The Break (An Eddie Munson Story)

Chapter 44: Packed Bags and Missing Keys

A/N: Yo yo yo, it's me! I'm back with a shorter update than normal. I'm trying to not stress myself out about word counts any more. An instalment is an instalment. Now, this chapter does contain themes of depression, please take good caution when reading it. As always, thank you to those who have stuck around. Your support is always appreciated. Thank you for the 23K!

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When the message had come through to Eddie's pager, your heart sank. The sequence of beeps almost mocked you, as they forced the brunet to tear himself from the comfort your arms, as you laid together on the sofa and start getting changed to make a drop. Like clockwork, you would beg him to let you go in his place or even, just let you accompany him, with the promise that you would not cause any trouble. As always, he refused your aid, checking his pockets for his keys- so sure he had left them in the pocket that last time...

"Give them back, Y/N." he demanded wearily. This was not the first time you had hidden his truck keys, in an attempt to persuade him to change him mind.

In recent days, you had partaken in your fair share of arguments. Seemingly normal disagreements had become drawn out, resulting in tears and silent treatment- both equally unpleasant. Under normal circumstances, you had been able to have a rational conversation about your qualms and work towards a solution, that was suitable for you both but since his breakdown in the bathroom, Eddie was completely unrelenting in his opinions. Closed off to any opinion other than his own. It hurt you deeply how stubborn he had become, especially when you were still in the dark about the cause.

You only had one option and that was to assume that, you had burdened Eddie to the point of breaking down. Who could blame him, you thought, hating yourself more and more. Between your parents and mental health difficulties, you had left him with very little time to focus any of his energy on his own wellbeing. You had hijacked his plans to escape Hawkins. With the money he was making, he could have moved away and lived comfortably but being the parasite you were, you had forced him into working himself to the bone. And now look, he was signed off school for two weeks. Not only were your jeopardising his chance to graduate but also him future plans. Why did you have to be so poisonous to those around you? No wonder you parents hated you, you berated yourself, as tears rushed to escape your eyes.

After the argument that had ensued over his concealed keys, Eddie had left without so much as a 'goodbye'. Neither of you were handling the current situation well but you needed to be the bigger person and recognise that he was unwell, suffering for some terrifyingly unfathomable reason and desperately needed your support, not your antagonistic behaviour.

With him out of the trailer, your plan had been to wait for Eddie to return home. There was no doubt that he would likely still be upset with you and you could not blame him. You wanted to talk things over with him rationally, not resort to low blows, which had obviously just been the stress talking. But the little, treacherous voice in your head told you that, it was too late. There were not enough apologies in the world that could fix the damage you had done. No amount of absence time apart would allow your hearts to grow fonder. Eddie, just like your parents, had had enough of you.

With that thought in mind, you started to pack an overnight bag, just as you had done the night you were kicked out, with just enough clothing and essentials to tide you over, until you found someplace more permanent to crash. Where could you go? You paused momentarily, running through your mental roladex of options. You hated what had become of your relationship. Things were supposed to be getting better, not worse and yet, there you were...back at square one, with nowhere to go.

Moving from room to room, you breathed in the familiar smell of coffee and overcooked toast, that lingered in the air. Eddie's cologne, your detergent- it all reminded you of a time where they had been happy together. Why did those days of gentle smiles and softer touches, have to be a thing of the past? Pushing away the thoughts of a time forgotten, you continued to pack.

It was better this way, you tried to justify your irrational thoughts. Everyone would be happy with you out of their lives. They had helped you out if good faith but time and time again, you had failures those who claimed to love you. Drained them of their affections, until there was nothing left but bitterness and contempt. Wiping away the rogue tears that stained your flushed cheeks, you just wished that, things had been different this time. That you had been good enough to be lived but alas, it seemed that life was not on your side- the universe had damned you.

Zipping up the bag, you were ready to leave. You thought about calling Steve, since Nancy would be busy with her job as school's paoer editor and Robin did not have a car but he was already plagued by the horrors of the upside down, he did not need you adding to his troubles. Instead, you decided to write Eddie a note, thanking him for his kindness, apologising for the heartache you had caused and hoping that, with you out of his life, he would sleep easier at night. As you finished composing your message, you had failed to hear the front door opening.

With your back to the bedroom door, you were not alerted to the brunet's prescence, until you heard a confused, "What are you doing?"