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casperthecuriouswriter · 3 years ago

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That boy is mine now // Eddie Munson

Prompt: “Apparently all of our friends have a bet going on when we’ll get together.”

A fic that absolutely no one asked for based loosely around Avril Lavigne’s song sk8r boi (our boy gets his heart broken but lucky for him you’re there to pick up the pieces, strangers-friends-to-lovers, slice of life vibes)

wc: 26k (i dont know what to say lmao)

*as always, adopted female reader with (hopefully) no references to race or weight. Masterlist || AO3

He was a boy, she was a girl, can I make it any more obvious? He was a punk, she did ballet, what more can I say?

The first time you saw Eddie Munson you were hiding in the trees on your first day of school.

Despite protesting the entire month, your parents had decided to uproot your whole life and drop it in this middle of fucking nowhere town, Hawkins Indiana. Your father had decided it’d be good for you all to be by family. Hilariously ironic considering both your dad and your aunt and uncle were never around anyway.

Taking a deep drag from your cigarette you rubbed your temple, a desperate attempt to assuage the migraine that was building. You weren’t used to being the center of attention – your old school was too big and got new students almost every semester – but you guessed it made sense, considering the population of the entire town rivaled the one of your old neighborhood. Kicking a few leaves around, you frowned. It was so fucking quiet here at night.

“Who leaves New York City for Indiana?” You huffed to yourself, already missing your best friend so much it’d felt like someone had amputated a limb. You two had known each other since kindergarten – besides, she’d know how to handle the stares you’d gotten all day.

You’d taken two steps into the hallway, one of Steve’s friends guiding you to the office, and it’d felt like the metaphorical crowds had descended. To be fair, Robin had tried to warn you that everyone would be curious – she’d even offered to have you sit with her at lunch but the need for a cigarette had been clawing at you from the moment you’d woken up. God this was a shitshow.

The constant questions about what New York was like, what music did you listen to, were those real tattoos? Were endless.

It didn’t matter, you told yourself, it was your senior year and you just needed to make it through before you could make your own way back to the northeast. Back to your real home.

The sound of crunching leaves brought you out of your depressive spiral and you instinctively dropped behind the trunk of the tree you were leaning against. “Shit,” you hissed, throwing the cigarette onto the ground and stubbing it out. Great, it was the first day of school and you were already about to earn a detention. For smoking. Your mother was going to strangle you.

Then, you heard giggling. Peeking from around the tree, you watched as a blonde cheerleader bounced in front of a boy you faintly recognized. Robin had waved to him in first period, Marty? Mason? The only reason he’d stood out was because he didn’t look like a carbon copy of everyone else. He’d had an old Metallica shirt on and wild curly hair – you thought you’d seen a tattoo peeking out from his collar.

“Eddie, you know we can’t – Jason would kill me. The girls, they would never…they wouldn’t understand,” the girl sighed.

“Yeah, I know,” Eddie said, wincing, “but the concert is two towns over. I could drive us and no one would recognize us.”

Guilt flashed across the cheerleader’s expression before schooling it into a pleading one. “You said you wouldn’t push me when it came to this.”

“I know,” Eddie sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair, “but it’s been almost four months Chrissy.”

Well shit, you thought, catching yourself leaning forward and feeling conflicted at the accidental eavesdropping. It’s too late now, you were in this.

Chrissy’s face softened into something real and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Be patient with me, please. I like it when it’s just us two, in our own world. Don’t you?”

You cringed, you had an inkling about what was happening and you felt for Eddie.

“Yeah,” Eddie said, his voice sounding defeated. “Of course I do sweetheart.”

“Great, shoot, is that the time? I’m going to be late. I’ll see you after Hellfire, okay?”

You watched her reach up and kiss him quickly before darting up the hill towards the football field you’d crossed. The muscles in your legs ached from your frozen squat and you needed Eddie to run along after her so you could finish your smoke break in peace.

Instead, he walked over to the decrepit looking wooden bench and slumped onto the table.

“Fuck,” you muttered to yourself, the beginning of a cramp building in your left calf. Crab walking a few yards away, under the cover of a few trees, you finally stood and shook out your leg. If you crouched down far enough, you’d be able to sneak away through the side of the parking lot-

“Who’s there?” Eddie’s voice cut through the silence of the forest.

Shit. Well, there was no point in running away, your lungs weren’t built for that anyway. Acting oblivious and oh-look-I-didn’t-see-you-there it was.

“Uh, sorry,” you said, stepping out from behind the trees, adding some confusion to your expression. “I came out for a smoke and got a little lost.” You lifted the pack of cigarettes in your left hand as if he’d been asking for proof.

Eddie straightened, eyes looking a little panicked as they darted to where the cheerleader – Chrissy – had just disappeared through. When his eyes shot back to you, you tried your best to keep your expression neutral.

“Are you a student? I don’t know you and everyone here knows everyone,” Eddie said and you noted the bitterness in his voice.

With a tentative step closer, you pushed your pack into your jacket’s pocket and shrugged. “I’m new,” you said, not being able to help the sad sigh that came after that.

At the sound, the corner of Eddie’s mouth tilted up. “You sound excited to be here.”

“We moved from New York City,” you explained, “no offense to your little town here but it’s got nothing on the city that never sleeps.”

Eddie’s eyes widened, his brown eyes flashing. “New York? Dude, no way! I’ve always wanted to go there. What’s it like?”

You walked over to the table, sitting carefully across from him on the splintering wood and dropped your weight onto your elbows. “It can be shitty – dirty and loud but man, it’s home, you know?” Your gaze drifted over his shoulder, imagining what you’d be doing if you were back. “My best friends and I would get breakfast at a bodega by our apartment building, best bagels in the city.”

Something like recognition lit up his face. “Wait, you’re the new girl…you’re Harrington’s cousin, from France or something,” Eddie said, eyes trailing down your face. “You two don’t look related.”

Snorting, Eddie’s neck went splotchy as he winced. “I didn’t mean for that to sound that way.”

“It’s fine,” you said, waving him off, “I’m not from France. I told one of the preppy girls who wouldn’t leave me alone that we’d just gone to Paris over the summer and apparently that makes me French.”

Eddie snorted. “That’s small towns for you, news travels fast and it’s not always correct,” he said, definitely bitter this time.

“What, so you’re not actually a devil worshiper?” You asked, eyes widening for effect.

At that, he rolled his eyes. “Dungeons and Dragons is a game. I don’t know why everyone thinks we’re worshiping Satan. And even if we were, technically it’s no one’s business.”

“Oh shit,” you sputtered, realizing you’d hit too close to home by accident, “is that actually what people say? I was just fucking with you.”

Eddie chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, when you eventually hear all about it – know that only half of it is true.”

“The Devil worship part?” You teased, wanting to help the defensive glint in his eyes.

Eddie finally smiled and nodded. “Obviously,” he said and nodded to your black jeans and jacket, “although considering we’ve got pretty similar style if you’re not careful their wrath’ll turn on you.”

You looked down at your usual outfit for the fall: t-shirt, denim jacket, ripped jeans, and your all-stars. Eddie definitely wore his style with more grunge than you but you were far from a metalhead back home. Clearly, that was something to avoid here. Your school had popular kids but no one was overtly in your face about it – shit, is that something you had to worry about now? You groaned internally.

“I’m adopted,” you said, wincing at the awkwardness that settled after that. “That’s why we don’t look alike – me and Steve.”

“Oh,” Eddie nodded, noting your subject change, “that’s cool.”

“It’s not when they drag you over state lines in your senior year of high school,” you huffed, “I wanted to go to prom with Kevin Singh.” You thought back to the boy in your class.

His brows rose, a smile teasing as he leaned in. “Boyfriend?”

You smiled, scrunching your nose at him. “No, I wish. He was my lab partner in Chemistry last year. He didn’t know I was alive, much less interested.”

“I know the feeling,” Eddie muttered, hands opening the lunch box near him and pulling out a joint.

Eyes following his fingers, you noticed something and perked up. “What do you play? Guitar? You guessed.

Eddie paused midway to lighting his joint and eyed you. “How’d you know?”

“Calluses on your fingers, guitar pick necklace, Metallica t-shirt, not hard to spot a metalhead when you see one,” you said, resting your chin against your palm.

“You play?” Eddie asked, smiling.

Shrugging, you eyed the flame from his lighter. “Shouldn’t you already know, considering small towns and all?”

Eddie tossed his head back and laughed. That, out of everything, struck you. He had a nice laugh.

“Fair,” he said, snorting once more and you hated how endearing it made him. Eddie offered you the joint and you glanced back at the school. What the hell, your parents wouldn’t be home to hear the message the school left saying you’d missed a few periods anyway. With a shrug, you grabbed it and took an inhale. “Wait,” you grunted as you exhaled, “I’m going to reek of weed and I don’t have anything to cover it up.”

“I got it,” Eddie said, rummaging around in a metal lunch box. He popped out a small body spray, looking confused, and his face flushed. He tried to quickly shove it to the bottom of the box but it’d been too late, you’d seen the label.

“Cinnamon Sugar Cookie scented?” You asked, a smile growing despite your attempts to smother your laughter.

“I-” Eddie sputtered, clearly not knowing how to admit that it wasn’t his, “I could like Cinnamon scented things.”

You laughed harder at his defensive tone and by habit reached out to smack his shoulder as tears almost leaked out your eyes. “You should’ve seen the horror in your face,” you snickered, reaching out for the body spray. “Oh, come on,” you said when he stayed frozen, “I already saw it. Just hand it over, I’d rather smell like a preteen girl than like I just came out a frat party. I’ve still got like two periods before I can go home.”

Eddie reluctantly handed it over to you, his eyes looking panicked again.

“I promise I won’t tell anyone,” you said, avoiding his gaze. Your mind flashed back to the tiny cheerleader and her arms wrapped around his neck. If New Yorkers knew anything, it was how to mind their business.

“Tell anyone about what?” He asked, cautious.

Forcing your eyes to meet his, you chewed on your cheek before taking another drag and handing him the joint back. You thought back on your dad, his disappointment in you, your interests, hobbies, grades, and you felt for Eddie – you knew what it was like to have someone wish you were something else.

A memory of Steve a few years ago, hair shorter and a sneer etched onto his face, eyes always darting to your uncle. Yeah, you thought, your family was intimately aware of what it felt like to crave approval like oxygen. To want to mold yourself so you could get just a scrap of affection.

“Anything that happened here,” you said, nodding to the joint and standing up with the spray in hand, “or anything I may or may not have heard.”

Eddie’s face blanched. You sprayed yourself a few times and instantly started coughing. “Jesus, that's some strong preppy ass perfume,” you waved your hand in front of your face, trying to get the smell out your nostrils. “What I’m trying to say is that maybe small-town people like to talk shit but, where I’m from – we know how to mind our business. So, you don’t need to worry about me, okay?” You grabbed your backpack from the ground and pulled it over your shoulder.

Realizing you meant it; Eddie shot you a grateful look. “Thanks.”

Waving it away, you motioned to the school. “Don’t mention it, Sugar,” you said, winking when his expression shifted.

As you walked away, Eddie’s laughter rang through the trees – following you as you walked further away from him. Your heart sputtered awake and you slapped it back into place. He clearly had some complicated things going on. Not the right person. Especially not in this tiny ass town. You refused to be stuck here, no matter what friends you made along the way. Glancing back at his smiling face, you sighed.

Shit, he really did have a nice laugh.

He wanted her, she'd never tell, secretly she wanted him as well. But all of her friends stuck up their nose, they had a problem with his baggy clothes.

You were starving. Grumbling as you pulled your backpack over your shoulder, you hurried down the hall and towards the cafeteria. Of all the days to have one of your teachers hold you back – to ask about how you were adjusting no less. As if any of them cared.

Hawkins was the worst, you grunted, almost colliding with a jock who glared at you. Shooting him a withering look back, you sidestepped his posse.

“Hey Harrington!” Jeremy, your partner from theater called out. You smiled and waved at him as you jogged towards the double doors.

“See you last period sunshine!” You replied, laughing when he stuck out his tongue at the inside joke.

Okay, so, maybe Hawkins wasn’t the absolute worst.

You weren’t sure if it had a lot to do with the fact that you were new but you’d managed to make a few friends in most of your classes. Bursting through the doors, you hurried towards the food and sighed when you finally grabbed one of the last normal looking sandwiches.

“Hey, sitting with us today?” Brianna asked, bumping her hip with yours. Smiling, you bumped her back and grabbed an apple before walking backwards towards your usual table.

“Tomorrow? I promise?” You laughed when she rolled her eyes, knowing that while you bounced around – you usually sat with –

“Harrington!” Dustin’s voice called out for you, hand waving in the air like he was hard to miss.

Brianna smiled when you shot her an apologetic look. “Go on,” she said, “see you after school.”

You’d met Brianna at band practice – where you sat on the bleachers and waited for Robin – the entire band had welcomed you into their circle, thanks to Robin. Jeremy, and the rest of the theater club, had also befriended you after you’d defended them against some stupid jock with an inferiority complex.

“I’m coming Henderson!” You shouted back when he called you again. You waved to Brian and Amanda, those two had pulled you into the book club with them after you’d gotten a job at the arcade and were surprised to see them working there too.

While you did have to admit, you had made friends a lot faster than you’d thought you would – your dumbest decision was managing to migrate into Eddie’s world. Not because he did satanic rituals like Jason loved to boast, but because you loved to make your life complicated and had managed to develop an incredibly soft spot for him.

You’d barely put a foot in the door on your second day of school and he’d tucked you under his arm, promising to show you where all the cool kids hung out. And, well, shit – you might’ve gotten a little addicted to the sound of his laughter and the way he enthusiastically poured himself into everything he did.

So, here you were, two months into having moved to this shithole and you managed to spend most your time with the entire Hellfire club. Eddie had wasted no time dragging you to the Hide Out for his performances and to his trailer to meet his uncle Wayne.

Letting your backpack slide off into your lap, you tossed an arm around Dustin and Jeff. You bit back a smile when they eyed you suspiciously. “Who do you two love most in the world?”

“Suzie.”

Jeff nodded, “My dog.”

Rolling your eyes, you elbowed them both. “Wrong answer, you’re meant to say me,” you said, rummaging around in your bag. You handed Jeff the book you’d found last night and Dustin the comic he’d been looking for.

Both of them squealed, startling you, and you found yourself smushed between them in a massive hug.

“Revising your previous answers?” You asked smugly.

“Yes!” Dustin said, shaking you. “I can’t believe you’re just giving this to me? Are you sure?”

Jeff was more awed, his eyes sparkling. “Dude, this is a first edition.”

Your dad had an extensive library but you knew it was born out of wanting to have things to show off rather than any actual interest in literature. Jeff had practically salivated at a familiar book downtown when you were out together last weekend and you had sworn that you’d recognized it. Dustin had been searching for a limited-edition X-men comic and almost cried when every store you took him to was sold out. Both of which, you managed to find in boxes hidden away in the basement. Since your dad wouldn’t miss it, you’d handed them to people who would.

“Why are you two screaming like little girls?” Eddie asked, shoving Jeff away and sitting down next to you. Ignoring the way your heart picked up its pace, you smiled when he leaned into you. From the first day that you’d sat with them, Eddie had made it a point to always sit next to you.

“We’re best friends now, Harrington, there’s no use fighting it,” he’d joked when you pointed it out.

Dustin and Jeff rushed to explain, both of them already looking through their gifts, when you felt Eddie elbow you. “That was nice of you.”

“I’m a nice person, Munson,” you said with a pointed look, “besides, my parents won’t even know they’re gone. The books should be with people who appreciate the real worth of it, not hide them away in a basement - you know?” You took a bite out of your sandwich, wincing when you felt the wilted lettuce hit your tongue.

At the lack of response, you glanced up at Eddie and realized he was staring at you meaningfully. Your eyes widened when you realized how backhanded your comment had sounded. Freezing, you swallowed around the bite of food.

“What if they’re not worth much?” Eddie asked quietly, eyes shifting over your shoulder, to where you knew the jocks and cheerleaders sat.

Angry at this thing you both knew about but never mentioned, your eyes drifted over to Chrissy’s back – her ponytail high with a bow tied securely at the base. You hated how small Eddie seemed to get at any reference to her. You hadn’t known him for long, but you knew a great person when you saw one – and your dislike for Chrissy only grew every time you saw the kicked puppy look in his eyes.

Moving without thinking too hard about it, you tapped Eddie’s jaw - ignoring the zing it sent down your hand - and waited until his eyes came back to yours.

