"Guys, look. Drama." Gareth gestured towards the nearly empty space in the middle of the cafeteria where Chrissy and Jason stood arguing.

Gareth had decided to come into school for today even though Hope was staying over, apparently she was spending the day with Gareth's mom instead so Gareth decided to come in so he wouldn't be alone.

Everybody else around us was talking too loud for any of us to be able to hear what Chrissy and Jason were arguing about but I knew we all had a rough idea.

After the spray paint incident where someone publicly exposed Jason for being a cheater, we all sort of wondered if Chrissy knew or not, I guess this was our answer.

"Hey, Val?" Eddie says, getting my attention.

I didn't take my eyes off the whole Chrissy and Jason argument situation, instead I leaned back a little towards Eddie to show him I was listening.

"I think Jason still thinks I was the one who did that spray paint shit, meaning he's gonna confront me at some point." Eddie begins, "If I ever get into a physical fight with Jason, promise me you won't intervene, no matter how bad it gets. I'll do what I have to do and no one gets involved, has to be a fair fight."

The idea of Jason going after Eddie was enough to make me feel sick. I've seen Jason get into fights before and he's always victorious. I still have vivid memories from back when I was 'friends' with Jason, him beating the shit out of anyone who pissed him off and then smiling to himself once he'd won the fight as if it was easy for him, as if he didn't care about leaving someone bruised and bleeding out on the floor.

"I don't think I'll be able to just stand there watching you get hurt." I tell him.

"This is Jason we're talking about, I won't be the one getting hurt." he says way too confidently.

"Just please be careful, okay?" I sigh.

"Scared my pretty face is gonna get messed up?" he jokes, I'm instantly rolling my eyes.

"No, scared you'll be knocked out or some shit."

I focused back on Chrissy and Jason, the argument seemed to be getting more heated although it seemed like Chrissy was angrier than Jason. He looked as if he was pleading with her, she wasn't taking his bullshit.

Everyone quietened down slightly once more people began to see the argument, everyone heavily invested, everyone except the basketball team.

Jason tried to hold Chrissy's hand to calm her down, instead, she pulled her hand away instantly, anger in her expression. Chrissy's palm met Jason's face in a harsh slap. Gasps filled the newfound quietness, people began to look away.

Chrissy Cunningham, you fucking legend.

"Holy shit!" Gareth's eyes widened, he looked around the table to see if anyone else was seeing what he was seeing.

I knew I couldn't leave Chrissy over there by herself, whatever had just happened was clearly some sort of breakup between her and Jason. I knew her friends would've ridiculed her for it, they would've called her a fool for breaking up with Jason. So, she had no boyfriend anymore, and no real friends either.

But she had me, and I needed her to know that.

"If any of you need me, I'm going to the forest, getting Chrissy out of here." I tell the others, immediately heading over towards Chrissy.

I could've sworn I saw a slight smile on Chrissy's face when she saw me coming over, I knew other people were looking too but I didn't have time to care.

Jason was still standing there by the time I reached Chrissy, he had almost no expression on his face but I knew that meant he was pissed, also probably a little humiliated that he'd just been slapped in front of everyone at school.

"We're getting out of here, come on." I said to Chrissy, she nodded in response.

But just as I began to walk away with her, I felt a hand on my wrist, I was forcibly turned back around to face Jason. His grip was so harsh it could've honestly broken a bone, I'm surprised it didn't.

"The spray paint, was it you? Or was it your freak boyfriend?" he asks, he quite literally looked like he wanted to kill me.

"Let me go, Jason."

"Then answer my question."

If I said no he'd think I was lying so I had no idea what I was supposed to do, I turned to Chrissy, all she could do was shake her head. She couldn't do anything to help anyway.

She didn't need to, because Jason's hand was off of me within a few seconds, fucking freedom.

Eddie pulled Jason away from me by his jacket, his fist meeting the blond's jaw in one harsh strike.

