Bex had hardly slept. She was too excited to get to the school and meet with Eddie. If she had planned correctly, she would have a whole hour with just Eddie. She wouldn't have to worry about her brother, or any of her friends seeing her. She could really get to know him.

She looked once more at her makeup, and adjusted her ponytail before she grabbed her backpack and quietly left her room and walked down the stairs. She went into the kitchen and wrote a note on the fridge that she was going to school to get some stuff done for student council. She snuck out of the house and began her walk to the school.

When Bex got to the school, her heart sank a little because Eddie wasn't there. Maybe it was too early for him. Or maybe he didn't really care about his test grade, maybe she was wasting her time trying to tutor someone who didn't want to learn. Bex sighed and made her way to one of the tables and sat down. She felt silly for being so excited.

It was only a moment later when Bex heard loud music getting closer and closer. She looked up from the table and smiled at Eddies van pulling up into the parking lot. She quickly opened her backpack and grabbed her compact mirror and checked over her make up one more time and fixed her ponytail.

Eddie walked over to the table and set his backpack down and his metal lunch pail.
"Hi." He said and smiled at Bex.
"Hi." Bex replied. She gave him a little smile and bit her lip.
Eddie opened his backpack and pulled out a box of Post Honeycomb. Bex giggled.
"What is that for?" She asked.
"Breakfast." Eddie said with a smirk.
"Oh. Duh." Bex said.
Eddie opened the box and shoved his hand in it, retrieving a handful of cereal and shoving that in his mouth.
He held out the box to her.
"Hungry?" He asked with a mouthful of cereal.
"I'm not supposed to eat that stuff.." Bex shrugged. "My mom doesn't like it."
"What in the ever holy hell does your mom have against honeycomb?" Eddie asked after swallowing the cereal he had in his mouth.
"Well its not just honeycomb. She doesn't like me to eat any of that sugary stuff." Bex said.
"Don't tell me your mom is one of those moms that counts her kids calories." Eddie scoffed.

Bex looked down at her hands.
"Oh.. shit." Eddie said. "She is.."
"Yeah. Just mine though. Jason can eat whatever but I have to keep up with my shape. Its okay though." Bex shrugged.
"Pardon my fucking french but no its not." Eddie said
Bex looked at him wide eyed.
"Come on, I guarantee you, she's starving you, and eating whatever she wants. She wants to live her dreams through you and that's not fair. She shouldn't put that on you." Eddie said.

If Bex were to be honest, she was hungry. And Eddie actually made a valid point. Her mother never controlled her own portions, just Bex's.
"Ah.. I can see it in your eyes." Eddie said
"See what?" Bex asked.
"Oh, Eddie makes a good point. I think I'll eat some of that sinful sugary cereal." Eddie said raising his voice several octaves to make him sound like a girl.
"Is that how you think I sound?" Bex snorted.
"No, you're voice is prettier than that." Eddie laughed and passed her the box of cereal.
Bex hesitated but eventually stuck her hand in the box and grabbed a handful of cereal and shoved it into her mouth chewing.
"Eh?" Eddie smirked. "Good isn't it?"
"Pardon my fucking french but yeah its fucking good." Bex said.
Eddie grabbed his chest, acting offended.
"Such language from Hawkins High royalty." He mocked. He got quiet and looked around. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Bex asked.
"I think I just heard hell freezing over. Look at what you did, you've started the apocalypse by daring to enjoy the deliciousness that is Honeycomb."

Bex narrowed her eyes at him and threw a piece of honeycomb at him which he caught in his mouth. Bex giggled.
"Your turn princess." Eddie said and reached into the box and threw a piece of cereal at her which she miserably failed to catch in her mouth. Eddie burst into laughter as it bounced off of her forehead onto the table. His laughter made Bex's giggle turn into a full on belly laugh. His laughter was just so contagious.

"You know..you're not like I thought you would be like." Bex said after she finally stopped laughing.
"What mean and scary?" Eddie chuckled. "I thought you would be mean and scary too ya know." He said and smiled.
"Me?" Bex asked "Mean and scary?"
"Oh yeah. Terrifying." Eddie said with a wink.
Bex smirked.
"We should probably start studying." Bex said and opened her backpack. She pulled out her binder, and opened it and grabbed a couple sheets of paper that she had written equations on last night for him to practice.
"I made you a practice test. I didn't have a study guide since I gave you mine, so these equations aren't going to be on the test but it will give you the practice you need to learn to work out the equations that will be on the test. Mr. Jones requires you to show how you came up with the answer you came up with." Bex said.

