#this is kinda sad but i feel like i have to be there early for games if i want anyone to enjoy my creative efforts

[earthlyangelbby]

Cupid's Curveball Chapter 5: Hold your peace

Word count 3.1k Sfw All Chapters Chapter 4 Chapter 6 (TBD)

Summary: After the kiss at Lover's Lake things between you and Eddie have felt a bit awkward. Especially since he has brought it up twice now and you shut him down both times. Its okay though! Because you have a plan of action. You just need the rest of the school day to think about exactly what you want to say. Everything is going to be okay. Right?

February 10th 1986 The morning air was cool, but the sun was already peeking through the clouds. There he was, leaning against the side of his van as you walked toward him. He was smoking, the faint curl of smoke rising in the air around him.

“Morning,” he greeted, his voice rougher than usual.

“You okay?” you asked, noticing the tired look in his eyes.

“Yeah, just didn’t sleep much,” he replied, rubbing the back of his neck to avoid meeting your gaze. “You heading to class?”

You nodded, studying his face. Something about him seemed off, but you decided not to press him. “I’ll see you at Hellfire. I’m tutoring for an hour after school. But I’ll be early like usual.”

“Mhm,” Eddie answered, offering you a tight-lipped smile before taking another drag from his cigarette. After a long pause, he added, “Guess I’m still a bit wired from Lover’s Lake.”

At the mention of it, your heart fluttered. You enjoyed last night, but you’d already made up your mind. You want to talk after school because if you don’t get the answer you want, you can just go home. Instead, you let your voice turn cool and detached. “I can’t be late for class. See you later.”

He hesitated, eyes searching yours for a sign of understanding, but you maintained your even tone. Deep in your chest, you were anxious to discuss it, to share how much it meant to you. Did he regret it? Did that kiss even mean anything to him? Was he just acting weird because he was trying to act like nothing happened?

“Right,” he murmured, a hint of disappointment flickering in his gaze. “Don’t be late then.”

You met his eyes briefly, the coolness in your reply a thin veil over your anxious excitement. “I won’t,” you said flatly then you turned and walked toward the double doors. You needed a few hours to think on what exactly you wanted to say anyway. 

The day dragged on. You found yourself distracted in every class, replaying Eddie’s distant demeanor over and over in your head. The knot in your stomach tightened with every passing hour.

Maybe he regretted it. Maybe it didn’t mean as much to him as it did to me. He hasn’t said anything. Did he even want me to stay?

During your free period, Diana had cornered you in the library.

“You look like a sad puppy sleepy puppy,” Diana said, shoving a soda across the table toward you. “What’s going on?”

“It’s Eddie,” you lowered your voice. “He’s been acting weird since…”Diana’s eyes narrowed. 

“Since what? Dress shopping? What happened after you dropped me off? Spill!”

You shook your head and whispered, feeling your cheeks heat up. “Last night after we dropped you off, we kissed. Well, more than kissed. It was crazy Di, the kiss turned into making out. I ended up in his lap.” You leaned in really close. “His hands were under my shirt.” You leaned back, speaking normally. “Then a knock at the van door and the words ‘Police open up.’”

Diana’s eyes widened, her arms gripped the table. “No way! 1st and 2nd base. And the cops showed up. You’re a bad girl now.”

Your heart fluttered hearing her say that out loud. “No, not really. It was Gareth, Grant, and Jeff trying to scare Eddie.”

Diana sighed. “Ohhh. Well, it's still a bit bad. Kissing in a car with a boy at Lover’s Lake. What happened after?”

“I kinda clammed up and asked him to take me home after they all left. He wanted to talk about it, but I shut him down. Then this morning he seemed off, and I am worried he regrets it. I mean, he still doesn’t know Silas isn't real.”

Di gave you a look. It was her signature “you already know what to do” look.

“You’ve got to tell him the truth. The longer you drag this out, the worse it’s going to get.”

“I know,” you murmured, staring down at your blank homework sheet. “But what if he hates me for it?”

“He won’t hate you. He might be mad at first, but you’re his best friend. Just… rip the Band-Aid off.” Diana squeezed your arm.

“I hope you’re right,” you smiled at her. She always knew just what to say. You felt so lucky to have her.

Eddie was grappling with his own confusion. Ever since Lover’s Lake, you’d been distant. Just barely saying anything to him this morning, and then shutting him down. For the second time. He’d tried to bring it up, but you shut him down. It stung, not knowing how you felt. Is Silas still a contender in all this? Did the kiss mean anything to her? His brain looped all these questions over and over.

