Whipping my head around, I saw Jason staring open mouthed at his friend Patrick, a smirk forming on his face. Patrick had sipped on a fair few girls and was visibly smashed. "You did hear that correctly right, brother?" Jason asked. Patrick simply raised his cup to the ceiling, and sipped again. Everyone stared at him, confused. "One sip from me, one sip from Billy Hargrove." Patrick hiccuped. There was an awkward silence for a couple of seconds. I was too stunned to move or even think. Then there was laughter from all angles. "Billy would've sipped on every person in this room with a pussy." Jason howled. "If Billy were here and saw Rain sip for Eddie, he would've tried to kill her again!" Patrick bellowed. Most people were now silently flicking their eyes towards me, some laughed awkwardly. My body felt like I'd been plunged into an ice bath. From the corner of my eye I saw Robin hooking her arm around me, but couldn't feel it.
Eddie flew across the circle so fast I barely saw it, crashing onto Patrick and swinging his fists. People started screaming and jumping up. I remained frozen, only able to move my eyes. I watched Eddie on top of Patrick, continuing to hammer down with his fists. Jason and a few other sheep were clambering to grab him, tearing his grey t-shirt, hitting him in the back of the head and on the spine. Steve was on his other side also trying to push him off. Nancy was suddenly at my side, pulling me up with Robin. I was on my feet, still watching the fight, still hearing the screams and the sound of Patrick's nose breaking. "Come on, we need to get out of here." Robin tried pulling me away with Vicky and Nancy. I didn't budge. Jason grabbed a bottle and smashed it over Eddie's shoulder, making him stop to turn round as it shattered against him. I heard a terrible noise, almost a cry, from somewhere. From me.
Chrissy was screaming at Jason to stop, trying to drag him away from grabbing another bottle. Steve had managed to push Eddie off Patrick, and was yanking his arm to lead him away, "Everyone settle down, it's okay, no need to escalate" he was desperately shouting. Eddie looked ready to push Steve away and throw hands again, then he glanced at me and I could see something switch inside him. He shrugged Steve's hand away and ran up the steps. "Leave it Jason, it's over. Just fucking leave it and help Patrick" Chrissy was pleading with her hands on Jason's chest. Steve waded over to us as Vicky spoke, with only a little slur in her words, "My place is only 15 minutes away, you can all crash at mine." Steve nodded, "Yeah sounds good, I need to stay here though for Linda. You should all go, be safe." I didn't want to go back to Vicky's, still looking at the steps after Eddie. I shrugged myself free from Nancy and Robin, finally able to move, "don't wait for me" was all I said before I sprinted after Eddie.
My usually heavy boots felt weightless, slamming through Linda's house. I could hear Steve and Robin shouting my name, following me, as I reached the open door. It was pitched black outside, I couldn't see shit. Robin and Steve caught up to me, "What the hell are you doing?" Steve demanded. "Where were you going?" Robin said at the exact same time. I was busy searching for a flashlight though. "Seriously Rain what are you doing, come on we're going back to Vicky's" Robin continued. I flung open a door to a cupboard under the stairs, and found two flashlights. "go ahead, don't wait for me" I said, heading for the door. Steve stood infront of it and shook his head, "you are not going out there looking for Eddie Munson." I gave him my best "yes the fuck i am" look and responded, "someone has to and I don't see his friends going out there." Steve looked to Robin to back him up, I think she would have done too, if she hadn't been able to see right through me. Robin saw the desperation inside me. "Let them go Steve. It'll be fine."
Steve couldn't believe what Robin had just said. "You've got Dustin's walkie - when you find Eddie, radio them and tell them where you are. Tell one of them to call Vicky's place and let us know." I nodded as I pushed past Steve and bolted into the night with the flashlights. First, I headed up the road but as far as I could see there were no signs that Eddie had gone that way. The only other direction was the woods.