Veilbound (Eddie Munson x OC)

Chapter 6: Love and Mysteries

A few days passed, and Carrie quickly became the talk of the school. Whispers followed her wherever she went, but she didn't care. She walked through the halls with a renewed sense of confidence, holding her head high.

That day at lunch, Carrie sat with her usual group of friends, who were gossiping about the latest school drama. She was half-listening until she heard Eddie's name.

"Did you see Eddie Munson today?" one of the girls sneered. "I can't believe you're dating that freak, Carrie."

Carrie's heart tightened. "What did you just say?" she asked, her voice low and controlled.

Her friend, a girl named Jessica, rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Carrie. You're not seriously defending him, are you? He's weird, and his friends are just as bad. Have you seen them? Total losers."

Carrie felt a surge of anger. "You don't know him. Any of them. They're not losers. They're actually really nice people, unlike some of the so-called friends I have."

Jessica scoffed. "Seriously, Carrie? You're going to throw away your reputation for him?"

Chrissy, who sat between Carrie and Jessica, tried to calm the situation. Lately, Carrie had been defensive, and she understood why. Everybody gossiping and making comments about her and Eddie must be annoying.

Trevor and Jason joined Jessica and the other girls. "Are you looking forward to playing games with a bunch of kids, Carrie?"

Every single one of them made jokes about Eddie, Gareth, and their friends. "Well, at least their heads aren't so deep up their asses they can't tell nobody likes them," Carrie suddenly spat. All of them looked at her in shock.

Carrie stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. "I'd rather be with them than stay here and listen to you talk like a bunch of empty-headed idiots. Every single one of you, but not you, Chrissy. You're cool." She pointed at her, and Chrissy couldn't help but try to hide her laughter. "Enjoy your lunch."

With that, she grabbed her tray and walked away from the table. The cafeteria was silent for a moment, with all eyes on her as she made her way to where Eddie and his friends sat. She felt a mix of nerves and determination as she approached them.

Eddie looked up, surprised but pleased. "Hey, Carrie."

"Hey," she replied, standing next to him. "Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all," Eddie grinned. Carrie sat next to him, and he put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. They both looked at each other, smiling, not minding Eddie's friends around them. "Guys, this is Carrie. Carrie, meet Mike, Dustin, and Lucas." The three of them greeted her with smiles and waves. It was the first time she met them. Carrie felt instantly at ease. They spent the rest of lunch chatting and laughing, and for the first time in a long while, Carrie felt she could truly belong.

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Later that day, Carrie was called into the counselor's office. She knocked lightly on the door and heard a soft voice call her in.

"Carrie, I'm so glad you could come in," said the counselor, who Carrie knew as Ms. Maxwell. "I've been hearing some things and wanted to check in on you."

Carrie sat down, feeling a bit wary. "What's this about, Ms. Maxwell?"

"Well, your teachers have noticed that you've been slacking off in some of your classes, missed cheerleading practice, spending a lot of time with...Eddie Munson, right? It's good to make new friends, Carrie but I'm concerned about the influence he might have on you. He's not exactly... well-regarded, as you know."