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If you told Eddie a week ago he would be with Jason Carver and Billy Hargrove, together, inside a little minivan on a 30 hour road trip half-way across the country, he would laugh at you and then walk away.
Because, no. that just breaks every societal rule in the history of high school. Especially when your crammed in the back with Chrissy-fuckin-Cunningham, queen of Hawkins High, and Steve the king harrington in the front seat—who also happens to fuckin be dating Billy Hargrove. So yes, excuse him if he’s a little faint at heart at his current predicament.
It began two days ago, when Steve Harrington approached him outside his little job at the christmas tree shops, with a proposition.
“So, i’m going on a road trip. Do you want to come?”
Because apparently Jason-fucking-Carver is Billy’s cousin, and because Chrissy-fucking-cunningham approached him outside school, because yes they’re best friends and have been since the 6th grade and yes he was going to say yes to her even if her boyfriend was a little shithead goblin who hated him since their freshmen year.
It must’ve been how Eddie, the local self labeled freak always approached his girlfriend. (maybe in his eyes, he was corrupting her too.)
So yes, two days later, he’s sitting in a minivan listening to Jason and Billy playfully argue over something stupid, Steve chiming in every once in a while.
He felt a light touch on his arm, and looked to his right. Chrissy was trying to get his attention.
“Yes, M’lady?” he said, with a light smile. She smiled, back.
“Just making sure you’re good. You’re a little out of it.”
“Yeah, yeah i’m fine! Absolutely fine.” He heard Jason scoff to her right.
“Totally not disturbed by the fact i’m sitting in a car with the fuckin goblin Jason Carver.” He said, hearing Billy huff out a laugh in the front seat, and Jason’s undistinguished squawk in the back.
He checked his phone, seeing a few texts from his uncle, ranging from don’t anyone pregnant to Mike Wheelers where the hell are you, man?” ah, right, the little children he never told where he was going, hopefully his Snapchat location was gone, because he was going to be away for god knows how long. Because he decided to jump into a fuckin car with society’s finest people—and then there’s Eddie.
It was all fun and games, bickering and laughing, Jason glaring at him—and then it was the van sputtering and stopping when Billy hauled it off to the side of the road.
“What the fuuuck.”
—
“okay, well, it says here we are in—Dryer, Indiana—where the hell?” Eddie said, holding his phone, before Steve snatched it up.
“That says Dyer, dipshit.”
“Oh shut up-“
Jesus, it hasn’t even been 2 hours since Hawkins.
—
The next time Eddie checked his phone, it was 1:23 in the morning, and had been upward of 8 hours since he last checked the time, and looked around him as the darkness crept in through the windows. Steve and Billy had since switched places, Billy asleep upfront, Jason and Chrissy cuddling together right next to him.
“Mornin’, Man.” Steve said, looking in the rear view.
“Hey.” He said, voice a little dry. Steve’s voice was gravelly, and it mad Eddie fucking warm in all the wrong places. Because yes, he just had to have a big fucking crush on Steve goddamn Harrington— and he’s still stuck with them for another 22 hours. Jesus.
Eddie leaned forward a bit, poking his tongue out between light pink lips and dazzling teeth.
(and if he was blushing, just a little bit—well, that’s a conversation between him and god.)
—
The next time he wakes up, he feels a stare on him, and he opens his eyes a bit to see Billy’s crystal blues staring back at him from the rear view. It’s a look he can’t exactly pinpoint, but it doesn’t stop him from squirming a bit in his seat.
(maybe it’s just the hormones. Yeah.)
—
They stop at their first motel the next night instead of sleeping in the car, ‘cuz Billy was whining about a crick in his neck that was pissing him off, and Eddie was kind of grateful to sleep in an actual bed.
That bliss started to all crumble a little bit when they realized there were only two rooms—one bed in each one. Which was fine, if there’s wasn’t an odd fuckin number.
So yes, of course, it’s another classic case of leaving eddie behind all by himself—but that’s okay. It’s cool, it’s awesome. Except for when jason started complaining.
“I am not sleeping in the same room as the freak!” He spit out to Billy, who just groaned and rolled his eyes.
“Stop being such a little bitch.”
“What if he sits there staring or some shit? i’m not dealing with a fuckin pervert.” Jason seethed. And okay, yeah he can handle all the shit that’s said about him, but he’s a little hurt to be accused of a pervert.
He makes himself known, playing with his hair, twisting and brushing through it with his fingers.