Eddie took the sheets of lined paper and looked at them.
"You just came up with these equations off the top of your head?" He asked.
"Yeah." Bex shrugged and blushed,
"No wonder Jones picked you to tutor me." Eddie smiled. "I just hope I'm not wasting your time." He said.
"What do you mean?" Bex asked.
"I'm not all that smart." Eddie shrugged.
"Nonsense. You just don't apply yourself Eddie." Bex frowned. "I think, you have set this reputation for yourself that you don't care about your grades and now you're stuck between wanting to do the work to finally get out of here, and sticking to that reputation." Bex said. "I think you'll surprise yourself at how smart you actually are."
"Yeah?" Eddie asked.
"Of course. Try a few of those equations. If you get stuck, I'm here to help. We've only had one tutoring session, I'm not expecting you to pick it up right away and neither is Mr. Jones. He just wants to see that you are willing to put in the effort. And so do I." Bex smiled.
Eddie smiled and nodded.
"I suppose I could try. Only for you princess." He smirked.
"Try for you. You have a future beyond Hawkins High school and I'm going to see that you go and find it." Bex said.

Eddie looked down at the paper in front of him and then back up at Bex.
"Ya know, Blaire...She thinks you are the worst person in the world. But I think..if she would get to know you, you two would be good friends." Eddie shrugged. "I don't see why the student body is so split in half. You're either rich and popular and a complete snob. Or you're poor and a freak." Eddie said.
"For what it's worth...I don't think you are a freak." Bex said.
"And I don't think you are a snob." Eddie said with a smile.
Bex smiled and lifted her hand to push her bangs out of her eyes.

Eddie tilted his head and reached out and touched her wrist.
"Whats this from?" He asked running his fingers over the lightly bruised area where Luke had grabbed her wrist really hard the other day. She had covered it with a scrunchie for the past couple days but forgot to today. Bex shook her head.
"Don't worry about it." She said and gave him a half smile.
Eddie raised his eyebrow.

"You know..saying don't worry about it usually makes someone worry more." He said.
"Its fine, Luke and his friends were bullying Dustin and I stepped in to stop it and Luke grabbed my wrist a little too hard..focus on the algebra equations Mr. Munson." Bex smirked.
"Yes ma'am." Eddie said with a wink and started working on the equations and then he looked up.
"Just so you don't think I'm dismissing what Luke did..I've always thought he was a colossal asshole and that you deserved better."

Bex had had her eyes on Eddie Munson since she started High school, and now she had found out that he had had his eyes on her too. It was almost like living in a romantic movie...except there was no way they could ever be together. Her brother hated Eddie, and most of her friends did too. And there was no way her parents would ever let it happen. They hardly wanted her to associate with Eddie. She blushed and looked down at her hands.
"We should really get to studying, we don't have much time left.." She said.
"Oh.. Yeah." Eddie replied she didn't even have to look up, she could hear the disappointment in his tone.

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Bex didn't even know how she had lasted this long without falling asleep considering she had hardly slept last night and she had a pep rally and a game to cheer for tonight. She was in between classes when she felt a hand on her upper arm pulling her away. She looked at her brother Jason and sighed.
"Jesus J. What now?" She asked.
"You've been avoiding me all day." Jason said. "And I know why."
"Enlighten me." Bex said and rolled her eyes.
"If you are going to lie to mom and dad saying you have stuff to do for student council.. You might want to remember that I am also on the student council."
"Shit." Bex sighed.
"So. what were you doing?" Jason asked.
"Just leave it alone Jason. I don't have to tell you every little thing I do." Bex said.
"Answer my question Rebecca." Jason said. "Or I'll tell mom and Dad that you lied to them."
"Jesus fine! I was helping Eddie study for the test in Mr. Jones class today." Bex said. "Can I go now?"
"You were with him? Alone?" Jason asked.
"Yeah. I was, and get this, I'm not possessed or brainwashed into joining the cult you think he runs." Bex said.
"That you know of." Jason scoffed.
Bex blinked at him and shook her head.
"I didn't think you could be any more stupid than you were..but here we are." She said. "Do you even hear how you sound?" Bex asked.
"The whole town thinks it's Bex! Not just me." Jason snapped. "I don't want you spending time with him alone. We agreed you would do the tutoring in a public place with people around."
"No, you, mom and Dad agreed." Bex scoffed.
"What the hell is your problem today. You look like shit did you not sleep last night?" He asked.
"You look like shit." Bex grumbled and pushed past him walking away.
"Don't walk away from me Rebecca." Jason said. Bex turned around and flipped him off with both hands walking backwards. She bumped into someone . She turned and saw Mr. Jones with his arms crossed glaring sternly at her.