Did she like it? Was she just embarrassed by it? Maybe she only kissed me because she didn’t want to leave things awkward, and now she regrets it. I can’t shake the feeling she’s pulling away from me. Does she even want to talk?

Gareth approached, breaking Eddie’s spiral. Gareth with an apologetic grin. “Hey, man, about last night... If I’d known you were with someone, especially her, I wouldn’t have pulled that prank.”

Eddie waved it off, though his jaw tightened at the reminder. “Don’t worry about it,” he muttered, trying to sound casual.

Gareth wasn’t done. “Seriously, let me make it up to you. You’re going to the Cupid’s Ball, right? I can get my sister to give you a quick lesson. She’s a pro at all that dancing stuff.”

Eddie snorted. “Dude, I don’t need a lesson. I’m more of a rock-and-roll kind of guy.”

“Yeah, but slow dancing?” Gareth raised an eyebrow. “You want to impress her, don’t you?”

Eddie hesitated, picturing her in that dress from the mall, and finally relented. “Fine. But if she laughs at me, I’m blaming you.”

Just then, the 3rd lunch bell rang.

Gareth’s face perked up. “Finally! I’m starving.” He started walking and yelled at Eddie, “C’mon Munson!”

Eddie laughed at his friend’s enthusiasm for borderline prison food. “Nah, I think I’m gonna skip, but you go ahead.”

Eddie wanted to take a few minutes to himself and think about last night and what he wanted to say to you before Hellfire.

After school, before Hellfire, Eddie met Gareth’s sister, Julie, in the theater room. She was bubbly and quick to laugh, easing his awkwardness as she showed him a few simple steps. As they swayed to the music, Eddie couldn’t help but gush.

"You know, she’s… different," he said, smiling faintly.

"Different how?" Julie asked.

"Just… everything. She’s my best friend, but she’s more than that, too, you know?" Eddie chuckled, his voice softening. "She’s got this way of looking at me like I’m the only person in the room. And when she smiles? It’s like the sun came out just for me."

Julie grinned. "Sounds like you’re head over heels, Munson."

"Yeah," Eddie admitted, spinning her clumsily. "I think I am."

By the time your tutoring gig ended, you had decided to take Diana’s advice. Your stomach churned as you walked toward the theater room where Hellfire Club met. Eddie always got there early to set up, and you figured it was the best chance to catch him alone. You needed to talk to him. Today was too much. 

The hallway was quiet as you approached the heavy double doors. The faint music playing and Eddie’s unmistakable laugh filtering through the crack in the door. You pushed it open just enough to peek inside and froze.

Eddie was in the center of the room, holding a girl by the waist as they swayed to the beat of a song playing from the cassette player. You didn’t recognize the girl, but the way Eddie’s head tipped back with laughter and the ease with which he held her felt like a punch to the gut. 

For a moment, you were unable to move. Your chest tightened, and the feeling in your legs felt like they might give out. Eddie spun the girl around playfully, his grin as wide as you’d ever seen it. A grin you thought was usually just for you. 

The heavy door creaked slightly as you pulled it shut again, you bit down hard on your lip to keep from making a sound. Your heart pounded out of your chest. You turned and walked quickly back down the hallway, tears threatening to spill over. By the time you got to the parking lot, you were practically running home. 

Diana’s words echoed in your head: The longer you drag this out, the worse it’s going to get. But now it felt too late. The kiss really hadn’t meant anything to him. You were just friends. Or worse Eddie didn’t even think about you like that at all and it was just the weed making him kiss you. Both times you kissed you had smoked. For you it was that it made your anxiety loosen up. But maybe for him he just felt like kissing and you were there. The thought ate you up inside. Maybe Eddie was being so weird because he didn’t want to tell you the truth. He just doesn’t like you like that. 

Eddie couldn’t help but notice your absence from Hellfire. Hell he even saved you a seat next to him. He hoped he would be able to talk to you after about what happened at lovers lake. It was all he could think about as he sat through the game, trying and failing to focus. He kept replaying the kiss in his mind, the way it had felt so right, so natural, like it was what you both been waiting for. But now, with you not there, with the cold distance between you, Eddie couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. Was it the prank? Was it his fault for not handling things better? He kept wondering if you regretted what happened, if maybe it had been a mistake to you. Maybe you were just embarrassed, or worse, maybe you didn’t want him the way he wanted you. 

It was a painful thought, but one he couldn’t escape. He just couldn’t understand why you’d shut him out, why you weren’t talking to him like you used to. 

Was this it? Was this the end of whatever the two fo you had been? 

