Fleur | Eddie Munson X OC

003

Eddie's POV              

"Half your profit."        

"Jeff, I oughta kick your ass for even suggesting that" I respond, blowing the smoke from the last of my cigarette.         

"Look man, you're the one asking me to hang out with the pigskins. You gotta give me something."        

That's fair.        

"How about five bucks and I'll let you run the next campaign?" I offer, knowing it won't be much of a loss. I've been a little distracted by a certain brunette the past few weeks, and I've gotten behind on planning.  

"Why do you want to go so badly anyway?" he questions, crossing his arms over his chest. "Who's gonna be there?"

He knows exactly why I want to go, and why I want him to go with me. The only experience Gareth has talking to girls is with his mother. I know I can count on Jeff to break the tension if things get uncomfortable or boost my ego if I chicken out. "I'm not bribing you to ask questions. You in or not?" I ask, pressing the embers out on my tire.        

"Throw in a spliff and I'm all yours, lover boy" he winks, holding out his palm.       

I groan, reaching into my jacket for the product I'd specifically rolled to sell tonight. "Deal, now let's go."

------⦅❁⦆------      

We walk into the crowded house, and I barely notice the hateful looks being thrown our way. I've grown used to the constant judgment in this god-awful town. I am Eddie 'the freak' Munson after all. The exact reason why I don't make a habit of making appearances at shit like this. Girl or no girl.

Carver and I have history, a lot of it. After years of beating the shit out of each other, a single threat to be benched his senior year was all it took for the golden boy to back down. We now have an unspoken agreement, he stays out of my way and I stay out of his. This is technically his territory, but I overheard Chrissy mention Emilia might be here tonight, and the possibility of talking to her again is worth the risk.        

Jeff makes a b-line to the kitchen and straight for the beer. I follow behind him, scanning the crowd as we go. Instantly, I spot her delicate white flower floating through the waves of drunken peers. I feel a sudden jolt of excitement and my breathing accelerates as she wanders closer, nearly within arms reach. She looks tired...drained. Her dim green eyes skim for the exits, almost as if she's considering making a break for it. Her shoulders sag when Chrissy notices her from across the room, and I watch fascinated, as she turns on the facade that masks her truth...smiling just for her friend.

"Ahh, now I know why you wanted to come," Jeff says, pressing a cold beer to my chest.

Using the underside of my ring, I pop off the aluminum cap. It's a motion I've made so many times the cheap silver has worn into the perfect shape. "I came to make some quick cash," I grunt, walking away to find a bathroom. "I gotta take a piss."

After spending a ridiculous amount of time searching for a toilet and making a few sales along the way, I make it to the living room.The music is shitty, and Chrissy attempts to capture a tacky vase the meatheads are tossing around like a football.

I turn, looking for Jeff and find myself standing right in front of the sole reason I'd risked coming here. Her eyes are trained on the ground in front of her, and she's shrunk into herself. Something I've noticed she does often...shy away, making herself as small as possible, hoping to become invisible.

There is nothing invisible about Emilia Peters...not to me. 

Be cool, Munson. Be cool.