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walking through the halls of Hawkins highschool, admiring the calm eptiness of the school. It,s the first saturday of the school year, the clubs are meeting for breakfast. Pushing past the cafeteria doors, I head for the photography club table waving at the people sitting at it.
suddenly I'm feeling myself falling and moments later I'm practically making out with the floor.
whilst I'm getting up I just hear, "Nooooo, you spilled entiteld white girl latte all over my campaign"
Eddie Munson that whailing voice came from, Eddie Munson the school freak.
"relax freak, you can just use another one for your stupid game." "Do you even know how long it takes to write a campaign" his face having so much fury his long curls bounced as he spoke, I looked down at the floor to hold in a laugh. " well you shouldn't leave your chair out in the open so people fall over it" he was about so say something when one of the other people at his table spoke, "c'mon Eddie just leave it, we've got plenty of others to play"
I sat down at my table over looking a project that I had been working on for the club it just felt like something was missing. A commotion started and suddenly all eyes were darted on Eddie, he jumped up on the table, then it clicked the missing thing, I kneeled beside the table and began shooting.
"As long as you're into band" "or science" "or phootooss" he wiggled his fingers mockingly in my direction, I picked up my stuff and walked out flipping my hair as I did making sure he knew that I was leaving. Not listening to the rest of his "speech."
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The bell rang and the halls filled up with loud teens, that all had places to be. I walked proudly in my black pumps making sure the heels clicked on the floor as I passed people on my way to class.
Halfway through geometry -which I was almost falling asleep in- I felt a light poke at the base of my shoulder blade making me shiver slightly, I looked up at the white board the teacher was in full concentration with writing so I turned around.
"What do you want Munson ?" I asked in a annoyed whisper, "did you get some good pics of me the other day?" "Im quite photogenic right?" He smiled and rested his chin on his ring covered hand.
I scuffed and turned my attention back on the board.
I hadn't looked at them yet, they're just sitting in my camera waiting to be developed.
"Hey It's Holly right?" He whispered. I didn't turn around I just gave a thumbs up in his direction.
Lunch came around and I just walked around the forrest outside of school shooting whatever looked good enough to be shot.
Branches broke in the distance and being a Hawkins resident that wasn't a good sign, weird stuff had happened in this town for the last few years.
I made my way out of the Forrest quickly but silent, the branches turned to footsteps, being a little creeped out I picked up pace but so did what ever was behind me. A feeling of anxiety spread through my body and my heart pounded so hard it almost hurt. I sprinted the last few feet to the entrance then turned to see what it was, but there was nothing. The field all the way down to the start of the forest was completely empty. When my breath finally steadied I got inside.
~~~~~~
The red light reflected from the shiny surface of the still wet pictures. I groaned "nothing seems right" on that frustrated note I opened the door and walked directly into someone one. " wow holly are you okay"
"you look totally stressed" the caring voice came from my best friend Robin.
"Sorry Robs, just another project not agreeing with me" I smiled and laughed a little as she did the same.
"Look why don't you just to talk the one person that you know can help?" She asked, nudging me arm teasingly.
"Because Robin I am not talking to the guy who dumbed me to be with Nancy Wheeler."
I rolled my eyes and turned the corner to my locker, "you've got to at some point" she exclaimed leaning against the neighbouring locker. I slammed the door with my books in hand and walked away as I always did when I was met with a problem. " you know I'm right!" She yelled behind me, I flipped her the bird as I continued to walk and the last I heard before I was out of range was her sweet laugh.
~~~~~~
The trip from school to my home isn't necessarily a long one, but when he showed up it certainly felt like a whole eternity.
"Don't you live on the other side of town" I spoke, he ran up beside me a disappointed look of his face, " oh man you saw me?" He asked crossing his arms as if he was moping. " your boots are almost as loud as my heals, so it could only be you" I said blatantly, he chuckled as he went in front of me, still moving but now he was walking backwards.
" what do you want now" I asked, a little frustrated that the school absolute freak had set me as his target.
"You're pretty good at making things look good with this thing right?" He asked as he snatched my camera out of my net and pretend to shoot pictures.
"Yeah so" I reached out trying to snatch my camera back.
He held his hand with the camera even further away from me, I halted and crossed my arms in frustration. He held it out for me to take as he said, "You know we have this Awsome club" and gestured to his shirt by removing a bit of the denim jacket that covered it. "Well we need some photo promotion" I scuffed at him.
"Yeah so why me?" "there's a whole club of photographers, go bother them instead freak"
He laid his hands over his heart as if he'd been hurt, "such a original" he smirked, the sun beamed down at him so he squinted his eyes trying not to be blinded.
