The Freaks - Eddie Munson

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Munson

"Check this out." I slammed the magazine down onto the table as everyone gathered around me.

"It's called the war zone. It has everything you need for um...killing things? I guess?"

"And how is any of this legal?" Robin asked.

"Well," I replied, shaking my head, "lucky for us it is. This place is just far enough outside of Hawkins."

"It would take hours to ride." Nancy said, looking up at me.

"So unless you have a car we don't know about..." Steve added, his tone off.

"It's not exactly a car, Steve." I said with a fake smile. "But uh...it'll do. Hey red?" I turned to Max, who stood in the corner next to the couch. "Have you got anything like a ski mask or...a bandana?" she shrugged and thought for a moment before giving me a smirk.

*

The Halloween mask Max had given me was suffocating. But it would do. I gestured for the group to follow me as we snuck through the trailer park towards the biggest van I could find. I pried open the window on the side, climbing in with a struggle. Letting out a gasp of air as I removed the mask, I toppled onto the couch inside. Steve followed close behind, then the rest of the climbed inside as I sat in the drivers seat, yanking out the wires to see the colors.

"Since when did you know how to do this?" Steve asked from behind me.

"Well, while everyone else's dad was teaching them to throw a ball, my dad? Was teaching me how to hot wire."

"Um, Eddie?" I paused my work to turn and look at Robin. "I'm not sure I love the idea of you driving." I chucked.

"Oh I'm just starting this sucker. Harrington' shot her. Don't you big boy?" I gave the wires one last try, and my heart jumped when the music came on at full blast, the engine running successfully.

"WHAT THE HELL??" we heard from outside. I smiled as I let Steve crawl into the drivers seat, making my way to the back of the RV, taking Y/N by the waist from behind.

"Hold on, Wheeler." she said nothing as Steve steered us out of the trailer park. His driving was shit. We all fell into the walls and onto the couches as Steve drove like a madman to avoid pedestrians and their dogs. Once he got onto the road I stood up straight, my hands still on Wheeler's waist.

"That wasn't so bad." I said to her jokingly. She didn't look at me, but pushed out of my grip and sat in a nearby chair, her arms crossed. I swallowed and waited a moment before sitting next to her.

"Are you okay?" She nodded, still facing straight ahead. I didn't believe her. "Wheeler, was it something I did?" My voice dropped to a whisper as I continued, "I'm sorry if we took it too far earlier, you said it was okay-"

"Please, just-" she turned to me, avoiding my eyes. "It's not you, Eddie. Just please leave me alone." I couldn't understand what the problem was. I wondered if it was what I'd asked. Maybe she didn't tell me to slow down because she felt guilty. I stood, wandering to the front of the RV.

"Hey Wheeler." I address Nancy in the passenger seat, "Mind if I have a word with the hair, here?" She shrugged, standing and going to sit with her sister. I took her seat, propping my feet on the dash.

"Get your feet down." Steve said, slapping my thigh. "We're borrowing." I rolled my eyes, removing my feet with a sigh.

"I wanted to ask you about Y/N." He glanced at me once before his eyes moved back to the road, waiting for me to continue. "Why is she pushing me away?" I held my breath, waiting for the scolding I knew would come. Steve's eyes remained on the road, but I could tell he didn't have to think about the answer.

"Its not my business. She wouldn't want me-"

"So there IS a reason??" I sat up in my seat, begging for an answer. "Just tell me something. Anything." Steve sighed, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

"She's not doing it because she doesn't like you, Munson."

Why doesn't that reassure me?

"It's just..." he broke off in another sigh. "She doesn't want to be wrong about you." There was an unsteady silence.

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"Listen, Eddie, too much happened before you came along. She's been put through shit by every guy she's ever been with. Tommy, Billy, Jason..." he paused, "Even me." It was impossible at this point not to be jealous. He was her first.

"What did you-sorry, I mean what did they do?" He glanced in his rear view mirror. I assumed he was looking at her. When his eyes moved back to the road he answered.

"They only ever used her for sex. Or, for someone to take their anger out on." I felt a pit in my stomach.

"You don't mean they hurt her??" He shook his head with a shrug.

"Not physically. At least as far as I know." I saw the worry on his face as he began to think about the situation, like he hadn't allowed himself to consider it for a long time. "All I'm saying is she's only looking out for herself. No matter how much she..." he paused, "likes you..." I hid a smirk, "There't too much history when it comes to her past relationships. I wouldn't be surprised if she never loved again."

"Did she love you?" The words escaped me before I could think. "Sorry, I didn't-"
"I don't know." Steve replied in a whisper. "She never told me." I turned to look towards the back of the RV. The Wheeler twins were deep in conversation on the couch. Her eyes caught mine, and for a moment, neither of us looked away. I didn't want to push her. But I knew we needed each other. So I figured I'd give her more of a tap.