Not Munson's Girl

Chapter 1

Jamie had just wrestled her locker open when she heard the familiar click of heels approaching down the hallway.

She glanced around the metal door and smiled. “Hey, Nance.”

“Hey.” Nancy leaned against the neighboring locker, watching as Jamie tugged the sleeves of her faded jean jacket down and dug through a stack of books. “So… Tina’s party.”

Jamie didn’t even look up. “Nope. Not happening.”

Nancy sighed. “You didn’t even let me finish—”

“What’s not happening?” a voice cut in.

Jamie barely had time to react before Eddie Munson slung an arm over her shoulders, the force of it knocking her locker halfway shut with a metallic clang.

“Eddie,” Nancy greeted, polite but tight.

Eddie gave her a brief nod before turning his full attention back to Jamie. “Afternoon, Henderson.”

“Hey, Munson.” Jamie elbowed him lightly. “Nancy was just telling me about Tina’s Halloween party.”

Eddie snorted. “Please. That place is going to be packed with snooty teenagers drinking away daddy’s money.” His eyes flicked briefly toward Nancy. “No offense.”

Nancy raised a brow. “Some taken.”

Jamie smothered a laugh. “I’m sure the party will be fun,” she said, finally pulling a notebook from her locker. “But I already have Halloween plans.”

Eddie straightened slightly, pride instantly lighting his expression. “The greatest Hallow’s Eve campaign Hawkins High has ever seen.”

Jamie shut her locker and leaned against it. “He’s been planning it for three weeks. There are maps. There are props. I’m pretty sure there’s at least one fake spell written in Latin.”

“It’s not fake Latin,” Eddie protested.

Nancy folded her arms, amused despite herself. “So you’re skipping Tina’s party… for Dungeons & Dragons?”

Jamie and Eddie exchanged a look.
“In our defense,” Jamie said, “there will also be candy.”

Nancy glanced down the hallway, her eyes finding Steve’s.  A smile tugging at her lips. "Well, some of us still care what people think." She said before hurrying down the hallway.

Eddie waited until Nancy was gone before he spoke again. "You know she's going to that party. And going to continue to try and convince you to go, right?"

"Yeah," Jamie nodded and shut her locker fully. "But I have something more interesting that night."

Eddie grinned. “This campaign is historic.”

“Mm-hmm. That’s what you said about the goblin fortress one, and Dustin still hasn’t emotionally recovered.”

“That kid made a tactical error.”

Jamie laughed, nudging him toward the hallway. “You mean he ignored your twenty-minute warning speech.”

“Strategic lecture,” Eddie corrected.

They barely made it ten steps before Dustin came barreling around the corner, nearly colliding with them.

“There you are!” he said, breathless. “I’ve been looking everywhere for—” He stopped short, eyes narrowing. “Why are you two together?”

Jamie blinked. “We go to the same school, Dustin.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Eddie clutched his chest dramatically. “Henderson, are you implying something scandalous?”