“Those books are priceless, okay? And their worth shouldn’t be dependent on what others think, especially not ones who…put books down in the basement, hidden away.”

Dustin’s curls shifted in your peripheral. “I mean, it’s a limited edition but it’s not priceless,” he whispered to Mike, who was eagerly looking through it too. Eddie, however, knew what you weren’t saying – especially considering how his eyes softened into something that resembled gratitude. Your heart thumped against your ribcage, like it always did when his eyes were on you.

Feeling mortified at your lack of subtly, you stood quickly. “Well, I promised Robin I’d sit with her today,” you lied, scrambling onto your feet.

A hand on your wrist stopped you. The warm metal of his rings made you glance down at his fingers. Eddie’s nails were still black, the polish chipped at the edges, from when you’d painted them when he’d been over your house last Saturday. His gaze on you was unreadable and a little guarded. “Only a few months in and already such a social butterfly?” Eddie smiled, teasing. “I didn’t know we had such a hot commodity gracing us for lunch.”

Gareth snorted and you shot him a glare. “I can’t help it if people find my presence fun,” you joked, starting to sweat. Dustin’s eyes caught yours, a knowing look in them.

Fuck, you needed to get the hell out of here.

“Remember, I stumbled onto you first,” he joked, eyes flashing a little and you hated how you wanted to preen at the fact that he seemed protective over you. Get it together, you screamed at your heart, he’s not interested.

With a small smile, you took a few steps away and watched as his hand fell away. “Don’t worry Sugar,” you said, biting back a smile when he laughed at the now-familiar nickname, “I won’t stay away for too long.”

The first inkling that maybe Eddie was the only one blind to your feelings came a few weeks later, when you were sitting on the counter next to your grumbling cousin.

“Do you guys think I’m overreacting?” Robin asked, hands on her hips.

You shook your head and pointed at her. “Definitely not. If she asked you to call her later and you waited a day, that’s like – later, right?”

“That’s what I said!” She exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air.

Nodding emphatically, you let her ramble her most recent encounter with Vickie out her system. She’d never calm down otherwise.

“Don’t you have a job, like a few yards to the left?” Steve asked, as you stole another fry from his lunch.

“What would our parents say if they heard you, Steven?” You gasped, hand clutching your chest dramatically.

Steve snorted, elbowing you gently. “Nothing, considering they barely see each other.”

“Which is hilarious considering they dragged me down to this hellhole because we needed to be by family,” you said, bursting out laughing when Steve cracked a smile.

“Why is that funny?” Robin asked.

Steve put a hand on his stomach, looking like he was about to tear up – which in turn, only made you laugh harder. “B-because,” you stammered around your laughter, “we live right next to each other and the only people in our houses are us.”

“Now, at least, we can grab dinner for two most days,” Steve said, grunting when you grabbed another fry. “Harrington families like to forget they have children. I think only cousins and siblings really like each other.”

“Ironic, considering they picked me out,” you joked morbidly. Robin looked at you horrified but Steve just laughed, used to the adoption jokes. You snorted, chewing on the salted goodness thoughtfully. “Which reminds me, wanna just order pizza today?”

Steve nodded, guarding his fries more fervently.

“You guys aren’t normal; you know that right?” Robin said, shaking her head.

Sticking out your tongue, you had a quip ready when someone interrupted. “That’s what makes her so intriguing,” a new voice said, startling the three of you. Snapping your head back to glance at the door, you grinned when you saw Eddie standing there.

“Hey Sugar,” you said, tilting your head back as he reached out to steady you, “thought you had band practice?”

“Gareth’s parents came home early, ripped him a new one for failing his English test,” Eddie explained.

You sighed. “I told him! But he refuses to let me help him study.”

“I know, Jeff said the same thing.”

Throwing a hand up in the air. “Yeah, I helped Jeff pass his midterm – I know what I’m talking about! I’m in AP English!”

“I know,” Eddie smiled, laughter trickling down into your hair and onto your skin. You shivered, gaze going up to him as he teased Robin after running into her that morning with Vickie.

Releasing his hold on you, he grabbed a few tapes from the romantic comedy section and watched Robin raise her brows. “That’s a new one,” she said, shooing you off the counter to check him out.

Eddie’s face turned red and you felt your chest constrict. Eddie liked to watch horror or cheesy action films. So, you knew who these were for.

“I’m a man of many interests,” he said, avoiding your eyes. You busied yourself with taking a sip of Steve’s milkshake.

“Right,” Robin said dryly, hanging him the tapes. “See you Monday?”

“Yeah, see you Harrington,” Eddie said, stepping forward as if to reach for you. Steve, however, stepped forward and offered him an awkward fist bump. You stared at Steve’s back, recognizing the protective action for what it was, and waved at Eddie as he walked out.

Robin pulled her vest off and pointed to Chinese takeout restaurant at the end of the strip. “I’m going to grab my lunch if you guys want anything?”

“No, I’m not hungry – I’ve got Steve’s lunch, thanks,” you said, laughing when Steve glared at you.

“So,” Steve hummed, eyes avoiding yours.

Realizing the time, you stepped around the counter and pulled your bag onto your shoulder. Brian’s break was up next and you knew he wanted to return a few books to the library across town. “Spit it out Steve,” you said.

“Eddie’s complicated right now,” he said quietly, tone unsure, “I see how you look at him. How he acts around you – it’s not…he may like you too but it’s just…bad timing. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Equal parts mortified that he’d seen through you so easily and touched that he cared enough to mention something, you hugged him as you passed by. “I know,” you said, not wanting to go back on your promise to Eddie, “his sights are set on someone else, and I’m painfully aware of that.”

Steve shot you a knowing look and you realized he probably suspected. “Thanks, for warning me though,” you said, bumping your shoulder with his affectionately.

“He’s a good guy, he’s just got shit to figure out first and I don’t want you to get caught up in it.”

You pulled the door and smiled. “I know, see you for dinner Stevie?”

“Yeah – and stop calling me that!”

“Is that Eddie?” Robin asked you, both of you cutting through the football field to get to the parking lot. “Shit, that’s Gareth on the floor.”

Your head whirled around towards the far left and you growled when you saw a sprawled Gareth bleeding on the floor. Eddie managed to dodge the first swing but you quickened your pace when he doubled over with the second one.

Robin broke through the throng of people and immediately walked over to Gareth, who looked like he’d taken a punch to the nose. Liam stood, frozen, in the clutches of a football player. Behind both of them you saw Jeff, Dustin, Mike, and Lucas looking worse for wear by the bleachers. Furious, and mostly acting on instinct, you shoved Jason hard and he stumbled back.

“Don’t know how to pick on someone your own size, Carver?” You asked, making sure the guys were okay. Dustin nodded, his eyes flashing.

Ignoring you, Jason laughed. “Oh look, your girlfriend’s here to save you Munson,” Jason snapped, hard glint in his eye. His gaze trailed down your body and he shook his head. “Such a shame to see another Harrington be such a loser.” Eddie used your outstretched hand to steady himself. He clamped down on your arm when you hissed at the sight of the blooming bruise on his jaw.

“Shut the fuck up, you moron,” you hissed back at Jason. His groupies all laughed, as if amused, and you felt your temper flare.

Eddie’s grip on your arm was tight, trying to pull you back but you shook him off. “Don’t,” he whispered, “it’ll only get worse and they’re not worth it.”

At that moment, a blonde curled ponytail caught your eye. You watched as Chrissy chewed on her nail, eyes worriedly darting up to Eddie’s split eyebrow. Of course, this was about her, it always had something to do with her. “You can’t be serious,” you said, eyes still on Chrissy. Hers snapped up to you, guilty expression rearing as she ducked her head.

“Let it go,” Eddie said again, grip on you tightening when he saw who you were glaring at.

These were your friends and you weren’t letting anyone fuck with them. “They might not be worth it, but you are,” you snapped at him, yanking your arm out from his.

Cracking your fingers, you stepped up to Jason. “I’ll give you one free punch,” you said, “then we’ll go for it.”

His posse laughed like you’d told the most hilarious joke in the world. “What? How precious, his little girlfriend is going to fight his battles for him. You’re both fucking garbage – but I gotta tell you sweetheart, you can do so much better than him. Just say the word and we can work something out,” his eyes lowered onto your cleavage and you fought the urge to gag.

“Not even in your fucking dreams Carver.”

Eddie growled, straightening at the implication but you held up your hand. His stupid friends chuckled, like he’d told the funniest joke ever and you shrugged. Clenching your hands and steadying your feet like your friends back home had taught you, you lunged forward. Your knuckles creaked painfully as you collided with his stomach, but you grinned triumphantly when Jason doubled over; groaning, and his lackeys scrambled to his aid.

“You bitch,” Jason shouted, voice shrill, as he clutched at his stomach. “You fucking worthless grunge bitch!”

“Don’t talk to her like that!” Eddie shouted, swinging and landing another punch on Jason. They both went down tumbling, when Patrick reached for Eddie. You shoved him, feet coming out to kick the other idiot who was inching towards a stumbling Gareth.

Eyeing a discarded bat from baseball practice earlier, you lunged for it and raised it up.

“You wouldn’t,” Chase said, brows rising as he froze in his spot. Chase was the most tolerable of Jason’s friends – he’d never been outright mean to you and you felt a twinge of regret before tightening the grip on the bat.

“Try me,” you sneered.

Chase stepped back, arms up. “Hey, I know Harrington guys – she’s not fucking around. Let’s just go,” he said, pulling Patrick back by the jacket.

Realizing it wasn’t an easy fight like he’d thought Jason spat out blood and wiped his mouth with the back of his wrist. His gaze went around to you all but your blood froze when it lingered on Eddie. Fuck.

“Whatever,” Jason said, turning to you, “watch your back bitch.”

The guys stalked off but you saw a few cheerleaders hesitate. Chrissy’s worried gaze bounced from Eddie’s to you.

“Chrissy, come on!” One of the other cheerleaders hissed at her. “Who knows what they’ll do.”

“Yeah, right,” she said, letting herself be pulled away.

Eddie’s eyes fell to the floor as she said nothing but turned to walk away. You watched her glance back a few times, having at least the decency to look ashamed.

Not wanting to spare her any more effort, you turned to see your bloody friends and sighed when Jeff groaned from the bleachers. Robin’s fingers tentatively took the bat from your tight grip and you let her. Loosening your hold, adrenaline crawling back, you winced when at the blooming ache in your knuckles.

A cold hand came up to take yours, Eddie’s expression both grateful and a little sad. “I’m going to have a bruise tomorrow,” you sighed. His mouth turned down, thumb coming to caress your swelling knuckles. Remembering Steve’s warning, you pulled your hand from his and walked over to check on Gareth. You felt Eddie’s eyes on your back as you leaned over him, checking his nose. “It’s not broken, but you’ll have a hell of a bruise.”

Gareth groaned as you touched it softly, his hand fisting your jacket in pain. “At least you’ll look badass,” you whispered. Jeff, seated next to him, snorted and groaned – a hand coming up to his ribs.

Standing up, you dusted your palms on your thighs – ignoring Eddie’s searching eyes – and grabbed your backpack. “Let’s get the hell out of here. I got room for three more in my car.”

Lucas, Mike, and Dustin immediately followed you and Robin like ducklings. Eddie cleared his throat but you didn’t turn around.

“Thanks,” he said and you knew Robin was rolling her eyes. Her hand reached out for your unbruised one and she squeezed.

“Anytime,” you called back, continuing on towards the parking lot. You were fuming, not at anyone in particular but – just at life. Why did Eddie let himself be shoved aside by someone who wasn’t worth it? Your feelings aside, Eddie was your friend and it hurt you to see him clearly so into someone who wouldn’t fight for him.

The group was silent until you were out the parking lot.

“Well,” Dustin said, breaking the silence, “at least one Harrington knows how to win a fight.”

At that, you finally smiled.

He was a skater boy, she said, "See you later, boy.” He wasn't good enough for her. She had a pretty face, but her head was up in space. She needed to come back down to earth.

It wasn’t exactly a secret that you didn’t like Chrissy Cunningham. You knew she was the school’s darling, with her wide pretty eyes and bouncy blonde hair – honestly, how was that fair? How did anyone compete with that? Even her stupid eyelashes were pretty.

She’d been perfectly nice to you the few times you’d interacted, even after you suspected she knew that you were aware of whatever she and Eddie had. You only shared one class with her – your second period AP English class. She was smart and always kind to anyone you saw her talking to – alone. Ironic, considering she tended to keep to the back whenever Jason was tormenting someone.

Somehow, that infuriated you more. She could be perfectly normal with everyone but the one person you knew craved her attention the most. Sometimes, when you felt her eyes on you in class, you got the feeling that she liked him just as much as he did. You could see it in the way her eyes searched him out first, the way she ducked her head when anyone was rude to him, or the way she shot you grateful looks when you defended him.

Which, annoyed the shit out of you. Because it meant she clearly cared for him, she was just too scared to show it. And you couldn’t help but have a little sympathy for her – you knew what it was like to feel trapped by people and expectations you didn’t meet. It could be debilitating.

“Harrington,” your teacher called out, “you’re with Cunningham.”

Groaning internally, you startled when you saw her already settling in the chair next to yours. “I wasn’t paying attention,” you admitted openly, “I have no idea what we’re partnered for.”

Chrissy laughed lightly and you frowned. Even her fucking laugh was pretty.

“It’s just a in-class assignment. Here,” she showed you her notes and you nodded.

Pulling your book out from your backpack, you made a face at it and laughter fell from her lips.

“What?” You asked, thumbing through to the chapter you needed.

“Nothing, it’s just-” Chrissy cleared her throat, voice softening, “your expressions, you’re like – an open book.”

Trying to remain neutral you rose a brow at her.

“It’s refreshing,” she admitted, “sometimes it feels like everyone has a hidden agenda. Since you moved here, you’ve always been brutally honest. That’s why…Jason wanted you to join us at the beginning of the year.”

At that, you snorted. “Right, because I look like someone who Jason Carver would get along with.”

“No, I suppose not,” Chrissy admitted and you rolled your eyes. “But you did catch his eye, if that’s something you’d like.”

Not able to help your laugh, you smothered it quickly. “Most people aren’t attracted to those that bully their friends, Cunningham. I wouldn’t let Jason touch me for all the money in the world.”

She fell quiet.

Taking the next few minutes, you wrote out the answer to the first three questions and handed the paper off to Chrissy. She nodded, scribbling in the last bit at the end and passing the paper back.

You both sat in silence for a while, as you edited through the few paragraphs you had, but you could feel her stare on your face.

“Just say what you want to say,” you said without missing a beat.

“I want to thank you, for being his friend,” Chrissy said, “for standing up for him.”

A spark of anger burned in your chest and you tried your best so it wouldn’t take over you. “I’m not doing it for you, or looking for any gratitude. I’d do it for any of my friends. Ask Chase, he was being an asshole to the band kids last month and I threw my textbook at his head. Had detention for a week. He bitched about it for weeks.”

“I know,” she said quickly, “I just – I…I do really like him.”

Fighting the urge to roll your eyes, you nodded. “Sure.” She really had one hell of a way to show it. If that’s what liking someone looked like, you hoped to never fall in love in this town.

Her brow twitched in annoyance and you felt a little proud of yourself for breaking through her façade. “You don’t know what it’s like for me,” she snapped, “what my life is like.”

“You’re right,” you said, turning to finally look at her, “but I do know that regardless, it makes you a liar.”

Her eyes flashed. “No one would approve of him. Not my parents, not my friends, no one,” Chrissy said, her tone angry. You froze, panicking. You’d never spoken openly about this – to anyone. Certainly not to Chrissy fucking Cunningham. “I can’t ruin everything I’ve built for something fleeting. He’s…you know how he is.”

Fleeting? What a bitch.

“Then let him go,” you hissed back at her, “stop prolonging the inevitable. You just stood by and watched as they beat up him and his friends. Who does that? Who lets that happen to someone they care about?”

Chrissy frowned, petulant. When she didn’t answer, and avoided your look, you sighed.

“That’s what makes you a bad person,” you said, “you’re not thinking of him. You’re only thinking of yourself. What you want. What you get from him. You don’t see how you drain him. You’re turning him into someone I don’t recognize. He wouldn’t ruin anything. He’s-” perfect the way he is, you thought, bringing your gaze up to her. “He’s a good person and you just take and take anddon’t care. You might be a decent person going through a shitty situation but so is everyone else. Be fucking honest with yourself and go sell your ‘poor me’ story to someone who cares.”

