothing just, you know, coming home and leaning my back against the door." All the blood rushed to my cheeks. „Mhm. How did you get here in the first place? You certainly didn't walk and honestly I thought you might've killed Eddie, after you asked me if he was still in school." „He, yeah I almost did. But no one got hurt and he drove me home. Now I'm tired and I want to go to bed. Goodnight." I rushed out the words and speed walked past Dustin to my room. He was right on my heels though. „Wait a minute? Eddie drove you home?"

„Goodnight Dustin!" I completely ignored his question and went into my room closing the door right in his face. Only to open it again a second later. „Love you." I just couldn't let him stay out in the hallway without the usual love you and slam the door in his face. That is not how I am but I really didn't want to discuss my make out session with Eddie with my 15 year old brother. Absolutely not. What I said to Eddie in the car was true he was an amazing kisser. My lips were still tingling.

That night I lied awake for a long time thinking about the kissing and my friends but also about what Billy would have said, if he could talk to me right now. He would probably be happy for me, though I do think he would question my choice which made me smile. When I finally fell asleep, I had the best sleep ever, which made waking up in the morning way harder than normal. Today I was going separately and I obviously would take Dustin with me. I just knew the questioning during the car ride would be the most embarrassing thing I ever had to do.

And just like I saw it coming, Dustin started firing questions left and right about why I was acting so shady last night. „What happened?! Tell meee!" „No! Dustin for the last time, I will not tell you what happened okay? This is between me and Eddie only so no going up to him and asking about it. Do you understand me?" His facial expressions turned defeated. „Alright, I won't." „Thank you. Now let's get going were here. I'll see you at lunch." „Yeah see you." He ran off to his first period and I slowly made my way to mine too.

I had it with Robin and Eddie which made me a little bit nervous. When I walked in the room almost no one was there besides some science kids and Eddie who was seated right behind me. I scrambled all of my courage together and walked inside. I said good morning once I was in front of my table, but he didn't even look up at me. Pretty weird but I shook it off and sat down waiting for Robin to come.

She came in about three minutes later and immediately started rambling about how she and Vicky talked after the game. It made me giggle because she looked so sweet while telling me about her. That talk continued over the whole morning up until lunch where Nancy and I just laughed about it, having heard the story about a hundred times now. They didn't know about what happened last night but actually no one besides Eddie and me did.

Which brings me back to the way he behaved today. It was really strange. I smiled at him a few times over the whole day and said good morning but all he did was ignore me shamelessly. I didn't want to make a fuss about it but I still thought it was weird.

The rest of the week passed and Eddie was still ignoring me and now it actually made me angry. No it made me furious and all I wanted to know is, why he didn't seem to be able to say just a single word to me. Even looking at me would've been enough but no, not even that. He acted like I wasn't existent. And all my stupid self could think about was this damn kiss. With the weekend rolling in I got more and more aggravated and Steve, Nancy and Robin all noticed how pissed off I was. They asked me about it a few times but first of all, I was too angry to talk about it and second of all I felt ashamed. Not because I kissed Eddie but because he was ghosting me now.

The entire weekend my mood was the worst and everyone tried to lighten it up. Without a chance. Sunday evening I told myself I would forget about all of it and go on with my life like before. Hating Eddie Munson, now maybe even more than before and completely denying his existence too. It worked out for two days. Living like nothing ever happened. On Wednesday Steve was again in duty of driving us to school and everything seemed just fine. Spring break was a week away and I had plenty of time to hang out with all of the three.

Okay Nancy was maybe a little bit annoyed about Jonathan, her boyfriend, telling her almost last minute he won't fly to Hawkins from California, like he originally promised to do. She misses him which I totally get. They've seen each other once after they moved there for Will's and Eleven's sake. Though Joyce probably needed to get out of this town the most.

„So spring break? I say we go to the bonfire next Friday." Steve chirped into Nancy's rant about how mad she is about Jonathan not coming to visit her. „Yes, this will be a good way to forget about all of the problems going on here." Robin rolled her eyes at us. „Fine with me I guess." Nancy agreed too. „So, April. What do you say? In the mood to get drunk next week? After you still haven't told us what got your mood in a twist last week." Steve raised his eyebrows at me through the rearview mirror. „I'll come but I'm still not going to tell you why I wasn't in the best mood." „Oh come on! No fair. Why won't you tell us." Robin clinked herself in. „Because, I don't want to." They rolled their eyes again but decided to let it go anyway.

During lunch again not once making eye contact with Eddie for the whole day, I decided to go outside and eat alone. The girls knew I sometimes wanted to be alone and were fine with it. Either I joined them or I didn't. Today was one of those days. Slowly I made my way to the bench in the woods, no one out there when I arrived. My headphones over my ears, eyes closed and lightly humming along to the music I lied down on my back. The sun was peaking through the leaves, shining directly onto my face and warming me up. It felt nice and calming.

I really enjoyed my time there alone with my thoughts, until someone stepped into my sunlight. I squinted one of my eyes open and wished I would have just let them closed. With his arms crossed in front of his chest, looking at me with no readable expression on his face stood no other than Eddie Munson. „Absolutely not." I got up as quickly as possible and started walking away. „April. April! Please wait!" I heard him through the music but kept on walking. „Please, I just want to talk!" Eddie's hand closed around my arm, stopping me from walking.

I threw my headphones around my neck and turned around. „Do.not.touch me." I snapped through gritted teeth. If looks could kill, Eddie would be dead by now. He let go of me and put his hands up in surrender. „Sorry. I just want to talk to you." „Cool. I just don't want to hear it." I started walking again. „Listen, I know you don't want to hear it but let me explain. I behaved like an asshole last week and I'm-" „No, Eddie. There is nothing to explain. You were the first person I got closer with after Billy was murdered right in front of me. I told you that. But you decided I wasn't good enough to talk to after we kissed. Excuse me for not wanting to even look at your face." „April-" He had sorrow in his eyes. „I don't want to hear it. For a second I thought you weren't even so bad. Turns out you're worse."

He flinched at my words and I almost felt sorry for him. „I deserved that." He said quietly. „Yes you did. Can't believe I started to like you. Thank god I woke up from this nightmare." This time I turned around for good. All that mattered was fleeing this situation before I actually gave in and listened to what he wanted to say. He didn't walk after me but he did yell something that made it harder to be upset. „I didn't talk to you because I thought you were too good for me! Like why would someone like you, would like to be with someone like me!"

I was too proud to give in. So I just kept on walking. The only good option for me now, was to skip the last few lessons and hang out at Steve's job with him. Weirdly enough it's a habit by now. I just had to talk to someone. I knew I wouldn't tell the whole truth anyway but it's best if no one knows what went down or rather with whom it went down.

Though needless to say, I was dreading the conversation already.