Shot in the Dark (An Eddie x Y/N Story)

October Fest

Eddie's POV:

Moving through the crowd of the festival is a real nuisance. People are hurrying about, excitedly talking to one another, and rushing to get in line for some of the carnival rides. The sounds of laughter and joyful screaming rings through the air.

The breeze is crisp and cold and I huddle in on myself for warmth. I've found a space off to the side to have a cigarette and people watch. I keep my shoulders slightly hunched as I watch people move past me without noticing I am here. I put out what is left of the cigarette and discard it with a sigh. I go to return to the throngs of people moving every which way when I see Y/N Henderson out of the corner of my eye and pause.

She's talking animatedly to Robin, her hands moving around her face and a far off expression in her eyes as she tries to explain something to the other girl. Robin leans in, intrigued and asks questions that prompts Y/N to keep talking. She bites her lip as she thinks of a response to something Robin asks her and then turns to her with a sheepish grin and says something softly, causing both of them to laugh.

I find myself intrigued by the way she talks and moves and I'm not sure why. There aren't many chances to see her interact with other people, Dustin and Robin being the only ones she really talks to. So maybe I'm just fascinated to see a rare side of her. But that reasoning also doesn't sit well with me and I can't begin to understand why. I shake myself and Robin catches my eye across the crowd, a small grin spreading across her face. She leans over and whispers something in Y/N's ear and she turns, her bright eyes meeting mine.

I make my way through the crowd toward them, my eyes never leaving Y/N's for more then a second. Y/N's hair hangs loose down her back and her makeup is very casual. She's wearing a baggy Iron Maiden T-shirt and black jeans today, black converse on her feet. Her style always makes me happy. She always has the best band shirts and her outfits are always nice. She always looks great. I shake my head slightly. What the heck has gotten into me?

When I reach them, she smiles up at me and my heart flips. She seems unfazed by what happened yesterday at school but as I look more closely at her face I see a little bruise has formed on her chin and I frown. Her eyes search mine, confused by my change in expression and I reach down and lightly touch the purple skin on her chin and she winces slightly. I pull away and scowl.

"I didn't realize you were hurt," I murmur and her eyes soften. Robin clears her throat and I turn to her, having forgotten she was there for a moment. Robin has a wide grin on her face as her eyes dart between Y/N and I.

"You guys get along so well now." She muses, amusement in her voice.

"Well Dustin was pretty adamant that I do my best not to kill him," Y/N chuckles and I look down at her. I forgot Dustin had talked to her about being nice to me. I wonder how much of our recent friendship has been for Dustin's sake. I push the thought from my head.

"She's not half bad," I say with a shrug, a bored expression on my face. Y/N pretends to be hurt, placing a hand over her heart and using the other to gently shove me. I grab the wrist that shoves my chest and hold it in my hand, a smile on my face.

"How about we test our tolerance for one another?" I ask her and she looks up at me, confused. I point to the farthest edge of the festival to the entrance of the corn maze and lean down slightly as I speak to both of them.

"Why don't we work through the maze together? No better way to test a friendship then with a good old fashioned team building exercise."

Y/N stares up at me skeptically and Robin laughs.

"We'll kill each other in there," Y/N says and Robin continues to chuckle.

"Only one way to find out." I offer her my arm and she hesitates for a moment before taking it. I start to pull her towards the maze. She glances over her shoulder at Robin who waves at us with a grin.