This Year is My Year

Serial Killers Don't Listen to Kenny Loggins

I think taking Dustin Henderson under my wing was one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made.

"Eddie, please? Eddie. What if it's a serial killer? Eddie, what if it's a serial killer that eats kids? Kids who don't have collar bones!"

We were sitting my van, outside of his house. Dustin was panicking because the lights were on in his house and there was the faint sound of Kenny Loggins coming from the inside. His mom was out of town, visiting her sister, so no one was supposed to be there. I glared straight ahead.

"Henderson. I doubt that serial killers listen to 'Footloose'."

"Eddie, how do you know that? What if it is a trap!"

All I wanted to do was go home, get stoned, and play my guitar. Dustin had tricked me into giving him a ride home after ruining one of the biggest plot twists I had been working on setting up for the Hellfire Club's next campaign. He took righteous glee in killing an NPC that was supposed to become one of the greatest villains of the campaign, just because he thought it would be funny. I was fuming as the rest of the players giggled and egged him on. Then, when I was packing up, he told me he "left his bike at home". Insisted that I was the only one who could take him home.

I love the kid, but he is one of the neediest humans on the planet.

"Henderson, what gets me home the fastest?"

"Just come inside and make sure the coast is clear - please." I turned to him, wanting to hold my furious gaze. It immediately softened once I saw how scared he was. I attempted to smile and ruffled his hair.

"Alright. Let's go find this serial killer."

We walked up to the house, the doldrums of Kenny Loggins getting louder. I opened the front door, a sudden dread filling my stomach. Why was I scared? His mom probably just left everything on. Serial killers don't listen to Kenny Loggins. Even ones that eat kids. With no collarbones.

I tried to talk myself out of my fear as we crept through the house, heading towards the kitchen. It was then I heard something moving around, clanging around, and hitting pots and pans. So, maybe serial killers do listen to Kenny Loggins. My heart started to pound.

"Eddie -"

"Zip it, Henderson!" I hissed. "I hear them, too."

The song "Footloose" had never sounded so frightening to me. We peered around the corner, and I saw a girl. She was dancing around, hair whipping to the music, and cooking as she mouthed the words. I was immediately confused.

"Y/N!" Dustin yelled. She turned quickly, surprised at first, and then her face filled with joy. He ran over to her, embracing her hard. She laughed as she engulfed him with her arms, kissing the top of his head.

She pulled back, brushing the hair out of his face, and smiled wide.

"Dustin, you have grown simply too much. I wouldn't have recognized you if it wasn't for that smile. What are they feeding you these days?" She pulled him back in, continuing to kiss the top of his head. I stood at the entrance of the kitchen, feeling like a voyeur into an intimate moment. I still couldn't stop watching her.

"What are you doing here? When did you get here? Who knows that you're here? We've got to go tell Steve!" I bristled at the thought of her going to see Steve "The Hair" Harrington. Why did I care?

She laughed, an action that made you feel like you wanted to be part of the joke with her. I caught myself.

"I just decided to come home for a bit. I got in a while ago - I was hoping you would be here, but I got bored waiting around." They continued to hold one another as they spoke.

"I was at Hellfire Club - that's why I'm so late." She pulled back again, looking down at his outfit. My cheeks suddenly flushed when I realized I was wearing matching t-shirts with a fourteen-year-old.

"Is that what this shirt is for?" My breath hitched as I waited for a snide remark. "It's so cool. You've got to get me one, too."

Dustin finally turned to me, his face beaming and full of unbridled joy.

"Can we give her one, Eddie? Even if she isn't part of the club?"

She looked to me, realizing there was a stranger watching her. Her eyes glinted, and she grinned wide. She kept one arm around Dustin as she stuck her hand out to shake mine. I was mesmerized by her eyes.

"Hi, I'm Y/N Henderson - Dustin's sister." Everything made sense. I stepped forward, taking her hand. I was suddenly aware of the clamminess of my palms.

"Hi, I'm Eddie." She held my hand in hers as she smiled even bigger, and looked down at Dustin.

"Eddie? As in THE Eddie Munson?" My heart caught at the thought of her knowing who I was. She looked back up at me, those eyes sparkling. "He's much cuter in person than you described, Dustin."

My cheeks deepened as she continued to hold my hand in hers. Dustin started protesting and pulled away from her.

"Eddie, I never said you were cute, I promise." He stepped away and gave her a glare. "I just talked to her about the club and how cool your campaigns are and -"

"Alright, alright, you never called him cute." She attempted to calm him down. She looked back to me and winked; our hands still connected. I couldn't help but smile. "It's great to meet you, Edward Munson."

She dropped my hand and turned back to a boiling part of water. I was immediately disappointed we were no longer touching - I attempted to play it cool.

"It's nice to meet you, too, Y/N. But, it's just Eddie."

She turned to me, feigning offense. Butterflies bloomed in my chest.

"Edward, you are assuming much of our new relationship, Only friends call each other nicknames - in fact, I almost prefer calling you Mr. Munson." She broke into a smile and pulled the pot off the stove. My heart was still pounding, no longer from fear.

"So, should I call you Ms. Henderson?" I was fumbling, attempting to flirt with this force of personality. I immediately regretted the remark - why couldn't I think of anything better? She smiled again, draining the pasta.

"That's preferred, actually." She started stirring a red sauce into the noodles. She stopped, turned to Dustin and gestured for him to hand her the bowls in the cabinet behind him. "Alright, dinner's up."

Dustin started handing her dishes, and I took it as my cue to leave. Before I could step away, she turned, smiled that smile, and asked, "Will you be joining us, Mr. Munson?"

I blushed, again, and attempted to hold my smile back. Before I could speak, Dustin decided to stay true to form.

"No - Eddie wants to go home and smoke weed. He only came in because I thought you might have been a serial killer." Her eyebrows raised as she attempted to hold back a grin. I stepped forward and shook my head.

"No, no - that's not true. I'd love to stay, if you'll have me." I shot a glare to Dustin, and then turned to her, smiling. "Ms. Henderson."

She paused, smirked at me, and handed me a bowl of pasta. She gestured to the dining room table, inviting me to stay. I sat down, looking back to her, and we held each others gaze, grinning at one another.

I think taking Dustin Henderson under my wing was one of the greatest decisions I've ever made.