#i'm never not going to bully eddie for walking on those tables

[unfinishedslurs]

gay bar (steddie)

“Well, well, well,” says a voice from behind. “Steeeeeeve Harrington. I must be dreaming.”

Steve turns around to see a guy, dressed in black and chains. Rings decorating his fingers, studs in his ears, curly hair pulled back in a ponytail. He’s hot, yeah, but something about him has Steve squinting, trying to figure out why he looks so familiar. 

“I know you from somewhere,” he says, pointing out the obvious. The guy knows his name.

The not-a-stranger snorts. “Of course you don’t remember me. Why would the likes of King Steve stoop to—“

As soon as the nickname leaves his mouth, Steve’s brain lights up. “Munson!” He exclaims, snapping his fingers. “You used to climb on the lunch tables to give speeches.”

It was so obnoxious, too. The kind of thing that had him and Robin reminiscing late at night, celebrating some of the weirder shit about Hawkins that didn’t come from monsters, or Russians, or government conspiracy. Remember that one asshole? Yeah, he stepped on my lunch one time!

Condolences to Robin’s pb&j. She never sat at that table again.

Munson’s whole face turns pink. “Seriously? That’s what you remember?”

“It was pretty fucking memorable, dude. Like, gross, doesn’t this guy know not to put his feet where people eat? Dustin thought you were so cool for it too. I had to nip that in the bud before he started imitating you or some shit.”

“Oh,” he says, voice gone flat. “Because God forbid some poor kid try to immolate the freak.”

Steve gives him his bitchiest, most deadpan stare. “Feet,” he says slowly. “Nasty, fifteen year old boy feet. On my kitchen table. He almost slipped and cracked his skull, and I would have sent you the hospital bill.”

He had to get creative to make him stop, too. Stood there, hands on his hips, and made Dustin tell him exactly how many germs he thought were on his shoes. Then when he tried to do it barefoot, decided the only course of action was to stuff Dustin’s abandoned sock in his mouth and ask if he wanted that shit with every meal. Erica still has the photos. 

Munson has the decency to look embarrassed, face flooding an even brighter red that wouldn’t be out of place in a tomato patch. “What are you even doing here, Harrington?”

What does he think Steve’s doing here? It’s a fucking gay bar, it’s pretty self explanatory. “My friend is here somewhere,” he says, waving out at the crowd of people. “She’s going through a dry spell, so…”

“Right,” Munson says. Steve squints at him. Does he look disappointed?

Eh. Doesn’t matter. 

“You gave my kids the best freshman year of their nerdy little lives,” he tells him, because he knows Dustin would want him to. Plus, the guy was Mike’s gay awakening. He should probably get some credit. “So thanks for that.”

He lights up. “Yeah! How was Hellfire in my absence?”

“I had to hear them bitch and moan for months about how it ‘wasn’t the same,’ but it’s doing pretty all right. Erica Sinclair is running it now.”

“Erica Sinclair…” Munson mutters, snapping his fingers. “Lucas Sinclair’s little sister? Lady Applejack?” He beams when Steve nods. “She kicked ass. Best finish to a campaign my entire high school career. How’s Lucas, anyway? And the rest of the runts.”

“He’s doing great,” Steve says. “College basketball at Yale. Pretty sure he’s dying under the workload, but that’s what you get for majoring in physics. Dustin’s at MIT, and Mike’s taking a gap year.”

He whistles lowly. “Yeesh, I don’t blame him. How about Byers?”

“Which one?”

“Zombie boy.” Steve’s hackles raise, but Munson just grins. “God, that nickname was badass.”

“How do you even know about that?”

Munson taps the side of his nose. “A magician never reveals his secrets. Besides, all it took for you to remember me was calling you by your high school nickname.”

“That wasn’t my nickname.” Steve rolls his eyes. “Literally three people ever actually called me that, and you were one of them.”

He has a feeling it was Tommy who started it, bitter and vicious. Told himself Steve was self possessed, high and mighty, above it all. That’s why he left his old friends behind. Not because he was in love, or because he wanted to be better. No, King Steve just sits alone in his castle, looking down on the peasants with contempt. 

Billy must have taken his angry ramblings and run with them. After all, what better way to get a start in a new town than declaring yourself royalty? Never mind that Steve hadn’t cared about anything like that for almost a year by then. 

Munson had just been a drama-loving asshole. 

“That can’t be right.”

“I stopped being popular in junior year. Why the hell would anyone call a sophomore King?” Steve points out. 

“You were Prom King.”

“Again, in junior year. Pickings were slim. Who else would it have been? Tommy?” He has to laugh. 

Luckily, Munson takes the hint and swerves the conversation into new territory. “You know, I always figured you’d be homophobic.”

Steve snorts. “What, and get kicked out for nothing?”

Munson stares at him, and Steve furrows his brow, looking into his glass like it will have the answer to why the hell he said that to this guy he barely knows. He just decided he wasn’t going to spill all his daddy issues to a near-stranger in a dingy bar, dammit. Is he already on his fifth drink?

Actually, this might be his sixth. That tracks. 

“What?”

“My dad caught me kissing a boy,” he says. If he’s going to give Munson his life story, he might as well commit. “Can you believe that boy ruined my life in three different ways? Two of them didn’t even have anything to do with the gay thing.” 

Maybe four ways, if you accounted for the way he broke his goddamn heart, but everyone and their mother saw that coming a mile away. Even Steve. Especially Steve. 

No offense to Jonathan. None of those things were really his fault. Or actually life ruining, but it sure fucking felt like it at the time. 

He should give him a call soon, actually, see how he and Argyle are doing. He misses the guy. Maybe he and Robin should save up for a visit to Cali. Get Nancy on it. They could see San Francisco while they were there, that’d be cool. Apparently it was the queer capital of the country. 

He’s thinking about asking the bartender for a napkin and a pen to write down the plans he’s forming when Munson speaks up again. Steve honestly forgot he was here. 

“I thought you said you were here for a friend.”

What?” Steve blinks, confused, and then catches on. “Yeah, to get her laid. I’m not in the mood right now.”

Munson cocks an eyebrow. “Wearing that? Could’ve fooled me.”

Steve looks down at his Springsteen T-Shirt that Robin cropped, and picks at the frayed hem of his shorts. Okay, yeah, they’re on the skimpy side, but in his defense it’s summer and even if he’s not cruising Steve likes being looked at. “Yeah, yeah. What about you? Here for anything in particular?”

“Just to talk to some pretty boys,” Munson says, leaning on the bar to flag down the bartender. Steve smirks, reaching out a hand to tug at the hanky in his back pocket. Pinned, damn. 

Munson whirls around, a flush starting to crawl onto his ears. 

“Wearing that?” Steve echos snarkily. “Could’ve fooled me.”

He swears that for a minute Munson’s eyes darken. 

He’s almost tempted to follow through, high school reputation be damned, when someone crashes into his side and nearly sends him careening. 

“Steeeeeve,” Robin yells happily into his ear. “This is Bernie, she’s gonna take me home, see you la—oh, hi!” She says, noticing Munson. “I know you from somewhere.”

“Eddie Munson,” Munson greets. “Steve and I went to high school together.”

“Munson! That’s it, you climbed on tables and had shit music. I’m Robin. Okay, I’ll call the apartment and leave a message when we get there. Bernie’s waiting on me, it’s-nice-to-meet-you-bye!” Just like that, she’s gone. 

Munson’s mouth has dropped open. “You told her I had shit music?” He demands. “Wait, you talked about me?”

“She went to school with us, dumbass,” he says, as if he can talk. He still barely remembers her as more than a vague, glowering figure in his peripheral. “It’s not my fault you blasted your screamy music for everyone in the parking lot. Such a fucking headache, God.”

Munson turns his nose up. “Sorry for having offended your jock sensibilities.”

“Oh, I don’t play anymore,” he says, and knocks on his head. “Concussions, yanno. Apparently brain damage will fuck you up. Who knew?”

“What, like the fight you had with Byers? He did you that bad?”

“He did me just fine,” Steve blurts out, before he can stop himself. Munson chokes. “Shit, sorry, I’m kind of a horny drunk.” Weird thing to say, Steve. “Also, I cannot stress enough how much I needed to be punched in the face. It was a monumental moment for me, you know. Started me on the path for changing my entire worldview. Plus, he was my first guy crush.” He swirls his empty glass, lost in thought, before brightening up. “I should call him!”

Munson is staring at him, mouth opening and closing like a fish. 

“What?”

“You’re drunk.”

“Well, yeah. Duh.”

“I should probably stop you from booty-calling the guy who punched you in the face.”

Steve wrinkles his nose. “It wouldn’t be a booty-call,” he says. “He and Argyle are happy together, man. I’m not gonna ruin that.”

“Oh, so you’d call him because…”

“I call him all the time,” Steve says, confused as to why this is such a big deal. “We’re friends.”

“Jonathan!” He yells happily into the pay phone. Munson is standing to the side, looking on in annoyance. Whatever, it’s not like Steve asked him to do this. “Jonathan, man, how are you?”

“…Steve?”

“Yeah!”

“It’s like…” he hears something clatter in the background, like Jonathan is looking for something, “two in the morning there. You okay?”

“I’m doing great!” He exclaims. “How about you? It’s been ages, man, I miss you.”

“This is so fucking weird,” Munson whispers behind him. Steve ignores him. 

“Are you drunk?”

“No,” he says. “Well, maybe a little. Do you not miss me too?” He pouts, and Jonathan sighs loud enough he hears it over the phone. 

“I just talked to you yesterday.”

Steve frowns. “Yesterday? That can’t be right, it’s been, like, forever. Oh, hey, have you heard from Nance lately? How’s your mom? I love your mom, she’s so fucking cool. Does she know I think she’s cool? How’s Will? It’s been so long, is he taller than me yet? How’s Argyle doing with his degree? I miss you guys.”

“We miss you too, Steve.”

“Awww, Byers, getting soppy on me? Gross, man.”

“You literally just—yeah, okay. Are you alone?”

“Nah, I’ve got this guy with me, he’s walking me home. Oh! Dude, do you remember Munson?”

“Munson?”

“Yeah, Eddie Munson! From high school! The one who used to climb on tables and shit, remember him?”

“Jesus Christ,” Munson groans. “Please let that die.”

“No one is dying,” Steve informs him seriously, and turns back to the phone. Munson sighs. 

“Wasn’t he a drug dealer?”

“Yes! Yeah, drug dealer Munson! Did you ever buy from him?” He turns to where Munson is looking around furtively. “Did Jonathan ever buy from you?”

“How about we not talk about this here,” Munson says through gritted teeth. Steve sighs and turns back to the phone. 

“Never mind, he says he doesn’t want to talk about that. Not like we can judge him, but whatever. Maybe the guy’s turned into a prude—“

“Okay, give me that.” Munson wrestles the phone out of his hand, and Steve whines at him. “Hey, Byers,” Munson says. “Yeah, it’s Eddie. Or Munson. Whatever. Listen, I’m getting kind of sick of standing here watching Harrington slobber all over the receiver, can he call you tomorrow? What? No, I don’t sell anymore—yeah, total bummer, whatever. Listen, I’ll get him home safe—no, I’m not going to serial murder him. He’s gonna be fine, he’ll call you tomorrow—Nancy Wheeler? Like that girl he dated? Didn’t you—shoot me? Jesus, okay! I’m not gonna kill the guy, Christ. He’s gonna be fine, oh my God. He’ll call you tomorrow. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yeah, okay. Bye.” He slams the phone into its holder with more than a little contempt. 

“Hey!” Steve protests. “You didn’t let me say bye.”

“You can call him tomorrow and apologize,” Munson says. “Now c’mon, Harrington. I’ve been tasked with getting you home safe, and if I fail, apparently Nancy fucking Wheeler is going to shoot me in the balls.”

“Oh, yeah, she’s really hot when she does that,” Steve says fondly, and Munson splutters. 

“What, does Wheeler just go around shooting people? Does she even have a gun?”

“Of course Nancy has a gun.” Steve frowns. It was one of the sure things in the universe at this point. The sky is blue, Hawkins is fucked up, and Nancy Wheeler has a gun. “And she doesn’t shoot people, stupid. Well, she shot at Billy, but he deserved it.”

“Billy?” Munson mutters, starting to usher Steve in the direction of home. “Who the fuck is Billy?”

“He was trying to kill her first!” Steve defends. “I hit him with a car before he could, so she was okay.”

“Okay, yeah, sure. Why wouldn’t you hit some guy with a car? 

“It wasn’t some guy,” Steve says. “It was Billy. He was, like, possessed or some shit. Oh, and he beat me up. Total psycho.  And that was before the melted flesh monster.”

Munson stops and stares at him. “You know what, sure. Demonic possession. Yeah, okay. Some guy named Billy kicked your ass—wait, are you talking about Billy Hargrove?”

Steve lights up. “Yeah! You remember that? That’s one of the concussions I was talking about. I gotta wear glasses 'cuza that shit. Man, fuck that guy.”

“Didn’t he die?”

“Oh, yeah,” Steve frowns down at the ground. “Shit, I’m, like, speaking ill of the dead, aren’t I? Max wouldn't like that. Unfuck him, or whatever.”

“You wanna come up?” He asks. “For old times sake?”

Munson stares at him like it’s the craziest thing he’s said all evening. “‘Old times’ was your asshole friends calling me a satan worshiper and pushing me around in hallways, Harrington.”

