freaks ✾ eddie munson

15

We arrived at the large, open field Steve had suggested and started to prepare our weapons. Eddie had changed into the clothes I bought for him, and we sat with Dustin, making shields out of garbage can lids.

I hammered the nails into the lid of the garbage can and the two boys did the same. I also decided not to use a spear, so I picked up a baseball bat from the shop and added a few nails into it. Steve always had his signature nail bat, but never let me use it. He had a weird connection to it, so I took the opportunity to make my own.

Eddie stood up and started to play around with his "shield."

"How's it feeling?"

"Light. But durable." He continued to play around with it as he spoke. "Deadly. But reliable."

Dustin started to laugh. "What about your bat, Sage?"

"Feels good. I'm glad I have my own, since Steve treats his like a child." I said as I examined the bat.

"Hear me now.." Eddie spoke in a dramatic voice. "There will be no more retreating.. from Eddie the Banished."

"Hey, you're really ready for bat-tle." Dustin joked as he stood up and I smiled.

He laughed at his own joke as Eddie stared at him with a blank face. "You get it? Bat-tle. B-A-T." He stared at Eddie. "No?" He groaned in dissapointment as he put his shield down. "I thought I had a good one."

"Was pretty good, Eddie's just a dumbass." I said.

Eddie put his shield down as he flipped me off, before tackling Dustin.

"What are you doing!?"

Eddie pushed him away, but Dustin tackled him again. "You son of a bitch!"

I smiled at them as I watched them play fight.

"No wedgies! No wedgies!"

"Never change, Dustin Henderson. Promise me?" He spoke through his heavy breathing as he stared at him with a smile on his face. I watched as he pulled a strand of hair out of his mouth.

"I wasn't planning on it."

"Good." He paused. "Gooood." He repeated with a smile.

"Good." Dustin said as they laughed together.

Eddie walked away and stared in the direction of Erica and Lucas, who were in charge of making some spears.

"Hey, Sinclair's! How are those, uh.. spears coming on?" Eddie yelled to the siblings and Lucas held out a thumbs up with a smile on his face.

I watched his smile drop as Erica took Lucas's spear from his hand and started to unwrap it.

"Not too good for Lucas, I guess." I said with a laugh.

Eddie took my hand for me to stand up as he started to point his shield at Dustin and I. I playfully swung my bat at them as we chased each other.

"You guys are such weirdos." I said to them through my laughter.

"But you love us." Eddie said.

"That I do." I smiled at them. "As awful as it is for you, I'm really glad you got dragged into this with us."

"Yeah?" He asked.

"Yeah. You're one of us, now. And I think Steve is actually starting to like you." I stared at Steve and Robin as they filled up glass bottles with gasoline.

"I don't know how, but I'm going to find a way to clear your name." I looked at him and he raised his eyebrows.

"Everyone in this town hates me, Sage. I'm an easy target."