With that, you ripped out your paper and handed it to the teacher. He nodded approvingly and you stalked out of class. Running off towards the bathroom, you locked yourself into a stall and rubbed at your head.

Shit, what had you done?

“Holy shit, I’m so drunk,” Steve said sloppily, drink sloshing out his cup. You laughed, happy that Steve had finally managed to loosen up. Searching out for the redheaded girl he’d come with; you saw her dancing with her friends – looking just as drunk.

“Robin?” You called out, her frizzy hair popping out from around the corner where she was waiting in line to the bathroom. “We need to remember to drop off Steve’s girl – she’s wasted too.”

“Jesus Steve,” Robin admonished, “we’ve been here for like an hour.” She fixed her cowboy hat and disappeared from sight.

Steve just smiled dumbly at you, chewing absently on some chips he’d found in the kitchen. “Okay, stay here,” you told him, “I’m just going to go to the bathroom really quickly and I’ll be right out.”

He nodded, grinning and you sighed when you stepped into the bathroom after Robin. She hopped onto the counter as you disappeared into the room with the toilet – honestly, what house was so big it had a room inside the bathroom for the toilet? And that was coming from you. “Did you see Eddie?” Robin called out.

“What?” You sputtered, hurrying out. “I thought Jason and company was here.”

“They are,” she sighed. “They tend to avoid parties the other will be at but…”

Of course, you frowned. “Adam asked him to come by to sell,” you finished for her.

Robin nodded, watching you as you washed your hands and shrugged. “So far there’s been no incidents. You’re having fun, right?” She asked and you smiled. You knew she was worried she’d dragged you along to Adam’s Halloween party for nothing but you had already promised Adam you’d come. He was the tuba player and he’d been anxious that no one would show up considering he was hosting it a week before Halloween. Unfortunately for him, half the school had descended.

“Come on, let’s go before Steve starts anything,” you said, pulling her out. The second you rounded the corner you groaned.

“What? What?” Robin asked, peeking over your shoulder. “Ugh, Dingus.”

Steve had disappeared, the hallway empty save for three girls waiting for their turn.

“You take the basement?” You asked her.

Robin sighed, “Yeah. You take the main floor – I’ll meet you in the kitchen in a few.”

“Alright,” you said, marching out into the chaos. You searched for Steve’s costume – a store bought Indiana Jones – and winced when someone smacked into you.

“Sorry!” The person slurred, jumping along to the music. You rubbed your shoulder and came up empty. Weaving your way through the crowd, you tried to make your way towards the kitchen – maybe Robin had more luck.

“Oh my God!” A loud shriek startled you. “You clumsy bitch! You ruined my fucking costume!”

Startled, you turned to glance at the sound and saw a cowering girl you faintly recognized from the theater club. Courtney? Claire? You squinted again as a cheerleader stomped forward, shoving the girl back into a corner. The small girl cried out, hand shooting up to her shoulder. “I’m s-sorry! It was an accident!”

Without thinking twice, you walked over to them and placed yourself in front of the freshman. “Alright, everyone, take a breather,” you said.

The girl behind you clutched at your shirt, hands shaking. “Of course, it’s Harrington – you never know how to mind your own business, do you?” You quirked your brow, recognizing Brittney instantly.

“Hey Brittney,” you said, rolling your eyes, “always a pleasure. I’m going to guess the poorly dressed nurse is Linda? Yep. What would you two ever do without each other?”

“Shut up,” Linda snapped, chomping at her gum. What a cliché.

“What’s going on?” A third voice joined. You glanced to the side and saw Chrissy, dressed as firefighter. “What happened?”

“Your two friends don’t know how to pick on someone their own size. Claire here – it’s Claire, right?” She nodded, eyes wide and terrified. “Claire accidentally spilled her soda on Brittney – who doesn’t know how to take an apology without being a bitch,” you said, shooting her a fake wide grin.

Brittney’s face twisted and you knew this was far from over. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”

Snorting, you crossed your arms. “Alright relax terminator-”

“Come on guys, let’s just go,” Chrissy said.

Her sharp blue eyes whipped to Chrissy, who seemed to flinch at the sight. “No, I’m tired of you always letting these losers get away with it,” Brittney said, her gaze turning apprehensive. “Remember what we talked about, Cunningham.” Chrissy frowned, looking a little panicked, before nodding.

Chrissy’s eyes looked a little worried before steeling into something hard. “Well, if she ruined your costume, then it’s just fair if we do – this.” In a move you hadn’t seen coming – and one you had no room and no time to avoid - Chrissy dumped her drink on your shirt. Before you could say or do anything, Brittney and Linda followed her lead.

Anger bubbled to the surface as you felt the sugary red drinks sink into your white shirt. Clearly not enough, you felt a hand reach out and tug at your vest until you heard the fabric rip.

“Stop!” You said shoving the person away from you. Chrissy stumbled back and the other two wisely stayed where they were. Before you could think of anything to say, you felt a pair of hands slam you into the wall. Groaning, you winced when the meat of your shoulder hit the corner of a shelf and you knew you were going to have a bruise.

“Don’t fucking push me,” she hissed, the venom in her voice almost unrecognizable. Alright fine, she wanted to fight – you could fight.

Narrowing your eyes, you took a step forward, doing your best not to show the pain thrumming on your left. “I wasn’t afraid of your little cult leader, I’m certainly not afraid of you,” you said, hands clenching. Uncertainty flickered in you when Brittney and Linda stood at her shoulders. Before you could make the fist move, Chrissy’s hand came out and you presume to think she was aiming for your cheek but managed to slap your jaw. It still stung like a bitch, Chrissy had sharp nails, and you launched yourself at her.

A pair of arms pulled you into a chest a millisecond before you could gouge her eyes out. “What the hell is going on here?” Eddie’s voice cut through the music.

Claire, surprising you, grabbed your hand and pushed you both out of the corner. Brittney stumbled, shouting something, but you couldn’t hear anything past your own pulse. She shoved you behind her small frame and frowned. “I spilled my drink on them by accident when they shoved me out the way and Harrington came to my defense.” You tuned out the rest of the recap and glanced down at your torn vest and ruined costume.

Dustin and Steve had helped you sew this. He was going to his own party - dressed as Princess Leia, and you’d decided to go as Han Solo. Both of you had found it hilarious and promised to take photos next week. Dustin had spent almost a month, most of his allowance and your paycheck, getting everything to look as authentic as possible. He’d even biked a town over to get you the right fabric for your vest.

Without waiting to see what was happening, and slightly afraid Eddie wouldn’t believe Claire, you slipped through the crowds in the house. Running out the front door, you darted towards the side of the house and to your horror you felt tears burn your eyes. What the hell was wrong with people? You dabbed at the huge stain fruitlessly, feeling a lump form in your throat. By the stinging in your cheek, you knew you’d have a bruise tomorrow.

“Harrington?”

You closed your eyes. Of course he followed you out, you shouldn’t have expected less. “I’m fine,” you said quickly, willing the tears to disappear.

“I know you are,” he said quietly, his hand coming up to your elbow, not turning you around yet. “It takes more than some cheerleaders to take a Harrington down.”

You huffed a weak laugh and felt a hand try to pull you into his arms. “I’ll get you dirty,” you said trying to step away.

“Harrington, I don’t care. Just let me hug you.” He wrapped his arms around you and sunk into his hug.

A wave of emotions welled within you and you realized then, a moment of clarity, why you’d gotten so upset. Because this is what Eddie felt, every time she pretended not to know him, or sat by and watched them bully him or his friends. They were awful, vain people and you couldn’t do it anymore. You really couldn’t stand by and be the shoulder to cry on any longer.

Swallowing around the lump in your throat, you looked up at him. “She hit me first,” you said, “I swear.”

Eddie’s eyes lowered to yours and you realized they were red. They went soft and fuzzy, like he wanted to say things you weren’t in the mood to hear. As if already knowing, he nodded. “I know she did, I saw her. I had to struggle through the dancing X-men to get to the kitchen. Even…even if I hadn’t seen it. I would’ve believed you.”

Surprise, you glanced at him. “Yeah?”

You watched hurt flash across his face before disappearing. “Yeah, Harrington. You’re my best friend.”

Placing your head against his chest, you sighed. “I’m telling Gareth you said that.”

Eddie snorted. “He knows, they all know.”

What the hell did that mean?

You didn’t get the chance to ask because Robin’s shrill voice broke the silence. “What the fuck dude? Claire found me and told me you needed me. Aw man, the vest is ruined,” Robin’s face twisted into something sad, knowing how hard you’d worked on it. “Whatever, we’ll fix it. I’m going back in with Vickie and we’ll find the redhead and Steve. Fuck this party. You go home, Vickie will drop them off and she’ll take me to your place for the night. Okay?”

Robin’s indignance on your behalf made you smile.

“Thank you,” you said, stepping back from Eddie and tugging the hem of your ruined shirt. You felt silly being this upset over a costume.

Eddie’s fingers twitched like they wanted to reach out to you but you took another step towards Robin. “Do you want me to come by-”

“No,” you said quickly – too quickly. Avoiding his eyes, you knew he was hurt by your answer but after the night you’d had it was for the best. If Chrissy was who he wanted, then it was his life. Who the hell were you to criticize?

With a faint wave in his direction, you all but ran to your car.

You managed to avoid Eddie for a whole week before he set his kids on you. Despite it being definitely too cold to eat outside, you’d spent the week’s lunch period between your car and hiding in the library.

Which, coincidentally, was where Dustin found you.

“Harrington?” He called out, wincing when the librarian whirled around to glare at him. “Sorry!”

Hurrying towards you, he plopped down next to you – seated between two old forgotten and unused aisles. “What could you possibly need from the Korean dictionary aisles?” You asked him.

“I could ask you the same question,” Dustin said, brow raising.

With a wiggle at your homework in your lap, you shot him a look. “I’m doing my homework, all the tables are full so I found a quiet area to sit,” you said, the lie well-practiced and on the tip of your tongue.

Dustin deflated and you only felt minutely bad that he’d bought your lie. “Well, Eddie is looking for you,” he said, a knowing glint in his eye.

You knew, he was who you were dodging all week. “What for?” You asked, eyes immediately going back to your textbook. Dustin huffed and you knew he heard the wobbling in your voice.

“He’s got something he wants to give you,” Dustin said, trying to catch your eyes.

“Tell him to hand it over to Steve or something, it’ll probably be easier.”

Dustin crossed his arms and you frowned. “Harrington. Why are you avoiding Eddie?”

“I’m not avoiding Eddie.” Lie. You lying liar who lied.

“Which is why you haven’t eaten lunch with us all week?” Dustin flopped over. “Eddie looks like someone killed his puppy – please, for me, can you just talk to him?”

You chanced a look at Dustin’s pleading face and cursed internally. What a rookie mistake. “I’m busy,” you insisted, sticking to your guns.

Dustin sighed dramatically and you had to tighten your grip on your notebook to keep from rolling your eyes. Clearly Eddie’s dramatics were rubbing off on them.

“Fine,” he grumbled, opening his backpack and pulling out a carefully folded top. Your eyes widened when you realized it was your Han Solo vest.

Hands shooting out to grab it, you ran your fingers over the previously torn fabric. It’d been stitched up carefully, looking exactly like it had before. “Dustin, how?” You stammered. Robin, who was the best at sewing, had said it’d take a lot of fabric to fix the tear and stains.

“Eddie found a store a few hours away that sold the same fabric. He helped me fix it,” Dustin explained. “The shirt is a lost cause but that’s easier to get. I knew you wanted to wear it for the trick or treaters tonight so, we worked quickly.”

Tears sprung to your eyes, overwhelmed at the idea of these two rushing to try and fix something just because it meant something to you. “Dustin, thank you,” you said, voice even more shaky.

“It was Eddie’s idea,” Dustin said, “I don’t know what happened between you two at the party, but Eddie’s trying. I promise, he’s trying to fix it. Give him a chance.”

You rubbed his head, not answering. Damn meddling kids.

Living next to your cousin, one you actually liked and got along with, had its perks. It also had a downside.

“Steve, I will be fine handing out candy alone. If you stay here, they’ll egg your house – go hand out candy and I promise I’ll come over at the end of the night,” you said, shoving Steve out the door.

“Are you sure? You’ve been mopey all week and I don’t care if they egg my house!”

Rolling your eyes at the stupidly protective older brother that you didn’t have, or want, you squeezed his arm. “I swear, I’m not moping, I’m fine.”

“Alright fine,” Steve sighed, “but you better come over for the movie. And you are moping – you’re both moping.”

Pushing him out the door, you ignored the last mumbled part of that sentence and shut the door in his face. “Good bye Steven!”

“That’s not my name!”

Snickering, you set up camp in the living room. You wondered how long it’d take for you to get your first trick or treater – and pretty quickly got your answer.

The next three hours flew by and you’d managed to be completely out of candy. Which, considering how much candy you and Steve had purchased – was saying something. You’d seen a very spooky looking vampire, a dinosaur, some Mike Myers, and most notably, some adorably dressed pets.

After a half hour had gone by since your last visitor, you’d ordered pizza to Steve’s. You knew if you didn’t go over, he’d drag you himself.

The doorbell rung just as you’d made the move to change out of your costume. Shit, you thought, gathering up the last old pieces of chocolate you could find in the kitchen. “Hi! I’m sorry but I’m out of candy for the night except for these choco-” You blinked when you saw Eddie standing at your door, bag in his hand.

“Eddie,” you said dumbly, the doorknob creaking under your grip. “What are you doing here?”

He smiled, eyes taking in your costume and he nodded towards the vest. “It looks good.”

“Oh,” you said, stepping back so he could walk through, “I’m sorry – I wasn’t expecting you. Yeah, thank you…really, I hadn’t expected it and was going to talk to you Monday since I had to rush home to change-”

“-I broke up with Chrissy at the party,” he blurted out. Your teeth clinked together as you shut your mouth and you blinked at him.

“What do you mean you broke up with Chrissy?” You asked, feeling like the ground was folding beneath you.

Eddie scuffed his food against the brick in your doorway and shrugged. “The last time we were together was back in September. She hadn’t had a lot of time in October and when she was free, I had something to do, it’d gotten messy and too complicated to handle.”

Say something! Your brain shouted, noting his slumped shoulders.

“Was it because of what happened at the party?”

Jesus out of everything to ask, that’s what you end up with?

Clearing your throat, you spoke quickly. “I meant – I don’t want you to think it has to be me or her. I just…it was…I don’t mind. You didn’t have to break up with her.”

Eddie smiled, watching you flounder and you fought the urge to punch his shoulder. His smiled widened as if he knew. “I did, have to, I mean,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“Sorry,” you jumped, realizing you hadn’t let him in, “come in.”

“Are your parents home?”

Shooting him a look over your shoulder, you dropped the candy bars you’d scrounged up by the door. “Yeah, that was a dumb question, sorry,” Eddie said, sighing when he sat in his favorite chair in your living room. “It’s not about what happened at Halloween. At least not only that. Seeing her treat you – our friends – that way made it real. What I felt, pissed, was what you guys were feeling when it was happening to me.”

“I wouldn’t go that far-”

This time, Eddie shot you a knowing look and you quieted.

“I could see you. All of you giving me these looks-”

“-I wasn’t giving you looks-” you quieted when you saw his glare.

“It was a shitty situation, but…someone really important to me told me that I was priceless once,” he said and you wanted to sink into the dirt.

“She was right, sort of,” he laughed self-consciously and your heart slammed against your chest.

Needing to break the tension, you joked, “She sounds like a really intelligent and super wonderful, pretty smart person.”

“Yeah, she is. I should’ve listened to her – to everyone – sooner.” Eddie sighed and let his head fall back onto the edge of the chair. “I knew but I didn’t want to accept it – not until I had to.”

Not wanting him to feel bad, you stepped forward. “There’s nothing wrong with that,” you said, sitting on the coffee table in front of him.

Sitting in comfortable silence for a moment, you watched Eddie’s chest rise and fall. “She’s not a bad person, you know. She doesn’t have the best family,” Eddie said quietly, “I’m not defending her – it’s just…it’s hard to explain.”

You did know. And somehow, that made it all worse. It was easy to hate someone who was a villain. But you learned a long time ago that people weren’t black and white – they were grey and a mix of colors with a million tiny little pieces that made them…well, them.

“I suspected,” you said quietly, “but I still don’t like her.”

There was a beat of silence before Eddie burst out laughing. He sat up straighter, shaking his head at you. “I know. I know you don’t.”

