MONEY, MONEY, MONEY || EDDIE MUNSON

|| 19: fight! fight! fight! ||

Kathy swore it was Groundhog Day, everyday this week was almost exactly the same. Wake up, go to school, get bothered by Eddie, go home, repeat. It was a nightmare, but finally it was Friday.

"Am I coming over today?" Willow asked Kathy, making sure her best friend was comfortable with her presence later.
"Yes, Low. Always." Kathy smiled up at her friend.

Willow returned Kathy's grin, the dark-haired girl was happy to see her friend be able to form a smile at all. "Any updates on Robin?" Kathy wondered, knowing Willow would jump at any opportunity to talk about her girlfriend.

"Yes! We went out yesterday-" Willow spoke excitedly, "-to the movies!" she clarified. "It was fun, we made out at the back of the theatre." Willow's smile got impossibly wider as she recalled the memory, Kathy feigned disgust, knowing full well she'd do that if she had the chance.

"But not all good things last forever." She sighed, her smile not quite reaching her eyes anymore. "Steve picked her up, started yelling at me, 'my best friend, are you serious Willow! Thought you were better than that!' Totally ruined the date." Willow said exasperated.

"Anyway, Robin came home with me instead, and now she won't talk to him." Willow looked down at her lap briefly, defeated. This made Kathy pout, she felt bad for her friend. She hoped Steve found it in his heart to forgive her.

The girls pulled up to school, minus Eleven and Max, Billy had decided to take the pair today. The teens left Willow's battered car and joined arms as they walked into the building, outside looking like a ghost town.

"Where is everyone?" Willow wondered out loud.
"I don't know, it's weird though." Kathy responded, nervous they'd shown up late. It was only when they heard shouts down the corridor that they picked up the pace.

A circle had been formed, to boys yelling in the middle. Willow grinned, she always loved a good rumble. Together the girls pushed to have a front row seat, but what Kathy saw left her mortified.

"You better leave that girl alone, Munson!" It was Billy, he'd been looking out for Kathy all week. Looks like he'd had enough of Eddie's attempts at getting Kathy back.

"Why, you got a crush Hargrove?" Eddie argumentatively replied, weakly pushing Billy away from him. Kathy rubbed her hand over face, the pair hadn't noticed her yet and she prayed it stayed that way.

"Bring it on Munson, or do you gotta get paid to think about me too!" Not one of Billy's sickest burns, but Eddie seemed to let it slide. The metal-head mumbled something along the lines of 'it was a mistake' and 'you don't understand' but it was too late.

Billy started to swing at Eddie, hardly giving the boy time to breath after each punch. He dropped him to the floor, Eddie threw a punch at Billy, leaving him with a bloody nose but Billy returned it 10x harder and repeatedly until Eddie's face was black and blue.

Nobody had tried to stop it, call a teacher or anything. Kathy decided to take matters into her own hands. She ran forward and started to grab Billy's arm. She heard Willow yelling at her to leave it be, but she couldn't.

"Billy! That's enough! Come on dude!" She wailed at the bigger boy, pulling his arm as hard as she could. Billy's elbow went back, colliding with Kathy's face. Her hand flew to her nose as she felt the crimson liquid rush like water from a tap.

That seemed to stop Billy in his footsteps, looking behind him with a frightened face. Eddie hadn't quite passed out, barely breathing as he struggled in Billy's grip. "Kathy I'm so-"
Billy tried, but Kathy cut him off.

"Get off!" She screamed, and he complied, disappearing down the corridor out of sight. Kathy pulled Eddie up by the arm, and the crowd parted like the Red Sea for them. It was deadly silent as they walked. Willow didn't try to follow, knowing she and Eddie needed to talk.

Kathy guided the boy behind the school and plonked him on the floor. "I'll be right back." She spoke softly. He grabbed her hand gently as she walked away. "Don't leave." He said, almost crying at the thought.

"I need to get a first aid kit. I'll be right back." She didn't pull away as she spoke, instead waiting for Eddie to drop her hand. He did after a few moments, letting the pain overcome him.

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