“I know.” He grins. If he was sober he’d definitely feel worse about that, but as it is he’s pretty single minded. “Don't you kind of want to make me cry about it?”

Deer in headlights isn’t usually a good look, but Munson’s got the eyes to make it work. Or Steve is drunk. Either way, it’s kinda cute. 

“You’re drunk,” he finally says, stumbling over the words a little. If Steve pays close attention and ignores most of reality, it almost sounds like he’s trying to convince both of them. “You’re so incredibly drunk.”

“I’m not that drunk.” He totally is. 

“I just had to supervise you calling Jonathan Byers so you didn’t say something you’d regret in the morning.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Steve asks, offended. “I love Jonathan! I tell him all the time. Just because I said he ruined my life—“

“That was him?”

“Did I not say that? Huh. Whatever. Point is, I’m not that drunk.”

“You’re definitely drunk,” Munson says. “I’m not—yeah, no. I’m not coming up.”

“Damn.” Steve shrugs, not too put out about it. It’s a bummer, sure, but he handles rejection like a champ. Just ask Robin. “Worth a shot. See you ‘round, Munson.”

“Don’t kill me,” Steve says. 

“Oh, god, did you punch him?”

“No, I, uh.” Steve rubs the bridge of his nose. “I think I tried to fuck him.”

He has to hold the phone away from his face so Dustin’s screeching doesn’t break his eardrums. 

“Your exes are weirdly protective of you,” Munson says blandly. “Also, didn’t they date?”

“Yeah,” Steve shrugs, not exactly eager to start spilling his life story again now that he’s sober. Munson doesn’t need to know more about his dating history than he already does. “We’re all a little weird about each other, sorry.”

“Weird about your exes,” he hums. “No wonder you’re single.”

“Oh, fuck you. It’s not like that.”

He raises an eyebrow. “No?”

“Are you always this nosy?” Steve asks, a little waspish. 

“Absolutely,” Munson replies without hesitation. “I’d say sorry, but I’m not. When did you even date him?”

“Dude.”

Munson just cocks an expectant eyebrow, hip resting against the bar. He can’t imagine why someone would be so interested in the romantic lives of their old high school classmates. It’s not like Steve is about to ask what was going on between him and Chrissy Cunningham. 

“Well, Harrington?”

“First grade,” Steve answers, deadpan. He grins when Munson chokes. “Nah, it was actually after he and Nancy broke up. Fall of ‘86.”

Arms squeeze him from behind, and Robin slides into view, leaving one hand wrapped pointedly around Steve’s waist. She gets clingy when she thinks someone is bothering him, or when she’s just on the side of drunk that she gets possessive. She told him, embarrassed and hungover, that it’s because she registers someone he’s getting along with as infringing on “her Steve time.” Steve thinks it’s hilarious and kind of sweet, an obvious lesbian trying to pretend he’s her date. Especially because he gets the same way when he’s tipsy and feels like he doesn’t have enough of her attention, so she can't yell at him for being a cockblock. Cuntblock. Whatever the lesbians call it.

He wonders what category she thinks Eddie is. Of guy, that is. Not block-anything.

He'd actually be pretty damn happy if the guy miraculously changed his mind and decided to sit on his cock instead.

“What’s going on here?” She asks, almost cattily. He loves when Robin gets bitchy. It brings him back to their Scoops days, except he gets to see it turned on someone else. 

“I’m telling Eddie my life story,” Steve says blithely.

“Ugh. Who would want that?”

Eddie grins. “I’m curious about the adventures of a former king.” He dips his head in a bow, waving his hand in a flourish. “I don’t know if you remember me from last time, I’m Eddie—“

“Munson, I know. You stepped on my lunch in junior year.”

Eddie turns beet red in record time. 

“Aww, Robbie,” Steve almost coos. “Leave him alone. I wanted to be the one who made him blush like that.”

“It’s not my fault your boy’s easy.”

“Not my boy, clearly,” he mutters under his breath. “And if he were easy, I’d have gotten fucked by now.”

Eddie’s mouth drops open with a choked little sound. Whoops. Steve forgot volume control again. 

Robin takes one look at Eddie’s face and bursts into cackles. 

“He was asking about,” he waved a hand in the air, “the whole Nancy-Jonathan thing.”

Her eyebrows jut up. “You told him about the threesome?”

“The what?”

Steve sighs. “No, Robin. I did not tell him about the threesome.”

“…oops.”

“When?” Eddie demands. 

Robin gives him the evil eye. “Why are you being weird about this? It’s not gonna make him fuck you.”

Steve wisely keeps his mouth shut. 

Eddie does not. “Your boy here already asked,” he smirks, leaning closer. “I said no.”

Then, as an added punch to his ego, he twirls a strand of Steve’s hair around his finger and tugs slightly. Steve’s too stunned to protest. 

Robin watches the exchange. “Oh, no thank you,” she says. “Nope. I’m out. I don’t want to see whatever this is. Ugh, stop making me hear about your sex life.”

Hypocrite. “We have thin walls, Buckley,” Steve reminds her. He turns to Eddie and stage whispers, “She likes her girls loud.”

“Steve!”

“You do!”

“Oh, because you’re so quiet,” she snaps, smacking him. “How many times have I had to bang on the wall because you couldn’t keep it down? You wanna talk about loud? I know more about you than I ever wanted to.”

His mouth drops open in mortification. “You know it’s rude to be mean to the man who told you how to eat out,” he hisses. 

“I’m not dying without fucking Eddie Munson,” he declares. “I mean, his high school nickname was literally ‘The Freak.’ He’s got to be good in bed, right?”

“I think that was mostly because everyone thought he was communing with the Devil or something.”

“Maybe the Devil gave him sex magic.”

“Of course he thinks I’m cute.”

“I do?”

“Do you not?” Steve turns to him, widening his eyes in the same pout that always has Robin throwing something at his face, or the kids reluctantly agreeing to do what he wants. He’s found it’s useful for guys too, especially if he ducks his head to seem smaller and looks through his eyelashes. Makes them imagine him looking like that on his knees. 

Munson is no exception. He melts faster than Steve can say gotcha. “You’re very cute, Harrington,” he purrs, and Robin snorts into her drink. 

“You’re a weak, weak man, Eddie Munson,” she tells a blushing Eddie. Then she kicks Steve. “Stop bringing out the ‘fuck me’ eyes when I’m around, I’ll gag.”

“You could leave.”

She gasps, affronted, and kicks him harder.

“So you would fuck me if I wasn’t drunk?”

“Uh…” he looks everywhere but Steve’s face, which is just rude. He has a very nice face. He’s been called dreamy before. 

Which made Robin laugh so hard she fell off the couch when he told her, but he’ll take the lesbian’s opinion with a grain of salt. 

He makes his way onto the dance floor. He’s not a particularly good dancer, but he shakes his ass like he means it. Gets up close with a guy, stares at Eddie the whole time. Keeping eye contact as the guy puts his hands on his hips. 

Look, he means to say. This could be you. You could lose your chance if you’re not careful. 

From the burning in Eddie’s eyes, he gets the message. 

The message is a bunch of bullshit. It’s been over four months, he’s in too deep to go fuck off with someone else now. Still, he enjoys the way Eddie’s hands flex on his thighs, like he had to stop himself from reaching out. 

The thing is, Steve’s not an asshole. He can take a hint. No means no, and all that jazz. If Eddie really didn’t want him, he’d fuck right off and find someone who did. He even started to.

Except Eddie pouted up a storm when he flirted with someone else. Got even clingier when Steve tried to back off. At this point, he’s accepted that Eddie does want to fuck him, and maybe even be more (no one flirts with someone as long as they’ve been doing without wanting something like a relationship out of it. At least, he hopes there’s something more on the horizon), but has some weird hang up about Steve being even a little bit buzzed when it happens. Even though they only ever see each other at this fucking bar.

The problem is Steve has no idea when Eddie will be at the bar. He’ll stay sober one night, hoping to see him, and then go home alone only for next time to be when he sees telltale curls and a wide smile. It’s driving him up the wall. 

Robin has been similarly affected.

“It’s been six months,” she growls as Steve looks eagerly around. “Six fucking months of you two dancing around in the worlds most annoying mating ritual. I’m going to kill both of you.”

“We’re not that bad,” he says absently. 

“You don’t even have his phone number. It’s pathetic. I swear to God, if you see him again and don’t get laid I’m reviving the scoops board. I will go out and buy a whiteboard to keep track of all the times you strike out with a man who used to walk on tables. He stepped on my lunch, Steve. Do I need to keep bringing up the fact he stepped on my delicious, nutritious PB&J? I can’t believe that’s the guy you decide to be obsessed with, that’s so fucking embarrassing for you.”

“Embarrassing? You mean like your crush on my ex girlfriend?”

She screeches wordlessly, pulling her keychain off her belt loop and attacking him with it. 

Naturally, that’s how Eddie finds them. 

“I swear you guys get weirder every time I see you.”

Steve grins guilelessly at him, holding a flailing Robin in a headlock. 

“Eddie! Hey! It’s been a minute.” He hasn’t been able to come in a month, and it’s been longer since he’s seen him. It’s honestly one of the deciding factors on whether it’s a passing fancy or a full blown crush. He still went to sleep every night thinking about Eddie. It didn’t even have to be about sex. 

Although maybe not sleeping with anyone else for half a year should have tipped him off sooner. 

“Sure has, big boy. I was starting to think you were getting sick of me.” It’s a joke, but Steve catches an undercurrent of insecurity. 

“That’d make my life easier,” Robin snorts. She finally wiggles her way out of his hold. “I saw Arty somewhere around here, I’m gonna see if I can crash at her place tonight.” She levels Eddie with a look. “He hasn’t had anything to drink. If you don’t put him out of his misery, I will. And it won’t be the good kind. It will be the bad kind. With bad screams. Lots of screaming, and someone will call the pigs, and I’ll be arrested and jailed for life. Do you want me to go to jail, Munson?”

Eddie shakes his head dumbly. 

“Good! Then do something about it.” She slaps Steve’s back, a mocking echo of his jock days. “Go get ‘em, slugger!” 

With that, she’s gone, disappearing into the crowd. 

“She is,” Steve remarks with amusement, “the worst wingman on planet Earth. Mars too, probably.”

“I dunno, I think it might be working.”

“I’m not doing anything without a condom,” he says, eyes narrowed like he’s waiting for an argument. 

“Me neither,” Steve agrees. “Robin has, like, this big fear of diseases. Totally got me with it. She pulled out the library books, those pictures were fucking disgusting. Shit showed up in my dreams, man. Neither of us do anything without protection.”

“I’m going to be totally honest with you, because I haven’t been and it’s starting to eat at me,” Eddie says, hovering above Steve. 

Steve wrinkles his nose. “What is it? Are you a spy or something? Are you Russian? Do you have superpowers? Is your name not actually Eddie?” He pauses. “Oh, God, you’re not even Eddie Munson, are you? I’m just some asshole who’s been calling you by my old classmates name and you were too embarrassed to correct me. Shit, we made so much fun of you for walking on tables too—“

“What?” Eddie covers his mouth, expression hovering between amused and baffled. “What the fuck, why would I go along with that? No, Jesus, I’m Eddie Munson. Moved to Hawkins when I was eleven, took senior year three times, walked on the fucking tables, could you let that go?” He moves the hand covering Steve’s mouth to play with his hair, looking annoyed for a minute before it smoothes to trepidation. “No, I, uh, I just felt like I needed to tell you that I used to have a hate-boner for you in high school. Like, I used to jack it to the thought of kicking your ass and making a mess outta you. In more ways than one.”

Steve stares. 

“Also, that’s kind of why I approached you in the bar in the first place,” Eddie blabbers on. “And then you said you were just there for a friend, and I was disappointed but it’s whatever, yanno? And then then you told me about your dad, and threw my expectations to the fucking wolves, and then you asked me to come up to your apartment except you were drunk and you probably didn’t mean it. But then the next time I saw you, you kept flirting with me, which you were not supposed to do, and I kept pretending that wasn’t the reason I even talked to you in the first place, and, uh, yeah.” He smiles nervously. “Surprise?”

“I mean, not really.”

“You’re such an asshole, fuck off. At least pretend to be shocked.”

“It’s not my fault you stare at my legs all the time,” Steve says, affronted. “I know I didn’t do too good in school, but I’m not dumb enough to miss that. Like, hello, my eyes are up here.”

Eddie lets his arms give out, flopping on top of Steve heavily. Steve wheezes. “Am I really that obvious?” He whines into his shoulder. 

“You got sad and pouty when I even looked at another guy.”

“You could’ve fucked him,” he mumbles. “The guy you were dancing with. It wasn’t any of my business. I’m a big boy, I can deal.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t want to fuck him,” Steve says. “I wanted to fuck you. Can we go back to that please?”

“Thought I was fucking you.”

“Someone’s getting fucked or Robin will kill both of us. I’d like to live tomorrow morning. And not have to deal with any more of her teasing for having no game.”

“You have unfortunate amounts of game,” Eddie sighs, tracing the side of Steve’s neck. It tickles. “It’s kind of embarrassing for me.”

“Yeah, yeah, are we using those condoms or not, Moodkiller?”

“Oh, I’m the mood killer?”

“Yes,” Steve says matter of factly, and pulls him in for a kiss before he can protest.

[yanderemommabean]

Love how you call that Mid mama but that was excellently written uwu. Elias gives me less misogynistic Eddie vibes and I adore him.

Could we get the visit from his darling? I'd love to see how that goes!

