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a-strange-inkling · 1 year

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Day 9: Christmas Films

Chicago, Illinois 1986

When she gets home from her shift at the bookstore, she’s met with the sight of Eddie sitting on the couch, wrapped up in the orange afghan. It’s all dark except for the fuzzy blue light of the tv and a few candles lit by the window. She can just make out a bowl of microwave popcorn, a few bags of candy, a box of pizza and a bottle of wine all set up on the coffee table.

“Sit down, we’re going to watch it,” he monotones as he works the remote.

Chrissy, still covered in snow flurries, breathes a confused chuckle. “…Watch what? What did you get?” she asks as she hangs her purse on the wall peg, peeling off her layers, and taking off her boots. When she sees the empty movie cover on top of the VCR, she immediately wheels around. “I’m sorry, there’s been a mistake, I don’t live here…”

“Oh, come on, Cunningham,” he croons after her.

“Nooo! There is no way I’m watching Ice Castles with you after last night.” she tells him as she makes her way toward their bedroom.

“Why not?” he pouts. “I just want to see what all the fuss is about…”

“You said you were going to pick us up a Christmas movie!”

“It’s totally a Christmas movie!” he argues. “It’s got ice skating, doesn’t it?”

“You’re just going to whine and make fun of it the whole time and completely ruin it for me.” she crosses her arms.

He gasps, placing a hand to his chest. “I would never! I only have respect for a movie that had such a big impact on you.” He wiggles his brows.

She rolls her eyes. It’s her own fault, she should have never told him. “Eddie…”

“Come on, baby, get over her, I’ve got Skittles.” he sings, shaking the small red bag to tempt her, making the round little candies clack together inside.

With a long, heavy sigh she gives in, snuggling beside him in defeat after she changes into her warm baby blue pajamas. He’s smiley and doting in his ‘hurray, I got what I wanted’ way, wrapping her up all cozy, pouring her a glass of wine, kissing her nose, then her forehead, then her pouting lips several times. He tilts his head to the side, blinking his big doe eyes down at her. ‘Don’t be annoyed with me, look how cute I am.’

“You behave yourself,” she tells him as she eats her pizza. “This is one of my favorites! No overly critical film analysis!”

“Cross my heart and hope to die,” he chuckles, forefinger criss-crossing over his chest as he presses play. “I’m very excited!”

“You’ve gotten yourself all worked up over this and you’re going to be very underwhelmed.” she sighs as the familiar theme plays, warm nostalgia and comfort beginning to seep into her bones just by the sound of it.

“How can I be underwhelmed by the movie that gave you your sexual awakening?” he asks in astonishment, watching the opening with rapt attention.

“Oh, God…” she sighs.

The minute Robby Benson comes on screen driving through the snowy landscapes in his station wagon with his amazing hair, it’s his turn to get pouty. “Oh look, there’s your boyfriend.”

“Eddie…”

“What is it?” he asks, curling his hand over his lips thoughtfully, squinting, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. “Is it the hair?”

Coyly, she slides her hand up his back into his messy waves. “I do love thick brown hair.” she admits, massaging his skelp. He smiles and she can feel some warmth crawl up his neck, but he keeps his eyes fixed determinedly on the screen. “Oh, he’s so cool, he drives snowmobiles, he dropped out of med school, he plays hockey…” he drawls out in a low mocking tone.

“Stop.” she laughs. “You’re being ridiculous!”

About forty minutes in, he is still looking perplexed, probably wondering at what point she began to see boys differently in such a tame film with everyone wearing several layers of clothing. There’s more skin action from Lynn-Holly Johnson in her skating uniform.

When they’ve had their fill of junk food, they recline back along the sofa, Chrissy resting her head against his chest while he absentmindedly unweaves her twin braids, carding his fingers through her tresses the way he knows she loves.

She braces herself for the phone call scene. She can feel Eddie grinning when it cuts to Robby in nothing but a pair of tight white underwear.

“Oh, there it is,” he snickers mirthfully. “The moment little Chrissy became a woman.”

“Shut up.” she turns sharply, burying her face in his shirt, feeling his arms slip down to squeeze her waist.

“God, it leaves nothing to the imagination does it?”

“Stop it!” she half whines, half giggles in embarrassment.

He only chuckles louder, kissing the top of her hair. “God, you’re so cute!”

They resettle to watch the rest and Eddie grows less jealous and teasing and more quiet and invested.

“Jesus, sweetheart,” he murmurs after Lexie is found wearing her dead mother’s clothes in the attic. “This is kind of a downer.”

“It gets better.” she replies, fingers tracing over the bats along his forearm.

The real moment that makes her weak and wanting is when blind Lexie is able to do a double twist with Nick’s help and then he passionately embraces her, tender and proud, rekindling their relationship.

“Oh, baby, you did a double!”

“It wasn’t perfect.”

“Well, it was damn good… what a girl. Oh, what a girl!”

It always makes her ache.

“You’re like that,” she whispers softly, leaning up to kiss him.

“A complete pushover?” Eddie jokes, but she can tell that gets to him by the way his eyes sparkle.

“You know what I mean,” she replies seriously. “I never knew anything like that until you.”

He softens, blinking slowly before taking her face in his hands and kissing her deeply. “I’m your Benson, baby?” he asks.

“You’re more than that.” she murmurs against his lips.

There’s still some more comments and teasing as the rest of the movie plays out, but she doesn’t miss the way his eyes get a little glassy during the final skating routine or when he suddenly turns his head to wipe his eye.

“We forgot about the flowers.”

“We forgot about the flowers,” Eddie mimics Robby's soft spoken, melodic tone suddenly, obviously recovered from whatever emotional experience he may or may not have been having. “God, this guy,” he waves his hand at the screen. “With his stupid floppy hair and his stupid baby voice.”

