"You're aware you could just… I don't know….go talk to her?" Dustin leaned forward onto his elbows that were resting on the lunch table. "That is how words work."

I stared intently and the burger I was tearing apart with frustration, pretending that I didn't hear him. Mike laughed from beside me, "Nah, he'd rather sit around and mope. Three days of sulking wasn't quite enough."

I tore my eyes from the table and stared at him, my voice dangerous. "Is there something you feel like you need to say, Wheeler?" His laugh cut off immediately. "I didn't think so." Today was the day of homecoming, which meant it was day three since I last spoke to Wyatt and our last encounter wasn't one I cared to remember. With her crossing my mind for the six hundredth million time I glanced up at her.

Since that day she made sure to always sit there with her back to me, and I can't say that I blame her. Instead of her in her typical spot, Steve Fucking Harrington sat there across from her and he caught me looking and I turned away in disgust, throwing what food I had back down on my tray. "Come to think of it, I'm not fucking hungry."

I stood up, shoving my tray too hard down the table, spilling a few drinks. Dustin stood up, calling after me. "Eddie! Where are you going?"

I yelled back, not looking over my shoulder as I headed for the doors. "To tie my hair to the ceiling fans and go for a god damn spin, Henderson."

Before I knew it his voice was right next to me. "Sounds like a good time." Dustin Henderson was a freshman this year. The kid was smart as a tac and was killer and any D&D campaign I could throw his way, not to mention he was probably the single most loyal kid in this entire school. My only flaw with him, is his friendship with Harrington.

Henderson followed me all the way to the van and didn't ask for an invite to hop in.

"That's so gross, dude." Dustin gagged as I lit a cigarette. "Is that necessary?"

"It is, and if you don't like it, you can leave."

"You're so moody, Eddie."

"Well, Henderson, you have your dear old Steve-o to thank for that." I stated darkly, cranking down a window of Big Bertha.

"I don't know what your problem with him is, Eddie." Dustin knew I hated when he defended him, but he continued on anyway. "Steve isn't out to ruin your life, in fact I don't think he worries this much about you. Or at all even."

I didn't answer, so he get just jabbing his jaws away. "I asked Steve about the whole situation and he —"

"You what?!" I cut him off.

"Open your ears and let me talk for a minute." This kid had balls. "I said, I asked Steve about the whole situation and I can promise you that you are wrong about the whole thing."

"Right."

"And…" Dustin wasn't going to let me talk. "It could all be solved if you just went over there and said 'Hey Wyatt. I'm an asshole, and I'm sorry."

"That's not going to happen." I rolled my eyes with a heavy exhale of smoke.

Dustin thought he was being funny when he answered. "Well then when Steve steals your girl, I'm going to be the first to call you an idiot."

"That's it!" I leaned over him, pushing his door open. "Get out!"

"No." Henderson slammed the door back. "No, I'm not going to."

"You're being a butthead, Henderson."

"So. You're a bigger one." Dustin pointed out the windshield, "See look, there she is."

"I can see that, Henderson, thank you." As if I could ever keep my eyes off of her. There she sat on the hood of her Bronco with Dustin's red haired friend and a pile of homework spread out. I couldn't help but stare. That girl was the kind of pretty that didn't take effort. Her tan skin all but sparkling when the sun hit it just right, her usually messy black hair was tied back in two braids along her head.

She was messily dressed as always. A pair of denim overalls half done, rolled up to the top of her Converse shoes, a wrinkled flannel rolled up to her elbows and …. My shirt.

I had all but forgotten that she still had it, and I thought back to the night I gave it to her. The night we kissed.

"Hey Dustin!" The red haired girl with an attitude yelled over at his open window. "Tell your friend to take a fucking picture!"

And just like that, she looked over to see what Max was talking about, and our eyes met for the first time in days, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"Fuck." I quickly ducked down, as if she didn't already clearly see me, or as if she didn't recognize Big Bertha from the dozen times she sat right where Dustin was. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Dustin, get down."

"Don't be a dumbass, Eddie." Dustin turned to yell back to his friend casually. "It's okay, Max, he's already got one!"

I needed to remember to kill him when I'm not so preoccupied making an idiot of myself. "I'm going to fucking kill you, Henderson. Mark my words."

Dustin had a trace of a stupid ass laugh smacked across his dumb face.

Then it hit me, she was wearing my shirt. I knew that had to be on purpose. There's no way she could look at that and not think back to me. Right? Unless I'm just a fucking loser sap who's gotten in way over his head.

Did she miss me the way I missed her? It was hard to sit in this stupid metal van and listen to stupid music and to not be able to look over and see her lazily along for the ride in the passenger seat. Damn it, Eddie. Get it together.

"Is she gone?" I whispered to Dustin, leaving what was left of my pride in his merciful hands.

"Yeah, you're good dude, they went back inside."

I decided to cut the day short. There was no point in staying here if i wasn't going to be able to focus on anything else but her stupid, stupid face. I started the engine and dropped Dustin off at the door and made my way home.

A few hours went by and I was an unknown number of tall boys deep when I heard a car pull up to her trailer. I knew I was only going to piss myself off by doing so, but there was no way I wasn't going to want to see her, even from a distance, before she left to spend a fun filled, romantic evening with Steve Harrington.

I wonder if she was going to dance with him, or if he'd try to make a move. What if he kisses her? No, no, no, Eddie. Stop fucking thinking. Wyatt is free to do whatever she wants tonight, and I need to stop acting like it's any of my business.

I stepped out to sit on my front steps with a cigarette ready as a cover. I felt like such a fucking creep watching her like this, but I couldn't help it. These last few days really had me on edge and acting like some preoccupied school boy with his first crush. Damn her for that.

I saw her walk out, and Steve behind her opening the passenger side door to his car. At least he had some manners and was treating her the way she deserved. I felt my heart beat increase in speed when I saw her.

It was rare to see her wear anything other than pants, and she'd always do without the makeup. Tonight she was beautiful in her teal dress and her hair done. I felt a sick knot in my stomach. Jealousy.

"Ugghh!" I yelled, slamming my fists on the wood on either side of me. "FUCK!" I think I've blown my shot with her, if I'm being completely honest with myself.

Me yelling caused her to look up, I could see her turn my way through the shag of my hair over my hands. Maybe it was dark, or maybe it was my mind playing tricks and teasing me with some sort of faint hope, but the look in her eye felt sad and every instinct in my body was screaming at me to do whatever I had to in order to change that.

I made up my mind in that moment. I was going to be Eddie the Brave tonight.