“You know the rules” one guard warns, only for Elias to laugh with a huff through his nose. “Oh don't flatter yourself thinking you can stop me. Now open the door”. The guard sneers, hesitating and taking his hand away from the handle to point his finger at him. “Don’t get cocky, this can quickly turn into me tossing you back to the doctor and his associate”.

Elias just sighs. Stupid brutes never know when to shut up. In a blink, Elias just jingles the keys that were previously on the guards belt, one hand uncuffed with a smile, making the man shut his loud mouth. “Don't forget dear guard of mine, I'm a threat for a reason. Now hurry! I only have an hour this time around!”.

The guard freezes, stuttering for a bit before snatching his keys back and unlocking the other cuff. “Smart ass” he grumbles, before shooing Elias into the other room, standing on guard just outside.

Elias was elated to see you, rushing to wrap you in his arms with such a speed the guard didn’t have time to react. “My love! Oh my love my love my love! I can’t believe you’re finally here! Oh I missed you so so much!” he practically squeals, his fingers clutching your hair as he inhales right in the crook of your neck and shoulder. “I’ve missed this scent. Missed you. They treat me so so badly here! They-”

You gently push him away, not really believing that he was “oh so abused” in this place. By the looks of it, he gives everyone sleep paralysis just for the thrill of it. But that strange doctor who contacted you promised this place would at least help Elias, so maybe they can calm down those tendencies. They asked how you met and why he’s so obsessed, and honestly you only really know him because you helped him out from time to time when leaving work or seeing him being picked on.

Once you said you’d be there for him no matter what, things took a turn. You blinked and every bully who had previously been in front of you two, leaving the fight, was stabbed. Not even mortally, Elias just stabbed them to make them feel pain. He wanted to leave his mark.

“Elias…I-I’m happy you’re eager to see me, but you might need to take a seat and obey the rules. They might not let us hang out anymore” you pacify, helping the man sit down. Elias just shoots the guard a glare, but decides to obey for now. These people have helped him see that if he can gain their trust, work a bit with them, he can have you all to himself. He’ll have his own sector in this place, and eventually, to keep him calm and sated and work for them, you’ll be in that sector with him, nice and tied up and taken care of.

Oh to have you all splayed out and ready for him. His fingers could map every inch of your skin, play with your hair, kiss your neck…maybe your shoulder…oh down your chest- No. no he needed to stop those thoughts. He can't exactly go back and take care of himself if he gets too excited, though he’d love to bend you over and make a show for the guard. The only thing stopping him is the hate he has for anyone seeing you naked at all.

The guard taps his watch, and you nod, scooting closer to the table provided in the room. “So, tell me what's happening Elias. I miss our little daily walks” you say with a smile. Elias sighs happily, laying his head in his hand as he stares at your beautiful eyes. “Ah, in time. Tell me all about your day”. He stared at you like a lover would, which set you off a bit, but you decided this place might help him see that soon, so you let it slide.

The time is ticking by, Elias needs a break from everything, whats the harm in letting him relax and have some fun with a friend for a bit?

((PLEASE tell me how you feel about this one 😭-Mommabean))

[starryeyedjanai]

how long am i gonna be young and lost?

@eddiemonth day 2 prompt: Friendship | Gen | 1.3k

read on ao3

When Eddie moved to Hawkins at age 15, he didn't know how he was supposed to make friends.

Everyone here in this tiny little town already knew each other. All the kids in his grade had grown up together, had known each other since they were little.

Everyone already had set friend groups. He looked around the lunch room on the first day, sitting alone, and saw the way they were all grouped off.

There were the most popular kids in the center of the room, loud and brash in a way that told him that no one had ever told them to quiet down before. They took up too much space at their table even though there were less of them than there were of the other groups.

There were the different jock groups, tangentially popular, who were equally as loud as the kids in the center of the cafeteria.

He made sure to get a good look at both of those groups so he knew who to avoid - there was no way any of those people were going to end up being his friend.

There were different groups of normal looking kids scattered around the cafeteria, chatting and laughing, and Eddie felt a pang in his chest looking at all of them.

He hadn't had many friends at his old school, none that he would be calling up at the end of the day to tell them how much he missed them, but he kind of wished he had at least that. His dad had an unstable job that made them move around a lot, so he never could settle down in one place and really make lasting friendships.

He knows it's pathetic, but he just wanted even one person who would miss him when he moved.

But he was only at his last school for less than three months when his dad got arrested - like actual crime arrested this time, going to prison for a long time kind of arrested - and now he's here, in this new place, watching all of the other kids who've had the lifelong friendships that he envies. It fucking sucks.

He looks around and doesn't see many people dressed like him - not a lot of band tees with bands he recognizes in this crowd of normies - and he resigns himself to another year of people watching, observing and looking in from the outside.

He ends up being right. The school year was almost over when he moved and he doesn't really make friends with any of these people.

His sophomore year isn't really any better. People mostly stay away from him, which is better than being bullied, but he somehow gets a reputation for being a "freak" even though he hasn't talked to anyone much and has mostly kept his head down.

After someone calls him a freak to his face the first week of his junior year, he hisses at him and bares his teeth and watches the guy flinch back like he's actually scared of Eddie. He laughs and thinks that if people are going to call him a freak, he might as well act like one.

There's a little freshman watching that interaction with wide eyes and Eddie just grins at him before turning back to his locker.

The kid walks up to him and says, "That was so cool," right as the bell rings, signaling that they only have a few minutes to get to class.

Eddie snorts. "Sure it was," he says, grabbing his notebooks for the next couple classes.

"I saw you earlier this week and saw the Metallica patch on your bag. I wanted to come up to you then, but you're way too cool to want to hang out with a freshman," the kid says and Eddie turns to look at him.

Eddie can't help the way his stomach flutters at the thought of someone thinking he's cool.

"Didn't you hear? I'm the school freak," he sneers anyway just so this kid knows what he's getting himself into since he apparently thinks Eddie's cool.

"I heard," he says. He stretches out his hand. "I'm Jeff."

He looks at Jeff's outstretched hand for a second before he shakes it. "Eddie. You do know hanging out with me is gonna label you as a freak too, right?"

Jeff grins at him and shrugs. "I don't mind being a freak. Beats whatever they've got going on," he says, nodding over to where some jocks are shoving at each other.

He's right. There's way too much in-fighting amongst the popular kids. Eddie's been nosily trying to keep track of who's fighting over what and he thinks those two guys are both into the same cheerleader. His bet is that punches will be thrown after school and they'll be back to slapping each other on the back tomorrow.

"So you're into Metallica?" Eddie asks and Jeff nods eagerly. "You wanna skip next period? We can listen in my van maybe. I've got some other stuff you might like, too."

Jeff hesitates for a moment before grimacing and saying, "My mom would kill me if I skipped."

"Just this once?" Eddie asks, his right hand clenched on his notebook. He doesn't know why it feels like if he lets Jeff out of his sight, he's never going to see him again. This school is pretty small - he could find him if he really wanted to. But if Jeff wants to avoid him, he could probably find a way.

"No can do, man. You'll understand when you meet my mom. She's the worst to disappoint. We could listen after school if you want though," Jeff says.

When you meet my mom, he said, like he's sure they'll be friends long enough for that to happen.

Eddie breathes out and says, "Sure. Meet me back here at the end of the day?"

Jeff nods and opens his mouth to say something, but the bell rings again, signaling that they're both late for class.

"Get to class," Eddie says when Jeff looks like he's going to stick around and wait for Eddie to finish putting his stuff in his bag.

Jeff says, "See you later," before waving and hurrying off to class.

Eddie just shakes his head and hopes that Jeff was serious about meeting him later.

He's fidgety during the last few classes of the day, even more so in his last class, counting the minutes until class ends. He's the first out of the door when the bell rings.

He shoves his stuff in his locker and tries to breathe. He doesn't want to look desperate or anxious if Jeff decides to show up.

He watches as everyone around him filters out of the hallway to go home and tries not to visibly react when Jeff materializes next to him with another kid by his side.

"Hey, Eddie! I hope it's cool I brought a friend," Jeff says, gesturing to his friend. "His nickname in middle school was, coincidentally, Freak, so I thought he'd fit right in with you." Jeff's smiling as he says it and it doesn't feel at all like when that jerk called him a freak earlier.

Eddie huffs out a laugh and asks, "What's your real name?"

"Frankie," he says, "But I kind of like Freak better."

"Freak it is then," Eddie says. "Do you like metal music?"

"Yeah, I guess. Jeff's been trying to get me into it," Freak says looking over at Jeff.

Jeff rolls his eyes. "I don't have a big collection of music or anything, so it's slow going on the music education front."

"Well I can help you there. I've got some stuff handy if you wanna hang out still," Eddie says, biting his lip.

"Of course we do! Lead the way. I just have to be home before dark because-"

"Your mom, right, right," Eddie says, grinning.

He looks at these two eager little freshmen, and thinks this is going to be fun, before leading them outside.

[k4g3hika]

Hi I just wanted to say I think that your writing is magnificent and it brings me so much joy on that note I was wondering if you could do a eddie x reader where eddie has a crush on the reader and people like the basketball team or cheerleaders keep embarrassing him infront of reader so he gets completely humiliated and gos and hides somewhere to cry (you can choose the place) and reader finds him and comforts him and you can tie it all together with a confession or not but I trust you

Sorry if that made no sense or sounds stupid and you can completely ignore this idea if you want to thank you for your time 😊

FREAK'S GOT A STARING PROBLEM ━ imagine!

eddie munson x fem!reader

summary: eddie cannot stop looking at you. not for anything bad! he just thought that you are the most beautiful thing to walk on earth. but will his habit bring fortune or conflict for him? it's terrible that this freak's got a staring problem.

genre: a bit of angst? / fluff

wc: 1. 98k

note/warning: a bit of bullying and lots of curse words lol. and major tw!jason. mfs scary. also, i'm not entirely proud of this one, but i hope you enjoy!

Eddie thought that you were the most beautiful thing to ever walk the earth. 

Sure, his magazines had some hot chicks in them, and frequently he would see the occasional actress in the movies that he would watch, but you? You seemed to beat all of them so easily with both your personality and beauty. 

It physically pained him to have this teeny-tiny crush on you. In the few classes the both of you shared together, Eddie always caught himself looking your way. He didn’t know what overcame him to possess his eyes to draw to you, but he knew the reasons could’ve been either your radiating smile or possibly, that bright light that seemed to be behind you. 

Though he frequently stared at you, however, Eddie Munson was not a perv. He could never look at you in that light, well- 

‘No.’ Eddie stops himself. He will not let his mind be dragged to that point. You were an angel graced by God, how the fuck can he even think of you in such a dirty way?

Eddie groans, finally hearing the ringing of the school bell, notifying Hawkins High that it was finally lunch. He heard the class go by around him but didn’t start packing until most of them had left. Sometimes, Eddie imagined what his life would’ve been like if he was in your high school posse. 

Athlete, cut hair, spent most of his time in training or parties. Easily having the prettiest girl in his arms. And of course, for that position, it would be you.  

Fortunately, life was kind to Eddie. Instead, he was playing one of the most brilliant games ever created, with the best people around him. He would prefer that, over throwing a ball around for an hour. With that thought, he would have to deal with the ridicules that frequented him, and most importantly, holding his feelings and looking at you from a metre away. It was fine. He could live like this. 

Eddie’s ears are infiltrated with noise as he walks through the cafeteria doors, seeing that several students have already received their lunch. He began to make his way to the lunch line, expecting to receive the most lacklustre, unappetizing meal of the day. 

After receiving a certain look from the lunch lady, Eddie mutters a ‘thanks’ and looks around to see his friends sitting at the usual table. They seem to already be deep in conversation, making Eddie feel a bit inferior because of his absence. He hopes it isn’t too important, because of course, as the leader of Hellfire, Eddie had to be there for every complaint and recommendation. 

But first, a small stop past the table he dreaded the most. 

No, Eddie wasn’t going to actually stop and talk to anyone at that table, shit, that was blasphemous at whoever cared. All he’s going to do is walk by, and catch a small, small glimpse at you. Hopefully today you were either smiling or laughing because if he was being honest, those expressions look beautiful on you. 

As he walks past, he sees you giggling a bit behind your hands, making him fail to notice how his stride begins to slow. Eddie is entranced by your laugh and smile, feeling as though a higher power somewhat blessed him today. 

Unfortunately, the devil seemed to curse him as well, seeing as he captured the attention of the prick sitting at the head of the table. 

At first, Jason was going to say something, either ‘get out of here freak’ or whatever. Until, he looks at where Eddie’s gaze was caught, tracing it back to you. An alarm goes off in his head. 

“Hey, freak!” Eddie’s head snaps to Jason, who slams his hands down on the table and stands up. Eddie’s heart begins to race. 

‘Shit!’ He thought he was being so slick! 

“You fuckin’ need somethin’?” Jason starts to make his way to him. 

“No Jason-”

“Then why are you looking at Y/N? Got a starin’ problem you need help taking care of?” The blond jams his finger into Eddie’s chest, prompting him to almost drop the lunch tray in his hands. Eddie steadies himself, almost losing his temper at the bullshit Jason was trying to pull. 

In the corner of his eye, he can see that your head was turned to him, making him a bit nervous under your gaze. 

“Listen, Jason, I don’t want anything to happen. I was just walking by.”

‘Yup, yup. Keep your cool. Gotta look swift for her.’

“Yeah Jason, he doesn’t want anything to happen,”

‘God fuck! Why do his goons have to get involved?!’