Thinking about Steve, you motioned to your backyard. “Want to go over Steve’s and eat some pizza I ordered then smoke?”

“Fuck yes,” he said, dragging himself up to his feet. You hesitated for a second before pulling him into a tight hug. His arms immediately wrapped around you, his face burying into your hair. You felt him shiver and you squeezed tighter. “I know it needed to happen but, it still hurt.”

“I know,” you said quietly and the faint memory of your ex’s face swam into the forefront of your mind. Shutting your eyes, you fought the image of Chrissy and Eddie kissing from floating to the surface. “But it won’t hurt forever.”

You hoped.

What the hell?

Cracking an eye open you groaned when you caught the time. Who the fuck was calling you at three in the morning? As the phone stopped ringing, you closed your eyes and slowly drifted back into sleep when – again? You threw your covers off and stomped across the room.

“What?” You tried to shout, your voice coming out more groggy than angry.

“Harrington?”

Rubbing a knuckle across your eye, you grunted. “Yeah, who the fuck is this?”

“It’s Gareth – I’m sorry for calling you so late but, I really need your help.”

“Gareth?” Your brain struggled to catch up. “Are you okay?”

“It’s Eddie.”

It took you twenty minutes to get to the Hide Out. The bartender narrowed his eyes at you when you walked in. “We’re closed sweetheart; besides you look too young to be in here.”

“Harrington!” A loud voice boomed, echoing in the mostly empty bar.

With a wince, you motioned to the drunk Eddie and sighed. “I’m here to take him home.”

“Ah, you’re the ex-girlfriend?” The bartender asked, demeanor softening when Eddie tried to stumble his way over to you.

With a sputtering no, you pointed to Eddie. “We’re just friends.”

“She moved here from New York City, Rick,” Eddie said, hiccupping.

A weird expression came over Rick’s face and you couldn’t make out what it was. “Oh,” he said, appraising you with a soft smile, “you’re the new girl.”

“I…think so? I moved back in the summer,” you said, reaching out to steady Eddie. You wrinkled your nose, “Jesus, Munson, you smell like the inside of a liquor bottle.”

“I haven’t seen you in forever,” Eddie said, burying his cold nose in your neck and you yelped. “Hmm, you smell nice.”

Rick snorted and you shifted your hold on him. “You saw me two days ago at school, you weirdo,” you said, hand coming up to scratch at his scalp. He mewled, leaning into your touch like a sunflower turning towards a sunbeam.

“That’s too long ago,” he said, “I always miss you.”

You laughed at his cross-eyed expression and pulled his leather jacket on. “Come on drunky, it’s almost three thirty and I’d like to get some sleep before school tomorrow.”

“Do you need any help with him?” Rick asked, eyeing Eddie’s stumbling walk. “I can help you drive him home.”

“I’ll be okay,” you said, grateful for the offer.

After struggling a little to buckle him in, you made sure you had his keys and a bag in case he got sick. “Don’t puke inside my car, okay? Nod if you understand.”

Eddie’s head bobbed up and down, his eyes hazy but faintly focused on you. “I meant it,” he said, as you started the car.

“Meant what, Sugar?” You asked, watching a small smile grow on his face.

“I love it when you call me that, you know?”

You did. He’d roll his eyes and be his usual dramatic self about the nickname but you’d always known that he liked it.

“Yeah, I did,” you said quietly.

A few blocks away from his trailer, you felt his eyes back on you. “Are you listening to Madonna?” Eddie asked, nose wrinkling and eyelids drooping.

“Are you drunk off your mind and half asleep and criticizing the music?” You asked, laughing incredulously. “It’s the radio, asshole, I didn’t pick the song.”

Eddie laughed, eyes back on you. “You're so close but still a world away, what I'm dying to say, is that I'm crazy for you. Touch me once and you'll know it's true,” he sang and you hated how he could still sing despite his inebriation.

“Eddie Munson,” you gaped, “do you know the lyrics to a Madonna song?”

He giggled, actually giggled, and you felt your jaw drop. “Oh my God, I’m telling everyone,” you whispered to yourself.

“Come on, sing,” he said, poking your cheek.

Sighing as he begged, you relented once the song was coming to a close. “It's all brand new, I'm crazy for you. And you know it's true, I'm crazy, crazy for you.”

Eddie’s hand almost smacked your face and you ducked. “I am driving, Munson, keep your limbs to yourself!”

“Harrington, you can sing – like really sing,” he gaped, eyes awed. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

You pulled your car into Eddie’s regular parking space and sighed. “Because you never asked,” you said, walking around to his side of the car. “Now come on, we need to get you into bed.”

“I am a lady,” Eddie said, faux-scandalized, and voice a touch too loud for how silent the trailer park was. “I don’t get into bed without being taken out to dinner!”

Grunting under his weight, you elbowed him. “Stop screaming.”

“I’m not screaming,” he shouted and you sighed.

As you rounded the trailer you noticed a green pick up on the other side and winced. Shit, Wayne was home. Being as quiet as possible, you walked past a sleeping Wayne and rushed Eddie down the hall.

He threw himself onto his bed, bouncing a little and immediately knocked over a pile of books beside his bed. Wincing, you quickly shut his door and pulled Eddie’s shoes off. You helped get him out of his jacket and rubbed a hand down your face.

“Eddie, why were you at the Hide Out drinking alone on a Sunday night?” You asked quietly.

His head lolled to the side, eyelids drooping and you chewed on your bottom lip. “Can I tell you a secret?” He asked.

“Always,” you crossed your legs, settling in next to him.

“Even though we broke up last week, it’s been a month and half since I’d really spent any time with her,” Eddie started, your heart breaking at the sad expression on his face, “but I miss her sometimes. Maybe not so much her, but the fact that someone was there.”

You pushed the hair away from his face and you smiled down at him. “It’ll take time, Sugar, but you’ll get there. We all do eventually.”

“She was mean sometimes,” he whispered, words slurring together as his eyes closed further, “I didn’t like how she made me feel.”

“I know,” you said, because you did.

“I never told anyone. It’s embarrassing…” he trailed off as he fell asleep.

Standing, you made sure you placed a trash can by his side and filled a glass with water. You scribbled a note and left it on his nightstand before creeping out his room.

You’d made it to the door when a lamp illuminated the living room. Wincing, you turned slightly and waved to Wayne. “Hi Mr. Munson,” you said quietly.

“Good evening,” he said, dipping his head to look out the window, “or should I say good morning?”

“I…uh,” you scratched the back of your neck, “I was just dropping by…and now….I’m leaving!”

“Thank you,” Wayne said, eyes on you, “for bringing him home.”

Shit. Of course, he heard you – the whole trailer park probably heard Eddie. “It’s nothing. He’d do the same for me,” you said, smiling a little.

Wayne seemed to eye you, weighing something in his head. “He just needs time,” he said eventually.

“I know,” you said, crossing your arms, “I’ve been through it. Time usually is the only thing that helps.”

Smiling, Wayne shook his head and you got the feeling he wasn’t talking about Chrissy.

“He sees you too, you know.”

What? You furrowed your brows, confused, but Wayne kept talking.

“He’s felt guilty since September. I know he thinks I don’t notice things but I knew that girl was hanging around here in the summer. I’m old, not blind.”

You laughed, covering your mouth when it came out too loudly. Wayne smiled and it made face light up. They had similar smiles, you thought.

“Ever since you started coming around, things shifted. I think he felt guilty,” he said.

At that, you straightened. “Mr. Munson, I swear nothing has happened between us-”

“I know. Or else you two wouldn’t be dancing around each other like this but - I wanted to tell you that he’s coming around. He has been since you moved here.”

Shifting your weight, you felt uncomfortable. “I…don’t know what to say.”

Wayne nodded. “You don’t have to say anything - just, accept an old man’s gratitude for helping his kid realize he doesn’t need to change for anyone. I know he ain’t perfect, but he’s a good boy.”

You glanced at the door to Eddie’s room and nodded. “Yeah, he is.”

December crept up on you slowly but surely. As you stepped out your car in the music store’s parking lot, you couldn’t help but feel excited at the sight of all the Christmas decorations.

You loved downtown Hawkins. It was a bit busier, stores littering the main street, and a lot louder than the suburbs but – you really did love it. Trying to remember Eddie’s instructions, had he told you that the album Steve wanted was in the back of the store or to the front?, you avoided a small patch of ice.

Maybe it’d be obvious once you were inside. Taking a few hurried steps through the cold air, you sighed in relief when the warmth from the store helped defrost your fingers. Clenching them together, you started browsing.

“Crap, I’m never going to find this stupid tape,” you sighed, squinting to see the back of the store.

“Can I help you?” A voice asked.

Jumping nearly out your skin, you whirled around and smiled sheepishly at the sight of an amused employee.

“Sorry,” he laughed lightly, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Flustered, you tugged on your jacket and bit back your own smile. “No, it’s totally on me. I can sink into my own world sometimes,” you said.

“Same,” he grinned, eyes trailing down your body. Suppressing the urge to run a hand down your hair to tame any fly away pieces, you couldn’t help but smile at his blatant interest.

“Uh, I’m doing some last-minute Christmas shopping,” you said guiltily, “I know it’s like…in four days, but hear me out – I’ve had a really busy week at work.”

You glanced down at his name tag – David – and smiled when he waved your excuses off. “Trust me, I get it. What are you looking for?”

“Oh! I’m looking for David Bowie’s new album,” you said, “and Iron Maiden’s second to latest one.”

David led the way towards the back left corner and grinned. “That’s a curious mix,” he said, handing both tapes to you and walking back to the cashier. He rang them up slowly, his blue eyes darting up to yours. “Are they a gift for your boyfriend?”

“What?” You squeaked, hating how high your voice got when you were nervous. “N-no! One is for a friend and the other is for my cousin.”

“Ah,” he said, smile widening. “Good choices.”

“Thanks,” you said, handing over the money, “they both managed to break their copies so I thought getting new ones would be a good gift.”

“Thoughtful too,” he teased and you felt yourself get lost a little in his eyes. “Are you from around here?”

You fiddled with the end of your scarf and shook your head. “I moved here last year from New York, we have family in town,” you leaned forward, feeling a little bold, “but, Hawkins is growing on me.”

“Is it?” He asked, smiling hopefully. “I’m glad. It’s probably not much in comparison but I’m sure it’s glad you’re here.”

David handed you the bag and you blinked when his fingers bumped into yours. “Oh, well, um – thank you for your help,” you said, tugging your scarf around you tighter, “Merry Christmas!”

You’d only taken a few steps away from the counter when he called out, “Wait!”

Whipping around, your eyes widened as he hopped over the counter. Jesus, those jeans were tight. “What’s your name?” He asked.

You introduced yourself, smiling when he shook your hand formally. “Well, now that we know each other, officially, would you happen to be free tomorrow for dinner? I know it’s a few days until Christmas Eve and you don’t really know me, I’m a freshman at Indie State, but-”

“-yes!”

David trailed off and grinned so wide it almost split his face in two. “Cool, I’ll pick you up?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” you said, scribbling down your number on your receipt. You handed it to him and he pocketed it quickly. “Call me?”

He smiled bashfully, ears red, and you couldn’t help but find it endearing.

“Definitely. See you tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow,” he echoed, waving as you scurried out.

You all but ran to your car and threw yourself into the front seat. Hands on the steering wheel, you glanced back to the store and grinned. The bag in the seat next to you crinkled as the heat blasted and you looked down at the tapes. Eddie, your mind reminded you and the smile slipped off your face.

Shaking your head, you put the car into drive and sighed. You couldn’t always be trapped by your crush, eventually you’d need to move on. Eddie had never been yours. Just because he’d broken up with Chrissy almost two months ago now didn’t mean he’d be interested in you – or anyone. In fact, he’d probably never be. Eddie Munson was your friend. Besides, there wasn’t anything wrong with liking the attention someone else gave you. At least considering how fast your heart was beating.

Nodding to yourself, you turned onto Riverside Drive and decided to go to the mall. You’d need Robin and a new outfit for tomorrow.

The first signs that Eddie was slowly coming back to himself was the sudden resurgence of energy during campaigns. His smiles were easily given, eyes always flashing with mischief – and if you were being honest with yourself, you were relieved to see him finally revive.

“You’re still coming over, right?” Eddie asked, voice eager and loud.

You pulled on your new platform boots and smiled at the boost they gave you. They definitely weren’t walking shoes but they made your legs look longer. Robin had all but threatened you if you didn’t keep them. “Yes,” you said for the thousandth time, your phone cradled between your neck and your shoulder, “I’m just getting ready!”

“For what?” Eddie grunted; his voice muffled but clear. “Wheeler if you try to look at my notes one more time, I’m going to break your arm!”

Snorting, you looked at yourself in the mirror and nodded, satisfied with the meticulous planning you’d done. A small sigh escaped when you realized you were going on a date, an actual date. It’d been a while and you were excited.

Brushing your fingers along the soft fabric of your dress, you nodded to yourself. “The longer you bug me, the longer it’ll take me to get there,” you told him. Even on winter break, the guys got together to finish up the campaign they’d started weeks ago. You’d started sitting in on them in the hopes of getting used to how the game was played – although, even after all the times you’d sat in, you were still mostly confused. It didn’t matter, you were invested in the story and didn’t want to miss any twists.

“Don’t forget to bring your notebook, and a sweater – Henderson’s house is freezing,” he muttered.

“I will, Dad,” you huffed, picking up your bag, “I’ll be over in like twenty minutes.”

“Fine, ignore my worries. Freeze to death. Who am I but a stranger?” Eddie sighed dramatically.

You rolled your eyes and Eddie huffed. “Don’t roll your eyes at me young lady.”

Laughing at the drama in his voice, and happy it’d come back, you said goodbye and hung up. You knew he’d never let that go, which is why you were completely unsurprised when you knocked on Dustin’s door, he’d opened it with arms crossed.

Pushing past him, you shivered as you tugged your coat off and hung it up by the front door. “You hung up on me, Harrington,” he said, eyes narrowing playfully before they widened. You watched as they trailed down your new dress. You’d tried to steer a little away from your normal black wardrobe – Robin had been the one to pick the maroon color and insisted that David would love it.

“Anyone would,” she said, waggling her brows at your cleavage.

“Are you wearing heels?” Eddie asked, voice sounding strangled.

You glanced down at your shoes and nodded. “They’re boots,” you said, motioning to the light snow that was falling. Eddie’s face looked like you’d struck him over the head with a hammer. “What’s wrong with you? Does it look that bad?”

“I just didn’t know you were dressing up for campaigns now,” he stuttered, eyes still roaming. “You look great, you always do.”

Pleased at the unexpected compliment, you grinned. You grabbed your small notebook out of your bag, pulled your sweater around you, and nodded towards the basement. “Everyone else here?” You asked, walking down the steps without waiting for an answer.

A loud cheering greeted you as the guys grinned at your arrival. “Harrington’s here!” Jeff shouted. Mike held up his fist and you bumped it as you took your usual seat towards the end, next to Dustin and Gareth.

“I’m back, I’m back,” Dustin said, smiling when he saw you. “You’re here!”

“Hey Dusty,” you said, bumping your shoulder against his affectionately when he glared at you for using the off-limits nickname. “Merry almost Christmas!”

Dustin’s eyes narrowed as he took in your outfit but you just smiled. Eddie sat at the head of the table, as always, and avoided your gaze. “Everyone ready?”

“Let’s kick some ass,” Gareth said, slamming his hand onto the table.

Since you’d only started sitting in on the most recent campaign, so you were nowhere near ready to create a character – much less play – but you’d always known Eddie was a great DM. He lived for the theatrics of it, played into it entirely earnestly, and his excitement was contagious. You were sure it was mostly due to his effort that you never realized how much time had passed until you glanced at a clock.

“Fuck,” you said, scrambling to stand. Your back cracked as you stretched, having been leaning in while the group decided whether to proceed into the forest or through the mountains. Damn it, you were going to miss the big climax you knew Eddie was building towards.

“What? Snack break?” Jeff asked, blinking like he’d too been pulled out of a dream.

Feeling a little awkward, you chewed on your bottom lip before just deciding to be honest. “Uh, I actually have plans – soon. I didn’t want to miss this so I just came over already dressed.”

“You have plans during a campaign?” Gareth asked, looking mildly offended.

“I’ve got a date,” you said, feeling oddly bashful. Instead of the teasing you’d expected, you realized everyone’s eyes had darted to Eddie. Who, in turn, hadn’t noticed the looks and was blinking at you blankly.

“A date?” Dustin said eventually, clearing his throat. “Like a romantic date?”

