Other Friends

Chapter 5 - Halloween Talks

Windy drives a very quiet Eddie Munson all the way to his home at the trailer park. "Why did you do it?"

"Because I thought he was messing with her." Eddie tries to explain to her.

She sighs, "But he wasn't. She was fine. I know you're a bit out of it, but you aren't normally the type to act first before knowing the facts." she tells him.

He turns in his seat to face her, "You don't see the shit I see her go through Windy. I acted first cause I was tired of her telling me that she's fine when no one should be dealing with shit like that. You heard the new kid, our school sucks because they don't mind their own business." he argues.

Windy puts the car into park as they arrive before facing him, "Eddie, what the hell are you talking about?" she asks, confused on what he's rambling about.

"She deals with a lot of shit she doesn't want you to see, or-or at least doesn't tell me if you and Lizzie know?" he says sounding a bit unsure, the alcohol not really helping his brain at the moment. "I just wanted to help." he says before putting his face in his hands and groaning into them, "Did I fuck up?" he asks, sounding a bit muffled.

"No, no you didn't completely fuck up. She knows you weren't in the right headspace, and hopefully she can explain that to Steve." she says placing her hand on his arm, making him look up at her from his hands.

"I'm sorry Windy." he says, sounding sad that he messed up.

"Don't apologize to me dude. I'm not the one you punched. Or the one you freaked out." she reminds him, making him groan into his hands again. "Come on, I'll help you inside." she says before getting out of the car.

Eddie follows, nearly tripping as he gets out, making her laugh. "I can get in." he mumbles, making her actually laugh.

"Yeah, maybe after you fall on your face." she teases before grabbing his arm and walking with him up the steps and to the door. He was quick to pull out his keys and Windy was faster to take them out of his grip and unlock the door.

"Thanks." he tells her before walking in, "Come on in. No one's here to kick you out." he says, in reference to his uncle who would normally kick the girls out when they got too loud.

"I'm going to make you some coffee, and hopefully sober you up before you pass out." she tells him, heading to the kitchen, Eddie in tow.

Meanwhile, Bella was sitting awkwardly in Steve's car as he drove, listening to her directions whenever she would speak up. Steve clears his throat, "So, aside from the anxiety, did you enjoy your first party?" He asks, trying to make small talk as the music he was slightly drumming along to was on low. He couldn't take the quiet.

"Uh, I guess it was alright. The music was cool." she answers, not wanting to admit that it was worse than the school dances.

"I didn't really like it. Drunk teens, weird costumes. Recipe for disaster." he says, thinking back to his fight with Nancy that led him to finding Bella outside.

"Did, uh, did something happen with Nancy?" she asks, earning a glance from the boy. "Billy mentioned something earlier. Sorry." she mentions, feeling stupid for prying.

Steve nods, "Yeah, Nancy and I had a stupid fight. It's fine. We'll work it out." he says, more so to convince himself.

"Oh, sorry to hear that." Bella tells him sincerely. "Next right, the third house in, across from the park." she instructs.

The boy listens, making the turn and stopping in front of her house. "Holy shit, you live in the old Creel House?" he asks, staring up at the creepy house that needed no Halloween decorations to look haunted.

"Yeah." Bella says in a whisper, also staring at her creepy house. "I hate it honestly." she admits to him.

"Then why the hell do you live here?" he asks, looking at her with wide eyes.

"Parents bought it" she says with a shrug, "Not like they're ever here to see how creepy it is." she adds with an eye roll.

"Woah, hold up. You're telling me, you live here all alone?" Steve asks, eyes going even more wide in shock.

"Technically?" Bella was hesitant to reply.

Steve puts his car in park and takes out the key. "Let's go." he says before getting out of the car.

She stares at him confused as he helps her out. "What are you doing?" she asks him.

"Staying the night. After the night you've had, I'm not leaving you alone in the Creel house of all places." he tells her before holding out his hand, "Keys?"

Bella blinks but fumbles to get her keys that were in the jacket pocket of her pink lady jacket that was in Steve's jacket that she was still wearing. Steve unlocks her door and ushers her to enter, which she does and he follows. "You know, you don't have to stay? You barely know me." she tries to tell him.

Steve shakes his head no, "Bella, I understand what it's like to be home alone a lot. I don't mind. Besides, gotta make sure the monsters don't get you." he jokes with a slight chuckle. "And you said you'd help with this." he says pointing to the cut on his lip.

She grimaces, "Right. Eddie and his rings." she said with a sigh. "Fine, if you really wanna spend the night then I-I'll go get the blankets and such. Just, wait here." Bella tells him, stumbling over her words before quickly rushing out of the room and up the stairs.