The basketball player, whom Eddie remembers to be Andy, laughs under his breath, “he doesn’t want anything to happen, to interrupt his serial killer plans. He’s probably planning to kill our whole fucking table just to be with Y/N. What a fucking creep.”

“Yeah, we hit the jackpot? Is that what you want to do? Order your little cult to kidnap Y/N so you could use her in your cult sacrifices?” The cafeteria gets silent at the statements of Jason and Andy. Eddie’s face feels warm, not because he was particularly embarrassed, but because of his anger. 

He just wanted to look at you is all, what’s wrong with that?!

“Hey Jason-” Eddie hears a soft voice,

“No. We need to fucking expose this freak before he terrorizes Hawkins. Shit, maybe tomorrow night we might just see that club of his dancing around a fire. That’s what you do Eddie? Dance around the fire like a couple of pussy bitches?”

“Why don’t you fucking push your head up Andy’s ass Jason. You’re being a fucking prick.” Eddie sneers at Jason. Of course, Jason expected this kind of reaction from him, prompting him to threateningly step closer. 

“Yeah, you freak-”

“Jason, I fuckin’ said, shut,” he pushes the cafeteria tray into his chest, “the fuck, up!” Eddie turns his tray over, knocking some potato mixture onto Jason’s varsity jacket. The cafeteria gasps, but before Jason could give him some kind of comeback, Eddie leaves the room. Not forgetting to give him the middle finger before he made his exit. 

Slightly turning around, Eddie still makes the effort to look for you, catching your shocked face switching between him and Jason. 

“Get back here you freak!” The door shuts behind him. 

‘Shit, shit, shit,’ Eddie runs through the school, trying to find an empty classroom he could hide in for the time being. He definitely didn’t want to get caught by Jason and his goblins. 

He wasn’t prepared for whatever they were gonna give him. 

“Eddie?” His heart stops. Eddie hears a voice in the hallway, not wanting to turn around and witness his murderer. 

‘FUCK.’ Pushing open the door right next to him, he finds it to be the restroom. Not sure if it was girls or boys, but regardless, he didn’t care. Eddie rushes into the last stall, pulling close the door and sitting on the toilet seat, pushing his legs up to hide from whoever was looking for him. 

The door swings open. 

‘SHIT! Ozzy, please, I’m begging you. Please save me from whatever they’re gonna do to me, I’ll listen to Black Sabbath extra hard tonight. I promise!’ 

Eddie rocks back and forth, biting onto his rings to stop his heavy breathing. Slow footsteps echo throughout the small room, before finally stopping in front of him. 

‘Well. Praying didn’t do shit. Ozzy! You bi-’

“Eddie? It’s me, Y/N.” His heart stops, again.

‘Oh no. You’re probably here to fucking expose him. Jason is gonna come in here in any second-’

“I know, you probably don’t want to talk to me. But I’m not gonna call for Jason or any of his groupies. If it helps you, Chrissy is trying her best to calm him down…and I think that she’s doing an okay job.” Silence ensues. “Eddie? I just want to talk to you.”

His heart hurts. Why does your voice have to sound so pretty as well? 

Eddie puts his feet down. Slowly unlocking the door, he pulls it towards him and faces you. 

‘Shit, so pretty.’ Earlier, when he said that there seemed to be a light radiating behind you, he didn’t mean literally. But now? 

The lights above the restroom mirrors flicker a little, but still manage to enhance your beauty. Eddie almost crumbles to the ground, but instead just keeps his gaze locked onto your eyes…trying not to look anywhere else. 

“May I help you?” Shit, that sounded rude.

“Hey! Um, I just wanted to talk about what Jason was saying earlier. I’m sorry about whatever he said, y’know, about Hellfire and you.”

‘Fuck! She knows about Hellfire?!’

“Yeah…it’s not okay. I mean, he’s a fucking child so I don’t really care. The fact that you’re apologizing for him says a lot.” You sigh, rocking back and forth. 

“Well, our varsity basketball captain has a massive stick up his ass, so…I’m here. Apologizing for him because he is, like you said, a fucking child.” Eddie laughs a bit and you join him as well. He didn’t really expect you to criticise Jason like that, especially since the both of you ran in the same social circle. “Um, but that isn’t really what I came to talk to you about Eddie.”

‘Oh shit.’ This was it. The moment when you were going to ask him to stop looking at you. 

“About what Jason was saying…were you really looking at me or was Jason just imagining things?” Eddie swallows his spit. He really was debating on whether or not he should tell you the truth. 

“Well, um, uh,” fuck it, “yeah. I was looking at you. I just think that you…you know, are- shit.” He wipes his eyes with his hands to avoid looking at you. For some reason, you were getting too fucking bright. 

“No! Eddie, um…” you grab his hands from his face, surprising him a bit, “I think, I think I like you looking at me.” Eddie pauses, internally screaming.

‘...what?’

“I mean! I like you looking at me, as in, you know, I like that you take the time out of your day! I appreciate it! I also notice too in class, you looking at me, cause I look at you too- fuck! I mean, sorry, shit…I think your tattoos are cool!” You blurt that all out, shaking his hands as you spoke to him. You didn’t seem to notice that you were moving his hands along with yours, but he didn’t mind it. 

“You think my tattoos are cool?” Your eyes widen. 

“Of course! Who doesn’t? I love the bat one it’s so metal. I want to get a tattoo for my eighteenth, but I’m not sure what to get!” Eddie goes through some more pausing. 

‘Did you just say ‘metal’?’

“Did you just say metal?” Eddie repeats, standing up from the toilet, and you finally realize that his hands were in yours. Frantically pulling them away at the realization, Eddie immediately grabs them back. 

He was not getting rid of this opportunity!

“I did…? Did it sound right? I just started listening to metal, so I hope it’s okay to use the term.” His smile grows wider on his face. 

“Yes, yes you did say it right.” You smile right back and Eddie was starting to gain his confidence. “Listen, if you need any help coming up with ideas for a tattoo…I could always help you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, totally.” His thumbs rub your hands, 

‘Way to go Eddie!’

“Then,” you step closer to him, “can I request that you also be there when I get it? Y’know, to comfort me and what not.”

‘Ozzy? Praying to you has got to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.’

“Just give me the time and place sweetheart.”

TAGS:

@crunchcake @buckwbarnz @bookobsessedfreak

[storiesbyrhi]

Angel of the First Degree - Chapter 10: Royalty

Eddie Munson x Chubby!Reader 8055 words Series Masterlist

Warnings: Anxiety; fatphobia including internalised; drug use; bullying; body issues; discussion of body function and fluids; period shame/stigma; disclosure of sexual assault (chapter 2); disordered eating and thoughts of food; shitty/abusive/critical parents; porn magazines; smut; reference to suicide (specifically Virginia Woolf’s); no beta; grief/mourning; warnings updated each chapter

Synopsis: When Eddie Munson finds you in the midst of a panic attack, it is the beginning of something. A fic featuring body and sex positivity, Eddie in a dress, soft small moments, scary big truths, and all the usual special feelings you’d expect from one of my stories.

Chapter Summary: The dream keeps on getting better, but really… how long can this last?

Author’s Note: Sorry that this chapter came a bit late but I promise it's a good one. The next chapter may be delayed too; I have a bit going on IRL. I'm typing out my soft romance as fast as I can though =^.^= I think I missed a lot of typos in editing too, so forgive pls.

With Halloween gone, Hawkins High turned its attention to the next event on the social calendar – the end of year dance. The biggest night of a Senior’s year. The last blowout before exams and graduation. The kind of ceremony that people planned all through high school, hoping for dreams to come true. However, not really the usual talking point of the Hellfire table. For this reason, you were surprised when the conversation turned to the dance.

“We’re going,” Jeff said, speaking for him and Esther. “Might be dumb, but we don’t want to look back and regret not going,”

“Yeah, ‘cause you’re really living the all-American high school dream otherwise?” Dustin joked.

“Excuse you, Dustybun, but to deprive the world of me in a flowing powder blue dress and a matching corsage would be criminal,” Esther said, pointing her fork at Dustin menacingly.

“What about you guys? You gonna go since it’s like, your actual final Senior year?” Gareth asked.

Your head had been down the entire conversation, buried in your Classics notes. Although the question had been posed to you both, Eddie didn’t look to you for an answer and you didn’t look up from your notebook.

“You fucking serious? There’s a reason why I’ve never gone to something as mind-numbing as the dance,” Eddie started, voice full of disdain. Everyone at the table felt a Munson rant coming on. “Have you heard the music they play at those things? And the fucking… costumes those conformists wear. No offense, Esther, but everyone looks the same. It’s always blue and pink. King and fucking queen. I would rather have a prostate exam from a bear,”

“Jesus Christ, Eddie,” Jeff said, looking at his girlfriend to see if she was hurt.

Esther was kind of immune to shit like that. She scoffed. “Edward, you honestly couldn’t offend me if you tried. And for real, it kind of just sounds like the excuse of someone that has never been asked to the dance.”

The boys all oooooohhhhh’ed. Eddie grinned at Esther, she smiled back. “I like her. Glad you kept her,” he said to Jeff.

“For fuck’s sake. Nobody keeps me,” Esther proclaimed. “Come on. Let’s go shopping for a costume for you to wear to the conformist parade,” she said to Jeff. Everyone watched them leave.

“I don’t know, man. I just thought you’d wanna go now,” Dustin said, chewing on what he hoped was meatloaf. “Because-”

“I have to go to the library,” you said loudly and suddenly, leaving before anyone, including Eddie, could reply.

It had hurt. A lot. You were heartbroken, bypassing the library and speed walking out the building, across the field, and into the forest you’d hid in at the start of the year.

Back at the Hellfire table, Eddie was unnerved by the sudden silence. “What?” he demanded of his peers. They looked around anxiously, trying to figure out who would tell him. Gareth cleared his throat. “Uh… Dude, I think what… Henderson is sayin’ that, you know, you have a girlfriend… Girls like dances?”

Eddie froze, a million and one thoughts all smashing into each other, nothing coherent. “Yeah, but she’s not… like that,”

“Like what? Just because she’s not a cheerleader anymore, and not all… Plastic or whatever, doesn’t mean that she’s as anti-the man as you,”

“Are you telling me how to be a boyfriend now?” Eddie said, too much venom in his voice, entirely on the defense. He’d messed up. As Gareth rolled his eyes and looked over at Dustin, Eddie narrowed his at the Thinking Cap kid. “Something to add?”

“You dressed as a cat for her, but you won’t take her to the most important part of the Senior year experience?”

“You’re a Freshman, what do you know about the Senior year experience?”

“I know that girls in my classes are already talking about their dance,” Dustin offered in kindness, not trying to make Eddie feel guilty. None of them were, they just loved you and thought it would be your thing.

“Whatever, you don’t know her like I do,”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right, Eddie. We don’t. Sorry.”

Lunch continued, finding its normal rhythm quickly, but Eddie stayed quiet, sorting through his thoughts and trying to work out how he could possibly unfuck what he had royally fucked up.

After school that day, Eddie felt like a weight had been lifted off him when you were waiting at the van like usual.

“Angel,” he greeted, hugging you tightly. “I’m so fucking sorry. I don’t- I should’ve- I-”

“What are you talking about?” you asked straight-faced. You’d practiced the expression all afternoon.

Eddie could see through it, obviously. He could also see that you’d cried off the makeup you had put on that morning. Fresh mascara coated your lashes but the eyeshadow was gone.

“If you want to go to the dance, I do too. You know that I want whatever you want, and-”

“Eddie,” you interrupted again. “I don’t want to go. It’s just before exams. I don’t wanna get all fucked up, then not be able to focus. Or like, drink all my revision out my head, you know? And also, it’s totally going to be the Hayley show. And Chrissy and Jason will be King and Queen. Super predictable. Honestly. I don’t want to go.”

Eddie frowned and tried to figure out what you were thinking. Everything you said was technically true, but he couldn’t find it within himself to believe you entirely. He didn’t have any way to make it up to you though, so he dropped it. Eddie nodded and kissed you gently.

“Do you promise? You’re not just saying that?” he asked. You nodded into him, giving him no verbal confirmation, which he knew meant you weren’t promising at all.

When your general mood that week didn’t change, didn’t dip into sadness and exhaustion, Eddie thought maybe he had overthought it all. Maybe the guys were wrong. Maybe you really didn’t want to go.

He went round in circles trying to figure it out. Eddie’s best theory was that you thought you wanted to go, because you had wanted to once upon a time, but since Eddie and your new life, something had changed. But you didn’t figure it out until Eddie said what he did. In a way, he woke you up to your own truth.

Bullshit, he called on himself.

Another week went by with nobody mentioning the dance. Eddie was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. That, it did. It was a school night, the coldness of winter setting in early. You and Eddie had been cuddled up on the couch when he watched you shiver.

“You want the fuzzy cardigan or Fangoria hoodie?” he asked.

“Hoodie!” you yelled as he went into the bedroom.

Eddie was definitely not the type to go through your things. He’d been so careful about making space for you when you’d moved in. Letting you have what privacy you could, given how small the room and trailer were. However, you were the last to wear the hoodie. He opened the wardrobe but it wasn’t hanging there.

He started to dig through a pile of clothes on the wardrobe floor when the sparkles caught his eye. A voice in his head screamed DANGER DANGER, but he couldn’t help himself. The pile of clothes was hiding a bag from the fanciest store in Starcourt. He knew what it was as soon as he pulled the dress from the bag.