Glancing at the group, all of them who were still watching Eddie warily, you hesitated. “Yeah?” You were confused now, brows furrowing. “You know, with dinner, kissing – hopefully.”

Jeff winced, eyes darting down to his notebook and you felt even more confused.

“A date?” Dustin repeated, sounding like a broken record.

Shit, why was it so tense? You smiled, pretending to joke, “Right, so when a boy likes a girl-”

“-who?” Eddie asked, reanimating. “Is it someone from school?”

At that, you snorted, “Absolutely not. It was actually at the store you suggested!” You said, pulling your sweater on. “The one downtown?”

Eddie’s eyes narrowed. “The cashier? David? You’re going out on a date with that – with David?”

“Yeah!” You exclaimed. “He just sort of asked me out. I guess I’m a little nervous for it. Either way-”

“That’s why you’re all dressed up,” Mike said, eyes still darting towards Eddie. You rolled your eyes.

“Why did you say that like I look horrible normally?”

Mike straightened, looking panicked. “No! That’s not what I meant.” You laughed, only teasing, as you reapplied some of your lipstick in the nearest reflective mirror.

“So, how do I look?” You asked, twirling jokingly. The guys all blinked at you and you had to fight back a laugh at their awkward compliments. God, guys really were clueless about all this.

Well, that’s what you got for being the only girl of the group. “You look beautiful,” Eddie’s compliment rose above the rest. Your eyes snapped to his and you fought the sheepish smile that wanted to grow on your face. Of course he wasn’t making this easy for you.

“Yeah?” You said instead, transfixed by his guarded gaze.

He nodded, hair shifting as he did, and you smiled. “Thanks guys,” you said, clearing your throat. “I’ll see you guys at Eddie’s on Monday? To exchange gifts?”

They all nodded dumbly and you started for the stairs. Pausing at the top, you pulled your jacket on and made sure your hair was still in place. A flurry of sudden harsh whispers floated up the stairs, making you pause.

“You aren’t going to say anything?” “What the hell do you want me to say?” “Dude, you’re just going to let her go? After everything?” “What do you want me to do!” “I don’t know, something! Anything!” “It’s gone on for too long man, if this isn’t a sign – I don’t know what you’re waiting for!” “It’s no use-”

The sound of your boots against your driveway felt very solemn. David’s car puttered as he drove off and you gave the car a last wave before climbing the rest of your way up to your door.

You sighed, rubbing at your temples. It hadn’t been a total disaster but, definitely not what you’d hoped. Flashes of him snapping at the waiters and theater usher made you wince. There were more than a few times where you’d gotten close to snapping at him for staring obviously at your chest. It was nice to be appreciated but Jesus, look at someone in the eyes when you’re talking to them.

Whatever, you thought, nothing gained, nothing lost. Ugh, all you wanted was a warm shower, some hot cocoa, and your bed. Walking up your long driveway, you startled when you saw someone sitting on your front porch.

Your parents weren’t home, they were off somewhere with your uncle until Christmas morning, and you were sure Steve had said something about dropping by some band party Robin was going to. The figure shifted and you realized you recognized the long hair.

“Eddie?” You called out, struggling to see him clearly in the dark. “Are you okay? What are you doing here?”

His head snapped up at the sound of your voice. “Hi,” he said, jumping to his feet and bouncing up and down. “Do you mind if we go in? I’ve been waiting for a while and I’m pretty sure my hands are frozen.”

“Shit, yeah, of course,” you opened your door and ushered him in. “Is Wayne okay? You knew I wasn’t home – why were you waiting?”

Eddie didn’t answer you, instead he ran a hand through his hair and you sighed. You knew his tells and he was nervous. Fuck, you hoped this wasn’t a Chrissy problem – he’d been getting better.

Shrugging your coat off, you hung it up in the front closet and groaned when you pulled off your shoes. Wiggling your toes against the cold floor, you sighed at the comfort of finally taking off heels at the end of the night.

“While you think this through,” you said, waving to him, “I’m going to go make us hot chocolate.”

You’d only taken a few steps towards the kitchen when Eddie’s hand shot out to yours. “Wait!”

“Eddie, please, it’s been a long night,” you sighed, really not sure your heart could handle hearing about girl problems right now, “if no one’s dying, you’re lucky I’m not drinking after that date.”

His eyes darted to yours. “It didn’t go well?” He asked, no longer pacing or jerking around like a live wire.

Shrugging, you perched on the edge of the sofa. “It wasn’t bad, he was just – a little rude to be honest,” you said, shaking your head, “definitely no second date but dinner was nice. I might make Steve take me back to try the carbonara.”

A tense silence followed your admission, most of it rolling off Eddie in waves. Shifting, you brought your hand up to your chin and frowned. What was so urgent that Eddie looked like he was ready to pass out? His eyes were focused on your shoes that you’d left haphazardly in the doorway. The sound of one of your neighbor’s garage doors opening was faintly audible and you tilted your head, realizing it was coming from Steve. Speak of the devil.

“I could take you,” Eddie blurted, eyes wide and panicked.

Not wanting to spook him even further, you nodded slowly like you were approaching a wild animal. “Yeah, sure, we could all go. I think Robin would love the tiramisu; it was amazing-”

“-I like you,” Eddie said, cutting you off. The Christmas lights he’d helped you hang in the living room bounced off his wide eyes and gave the room a warm glow. You hadn’t turned the main light on and you loved how cozy it made the house feel.

You blinked when Eddie repeated himself, like you hadn’t heard him. What was going on? You just wanted hot cocoa. “I like you too, weirdo,” you said, still half-thinking about the dessert and Christmas lights, “you’re my best friend.”

“I’m telling Robin you said that,” Eddie said automatically and you smiled. He shook his head suddenly. “Wait, no – I’m not, I don’t want to chicken out this time. Harrington, I like you.”

Eddie’s eyes finally met yours and you were struck by the severity of it. He swallowed visibly, his hands twitching like they wanted to reach out for you – for something – and he spoke again. “I like you.”

The words floated into the air and you watched them disperse. You knew Eddie better than anyone, you knew what he was saying and felt your heart drop into your stomach.

“Harrington, I like you.”

He really needed to stop saying that.

Because every time he did, you felt like someone was slapping you across the face. “That’s not funny,” you said, serious. Ignoring the fact that you knew Eddie wasn’t cruel enough to joke with you about that. Your brain couldn’t handle logistics when your heart felt like it was about to beat right out your fucking chest. Standing, feeling the itch to pace yourself, you mumbled, “That’s not a funny joke, Eddie.”

“I’m not joking,” his eyes softened like he knew you were panicking and you didn’t know what to do with that. You weren’t entirely sure you hadn’t entered an alternate dimension. “I think I always have, at least a little bit of me, since the first time we met. You’re so…you. It’s like you radiate fucking sunshine – I’m pretty sure that’s why everyone is drawn to you. I can’t believe you never noticed; the way people just gravitate into your space.”

Shocked into silence, a rare moment really, you sat back onto the sofa. What the hell was happening? He couldn’t be…he couldn’t.

Clearly unnerved by your sudden silence, Eddie continued. “I know it’s weird because we’re friends but I just, I can’t keep it in anymore. It’s selfish and Dustin told me that I needed to say something before you ended up engaged to some quarterback – Steve, well shit, don’t get me started on Steve. He said he’d kick my ass if I ever hurt you, which I understand – I’d say the same to any asshole trying to date someone who was like my sister-”

Quarterback? What? Steve? Dating?

“Eddie, I – I don’t know what you’re saying.”

He shook his head, as if that would stop the rambling. “Right sorry, the point is, I like you. A lot. A scary amount.” Your heart lurched forward, slamming against your ribcage.

You felt like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over you. He wasn’t joking. Eddie wasn’t fucking joking. “Why didn’t you tell me?” You croaked.

He shot you a look and well, duh, you knew why. “The last girl I liked didn’t want anyone to know that we breathed the same air much less that she liked me too.”

You scrunched your nose, immediately offended. “You can’t possibly believe I’d be anything like her,” you said, not able to keep the venom out your voice. A little embarrassed at how easily it shot out, you wrung your hands but caught the amused glint in his eyes.

“No, you’re nothing like her,” he said quietly, “but it’s an explanation, why I kept quiet for so long. Why I let her stay in my orbit when I just wanted to spin around in yours. I thought I had time. I had planned – I wanted to – but then I pictured you driving off with that – that, cool sports car driving hair spray wearing guy and panicked a little.”

Still feeling like you were on one of those teacup rides, dazed and dizzy, you blinked up at him. “Eddie, are you sure?” You immediately heard how stupid the question sounded but, Jesus Christ, you really weren’t expecting this tonight.

To his credit, Eddie smiled at you patiently. His fingers inched towards yours and you let your hands unfurl from where they were clutching at the hem of your dress. You watched him trace the lines on your open palm, the touch sending shivers up your arm. His rings pressed comfortably into your skin and you fought to keep your breath even.

“You’ve always seen me, the real me, and made sure to let me know that you liked what you saw. Everyone else sees me and makes assumptions-”

“-to be fair we do have similar style-”

Eddie shushed you and you shot him an amused look.

“-but you never did. If you knew…the way you make me feel. I shouldn’t have stayed with her for so long, not when I’d already started to drift away. She made mistakes but, but I fucked up too,” he sighed, and you winced – the reality of how complicated this was hitting you. “Do you know that you mouth along to the words when you’re reading a book?”

Confused at the sudden turn of topic, you shook your head.

He smiled, eyes darting down to your lips and you felt something in your stomach curl. “There’s this little sigh you do, it’s my favorite one, when you sit on the picnic tables outside the cafeteria. You’ll prop your feet up and turn your face to the sun, close your eyes and sigh. Or this smile you have whenever you’ve helped us study and we get a good grade – it’s like you’re so proud of us, you have this innate ability to make people feel like they matter,” he laughed, eyes unfocused like he was lost in a memory. “Or the way you never walk by and let anyone who needs help be ignored. The way you’re just so fucking reckless and swing before thinking it through.”

Eddie’s thumb swiped across the back of your hand and you tightened your hold on him.

“You’re an enigma, a tornado that burst into Hawkins and completely upended my life. You’re one of my best friends and I can’t imagine life without you in it,” Eddie said, smiling at you like you weren’t two seconds away from a heart attack, “so yeah, Harrington, I’m sure.”

The quiet after his declaration was less tense but still heavy. Your eyes darted between his and you watched him as he waited patiently for you to gather your thoughts. Eddie never rushed you, not even in the small moments. You brought your finger out to trace his jaw and his eyes fluttered closed at the feeling of your touch. His skin was soft, stubble catching against your thumb as you brought it down to his bottom lip. Something in your stomach clenched when his eyes opened, pupils blown as your thumb caught his lip and pressed down lightly.

“Eddie,” you said quietly, as if afraid you’d shatter the moment with your volume.

He hummed, the sound so familiar and comforting, you couldn’t help but smile. Wetting your lips, you watched his eyes follow the motion and you felt a small ember ignite in your chest. If he was brave, you could be too.

“I like you too,” you said, feeling your heart crack open at the sight of his beaming answering smile. It reminded you of a sunrise and you felt it settle between your ribs, a feeling of permanence washing over you. This was going to change everything. And yet, despite the fear of being in freefall, you said it again. “I like you.”

Eddie’s shoulders dropped in relief, his sigh the loudest noise either of you had made since the start of this conversation. His forehead pressed against yours, eyes closing as he inhaled.

You exhaled, the anxiety in your veins ebbing away, returning back to its cave. With a small huff, a thought floated to the surface of your mind. “What?” Eddie asked, leaning back just a little.

“I’m pretty sure everyone knows already, about me at least,” you said, feeling slightly embarrassed.

“What?” He asked, confusion evident.

“Steve told me, a week into having moved here, that I needed to steer clear from you because you weren’t available. A week.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

Eddie crossed his arms, teasing glint rising in his eyes. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

“You were obviously preoccupied, I’m not blind,” you said, not able to keep the jealous hint out of your voice. Wincing at the sound of it, you sighed when Eddie smiled, looking pleased.

“We broke up on Halloween,” he said, taking your hands between his, “it’s almost Christmas.”

“Well, you could’ve said something too,” you huffed. Eddie shot you a look and you frowned. “I…if she was any indication of your type then I surely wouldn’t qualify,” you mumbled, you motioned to your dress, “I had to go out and buy this. I – you know what I look like normally.”

“You’re beautiful always,” Eddie breathed and you felt yourself grow flustered at the honesty in his eyes. A sudden thought bubbled to the forefront of your mind and you squeezed his hands.

“Eddie,” you said, watching as he intertwined your fingers together, the knot in your stomach taking root, “I can’t be the pit stop before you find someone else – someone like Chrissy. Our friendship won’t survive me being your rebound. I might not survive it.”

He shook his head before you stopped speaking. “I don’t want someone like Chrissy, I want you, exactly like you are,” Eddie breathed, his other hand coming up to your cheek, “I have for a while. If you…if you want me too, I’m in this. Totally, completely, head first.”

Eddie must’ve seen the hesitance in your eyes because he reached for your arm and tugged you into his. “Trust me to know what I want, trust what I’m saying – trust me,” he said, fingers tangling with your hair. “You’re not my rebound. Everyone else in my life was yours.”

At that, it finally sunk in.

Eddie liked you. Eddie liked you. Eddie liked you.

Shit, he might’ve broken your brain. This was a lot to process; a lot had happened today. “Eddie, are you sure?” You asked again, sounding like a skipping record.

Smiling patiently at you, he nodded. “Yeah, I’ve never been surer of anything.”

Despite your stomach feeling like it was at the top of a rollercoaster, you already knew your answer. “Okay,” you said. Because it really was that simple. It’d always been him.

“Okay?” Eddie echoed, confused.

You nodded. “Yeah.”

At that, a grin slowly grew on Eddie’s face. “So, I like you and you like me?” He said, the joke breaking the tension. Of course, you couldn’t expect anything less from him.

“This feels like we’re in middle school,” you huffed, amused.

He wiggled his brows. “Check yes if you want to go on a date with me?” Eddie teased again.

You planted your forehead on his chest and groaned. Eddie laughed, the vibrations of it crawling down your skin and sinking into your bones. He had a beautiful laugh, you thought.

Eddie pulled you closer into him, arms wrapped around your torso for a moment before he started nosing at your temple. “Can I kiss you?” He whispered.

“Hell yes,” you said, surging up and pressing your lips against his before he could move. You felt his answering smile against your lips and soon you had to lean back because you were both grinning. Eddie’s grip didn’t let you get too fair.

“Not so fast,” he said, pulling you back into him, “that didn’t count.”

Before you could make a joke, Eddie’s lips descended. He herded you towards the nearest wall and you shivered against the sudden lack of warmth. With a sharp nip to your bottom lip, he swallowed your gasp and used the moment to slip beyond your lips. You playfully fought for the upper hand but was quickly pressed harder into the wall. Eddie’s hand on your hip gripped you tightly, like you were the only thing anchoring him to the moment. His other hand slid up the length of your body and settled at your neck, possessively.

Your fingers were wrapped around the lapels of his leather jacket, clenched tightly as his leg slipped between yours and you groaned when he pressed into you. Not wanting to be left behind, you released one fistful of leather and snuck a cold hand underneath the hem of his Hellfire shirt. He hissed as your hand warmed from his heated skin and you let your nails scrape lightly against his waist. “Ah, alright, you win,” he said, eyes wild. You grinned; a little punch drunk off the fact that you had this effect on him.

“Can I ask you for a favor?” Eddie said. Nodding, you brought your lips down to his neck – tongue lapping at the muscle like you’d always wanted to do. Shuddering, Eddie’s grip turned vice like and you laughed lightly. “It’s hard to formulate thoughts when you do that.”

“Is it now?” Eddie shot you a heated look and you leaned back. “What did you want?”

“Could we…keep this a secret until we’re back at school next week?”

And just like that, your heart dropped to your feet. Pushing him away, Eddie scrambled forward, already realizing his mistake. “Wait, no, that came out wrong.”

You tried to shake off his hold but you’d reacted too slowly. Within seconds you were back, entangled in each other, with Eddie’s chest rising quickly.

“I’m sorry, I should’ve said that better,” he said, ducking to catch your eyes. “Our friends have a bet going on when we’ll get together. Robin and Max are the last ones at New Year’s. I don’t want to give any of them the satisfaction.” He shrugged, looking a little pink. “I know they’ll be relentless too, insufferable really, and I want it to be just us just for a little. Without our friends being assholes.”