“Stop being a little bitch, Jason, and go in that fuckin room with Eddie. Alone. I’m not listening to this bullshit the whole way, so go ‘fuckin make up, or some shit, i don’t care.” Billy said, shoving Jason and Eddie into their motel room, and locking the door.
“Jesus.”
“You know, this isn’t my ideal friday night, either, Carver.”
“It can’t be that fuckin bad. you probably love making me mad, and shit.”
“Oh, yeah definitely. You know, i just always wondered what made you hate my fuckin guts?”
“It’s because you’re a freak, Eddie Munson.” He said bluntly. Eddie scoffed.
“Yea okay, most people see me they go running, not stand there and make the fuck fun of me. So cmon dude, what’s up?”
“Jesus—i’m not fuckin explaining everything to you, dipshit.”
“Right, okay. If you could stop being a little bitch for four fuckin minutes. We’re graduating soon, genius. Why hold a goddamn grudge against me when it’s not gonna matter? Oh, are you too scared, asshole—“
“It’s because you were always fucking cooler than me!” Jason said, cutting him off. His eyes were a little red around the edges.
“What?” Eddie said, and he couldn’t help the snort that escaped him. Really, it wasn’t his fault.
“Are—are you fuckin laughing?” Jason asked incredulously.
He couldn’t help it, it just came out and he couldn’t stop.
“I’m sorry, im so sorry man—but you sit there and make fun of me beacuse you’re jealous of me? Jesus christ, dude. There’s nothing to be jealous of. I’m just me dude.”
“Are you kidding me? You sit there and can be yourself , and sure, yeah people make fun of you but nobody really means it. You’re okay with being an outcast—a misfit. I’m not.”
Eddie sat across from Jason on the bed, crossing his legs.
“Dude, then do that. We have a week left until graduation. You can do whatever you want and it will not matter. Plus, what’s so weird about you, anyways?”
Jason murmured something, but he couldn’t quite tell what.
“What was that?”
he said it a bit louder, but Eddie still couldn’t hear, a bit dead from his bass.
“I’m into that fuckin fairy shit, dude. The demons and stuff?”
“The—paranormal-?” He asked, Jason nodded, red in the face.
“Dude. That’s like, the normalest un-normal hobby out there.” He said, deadpanning.
“Like i said, idiot. Just be yourself. It literally won’t matter.” He continued. Jason looked a little ashamed.
“I’m—i’m sorry man. For being a dick all of highschool.” He said. Eddie nodded—and if the two of them shared a hug that night, in the quiet of their motel room, well—nobody exactly needed to know, anyways.
—
Now, Eddie officially knew when everything had gone to shit the second they entered Topeka, Kansas, and stopped at a gas station because Billy needed cigs. Everyone has gone in while Eddie went out to the back for a smoke break, smoking his bowl and looking out at state highway 44.
“Is that Munson?” And curse his instincts he didn’t hear anyone approach from behind him. He turned, slowly, and looked at some of the biggest guys he’d ever seen—and he recognized them.
They were a drug deal gone wrong, he told them he didn’t sell their stuff anymore, and they didn’t take too kindly. They got a few hits in and then he fucking bolted, and now what are the chances of him meeting them in the buttfuck of nowhere?
“Boys! my good old men, how are we?”
“Cut the shit, Munson. You have a debt to pay, asshole.”
“Listen, buds, i would, but i really don’t have anything on me currently—“
and what happened next was predictable.
It began with a punch across the face, and then a swift kick to the temple, and then he was on his back, coughing up something thick and warm, kicks and blows landed on his stomach and back. Then, it all stopped. A sound of skin hitting skin, and eddie opened his good eye to see a blurry blonde-headed figure beating the shit out of them. And then in front of his face Chrissy’s face came into view.
Everything was a little muffled, and then it all went black.
—
Chrissy was dabbing at his face with a wet washcloth as he looked shamefully to the side. He just got beat up by some druggies and it was probably the most embarrassing thing. They all looked pissed off, especially Billy. That’s because Jason had to drag him back from killing one of them(but not before Jason got a few good hits in too.)
Steve approached, and winced.
“That bad, huh?” He said, reaching up to touch at his face. Chrissy shooed his hand away, fussing.
“Jesus, a little bit. Split lip, swollen eye. Jesus, Eddie.” He said, brushing a little hair back. He felt all warm inside, despite his predicament. He tried to laugh, but only ended up wheezing.
“Shit Eddie. You might have a busted rib. Take your shirt off.” Steve said.
Eddie grinned. “Wanna buy me a drink first, Stevie?” He said, but nobody was laughing after he removed it. Chrissy sucked in a sharp breath.