Fuck.

Eddie sat on the bed and held the dress in his hands. It was so glittery, so you. You would look so fucking cute in it. If he were alone in the trailer, Eddie probably would have cried.

You were wondering what was taking him so long when Eddie finally emerged from your room, not with a cardigan or hoodie, but wearing the gown you had planned to wear to the dance. It hung from his shoulders with a grace you’d never have predicted.

“I think this is what I’ll wear. What about you?” Eddie said casually, swirling the hem of the dress left then right then back again.

You didn’t want to have the conversation; once you knew Eddie’s opinion on school dances, that was it. Call it embarrassment or enlightenment or whatever you wanted, you didn’t care anymore. At least, that’s what you’d been telling yourself.

“Angel?” he asked when you didn’t laugh or give him any response at all. He moved to kneel in front of the couch, which you had laid down on, belly to the sofa and arms crossed under your head like a pillow.

You mumbled out a, “Mmm?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think before I said all that shit. I should have known you’d want to go. Should’ve talked to you first,” he told you.

“Should have known because I’m a conformist?”

“No. Hey,” he said, holding your chin and making you look at him. “I want to do whatever you want to do. I thought you knew that,”

“Doesn’t matter. I don’t want to go anymore anyway,”

“You do. You got this,” he argued, motioning to the dress.

“That was before everything happened. I’ve had that forever,” you lied.

Eddie knew you hadn’t moved in with the dress. He knew it was new. But he knew you lied when you felt backed into a corner. “Okay,” he agreed, nodding and feeling like absolute shit. “For the record – you would look beautiful in this. And I do want to take you to the dance, you know, if you change your mind.”

You said nothing, so he got up and returned to the bedroom. As neatly as he’d ever folded anything, he put the dress back where he found it and sat on the edge of the bed for a bit. He was going to take you to the dance. He was going to make it good. He just needed to figure out how to make you believe that’s what he really wanted too.

…

In the depths of November, your mood began to change for the worse. It was a combination of too many things. The fear of the future. Exams. The fact that you saw your mother in town and she turned around to avoid you. The goddamn fucking dance.

It seemed like every conversation you overheard was about tulle and silk, about pastels and limos and afterparties. With only three weeks until the event, all of Hawkins High was in an absolute tizzy about it. Gratefully, the Hellfire table knew better than to bring it up. Although, nothing would deter Esther.

“I don’t believe you, you know,” she said when you were fixing your hair in the school toilet mirrors.

“About what?”

“The dance. You do want to go,”

“Nope,” you replied, popping the P and trying to be as casual as she was.

“And,” she continued. “I think Eddie knows you want to go too,”

“Can you just drop it? It’s fine. I’m fine.”

Esther turned and looked at you. “I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but if I can tell something’s up, you can bet your ass he can. I’m just saying… It’s not too late. You just have to not be so stubborn.”

Stubborn? You didn’t think that’s what you were being. Then again, you weren’t sure what you were being. After a couple days of thought, you realised Esther was right. You were being stubborn despite what you really wanted and entirely in spite of yourself. Ultimately, it was because it was scary to admit that Eddie had done something wrong. That, even by accident, he had hurt you.

Having time and space between the toxic friendships you had in previous years, and the relationship between you and your parents, it was easy to cast them as villains. For all intents and purposes, they were. However, that meant casting Eddie as your hero. Faultless. Invulnerable. Just. If you admitted to yourself that he’d fucked up, even in that small way, it could threaten to tear down the safety you pinned so dangerously to the idea of perfect Eddie. So, you carried on as you had been.

When the countdown hit the two-week mark, Eddie decided to try to get you to talk. He knew you always felt better when you stopped bottling it all up.

You had put yourself to bed early, it was somewhere between 9:00 and 10:00 pm. Wayne was at work, and Eddie was cleaning up after dinner. When he walked into the bedroom, the door ajar, he watched the way your body moved under the blankets. He’d never tell you, because he was sure it was creepy, but he could tell the difference between the way you breathed in your sleep versus awake and just lying in bed.

Eddie pulled his clothes off and got into the bed. As he reached out and ran the knuckle of his index finger down your spine, he asked, “Do you want to talk about it?”

If you wanted space, you would have not answered. Instead, you shook your head no.

Eddie moved closer to you, wrapped one arm around your waist, and felt a surge of happiness when you took his hand in yours. “Do you want to… kiss about it?” he alternated, pressing a kiss to your neck.

It made you smile, then you felt annoyed he’d pierced your grumpy mood. Then you felt guilty for trying to keep yourself grumpy. What the hell was wrong with you?

“Do you want something from my secret stash of presents for you?”

It was an admission you couldn’t ignore. Turning to lay on your other side, facing Eddie, you made a face at him. “You do have a stash. I knew it,”

“Thought you might have gone looking for it,”

“I don’t go through your stuff,”

“Yeah, but, I don’t know. The curiosity would’ve killed me… Anyway. Something to cheer you up?”

Eddie jumped from the bed when you nodded and started rifling through a drawer. With the bedroom light back on, he handed you a frame about the size of one of your notepads.

“Figured it was the end of the collection,” he explained. Inside the frame was a white piece of paper with the pressed flowers you’d been storing in your History book taped to it. “I saw you take them all out a while back. Thought you might do something with them, but you didn’t,”

“I didn’t know what to do with them. I just put them-”

“Yeah. In The Hobbit. I found the frame when I was going through shit in the hall cupboard.”

You remembered the first time Eddie handed you a little wildflower. It felt like years prior when really it wasn’t all that long ago. Things had moved slowly at first, then quickly by anyone’s standards. Living with Eddie made everything before that seem ancient.

“I love it,” you told him, eyes glassy with happy tears. You could see where Eddie had struggled with the tape, it folding and creasing in places, his fingerprints visible in a few spots. It made it more special.

Eddie watched you put it on the bedside table, leaning against the wall so you could see it from any point in the room.

“I know I can’t make you feel better about everything,” Eddie said then, suddenly serious.

“You shouldn’t have to,” you replied.

“Yeah, but… I just need you to know that when I can, I will,”

“Okay.” You didn’t know exactly what he was talking about, if it was a reference to your parents and taking you in, or the valium slipped before class presentations, or if he was still thinking about the dance. It didn’t really matter. You believed him. “I love you,”

“I love you too, angel. So fucking much.”

The two of you stayed in bed, melted into each other. You touched each other slowly, with more intensity than any of the previous encounters. For hours, you messed around in the dark, practicing ‘everything but,’ until you fell asleep naked, fulfilled, and in love.

…

Two weeks later, there was a car outside the trailer you didn’t recognise. It was the type of car that made it onto the bedroom walls of teenagers, so cool and sleek, a deep red colour. Wayne almost never had visitors and you knew for a fact Eddie didn’t know anyone who could afford a car like that. You were still staring at it as you climbed the steps and entered the trailer.

A started gasp. Your eyes went wide. There were stars made of silver paper hanging from the ceiling; you looked up at how they were stuck there with fishing line and duct tape. Eddie stood next to the kitchen counter, where he had been waiting for you to get home.

He was in a suit. Like, for real. He had black tailored pants and a suit jacket. A white button-up sat underneath, fitted, and tucked. Eddie still looked like himself. His Chuck Taylors ‘for special occasions’ had been selected, rather than dress shoes. His hair was still curly and free and beautiful. Eddie picked up a red pocket square, tucked into his suit’s pocket like Wayne had taught him in preparation for this moment.

He held out a floral corsage.

“Angel, will you go to the dance with me?”

You were nodding before the doubt or the fear or anything bad even had a chance to spark alive at all. When you threw yourself into Eddie’s arms, he spun you around the room.

“Is that what the car’s for?!” you squealed, looking back out the door.

“Of course. Only the best for my baby. You’ve got about an hour to get ready. Go,” he ordered, smacking you on the ass as you squealed again and ran off to do your makeup.

Eddie lit a joint and stood in the doorway of the trailer, proud of himself for fixing the fuck up and genuinely buzzing to spend the night finding all the ways to make you happy.

…

Eddie made you laugh so hard that you got lightheaded. He kept saying stupid shit about the fancy car he’d rented, “She purrs like a kitten,” and honking the horn for no reason. By the time you got to the school, you felt high on love.

While you gathered the skirt of the sparkly pink dress in your hands, Eddie parked and came around to open your door.

“Angel,” he said, offering a hand for you to take.

The school gym had been transformed into an entirely over-the-top and very cliché winter wonderland. Eddie held in the urge to roll his eyes and gag; it was easy once he looked over at you and the ear-to-ear smile on your face.

“We should get photos first, before my makeup wears off,” you suggested.

“Anything you want.”

Although Eddie felt self-conscious in front of the camera, classmates watching from the line, he could feel how excited you were. You stood spooned together and smiled as the photographer tried to make you say ‘cheese.’

“Alright, one for me now,” Eddie said, turning you around and picking you up in a big bear hug. The camera flashed and you laughed.

After photos, you found your way to the table Jeff and Esther were seated at.

“You look so good!” Esther yelled, standing to hug you.

Jeff and Eddie quickly got lost in their own conversation, no doubt judging the sorry excuse for a band playing on stage.

“You can say ‘I told you so.’ You look like you’re gonna burst,” you offered Esther, an olive branch for brushing her off so coldly whenever she had tried to talk to you about the dance.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she replied. “I will, however, take my payment in the form of a dance?”

The guys watched as you and Esther slow danced together, all giggles and glitter.

“Dude,” Jeff mused.

“I know,”

“This is not how I thought my Senior year would end.”

Eddie snorted. “Which part? The girlfriend? School dance? The miracle that is your predicted exam grades.”

Jeff looked at him. “How’d you know about that?”

“Those girls tell each other everything. Congrats, man. On it all. Couldn’t think of a more deserving man,”

“You getting soft on me, Munson?”

Eddie grinned, and put his arm around Jeff’s shoulders. “I’ve always been soft on you,”

“Fuck off,” Jeff replied with a laugh.

“Love youuuuu,”

“Yeah. Yeah. Love you too. Now gimme back my personal space.”

Eddie held his hands up in surrender, then kicked back in his chair. “They’re happy,” he noted, going back to watching you and Esther.

“Yeah… And, uh, you? You’re happy?” Jeff asked, not sure of the words coming from his mouth.

“Yeah, man. She’s…” My moon. My stars. My sun. My everything. “Cool. I’m happy.”

There was mediocre punch, then there was spiked punch. Swinging across the dancefloor to songs neither of you really liked. There was party food and bored parent chaperones.

When the band stopped playing and Principal Higgins took centre stage, everyone knew what time it was. From your table, you looked around the room. Hayley was clearly pissed that she wouldn't be queen. People might be nice to her face, but most of the cohort feared her. An anonymous voting system ensured she’d never reign. Besides, nobody stood a chance against Chrissy and Jason, already deemed royalty by most people.

“We’re just having some technical issues. Hold on a moment,” Higgins said into the microphone. You and everybody else watched as people ran on and off the stage, whispering.

“I’m gonna get food,” Eddie whispered to you.

“Wait. Something’s wrong?”

“What?” He looked you up and down, and when you turned and saw the concern on his face, you almost laughed.

“Not with me. I think… they’ve lost the crowns?”

Chrissy and Jason were still crowed, albeit without actual crowns. Jason held a plastic scepter, and Chrissy a bouquet of white roses. Some people cheered, but most half-heartedly clapped.

Eddie was entirely uninterested. “I think they’ve got chicken nuggets. I’ll be back.”

The rest of the dance you watched your ex-friends monopolise most of the dance floor and attempt to make everyone else feel like shit. It wouldn’t work on you. Not then. Not that night. Not with Eddie.

Eddie, who kept asking you to dance, pretending to be some nervous kid. “I can’t believe you danced with me,” he said, funny voice. “I’ve like, had a big ol’ crush on you and thought – tonight’s the night. I’m gonna ask her tonight.”

It was stupid but it made you laugh. It made you blush and bury your face in the crook of his neck while he held you close, slow danced with you like he was born for it.

“Babe, you’re the hottest girl in this room. A walking piece of art,”

“Stop,”

“Never,” he replied immediately. “You’re pretty and smart and kind and beautiful and funny and sweet and you always smell good and are just… I fucking love you,”

“I love you too. I love you so much. Thank you. For tonight. And every night. And knowing how to…” You didn’t want to say ‘look after me’ because it made you feel childish and broken, and Eddie was teaching you that you weren’t either of those things. “Knowing what I need, before I do sometimes.”

Eddie smiled softly, let go of your hips, and held your face in his hands. He kissed your forehead, then nose, then checked on you for a second before kissing you, deeply, letting you kiss back and decide when you wanted to part your lips, let him in.

Later, as the gym was beginning to empty and students found afterparties to attend, you were waiting for Eddie to come back from the bathroom. You spotted him as he re-entered the gym, getting stopped by one of the techy Seniors that bought weed off him sometimes.

They whispered, something exchanged hands, and Eddie was back before you knew it. He looked at you, smirked, and you thought he might say something about it. Normally, Eddie would use his weirdly amazing intuition to see straight through you, see your mind filling with doubt.

Did he change his mind about the dance just so he could come and sell?

That was the old you, though, right? The old you would fixate on the thought. Sabotage happiness.

“You ready to go, angel?”

“Yeah. My feet are killing me,” you replied, looking down and twinkling the toes sticking out of the heels you wore. You should have donned matching Chucks.