Chrissy elbows him as the blue credits roll and the cheesy melody of Looking Through the Eyes of Love begins to play for the third time. “Shh…Be quiet, I love this song.”

@hellcheerxmas

#hellcheer #ice castles is such a sad soft girl movie #it’s so chrissy lol #it made her want to be a figure skater #munningham #eddissy #chrissy x eddie #eddie x chrissy #hellcheer fanfiction #hellcheer fanfic #old haunts #my writing #my fic writing #hellcheercountdown #hellcheer countdown

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claraswritings · 2 years

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I Want You To Want Me

Pairing: Eddie Munson x fem!reader

Warnings: llanguage, a reference to period typical attitudes to sexuality but nothing extensive, erm making out…and Reader is Chrissy’s sister. Unbeta’d so if you see any spelling errors - no you didn’t. I’ll correct them later

Summary : Robin likes Chrissy, Jason likes Chrissy - Chrissy can’t date until her sister does. Inspired by 10 Things I Hate About You

Notes: 1. I have never written Eddie before and I’m nervous to post this… And 2. I am not from the US and my knowledge of the school system is basic . Reader, Eddie, Jason and Robin- last year of high school. Chrissy - one year below.

***

Robin had toyed with asking the pretty girl in the romance section if she needed help at least six times since she’d entered Family video ten minutes ago and now as she watched as the girl check her watch and headed for the exit, she was kicking herself

“Bye,” Robin muttered as she returned the girls wave and resisted the urge to drop her head to the counter.

“Say Steve?” She kept her eyes on the door for customers but tilted her head back, calling for her co-worker.

“Yeah?” Steve appeared from around the corner where he was re stocking the horrors.

“What’s the deal with…Chrissy Cunningham?” Robin’s voice dropped just low enough so that only Steve could hear her even though it was only the two of them in the store.

“I thought you’d know her, she’s one grade below you right?” Steve slid over the counter narrowly avoiding the stack of VHS tapes. He regained his composure, straightened his vest and started manually scanning them back in.

Robin rolled her eyes. She’d told Steve about how she’d developed a crush on a girl at school but hadn’t exactly mentioned who despite Steve’s pestering and now, he was being completely oblivious “No dingus…I mean…”

Steve held up his hands “Oh you mean…” he scratched his jaw as he thought. Due to him being a few years apart from Chrissy, he’d never really spoken to her. “I don’t know.” He answered.

You on the other hand had only been one grade below him and he remembered you. He’d been there when you’d reversed into Tommys new convertible deliberately and when you’d punched Curt Baxter so hard he’d wound up with six stitches in his lip. Tina had told the new kids you were a witch and they’d believed her.

You did little to shake the anti-social loser label. Your reputation preceded you so much so that now people left you alone and Steve sensed that was how you liked it.

“Erm… either way…don’t even think about it,” he dropped his voice “Chrissy can’t date until her sister does,”

“Her sister as in…” Robin knew of you, you were in the same Spanish and Math classes and she had seen you in action.

“Yep.” Steve nodded “Their mom doesn’t want Chrissy dating. So there’s a rule,” he gestured with one of the empty boxes. “She can’t until [Name] does, so um… my advice? Move on,” Steve clapped his friend on the shoulder before moving back to scanning in the returns.

“No come on, Steve, I need to just talk to her… I need to know if there’s even the slightest chance… please,” Robin leant forward and yanked one of the tapes out of his hands. “Please?” She pressed.

Steve sighed “Fine, look you didn’t hear this from me but her sister was in here the other day with Ellen Evans talking about how their mom won’t let Chrissy focus on her French because she’s pushing her with the cheerleading so much and now she’s failing and well… you’re like crazy good with languages…”

“Oh my god Steve, that’s perfect!” Robin handed him back the VHS. “I owe you one!”

“Can you cover me on Thursday? Lynn wants to go-,”

Robin groaned “Absolutely not, Harrington,” she cut off Steve before he could elaborate on his date. “We’re still forgetting one obvious problem…Who can we get to take out…[Name]?”

“Oh no. Nonono, not me” Steve shook his head before Robin could ask him for that to be her favour. “Trust me, If she made Carol cry once, she’ll eat me alive… plus I doubt I’m her type.”

He bit his tongue, wracking his brain for potential dates. “Leave it with me. I’ll have a list,”

***

Within ten minutes Steve’s already short list had been whittled down to zero. Steve balled the list up and threw it into the bin.

“I told you it’s a lost cause.”

The familiar chime of the door went off and Robin looked over at the new releases. The guy who’d walked in was tall with long dark hair and was wearing a denim vest covered in patches for bands she’d never heard of over a leather jacket.

“What about him?” Robin tilted her head.

“Eddie the freak Munson?” Raising an eyebrow Steve considered it. He’d never seen you have any clashes with him so that was a start. Eddie definitely wasn’t one of the popular kids you hated so he’d at least be able to talk to you without getting the full brunt of your angry bitch attitude plus Dustin seemed to think he was great. Maybe he could be an option

“Actually… you know, it just might work but you need a way in…like offer him something…you can’t just ask him that, he needs to get something from it…”

“Free rentals?” Instantly Robin stopped herself “Nah we need…something more…Money! we need money…” she looked over at Steve who was drumming a hand on the counter “We could pay him?”

“With what money? My dads practically cut me off so I can’t pay…” he muttered “There’s gotta be someone who can at that school…”

Robin considered it. “I saw Chrissy getting into Jason Carvers’ car yesterday… I mean he’s into her and he’s rich… and stupid” Robin pointed out “But we need someone who can talk to him, I can’t..” she looked down then up at Steve “obviously.”

