Fleur | Eddie Munson X OC

007

Standing in the middle of the dingy girls bathroom, the unflattering fluorescent lighting flickers above our heads, and the lingering fog of AquaNet still hangs in the air.

"I have no idea what you're talking about?" I reply, rubbing at the pain in my shoulder.

"Oh, don't even Emmy." Chrissy practically growls.

In an attempt to appear casual, I lean against the edge of the sink and cross my arms. "So did you hear? Rumor has it, Munson has a girlfriend."

She just stands there tapping her toe against the faded linoleum, not a hint of amusement on her perfectly powdered face.

Okay, she actually looks upset.

Sighing, I walk further into the bathroom, checking the stalls to make sure we're alone. "It's not real, Chris."

"What's not real?" she asks, her high pony bouncing with each word. "The fact that you're dating Eddie Munson, or the fact that I had to find out that my best friend is dating Eddie Munson from that witch Stacie Thompson?"

Best friend? Really?...Me?

Seeing the unexpected hurt in her eyes, I rush to reassure her. I tell her about approaching Eddie in the woods and making him an offer that he couldn't refuse. I tell her how he came over and ate pizza while we mapped out a ridiculous plan, and all the while she looks at me like I've sprouted two extra heads.

"So yeah," I shrug my shoulders. "It's fake. All a play to get back at Steve."

Chrissy lets out an exasperated breath, lifting the bangs on her forehead. "Emilia, this is a terrible idea. When I said you should date Eddie I meant actually date him! Not..." she slings her petite arms around. "Whatever the heck this is."

"And I told you Eddie doesn't like me like that. We're just friends...well, sort of." I shake my head attempting to get my thoughts in order. "Look, we're just helping each other out, that's it" I finish, hearing the small tremble in my voice...not even I believe the words.

She stares knowingly at me, not saying a word. The sting of unshed tears threaten my eyes, when some sort of commotion comes from outside of the bathroom door. Likely a perv freshman trying to sneak a peek.

"Look, I promise I was going to tell you. I just haven't seen you today, and everything happened so fast" I sigh, scrubbing my face with my palms in an attempt to hide what I know is clearly written all over my face. I'm completely and totally screwed.

"What's the point of all this Emmy?" she asks. "You said you didn't have anything to prove to Steve."

The point is, it feels nice. It feels nice to hurt Steve...and Nancy. To see them feel even a fraction of the pain and betrayal I felt the night I found out what they'd done...my 'friends'. It feels nice to not be so alone. It feels nice to just feel.

Unable to bear telling her the complete truth, I settle on a partial one. "It just feels nice, ya know?" I whisper, picking at the hem of my sweater.

I risk peeking up at the girl in front of me, and immediately regret it. She looks like she's trying just as hard to hold back tears of her own. "Oh Emmy, what am I gonna do with you?" she murmurs enveloping me into a warm vanilla scented hug.

It's at this moment with Chrissy's arms wrapped firmly around me that I realize she is my friend. She's selfless, kind, and truly cares about me. I feel it, not with her words, but with her actions, down to my battered soul I know it to be true. Then I think of Nancy and realize I didn't lose a friend in her, I never had one to begin with.