The Devil's Gift/The Bloody Handed

8: This is Highschool.. Again

"You.. what now?!" Eddie exclaims with his arms raised. "I just resurrected and you're asking me to go with you to a preppy's party." He crosses his arms in the doorway. "I was going to host a D&D campaign!"

"Can it wait..?" I ask raising my tone.

"Wait?! It has waited long enough!"

"Yeah, but.. I just kinda want to experience something new. Everyone else is going. We have one more chance at high school- you don't want to take advantage of that?"

"Not really, no." He huffs.

"We can host a campaign tomorrow. It's Halloween, Eddie! Come on where's your spirit?"

"I don't even have a costume." He says flatly.

I raise my eyebrows. "A.. vampire maybe?" I say with a side smirk.

He shakes his head, his hair flying. "Oh, no. No, no, and no. I am not doing that."

"What if I'm one too?" I raise the question hoping he would give in.

"Do we have to walk around and say bleh bleh bleh?" He puts his hands up in a claw motion.

"No!" I laugh and shake my head. "But you can if you want."

He sighs and shakes his head, his hand sliding over his face slowly. "I can't believe I'm letting you drag me to one of these stupid things. Fine."

"Yes!" I give him a hug and he groans in response.

**

We walk with the kids to Jason's goons house. It wasn't the one who attacked us or me.. or Max, or Erica. But it was one of the other guys on the basketball team. I guess he hosted them every year and somehow I was invited- probably because they felt guilty for what happened to Jason. Unfortunately, I just didn't care. Of course no one should have died but maybe don't be so much of an idiot.

Eddie and I kept it simple with such short notice. We wore all black, with black eye makeup. I had a Smokey eye and red lips with a black dress while Eddie had his hair pulled back in a low curly pony tail, with slight eyeliner under his eyes. I admit, the eyeliner and the hairdo made him look even more metal than he was. He wore a black jean jacket and a black cut off shirt, which wa slightly cropped. He also wore a pair of ripped black jeans along with his chain and handcuffs. We were just preparing for the "woah, you're alive?!" comments. I mean, it was just a rumor. But we still had to go through the trouble of finding his uncle and explaining some sort of bullshit story that was believable.

Steve was dressed as a nerd. Plaid blue shirt with roll ups sleeves, jeans, and square glasses. Robin kept it simple as well and just dressed in her band uniform. Dustin, Mike, and Lucas all wore their Hellfire shirts because we failed to tell them in time. Max had on a retro 80s outfit, which was definitely colorful.

"I can't believe this.." he says.

"Come on, Eddie. Let's just relax." I put a hand on his shoulder and the door opens.

"No way, man." The guy who answers the door was tall with brown hair. "You're dead!"

"Well, not anymore I guess." Eddie says with a wide eyed smile. The guy opens the door, confused as ever.

We all walk in, and the music was muted out with the sound of laughing and chatter. It was an extremely full house, and we would be lucky if we didn't get the cops knocking on the door anytime soon. There were orange, black, and purple balloons floating everywhere and orange and black streamers hanging on walls. It definitely reeked of alcohol. There were lit up plastic pumpkins sitting on the floor and tables. There was alcohol surrounding the table, red solo cups in hand and crushed on the floor. They definitely got their early party on. I look over to the corner and see two people passionately making out. Gross. In public?

"Woah," Mike and Dustin breathe. Steve covers his eyes with his hand with Mike retaliating.

Eddie looks to me, then to the rest of the group.

"I'm going to go find Vickie." Robin says as she skips off.

"Go get 'em tiger," I say.

"Oh my God. Eddie?!" In front of us stood Gareth and the two other guys at the D&D club I attended. They stood their with their arms open. Eddie immediately runs up to them and they reunite, hugging and jumping.

"Looks like I've been rented from for the moment." I laugh as I turn around. The kids were already off talking to people and forming their social circle. "Well- that leaves us." I look to Steve, who's timidly holding a red solo cup.

"Yeah, I guess. We can go over there I guess?" Steve points to the other side of the room. I agree and we walk together, his eyes darting across the doom.

"You looking for anyone in particular?" I ask.

He shakes his head rapidly. "No, no. Just so much to look at, you know?" he looks at me and gives me a half smile, pointing towards another couple making out on a counter. Classy. I wasn't an idiot, though.

"Steve." He looks at me. "We both know you and I have grown close over the last.. almost year. You can talk to me about whatever is on your mind."

He looks down at his cup and messes with the lip of it. "Yeah, yeah. I know, Clary." He smiles at me.

"So?" I advance.

"So.. what?"

"You know... so?"

"So...."

"What is wrong! Stop diverting!" I laugh.

He slightly chuckles. "I'm not, I'm not. I just.. Munson is back. Everything feels so strange. I just get scared that.. since you guys are back together and all I'll be the outcast again-"

I hold up my hand. "Who said that?"

"Well, I assume you guys were back together." Steve shrugs.

"We aren't dating again yet, no. I'm not just going to assume we are still dating. He needs to ask me; especially after what he put me through this last year."

Steve nods. "Yeah.. I get that. Look, Clary- I-"

"Hey you fools!" Dustin comes up to us with a red solo cup in his hand.

I raise my eyebrows. "That better be fruit punch."

His eyes widen and he slowly backs away. "It- it is..." he nervously laughs and I roll my eyes, grab the cup from his hands, the liquid splashing. I bring it to my nose and look back to him, telling him to back away with my eyes. He immediately turns around and retreats. I look back over to Eddie who's catching up with his friends.

"Damn Dustin.." I laugh. "Yeah. I get scared he isn't the same Eddie anymore. But I know he is." I sigh as I look to Steve. "We don't know the complications this will bring yet. And I don't think I wanna know."

"Yeah. We will figure it out. Always do."

"Anyways- you were saying?" I ask as I take a sip. It burned my throat. It was definitely fruit punch and vodka mixed.

"Oh- nothing.." he smiles and I just drop it. At this point, he wasn't going to talk to me.

"Alright, people! Who's ready to party?!" I look over to the familiar screaming voice. Only Eddie Munson would stand on a table and yell such nonsense. Was he already drunk?