Steve nodded, understanding his friends worry. “Yeah of course, look Lucas knows Jason right. He can tell Jason about the whole Chrissy dating when [Name] does right? Then he suggests,” Steve nodded his head over at Eddie “Jason will buy it cause it comes from Lucas right? He likes Lucas, I’ll talk to Lucas, I’ll say it’s a friend but not you, okay? I’ll tell him it’s like Keith or something.”

Robin considered it for a moment before she gave Steve a small smile “Thank you.” She paused “But I’m still not covering you on Thursday,”

****a few days later****

“Hey,”

You looked up from your book and found Eddie Munson sitting opposite you as casual as he liked, like he always sat there. Acting like you were the best of friends.

“Hello.” You retuned his greeting, waiting for the big reveal.

You closed your book, confused as to why he was suddenly talking to you. It wasn’t that you didn’t like him. You didn’t know him other than he’d occasionally go on eccentric rants at lunch baiting the likes of the basketball team and earning him nicknames like freak and weirdo from the popular table.

“Can I help you” Was this a strange joke, you wondered as you folded your arms.

“I’m Eddie, How are you?” He was still grinning at you like you were long lost friends, one leg up on another empty chair.

“Pissed off and sweating my ass off because this schools run by tightasses who won’t turn on the aircon and in about ten minutes I have to go listen to Ms Jenkins teach us Hemingway. Yourself?”

“You sure know how to charm a guy don’t you,” Eddie raised an eyebrow and leant over the table slightly. His hand, casually twisted a leather band on his other wrist and you drew your eyes back up to meet his.

“Really? I have? Well consider that my life goal accomplished.” You clasped your hand to your heart with a smirk “But then again you’re here so clearly, I do have something you want,”

“So the graffiti in the boys is right”

He’d heard enough about you that he been popular and said similar he’d end up wearing your lunch but coming from him… you laughed, in what was probably the first time he’d ever heard you do so.

“I paid one of the newbies 5 bucks to scratch that off” the expression was on your face was straight-laced but he could tell you weren’t serious.

“I’d have done it for free.” He grinned at you, full smile on show.

“A gentleman.” You joked and stood up, pulling your bag over your shoulder. “I’m touched.”

“Will I see you Friday then?” Eddie was up and at your side within a few seconds, following you out of the cafeteria, hoping that came out smoother than it sounded.

“Friday? What do you mean?” You stopped in your tracks confused, giving him time to get in front of you.

“Some kid is having a party. I don’t think it’s completely his idea…You going?” Eddie passed you a scrunched up leaflet in a harsh orange.

The idea of party with half of the students at Hawkins High was not his idea of fun. He’d planned on swinging by, only to make some cash selling to meat heads at double the price.

“And you think I’m interested in going to a party with the people who go here? Im surprised you are.” You looked up at him, catching his eye as he pulled a face. A smirk found it’s way across your lips “Ohh.” You clicked “Gotcha. Gotta do what you gotta do.”

The thought of drunk popular kids shelling out daddies money to a fellow outcast made you smile.

He looked side to side before his expression softened a little. The corridor was quiet, just the two of you and a few of the kids who ran the newspaper down the other end. They were too engaged in their own conversation to pay you any attention.

“You’re not scared of me are you?” He asked as if he was genuinely curious.

“No..why? Should I be?” The nonchalance in your voice was evident. You knew the rumours but given that you’d had your fair share of them about you, it was pretty clear that chances of him being in some sort of sacrificial cult was zero.

“Look, forget the party. I don’t care…Let’s just do something” he carded a ringed hand through his dark hair.

“I’ll think about it.” You pressed the leaflet back to him with a half smile tweaking in your cheeks. You’d le lying if you said you didn’t enjoy this casual back and forth. “See you around.”

“I can pick you up” he asked again.

You chuckled a little at his forwardness. “I’m going to a gig on Friday. All-women rock band from out of town… It’s at…” you gestured “this small dive bar, Radleys… It finishes at ten. You can meet me after it.”

****Friday****

Eddie had been watching you from the bar for at least fifteen minutes. The music, whilst not completely awful, was not his thing so he’d instead occupied himself by just watching you. You looked so happy, such a far cry from your stoic attitude within the walls of Hawkins High that he couldn’t help but smile. It was you and the one other girl he’d seen you with sometimes, an arty girl, Ellen.

You were in purple pants with black blouse tied off at the waist due to the humidity of the bar and your hair which had been semi back combed was coming out of its hair grip from how you’d been dancing. Your mascara had smudged under your eyes but you’d never looked hotter. Whilst he watched you move to the music, he wondered if maybe you’d come to a Corroded Coffin gig to watch him. Maybe he’d ask you.

He waited for the guests to dwindle down and the band to begin an encore before making his way over

“Excuse me…”Eddie looked from you to Ellen. “I’m meeting a friend here…Have you seen her?”

You looked up at him and bit your tongue “I heard she’s a bit of a bitch,”

“You’ve misheard. I can tell you…incase you see her…she looks beautiful.”

At that moment, the bands encore was complete and Eddies compliment reverberated around the room, causing you to bring your palm to your face to conceal your laughter.

“So are you coming to hang out with me or do you just want a lift to the totally cool party,” Eddie adopted a poor impression of some of the cooler kids for the last four words and you laughed.

“I’ll…,” you hesitated, lingering on the words “let you decide.”

“I have an idea.” Eddie said. “Right this way, my lady,”

You waved a goodbye to Ellen who was tipsy and climbing in the back of her boyfriends pick up before turning back to him.

“Lead the way, good sir,” you gestured in a royal wave as he reciprocated by offering his arm in an over dramatic way.

A short drive later and Eddie had entered a trailer park and pulled up outside of one towards the middle before jumping out and helping you.

“You live here?” You asked, surveying the outside casually as you flopped into one of the chairs outside of the trailer as Eddie handed you a can of his uncles beer under the assurance that he wouldn’t mind. Your tone was one of curiosity more than derision, which was a welcome change.