"Here's the deal, blondie. You're gonna stay the hell away from Valerie or I'll break a few of your fingers, maybe even a wrist, can't play basketball without your hands, right?" Eddie's almost laughing at this point, clearly not scared of Jason.

It was obvious this instilled some fear into Jason, basketball was his entire life, without his hands he was nothing.

"She's a fuckin' psycho anyway, you can have her." Jason replies with no emotion at all, swiping some blood away from a cut Eddie had left on his face with one of his rings.

It was like a switch had been flipped within Eddie, as soon as Jason had said those words it became a full on brawl. In regards to 'fight or flight' Eddie's always said that flight is his default option, he always runs. Not this time. Eddie was fighting, quite literally.

Chrissy and I moved away and then it was chaos, Jason desperately trying to fight back as Eddie had him backed up into a table, still punching him. Jason managed to get one hit in but it was obvious Eddie had the upper hand.

Two other members of the basketball team stood from their seats and my heart dropped, I would've told them to sit back down but I remembered what Eddie had said, don't intervene.

"Gotta get your little basketball buddies to help you? Lame." Eddie laughed out in between punches.

But he also said it has to be a fair fight... right? Three guys on one isn't a fair fight.

Hellfire.

"Guys!" I called over to the table where Hellfire were sitting, gesturing to the basketball team who were clearly about to join in the fight.

Gareth didn't waste a second, he immediately came rushing over to take on one of the basketball players, Jeff quickly joining too.

"Valerie, I think we should go." Chrissy said nervously, reaching for my hand.

I couldn't stay there and watch, but I also couldn't help either, besides, I had to get Chrissy out of there. Gareth and Jeff were doing as much as they could to keep the other guys off Eddie, and I trusted that they'd keep him safe. There was no way in hell Gareth would ever let Eddie get hurt.

I couldn't help but smile as Gareth knocked one of the basketball players onto the ground, it was like he'd been waiting to do that his whole life.

Right, need to get out of here with Chrissy.

...

"That was pretty badass of you, when you slapped him. You did what all of us wanted to do." I tell Chrissy, trying to reassure her a little as she still seemed tense.

Obviously she'd be upset, she'd clearly just gone through a breakup in front of everyone, it just worried me how quiet she was being.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I ask her, noticing her frown as she looked into the distance.

"I just really missed you, that's all." she throws her arms around me, hugging me tightly.

I was caught off guard a little but I eased into the hug, letting my arms fall around her.

"I missed you too, so much." I admit, Chrissy still in my arms, "I'm so sorry I left you with that asshole."

"Don't be. It was my fault for believing him over you. I'm just glad I'm finally out of there, I have no idea where I'm gonna go now but dropping my friends and Jason did feel good." she smiles slightly as we both pulled away from the hug.

"Well, me and Eddie are here for you, even though we all know you wouldn't be caught dead being friends with Hellfire members." I tell her honestly, the second part was a joke though.

"That's not true, I've always wondered how I'd look in a Hellfire shirt. I don't think I'd be able to rock it like you do though." she smiles.

"I can get you one if you want, Eddie won't mind giving me another one, girlfriend privileges." I laugh, not realising what I'd said until it was out.

"The rumours were true then? You and Eddie are actually a thing." she asks, small smile creeping onto her face, I kinda hoped she didn't hear.

"Yeah, pretty much." I said casually, a little nervous for her reaction.

"I'm so happy for you! You two make a cute couple, you have this whole opposites attract thing going on, it's sweet. Does this mean you finally got that first kiss you've wanted for so long?" she replies, I'm instantly relieved that she's not freaking out.

"I did, it was perfect, can I tell you about it?"

Looks like I've got my best friend back.

☆ ☆ ☆

jason getting what he deserves we love to see it

i might be working on a steve x oc x eddie fic rn 🤭 it's a lot different from outcast so if you like steddie but also wanna be with them both (ur just like me fr) then keep an eye out for that 😇

go check out my tiktok if u want @/rodricksbestiewp i posted on there and i'll probably be posting more soon 👍