"Because I've seen your work around the school and you have quite the eye for catching peoples souls" "doesn't that require for you to have one" I raised an eyebrow at him he looked a little surprised, "touché" he chuckled.
"So can I count on your help Bennett" he looked at her and she was pretty sure he made puppy eyes.
"Please don't use my last name freak" he scuffed "and no"
"not even for five bucks?" he asked longingly waving the note in front of my face. "No!" I exclaimed swatting his hand away.
" see ya Munson" I waved sarcastically.
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As I got home I wondered why that Munson wanted my help, well he did say why, but I wasn't really sure I agreed. Looking through the pictures on my camera I stumbled upon the ones from the cafeteria. It showed a dynamic Eddie his hands reaching out before the crowd that admiring say beneath him, he looked like what you would call a born leader.
I developed the pictures, hanging them up to get a look of what I was working with, that's when I had the epiphany my project was going to be on Eddie Munson, the freak leader. I needed the pictures to be a lot bigger than what I could produce at home, I took my camera and my photo folders to the place that had it all, the photo store.
The dinging bell ad I opened the door felt lovingly familiar. This store was basically my only hangout spot before I started high school and met Robin.
I went to the chart of how much it would cost to get the picture blown up.
Something shuffled behind and I hold my breath in fear of who it was. A hauntingly familiar voice broke the silence. "Hi" it was the voice of Jonathan Byers. Aka my ex.
The silence was deadly, I wanted to say hi back but I couldn't really get it out.
"So... ehm... new project?" He pointed awkwardly at the folders in my hand then placed them on their rightful place in his Jean pockets.
"Oh ..y..yeah" I finally got out looking at the ground knowing if I looked at his hazel eyes I would get thrown right back to that night.
"So how are you?"
"Good, great"
"Good" he kinda mumbled, he did his signature shoulder move, followed by his neck scratch.
"How's Nancy?" Giving the fakes smile I could muster.
"C'mon Holly that's not fair!" He exclaimed rather loudly.
"No Jonathan what isn't fair is that you broke up with me to be with Nancy" "on the same night!" I yelled trying my hardest to keep my voice from breaking.
" I've said I'm sorry a thousand times, I still want you to to be my friend" he had that apologising look the same one he had when he told me.
"Good bye Jonathan" I walked out with long fast strides, tears streaming down my face as I headed to the quietest place I could think of to collect myself, the forest.
~~~~~~
The rock was cold, so cold that it crept through the fabric of my jeans and spread throughout the rest of my body. After a while I heard leaves rustling then laughter, I followed the sound until I saw someone in the distance. As I got closer I recognised the goofy laugh and the messy dark curls, it was Munson and he was talking to someone, holy crap it's Chrissy!
I hid behind some trees, just far away enough so that they couldn't see me. I could see them but not hear them, they were talking about something, but what? I tried leaning forward to listen but as I did I almost lost my balance causing the leaves under me to rustle as I got my footing back. Chrissy looked my way so I quickly ducked behind the tree so that I was fully covered.
"Nobody comes out here you're safe I promise"
That I heard, it was Munson, what were they doing out here. He had a little box of something placed right in front of him.
I peaked out and when I saw that she had her look turned to him again I continued watching them. After what felt like 10 minutes Chrissy finally left, although, Eddie was still sitting at the bench that they had talked at. I slowly walked towards him, my guess is that he heard me cause as I was not more than 5 feet from him, he looked up directly at me.
"What are you doing out here freak!"
I asked trying not to show I had been an emotional wreck not even 10 minutes ago.
"Are you selling drugs or something to the popular kids?" I asked in and obviously joking tone, he just looked at me, his hazel eyes not leaving mine.
"Oh my god, you totally are" I said honestly a bit surprised, I didn't take him for someone that would mess with that kind of stuff.
"I mean I am a little surprised not then again I kinda figured" I said in a teasing but non friendly tone.
He started packing his bag and got ready to leave when I spoke, "wait stop, what've you got" I asked hesitantly and sat down on the bench, he followed and opened the box.
" I've got some killer weed" he said showing it to me.
" the best stuff for the best price around here" he had a mischievous grin plastered all over his face, I only had one question.
"Have you got anything stronger?" I looked him dead in the eye to let him know that yeah I did actually I mean the words that had just left my mouth.
He just stared for a second before he breathed.
"Yeah but I haven't gotten it on me" he almost had a sorry look on his face.
"Then never-mind" I scuffed and started walking to the end of the forrest.
"Hey Bennett" he yelled.
I didn't respond didn't even acknowledge that he was trying to contact me, I heard him sigh.
" Hey Holly you okay" he yelled again.
Shit he must've noticed that I had been a little off, I turned around but still walking.
"Mind your own business freak" I yelled back.
~~~~~~