He’d seen the house you lived in, big open plan kitchen, wrap around patio and big bay windows. This was a far cry from anything the Cunninghams were used to. If he ever drove down your street, he would not be surprised if some of the elderly curtain twitchers took down his plates or called the police at the out of place van.

“Yeah, with my uncle. I’ll give you a tour later if you like… Uncle Wayne works nights so I have the place to myself a lot, I know it’s not exactly a suburban dream but what do you expect.” Eddie shrugged and slid into the seat beside you, slouching down and cracking open a can for himself.

“Actually I think it’s pretty cool.” You shrugged and leant back, the look of surprise on Eddies face did not go unnoticed. “I wouldn’t mind getting something like this after graduation. I’ll find a job then sort something but I’d need one with a spare room so Chrissy can come stay with me.“

“You two close?”

“Yeah, we always have been… i mean obviously Chrissy’s the golden child. I think our mother gave up with me when I was…” you attempted to recall with a hand wave “I think maybe about 12? I don’t like how much she pushes Chrissy yknow? She doesn’t want her to turn out…like me. She’s my sister, we might be different but I still love her…I want her to have a normal life. Like right now, I’ve asked Ellen from my English class, her mom knows my mom, to say I was at this dumb party so Chrissy can go.”

“And Ellen won’t say you were with me?”

You took a drink and shifted around a little on the chair “She won’t remember, and even if she does…as long as she sticks to the story with her parents…it won’t get back to our mom so…Chrissy’s in the clear. She can say whatever she likes at school, I don’t care”

“You know…” Eddie sat up, placing his can on the rickety plastic table between your chairs looked at you, “I think turning out like you wouldn’t be a bad thing.” Your gaze was trained on him. “I think people have you all wrong.”

“I’ve been thinking the same thing. I don’t think you’re what they say you are,” Your voice was quieter than usual but you made sure he could hear you, you felt it was important. “Not that I take much notice about what they say about me or you or anything, anyway.” you rose your eyebrows and took a drink

“Fuck it. People say all sorts about me. I live in a trailer park, my dads in prison, my mothers…” he stopped “I don’t know where she is…I’ve failed senior year…twice.” he held two fingers up dramatically “they’re going to talk”

“And they think Hellfire is a devil worship group?” Eddie stuck his tongue out dramatically before pulling an exaggerated scary face. He dropped it suddenly with a grin “We just play D&D.”

“You’re playing a game and they think you’re what sacrificing goats or something?” You laughed “God, that’s exactly why I hate high school.”

“Sometimes it’s fun to play up to it, if they’re going to call me a freak or whatever, I might as well go with it,” He bowed dramatically and then smiled at how you were nodding in agreement.

You couldn’t help but warm to him. This was the Eddie that his group were so in awe of and you could see why. Under it all, he was funny and friendly and the right kind of playful that it just put you at ease, you couldn’t help but admire it. He was actually…kind of sweet.

“You should come hang with us sometime.” He offered.

“Do I get to pick my own goat or do you choose?” You quipped making a mock throat slitting before breaking into another laugh. “Am I being recruited!” You clasped your hand to your mouth in a over dramatic display of surprise.

He elbowed you jokingly in the side and your chair toppled back . Within a second Eddie had reached out to stop it, pulling it toward as it balanced perilously on two legs, which made your laugh even louder, so much so one of the lights in the trailer opposite flicked on and an older man peered through the curtain, an annoyed look on his face.

Eddie called out an apology to the other resident and you stifled your laughter, catching your breath. He checked you were okay, only receiving a breathless nod in response.

Suddenly feeling the cold, he leant down and picked up the throw he’d brought from the sofa, passing it to you.

“I mean it. You should.” Eddie offered once more when you were settled under it. “We should hang out again.”

You liked this, just easy conversation under the dim light. The stars more visible here than anywhere in Hawkins. There was something here that just put you more at peace than you’d felt since you could remember.

You rested an arm on his chair and shuffled closer until the throw draped over you both and under the grey fabric, you noticed the first spark as you casually brushed your hand against his, Eddie linked his hands with yours and you savoured the cool silver against your skin as you rested your head in the nook of his shoulder.

“I’d like that.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

He wouldn’t need to. You’d keep good on your word.

****short time skip****

You didn’t know exactly when you realised how much you liked Eddie. If it was the following evening when you went to one of the Hellfire Club nights. The other members had been confused as to your presence but Eddie had told them you were here with him and they’d settled into normal play as usual, even attempting to include you in their conversations. You watched attentively as the other guys were pulled into his campaign, seeing how passionate he was, and enjoying how animated he got when it all started to unfold

You didn’t know if it was the next Friday when you went to watch Crawlspace together at a movie theatre, just the two of you and got thrown out for laughing at how lame it was, and ended up hanging out in the Palace Arcade, trying to cheat the machines that paid out. You ended up just getting food and sitting in the back of his van.

Or if it was you went to watch his band, Corroded Coffin, play at the Hideout. You’d appeared just as he took the stage and due to the crowd being mostly tipsy locals, you got a place by a a table at the front easily. He’d seen you he’d gave you the biggest smile, winked and came off stage to hug you in between songs, loving how much you were getting into it.

If you had to guess it would be the first time he kissed you.

You’d skived off for probably only the second time in your life to go to a paintball arena in a forest just outside of town and that’s how you found yourself crouched behind a bay of hay, scouring the area, trying to wait for the slightest sound of where Eddie might be.

The pair of you were already completely covered in paint splattered overalls but you were now down to your last few and you hadnt seen Eddie in at least ten minutes. Damn, he was good. You popped your head up for a moment to try find him and almost a second later, a paintball went whizzing by you and exploding into vivid blue mere centimetres from your ear.

