The Devil's Gift/The Bloody Handed

8

Steve and I looked at each other. Eddie Munson? At a party? Enjoying himself? That was odd. But it was probably because his buddies were here. Which would make this even worse. I look back to Eddie as he jumps off the table, downing a whole bottle of beer in a single sitting as it spilled out of the side of his mouth and down his shirt. Then another. Then another. I shake my head. A girl in a cheer outfit goes up and starts talking to him, twirling her hair. I wasn't worried.

"Should I stop him?" I look to Steve.

Steve puckers his lips and make a clicking sound with his tongue. "Nope. I think we should just.. see how this plays out."

I laugh as I watch him get into people's faces with his famous devil horns. I knew I had felt a lot for him, but I wasn't sure if I could be his girlfriend again until he asks me. Even though I forgave him, I couldn't forget. Sure I understood where he was coming from, but it wasn't an excuse to read all of my letters and decide not to at-least try and talk to me once. What was he doing in the duration of that whole year anyways?

I look to the kids, all of them gathered in a circle around Eddie and cheering him on. Robin was in a corner with Vicky, laughing and talking away. They were definitely a perfect match.

"I'm going to walk over to Robin and Vicky." I point to them with my cup and Steve nods, following me.

"Hey guys!" Robin and Vicky immediately break their closing contact and look at me like deer in headlights. "I don't believe we've spoken before, but I'm Clary Gregerson. It's nice to have a face to a name." I smile as I hold out my hand, Vicky extending it and shaking it. She was dressed as a cat, and had a black colored nose with lines for whiskers.

"Nice to meet you! I've heard a lot about all of you." Her smile made her cheeks stand out and her short orange was up in small pigtails. Her and Robin were the best polar opposites I have seen.

"Hey, so.. what is Munson doing exactly?" Robin looks over to Eddie who is spinning in circles with Dustin.

"Oh, God.. I wish I could tell you." I put a hand to my face.

"Are you guys...?" Vicky leads on to ask if we were dating.

"Well- we did. Then we didn't. Then right now? I'm not sure." I purse my lips. You know, even though we made out and all.. "Anyways!" I clap my hands trying to escape the topic. "Crazy that we are.. back in highschool yeah? I mean we were supposed to graduate a year ago."

"Yeah, they can't seem to cut us any slack lately. Kinda sucks." Vicky frowns.

Steve nudges me. "I think we need to control him. He's trying to do body shots on this chick right now."

"Oh, no!" Robin says with her hands up. "Come on. Sorry Vicky!" She leans over and kisses her swiftly, while all of us run over to Eddie.

"What the hell are you doing?!" I yell. Eddie looks up at me, his hand on a shot and a girl who's dressed as a cheerleader in front of him. I could feel myself start to rage internally but I thought we both confirmed our feelings for each other, regardless of dating status. His eyes widen as he looks at his hand then the girl, then to me, then his hand. I hear Robin make an oooing sound besides me. "Outside. Now." He immediately jumps up, tossing the shot on the ground and it spilling on the girls lap. She starts to complain about her skirt, yelling. I walk up to her, grabbing a drink from a random guy. "Stay the hell away from him before I rip those pigtails out of your hair and cram them down your throat." The girls eyes widen and she immediately leans back away from me.

"Okay, Clary.. let's go. Steve went outside after Eddie." Robin's hand laid on my shoulder, pulling me away. I give the girl one last death flare and turn around, storming out of the house. Everyone's eyes were on me, and I didn't care. When I'm pissed, I'm pissed.

We go out back, the porch lights illuminating the grass. People were sitting and talking, drinking their alcohol and slurring their words.

"Clary-" Eddie tries to start talking but I hold a finger up.

"Do not speak." He looks down bites his lip. I step forward, almost in his face. "You screwed up once. I forgave you. Then you screw up again. Except this time you're flirting it up with some snob ass cheerleader. I think I know your type, Eddie Munson. And it apparently isn't me." I jam a finger into his chest and his eyes panic.

"I'm sorry- I didn't mean for it to look like that, I promise—"

"I'm not going to hear you out right now, Munson." And I wasn't. "Do I look like some sort of- sort of tumble queen? Last time I checked I was no Chrissy Cunningham. Bless that poor girl's heart but don't lead me on and drop me as soon as you aren't around me. If I'm just a convenient relationship to you, then tell me now so I know I wasted my tears and time."

"You didn't." He sighs and looks up. "Look, I'm buzzed- I'm high. I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to look like that. I know you're not a cheerleader. It's what I love about you."

"Don't use that word with me." I turn and see that Robin and Steve disappeared. "Not until you can use it correctly."

"Right.." he says slowly.

"You've been gone for a year and as soon as we get a second to talk our frustrations out, you never once asked me to be yours again. I've been looking- hoping you would ask me. And at this point it's pointless. If I'm a good time just tell me."

"No, no!" He stands up and holds my face in his hands. I focus on the ground trying not to cry. "I want you. I've said this so much but I haven't expressed it and I apologize."

I blink and feel a tear fall, nodding. "Yeah. Yeah. I just.. get insecure. Seeing all of these pretty girls that look nothing like me."

"You're not pretty Clary. You're beautiful." He gives me a soft smile and kisses my forehead. "So.. will you be mine again?" His forehead presses against mine and I hold his wrists.

I nod, smiling through the tears. "Yeah. Yeah, I will."