Stray Kids | e. munson

TWO

TW:  drug use, mention of sexual manipulation, mention of cheating, and nonconsensual image sharing

Eddie Munson wasn't sure how he'd missed it for so long.

He'd certainly noticed her; Lola Bower was easily the hottest girl in Hawkins with her dark hair and long legs and those pretty brown eyes that turned into pools of honey in the sunlight. The first time he'd ever noticed her was in middle school, but even then he'd been too much of a coward to say anything.

The day she'd come to him with a twenty-dollar bill and asked him for weed, Eddie had tried so hard to sound passive and not as relieved as he really was. There were only three other dealers in town, and none of them would pass up the opportunity of a pretty, broke girl desperate for an escape. But Eddie wasn't like that.

Despite his attraction, he'd kept his distance. He kept their interactions to a minimum and didn't make any advances toward her. It was bad to mix business with pleasure, anyway.

But, even knowing this, he couldn't stop thinking about it.

Her big doe eyes were bright, and she'd become a master at manipulating those around her in order to appear just...shy, quiet, a recluse. She'd even had Eddie believing for a while. It had taken seeing her in his own bed in those tiny satin shorts, but he'd finally seen it.

The emptiness. The surrender.

He'd found himself wondering if she felt anything at all. She'd certainly been putting on a damn good show, but even her anger towards him for standing up to Jason had felt synthetic. A cheap, carbon copy of fury. Which was why he'd wanted to take her here; to appease his morbid curiosity.

They walked in silence through Hawkins. She didn't ask a single question, not even when he led her beyond Forest Hills trailer park and into the forest just outside of it. Eddie realized she didn't care where they were going, as long as she got the high he'd offered. Her apathy only proved his assumption that she was completely numb.

But, maybe, just maybe, he could help her.

The cracking of sticks beneath her feet paused. "You're fucking kidding me," she grumbled. "Skull Rock?" Eddie turned, only to see Lola fold into herself, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "You know, Munson," she said, "I actually thought that maybe you weren't like everyone else. How stupid of me."

She began to walk back the way they'd come, but his hand shot out and encircled her wrist. "What are you talking about?"

Lola rolled her eyes. "You think that just because of those photos I'll come out here to make out with anyone?"

He had no clue what she was talking about. He didn't remember any photos, but he did vaguely remember the rumors about Skull Rock. "No. No, I didn't bring you here for that. I swear, I–"

"Whatever, Eddie. Smoke by yourself," she said, wrenching herself from his grip. "I'll find a new dealer."

He threw his head back and let out a low groan. "Christ. Lola! Will you stop? I brought you here so you could listen!"

She stopped but didn't turn back to face him. "Listen to what?"

Eddie didn't know how to explain. There really wasn't a way to explain it. So, instead, he pulled the joint out of his pocket and sat in the dirt. "Come here."

After a few moments, she finally did as he asked. She certainly didn't look happy about it – her face was contorted into a scowl, every one of her movements angry as she plopped down beside him and hugged her knees to her chest.