Creek -vs- Creek

One thing I never understood growing up was why my friends always teased me about the way I say Creek. They always insisted that the way they say it is right and that my way was wrong. However, according to Merriam-Webster either way is correct whether it be Creek (ˈkrēk), or Creek (ˈkrik). I remember in Jr. High my friends were fond of teasing me by saying "I'm going down to the Creek ('krik) to warsh my cloths"...yes, I do have a tendency to way warsh, but only if I'm not watching how I'm speaking, or if I want to annoy my friends. So far, in college, most of my friends think the way I talk is just me, the Mountain Woman, and not wrong in any way.