To The End || EDDIE MUNSON x READER||

Lunch and Hellfire

"Dustin, let's go!" I call out as I hurriedly tie my shoelaces. The clock's ticking, and we're cutting it close—why is he always late?

"I'm coming, just hold on!" he shouts from somewhere in the other room. I roll my eyes and grab my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. My keys are next, jangling as I make my way to the door. "Lock it on your way out!" I yell back, then step outside and head for the car.

The sun's shining, and though the air still has a bite to it, the day looks promising. I turn the key in the ignition and start the engine. A light breeze rustles the trees, and I take a moment to breathe it in.

I fiddle with the radio dial, flipping through stations, trying to find something decent to listen to. As soon as Dustin finally scrambles into the car, breathless and with his backpack half-unzipped, we're off.

"You need to stop taking a million years, Dustin," I mutter, glancing over at him.

He shrugs, not even slightly apologetic. "Well, school doesn't start for five minutes."

I snort, trying to keep my frustration in check. "Exactly. That's my point. We're gonna need every second to get there."

"We'll be fine. We always are," he says, a little too smug for my taste.

I sigh, knowing arguing is pointless. We fall into a comfortable silence as we drive, the rhythmic hum of the tires on the pavement filling the space between us.

The school parking lot finally comes into view, and I spot a space near the entrance. As I pull in, Mike—Dustin's new best friend—walks up to the car, a grin already plastered on his face. He and Dustin exchange some half-sarcastic remark before they both dart off toward the building.

I grab my things and head inside, practically power-walking to homeroom. I slide into my seat just as Mrs. White steps through the door.

Perfect timing, Dustin. Perfect timing.

I barely have time to settle in before Robin bursts into the room, out of breath. She slides into the seat beside me and immediately starts pulling out her books.

"Where were you?" I whisper, raising an eyebrow.

"Steve was driving like a maniac today," she huffs. "He had to complain about every little thing. You know how he is." Robin flips her binder open with a dramatic sigh.

I nod sympathetically, pulling out my own binder and the assignment from Monday. I glance at the clock as Mrs. White begins speaking, my mind wandering.

As the morning drags on, the classes blur together—slow, uneventful. I'm practically counting down the minutes until lunch.

Finally, it's time. I grab my bag and head for the cafeteria with Robin in tow, but as we approach the lunch line, a horrible realization hits me.

"Shit," I mutter under my breath.

Robin raises an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"I was so worried about Dustin making us late that I completely forgot my lunch," I groan, feeling like an idiot.

"No way," she says, incredulous. "You're really going to survive the whole day without food?"

"I'll figure it out," I reply with a shrug. "I'm gonna go see if Dustin or Mike have anything."

I leave Robin behind and make my way toward the Hellfire table. The guys are already there, sitting in their usual spots, some deep in conversation, others shuffling through papers or finishing up breakfast snacks.

Earlier this year, Dustin and Mike got involved with this group—Hellfire or something. I don't know much about them, except that they play Dungeons & Dragons every week and seem to think it's the most important thing in the world. I can't say I understand the appeal, but Dustin's been obsessed with it ever since he found out they were into it too.

I walk up behind them, wrap my arms around their shoulders, and grin. "Hey, boys."

"What now, Y/N?" Dustin mutters, clearly already annoyed with me.

I scoot them over to make room for myself. "Well, since you took forever this morning and almost made us late, I forgot my lunch. But I know your mom gives you lunch money, so..." I trail off, waiting for them to catch on.

Dustin just stares at me, blinking in confusion. "Okay?"

"I'll take whatever you don't want," I say simply. "You too, Mike."

Mike sighs, as expected, but starts scanning his tray for anything to offer.

"Who's this?" I hear a voice suddenly ask. It's coming from the front of the table. I glance up, and my eyes lock with someone I recognize from homeroom. I'm not sure his name, but I've seen him around.

He's wearing a "Hellfire" shirt, just like Dustin, Mike, and the rest of the table. His dark brown eyes are studying me with a curious intensity, his eyebrow cocked.

"I'm Y/N," I answer, offering a small, somewhat awkward smile. I turn back to Dustin, trying to ignore the guy's gaze. He hands me a small container of grapes, while Mike begrudgingly pushes his peanut butter and jelly sandwich toward me.

"You don't want this?" I ask Mike, incredulous. I take the sandwich, holding it up. "This is like, the best lunch food ever."

"Y/N, I hate peanut butter," he replies, almost like it's a given.

"Right..." I mumble. How could I forget that one?

The guy in the front speaks again, his voice cutting through the air. "Why are you sitting with us?"

"Because I want food," I say with a shrug, looking up at him. I take a bite of the grapes Dustin gave me and pause. "Anyway, thanks, Dustin. Thanks, Mike. I'll pick you guys up after DnD, yeah?"

"Yeah," they respond in unison, not looking up from their trays.

I ruffle Dustin's hair on my way out, and he glares at me like I've just ruined his life. I smile sweetly at him, walking back to Robin with my makeshift lunch.

"They gave you a sandwich?!" she gasps, eyes wide.

"Yeah, I guess Mike hates peanut butter," I say between bites. "I forgot. But hey, free lunch."

~

Later that day, during the Hellfire group's DnD session, the rumors spread like wildfire.

"Who was that Henderson? Your girlfriend?" Eddie asks, smirking, clearly enjoying the chaos he's causing.

"Jesus, no, no, nonono," Dustin practically panics, his face turning redder than a tomato as Mike bursts into a fit of laughter beside him.

"That's Dustin's sister," Mike finally coughs out, wiping his eyes.

"Your sister?!" Everyone at the table shouts, incredulous.

"How come we didn't know you had a sister?" Gareth adds, his voice filled with both surprise and curiosity.

Dustin shrugs awkwardly, clearly embarrassed. "I didn't think it mattered..."

Eddie leans back in his chair, eyeing Dustin with a grin. "Well, now we know where all the good genes went." He says it low enough that only the group can hear, but it's loud enough to send everyone into fits of laughter.

Everyone except Dustin, that is.