the shire is burning [eddie munson x OC]

chapter forty four

"And then... and then I just... I fucking kissed him , Robs! I kissed him, and I had no reason to kiss him, and we didn't talk about it. I don't think we're ever going to talk about it. I just-" Willow cuts herself off with a loud groan.

It was her day off, but she was currently standing in Family Video after school, and she was supposed to be keeping Robin company as she worked. Keeping company had quickly devolved into a whispered rant of the night before with Eddie, though. But, looking at her friend now, she's not even sure if she's heard a word that Willow has said. She's staring off into the store, glossed over eyes focused on a particular aisle.

"Are you even listening to me?" Willow asks softly from her position of being draped over the counter. When Robin doesn't respond once more, Willow glances over her shoulder in the general direction of Robin's stare. She wonders if maybe it's Vickie, which would describe the interesting look on her friend's face. It was almost lovelorn, hopeless in a sense and full of pining. And if Vickie was the one in the romance aisle, all the dots would easily connect, everything falling into place.

But it isn't Vickie that Robin is staring at. It's Nancy Wheeler.

Willow hadn't even seen her come in, and wonders for a second how long she'd been there.

"Buckley, why are you staring at Nancy Wheeler like that?" she asks once she faces Robin once more.

That gets her attention.

"Keep your voice down, Jenkins!" she scolds, finally looking at her best friend before leaning in and hissing, "I was not staring."

" Yes , you were. You've been completely ignoring me for the past five minutes to do said staring. What's up?" She doesn't bring up the lovelorn face, not yet.

"I just..." Robin is blushing . It's almost worse than all the times that Willow had teased her about Vickie in the beginning, "It's nothing. Just that Nance keeps coming in a lot, and it's kind of weird, right?"

" Nance ? Since when do you call her that?" Willow scrunches her nose in confusion, "And that depends. Is she coming in when Steve's here? Do you think she's going to try to get back with him?"

It's not the moment to bring it up, but Willow is particularly proud of how her voice remains even, solely curious, at the mention of Nancy and Steve rekindling. There's not a trace of jealousy, negativity, or heartbreak in her words.

"I- Only the first time. He was here the first time she came in, they talked - it didn't seem like a lover's reunion , or whatever," Robin waves off the idea, looking deep in thought, "But the last few times, it's mainly when I'm working. She even comes over and tries to make conversation, you know? Actually, one time, Steve was even here and she approached me first. He had to talk to her first," a look of realization dawns on Robin's features, and she looks at Willow with wide eyes, "Oh my God. Wait. Do you think they're getting back together?"

Willow doesn't even try to put on an act of jealousy, she simply shrugs nonchalantly, "I dunno. I'd have to see them in action, I guess."

There is only a sliver of her that is hoping that's not the case, and it's not for the reasoning that would be expected - if Steve gets back with Nancy, that could break the entire fragile coverup that her and Eddie are operating under. If Steve is suddenly off the market, it gives them no real reason to continue fake-dating.

No real reason to be sneaking into each other's rooms at midnights, and having private make-out sessions.

Yeah, Willow suddenly hopes that Nancy Wheeler is not trying to rekindle with Steve. Not yet, at least. Not until Willow can get her shit with Eddie together.