✓ A MIDSUMMER'S DREAM. ▹ Eddie Kaspbrak

iii. BOYS WITH MOUTHS LIKE BROKEN RECORDS

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SUMMER WAS SURE Eddie had forgotten about her. They would never talk again. Their interactions would forever be limited to an embarrassed 'thanks for saving my life' and a strange kiss on the cheek that she fretted about for the next two days.

He was probably like everyone else in the town, like the librarian she'd had a twenty minute conversation with one day and then the next, she looked at Summer with no recognition in her eyes.

So she was surprised when, four days later, the day school let out, she walked down the school hallway to find Eddie waiting patiently at her locker, biting his lip.

"What's hanging, buttercup?" She said casually, trying to hide the rapid rise in her heartbeat at the fact that Eddie Kaspbrak remembered her. He knew who she was. She was planted in his brain.

It was a new feeling.

"Um, I-I brought you something," he muttered, and she noticed the dusting of pink across his lightly freckled cheeks.

"What is it, stuttercup?" she teased, sounding playful rather than extremely nervous.

"I didn't really thank you the other day," he mumbled in sheer embarrassment, before pressing something lightly between her fingers quickly, before pulling his hand back to stare at the ground, eyes glued to his spotless sneakers.

Cautiously, Summer brought her hand up to her chest, laying her palm flat to see a small handful of delicately pressed buttercups.

Her heart swelled, singing some sort of tune that she didn't know the melody of. She felt like she was going to burst. "I- thank you. No one's ever done anything like this for me before." Her throat felt scratchy and dry, her stomach flip flopping. Her voice came out quiet and serious, like her guard had been let down.

"Well, thanks for saving my life and all that shit," Eddie joked, shuffling a little closer unconsciously.

There was a long pause.

"Anyway, um, I wondered if maybe you wanted to hang out with my friends this summer?" Eddie said it very fast, all in one breath and Summer started.

"Me?"

"Yeah," Eddie nodded, biting his lip as she touched a flower petal like it was made of paper-thin glass. "I've seen you in the halls and at lunch, and you're always alone, so I just thought.. it might be stupid-"

"No!" Summer exclaimed. "Not stupid at all, buttercup, are you mental?"

"So you'll hang out with us? There's only like four of us, but-"

"Yeah, buttercup. I'll hang out with you guys." She opened her locker, grabbing her bag and swinging it on, tucking her skateboard under her arm. She turned back to see a Eddie's mouth in a grin that lit up his whole face.