the shire is burning [eddie munson x OC]

chapter nine

Willow needed to get better at lying.

She had always known she wasn't good at hiding things from her friends. Being self-aware was more of her forte; keeping secrets was not. So when she realized Robin was in her last class of the day, gym, and that she'd have to come up with an excuse as to why she wouldn't be immediately following her to Steve's car, she started sweating (to say the least). Instead of joining Robin in easy banter, or adding anything to her attempted conversation of just how short Mr. Johnson's shorts were, Willow spent the hour racking her brain for a reason to escape from Robin long enough to meet Eddie after school.

It didn't help that Robin was already aware of Eddie's invite. Willow knew the first place her mind would go if she said she would catch up with her and Steve is Eddie.

Is this what being in a fake relationship will have to be like? Constantly lying?

When the final bell rings for the school day, Willow has decided on what her pathetic excuse will be - she left her favorite pen in her math class. It was simple enough, and should buy her just enough time with Eddie.

"We ready to go kick ass and take names at this interview? I can't wait to finally, actually work with you rather than you just hanging around and distracting me from my job!" Robin is ecstatic as she trails beside Willow, who shoves the gym's double doors open for them.

"Bold of you to assume that won't be what I'm doing still, just getting paid this time," Willow laughs, adjusting her backpack strap on her shoulder. She was nervous. So much so, she felt she could pass out at any given moment.

"Yeah, but at least that means you'll finally have money. No more bumming off of me and Steve," Robin wiggles her brows, shimmying her shoulders slightly. They're coming up on the corner of the building. They need to turn to the left in order to head towards the parking lot, and the football field is to the right.

Willow's palms start sweating. "You know I'm always going to bum off of you, paycheck or no paycheck."

She means for more excitement, more of a teasing tone, but her voice falls slightly flat and falters. It's now or never.

"Hey, I just realized-" Willow is stopped dead in tracks when she collides with a hard shoulder. " Fuck !"

She waits to fall backwards and connect with the warm sidewalk beneath them, but the fall never comes. Instead, large and warm hands grasp at her waist. She feels a brush of cold, almost as if they're wearing rings.

"Woah there, Red!"

It's him. It's Eddie fucking Munson. Just her luck, the very person she was lying to her best friend to currently in order to go meet.

"Shit, I'm so sorry, I should have been watching where I was going," Willow panics, heart now hurting from how quickly it was racing. Her nerves had already been shot from the anxiety of lying to Robin, but Eddie being in front of her now was sending her spiraling.

"'S all good," Eddie reassures, grinning kindly, "You alright?"

"Perfect. Actually, peachy!" Willow is a little too loud in her response, turning to see a shocked Robin before turning her attention back to Eddie, "Are you okay?"

"Fine, fine, yeah," Eddie's hands are still on her waist. Jesus Christ, his hands are still on her waist and her chest feels like a soda can that's been shaken, ready to explode.

Robin clears her throat. It's almost as if Eddie hadn't even realized she was there until she says, "Fancy seeing you here, Munson."

"Touche, Buckley," he turns on his charm with ease, hands recoiling from Willow finally. But the linger in his touch had already done its damage, the burning imprint of his hands still on her hips. She can still feel it even as she takes a step back to put distance between them. Eddie takes a moment to look between the two girls, and Willow swears she sees a questioning glance directed at her. She waits for him to blow her cover, to ask about them meeting, to out her to Robin. It's inevitable. It's bound to happen and Robin is bound to get pissed at her for lyin- "I should probably get going. See you guys around."