Beauty & The Freak || Eddie Munson

Chapter 9

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I sat quietly in my room on the edge of my bed. I had just finished getting ready for school and I wasn't so hungry. Eddie would be here any moment. I didn't know what to say. I really wished he had joined us at church last night, but I don't blame him. He said it himself. He wasn't the type to go to church.

It's probably just a good idea to mention last night. Don't humiliate yourself even more than you already did. Just focus on seeing Chrissy. We haven't talked in a few days. Hopefully, everything is okay.

I heard two faint beeps come from outside. Eddie was here. I quickly got up, scrambling my bag and rushing to the front door. Mom stopped me as I was reaching for the door handle. I opened the screen door so that Eddie could see I was coming.

"Hey honey," Mom said. "Really quickly, before you go. I need you to watch Abel after school for about two hours. We have to go to the church tonight to meet with Minister Campbell."

"Okay. Do you need help with anything else? Help with dinner or any cleaning?" I asked.

"You guys can just reheat the leftovers from last night."

"Okay. I have to go. I don't want to keep Eddie waiting."

"I love you. Have a great day at school."

"I love you too."

I closed the door behind me and rushed out to Eddie's van. He was playing music when I opened the door. So loud that the entire block could hear it. He was tapping some sort of beat on the steering wheel.

He was staring intently forward, like he was one with the music. I couldn't help but stare at him as he bobbed his head, his hair flowing with the movements and he harshly patted his fingers against the steering wheel to match the rhythm of the song playing. He seemed peaceful tapping along, like he was the music. I leaned back in the passenger seat, buckling my seatbelt and waiting for him to drive off.

The click of the seatbelt broke him out of his musical state. He turned the radio down and then threw the van into reverse. At first, he didn't speak a word to me until we rounded the corner away from my house. I was wondering 'd say anything. Something felt weird after last night.

"Morning..." Eddie finally mumbled.

"Morning..." I mumbled right back.

"How are you?"

"Fine. How are you?"

"Fine."

I started chewing on the inside of my cheek. We had returned to the silence that was there only moments ago. Did I ruin what could have been?

Ugh, you're a total idiot, Eden.

When we arrived at school, we totally ignored each other as we got out and went our separate ways. I went straight for the school, while Eddie lingered around his van. I found myself at my locker, suddenly feeling all kinds of stares on my back as I twisted in my combination.

I glanced over my shoulder, seeing Jason–Chrissy's boyfriend. She stood next to him with her arms wrapped around his waist as they whispered something to each other. Maybe I was going crazy, because today was already feeling entirely off for me, but part of me wondered if they were talking about me.

I tried to ignore it as I grabbed my things from my locker, but the snickers were drawing my attention. When I closed my locker, I turned and walked right over to them. Jason still seemed to laugh about something, but Chrissy, however, went straight faced like she had something to hide.