Deciding to see if you could bait him out, you pretended it had made contact and let out a small yelp. Eddie appeared from behind a hay bale almost as covered at you. “Shit.” You heard him “are you okay?”

His eyes fell on the point of impact against the straw then to you standing, one hand up, crossed fingers held up “Uh-oh, rookie mistake!” as your other hand reached for your bag of paint balloons.

“Ouch.” Eddie clutched his heart, pretending to have been hurt and took on a mock shocked voice “Cheating! What a dirty tactic!”

“Or did you just fall for the oldest trick in the book.” You smirked. “I’ll give you a two second head start.”

“I think…” Eddie stalked towards you and he wiped his hands on his overall. “You owe me…” he paused and his eyes flitted to the blue paint. “A free shot”

Holding your arms out and away from your bag of balloons. “Fair deal…I will take it…”

He took a few steps back threw a bright fuchsia balloon at you, and took off as it exploded on your shoulder. You flinched and when you reopened your eyes, he was gone.

How had you already lost him? You ran after him and rounded a secluded corner. Man, he was quicker than you’d expect.

“Never turn your back.” Eddie’s arms wrapped around your back, and spun you to face him. The movement was a little too quick and you wound up falling backwards, pulling him down with you and landing, cushioned by a hay bale, Eddie on top of you.

“Oops.” You laughed, as you lifted the goggles up and off your face, throwing them to the side.

“You have paint in your hair” Gesturing, you pushed some stray curls back from his face, before taking off his own pair of goggles. He’d made an attempt to tie his hair back into a low bun but it was in vain as his hair was escaping around his face.

“So do you.” Eddie reached up and brushed some dried in green out of your hair

And in that moment, there was a pause, a mutual exchange of understanding before Eddie brought his lips to yours, tilting your chin up with a paint stained thumb and forefinger. Your hand made its way from your side to his hair as he deepened the kiss, moving his other hand from behind you to your hip.

Your other hand found his back and pulled him closer to you, and he squeezed your hip through the overall and you felt yourself warm under his touch. It was such a soft and gentle gesture that you found yourself pulling him down closer to you.

You stayed like that, lips moving in motion against each others, his leg between yours until the sudden sound of people nearby reminded you, you were not alone.

“Eddie…” you muttered against his lips, pecking gently “We should…”

“Get out of here?” Eddie finished your suggestion, a hand coming to rest on your cheek, softly. You savoured the cool silver of his rings against your flushed skin and took a moment before nodding.

“I thought you’d never ask”

With a smile, he pulled you to your feet and took your hand in his.

***

It went on like this for two weeks. Eddie would wave you over to his lunch table and pull you down so you were sat with your legs draped over his, you’d spend your evenings together and sometimes you’d spend the night. Slow, lazy make out sessions had become your routine.

He’d kiss you by your locker and walk to you to your class. The jocks would stare and call the two of you all sorts but he didn’t care.

When he’d accepted Jason’s deal, he’d been expecting you to be different. You were like him in that you were seen as a weirdo, and a social outcast but you weren’t the bitch they painted you out to be.

You were a beautiful person. You were protective of Chrissy, defensive of the art freaks even if you weren’t really friends with them. He’d seen you push Chase against a locker when he’d attempted to harass Dustin Henderson. In being his girl, you’d taken it on yourself to look out for the Hellfire kids. You never judged anything about him or wanted him to be something else. He loved how you just accepted everyone as they were.

You liked feminist poetry, Thai cuisine, and you had a soft spot for arcade games. You read comics, you loved concerts- he knew all the vinyls you owned, and the videos you’d rented. You were brilliant, clever funny and didn’t take any shit. If he was honest, he was kicking himself that he hadn’t spoken to you sooner.

Jason had however asked for one final favour. Get you to go to the latest party so he could take Chrissy. Eddie had told him it was the last time he’d do it and snatched the $100 bill out of his hand, with more force than necessary.

****a few days later ****

Asking you had been easier than expected.

And that’s how you found yourself on the eve of the party, just hanging out in the back of his van outside of one of the cheerleaders homes. Occasionally someone you vaguely knew would come by, knock twice for some baggies but beside that the two of you were left relatively to it.

“I didn’t think you knew this song,” You picked on up the music coming from the tape deck.

Eddie shrugged. “It’s your favourite…you know after you told me that, I listened to it a bit, it’s easy to pick up on…” he mimed an air guitar “So maybe I’ll sing it to you one day…” His hand brushed your hair back before trailing down your arm and linking your hand with his.

You leant in and kissed him. “You know… a few weeks ago that would have been way too soppy for me…”

Eddie grinned back at you “You’re warming to me.”

“Might be.” You quipped giving him a wink, before leaning in to kiss him once more. The kiss grew more passionate, as he used his arms to pull you into him. Lips moving in sync as you wound up lying side by side, his hand on your hip, yours at the bottom of his shirt.

The moment however would not last. A sudden call made you sit up straight.

Jason was calling out as he approached, looking throughly pissed off.

“Oi freak.” He stormed up to Eddies van and stood at the back doors, a furious look on his face “You can forget the rest of the payment. I’m not paying you to suck face with the witch for nothing. Chrissy’s dumped me.”

You felt as if your stomach was about to jump up into your throat and out onto the gravel. You couldn’t even take in that Chrissy had dumped this asshole as your mind still lingered on the bit before that.

“Paid date, huh?” The scorn in your voice was clear. You should have known. You pushed out of the van and began making your way down the street, ignoring Eddie calling after you. He caught up to you quickly and grabbed your arm, spinning you to face him. You wrenched it back.

“Can you let me explain?” He held both of his hands up. “Please.”

Summoning every scrap of nerve you had left, you made yourself look up at him.