“Oh,” you breathed, relief evident.

Eddie’s face softened into something apologetic and he bumped his nose with yours. “I’d let everyone know that I like you if I could,” he said, “but considering we were the last to realize, I wouldn’t be surprised it they all already knew.”

Your heart jumped into his hands willingly, you watched him curl his fingers around it, like he’d protect it with his life. And you…trusted him to. Smiling at his earnest expression, you nodded. “Yeah, Eddie, I don’t mind.”

Sorry, girl, but you missed out. Well, tough, luck that boy's mine now. We are more than just good friends. This is how the story ends.

You’d barely managed to make your way down to an empty kitchen when the phone rang. Wincing, you glared at it from across the room. Why had this phone always had such a shrill sound? As you padded towards it, you glanced out the west window to see Steve’s curtains pulled tightly. Maybe you should bring him some breakfast.

“Hello?” Your voice sounded like gravel.

“Hey.”

Eddie, your heart jumped in recognition. “Good morning, Sugar,” you said, leaning your hip against the wall.

Eddie’s chuckle warmed you and you closed your eyes. “I miss you,” he said without preamble and you bit back a grin.

“You just saw me a few hours ago,” you reminded him. After your disastrous date last night, and the subsequent make out session you’d had, Eddie hadn’t left your house until two in the morning.

“Doesn’t matter,” he insisted and you could see him huffing in your mind, “I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to be cool and wait two days or something before calling the girl you’re trying to ask on a date.”

Laughing, you could feel his answering grin from over the phone. “Being cool is overrated,” you said.

“That’s what I thought too. Besides, when the girl you’re dating has already witnessed most of your embarrassing moments, what’s the point in playing it cool?”

“I wouldn’t say most, you still have room for a few more,” you teased, grinning when he protested. You tightened your grip on the phone and glanced at the clock. “How much time do I have before you’re in my driveway?”

“Is two hours too soon?” He asked a little hesitantly and you shook your head like he could see you.

“No, that’s actually perfect.”

“Great,” he said, “see you soon.”

An hour and half later, your doorbell echoed in the empty house. You gave your hair one last glance before hurrying down the steps. Flinging the door open, Eddie wa leaning against one of the columns.

“Hey beautiful,” he said, eyes meeting yours. You beamed, reaching for his hand and pulling him into the foyer.

Giving him a short kiss, you let him pull you into his arms for a hug. Tucking yourself into his neck, his black scarf soft and warm, you smiled again. “What?” He asked.

“Nothing, I just missed you too,” you admitted, laughing when he exclaimed. Extracting yourself from his hold, you pulled on your warmest boots and coat. Hesitating at the sight of your scarf, you turned to Eddie. “Want to swap?” You asked.

He raised his brow and you motioned to your light gray knitted scarf. “I like the way yours smells,” you admitted, liking the way Eddie’s face flushed – pleased.

“Sure,” he said, unraveling the garment from his neck. As he looped it over yours, you let him tuck it tightly against you, a kiss pressing to your temple before stepping back.

“Holy shit, what – are those-”

Eddie’s hand came up to pull the neckline of his shirt down further and you followed the expanse of his once pale skin. Bruises mottled the column of his neck and you gaped. “Did I?”

“Mark your territory?” Eddie joked, breath going shallow when you trailed your fingertips over them. “Yeah. It was fun explaining them to Wayne this morning over breakfast.”

“Oh my God,” you whipped your eyes to his. “Does he know-”

“-that you were the one staking your claim? Yeah.”

“Eddie!”

At that he laughed, that stupidly beautiful laugh and you felt your organs turn into mush. He shook his head and wrapped your scarf around his neck, hiding away the evidence of last night. “He spent most of the morning telling me not to mess it up,” he said, pulling you in by your belt loops. “Apparently, you have my uncle’s full approval.”

Flustered, you fiddled with the scarf around his neck until Eddie pressed a quick kiss to your lips. You chased after him, feeling lightheaded and filled with butterflies.

“We’re going to miss it if you don’t stop tempting me,” Eddie said, nipping at the sensitive skin underneath your jaw a few frantic minutes later.

“Miss what?” You breathed, eyes fluttering.

Eddie exhaled deeply, pulled his hands out from under your sweater and smoothed it against your torso. With fumbling fingers, he zipped you up tightly. “Come on, you’ll see.”

You laughed as he pulled you eagerly to his van, nose turning red in the cold weather. A few minutes later you blinked as you passed the ‘You’re leaving Hawkins, visit us again soon!’ sign.

“Is this all an elaborate plan to kidnap me?” You asked, eyes turning to his profile.

“Obviously,” Eddie answered, grinning. “It’s only a few minutes out of town – you’re right at the edge of it.”

True to his word, a few minutes later, Eddie parked next to what looked like a massive Christmas festival. As soon as you opened your door, the smell of peppermint and gingerbread wafted over to you. “That smells amazing,” you said immediately.

“Wayne used to bring me here,” Eddie said, intertwining your fingers. He brought your cold hands between his and rubbed them. “I loved looking through all the stands. My mom she – uh, she loved Christmas.”

“I love it,” you said, grinning brightly before pointing to a cookie stall. “Can we go there first, please? The smell is killing me.”

Eddie laughed, pulling you along towards the crowded vendor. “The sugar cookies are the best ones,” Eddie said.

“What?” You sputtered. “Chocolate chip cookies are a classic, who are you?”

“Sugar cookies are underrated!”

You rolled your eyes. “How did I not know this about you? I’m on a date with a sugar cookie apologist.”

Eddie clutched as his chest, eyes bright, and mouth twisting into a dramatic gasp. “Take that back!”

Ready to quip back, you heard someone call your name. Turning to your left, you smiled when you saw your classmate. “Hey Brian!” You waved. As he broke off from his group, you felt Eddie drop your hand as he came closer.

Frowning, you looked up at him, mildly confused, when you saw a flash of panic bleed into his gaze.

“Oh my god, it’s so cold,” Brian said, hugging you in greeting. He waved at Eddie a little sheepishly. “Sorry for interrupting, I just haven’t seen you all break! We wanted to go to the new bookstore downtown remember?”

Leaning over to tuck yourself under Eddie’s arm, you picked up his left hand and brought it around to your left shoulder. “I know! I’m so sorry, can I call you tonight? We can bring Amanda and see if we can find that book she wanted!”

“It’d be a good present,” he whispered, leaning in, “I haven’t gotten her anything yet!”

You laughed. “Brian!” You both knew she’d bought him his favorite album last month.

“It’s been a long month,” he said, grinning, “anyway, I’ll see soon!” He jogged back to his friends and you turned back to the line.

“So, we were talking about how wrong you were about chocolate chip?” You were met with an amused silence and you could feel his eyes on you.

“I know what you’re doing,” Eddie said, amused, pulling you in tighter to him.

With a small smile, you reached out to pick up a few wrapped cookies for Steve and Robin. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” you said, paying and putting them gently into your bag.

If you needed to cling to his side the entire year to help him realize you didn’t care, in fact, you actively enjoyed it – it was a cross you were willing to bare.

“Mhmm,” Eddie hummed, kissing your temple, “did you want to stake another claim or was that one enough?”

Ignoring his teasing, you pulled him along to the next stall. “I do have a question though,” you said, slipping your gloved hand into his. “Did you want me to stop calling you Sugar?”

Eddie frowned. “No, what? Why?”

You hesitated. “Well, because of how it came about,” you said tentatively, “I was always just teasing when I used it.”

Eddie’s face looked a little flushed as he avoided your gaze. “I like it,” he admitted, “it doesn’t have anything to do with anyone but us. It’s our inside joke and I wouldn’t want you to change it now.”

“I just wanted to be sure,” you said, squeezing his hand.

“I do – but – I also want something to call you,” Eddie said, tugging you along to the next vendor.

You wrinkled your nose at him. “Isn’t my name good enough?” Eddie rolled his eyes.

“What about one that matches yours? Cupcake? Cookie?” Eddie snickered at the sight of your expression. “My little honeybun?” Eddie said, barely containing your laughter as his options got more and more ridiculous.

“Oh my God, if you call me honeybun I will never speak to you again,” you threatened.

Eddie laughed and you stuck your tongue out before approaching a flower stand. The red roses were beautiful, reminiscent of the ones you knew your dad gave your mother at every holiday. A flash of purple caught your eye, hidden beneath a bunch of lilies. Reaching for the smaller bouquet, you realized they were wildflowers.

They were a little wilted, small, but the purple and orange petals stood out amongst the red of the Christmas themed flowers. A short, older woman sitting in a chair wrapped up in blankets smiled at you. “Those arrangements are left over from an order we had that fell through. They’re not worth much, I’ll give you a good discount if you want.” Fingers tracing the bloom of the small orange flower, you nodded. They’d look nice on your desk. You reached for your wallet but Eddie was already handing over money.

“Eddie, wait, no-” Eddie waved away your protests and dropped a few bills into the tip jar. The woman beamed at him and you sighed. “I was going to buy them for myself.”

“Too slow,” Eddie teased, kissing your cheek. When you opened your mouth to protest, Eddie sighed, “Don’t deny me the right to buy you flowers.”

“The right?” You repeated, raising a brow.

Eddie nodded, carefully packing the flowers into your tote bag. “Just say thank you.”

“Thank you, Eddie,” you said with an eye roll. You glanced at the bits of purple peeking out from the top of your bag and smiled. You’d never had anyone buy you flowers.

“They’re pretty,” he said with a smile, his eyes lighting up, “what about Petal?”

You scrunched your nose but laughed at Eddie’s eager expression. “Isn’t Sugar embarrassing enough? You want to add calling me Petal to that? You want to be that couple?” You asked, exasperated.

“Yes! We’re steering into it,” Eddie said, clearly having made a decision. Petal, you thought over, liking it but not wanting to give him the satisfaction of giving in too easily.

“Most boyfriend’s call their girlfriend something cute like baby, darling, sweetheart,” you said, turning to pretend and read a vendor’s signs to hide your smile.

Instead of the returning quip you expected, you turned to see Eddie staring at you meaningfully, a brow quirked. “Boyfriend, huh?”

Jesus Christ Harrington, you groaned internally, eyes closing. It was your first date for fuck’s sake. You hadn’t even gotten past first base and you were already fucking it up.

“I’m just messing with you,” Eddie hurried to promise, realizing you were curling into yourself in mortification. “I swear.”

“I’m sorry?” You stammered, unsure and not knowing how to get yourself out the hole you’d dug.

“Don’t be,” Eddie assured you, looking hesitant. “I’d…like that if you would.”

You opened one eye. “Really?”

Eddie laughed, arm coming back around your waist, both of you getting as close as you could with all the layers you had on. “Yeah, your ability to always say exactly what’s on your mind is one of the things I like the most about you,” he explained, smiling when you raised your brows, “and it’s us. We’re still just us, making up the rules to whatever we want. Yeah?”

Something that felt a lot like relief bloomed in your chest. “Yeah,” you said.

“Good,” he said, “cool.”

“Cool.”

Without hesitating, you pulled his face down to yours and kissed him soundly. “Was that clear enough?” His eyes stayed closed, a little dazed, for a moment.

Eddie pretended to think before shaking his head. “Not yet, let’s try a few more times so it can be really clear.”

You laughed and let him kiss your jaw, head tilting to give him more space. His lips landed on your ear, his teeth nipping at your earlobe and the coil within you standing at attention. “You’re cold,” he said, voice low. You watched him pull his beanie off and pull it over your own head.

He pulled you towards a hot chocolate stand. “Hi! What would y’all like to order?”

Eddie turned to you, brows rising. “Petal?” He asked, wiggling his brows, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

You grinned, shaking your head at his blatant amusement at the new cheesy nickname. “A peppermint hot chocolate please, with whipped cream.”

“Now that winter break is over, does that mean we win the bet?” You asked Eddie, his fingers intertwining with yours as you both emerged from his van and crossed the parking lot. The skin on your neck stung as the cold air rushed to meet you, Eddie’s teeth had no doubt left a mark. You’d barely gotten out your car when Eddie pounced on you a few minutes ago. “We could go to dinner with the winning pool.”

Eddie laughed, “I like the way you think,” he said, squeezing your hand and using the other to tighten your scarf – it was still wrapped around his neck. You’d both had conveniently forgotten to return them, since his was tucked into your bag.

“Who do you think is going to make the biggest deal about it?” You wondered out loud, already knowing the answer.

Sharing a look, Eddie snorted. “Henderson’s locker is right by yours. I wouldn’t be surprised if-”

“Eddie!”

You grinned. “Speak of the devil,” you said, moving to let go of Eddie’s hand. With an exaggerated pout, he reached for your hand and pointedly intertwined your fingers together.

“Where the hell were you going?” Eddie asked, tugging you closer. Laughter spilled from you, surprised and caught off guard.

“I thought you’d want to head over to him while I went to my locker. Our first periods are on opposite ends of the school,” you reminded him, bringing your joined hands up to kiss his knuckles.

His eyes softened from teasing into something that made the butterflies in your stomach swarm. “What’s one more tardy?” He said, kissing the corner of your mouth. Eddie’s hand came up to the back of your neck and pulled you in closer until –

“Holy shit, holy shit, YOU GUYS IT FINALLY HAPPENED,” a very Dustin-sounding voice shrieked.

Eddie laughed and his breath minty from the gum he’d stolen off of you. “Henderson.”

Dustin skidded towards you, his eyes wide and shocked. “I win!” He pumped his fist into the air.

The rest of them followed, looking annoyed. “You couldn’t have moved faster?” Gareth grumbled, sliding a victorious looking Dustin a ten-dollar bill.

“I’m sorry, what’s happening here?” You asked, narrowing your eyes at them. “You were betting on us?”

Eddie buried his face into your hair and you felt his silent laughter as everyone sputtered.

Everyone started backtracking, gazes avoiding you, mumbling together. “In our defense, you two were the only blinds one here,” Dustin said, crossing his arms. “Even the Drama club asked me if you two were dating.”

“What?” You said, genuinely floored.

“Duh!” Mike said, throwing his hands up.

Jeff nodded, pointing at Eddie. “Since the day the new year started, he’s only ever been able to focus on you in a room.”

“Hey,” Eddie huffed. “It’s not my fault I have a small attention span.”

Gareth snorted. “Yeah, that’s why you couldn’t take your eyes off her bu-”

“Alright!” Eddie snapped.

Amused beyond reason, you turned to Eddie who was flushed a brilliant red. “Edward.”

“I plead the fifth,” he muttered. You squeezed his hand, wanting to tease him further when Mike snorted.

“She’s not any better,” he said, crossing his arms. “Have you tried to get her to study effectively when Eddie was there? She spent half the time staring at him.”

You felt Eddie’s gaze on you but you were too busy glaring at Mike, who had the decency to look a little worried. Lucas snorted.

“Whatever, he’s hot, I can stare at my boyfriend if I want to,” you said petulantly, ignoring Eddie’s delighted laugh.

“Say it again,” he said, a little too zealous – you almost tripped as he pulled you toward him.

Confused for a moment, you smiled gently at him when you realized. “Boyfriend?” You said quietly. “I can stare at my boyfriend whenever I want to.”

“Yeah, you can,” he said and you rolled your eyes. Pulling him down for a kiss, you ignored your friends’ gagging noises - and for their sakes - kept the kiss short.

“Which reminds me,” Eddie said, leaning over to rip the money from Dustin’s hand.

“What! Hey! Give that back!”

Eddie tucked it into his jacket and shook his head. “We didn’t start dating until right before Christmas. So technically, you were all wrong. And shitty for betting on your friends.”

“Nancy was in it too!” Mike said, ever the younger brother.

Max grinned, her nose turned up into the air. “I wasn’t.” You shot her a grateful look.

Eddie shot him a glare and the group looked chagrined. Their gazes downward and wide, you rolled your eyes. “Alright, enough with the sad puppy looks.”

The bell rung, startling you all, and you frowned. “I’ve got to get my English textbook,” you said, “I’ll see you for lunch?”

Eddie sighed when you nudged him in the opposite direction. “How will I ever survive?”

“God, they’re nauseating.” You whipped your glare around to Mike, who scurried away.

“Yeah,” you said, “meet by my locker?”

Eddie nodded, kissing your cheek once more before jogging after Mike.

Despite Robin and Nancy’s endless teasing, you managed to make it to lunch. Shoving your bag into your locker, you struggled with your Physics textbook – grinning in triumph when it finally fit into place. A pair of arms snaked around your waist and pulled you backward. Caught totally off guard, you shrieked, smacking the arms when you recognized Eddie’s laughter.

