This Year is My Year

Peonies

I woke up grinning like a madman.

I had kissed Y/N Henderson last night. Y/N Henderson had kissed Eddie the Freak back. Y/N Henderson had a hickey from me – me! – Eddie The Freak Munson! I closed my eyes, breathing in deeply.

I hadn't changed out of my clothes last night, wanting to continue to smell like her after she left. I took a deep breath in, smelling her perfume and lotion and shampoo on my shirt. I rolled out of bed, still grinning.

---

I strolled out of my bedroom, hair wet from my shower, singing "Sledgehammer". I was going to name my first kid after Peter Gabriel.

My uncle walked into the trailer from his shift, laughing at me dance around, singing to no one in particular. I poured a cup of coffee, practically skipping around the trailer.

"Went well, did it?"

I turned to Wayne, beaming.

"It did," I shook my head, "No thanks to you, though. I had a lot of work to make up after you left."

He laughed and set his keys and hat on the counter.

"If anything, I laid the groundwork for you, nephew." He and I smiled at one another while I sipped my coffee. "She seems like a good girl."

I blushed. I don't think my uncle has ever had anything positive to say about the girls I used to bring around. Not that there was a lot to positively comment on – they were burnouts and constantly belittled me. Wayne hated how I felt when I was with them.

"She's...the best," I left it dangling, out in front of us. He smiled, ruffling my head.

"I'm headed to bed, kid," he walked away, and turned back, "You going to school, or are you going to make up another excuse?"

My face twisted into a bigger smile as he left.

I was going to make up an excuse.

---

I started the album over on the drive to Y/N's – I was going to need to get a Peter Gabriel patch for my jacket soon. I watched as kids walked to school, heading in the opposite direction. My stomach dropped when I saw Dustin, Mike, and Lucas in the street, looking strangely at me. I stopped the van and waved weakly. They rode their bikes to the driver's side, and I rolled the window down.

"Well, hello, little ones—"

"Why are you driving away from school?" Lucas was confused. Dustin was trying to piece something together, making faces at the songs coming from my van. I turned the volume down. I needed to get out of here.

"Oh, just a detour today—"

"Are you skipping?" Mike asked. He got excited, "Can we skip, too?"

"Oh, man, Eddie, let us skip with you!" Lucas begged, I laughed. Dustin had a soft face.

"Wait, I want to skip, too!" He whined. My eyes flashed to him when I realized how angry Y/N would be if she knew I encouraged her baby brother to skip class.

"No, no, no skipping today, guys," I took the van out of park, "Just need to run a quick errand! I'll see you later."

I sped away, looking in my rearview mirror. They continued to watch me, confused. Then, as if he just realized, Dustin started yelling and gesticulating, pointing to me and the direction of his house. I grinned.

---

I pulled up to her house, not even stopping to check my hair in the mirror. I was full of new confidence at the knowledge that I kissed Y/N Henderson and she kissed me back!