“What did you get? Payment now, double for third base, triple if you screw me?” You bit out, with a scoff “Actually you know what…don’t answer that. I don’t want to know…”

All you hoped in this moment was that your face wasn’t as red hot as you felt inside.

“It wasn’t like that! I don’t care about the money…I care about you,”

“No you don’t…You know would never ever have done this to you…even before I knew you.”

His hand went to grab your waist and you pulled back hard. “Can you please just let me-,”

“Enjoy the money. I hope it was worth it. Stay out of my way!”

****the same evening****

“You left early.” Chrissy came in and sat on your bed, “I thought you’d be with Eddie?”

“Oh, we’re… we’re not talking. We broke up…Turns out Jason Carver wanted to get to you so he paid Eddie to go out with me so he never actually liked me.” You got up and flipped your record over to the B-side.

Chrissy was staring at the floor of your room as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders as she let out a sigh.

“When Jason told me one of the guys from the team had found someone for you so he could take me out, I had no idea…” Chrissy began to toy with the hem of her dress. “I told Jason what you liked so he could pass it on, and someone must have told Eddie and I’m sorry…I just really wanted Jason to-“

“Hey…” you reached over and squeezed her hand “None of this is on you. You didn’t know.”

Chrissy stopped, drawing breath “So I’ve been taking French lessons with Robin…Buckley and… she told me her and Steve knew Jason liked me and they came up with the idea to get him to pay your date…so Robin could spend time with me? She and Steve… they thought Jason was just paying the one date…and they thought the rest of it was all you two…”

“Chrissy…” you paused “I don’t care whose idea it was.” Eddie still only went out with me for the money…Asshole move…”

You found yourself processing what your sister said a few minutes late “Wait…you came back with Robin?? Do you like her?” You knew Chrissy liked girls just as much as she liked boys. You’d known since she was 10, but due to your mom latching on to her as the golden child, she’d had kept it between the two of you. Your mom likely would not have been so understanding. “What happened with Jason?”

“I told Jason I didn’t want to see him anymore” Chrissy was quiet. “I found out from Claudine one of the other cheerleaders that had a bet with Chase Harris that he’d…sleep with me tonight…” she trailed off.

“I’m going to kill him.” Instantly you were furious and placated only by her hand on your arm.

“Wait…it’s okay Robin helped me out… she called Steve…Harrington and he took us home and I realised that I actually really like Robin….and she feels the same… She’s so caring and she’s funny and she’s sweet and she’s really hot and-,” she paused, trying to keep her excitement down “I know what people will say so Steve’s going to cover for us… he’s going to say he and Robin are dating if anyone asks…”

Quickly you went over to the door and checked it was shut properly before returning beside her and squeezing her hand. You pulled her into a tight hug without saying anything and when you separated, a smile far more genuine than the one she got over Jason appeared on her face.

“Good for you, Chrissy I’m happy for you… and if anyone says anything… to you or to Robin… tell me.” You warned. “I’ll be only too glad to lay out Jason Carver,”

She laughed and smiled again “No, you don’t have to…All I need is for you to please, if mom asks…”

“I’m still dating Eddie…” you accepted without question. “No problem.”

“You are the best!” She gave you another tight hug, beaming as she did so and made her way to the door to head to her room and no doubt call Robin off the phone from her bedroom. She stopped and looked over her shoulder

“By the way… I don’t think Eddie cared about the money. I think he really likes you.”

***two weeks later****

You spent your lunches and breaks in the art room with Ellen who’d locked the door, you had one class with Eddie of which you decided to skip out.

If you saw him in the corridor, you’d turn and walk in the opposite direction, if you noticed his van was parked near your car, you’d wait until he was gone before going near, you’d resolved to having to ignore him every day until you graduated.

It was getting exhausting and one Friday, desperately in need of switching off, you went into Family Video to rent a cheesy movie to switch off to.

“This one’s personally recommended,” Steve held it out to you, ignoring the quirk of your eyebrow.

“And i know you haven’t seen it. I checked with Chrissy.” Robin tacked on, saving Steve from your questioning.

You’d been visiting every other day since the break up and you’d gotten to know Steve and Robin well enough to have a discussion about the latest releases.

“It doesn’t seem like my type of thing,” you turned the tape over in your hands a few times. “I don’t think I want to watch a romance when I’ve just been through a break up”

“Just…trust us.” You watched as Steve pushed his hair back off his face “If you don’t like it…money back..,oh shit, I shouldn’t mention…I, erm…”

“It’s fine Harrington. You’re alright you know…Chrissy told me what you’re doing for her…and,” your eyes flickered to Robin “Thank you. You’re a good guy.” You handed him the money and the tape for him to get the copy for you.

“You’re not so bad yourself.” He turned his back to you for only moments to fit the contents of the tape.

“Enjoy!” He smiled as he handed it over. You rose your eyebrows and nodded before you left.

“Do you think we sold it?” Robin appeared beside Steve at the counter watching you leave, the glass door still swinging behind you. “Like will she open it?”

“Wait and see… if she returns it and throws it at my head..we’ll know.”

****that evening****

There was no VHS in the box.

You’d wrenched it open the second you got home and found nothing. Well, not nothing. Just a note.

“Come outside at 9pm”- written in Chrissy’s writing. Heart over the ‘i’ included.

This had to be a joke right? Some sort of feel better, literal pity party thrown for you by Chrissy and she’d roped in Robin and Steve.

9pm rolled around quicker than you expected and by 8:58pm you were on the back porch and calling into the darkness.

“Chrissy? What’s going on? What the hell are you…”

The garden was quiet.

“Chrissy?” You called again “Come on this isn’t funny!”

The shuffling of bushes made you jump and you took a few steps back, bracing yourself for whatever was coming, whatever you were expecting… it was not Eddie emerging from behind one of the roses bushes.

“Hey.” He smiled at you and your stomach betrayed you in that it still twisted.