After bidding Jeff and Esther a good night – they were off to Esther’s parent-free house – Eddie wrapped his jacket around you before disappearing into the cold night to get the car; he wouldn’t let you walk the short distance across the parking lot. You lost track of him in the crowd though, couldn’t see him until the red car came roaring around the corner.

“Angel,” he greeted, leaning across to open the passenger door. As you climbed in, quickly pulling your shoes off, Eddie continued. “So, I have two more surprises for you. First one is in the back seat.”

He was pulling out from the lot, following other car loads of students until they turned down other streets and went loudly into the bitter Hawkins evening.

“Oh my god! EDDIE!” you screamed, getting on your knees and balancing precariously to pick up the crowns. You bounced back into your seat, put your seatbelt on, and looked at the cheap plastic things. “You stole the king and queen crowns?!”

“No. I’m not sneaky enough for that. I paid someone else to steal them,” he clarified. Oh. That’s what that was. “Figured we deserved them more. You deserved it.”

Having a boyfriend who would do something so audacious for you was way better than winning a popularity contest. Being crowned a queen by Eddie was infinitely more rewarding than walking that stage ever could have been.

You put your crown on and Eddie’s too. He wore it well, lighting a cigarette with one hand and holding it out the open window.

“Can you drive faster?”

“Anxious to get home?” he asked with a grin. You nodded. “Well, first thing’s first: we aren’t going home. And secondly: no. I have a long list of things I wanna do to you, my queen, but putting you in the hospital sure as fuck isn’t one of them,”

“We’re not going home?” That’s what you had locked onto. Surely Eddie wasn’t going to gatecrash an afterparty. You didn’t want to be around anyone but him.

“No, we’re not. But don’t worry. You’re gonna like this.”

He was right, because Eddie was always right about you.

“Now, it’s not the penthouse suite at The Ritz, but it is very literally the best money can buy in Hawkins,” he introduced as he pulled up to the one nice hotel in town. It had valet parking, which was a novelty to both you and Eddie.

A man, wearing the hat and everything, collected the bags from the car’s trunk. Eddie had packed them in secret. Inside everything was classy, all gold Art Deco and Gatsby. Eddie checked in, and you listened to the interaction. The person at reception spoke to Eddie as if he was any other hotel guest, respectful and helpful. Part of you was expecting to be kicked out on sight.

“Technically, it’s the honeymoon suite,” Eddie said as soon as the door had been closed behind you both, welcome champagne and strawberries pointed out upon arrival.

“Do they think we just got married?” you asked him, your speech a little slow, distracted and in awe at the size of the room. The bed alone was probably bigger than the whole bedroom you and Eddie shared. The suite itself could rival the trailer.

“Nah. We’re pretty obviously dressed. The crowns and all.”

You gasped, grabbing the plastic on your head. “What if they hear about what happened? What if they tell someone?”

Eddie had dropped the bags on the floor near the built-in wardrobes. “Don’t think people outside of high school give a shit about that kind of thing. Besides, I think discretion is part of their job.” He turned around just in time to watch you launch yourself face-first onto the bed.

“So soft,” mumbled into the fresh, crisp linen.

Eddie laughed, then turned his attention to the radio. Once an acceptable station had been found, he poured two glasses of champagne. “Are the strawberries, like, for the champagne?”

“What do you mean?” you asked from your position on the bed. You’d pushed back the top sheet and quilt and perched yourself against the plush velvet headboard.

Eddie thought you almost looked like a fairy. Pink organza and sparkles sitting in a field of white. A fairy queen.

“Like, does it go on the glass, like a slice of lemon?”

“No. You just eat them with it. Like how cookies and hot cocoa go together.”

Eddie made an oh, okay face, and brought the glasses over, placing the bowl of juicy strawberries on the bedside table. He kicked off his shoes and carefully hung the suit jacket on a coat hanger. When he climbed next to you, you handed him his glass.

“Cheers,”

“Cheers,” he repeated.

A soft clink of crystal and you downed your glass. It took Eddie longer; the bubbles fizzed in the back of his throat and it burned in a different way than cheap beer or whisky.

He let his head roll back and rest on the velvet, eyes following your hands as they picked up a strawberry and brought it to your mouth. As your lips wrapped around it and you bit into the fruit, juice ran down your chin. Eddie shot his hand out and caught it before it could fall to ruin your dress or the linen. He sucked the juice off his hand, happy to taste anything that came from you.

“You don’t like the champagne,” you observed, breaking the moment’s spell.

“Never had it before,”

“I don’t normally like it, but this is good,”

“Guess it’s one of those things that’s only good when it’s good, you know? Like, when it’s quality,”

“Makes sense,” you agreed. “What are you going to drink?”

“Don’t worry about me, angel.” Eddie was on his side, pulling you closer and kissing your neck. “I’ve got a couple tricks up my sleeve,”

“Are you gonna raid the minibar?”

“I’m gonna raid the minibar.” And he was up and kneeling in front of the small fridge, rifling through it.

You got up and poured more champagne, popped another strawberry in your mouth, and watched Eddie move on to searching through all cupboards and drawers in the suite. He took all the teeny tiny shampoo and conditioners, and anything else that wasn’t glued down.

Eddie finished his quiet rampage, turning his attention back to you. He started to blush, and it hurt when he started to justify his actions. “For Wayne. Like, a souvenir. ‘Cause he helped pay for-”

“Eddie,” you interrupted softly. It’s okay. You don’t need to explain yourself. “I love you.”

His posture visibly relaxed. “I love you too,”

“Can you do me a favour then?”

“Anything,”

“See those big fluffy bathrobes?”

Following your request, Eddie got undressed carefully, hanging the rest of his clothes with the jacket. He pulled one of the robes around himself and jumped onto the bed.

“I think Cuddly Eddie is my favourite,” you told him, smiling up at him.

“Come ‘ere and tell me that again,” he replied, holding out grabby hands.

“Let me just cha-”

Eddie hopped from the bed to land in front of you, stopping your path to the other bathrobe and eliciting a small yelp from you.

“Sorry, but, ah, I’m gonna need you to stay in this for just a little bit longer.”

Goosebumps broke out along your arms, and you sucked in your bottom lip. “Okay,” you whispered.

Eddie nodded at the bed, and you climbed back in. He turned the lights off, leaving only moody lamp light to see through. He returned to you, and you both got comfortable laying on your sides facing each other.

“So… did I do good?” Eddie asked, his voice gentle, his hands taking yours so he could cover them in kisses. He looked at you with those big brown eyes.

“Yep, you did the absolute best,” you praised, turning your arm so it would be wrist-up, letting him kiss along your veins.

“Can you… tell me?” There was a rare tone of nervousness in Eddie’s voice. If he was even a little bit nervous, it meant he was vulnerable. It meant he trusted you.

“You want me to tell you that you did good?”

You just wanted to be sure, wanted to give him precisely what he was asking for, and judging by the way his pupils blew out and the barely-there nod, you were. You knew what he wanted.

“You did so well, baby. Everything’s been perfect. You’re perfect,” you started, voice low but not a whisper.

Eddie wriggled closer to you, held you close, rested his head on your chest. You began to play with his hair, aimless and tender.

“And, all the other girls I know had to basically tell their boyfriends or whoever to ask them. But you had a whole plan, because you’re… ridiculous like that. You make everything special. Even the car ride and taking photos and just everything.”

Eddie was glad you couldn’t see his face. His eyes were welling up with tears. He thought hearing the praise would be good foreplay. Instead of the words going straight into his pants, they were settling in his heart.

“And you looked so hot in your suit. Kind of strange to see you all dressed up like that. But I guess you have to get used to it because that’s what you gotta wear to music award shows and stuff, right?”

He chuckled at that.

“Oh! I don’t know if you planned it or not, like maybe you just couldn’t get pink so close to the date, but the red corsage matched-”

“Your ring,” he cut in. He’d wondered if you had noticed.

“You did it on purpose?”

Eddie nodded into you. “Always thought pink and red go good together,”

“They do,” you agreed, holding your hand up and watching the ruby catch the light at different angles. For a second you forgot you were on a mission. “And the crowns! I thought I saw you selling, but you were being a different kind of bad.” Eddie liked how you said bad. “It’s so… you. It’s like, this super romantic thing but it’s a big fuck you to the whole idea of school dances, and you know Jason is probably gonna be bitching about it for the rest of the year. He’ll probably bring it up at the ten-year reunion,”

“We coming back for that?” Eddie asked bravely.

“No. We’ll be too busy,”

“Doing what?”

“I don’t know… Being in love,”

“Sounds good,” Eddie thought out loud. “Sounds really fucking good to me, angel.” Your red-coated nails scratched against his scalp, making Eddie’s whole body tingle.

“Do you want me to keep going?”

“Please,” he whispered on a breath out.

“Then, after all that, you bring me here. This must have cost you so much…”

It didn’t start so emotional; you’d honestly just tried to call him a good boy and get him all worked out, the same way he could do to you. But then you started to think about it, started to ramble, and you were reminded of how goddamn special Eddie was. How the night was perfect, ripped from the pages of your Eddie-coded love stories.

“All the kind and thoughtful and weird things you’ve done for me, not just tonight but all year… It’s like, made up for everything else that’s happened to me, you know?”

There was something in that. Did Eddie treat you like a queen because the world owed you and he was doing his part? Or would he be the same doting boyfriend even if the rest of your life had been peachy? Did one mean more love than the other? A different kind of love?

Eddie’s brain was going around in circles and he decided to shelf the thoughts, and come back to them another time.

Giving yourself a couple beats of breath, you reigned yourself in from the emotional cliff of love, setting yourself back on the path you had intended to take.

“On top of all of that, you make me feel so warm… and tingly… and like, I get this weird heavy drunk feeling sometimes when you do stuff to me.”

Eddie smooshed his face into your chest, dramatically groaning. “Tingly?”

“Tingly,”

“Where?” he asked, untangling himself from you and sitting up against the velvet headboard.

You followed him, obeying his commands as he held his hands out for you to take, and he brought you over him to straddle his lap.

“Um, well, it starts in my nose,” you explained, watching Eddie’s amused expression. “It goes down and I can feel it all across my neck and chest.” You used your hands to show him, open palm mapping out the hot spots. “It’s like butterflies in my tummy.” A year ago, you never would have willingly drawn attention to your stomach, but you hadn’t even given it a second thought. “Down my spine, and it doesn’t matter how much I arch or bend, it’s always just… I don’t know, running up and down.”

Eddie hadn’t blinked, mesmerised by the very cute and very hot show you were putting on.

“Then I feel it in my thighs, but like, just on insides, where I’m soft,”

“So soft,” Eddie involuntarily repeated. His breathing was getting heavier by the second.

“Yeah. And, uh, where it’s most like that, most tingly, is in my underwear, where only you’re allowed to be,”

“Where exactly is that?” Eddie asked, desperate to hear you say any word that could be deemed even half dirty.

None of the words felt right, either too obscene, too clinical, or too childish. But Eddie was hanging on your every goddamn syllable, and you wanted to see what happened when you said something… like that.

Leaning forward, you wrapped your arms around his neck and brought yourself close to him. It would be easier if you didn’t have to watch him watch you. You kissed the side of his face, then behind his ear, letting your hot breath do some of the work for you.

“Eddie-” He shuddered under you. “You make me… You make my pussy tingly, and warm, and I want you so bad,”

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” was all you heard before he had you flipped onto your back, legs spread, and underwear coming off. You were giggling when you felt his lips come into contact with you.

“See… Just… like that,” you praised. “Jus’ like…”

Eddie made you cum once, then afraid to ruin your dress, he helped you up and lifted the dress over your head, putting it on a hanger next to his suit. You watched him, heart all aflutter.

“Again,” he ordered, manhandling you back onto the bed.

“‘Kay,” you agreed happily.

The second time, Eddie had lost himself in the taste of you and how your feet curled and the sounds you made. He watched you more carefully, lifting his head from your body to watch you as he slipped a third finger into you. You grabbed the sheets and pulled, whining and panting and then, pressing down onto Eddie’s hand, doing the work for him.

“Ah, fuck, good girl,” he murmured not loud enough for you to hear. Eddie was grinding himself against the bathrobe and bed, the fabric of the robe creating perfect friction. As you got yourself closer and closer to orgasm, fucking yourself on Eddie’s fingers, he quickly caught up.

You were saying his name over and over, voice getting higher and back lifting from the bed. He took over from you, pumping hard and fast, pulling not just the orgasm from you, but a wave of warm, clear liquid that Eddie immediately started to lap up, making you writhe against his mouth as he wrapped his arms around your thighs to stop you from crawling away from him.

Senses coming back, you could hear first. Eddie swapping between your name, angel, various praises about doing such a good job, and something about the word ‘gush’ which would have made you embarrassed under any other circumstance.

Rich strawberries and fresh clean linen. That dominated the scents of the room. Distantly, Eddie’s shampoo and your perfume.

Your vision was a little fuzzy, so you focused on the ceiling until you had enough energy to sit up on your elbows and look down at Eddie, who had rested his head on one of your thighs, closed his eyes, and wore the sweetest smile. It was completely at odds with what he was doing only seconds before.

Everything felt soft, lavish under your fingertips. And, your mouth tasted of nothing, instead your tongue pressed against your teeth, begging you to find Eddie’s lips and kiss.

“Eddie,”

“Mmm,”

“Come,”

“Already did.”

It was stupid but it made you laugh. “Okay, good, but come here, to me, please.”

