ch:22 I’ll Love You Forever

sorry it took me a few days to write. I had a hard time coming up with conversation.

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"I will shoot him," she says. Your heart stopped. "Mom, please don't." "Did you tell the cops?" "No, of course not." Eddie played along looking confused. "Bullshit," she shouted. "Mom, please," you started crying. You reach in your backpack. "Ellie," she says, almost with pain and sympathy in her voice, "don't make me do this." You could see straight through her lies. You had your hand on the knife. You step closer to her. She puts her free hand on your cheek. "Please, just stay here," she said, faking tears. "Mom, don't make me do this." "Do what?" You grabbed the knife, making sure the towel was still wrapped around the handle. You cut her arm that was on your cheek. Not deep, but enough to catch her by surprise. She winces, then faces the gun to you. You flip her off, seeing someone in the window. "Put the gun down," you heard behind you. The horror in her eyes said it all. She sets it on the ground, then bolts for the window. She stops dead in her tracks when she sees the officer in the window. "Put your hands up!" You and Eddie moved out of the way so the officers could cuff her. "Fuck you, Ellie." You flip her off as she's being taken away. Eddie holds you in your arms. One of the officers came to you, "you can get information in an hour or two. Please stop by the station." You hand them the knife. "Okay," you said. "Well?" Eddie says, unsure of what to do. You walk to the garage to grab two bikes. "Follow me." you say, biking off. Eddie looked so goofy when he rode a bike. You took him to your favorite arcade. "How cute," he says parking his bike next to yours. You walk inside and see some obnoxious teenagers. Mainly bullies. "Well well well, Ellie's back." one of the snobby girls spat. "Who's the boy?" one kid said. "What a freak." "He's low key hot though, not gonna lie." You flipped them off. The girl grabbed your wrist. "Where'd you go?" She had a smirk on your face. Eddie was behind you clenching his fists. "Not that it was any of your business, but I went to Hawkins." "Aww," she smirked, "after your daddy went missing?" "He was murdered," you say clenching your teeth, "by my mom." "Sure," she let go of your wrist, "I'll believe it." "She put a gun to my head." Eddie laughed. "And who are you? A boy toy?" she trailed her hands up his shirt. She was making your blood boil. "You wish," you chuckle. Eddie slaps her hand away. She raised her eyebrows. "Is that so?" Eddie pushes her aside and kisses you. "Stay away from her," Eddie pulls away. "Or what?" she giggles, "My fist will meet your face without hesitation," you look to her. They eventually give up annoying you and leave the arcade.

You and Eddie play some games until you get tired. "Want a slushy?" he asks. "Sure," you say, sitting at a game. You look at the clock. You needed to blow some more time. Eddie comes back, "I forgot to ask what flavor." "Blue raspberry works." He trots back over to the counter. You were thinking about how you and Eddie became so close. It was a full blown miracle. Eddie hands you your slushy. You sit there, looking at Eddie. "You're staring." he smiles. "No I'm not." "Yeah you are." "What do you want me to look at? The wall?" Eddie doesn't say anything. "There's nothing else in this room to look at." "Jeez, you woke up and chose violence." "I'm waiting for you to shut up and kiss me." Eddie's eyes widened, "You could have just asked." He grabs the back of your neck and kisses you. "Better?" he says with a smug look on his face. "Much," you say looking deep into his eyes. "Want to get dinner?" you ask. "Yes! I'm starving!" he says pulling you out the door. You both hop on your bikes and head to one of your favorite restaurants. "I can smell it from here," Eddie says parking his bike. You sit down until you are waited. "So," he says sitting down across from you, "how are you feeling?" "A little better I guess." You look down and fiddle with your fingers. You still had Eddie's ring from the first day of school. Eddie was looking at you. "I think I'll love you forever." He eventually says. You haven't even been dating that long, and you already know you guys are forever. You didn't have lunch today...or breakfast. You were extra hungry. "Me too," you say softly. You didn't know why the voices appear, and they alway appear at the worst times. A few days ago, you didn't have these vicious intrusive thoughts. "Is something bothering you, love?" "Just my stupid thoughts," you say, still fiddling with your ring. The waiter came for your drink order. "You know what would help you, Ellie?" he says, attempting to grab your hand. "What?" you ask, desperately wanting to know. "A therapist," he rubbed your thumb. It made sense. You never had anyone who would deliberately listen to your problems and try to solve them. "I guess you're right," the waiter came back with your drinks. "Are you ready to order?" You and Eddie nod. "I'll have <insert food name>," the waiter writes it down. "And for you?" she points to Eddie. "I'll have what she has." She smiles and walks away. Eddie smiles. He covers his chin with his hand with his elbow on the table. "You're adorable," you chuckle. Eddie gets all flustered. "I love it when you smile with your dimples," you say grabbing his cheek. "Oh, shut up," he smiles while brushing off your hand. "I know you love it when I compliment you." you kiss his hand.

You and Eddie kept talking until your food arrived. "I never realized your necklace was a guitar pick," you say, admiring it. "Really?" he laughs, "after all this time?" You just laughed and continued eating your food. The voices in your head were begging you to stop eating. But why? You eventually set down your silverware in defeat. Eddie ate what you didn't. Eddie opened his wallet to pay. You saw a picture of you in it. You smiled and looked down. "Why are you all smiley?" he stands up. "You have a picture of me in your wallet." "Ohh," he smiles, "yeah." Eddie takes your hand and walks outside. "We best go to the police station," you say, picking up your bike. Eddie nods.

"Well," the officer says, "good news and bad news." You look at him to continue. "Which do you want first?" he asks. "Good news." "Good news is your mom's court date is set for around a month from now." "And the bad news?" Eddie asks. "You mom is diagnosed a psychopath, which probably isn't much of a surprise, but could be genetically passed on." You stopped breathing for a split second. You could be a psychopath like your mom? Eddie squeezed your hand to snap you out of your thoughts. "Not to scare you or anything, but you should probably be medicated," he said talking with his hands, "I should drive you to the airport now." It was getting late and you were very tired from almost getting killed. You looked out the window. You will miss your town, however, it's not your home. Not anymore, at least.

Eddie gets out of the car and helps you out. You pass through security and wait at your gate. You sit on Eddie's lap, sideways, while he wraps his arms around your waist. "What's the matter, sweetheart?" Eddie asks sensing something wrong. "I'm tired," you say, "I just want to be home." Eddie starts rubbing your back, "you can sleep once we get on the plane, okay?" You nod and rest your head on his shoulder. The only thing you wanted in the whole world, was for nothing else to change, to stay like this. You wanted to be in Eddie's arms forever. Was that too much to ask for? You heard your flight number get called 10 minutes later and grabbed your bag. Eddie held your hand as you got on to the plane. Someone had the window seat, but you really didn't care. Eddie sat in the middle seat. Eddie squeezed your hand during take off, and once you were in the air, you laid your head into his chest and fell asleep.

• • • • • •

"Sweetheart," Eddie shook you, "we landed, please wake up. You get off of Eddie and stand up to get off. The first police officer you met was waiting for you. "How did it go?" "I had a gun to my head," Eddie chuckled. "I cut her arm," you say. "Jeez!" He says as he walks to his car. "You guys must be tired," he says opening the back door. "No kidding you slide in. Eddie sits in the back seat with you. You buckle your seatbelt, you were in a police car. You laid your head in Eddie's lap and fell asleep. You felt him lean down and kiss your head.

Eddie carried you bridal style to his van. He pushed your hair out of your face and kissed your forehead.