“What do you want?” You asked matter of factly as you folded your arms, feeling exposed “Suppose you asked Chrissy to write that note?”

“You’d never have come if you thought it was me. You’d have told me to fuck off.” Eddie reasoned.

“Yeah” You shrugged and you couldn’t help but laugh “I would have,”. Exhaling, you uncrossed your arms and dropped to sit on the step “Which you can’t blame me for, I don’t know why I’m not saying that now”

Eddie shook his head “Neither do I…look it was a shitty shitty thing to do…but I need you to know I’m sorry…I should have told you,”

He looked from you to his Reeboks and back again. “I know it doesn’t change things but…” Eddie reached into his back pocket and fished out an envelope. “I want…You should have this…”

You quirked an eyebrow and against your better judgement you reached for it. The spark that shot through you when your fingers brushed did not go unnnoticed. Sliding up to open it, you reached in and pulled out the paper inside.

“Concert tickets.” You exhaled seeing the tickets “Are they for me?”

“Yeah…they’re your favourite band and I figured you’d wanna see them live.” Eddie rocked on his shoes, scraping the grass.

“How did you-…”

“I had some extra cash…Some asshole paid me to take out this really great girl…” He took a few casual strides towards you.

“Bet she was pissed.” You smirked one sided, leaning against the post of the porch.

“Mmm-hmmm,” Eddie nodded, his mouth forming into a tight line “You could say I fucked up pretty bad?”

“Oh colossally.”

Another nod, before he took two steps and dropped beside you, keeping a small distance. “Yep…especially as considering I realised…I really like her.”

He diverted his attention to the steps.

“Oh did you?” You tried not to sound surprised.

“Yeah… pretty much from the first evening I spent with her.” Eddies dark eyes were now on yours.

You laughed and he took that as an opportunity to slip one hand around your neck and into your hair and pull you into a kiss. Reciprocating for only a few seconds, you pulled back.

“You know you can’t just buy me concert tickets every time you-…”

“I’ll work my way through your record collection until you’ve seen every band you have?” Eddie joked and pulled you back in for another kiss. “I’m messing around but I know.” He placated.

“You like me too.” He separated, before kissing you once again causing you to roll your eyes slightly even though you were now smiling.

You nodded “Yes. I like you too.”

“Good. Does that mean we can start over?” Eddie asked tracing a thumb over your cheek.

“Yes.” You agreed

“In which case, how do you feel about making out on the first date?” A playful grin appeared on his lips.

You answered him by pulling him back into you sealing his lips with yours.

#eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson x female character #stranger things x reader #stranger things imagine

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summeryewberry · 4 months

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Queer Book List

I've just updated my complete list of LGBT+ novels ever read (as far as I can remember). Not including short story collections, comics, non-fiction, or things I've completely forgotten.

I'm not including books where a main character's sexuality was only implied (it's got to be clear on the page), and this list contains queer main and secondary characters only, not background characters that play little part in the story.

I don't read a lot of Young Adult, so assume these are all adult-oriented unless otherwise stated.

I'm not judging nor rating nor recommending any of these; it's purely a list of books I've finished.

True Colors #1: Conventionally Yours, by Annabeth Albert gay male main characters, romance, happy ending

The Geek Who Saved Christmas, by Annabeth Albert gay male main characters, romance, happy ending

Perfect Harmony #2: Love Me Tenor, by Annabeth Albert gay male main character, gay male side characters, romance, happy ending

Knit, Purl, a Baby and a Girl, by Hettie Bell bisexual female main character, lesbian main character, romance, happy ending

Master of One, by Dani Bennett and Jaida Jones gay male main characters, trans woman side character, high fantasy, unfinished series

Cesare Aldo #1: City of Vengeance, by D. V. Bishop Cesare Aldo #2: The Darkest Sin, by D. V. Bishop gay male main character, gay male side characters, mystery, historical, unfinished series

The Crow: The Lazarus Heart, by Poppy Z. Brite gay male main character, trans woman main character, horror, unhappy ending - it's The Crow

Exquisite Corpse, by Poppy Z. Brite gay male main characters, horror, unhappy ending

Lost Souls, by Poppy Z. Brite gay male main characters, horror, I don't remember the ending

The Black Magician #2: The Novice, by Trudi Canavan The Black Magician #3: The High Lord, by Trudi Canavan gay male side characters, high fantasy, happy ending for the gay characters

The Hours, by Michael Cunningham lesbian main characters, bisexual female main characters, general fiction, I don't remember the ending

Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand, by Samuel R. Delany gay male main characters, science fiction, unfinished series

The High King's Golden Tongue, by Megan Derr gay male main characters, romance, high fantasy, happy ending

Nightrunner Books #1: Luck in the Shadows, by Lynn Flewelling Nightrunner Books #2: Stalking Darkness, by Lynn Flewelling Nightrunner Books #3: Traitor's Moon, by Lynn Flewelling gay male main characters, high fantasy, everyone is alive and well as of book 3, I haven't read the rest of the series

Reforged, by Seth Haddon gay male main characters, high fantasy, happy ending

The Well of Loneliness, by Radclyffe Hall lesbian main character, historical classic, unhappy ending

Princesses #1: The Stepsister Scheme, by Jim C. Hines Princesses #2: The Mermaid's Madness, by Jim C. Hines Princesses #3: Red Hood's Revenge, by Jim C. Hines lesbian main character, fantasy, fairy tale, everyone is alive and well as of book 3, I haven't read book 4 yet

Blood & Smoke #1 - Blood Books #1: Blood Price, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #2 - Blood Books #2: Blood Trail, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #3 - Blood Books #3: Blood Lines, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #4 - Blood Books #4: Blood Pact, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #5 - Blood Books #5: Blood Debt, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #6 - Smoke Series #1: Smoke and Shadows, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #7 - Smoke Series #2: Smoke and Mirrors, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #8 - Smoke Series #3: Smoke and Ashes, by Tanya Huff bisexual male main character, gay male side character (main in the Smoke Books), low fantasy, humour, mostly happy ending

