STRANGEST THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU || steddie

chapter two: eddie 'the freak' munson

The canteen 'whispers' and sounds of trays smacking the tables were always calming for Eddie. Considering the fact that most of his school life he has been alone and couldn't even get a spot at a table in Hawkins High, the sound of the school's canteen was a kind of reminder of how far he's come. That paired with the excited chatter coming from his comrades at the table was enough for him to feel accomplished. In the past year he's gained friends for life, thanks to his role-play gaming club and the band he's put together with 'the outcasts' of Hawkins High, Gareth, Jeff and F. Maybe by the end of this year, which happens to be his last, he'll become school's new icon. Well, it is just his wishful thinking. He creates those little scenarios where he turns from a 'nobody' into someone big in a span of a couple weeks. All the while he's actually playing with what is presumably mac and cheese.

Eddie's friends can see that lately, their 'leader' has been more in thought than usual. Of course, Eddie Munson is known for constantly being in his own world, but not to the point where he doesn't even react to Dustin Henderson trying to look into the notes for their DnD campaign. The group suspects that either something bad has happened, or Eddie is dating someone. The latter has caused the group to laugh when discussing the matter, they haven't seen him with anyone, ever.

'Eddie, my man, you good?' Gareth asks.

'Yeah.' is Eddie's only reply, he's clearly not in the mood for casual talk today.

'It's just that, you suddenly went all gloomy on us.' Mike chips in, putting a fry in his mouth. Dustin steals some from Wheeler's tray, causing the boy to slap him on the arm.

Usually in situations like that, Eddie would be the first to stop the youngest members of the group, but something else has caught his attention.

'See, you're even ignoring the Mike-Dustin bitch-slapping. What the hell's going on Munson?' Gareth keeps pressing, hoping to get a reaction out of him, but he gets nothing. Eddie is so engrossed in whatever got in his sight, nothing could get his attention off it.

Gareth follows Eddie's line of sight, catching a glimpse of a tall, dark-blonde, ex-star of the basketball team. He leaned in, whispering to Eddie.

'We've talked about this. Steve Harrington is another one of these jackasses who think they're better than anyone else' Gareth tries to be as quiet as possible so that no one from the table could hear him, but Eddie.

'I know.' It's like Eddie has woken up from a dream, back to the dreary reality. He's fully aware of what Steve Harrington has done to him. Well, he hasn't hurt Munson physically, but his general snarky comments did leave a dent in his mind.

'Wow, he's alive.' Gareth snarls, his brown curls caught in his eyes as he turns his head away.

'Real funny, Gary.' The tension between the two is so thick, it attracts the attention from the rest of the table. 'Just because that's the reality doesn't mean I can't wonder what could have happened if things were different. You know I have a wild imagination.' Eddie flashes a fake smile at his best friend. He puts the fork in his still full plate, gets up and starts walking away. 'See u guys seven.' He waves his back to their table, and leaves the canteen.

Trees loom over the school area, separating it from the rest of the world, yet another prison for Eddie. He has been arrested at least twice since reaching his adulthood last year, and thanks to that he can confirm that school is just a prison with more pleasant looking surroundings. Maybe that's why he cannot escape his bad habits of selling and smoking weed in the woods behind the school. It has been his trading spot since he's started the business at the start of junior year. Being penniless in his late teens has led him to this easy and quick job and he couldn't stop since.

The spot in the woods has also become a place where Eddie can be alone. He can overthink and smoke all he wants without being interrupted. So when he arrives at his table, he's quick to take out the last joint he has, and light it up as quickly as possible. However he hasn't realised one thing; he's not alone.

Steve could feel someone watching him in canteen earlier, but he didn't care to look, too afraid of others' judgement. He just kept walking, wondering how to get Eddie Munson to as much as talk to him, not even thinking about getting the guy to hang out with him. Steve knows Eddie hasn't forgotten the damage Tommy's group, including him, has caused. Wouldn't what he's going to do cause even more? Technically Steve wants to apologise and befriend the guy, so misunderstood and anxious. Steve can understand that much, considering himself to be in the same situation Eddie has once been, but he can't tell him that. It'd only anger him.

Steve anxiously wanders the school corridor, back and forth, constantly passing the doors to the canteen he has gone through not so long ago. He stops abruptly and walks back to them, opening them slightly and peeking in. He scans the heads at the tables, finally catching a glimpse of dark curls, their owner leaving the room, waving his hand to someone. Steve, not sure who the recipient is, adds a mental note for himself to check who Eddie hangs out with, that'd make his objective a lot easier. He considers entering the canteen again to follow him, but the fear of others acknowledging his presence is too overwhelming, so he decides to go the round way, having a slight idea of where Eddie could have gone.

That's how Steve arrives in the woods behind the school, a place for the druggies of Hawkins High. Usually he's staying away from this spot, it wouldn't have been good for his 'good guy' reputation. Not that it matters anymore, which is why he walks through the narrow path, covered by the branches and a bit of high grass. A small streak of light almost guiding the way to the spot where students of Hawkins High can buy drugs from no other than Eddie himself.

Taking each step as quietly as he can, Steve arrives at his destination, standing behind a tree and scanning the area to find Eddie sitting on a picnic table. A cloud of smoke surrounding the guy, scent so strong, Steve can smell it from where he is hiding. A delicate wind is causing Eddie's dark curls to float everywhere uncontrollably, his nose scrunching in annoyance, hands covered in many silver rings trying to calm the mess on his head. Steve pays attention to all the smallest details in this guy's behaviour, all his small mannerisms like constant turning of the ring on his index finger, or how he leans back on the table, arms supporting him behind his back, a joint between his teeth, but no smoke coming out. He's just taking deep breaths and keeping them in for a bit before breathing out slowly, taking his time. Steve is not sure how long he's been here, staring at him, but he feels like he can't approach him now. A weird feeling of embarrassment washing over him. So the blonde takes a step back, a loud crunch echoes against the silence, the sound bouncing off the trees. A quiet 'fuck' escapes him before he hears Eddie's voice calling out to him.

'Who's there? If you want to buy shit, you have to tell me in advance. Didn't bring anything with me.' Eddie's quick to assume, considering the only people that would come to a place so clearly regarded as his were druggies in dire need of an escape from this shitty world. His words not mine.

Without a word, Steve steps out from his hiding spot, coming face to face with Eddie Munson for the first time in two years. His palms start to sweat as he looks anywhere but at the guy in front of him.

Eddie is doing quite the opposite, staring at the boy intensely. 'Fuck me, my eyes must be deceiving me. If this isn't Steve Fucking Harrington.'

Eddie, so shocked seeing the blonde, doesn't even realise he dropped the joint. However Steve realises immediately, and he watches the roach die out among leaves and grass, like it's the most interesting thing he's ever seen, all the while wondering, what has he gotten himself into?