Work Text:
Season 1 Prompt: Mr Clarke
It was something about his smile.
He always seemed a little nervous in front of his students. Like he was just a little bit afraid, that his school days were never quite behind him.
Eddie would have bet good money that Mr Clarke had been tormented back in high school. In fact, maybe even earlier than that. Why he would chose to spend his days teaching Hawkin’s youth in an attempt to foster a love of science was mystifying. Not necessarily a mystery Eddie thought worth solving.
If he was being honest with himself, it wasn’t something he wanted to dwell upon too much
The idea of growing up and old, suffocating in place in case it was too dangerous to try and make it somewhere else. Safer to stand still in case anyone sees you, sees the real you.
Ever since the little Byers kid went missing, the teachers have been going into overdrive monitoring the students. The high school and middle school teachers weren’t just prowling the hallways and the school parking lot, but were becoming prominent fixtures in town. It seemed Eddie couldn’t go anywhere without running into at least 3 teachers.
It was really cutting into his side business, which was almost a shame since everyone being on edge made for less cost conscious customers. The while town just wanted to forget that there were things far worse than just losing a basketball game.
He had Mr Clarke for one class during his short stint at Hawkins Middle School. Mr Clarke had failed to instill a love of science in a certain Eddie Munson, but he had unconsciously succeeded in proving to Eddie that there were other gay people in Hawkins. It was an awkward and slightly terrifying time for Eddie.
If he could Mr Clarke so easily, could he see Eddie too? The real Eddie?
And did Eddie really want to be seen?
School was out for a day, and a week was gone with no Will Byers to be seen. Eddie was hoping to get home, and leech off some of his bad vibes that had been eating him into planning another campaign. Instead of feeling like shit by himself, he could channel that into making his friends also feel like shit. ‘Team work makes the dream work’, or something like that.
That’s day’s parking lot duty was left to Mr Clarke and one of the gym teachers. In comparison, Mr Clarke looked small, trying his best to smile at the students and look reassuring as he spoke to students present and past. The other teacher just stood there, alternating glaring a the students and aiming a none to subtle sneer at his coworker.
It looked like he could see who Mr Clarke was too. Eddie felt himself getting pissed about it. At least Mr Clarke was acting like he gave a shit about the kids.
His feet began moving without his permission, heading away from his van and moving closer to the teachers. Mr Clarke was waving at a group of middle school girls who had yelled their goodbyes at him when he finally noticed Eddie.
“Hey, it’s been a while!” He said cheerfully. Eddie could have sworn that his smile looked a little brighter, a little more real. “Working hard, Mr Munson?”
Eddie shrugged, both a little annoyed and pleased that he was memorable enough for Mr Clarke to remember his name. “I don’t know if it suits me. A bit too much of a free spirit, you know?”
Eddie ignored the other teacher scoffing at them, and Mr Clarke seemed to follow suit. “Just give it a bit more time and you can take your diploma to go anywhere. The sky’s the limit, Mr Munson.”
He can tell that Mr Clarke is being sincere, and just scuffed his dirty shoe on the ground. “I don’t know, I’ll think about it.”
“I hope so!” Mr Clarke replied, and the moment was broken as soon as a gaggle of noisy kids (rudely!) pushed past Eddie, each speaking a mile a minute.
“I’m sorry, they can be a lot.” A soft voice comes from behind Eddie. He turns around, and he’s met with the sight of the prim Nancy Wheeler. She had a little bemused smile on her face that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Next to her, trying not to look impatient and failing badly was a certain Steve Harrington. He gave Eddie an aborted nod before looking back at his girlfriend.
“I know I said I’d drive them home, but are they going to take much longer?”
She patted his shoulder, smile even tighter on her face. “He’s their favorite teachers. Will’s too. Just give them a minute.”
“Of course, of course. It’s fine.” Steve replied, trying to backtrack a bit. The mention of Hawkins’ current lost son was a good way to inspire guilt. “It’s good.”
“Steve is driving my brother’s friends home.” She said, unnecessarily making small talk as the three kids continued to jabber away at a friendly yet besieged Mr Clarke. “Even next week too. It’s really sweet.”
“Yeah, sweet.” Eddie replied because his brain was still on vacation and wasn’t taking any calls. Steve gave him a look and Eddie decided to be the bigger man. “That’s pretty cool. Gotta keep the kids safe.”
“Yeah, well. Thanks.” Steve said awkwardly. “Just doing my, part.”
Social battery drained for the day, Eddie gave Nancy a little as he made his departure. It was odd, that he felt both better after having seen Mr Clarke clearly having a positive affect on his students while also thinking that if Harrington had been giving Nancy’s kid brother’s friends a ride sooner, Will Byers wouldn’t be missing.