"It seems to be Mr. Munsons behavior is rubbing off onto you." Mr. Jones said and raised an eyebrow.
"You're telling me." Jason scoffed. "If you weren't such a bad teacher, none of this would be happening. My sister is being brainwashed by that freak."
"You wound me." Mr. Jones said and rolled his eyes. "Are we upset that Mummy and Daddys money couldn't buy you an A in my class." Mr. Jones pouted. Bex snickered.
"Don't laugh Miss Carver, you are lucky I'm not giving you detention. Don't let me see it again." He said with his icy blue eyes glaring down at her.
"Yes sir." Bex sighed.
"Both of you get to class." Mr. Jones said and shooed them off.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bex was sitting at her table for lunch with her friends. She kept glancing up at Eddies table and every time she did, he was looking at her too.
"So hows tutoring Eddie The freak." One of the girls asked.
"Fine. We've only had one session." Bex shrugged.
"Two if you include the one you snuck out of the house for before the sun was up." Jason scoffed."
"You snuck out?" Chrissy asked.
"I left a note." Bex sighed.
"But you lied." Jason said.
"And? You lie to them all the time about the parties you host when they're away." Bex scoffed.
"Come on guys.. I hate it when you fight like this. Give her a break Jason, I would lie to my parents if it were me too. They wouldn't want me hanging around him alone." Chrissy said.
"Thank you Chris." Bex said.
"But they have good reason to not want her alone with Eddie, and I do too. I don't trust him."
"No one does. Who would?" Andy asked. "I would have just told Mr. Jones no."

"I'm not going to talk about it anymore." Bex said. "I made my choice and I'm going to see it through." Bex glanced back up at Eddie's table but this time he wasn't looking at her he was looking away from her. Bex followed his eyes and saw the principal walking up to the table with a police officer.
Please don't be coming for Eddie. She thought.
"Oh shit." Andy said. "Looks like one of the freaks is getting arrested." Andy said.
Bex held her breath watching in anticipation. The cafeteria got so quiet you could hear a pin drop. When Blaire stood up she let out her breath that she had been holding in relief that it wasn't Eddie, but..it wasn't good that it was Blaire either. She looked back at Eddie who was looking at her with a What the hell did you do? Look as Blaire was being escorted out of the cafeteria.
"Shit." Bex mumbled and stood up. "I'll be right back." She said.
"Where are you going Bex?" Jason asked.
"I think I really messed something up and I need to see whats happening." Bex said. "Just leave it alone." She said and walked in the direction of the lockers where the cop was leading Blaire too.

Jason watched as Eddie got up and started walking that way too.
"Oh Hell no." Jason said and stood up walking that way.
"Jason wait." Chrissy sighed and got up, following him.

Bex caught up to Blaire, the cop and the principal.
"Whats going on?" Bex asked.
"I can not give you that information." The principal said. Bex looked at Blaire who looked very upset.
"Blaire?" Bex asked
"My Dad got arrested this morning. Someone told the cops he was beating on me, and they actually believed it this time." Blaire said.
"Well.. thats good isn't it?" Bex asked.
"Blaire.. Why are you packing your stuff?" Eddie asked.
"I'm being sent to live with my Uncle in Maine. Apparently he's the only family I have that can take me without going into the foster care system."
"Shit." Eddie sighed.
"Yep. Looks like you'll have to find a new Warlock." Blaire sniffled.
"No.." Bex said. "This isn't what was supposed to happen." She said.
"What do you mean by that?" Blaire asked, her tone suddenly became colder.
"I just wanted you to stop getting hurt. I didn't think they were going to make you move away." Bex said.