“I’m gonna fucking kill them!” Billy said, opening the door and slamming it, making Eddie jump and the whole motel rattle.
“Shit.” Steve said, before rushing out after him.
“I’m sorry.” Eddie, murmured, looking down at his chest. He winced.
Huge, purple bruises littered his stomach and chest and a patterned fashion. He looked like he got fuckin mauled.
“Don’t be sorry man.” Jason said.
“It’s so—shitty! it’s not your fault. You have to do what you need to in order to survive. Maybe they need to not attack high schoolers.” Chrissy said, and Eddie was a little surprised at her outburst.
A little saddened, too. They’re graduating in a week. That’s crazy.
“Jesus.” Eddie said. Jason hummed.
“We’re graduating in a week.” Eddie said, and suddenly the atmosphere was heavier than it was. It was a muted sadness, bittersweet. Exciting, but tragic. Maybe that’s why he was on this road trip, to make the last of his senior year.
—
Billy was hugging him. Which was a bit weird, and scary, but Eddie couldn’t help but practically melt into his embrace. He smelt like campfire and home. And that was crazy to him, the only person that ever smelt like that’s was steve. And this was weird.
Because, before Eddie had ever known Billy, he remembered him being a big bully. Steve and Billy despised each other. Always competing, he was a huge jerk. Never showed compassion and harrassed random woman. Eddie remembered that, and he remembered Steve coming into geometry with a fat lip and a busted eye. It spread like wildfire, the fight between Steve and Billy. Eddie also demented the fire that engulfed the Mayfields house last summer. Billy’s dad had died, and Billy almost did, too. He remembered that. And then afterwards, Billy seemed toned down. Tame, even. Soft around the edges with a cold middle. He was an anomaly.
And then, Eddie realized he might’ve had a teensy little crush on Billy, too.
—
The second time something awful happened was when they had just entered california. Eddie’s bruises on his face faded a bit, still there and purple, but not nearly as bad as his lower body.
Another gas station, but this time they body guarded eddie. Lead him into the store, someone always with him when they were browsing.
everything was dandy, until an old guy came from the back and stared hitting up conversation with Eddie and Chrissy. Complimenting them, holding Chrissy’s shoulder.
“What a couple of pretty faces. And what happened to yours, hm?” He asked, holding Eddies chin lightly, observing it. He squirmed, uncomfortable. Steve came from behind him, holding his shoulder and pushing him slightly away. Billy approached, furious.
“You put your hand near them again, and i’ll break every knuckle in your hand, all 15 of them.” He said. The guy scoffed and huffed a laugh.
“Jesus chill, man. And a hand only has 14 knuckles.” He said, waggling his fingers.
“Do you wanna fuckin’ die?” Billy said, getting closer before the guy ran away.
—
Eddie confessed his love to the two of them over coffee one morning in their motel room.
It was their 3rd day in california. Eddie realized that no matter what happened now, he could find a ride home back to hawkins, graduate, and never have to worry about this again.
“Hey so, i have this big, fat crush on both of you.” He said, looking at the table. He heard Steve choke on his coffee.
“What?” He asked. Eddie drummed his fingers against the table.
“Yup. I took my own advice. Every thing that happens right here, right now, won’t matter after highschool. So might as well rip it off like w bandaid, right?” He said.
“Well, do you want it to matter?” Billy said, and for the first time he looked up at Billys blue eyes. He saw every emotion swimming in them, pain and heartbreak, nervousness. Eddie realized Billy never wore his heart on his sleeve—rather in his eyes. You just had to take time to really see them. Billy grabbed his hand, and Steve grabbed the other.
And then the three of them kissed under the morning sun—but again. Nobody really needed to know that, right?
—
When Eddie walked across that stage, he couldn’t help but flash a blindingly dazzling smile. He could see Jason and Chrissy in the crowd, Steve and Billy holding hands in the front. He felt like crying.
4 Years. Of being called a freak and followed through the hallways. Papers and painting sprayed into his locker. Freak. Weirdo. Perv.
Every little insult, and Eddie wore it proudly.
and maybe he did cry, he was too busy throwing his cap in the air, hugging Jason and Chrissy in the back of the crowd. Billys hand on his waist and Steve kissing him on the forehead.
If you told Eddie Munson 2 weeks ago he would be celebrating his graduation with two new boyfriends and a new best friend from an enemy once hated—well, he would’ve laughed at you and walked away.
But now that’s a reality.
And nothing will ever change that.