The Freaks - Eddie Munson

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Wheeler

We all piled out of the cars, walking about a half mile before we reached the edge of the lake.

"Where is it?" Steve asked, looking inside nearby trees.

"That's the problem. I think..." Dustin glanced down at his compass once more, "it's under the water."

"A watergate?" Nancy asked.

"Clever." Dustin's eyes rolled. "Look for...a boat or something." he said, addressing all of us.

"Since when was Henderson in charge?" Steve muttered in my ear, forcing a giggle out of me. My eyes caught Eddie, his eyes locked on Steve and I. When he looked away, he shook his head slightly, continuing to look for a boat.

"FOUND ONE!" Lucas yelled out from a few yards away. A few of us raced over to help him uncover it from the vines and leaves, pushing it into the water.

"Not all of us can go." Steve said, observing the boat. "It'll hold four, tops." Steve and Eddie climbed into the boat, followed by Robin who used their heads as support to climb in. I followed, Steve and Eddie both offering their hands to me. I accepted both offers, climbing in and sitting next to Robin.

"What's going on with Eddie?" she asked. I turned to her, surprised she even cared. We weren't exactly friends.

"Oh, uh...nothing. I don't know what you're talking about." but there he was again, looking at me with the same disappointment. I couldn't help but hope he hadn't heard what I'd said, but I knew he must have. Nancy climbed in next.

"Hey! You said 4 tops!" Dustin whined, clearly wanting to have tagged along.

"You stay here." Steve said simply, taking an ore and pushing off into the lake. We paddled to the middle, sitting still on the water. Steve began pulling off his shirt, standing up in the wobbly boat.

"What are you doing?" I asked urgently, fearing what he might do.

"Someone has to swim down there and check it out. I was captain of the swim team I'm pretty sure I'm the best choice here." he tossed away his shirt, and I couldn't help that memories with him came flooding back. We did things together that would make Nancy blush, and it was all coming back to me.

I looked away, blushing as Nancy watched him in the same way. There was way too much history in this boat. Eddie turned on a flashlight and wrapped it in loose plastic from the bottom of the boat, handing it to Steve.

"Good luck." he said quietly. It almost felt like he didn't mean it. Steve nodded.

"Thanks."

"Steve?" Nancy grasped his attention, Steve turning to her. "Be careful." he nodded, took the flashlight in his hands and dove beneath the surface. We all held on to the edges as the boat shook, creating waves beneath us. Silence was all we heard for 50 excruciating seconds before Steve came up through the surface of the water, gasping for breath. We all screamed at the sudden jump scare.

"I found it!" he said, his smile wide. "Dustin was right, it's smaller, but someone could definitely-" we all screamed as Steve was pulled under by something below the surface. Nancy stood immediately, diving in after him, followed by Robin. I stood up, removing my jacket and tossing it to the side. My balance was tested when Eddie suddenly stood up in the boat, grasping my arm.

"Wheeler, don't." I turned to him, surprised by the deep concern in his eyes.

"Eddie please let go."

"I can't let you go." he shook his head, his fear genuine. He didn't know what was down there. He had the right to be afraid. But for me?

"Let me." he took both my shoulders, staring deep into my eyes.

"I know you still love him. But please...stay. I can't see you get hurt." I couldn't find words for a moment.

"Love him?" I whispered. He looked down, then back up at me, the same disappointment in his face from when I pulled away from his kiss. "You think I'm in love with Steve?" his eyebrows furrowed.

"Are you not?"

I was ashamed of myself for thinking about it.

"Eddie..."

"No." he said, a decided look on his face. "Don't worry about me." he prepared himself to jump, looking back at me. "And stay in the goddamn boat." I screamed his name as he disappeared beneath the surface, swimming towards the exact thing he wouldn't let me near.

Something pulled me. If I wouldn't go in after just Steve, I was sure as hell going in after them both.