"Wait.. you did this?" Blaire asked getting Angry now stepping towards Bex.
Jason approached and stepped between her and Blaire.
"Back it up freak." He said.
"Jason stop!" Bex said and stepped around him "Blaire I never meant for this to happen. I didn't think they'd make you move." Bex said with teary eyes. "I'm so sorry."
"I told you to stay the fuck out of it!" Blaire snapped. "Now I have to move in with complete strangers away from all of my friends."
"Blaire she was just trying to help." Eddie said.
"Did you fucking tell her?" Blaire asked.
"Blaire I'm sorry. I was tired of seeing you get hurt." Eddie said.
"Unbelievable." Blaire scoffed.
"Come on Blaire.. Don't leave on bad terms."
"Fuck off Munson.I trusted you." Blaire snapped.
"Blaire don't be mad at Eddie it was my-" Bex was cut off as Blaire reared back and punched her right in the mouth.

"What the hell?!" Jason demanded as Bex dropped to her knees holding her mouth with blood seeping out between her fingers.
"You want some too pretty boy? These hands are rated E for everybody."
"Thats enough Nolan." the principal said and had the police officer start escorting her away.
Eddie knelt down to Bex to check on her but he was pushed away by Jason. Bex looked at Eddie who was knocked over onto his ass on the floor to the side of her.
"Stay away from my sister." Jason seethed.
"Come on man I was just making sure she was okay."
"Shes not! Look at her! Look at what your friend did to her!" Jason shouted and tried to pull Bex's hand away from her mouth but she slapped at him with the other hand.
"Leave me alone!" She cried.
"I'm trying to help you Bex." Jason said
"Just go away! I don't want your help!" Bex shouted although muffled by her hand over her mouth.
"So you want his help then?" He pointed at Eddie.
"I don't want either of you to help me right now. You are being ridiculous Jason. " Bex said and stood up. Chrissy put her arm around her shoulders.
"Come on, lets get you to the nurse." She said.
"Thank you Chrissy." Bex said and let Chrissy lead her to the nurse.

"Well, that whole thing sucked." Eddie scoffed as he stood up.
"Shut up freak." Jason said and stormed away in the other direction.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bex was in the nurses office with an icepack over her mouth to stop her split lip from swelling, Blaire was across the hall in the principals office with the police still.
"I didn't want this to happen." Bex sighed.
Bex's mother walked into the nurses office.
"Oh my baby." She frowned and wrapped her arms around Bex.
"I'm fine mom. Just a split lip." Bex said. The police officer walked into the nurses office.
"I have to ask if you would like to press charges." He said.
"Of course!" Her mother scoffed.
"No. Mom. I don't want to press charges. I should have just stayed out of it. Now she has to move away and in with family she's never even met." Bex said.
"Why do you continue to try and be nice to this girl who clearly doesn't like you." Her mother fussed.
"Because I'm not a bully. I don't pick on people who need help and Blaire needs help. Isn't there anything we can do so she doesn't have to move away?" Bex asked.
"I don't know what you expect me to do Rebecca." Her mother sighed.
"We have an extra bedroom..She can stay with us."
"Oh I don't know about that. I don't know how your father would feel about that." Her mother said.

Bex ignored her mother and looked at the cop. "Would Blaire be able to stay with me and my parents to finish school?"
"We'd have to contact her uncle in Maine to ask for permission since technically he is her legal guardian but if he agrees he can transfer guardianship over to your parents."
Bex looked at her mother.
"Its just this year and next year when we graduate. She would get to stay with her friends."
Bex's mother sighed.
"I can talk to your father, but do you even think she would want to stay with us? I've been to this school twice now because of something she has done to you."
"Let me talk to her. Please?" Bex asked.
Mrs. Carver sighed heavily and looked at the nurse.
"May I use your phone to call my husband." She asked.
"Thanks mom!" Bex said and hugged her mother before walking out of the nurses office and into the principals office across the hall.

Blaire looked at her and rolled her eyes.
"Apparently I didn't hit you hard enough. What do you want?" She asked.
"I..have an idea so you wouldn't have to move away. You could stay here where all your friends are. You wouldn't have to leave the Hellfire club."
Blaire crossed her arms.
"I'm slightly interested." She said.
"Hear me out. My mom is on the phone with my Dad, and that cop is trying to contact your uncle in Maine. If your uncle agrees, he will transfer guardianship to my parents and you can stay with us."
"So I get to live with you in Barbies dream house? Get fucking real." Blaire groaned.
"We don't even have to speak to each other. We have an extra room in the basement. The whole bottom floor would practically be yours Theres a bathroom down there too. I just want to help you stay here and not have to move. Its the least I can do for messing everything up."
"The least you could have done was keep your mouth shut, but..since you didn't here we are." Blaire scoffed.
"Look, just think about it. Okay? Don't move away because you're too stubborn to accept my help. Bex said.
"Why is the princess of Hawkins High so obsessed with helping me?" Blaire asked.
"Because you're a person who needs help, however stubborn you may be."
Bex shrugged. "Just think about it." She said before she walked out of the office.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Alright class, you know the drill, study guides away, nothing on your desks but a pencil." Mr. Jones said as he walked around placing tests on everyone's desks. Bex looked at Eddie who looked nervous as hell. Bex wrote down a note on a piece of notebook paper
"You got this
♥ Bex"