“You scared the shit out of me,” you huffed, pushing your hair out of your face.

“Aw, did little Harrington get scared?” Eddie teased, tilting your chin up so he could kiss you. Letting him, because you didn’t hate yourself that much, you nipped at his bottom lip in retaliation.

Eddie snorted, leaning against the locker next to yours, watching you organize everything for your last few classes. He was mid-story about a student getting kicked out of his second period class when you almost went flying into your locker. Eddie’s hands came up quickly to steady you, his eyes narrowing. Whirling around, you caught a familiar blonde head snickering with his two lackeys.

“I see you two finally decided to make it official, can I ask – how do you decide who gets to bottom?” Jason sneered.

Without thinking twice, you grabbed the baseball you had sitting at the bottom of your locker and launched it across the hallway towards his head. Shrieking, Jason jumped out the way at the last minute and the ball slammed loudly into the wall behind him.

“Nice arm,” Eddie whistled, appreciative eyes falling on you.

“Thanks,” you huffed, shoving your hair out your face. “Keep fucking with me, and I’ll rearrange your goddamn face, Carver. That goes for all of you,” you hissed.

Swinging his arm around your shoulders, Eddie straightened to his full height. “I wouldn’t mess with her if I were you,” he added.

“Whatever, fucking weirdos,” Jason spat, stalking down the hallway towards his own locker.

Jesus, what an inferiority complex.

Before you could go and recover your baseball, the bell rang and the hallway flooded with students running to the cafeteria. Eddie wasted no time in herding you towards your locker, his shoulders blocking out the rest of the busy hallway and you tilted your head up to look at him.

“Any regrets yet?” You asked, rolling your eyes at the idea of Jason and his entourage.

Eddie grinned, his eyes darkening. “Considering that was pretty hot, no. I’m good,” you laughed, “I mean besides being interested in a girl who doesn’t like Iron Maiden obviously.”

You pinched his side and he jumped, rubbing at the skin “I’m joking! Don’t bully me next!” Eddie pretended to cower but stopped to quirk his brow. “I mean, if you’re into that I don’t mind being the bottom…”

“I’ll accept an apology,” you interrupted him, ignoring his wiggling brows, your own growing interest, and his widening smile.

Eddie placed his hands on either side of your neck and tilted your head up. His swiped his tongue along your lip, his chest pressing against yours the deeper the kiss got. Your hand had started to wander when a loud wolf whistle broke you apart. Without looking, Eddie flipped off two grinning faces as they walked past you both. “When you come up for air, remember we sit at the back of the cafeteria,” Gareth joked, laughing with Jeff as they disappeared around the corner.

Nodding towards the corner, Eddie did a poor job of hiding his grin. “Let me put some books away and we can go get lunch?” You nodded, out of breath, and realized that most of the hallway had emptied while you’d been preoccupied. Eddie kissed you quickly once more before jogging off.

Smiling to yourself, you placed a hand to your lips and glanced around the hall. Your eyes caught a set of familiar blue ones staring at you. Chrissy startled, her eyes widening when she realized you were staring back. Despite everything, you couldn’t help but feel a little bad. Just a little. She glanced over her shoulder before shooting you a small, sad, smile.

You looked down the hall for Eddie and when you didn’t see him, you nodded at her. After a second, she nodded back, the grip on her books tightening before she was tucked under Jason’s arm.

“Ready?” Eddie’s voice scaring you. He raised a brow at your sudden jumpiness and you huffed.

Turning back around to see her blonde ponytail swishing as she walked towards the cafeteria, you turned back to Eddie, his eyes on you. “Yeah, I’m starving – let’s go.”

“You know, I didn’t think I’d be hauling music equipment into a dirty bar for our two-month anniversary,” you told Eddie, wiping your forehead with the back of your hand.

Freezing, Eddie raised his head to look up at you from where he was squatting by the amp. “Uh-”

“I’m fucking with you,” you said, laughing at his blatant relief, “we’re not the type of people who celebrate monthly anniversaries.”

“I mean,” Jeff said, looking at you both doubtfully. You narrowed your eyes at him and he shrugged. “What? You two are practically fused at the hip.”

“To be fair, they were like that before,” Dustin added, Mike and Lucas nodding next to him. Max pushed the front door open and waved to Rick. He pushed a Dr. Pepper onto the bar and she grinned.

“Hey Eddie!” Rick shouted, waving the phone at the bar in the air. “It’s Gareth!”

You exchanged a look with Eddie. Gareth had said he felt like he was catching something but promised he’d make it to the show tonight. Rick had managed to print a few flyers and the Friday slot seemed to always get the most attendances now. There was no way they could miss one.

“Fuck,” Eddie said, hanging up and leaning his head against the bar. “Gareth’s got food poisoning.”

Jeff’s shoulder slumped; his groan audible as he pinched the bridge between his eyes. “Shit, what are we gonna do?”

“What about his brother? Isn’t he in town?”

You shook your head. “John knows how to play bass not drums!”

Eddie swore again, slumping down into the seat next to Max. She patted his shoulder awkwardly when he groaned.

“We have arrived for your transportation needs,” Steve said, Robin rolling her eyes at his side.

“Technically we’re a little late to being early but we’re still here before opening,” Robin said, teasing tone trailing off when she noticed Jeff, Gareth, and Liam’s slumped figures. “Uh, what happened?”

“We don’t have a drummer, he’s sick.”

Robin whistled. “On a Friday? Fuck.”

“I know,” Eddie said, voice muffled from where he had his face buried in his arms.

“Can’t you do it?” Steve asked, his gaze turning to you.

You widened your eyes, shaking your head and freezing when Eddie popped his head up. “You who? You me?”

Steve rolled his eyes. “No, you – her,” he said, pointing to you despite your clear glare.

“You can play drums? I thought you knew some guitar,” he said, brows rising in genuine surprise.

Everyone’s heads whirled around to you and as the only one left on stage, you felt your shoulders rise up – tense. “Uh, no, you assumed I played guitar. I just told you I played an instrument, like in September.”

“Dude,” Dustin snorted, “you don’t know what instrument your girlfriend plays?”

Eddie bristled. “She never mentioned it!”

“That’s true,” you said, backing him up, “I haven’t played since…”

Steve snorted and you shot him a death glare. He immediately silenced, raising his hands up high. “I was laughing at a joke Robin said,” he said lamely.

Robin quirked her brow, crossed her arms and shook her head. “You’re on your own, Dingus.”

“Doesn’t it take like a few weeks at least for a musician to learn a song? Even if she can play, she can’t just do it,” Max said, smiling when you shot her a grateful look.

“I mean, if she’s been at all their practices, she’d probably know them well enough,” Dustin said.

You did know them, at least most of them. They had a few new covers that were too advanced for you but Gareth had always let you sneak in a few minutes during break for you to play on his set. Eddie’s hand came out to touch your ankle and you looked down. “Hey, it’s okay, you don’t need to.”

Shit.

“Okay, full disclosure, I have pretty bad stage fright. I played at a talent show,” you shot Steve a murderous look, “and it didn’t end well. Let’s just say, I may or may not have puked on my guitar player who then slipped and knocked over our lead singer.”

“Like bowling pins,” Steve whispered, “in front of the whole school.”

You closed your eyes and tried to stomp down on the memory of you running off the stage and crying in the bathroom. Steve, who had been visiting, with your other cousin had been the ones to find you and eventually coax you out. “You don’t have to,” Eddie said, climbing up onto the stage with ease. His arm wrapped around your back and you let him pull you in close. “Seriously, it’s not the end of the world if we miss one night.”

Inhaling deeply, you eyed the drum set behind you and cursed. “Fuck it, I’ll do it. I’ll need to run through the set list and tell you which ones I don’t know.”

Jeff, Liam, and Dustin – as Corroded Coffin’s manager – all scrambled to help. While they ran circles around you both, Dustin screaming for some drummer sticks, you felt Eddie’s lips on your shoulder. “Petal, I’m serious. You don’t have to.”

“I know,” you said, turning to wrap your own arms around him, “but I want to.”

You were rewarded with his sunrise smile and soft kiss. “How have we known each other for this long and I didn’t know you played drums?”

Shrugging, you pulled him back in for another kiss by the collar and sighed. “Because it’s mortifying. I get all sweaty and nervous, wait, is what I’m wearing okay?”

Eddie laughed, the sound going straight to your stomach, and nodded. “You look beautiful.”

“Alright,” you huffed, pulling up every ounce of courage from deep within you, “fuck it, let’s do it.”

“Wait,” Liam said, waving a hand up, “Gareth did backup vocals on some of the covers. Do you want Jeff to pick those up?”

Eddie nodded, turning to Jeff who now looked a little nervous himself.

“I can do it,” you sighed, again.

This time, everyone balked. “You can sing?” Eddie added, looking like he was trying to remember the numerous car rides where you both screamed along to the radio.

“Barely,” you said, walking towards the drum set. “I sang with you once.”

“With me?” Eddie squawked.

“Back in early November, I picked you up – piss drunk, remember?”

Eddie squinted. “I remember Wayne telling me you’d dropped me off but uh, no. I’d remember if you sang to me.”

“We sang along to the radio, Sugar,” your mouth twisting into a smile, “Madonna. You knew all the words.”

Jeff snorted, quieting when a red-faced Eddie turned to glare at him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Eddie said, swinging his guitar over his torso.

You glanced towards Liam and both of you looked like you were ready to bust into laughter. “Sure, Munson, suuure.”

“I don’t!”

He's just a boy, and I'm just a girl. Can I make it any more obvious? We are in love, haven't you heard? How we rock each other's world.

“So, are we going to talk about it at some point?” Eddie asked, his foot coming to nudge yours.

You knew what he was talking about but you turned to smile at him. “About how embarrassingly into me you are?” You teased, kissing the edge of his jaw.

Eddie rolled his eyes and tugged you closer onto his lap. “About that Columbia application I saw you pretend not to fill out that day in the library months ago.”

Shit.

“Jeff’s acceptance to Hofstra was sent out last week and you’ve been acting weird since two weeks ago so I’m assuming…”

Feeling guilty for having hidden it from him, even if it was just until you could wrap your own head around it, you jumped up from his lap and plucked the papers from between your bookshelf. Handing the envelope to Eddie, he read through the first page and beamed up at you. “Petal, you did it, you got in!”

“I know,” you said, smile creeping out from beneath your anxiety. “I got into Indie State too and a few others closer to Hawkins.”

Eddie’s brows pinched together when he glanced at you. “Why?”

Because you’re here. The words went unsaid but you knew Eddie had heard them anyway.

��Oh, hey, no,” Eddie tugged on your arm until you went tumbling into his lap and sighed. “One of the first things you ever told me was that you hated it here.”

“I didn’t know I’d end up actually liking it!” You defended quickly. Eddie shot you a look and you grumbled.

His fingers danced across your cheekbone, his eyes flickering back and forth between yours, and sighed. “I guess I should’ve told you about this sooner but it felt a little like I was being smothering-”

“Eddie.”

He let his eyes lower to your intertwined fingers and chewed on his lip until you elbowed him. “Wayne says he knows a few people out there who’d give me a job if I wanted one. He used to live in Connecticut because of his old job.”

“Out there?” You asked, confused. Did he mean in New York?

Eddie smiled, curling one of his fingers around your hair gently. “I got in to a community college there too.”

Mind blank, brain frozen, your hands scrambled for his own. “Are you saying you’d move with me?” You couldn’t ask him to do that, there’s no way. You’d known that showing your parents your acceptance letter would solidify their desire for you to go – especially your dad. There would be no way he’d let a chance like that slip by. His only daughter at an Ivy League? Your fate would be sealed. But, you knew your new life here was special, something you’d never expected. And Eddie…

“What about Corroded Coffin?” You asked quietly, nerves twining up your legs like vines. “I can’t let you leave that behind for me.”

“It’s not a permanent good bye,” Eddie assured you, “Gareth is going out to California, Jeff will be a few hours away from us, Liam’s a train ride away in Baltimore. They said they were willing to make the trip in if whenever we decided to start up again.”

“But Gareth-”

“-said you could take his place until he’s back,” Eddie laughed when you scrunched your nose. “Hey, he’s not wrong – that song you wrote for us last month was a big hit at the Hide Out.”

Crossing your arms, you turned your scrutinizing glare towards him. “Eddie, are you sure? I don’t want you to end up regretting this. Regretting…me.”

“Hey, that’s not possible,” he assured you, his nose coming up to nudge yours. “You’re one to talk. Indie State? This town will snuff out that light of yours. No way I’d let that happen. Besides, I’ve always wanted to go to the Big Apple.”

“What about Wayne?” He was the only stable, present, family member either of you had at this point.

Eddie grinned, his hand inching up to your neck. “He said if I show him a diploma after four years, he’ll consider making his own way up there. Said something about not wanting to miss his only son’s life.”

Happiness burst within your chest, its tendrils reaching out towards Eddie and pulling him in tightly into their hold. How could your life have flipped completely around in just under a year? You released Eddie from your tight hug and leaned back to search his face for any hesitation.

“If you want to stay, we’ll stay,” Eddie said softly, his lips reaching up towards you for a kiss. “We can do long distance for a while if you want, I don’t mind. You’re…”

Eddie’s expression morphed into something serious and a little hesitant. His fingers dug into your thigh, bruising almost. “I love you,” he said, his brown eyes burning you, “I love you and even though it’s only been a few months, I know we have something special. I’ll be wherever you want me to be, until you don’t. Okay?”

“Yeah,” you said, feeling tears burn at the back of your eyes – no one had ever told you they loved you before - “okay.”

With a beaming smile, Eddie surged up and captured your mouth with his. The kiss turned heated quickly, both of your hands scrambling and tugging at clothes. It wasn’t until hours later, both of you sprawled on your bed, skin sticky and hearts full, that Eddie huffed.

“Again?” You asked incredulously, eyes half closed. “Let me take a nap first and I promise I’ll do that thing you like.”

Eddie’s laughter filled your room, and your chest, and you couldn’t help but smile at the sound of it. You never could. “What?”

“I was going to say that I just realized you didn’t say it back,” he hummed, fingertips trailing down your spine.

You knew he’d been waiting to bring that up. With a smile, you lifted yourself up onto your forearm and looked at him.

Eddie’s hair was damp, bangs stuck onto his forehead, the curls wildly sprawled onto your pillow. His gaze was soft, teasing, and held enough interest in them to make heat pool in your stomach.

“I love you, Eddie Munson, how could I not?”

You had first fallen a little bit in love with Eddie because of his laughter but the brilliant smile that beamed at you now let you know it was racing against the former for the special spot in your heart. It made you feel like you’d burst at the seams, like it wasn’t possible to be this happy.

“We can nap when we’re dead,” Eddie said, his hands pushing you onto your back and his hair curtaining around you.

“Eddie,” you gasped, his fingers already pressing lightly at the bruises on your thighs. He dropped open mouthed kisses to your neck, his teeth scraping against the sensitive skin at the corner of your jaw. Your skin felt like it was on fire, his trail of kisses making the butterflies in your stomach flutter frantically. His lips swallowed down your moan and his hand trailed up higher. The coil within you tightened with every move, your eyes starting to roll when his mouth joined his hand. He lapped at your center, fingers twisting, rubbing just right -

Then, he stopped. “Say it again,” Eddie teased, fingers stilling. You grunted, annoyed at the edge he was holding you over. “Please, Petal? For me?”

Desperate, you whined. “I love you, I love you so much,” you said, words stumbling over each other. “I think I’ll love you forever.”

Eddie leaned back, eyes a little surprised, and you felt suddenly a lot more vulnerable than you’d meant to get. Then, like a man starved, he pulled the sheet from between you.

“Fuck, I love you.”

You were almost positive, considering Steve’s disgusted expression that night at dinner, that the whole neighborhood had heard your screams.

The joints in your knees cried for relief as you climbed up the third-floor walkup towards your apartment. The street one block from yours had yet to be shoveled and you’d spent the entire walk tense and trying to avoid slipping on the ice.

“Hello?” Eddie called out as soon as he heard the door close behind you. “Petal?”

“Hi, I brought us dinner,” you answered, smiling when your clingy black cat came running at the sound of your voice. “Hello baby, I missed you.” You hurried to drop the bags onto the kitchen counter before picking her up and pressing kisses to her pink nose.

Eddie leaned against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed and expression amused. “Why does Midnight get a kiss but her dad doesn’t?”

“Because she’s the baby of the family,” you said, snickering when Eddie pouted. “Hi Sugar,” you relented, giving him a kiss.

