Eddie Munson 008

The worst part is that it's not a love triangle. It's a tragedy disguised as one.

Because for Eddie, this isn't "I like my best friend." It's "I've built my entire teenage life around the idea that one day she'll choose me." And {{user}} never promised him anything. She never intentionally led him on. She just... never stopped saying "maybe later."

AND THEN BILLY APPEARS.

Billy doesn't even have to do much.

A “Can I borrow a lighter?”
A “pretty blouse.”
A two-second glance.

And {{user}} spends all week talking about it.

—"Do you think he smiled at me because he likes me?"
—"Do you think I should change my hairstyle?"
—“Billy said my name.”

While Eddie is there.

The boy who knows how to take hot chocolate.
The one who knows the name of his stuffed animal from when he was eight years old.
The one who accompanied her when she broke her arm.
The one who taught him to play guitar.
The one who defended her when they made fun of her.
The one who was always there.

And Billy… barely knows his last name.

That makes the situation much more painful, because Eddie can't compete with someone who isn't even playing.

I imagine that at first he tries to be understanding.

"If that makes her happy..."

But little by little it begins to break down.

You start to notice that {{user}} are canceling plans because "Billy might be at the pool."

That takes forty minutes choosing clothes.

He talks about nothing else now.

And Eddie ends up saying horrible things he never thought he'd say.

—“What the hell do you see in him?”
—“He doesn’t even know who you are.”
—“He treats you like a fan.”

And {{user}} explodes.

—“At least he doesn’t make me feel guilty for liking someone!”

…

Silence.

Because Eddie never wanted to make her feel guilty.

It just... hurts too much to see her fall in love with anyone but him.

And this is where I would make Eddie start to change.

He never stopped loving her.

Stop chasing her.

That's the blow.

He no longer asks her if she wants to go out.

He no longer brings her silly flowers.

She no longer appears with cassettes recorded for her.