Eddie Munson - One Shots II

027. Solstice

"Okay, so what I really wanna know is, why we're here."

"That is a good question, Sprauve." I said.

"It's summer break, and we're here. I mean, I kinda figured I'd get sent here, but you man? You barely show for school as it is." He said, as I chuckled softly.

"I'm literally here because you guys are, you know that right? Uncle Wayne damn near fell off his chair when I asked to come here for summer break." I said, as he snorted with laughter.

"So you're not here to learn life skills, not here to learn about the wilderness? Camping? No?" Gareth asked, as I picked a blade of grass, running it through my fingers.

"Hell no, man. I'm just here to hang out with all of you." I said, laughing.

"Wow, I mean, that is totally you all over, but somehow, I'm still surprised." Gareth said.

"I love coming to camp." Dustin chimed in, with a satisfied sigh.

"Hey, uhm, have any of you seen that girl before?" Grant asked.

"Shit man, I forgot you were here." I said, as he shoved me lightly in the arm.

"No, seriously. I sure as hell don't recognise her." He said, as I followed his gaze.

And I was suddenly stunned, fixated on the long, curled golden blonde hair, the crystal clear pale skin, striking hazel eyes.

"Whoever she is, she's a literal goddess." Gareth said, as I nodded in agreement, with a slightly open mouth.

"Uh, Ed man, you're drooling." Jeff said, sounding amused.

But I didn't care.

She was exquisitely, refreshingly and completely different to any girl I'd ever laid my eyes on.

Her hair was partially up, and the parts pinned up were intricately braided, and as she reached for the strap of her bag, I noticed fine tattoos on her fingers.

I mean, I had a few tattoos at nearly twenty, but she barely looked eighteen.

She slid her bag off of her shoulder, coming to sit at one of the tables in the picnic area just opposite us, and she looked deep in thought.

"Interesting tattoos." Jeff said, reading my mind.

"Yeah, uh, I saw those." I said, blinking rapidly.

"Oh shit, Carver." Dustin said, shaking his head.

And we watched as Jason Carver, resident jock of Hawkins High approach her fast, with his loyal goons in tow.

"Not from around here, are you?" He asked, as we quietly observed.

She slowly met his gaze, her striking eyes fierce, as she sat, undeterred, and unmoving.

"Oh, you noticed that?" She asked.

There was the slightest hint of an accent, and we all glanced at each other with caution.

"I know everyone around here." Jason said, smug.

"I'm guessing that's an achievement around here?" She asked, as I stifled a laugh.

"Yeah, it kinda is." He said.

"Well, hooray for you." She said, sounding bored.

"You're a mood vacuum, aren't you?" Jason asked, rolling his eyes.

"Pretty standard, for a Wednesday child. Full of woe, and woe really is me." She said, airily.

"Okay, what's your name?" He asked, impatiently.