The uncertainty gnawed at him, and the thought of losing you, of whatever connection you two had, terrified him more than anything else.

You locked yourself in your room, pulling the sheets tight around you as you replayed the kiss over and over in your mind. The heat of it, the softness of his lips against yours, followed by the awkward tension that lingered afterward. And then his smile. His laugh. The way he danced with that girl, so carefree, so comfortable. What the hell were you thinking? Eddie was just your friend nothing more. Even if, deep down, you wanted him to be. You tried to remind yourself of that, but the thought twisted inside you. Was it all just a moment of convenience? Were you so easy, so willing to kiss him, to give him more if he asked? Now everyone knew and had their own idea of what happened. The self-loathing clawed at you, choking you with the realization that maybe you’d never really had a chance. You had lost him. And the thought of it hit harder than you could’ve imagined. The phone rang, cutting through the storm of your thoughts. It was Diana’s voice on the other end of the line. “Hey, what’s up? How did the talk with Eddie go?”

Your voice cracked as you tried to answer. “We—I didn’t talk to him, Di,” you said, the weight of it breaking you. Tears started to fall before you could stop them.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. Just talk to him tomorrow,” Diana said gently, trying to soothe you.

But you couldn’t hold it in. “No, Di. I saw him. I saw him dancing and laughing with some girl in the theater. I left and went home.” Your voice cracking, “God Di The kiss… it didn’t mean anything to him. I know it. I’m such an idiot,” you were now full of blubbering.

Her tone shifted, turning to pure disbelief. “Oh. My. God. He has to be the king of jackasses to do something like that! He can’t just put his hands all over my best friend and then go canoodle with some bimbo the very next day. Who the hell was it?”

Her words made you laugh through your tears, a bitter chuckle. “I don’t knowowow” you boohooed, and then in the smallest voice said, “Di, I really thought he liked me.”

Her tone softened, full of understanding. “Oh sweet girl, I was sure he did too. Hell, I still think he might. But boys? They’re stupid. They don’t get it. You don’t need to worry about him not caring. He probably has no clue what he wants.”

For a second, her words gave you a small glimmer of hope. Hearing her confirm that maybe, just maybe, Eddie didn’t hate you made the tension in your chest ease a bit. “I’m so mad at him. And I’m so scared. He doesn’t know Silas isn’t real. Do you think he’s thinking badly of me? Like, because I kissed him while I was still supposed to be all into Silas? Do you think Eddie hates me? What if I was just there ya know like a makeout out of convenience? What if he doesn’t even like me?”

“Slow down. Listen, I don't think he hates you, not at all. Now for the kiss of convenience, that's not impossible. BUT after having spent the entire day with the two of you before your lover’s lake rendezvous, Eddie did seem super into you. I don't think he could just turn that on and off. But I will say one thing for sure, babe, you have to talk to him about it. You can’t avoid it. And it needs to be in person, so you can see all his body language and get the truth, the full picture.”

Your heart skipped at the idea of confronting him, but you knew it had to happen.

“I know you’re right Di.” you sniffled As the conversation lingered, Diana’s voice softened again. “You’ve got this, okay? You’re stronger than you know. Just talk to him, and whatever happens, I’m here for you.”

You sniffled, wiping your eyes, “Thanks, Di. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Right back at you,” she said warmly. “I love you, girl.”

You smiled through your tears, the familiar comfort of Diana’s voice wrapping around you like a blanket. “I love you too. Thanks for being here. I’ll see you tomorrow.” and you hung the phone up. You laid looking at the ceiling and the thought of Eddie with that girl reignited some anger in you. You were definitely sad. But also pissed off. Who was he to- 

The phone rang again, breaking through the knot of thoughts tangled in your mind. You hesitated before picking it up, your fingers trembling as you pressed it to your ear. “Hello?”

“Hey,” Eddie’s voice was hesitant, as if searching for something he couldn’t quite find. “You weren’t at Hellfire. Are you okay?”

Your breath caught in your throat. You wanted to say so much, but the words were all wrong. “Yeah, just tired,” you replied quickly, your voice a bit hoarse for crying.

Eddie’s pause stretched a little too long. “You sure? You don’t sound okay.” Why isn’t she talking to me like usual? Eddie thought, his stomach sinking. She sounds... off. Something’s wrong. I don’t know why, but I feel like it’s me.