Eddie stood, taking off the robe he’d made a mess of, then came to where your arms were held out in wait. He pulled the covers down and brought them back over both of you, finally cuddling up with you. He kissed the top of your head, more content than he’d been in… He couldn’t remember.

“I want to have sex,” your small but sure voice came from under the covers.

Eddie couldn’t help but laugh at the finality of your statement. All business.

“Why are you laughing at me?” you squeaked, looking up at him with the cutest angry face.

Eddie leaned down and kissed you. “Mm’not laughing at you. Promise. You just sounded… I don’t know. I’m not laughing. I swear.” Pulling another cute, angry, and suspicious expression, Eddie kissed you again. “We-we can, yeah, do… that,”

“Only if you want,” you said then, a little thrown by his reaction.

“I want!” he almost yelled. “Sorry. Fuck. Sorry.” He lowered his voice. “I want. And I like… No, wait, I’m proud of you… you know, for asking… None of that came out right,”

“It’s okay. I know what you mean.”

Eddie meant ‘for you to get to the point where you can verbalise what you want is so fucking massive, and I am infinitely in awe of your progress and entirely in love with you’ and you knew that.

“Um, I might have, planned… for this… just in case, you know?” he told you, trying very hard not to sound like he did all of it to earn sex, like you’d ever think that.

“Yeah?”

Eddie paused to look at your face. You were glowing, happy, excited. Eddie nodded, “Yeah.” He retrieved a packet of condoms and bottle of lube.

You’d never really seen either, so were curious, took them both from him and read the packaging. “Strawberry flavour? To match the champagne?” you joked.

“No. Not even I’m that cheesy. It’s all they had. Hawkins, you know?”

“What could you get out of Hawkins?” you wondered out loud.

“Any other flavour. No flavour. Glow in the dark. Some that feel real cold. Some that feel hot. Sky’s the fucking limit,” Eddie answered, no comedy all education.

“Oh… Where… from?”

You’d trapped him. Eddie grinned and scrunched his nose up at you. “There’s, ah, a sex store… in Lafyette,”

“Can you take me?”

Eddie’s eyebrows rose and his grin got wider. “Yeah? Absolutely… Jesus, you’re killing me in all sorts of ways tonight, angel.” Eddie pounced, tickling you and making you kick the air and squeal. When tears were running down your cheeks, he stopped to watch you catch your breath. “You good?” he asked, brushing hair from your face.

“I’m good,” you whispered back, looking at him like he was your whole entire world.

“Good. Come ‘ere.”

Eddie devoted a lot of time to making sure you were ready; mind, body, and soul. He wanted jelly legs and dripping wetness. Heart beating fast. Clammy hands. He wanted you begging, which you did. You whined his name, pushed at his face with your nose.

“I got you,” he said, getting himself between your legs. Everything about your body was screaming please and ready. You were so warm and open, and his mind was going to short circuit if he didn’t pull himself together.

You wriggled under him, getting comfy, then wrapped your legs around his waist. Eddie hissed at the feeling, making you smile.

“Here, put this under your butt.” Eddie placed a pillow there, and two under your head. He was fussing over you, then the condom, and it was adorable.

“Eddie, hey, hey,” you almost clicked at him like a puppy. “I’m good.”

He nodded, suddenly nervous. You, on the other hand, were somehow the opposite. No nerves. No anxiety. You just really, really wanted to feel him.

The kissing started off slow, then needy and messy. You felt caged in by his arms, pressed into the mattress by his hips; you loved it. Safe in a bubble.

“Ready?”

“Uh-huh, yes,”

“‘Kay, just, ah, tell me… if… anything,”

“I know. I will.”

Eddie nuzzled into your neck, kissed your skin lazily. He was painfully hard and just a little terrified that he’d cum within seconds. You felt him glide himself over your clit, and down, lining the tip up. Eddie looked at you as he slowly pushed in.

Your eyes were closed and your mouth opened, a happy gasp escaping. He couldn’t read what it meant when your eyebrows pulled together, but he knew the look of pleasure on your face. Eddie stopped himself from asking you if you were okay; he didn’t want to ruin the moment for you.

The arch in your back. How hard your fingers were gripping his arms. The smile forming on your face.

Then, he had bottomed out, whimpered, and the sound cut through you. You needed him to do it again, so you bucked your hips. It worked, a string of chaotic noises coming from him.

“Are you gonna move?” you whispered.

“Um… No… I’m gonna fuckin’ cum,” he admitted, a bark of laughter ending his sentence.

“It’s okay if you do. Honest. This feels really good,”

“Doesn’t hurt?” he asked. You shook your head. “At all?”

“No. I read in a magazine that it’s a myth that it’s normal to hurt. Like, it can. But not like how people always say,”

“Oh… okay,” was all he could say. How the fuck were you forming full sentences? “Jus’ tell me… if, ah, faster… or whatever.”

You nodded at him, let go of his arms to reach up and fold his hair behind his ears. When you ran your hand along his face, he rubbed his cheek in your palm.

“Kiss,” you ordered.

Obeying, Eddie shifted his weight onto his elbows, let his hands find your hair, then kissed you. Slowly, he started to move, careful, deep movements. He was able to find a rhythm that made you bite back a stupid grin.

“Faster,” you asked, breathy.

“If I do… I won’t… last,”

“S’okay. Please.”

Faster felt deeply right. Like you were exactly where you were meant to be.

Your mind went blank, and you wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled Eddie down against you hard. He was panting, swearing, and just over a minute later, he came harder than he ever had before.

Almost all of Eddie’s weight was on you, but it was comfortable. Before he could speak or check on you, or even pull out, you’d sighed happily and then, much to Eddie’s amazement, passed out.

When he got up, respectfully cleaned you best he could, and tucked you in, Eddie kissed your forehead and whispered, “I love you, lightweight.”

Next Chapter: 11- Afterglow

Fic Taglist: @ajeff855 @b-barnes04 @eddie-munson-is-a-sweetheart @nerd-squad-headquarters @word-wytch@harrys-tittie @munsonsmel0dy @sidthedollface2 @eddiethesexy @bardicfrustration @orpheusredux @munsonsgirl71 @a-time-for-wolvess @rosaline-black @thegirlwhohides @emotionaldreamer @e0509 A@briasnow-blog @kiyastrf94 @erinsingalong @rainylana

Eddie Taglist: @solomons-finest-rum @ruinedbythehobbit @munsonlives @sweetpeapod @depressooo---expressooo @thorfemmes @hawkins-high @corrodedhawkins @grungegrrrl @lilzabob @mymoonisalways-in-scorpio @averagemisfit03 @ches-86 @ilovecupcakesandtea @onehotgreasymechanic @hazydespair

[writer-of-various]

Drownin' In The Rain

(High School AU)

High School isn't easy, there's drama at school and whatever is happening at home, it just ruins a teen's mental health. An unexpected group of teenagers are about to become friends who need a way out of their shitty lives.

WARNINGS: Use of F-Slur, Violence, Bullying, Implied Abuse

Chapter I / Edward

The ringing of an alarm clock forced awake a young man, his eyes opening the slightest bit and a groan left him as bright light peeked through his wearing curtains. He can smell coffee, the aroma wafting through the cool air as he hears soft muffles from beyond his closed door. A heavy sigh escapes him this time as he slams a pale hand on his alarm clock, shutting it up as he forces himself out of the comfort of his bed. The creaking noise it made had him wincing, careful to place his feet on the equally as creaky floor and shivering at the cold touch of tile against his warm feet. He risks a glance at his clock and feels the slightest bit relieved, he didn't snooze it until it was five minutes before the bell rang this time.

He stands up and stretches, walking over to his closet and grabbing whatever he got his hands on first, sleepily wandering into his bathroom and turning the shower on, waiting for the water to warm up before jumping in and cleaning up. After five minutes, he starts to smell French toast and bacon and hurries up cleaning up, throwing his clothes on and scurrying downstairs. He smiles softly at the sight of his sister, Samantha, and his father talking, Sam helping their father set up the table but his eyes narrow slightly at her attire.

"What are you wearing?" He speaks up and gives an apologetic smile when he realizes he startled both of them, his father giving him a warm smile in greeting before turning his attention back to the French toast. Sam, however, rolls her eyes and places a hand on her left hip.

"Clothes, Eddie. I thought that was obvious." She tilts her head to the side, trying to play innocent but her brother wasn't going to deal with her young teenage attitude so early in the morning.

"If you can call those clothes, Sammy." He says the childhood nickname with a bit more bite and it's Samantha's turn to narrow her eyes. "Most of your stomach is showing and those are not even tights. Look how many holes they have!"

"Hey, I don't judge you when you dress like some old man!"

Their father gives her a look and she gives him a smile, "Not that your outfits are bad, vater."

"I hope not. Enough bickering though, sit down, both of you." They comply, giving each other looks before turning their attention to breakfast, their stomachs growling. Once the food was served, they dug in, and their father watched with a small smile as they ate, although the guilt he felt made him sulk as his plate remained empty, his kids not noticing. When they asked for seconds, he was quick to offer the rest of the food from the pan, placing his clean plate back on the disk rack and taking their plates once they were done. He listened idly as they raced back upstairs to finish getting ready before rushing back down and bidding him goodbye as they headed out the door for school, leaving him alone to his thoughts.

"Remember that girl, Vivian?" Samantha speaks up after a long five minutes of silence and Edward turns the volume down on the radio, humming to let her know to continue. "Well...she keeps...confronting me about not being father's real daughter."

Edward swallows hard, looking at his sister when he stops at a red light, his heart tearing at the look of distress written across the fourteen year old's face.

"I'm sorry, Sam. Have you tried talking to an adult about this? I know she's always giving you a hard time–"

"The adults won't do anything, Eddie! They never have, and they never will. We're different from all the other kids, we're adopted! And ever since mutter died, it's been hard to get by! We wear old shoes, we sometimes don't get to eat at home at all, and we barely get to use this old car whenever we get our gas allowance. It sucks." Samantha huffs out a heavy breath, crossing her arms over her chest as she glares out the window. "Father has done so much to keep us fed and protected, so why does he have to struggle so much with money? He saved us."

Edward turns the car into the middle school parking lot and sighs, putting the car into break and turning to face Sam.

"Life is hard, Sam. Life is also very unfair. Father is trying everything he can do to get more assistance, but with the problems going on with the government...we might not get the checks we need to get by. It's bad enough he was furloughed a few months back and he's barely getting his paychecks in. Just hang in a little more, okay? Be strong for father, for us. And Vivian, don't listen to a single piece of shit that comes out of her mouth, because her mother is a cheating whore and her father is a lazy pig who can't even function a hotel." Samantha giggles at that, giving her brother a thankful smile as she leans over to hug him. He hugs her back, not wanting to let go but he does so reluctantly, wanting nothing more to just ease his sister's worries and her troubles.

"Thank you, Eddie. I gotta go, see you later." Sam hurries and leaves the car, racing up the steps inside her school right as the first bell rang, warning students they have a few minutes to get to class. Edward stares at the doors to the school for a minute longer before putting the car into drive and leaving the parking lot, mentally preparing himself for the hell he is about to step into.

High School.

×××

Edward gazed at the whiteboard with a bored expression, having muffled the sound of his English teacher's voice since the old man decided to start giving a lesson. He heard snickers a few seats away from him and turned his head slightly, frowning when he saw some of the stereotypical jocks make crude gestures towards one of their classmates, a pretty girl who's grip on her pencil looked threatening. He spared a glance at the clock and his eyes widened when the bell rang, signaling for lunch. The students in the class hurriedly shoved their notebooks into their backpacks and rushed out of the class for the lunch period, Edward taking his time. He looked over to the girl again and saw her walking up to the teacher, talking to him in a hushed voice but Edward knew what she was requesting: a seat change. The teacher looked over to him and seemed to nod at the girl, stepping back a bit and looking over at him again.

"Edward, can you come here?" The teacher called and Edward nodded, slinging his backpack over his shoulder and cautiously making his way over, avoiding eye contact with the girl. "Ms. Alekov here is looking for a new seat and I was wondering if it'll be alright if she were to take the seat next to yours since Mr. McCain won't be returning this school year."

The girl looks up at Edward, and his breath is caught in his throat at how dark her blue eyes were; they were like a storm in the middle of the Pacific ocean, specks of gray resembling the storm clouds while the blue was the darkened sea.

"Uh, yeah. I don't mind." He stutters out, looking away quickly and their teacher claps his hands together, writing the adjustment on the seating chart and thanking them both.

"Thank you." The girl says quietly to him before walking out of the class, and it takes Edward a few seconds to recover from hearing her soft voice before he rushes out of the class as well. He frowns when he doesn't see her walking down any of the halls, tugging the strap from his backpack closer to him as he heads to the library, not in the mood to go to the cafeteria and face the loudness of rousey teenagers.

Ms. Sophia, the school's beloved librarian, smiles when she sees him enter, immediately standing from her seat and holding up a stack of papers stapled together. Upon closer look, Edward groans as he sees a familiar title, his face heating up.

"Mr. Schuster couldn't keep this to himself, he wants you to use this to apply for that science scholarship!" The older woman says in a chirpy voice. Edward takes his article out of her hands, gazing at the title and although his heart swells with intense pride, his mind sulks because the reality is that he'll never get into the college of his dreams. The money is one problem, his main challenge is his self-confidence.

"I don't know..." He finally says, and Ms. Sophia raises a brow.

