If It Wasn't For You

High school can be challenging for some people, especially if you’re a new student from out of town. You’re considered an outcast, an unfamiliar individual in a world full of cliches and popular students who can tear you up from the inside by just using unkind words. Eddie Munson was used to being the underdog at Hawkins High. The popular crowd labeled him as Eddie “the freak” Munson just because he played fantasy games with a small group of friends. He was used to all the negative attention he received without sometimes even trying. But all of that changed when that negative attention was drawn to a certain person in the hallway of Hawkins High school. The sound of a commotion was carried throughout the halls, reaching Eddie’s ears. “What the hell is going on out there?” Eddie asked, turning his attention to Dustin Henderson. Dustin shrugged and followed him out of the cafeteria. A crowd of students were gathered around and the roars of laughter were loud. The familiar voice of the new top jock reached Eddie’s ears, and he cringed at his words. “I told your brother he’d have to pay back the debt he owes me,” Tyler Mason was saying. “I’m really sorry you have to be the one to take his place.” The pitiful cry of a student grabbed Eddie’s attention as he pushed his way through the crowd. His eyes grew wide when they landed on a tiny figure crouched on the floor in the fetal position. Tyler turned to walk away, but suddenly whirled around and kicked the figure. “Next time I see you, you had better be ready for more,” Tyler said, laughing mockingly. Once Tyler and his friends walked off, the crowd dispersed, leaving the figure helpless on the floor. The figure’s oddly colored short hair dangled in front of their face. Eddie knelt down and offered a hand. “Need some help?” he asked, smiling. Sad, soft green hues of spring looked up at him and their eyes locked. Tears were still freshly rolling down her porcelain-looking skin. The young girl sat up and grabbed his hand. Eddie slowly raised up, feeling her soft, small hand in his. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before,” Eddie said, releasing her soft hand. She brushed off her clothes and fixed her short hair. “I’m new here… and I already seemed to have made an enemy.” “If you don’t mind me asking,” Eddie said, chuckling nervously. “Why did Tyler do this to you?” “He was flirting with me and I told him I wasn’t interested,” she said. “I guess he doesn’t like ‘no’ for an answer. And apparently, Tyler and my brother knew each other, and he owes him something.” Eddie didn’t realize he had been staring at her with a silly expression on his face until she looked at him funny. “I’m sorry,” Eddie said, clearing his throat. “I don’t mean to stare… it’s just… I like your hair color.” She giggled and rolled her eyes. “Thanks. My father isn’t too keen about it, though. And it draws a lot of attention here at school. Some people think I dye it, so teachers tell me off.” Eddie crossed his arms and smirked. “Are you telling me that’s your natural hair color?” She shrugged and grabbed her books off of the floor and wiped them off. “Birth defect. My dad wants me to dye it brown or something. He can’t stand his daughter not being perfect and being too different.” Eddie chuckled. “I know what being different feels like. I’m the underdog here at Hawkins High. Tyler and his team of assholes are a few of many who think that of me. What’s your name, by the way?” “Annalise Dupre,” she said, extending her hand. “Eddie Munson.” He slid his hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. He felt his face grow hot as she smiled, revealing dimples under those green emeralds of hers. Eddie cleared his throat and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Do you know your way around yet? Cause I’d be more than happy to show you.” Annalise shrugged with a hesitant nod. “Sure, I’m down for that.” Eddie clasped his hands together with a smile and ushered her down the hall towards the cafeteria. “This is where we eat food and talk about people behind their backs…” As he was showing her the ins and outs of the cafeteria, Tyler and his group of friends surrounded them. The jock held a crude grin on his face as he looked from Eddie to Annalise. “I see the freak found trash,” Tyler said, high-fiving a guy nearest him. Annalise lowered her gaze, crossing her arms in front of herself. Eddie stood in front of her, squaring up to the bully. “Watch your mouth, Mason,” Eddie said sternly. The jock got closer to Eddie until their noses nearly touched. “If I were you, Munson, I’d watch myself. I can say whatever I want about her… and you.” He glanced behind Eddie and looked at Annalise with a smirk. “She owes me a debt her brother couldn’t pay me, anyway. Don’t you, sweetheart?” Eddie bumped him with his chest so he would back up. “Keep walking, Mason. She doesn’t owe you anything.” Tyler sneered and backed away. “One day, Dupre, you won’t have Munson here to protect you. You’ll repay that debt soon.” Once he had walked away, Eddie turned to look at Annalise, who was shyly hugging herself. Her strange short colored hair fell in her face, covering up her red cheeks. Eddie looked her up and down, studying her body language and facial expressions. He could tell she wasn’t a social person and mostly to herself. He was curious about her history with Tyler Mason. Eddie hadn’t known Tyler Mason for very long, but he wasn’t a very likable person. The way he was treating Annalise was proof of how cruel he could be. Dupre. Eddie thought to himself. He felt as though he had heard of that name before. Maybe her brother was a friend of his? But she said she was new here, so her brother could not have been a student at Hawkins High. If that was so, how did Tyler know him? There were so many questions he wanted to ask her, but her shy, closed-off state she was in made him hold his tongue for another time. “Don’t listen to Tyler,” Eddie said, waving a hand in the air. “He’s probably just jealous of your outstanding hair.” Annalise gave him a small smile and shrugged. “It’s honestly not my first encounter with him. When my brother was around, Tyler would always visit and drag him away from the house. My brother would come home so late at night, stirring up trouble for himself with our father.” “I’m guessing your dad laid down the rules pretty hard,” Eddie said, walking with her through the hallway to the front entrance. “Yeah,” Annalise nodded. “Father had enough of him after a while and too many late-night adventures. I braved one night and followed him when Tyler picked him up one night.” Annalise paused in her tracks and stared at the floor. She shook her head as if she remembered something she wished to forget. As curious as Eddie was, he dared not poke the subject. She would open up eventually, if that’s what she truly wanted to do. Eddie nodded and patted her on the shoulder. “I understand if you don’t feel comfortable telling me about this. We did just meet. But I am here for you if you want someone to talk to.” Annalise smiled shyly as they exited the building. School had just been dismissed early for a holiday and all the students were leaving or milling about. The sound of a car horn caught their attention and a black sedan with a middle-aged man waited impatiently for her. “That’s my dad,” Annalise said under her breath. “Listen, thank you for earlier. I’m afraid it won’t be the last time we see Tyler around. Have a good holiday break, Eddie.” Eddie smiled and watched as she climbed into the passenger seat of her father’s car. He waved at the man but was only given a mean look in return. Eddie just shrugged and walked off, still watching as the car left the school. A very curious girl, indeed. He thought.