She waited until Mr. Jones wasn't looking before she leaned back and held the note out to Eddie. Eddie took the note and opened it and smiled down at it and then looked at Bex with smile that made her heart feel like it was melting in her chest. She turned back as Mr. Jones placed a test on her desk.
"Eyes forward Miss Carver." He said as he walked by.
After all the tests were handed out Mr. Jones stood in front of the class.
"Good luck everybody, No talking, keep your eyes on your own test." He said sternly. "You may begin."

Bex easily worked out each equation on the test and flipped the test over when she was done and leaned over to her backpack and grabbed her library book to read while she waited for everyone else to finish or class to be over. She glanced back at Eddie who was curling his hair anxiously around his fingers with one hand and trying his best to answer the questions.
He looked up at her and noticed she was already done and looked kind of panicked.
"Take your time." She mouthed at him and winked and turned back to her book.

After a while Mr. Jones looked up from his desk noticing that mostly everyone was done with their tests. He stood up and walked around collecting finished tests. He approached Eddie.
Eddie looked up at him.
"I'm almost done." he said.
Usually Eddie just goofed off and doodled on his test papers so now that he was actually trying Mr. Jones was willing to let him finish.
"Take your time Mr. Munson." He said.

Eddie just barely finished his test before the bell rang. He grabbed his test and walked up to Mr. Jones' desk and handed it too him. Bex joined him at Mr. Jones' desk.
"Can I ask a favor?" Bex asked.
"What is it?" Mr. Jones asked.
"Can you grade Eddie's test now?"
"Uhhh.. I don't know Bex.." Eddie said.
"I'm sure you did alright Eddie, have a little faith in yourself."
"I suppose I can grade his test now. It will only take a few minutes." Mr. Jones said. "Don't you need to be getting to the pep rally Miss Carver?" Mr. Jones asked.
"It can wait." Bex said. "This is important."

Eddie looked at Bex with a look of bewilderment. He would have thought that the pep rally and her cheerleader friends would come way before he would have, but according to her, he was important. He gave her a boyish grin and she smiled back at him. Mr. Jones got to work on grading Eddies test. Everytime he marked something with a red pen Eddie seemed to wince. Bex put her hand on his wrist trying to get him to settle down.

After a few minutes Mr. Jones looked up at them both with a stern look.
Bex's face dropped.
"Just give it to me Jones." Eddie sighed and put his hands on top of his head.
Mr. Jones' serious face turned into a small smile as he held up the test with a big C+ circled at the top.
"Did..I pass?"
"You were one right answer away from a B. Mr. Munson. So yes, you passed. I knew I could trust Miss Carver with you." He smirked.
"Holy shit!" Eddie exclaimed.
"Language, Mr. Munson." Mr. Jones sighed.
"You did it!" Bex said excitedly and wrapped her arms around Eddie's torso hugging him. Eddie put his arms around her and hugged her. Bex pressed the side of her face to his chest feeling completely content for the first time in so long she closed her eyes, taking it all in. Eddie rested his chin on the top of her head sighing in relief and they just stood there in front of Mr. Jones desk holding each other Neither one of them willing to interrupt the peaceful feeling washing over them.

Mr. Jones cleared his throat and Bex opened her eyes and pulled away from Eddie. Her cheeks took on a light pink color and she looked down at her hands. "I should get going." She said and looked up at Mr. Jones. "Thank you." She said and looked back at Eddie and bit her lip.
"See you at school Monday." She said.
"Yeah.." Eddie said and gave her a smile.
Bex turned around and walked out of the classroom. She walked down the hall, thinking about Eddie, how secure she felt wrapped in his arms and how she really wished she could stay there forever. She stopped dead in the middle of the hallway coming to the realization that she had fallen hard and fast for Eddie the Freak Munson.
"Shit." She sighed.