Happy with your affection, Eddie helped unpack the takeout and groceries. You stepped out the galley kitchen and into the foyer, knowing Eddie hated how crowded he felt in the small space. Despite his frustrations with it, you both knew it was a major step up from the shitty studio you’d both managed to live in for a year and a half when you’d first arrived. Eddie had hated your noisy neighbors and lived in a state of anxiety when you had night shifts and had to half run from the train station.

Eyeing the last remaining boxes in the spacious living room, you promise yourself you’d unpack them in the morning. A soft thump from below, and a subsequent scolding, made you smile.

This time, after years of saving, you both found yourselves on a quiet street, living below a widower and above a single father. Matilda, his daughter, was a sprightly fourth grader. She loved the music Eddie played for her on Friday afternoons, when he watched her until her dad could make it home through rush hour traffic.

Matilda had greeted you both with tight hugs and homemade cookies when you had returned yesterday from your yearly Christmas trip to Hawkins. Snow sprinkled the street, the trees bare, streets slippery, and air crisp. You and Eddie had already agreed to skip most of the invitations you’d received from your friends for New Years and opted to stay in instead.

Refreshing Midnight’s water, you left her in her little cat tower, content and purring. Stripping out of your snow damp clothes, you switched into one of Eddie’s old t-shirts and thick warm socks. Glancing at the time as you searched for your pajama bottoms, you winced. That fifteen-minute pick up from your favorite restaurant had turned into a thirty-minute trek.

“Sugar?” You called out, almost tripping on a pair of Eddie’s discarded shoes. Closing your eyes and asking the universe for patience, you couldn’t help but smile when you heard a sheepish apology from the doorway.

“Are we sure those are mine?” Eddie asked, already whisking them away and back into the small closet.

You quirked a brow. “Am I sure the combat boots that are twice my size are yours? Maybe not.”

“Here, to make it up to you,” Eddie said, producing two mismatched glasses with a red tint that you knew was more vodka than cranberry juice. “Presents time now?”

Laughing, you put your drink down – after a burning sip – and dug out a small bag from underneath your vanity. Excitement bubbled up within you as Eddie eyeballed it curiously before handing you a thick envelope. Not one to wait, you ripped it open and snapped your eyes up to Eddie’s smug ones. “Two, floor tickets, to Fleetwood Mac. They’re passing by DC at the end of next month and Liam said we can stay with him.”

“You said they were sold out!” You jumped up and down, clutching the tickets to your chest. “You fucking liar!” Laughter bubbled out of you as you peppered his face with kisses.

“Yeah, yeah,” he grinned, eyes teasing, “let’s see if you can beat that.”

Rolling your eyes, you sat down at the edge of your bed. “Despite how happy I am, I think I just might…” Eddie furrowed his brows at the sight of the band t-shirt. You knew he’d spotted the signatures when his entire body froze.

“H-how?”

Entirely too full of yourself, you crossed your arms and grinned. “One of my TA’s best friend’s dads knows the tour manager for them. I owe about fifty people favors and maybe an organ but, I know how bummed you were about missing out on the concerts. I thought an autographed t-shirt would make it up to you.”

Eddie held out the signed Iron Maiden t-shirt in front of him, jaw hanging. The last-minute tickets to Hawkins for Christmas had cost you both a little more than expected and while Eddie swore that he didn’t mind, you knew he was little torn about missing their New York tour dates.

“Happy Anniversary Sugar,” you said, head swimming when Eddie shot you that same illuminating smile from years ago.

Pressing a quick kiss to your forehead, Eddie shook his head as he padded out to the kitchen. “I’ll get you one of these years!” He shouted over his shoulder, his voice bright. You followed him out into the living room, sitting on the soft sofa that had cost a small fortune, and grinned when he came out with a huge cupcake, a tradition now, with a candle shaped in the number three.

“Cheers,” you lifted your glass, the drink watered down and much more palatable, and Eddie grinned. “To our new home.”

“To loving each other for forever,” he said, kissing your palm.

Your heart galloped, its little hands reaching out for him like they always had. Feeling your own expression soften into something indescribable, you smiled. “To loving you, Cinnamon Sugar Cookie, for forever.”

Eddie’s nose wrinkled, eyes sparkling. “Don’t use my full name.”

Tossing your head back, you laughed loudly, squealing when Eddie tackled you onto the sofa. “Don’t get food on the couch!” You said between laughter, wrapping your legs around his hips. Eddie tasted like vanilla frosting, shitty vodka, and…like home.

I'm with the skater boy, I said, "See you later, boy.” I'll be back stage after the show, I'll be at a studio, singing the song we wrote, about a girl he used to know.

“Oh,” you crooned, looking at the free drinks in the green room, “this is nice.”

Liam, already reaching for a bottle, grinned. “Right? I guess once you’ve got a song that’s reached the top hundred people start giving you free shit.”

You nabbed a bag of pretzels and chewed on one absently. “Where’s Jeff?” You asked, double checking everyone’s personal bags had been brought in.

“Here,” he said, walking in with Eddie hot on his heels. “Sorry, we were making sure the lighting director had the right notes.”

“Hi you,” Eddie said, bending down to give you a quick kiss, “you ready?”

Nodding, you chewed on another pretzel and glanced up at him. “I always get nervous when I’m going out on stage, you know that,” you said wringing your hands together.

“But you always kick ass,” Liam reminded you, shooting you a grin.

“Besides, you’ve been joining us like this whole tour,” Jeff added, grabbing a water bottle.

“Yeah, but we’re in Indiana, it’s always different when we’re back here,” you said, feeling a bit more pressure.

Dustin breezed through the doorway, VIP pass swinging from his neck. “Plus, there’s a ton of people from Hawkins out there. It’s insane, have you seen?”

“Jesus,” you said, feeling your anxiety swell.

Eddie’s comforting hands cupped at your jaw and you tilted your head up so he could see your eyes. “Hey, you’re going to do great, okay?”

You nodded, his thumbs caressing your skin. “What if I mess up?” You whispered.

“Impossible, but if you do,” he leaned down, “then no one who matters will care and you’ll still be one of the best drummers I’ve ever heard.”

“Kiss ass,” you teased, feeling a little better.

Eddie’s mouth stretched into a wide grin. “Only yours,” he whispered, hand inching down to said ass until you smacked it away. “If you’re so tightly wound, I know something that could help…”

Before you could tease back, Eddie had pressed his lips to yours, biting softly into you. Sighing, you sunk into his hold, world muting around you.

“Jesus, it’s been seven years, shouldn’t you two have calmed down by now?” Gareth’s voice asked. You broke away from a disgruntled Eddie and beamed at your friend. He’d just arrived, bag still slung over his shoulder.

“Gareth!” You cried, happy to finally see him.

Eddie tugged at your chin. “You saw him last week at rehearsals,” he reminded you, chasing your lips.

Gareth gagged and you rolled your eyes, indulging him with another kiss.

“I’ve been asking them that for years,” Steve said, voice a little out of breath. “Henderson, you run fast.”

“Holy shit have you guys seen the crowd outside?” A third new voice asked. At that, you pulled away from Eddie and stood – ignoring his grumbling.

“Robin?” You said, in disbelief. “I thought you said you couldn’t make this one!”

“What? And miss your first performance back home? What kind of friend would I be?” Robin asked, cocking her hip. Both of you paused for a beat before running towards each other with loud screams. She slammed into you, her longer hair tickling your skin as she squeezed her arms around you.

“Where’s Lauren?” You asked, looking for her girlfriend.

Robin winced. “She couldn’t change her flight, she’s still back in London but sends a hug and her good luck!” She said hugging you again.

Your hand came up to her arm, tears burning your eyes. “I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve missed you Buckley.”

“Aw, shucks,” she said, waving away your emotional smile. “I’ll be back by early next year, we finally managed to get a transfer to the New York office so Dingus and Munson will have my scintillating presence again.”

Eddie’s arm swung around her shoulders and Robin smiled up at him. “It’ll be like high school all over again,” she said, wrinkling her nose at him.

“Considering these two still go at it like they’re teenagers, that’s fitting,” Gareth complained.

Flipping him off, Eddie snorted and Robin shrieked.

Everyone jumped as she lunged towards you. Her cold fingers wrapped around your left hand. “Let me see, let me see!” She whistled, shooting Eddie a teasing look. “That’s a nice rock Munson, black diamond huh?”

Eddie smiled, cheeks pink and expression pleased. You rolled your eyes at his endearing reaction. He always seemed to get a little awed and loved retelling the story of how he’d proposed – despite it being almost six months ago. “I always said that she had my heart, just because she has it doesn’t mean it’s not black like my soul,” he said, giving himself devil horns.

Steve snorted but you laughed. “It’s perfect,” you said, kissing him.

“It better be, he spent like two months panic shopping and I couldn’t handle another week,” Dustin grumped.

Robin smacked him in the back of the head and turned to Eddie. “I can’t believe you proposed when I wasn’t here. I demand another party.”

“The engagement party is next month,” you promised, “I waited until I knew you’d be back.”

She turned to Steve. “See that, that’s true friendship Dingus.” You knew she was referring to having missed his recent graduation.

“I can’t control when I graduate Robin!” Steve defended, the both of them bickering.

After making sure everything else was in line, you found their manager and assured her you’d confirmed with the stage hands for the last song. You were on the way back to the green room when a familiar face was waiting for you outside.

His arms went around you, pulling you towards his chest. “How are you feeling?” He asked.

Nosing at the crook of his neck, you inhaled deeply. Eddie’s scent was always calming, his leather vest soft, and hands warm.

“Apparently half of Hawkins really is out there,” you told him and you knew he picked up on your anxiety.

Steve shrugged, mouthing at your neck and placing a kiss at the base of it. “Anyone that matters will be waiting for us off stage.”

“Are you sure we want to sing that last song?”

“The only one that you’re willing to join us on stage for and the one that went viral? Absolutely. Besides, after we visit your family for an awkward dinner - where they no doubt will ask a thousand questions about the wedding – we’re back to Brooklyn for the next set of dates so we’re not staying long anyway.”

“You just miss Popcorn,” you teased, thinking about your small fluffy dog that worshipped the ground Eddie walked on. Him and Midnight were being watched by Wayne’s dutiful eye.

“She’s my daughter,” he said, exasperated, “we’ve never left her for so long.”

“Midnight always does fine whenever we’re on tour, we were in Europe for two months last year,” you reminded him.

Eddie frowned. “Pops is just a baby!”

“Wayne is watching them,” you sighed, for the thousandth time, “he loves her more than he loves us.”

“Okay, okay!” Eddie pouted, ever the toddler. “Matilda and Jack did say they’d visit if they had time.”

Rubbing a hand up his back, you smiled. “You see? They’re fine.”

“I feel like maybe I might need a distraction,” Eddie said, eyes wide in faux innocence.

“Really?” You said, biting back your smile. “A drink maybe?”

Eddie’s lips were already returning to your neck, tongue lapping at the bruise he’d left last night. “Something stronger, more effective.”

You pretended to think for a beat too long because you knew the moment Eddie’s patience had snapped. Herding you towards a corner, his lips pulled you in – like they always did. His wandering hands slipped under the hem of your t-shirt and yours clenched around his.

“I found them!” A disgruntled voice called out. Eddie unlatched himself from you and dropped his forehead to your shoulder. “Hello! We have a concert to put on? For shit’s sake, you’ll have alone time after!”

Snorting, you brought your hand to the back of his neck and waved to Jeff.

“Can’t a guy make out with his fiancé in peace?”

“Apparently work calls, come on rockstar,” you said, kissing him one last time.

Dragging a pouting Eddie towards the green room, you let the guys have their few minutes before walking with them towards the stage. Most of the party had managed to make it, all of them talking excitedly behind you. “I’ll see you in a few,” he said, kissing you one last time – for good luck, he’d always say.

The first familiar chords of their opening song caused a wave of cheering unlike you’d heard before. You peeked out at the massive crowd and felt a surge of pride. The past year had been big for Corroded Coffin, two songs breaking into a few major charts. Venues started selling out, tours had been planned, and more money had come in. There was talk of possibly booking bigger venues and larger festivals. Crossing your fingers, you hoped so because you didn’t know anyone more deserving.

Dancing along with your friends, you sang the lyrics you knew by heart. At one point, you and Robin had gotten lost in the music that a nervous stage hand had to tap you on the shoulder. “Ms. Harrington? Your cue is coming up.”

You startled, not having realized the hour having gone by. “Oops, I’m ready!” You said, letting him help you set up.

“Good luck!” Steve shouted as you walked off, waving.

Then, Eddie was doing crowd work. “We’ve got a special guest, which I’m sure some fans will recognize,” Eddie announced, the crowd’s screams intensified and you grinned. The flutter of anxiety calmed as Gareth darted off the stage and gave you a high-five before you ran out.

Waving to the audience, you grinned when their cheering went up another level. “Since we’ve got Harrington here, I know you guys know what that means.”

You sat by the drums, eyes on the crowd, and adjusted the mic to your height.

Eddie shot you a proud look and you smiled. “Hello Indianapolis! I think you all know the words to this song, so don’t be shy!” You said with a wave. Eddie took a step back from the mic, standing with Jeff, closer to you. At the opening chords, the crowd went wild.

“He was a boy. She was a girl. Can I make it any more obvious?”

The crowd almost drowned you out at one point, their heads bopping as they jumped. Adrenaline rushed through you, your pulse matching the drums you bent to your will. With the guitar solo coming up, you grabbed the mic from it’s stand. Jeff’s strumming softened and you grinned, a well-known announcement by now.

“This one goes out to all the blondes who missed out - you have my eternal gratitude,” you said, winking at a laughing Eddie. He always did like when your occasional flare of jealousy came out.

“Too bad that you couldn't see, see the man that boy could be. There is more than meets the eye, I see the soul that is inside!”

Standing, you always felt a bit extra nervous at this part. The crowd screamed as you walked over to the left where a stage hand quickly helped you sling the guitar around your neck. Hurrying over to Eddie, who was hopping place, you couldn’t help but watch him perform. He had beads of sweat on his brow, hair frizzy, and chaotic energy radiating off of him. His eyes turned to you, expecting your arrival, and he grinned as Jeff started his guitar solo.

‘I love you’ you mouthed. He beamed, beckoning you closer and you lead them into the last chorus. Your fingers strumming to the song’s melody – just the way Eddie had taught you.

“He’s just a boy,” Eddie sang and you leaned in to share his mic.

“And I’m just a girl, can I make it any more obvious?”

Together you sang, “We are in love, haven’t you heard?”

“How we rock each other’s world?” Eddie grinned at you, bopping as you took a few steps back, letting the guys take over, and watching the crowd eat it up.

You helped with back up vocals on the last few lines and grinned when the second of silence transitioned into deafening cheers. Liam urged you forward, stumbling into Eddie’s arms. Sheepishly, you let Eddie pull your hand into the air, waving at the crowd as they screamed.

“Give it up for my girl everyone,” Eddie said into the mic, kissing your cheek before you darted off towards your friends waiting by stage left.

“That was awesome,” Robin shouted, “you kicked ass!”

Adrenaline pumping, you shook your arms and let one of the assistants carry off your guitar. “Thanks,” you said to both of them. “I need a drink!”

Steve handed you his and you shot him a grateful look. “I can’t believe that you being dragged to Hawkins ended up with you becoming a semi-rockstar,” Steve teased, bumping your shoulder. “And to think, you didn’t want to move in the first place.”

“Yeah,” you said, remembering your massive meltdown all those years ago.

The beginning notes of a fairly new song, one Eddie had written about you over summer break, came on and you bit back a smile. Selfishly, this was your favorite of the upcoming album.

Eddie’s voice softened, lighter than before, floating over and kissing your skin as it washed over you.

“I've always been yours, only yours,” Eddie sang, turning to look at you, winking once before turning back to the crowd.

“I didn’t know I’d ever say this but, thank shit for Hawkins,” you said, Robin and Steve laughing. As you watched Eddie shine under the spotlight, you looked down at your ring and smiled.

Thank you, Hawkins.

A/N: 1) I know Eddie doesn’t technically fall under the skater boy emo vibes but if you squint one eye and tilt your head we can soft of pretend that means metalhead. 2) I would like to formally apologize to Chrissy Cunningham for making her into the mean girl in this because she deserves the world. Also, headcanon for this is both reader and eddie are 18+ at the start. This really wasn’t meant to be as long as it got. Over an Avril Lavigne song. But, well, c’est la vie.

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