Torin Kerr #1: Confederation #1: Valor's Choice, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #2: Confederation #2: The Better Part of Valor, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #3: Confederation #3: The Heart of Valor, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #4: Confederation #4: Valor's Trial, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #5: Confederation #5: The Truth of Valor, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #6: Peacekeeper #1: An Ancient Peace, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #7: Peacekeeper #2: A Peace Divided, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #8: Peacekeeper #3: The Privilege of Peace, by Tanya Huff bisexual main characters, bisexual side characters, military space opera, humour, some queer characters survive, others do not - it's set during a war

Gale Girls #1: The Enchantment Emporium, by Tanya Huff Gale Girls #2: The Wild Ways, by Tanya Huff Gale Girls #3: The Future Falls, by Tanya Huff bisexual main characters, bisexual side characters, low fantasy, humour, happy ending

Keeper's Chronicles #1: Summon the Keeper, by Tanya Huff Keeper's Chronicles #2: The Second Summoning, by Tanya Huff Keeper's Chronicles #3: Long Hot Summoning, by Tanya Huff lesbian background character in books 1 & 2 becomes main in book 3, low fantasy, humour, happy ending

Quarters #1: Sing The Four Quarters, by Tanya Huff Quarters #2: Fifth Quarter, by Tanya Huff Quarters #3: No Quarter, by Tanya Huff Quarters #4: The Quartered Sea, by Tanya Huff bisexual main characters, bisexual side characters, high fantasy, humour, happy endings

The Fire's Stone, by Tanya Huff gay male main character, bisexual male main character, asexual female main character, poly relationship, high fantasy, happy ending

The Silvered, by Tanya Huff I don't remember, but considering it's Tanya Huff, probably everyone's bisexual, high fantasy, happy ending

Into the Broken Lands, by Tanya Huff gay male main character, bisexual side characters, high fantasy, horror elements, mostly happy ending

The House in the Cerulean Sea, by T. J. Klune gay male main characters, fairy tale, fantasy, happy ending

Angels in America, by Tony Kushner (play) gay male main characters, play, drama, happy ending

The Last Herald-Mage #1: Magic's Pawn, by Mercedes Lackey The Last Herald-Mage #2: Magic's Promise, by Mercedes Lackey The Last Herald-Mage #3: Magic's Price, by Mercedes Lackey gay male main characters, high fantasy, unhappy ending?

Bergman Brothers #5: Everything For You, by Chloe Liese gay male main characters, sports romance, happy ending

Ash, by Malinda Lo lesbian main character, fairy tale, young adult, I don't remember the ending

So This is Ever After, by F.T. Lukens gay male main characters, young adult, romance, high fantasy, happy ending

Winter's Orbit, by Everina Maxwell gay male main characters, science fiction, unfinished series

Lindsay Gordon Crime Series #6: Hostage to Murder, by V. L. McDermid (Val McDermid) lesbian main character, mystery, happy ending, I haven't read the rest of the series

Trick of the Dark, by Val McDermid lesbian main characters, lesbian side characters, mystery, I don't remember the ending

Iron Council, by China Miéville gay male side character, dystopian fantasy, I don't remember the ending

Hero, by Perry Moore gay male main characters, superheroes, young adult, happy ending

A Land Fit for Heroes #1: The Steel Remains, Richard K. Morgan gay male main character, lesbian main character, high fantasy, I don't remember the ending and I haven't read the sequel

Love & Luck #5: Two Men and a Baby, by Isla Olsen gay male main characters, gale male side characters, romance, happy ending

Captive Prince Series #1: Captive Prince, by C. S. Pacat Captive Prince Series #2: Prince's Gambit, by C. S. Pacat Captive Prince Series #3: Kings Rising, by C. S. Pacat bisexual male main character, gay male main character, bisexual side characters, high fantasy/romance, happy ending

The Monkey's Mask, by Dorothy Porter lesbian main character, bisexual female side character, poetry, mystery, complicated but satisfying ending

Wild Surmise, by Dorothy Porter bisexual female main character, poetry, general fiction, I don't remember the ending

She Drives Me Crazy, by Kelly Quindlen lesbian main characters, lesbian side characters, romance, young adult, happy ending

Cry to Heaven, by Anne Rice bisexual male main character, historical, revenge story, happy ending

The Wolf Gift, by Anne Rice gay male side character, low fantasy, happy ending

The Love Study #2: The Hate Project, by Kris Ripper gay male main characters, gay male side character, genderqueer side character, romance, happy ending

Carry On Series #1: Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell Carry On Series #2: Wayward Son, by Rainbow Rowell bisexual male main character, gay male main character, low fantasy, young adult, everyone is alive and well as of book 2, I haven't read book 3 yet

Get Over It!, by Phillip Scott gay male main characters, mystery, humour, I don't remember the ending

Christopher Marlowe Spy Thriller #1: The Queen's Gold, by Steven Veerapen gay male main character, mystery, spy thriller, historical, unfinished series

Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters lesbian main characters, historical, heist story, happy ending

Tipping the Velvet, by Sarah Waters lesbian main characters, historical, happy ending

Running With Lions, by Julian Winters gay male main characters, gay male side characters, young adult, sports romance, happy ending

The Stone Gods, by Jeanette Winterson lesbian main characters, gay male main characters, ostensibly general fiction but actually more like speculative fiction, implied happy ending

Orlando, by Virginia Woolf bisexual genderqueer main character, historical, I don't remember the ending

#summer blogs #quiltbag #books #queer literature #lgbt books

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