Angelica "Freak Two" Munson

Chapter 4

Eddie sits quietly on her bed. "How's your party? Before... you know... you left to take the princess home. I meant to ask you yesterday."

Angie grins. "Yeah, it's pretty great."

"I saw you've got a new friend, Jonathan. What's he like?"

"He's honestly amazing. Uh... he's part of that family that had the missing boy last year—Byers."

"Oh, I remember. They had a funeral and everything, but the boy showed up the next week."

"Yeah, thank goodness... but everyone calls him a freak because of it. So he knows what it's like to be labeled a freak... when you're really this amazing person underneath."

"Yeah... you know, I told you you'd meet some outcast who'd love to be your friend."

"I guess you did, didn't you."

"Yep, but who cares what the dear old brother thinks." He tickles her side teasingly.

"Stop, stop!" she laughs, trying to contain herself. "We're gonna wake Uncle Wayne. We have to be quiet."

"Not until you say it." Eddie grins again.

"Okay, okay, I surrender."

"Thank you. That wasn't so hard."

"Neither are you lately. Guess you're not a ladies' man anymore."

"I'm gonna let that slide because I love you."

"You just don't want me to wake Uncle Wayne 'cause he likes me more."

"And," he continues, smiling widely at his little sister, "I'm really glad you found someone else to talk to..."

"Thanks, bro."

"...because you've really been talking my ear off, and I didn't want to break the news to you."

"I spoke too soon." Angie rolls her eyes and flops onto the bed.

"Goodnight, Ange."

"Goodnight, Eddie."

--

Jonathan pulls up beside her, whispering, "Nancy's gonna meet us in the parking lot to talk about what happened last night because Steve overdramatically explained it. But Steve really seems to care about her, so we're gonna tell Nance he asked us to take her home."

"So Tommy doesn't get a chance," she mumbles, remembering her conversation with Harrington. "Wait... you want us to lie to her so she can get back together with Harrington?"

"Yeah. Pretty much."

"But she obviously doesn't love him back. That's what she told him at the party."

"That doesn't count, okay?" Jonathan defends Nancy immediately, catching her attention. "She was drunk."

"Drunken words are just sober thoughts. She meant what she said. Her sober self was just too scared to say it."

They step out into the sunlight of the parking lot. "From the looks of it, she's into you."

"What? No, she's not." Jonathan shoves her shoulder in denial.

"Harrington thinks so, and I never thought I'd say this—but I agree with him. And from the looks of it, you like her too," Angie says, shoving her hands into her bomber jacket pockets.

"I do not."

She spots the blush on his cheeks. "You called her Nance. There's definitely some history I don't know about."

"Moving on... just don't say anything, alright?"

"My lips are sealed, loverboy."

"So... he asked you guys to take me home?" Nancy leans against Jonathan's car.