You could hear the concern in his voice, and it felt like a weight pressing down on you. “I’m fine,” you insisted, squeezing your eyes shut, the lie tasting bitter in your mouth. “Gonna try and get some sleep now Eddie.” the way you said his name coming off a bit more mean than you intended. Why does she sound so distant? Did I screw something up? Eddie’s mind raced. He couldn’t get the image of you walking away from him that morning out of his head. It had been a small thing, a moment that seemed insignificant, but it had stuck with him. You hadn’t been yourself since the kiss.

“Okay... well goodnight, sweetheart,” the confusion in his voice was clear. His confusion left an ache in your chest. 

He thinks he can do whatever he wants? He thinks he can just act like dancing with another girl after being all over you the night before is totally normal? Hell no. You thought.

Your finger hovered over the receiver, and without thinking, your hand moved on its own. You slammed the phone down onto its base with a sharp, decisive click.

The line went dead, and the feeling of finality hit you all at once. The weight of your decision hung in the air, but you couldn’t bring yourself to regret it. Not yet. 

On the other end, Eddie laid there, looking over at his Garfield phone in confusion. The bright orange plastic seems absurdly out of place in the moment. He blinked, his throat tightening as he tried to make sense of the abrupt end to the conversation.

“Hello?” he said aloud, his voice unsure, but there was only silence followed by the trill of the dial tone rang through.

He looked at the phone, his chest tightening as the reality settled in. You’d hung up on him.

His stomach dropped. He didn’t understand what happened? Why did you shut him out like that? Had he said something wrong? He felt that familiar unease creeping up his spine, but it was worse now, because this time it wasn’t just the usual weirdness of his feelings. This time, it felt like he had messed something up, and there was no way of taking it back.

Eddie let out a slow breath, his finger absently tracing the edge of the phone’s receiver, the reality of the situation making his thoughts spin.

Something’s wrong. She’s shutting me out, and I don’t know why. The thought gnawed at him, each unanswered question turning in his mind like a broken record. I thought we were fine. We shared something, didn’t we? Why is she pulling away now? The confusion was like a storm cloud hanging over him. Did she regret it? 

Thanks for reading let me know for Taglist! I promise to release the next chapter this week!!!!!

Taglist: @emxxblog @punkrockmlchael @ali-r3n @g3n3zshack @exploding-bonbon @sheneedsrocknroll92 @punkrockmlchael @api0calisse @callmytherapistplease-blog @arabellagreenleaf @hellmastereddie @am0iur @taniamunson 

[ohsweetflips]

somewhere on this blog there is a post that goes something like "what if i just start identifying as nonbinary and don't tell anyone and still go by she/her" and that needs to be marked as the day that pandora's box opened

[bistaxx]

they are literally just gone...

[ayara-resara]

.

[fatehbaz]

.

[seventh-district]

7am, eating cold leftover teriyaki stir-fry for breakfast and crying over blorbos

[sysig]

When you weren’t looking (Patreon)

[kalkydra]

woe is me post again sorry but i'm like mourning all the stuff i would love to read but just. can't. having brain damage sucks 👍

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

danny talking about how resentful she became when nobody who she self-sacrificed for cared when she died and then leaving kirsch with laura and carmilla bc "if he stays with me i might lose control again and kill him" kinda confirms my thoughts abt both newly-turnedness and anger making vampires more vampiry

but also makes me think that in more usual circumstances, when the dean turned vampires like carmilla and mattie, that shes really nice at the start to temper any of that unruly anger

[blue-mood-blue]

You’ve heard of ~✨protagonist plot armor✨~ now get ready for…

cannon fodder plot nerfing!!

[thedreadvampy]

I tried listening to Olivia Rodrigo and I'm sure this is really good for its target audience of Teen Girls Going Through A Breakup but has she actually ever put out a song that isn't about a guy cheating, breaking up with her and moving on to someone else?

like babe he's not coming back it's been 2 years you gotta find something else in your life

[perilegs]

oh no do i need to get back into poe right this second and speedrun the games

[scionshtola]

i logged out early tonight so i could write and then i did not even attempt to do that. i am however in bed at 10:45pm so i think that’s a win

[thesnowqueen]

if i had a nickel for every time the best friend duo that was the cornerstone of an entire trilogy got split apart at the end of the 3rd movie, ruining the entire trilogy for me, i'd only have 2 nickels, but it's strange that it's happened twice

[lovevalley45]

i’ve been enjoying neverafter so far but i wonder how different it would have been if they hadn’t had the TPK in ep 3 n kinda learned so early on abt the multiverse aspect

it does kinda feel like things started unfolding out of order which i personally don’t mind? but i think if things had turned out better/differently the season would feel a lil more cohesive

[boyapologist]

I'm either having a sudden depressive episode or coming down with something