"Why not? You're in the top 30 of your class, you have amazing grades and perfect attendance! I know it's still early in the year, but this is Senior year, Edward. This is your time to show all those colleges what you are worth." She gives him a knowing smile and Edward hesitates before nodding, his hands trembling as he can imagine himself applying to Harvard, using this article he wrote to win a huge scholarship that other kids are likely to apply for as well.

"Thank you, Ms. Sophia" Edward gives her a warm smile and the woman nods, grabbing something from behind her desk, handing a tray to Edward.

"I grabbed you lunch, I know you hate the crowds. Come, sit down with me. How's Samantha, a d your father?" Ms. Sophia looks a bit flush at mentioning his father, but Edward pays it no attention and sits across from her, letting himself ramble about Samantha and his father. He never once talked about himself, and Ms. Sophia took note of this, concerned about eating at her but she keeps playing it as typical teenage boy behavior. But...was it really?

×××

The end of the school day brought joy to Edward, his fingers twirling his keys as he made his way across the parking lot to his car. He's oblivious to the tall football player who's following him, his day at its peak when it comes crashing down when he's pulled back from his backpack. He stumbles back, the force knocking him down as his backpack is ripped off of him, the sound of it unzipping forcing him to turn around and narrow his eyes at none other than quarterback Lev Kravchenko. But his eyes widen when he sees the taller boy holding his article.

"What's this I've been hearing so much about?" Lev taunts, flipping through the papers harshly, and Edward moves to stand when the quarterback rips one out from the staple, but he's kicked hard in the chest, falling onto his back. A broken cry leaves him and his face heats up in embarrassment and anger, watching as Lev rips the papers and grins maliciously at him.

"Don't bother applying for that scholarship, Fritz" Lev sneers down at him with disgust, "I mean, did you really think any college would want you, when your own parents didn't?" He moves his leg to kick Edward again when a blur runs past him and Lev is tackled to the floor, a smaller yet well built boy punching him swiftly in the face.

"Fuck off, Kravchenko!" The newcomer growls, grunting when Lev throws him off of him and delivers a punch to his stomach, forcing the younger boy to kneel over and hiss in pain.

"You're going to regret that, faggot." Lev growls, spitting at the boy before stalking off. Edward ignores his ruined papers in favor of the boy, limping over to him and offering his hand, which the younger takes with a grateful smile.

"Ignore that asshole, man. He's just jealous he didn't make team captain." The boy says, looking at Edward and sighing. "Really, man, forget him. And don't let him push you around. Sorry about your papers." Edward recognizes the boy, Tommy, or Tank as he hears people call him. He's the new captain for the football team, the youngest person to be elected as such in their school.

"It's fine, I can get another copy. Will you be alright?" Edward's gaze lands on the bruise around Tommy's left eye, and he knew the boy had it before fighting Lev.

"Yeah, they don't call the Tank for nothing! See you around, man!" Tommy is quick to leave, patting his back on his way out and Edward watches him walk away. He had heard the rumors surrounding the other boy, but he won't be like the rest of his classmates and judge the boy. After all, he did beat up one of his own teammates.

With a heavy sigh, Edward gets in his car and drives to Samantha's school, using all his will to not let his tears fall from his eyes.

Everything would get better.

Right?

[a-writer-on-elm-street]

Bully

Pairing: Eddie x Fem!Reader

Summary: You've been bullied for a long time, but after something happens in the cafeteria, Eddie comes to check on you.

A/N: So this was my first attempt at an Eddie imagine. I hope it's okay!

You feel the weight of everyone's eyes on you as you walk through the cafeteria, your almost empty tray held loosely in your hands. You don't usually eat much at school, you've never really had the appetite, especially when it feels like everyone is constantly watching you.

You try to focus on getting to your seat without giving in to the pressure of everyone's stares. But your concentration is quickly broken when you feel something jab into your ankle, sending you plummetting to the floor. Your tray clatters on the ground, your food spilling everywhere. And then you hear it, the deafening silence before everyone bursts into laughter. You don't even want to get up. People picking on you has been a common occurence for the past few months but you have to admit, this has really shocked you. You never expected someone to trip you in the middle of the cafeteria.

When you finally push yourself to your feet, you're met with everyone's mocking smiles and laughter. People are pointing at you and it's hard to hear what they're saying over all the noise. But you hear one boy yell "freak!" You aren't even sure why people started being so horrible in the first place. You've always just kept to yourself, never bothering anybody. "Why are you doing this?"

One girl steps out from the crowd and looks you up and down, a smug smile on her face. "Why don't you take a look in the mirror?" She snickers. "Maybe that'll help."

You don't even say anything as you turn around and walk straight out the door. You go outside and disappear into the woods. You'd rather sit next to a tree alone than stay inside that building.

***

You stare at the stray cigarettes that are scattered across the grass in front of you, whilst you rub what's left of your current cigarette between your slightly singed fingers.

"I don't think that's how you're supposed to do it you know." A voice suddenly says. Looking up, you see Eddie Munson leaning against the tree across from you.

You sigh. "Yeah, well I don't smoke."

"Then what are you doing?"

You shrug. "Letting them burn out between my fingers?"

"Okay?"

"It's calming." You elaborate, noticing Eddie's understandably confused expression.

"Can I have one?" He asks.

"Sure." You say, handing him a cigarette and your lighter.

"(y/n), right?" He mumbles as he lights the cigarette between his lips.

You nod, and then the two of you drift into silence for a while until Eddie finally speaks up. "So uh, I saw what happened...in the cafeteria."

"I'm pretty sure everyone saw what happened in the cafeteria."

"Yeah well those people are assholes."

"I know."

"You okay?"

"Fine." You shrug, unable to stop watching him as he takes a drag of the cigarette.

There's another moment of silence before Eddie speaks again. "I think you're pretty cool." He says, pointing at you as he puts the cigarette out on the tree behind him. "Do you uh...do you wanna sit with us at lunch tomorrow?"

You look up at him to see a slightly awkward smile on his face. "Really?"

"Yeah. I mean, you are a freak so you might as well hang out with the rest of us."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

***

The next day...

You feel slightly uneasy as you carry your tray across the cafeteria. You're still undecided about whether or not you want to accept Eddie's offer to sit with him and his friends. To be honest, you don't really want to sit in the cafeteria at all.

But before you can even entertain the idea of turning and escaping out the door, you hear a familiar voice sound from across the room. "Hey!" Eddie calls, grinning at you from where he sits at the head of his table. You had no choice but to go over there now.

"Hi." You smile as you sit down in the empty seat next to him.

"This...is (y/n)." He announces, leaning back in his chair slightly as he smiles at you.

Everyone introduces themselves to you and you try to offer a smile and a few awkward 'hi's'. And when you look over at Eddie, he's grinning at you. He almost seems proud to have recruited you to his lunch table. And you've never felt more comfortable. More like you belong.

[Main Masterlist] [Eddie Masterlist]

[munsonmadness]

bully (e.m)

pairings: Eddie Munson x bullied!reader summary: anon request where Eddie stands up for bullied!reader word count: 943 warnings: violence, cursing, bloodshed, angst, Jason is just an asshole okay? actual bullying. minors dni

Today was the same as any other day at Hawkins High for you. The bullying wasn't as prevalent when Steve was still here, but since he's graduated, Jason and his lackeys have only gotten uglier.

"Hey! Look who showed, it's the four-eyed freak!" Jason yelled in the loud cafeteria as you tried to make your way to your boyfriend Eddie's table.

As you walk past the jock table, you drop to the ground with a thud, the books you were carrying flying across the floor.

"You'd think you would be better at seeing where you're walking since you've grown two extra eyes!" Jason called, making everyone erupt in laughter.

Eddie rushes over to you, helping you pick up your things all while cursing Jason under his breath.

"I'm about to kick his ass, I swear to you,"

"No, leave it alone, Eddie. Please? Let's go sit," you said, leading Eddie towards the table after making your way to your feet. 

"I can't just keep leaving it alone, princess. How much is going to be enough for you?" Eddie asks when you both sit down at the table.

You sigh out in frustration, pushing your glasses up the bridge of your nose, mumbling, "Just not today, Eddie. That's final"

"Bullshit." Eddie spat, slamming his lunchbox on the table, making you jump.

-

"Why didn't you let me stand up for you?" Eddie inquires, handing your glasses back to you after cleaning the smudges off with his shirt.

"I just don't find it necessary," you answer with a shrug before adding, "I know you love me. That's never been an issue. I just don't want them to shift their focus back to you."

"Sweetheart. Jason can't say anything to me he hasn't said before. I'm more concerned with you." He muttered, reaching over you to grab a half-smoked joint from the ashtray.

"I know Eds, I'm sorry. 'M gonna head to bed." You said, standing from your spot on the couch.

"Okay, princess, I'll be in there in a little while." He pouted, pulling his songbook closer, scribbling more lyrics onto the page. 

You smile as you walk toward his room, only hearing his light humming from the living room.

After what felt like hours, Eddie stumbles into the room and onto the bed, engulfing you in a hug.

"I know you're still awake, nerd. You're still wearing your glasses," Eddie chuckled lowly, reaching around to take them off.

The nickname from Eddie wasn't new, nor did it come with malicious intent. However, you couldn't help but let a few tears slip, trying to wipe them before he noticed.

"Hey. Hey now, are you okay?" He asked, pulling you closer to his chest.

"'M fine, I promise. Go to sleep. You're a nightmare to wake up." You mumbled, trying to brush it off.

"No way. Tell me, then I'll go to sleep," he stubbornly said, making you roll your eyes.

"I love the nickname and I know that you meant nothing but endearment from it, but I couldn't help but think about Jason and how truly mean he is to us since finding out that you sold to Chrissy." You rambled, gesturing with your hands, earning a light sigh from your partner.

"I'm sorry, princess. I didn't realize that you were still wound up from those assholes." Eddie cursed, pushing his lips to your forehead, earning an appreciative hum from you, before drifting off to sleep.

-

"Another day, another fucking nerd!" Jason yelled, shoving you onto the ground.

Your arms full of things made it impossible to break your fall. After hitting the ground, you look up quickly to see your glasses sliding towards Jason.

"Look at this. Pathetic," He sneers, stomping your glasses and breaking them entirely. 

You murmur to yourself, wiping the tears away while subconsciously brushing your fingers up your nose to push the missing glasses up. You bring the sleeve of your- Eddie's jacket to your nose, wiping away the blood resulting from the fall, starting to stand up.

"Did I say you could get up?" Jason spat, shoving you back over, making you quiver.

Making his way back to the cafeteria, Eddie is met by a very frantic Mike and Dustin. "y/n. they- fuck- they're,"

"They're what, Handerson?" Eddie spat, jogging into the cafeteria, watching the scene unfold in front of him making his eyes turn red.

"Get away from them!" Eddie yelled, tackling Jason, causing them to fall onto the table.

Eddie stop, please!" you yelled, not worried about him getting hurt, because let's face it, he's got it, but for the near-death experience he's about to bring Jason.

Blow after blow, Eddie is shouting profanities before finally getting pulled away by school staff.

"Are you okay?" Eddie asks, cupping your face in his, now bruised, hands.

"I'm okay Eddie! Why did you have to do that! Now you're more likely to get into more trouble than you're already in!" you said raising your voice slightly with a worried tone.

" I couldn't let him keep getting away with that shit y/n!" Eddie said sternly, still holding your chin between his fingers.

"I understand Eds. I really do. Thank you for standing up for me. I meant a lot, I just want to see you graduating with me at the end of the year 's all." You replied softly, looking up to him with a small smile.

Eddie smiles down at you, walking towards the school parking lot. "I'm going to graduate with you."

"You better. It would be a shame if you were held back again for disciplinary reasons. I love you freak."

"I love you too nerd." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Once again I'd like to thank you all for reading and reacting!! Please send me anything that you'd like to see! much love -m

[meatballdonut]

Don't Think Like That: Eddie Munson X Reader

Summary: You arent very open about what people say or do to you at school. The last thing you want is for Eddie to worry about you

Pairing: Eddie X Reader

Warnings: self-deprecation, bullying, low self-esteem, that's it??

Word count: 2,295

When Eddie and I first met, I was a freshman and he was a junior, he quickly took to your witty personality and your carefree demeanor. You didn't care about what people thought about you, and you especially didn't care if people didn't like that you hung out with Eddie "the freak" Munson.

People would eye you in the hallways, gossip about why you hung out with, Eddie if you were as weird as him, if you were also a "satanist", and anything else they could choose to nitpick about you. But still, you couldn't bring yourself to care. You only cared about Eddie, hellfire, and your grades.

It is now my Junior year and Eddie is in his second senior year. The both of us have become practically inseparable as we both don't have any friends and certainly don't fit in with the "cool crowd". We both enjoy each other's company and touch, whether it be as simple as holding each other's index finger, or full-blown cuddling. Everybody in hellfire knows the feelings you both hold for one another, but you both have not told each other about them.

Tonight was the night Eddie was going to finish the campaign in the hellfire club so he skipped lunch to get everything ready for the grand finale. You opted to go to lunch and sit with the boys. Jason, noticing Eddie's absents, took the opportunity to try and talk to you.

Jason the oh-so-cocky fucker he is, sat down directly next to you, in Eddie's seat. The table falls silent, Dustin and Mike's quick remarks end, and the conversation comes to a full stop. After a few seconds Jason finally speaks up. "so y/n, I was wondering when you were finally gonna stop sitting with these freaks and come sit with some of the normal people". You had no idea what you were supposed to say in this situation, you've never been one for confrontation. The boys seeing your discomfort try and speak for you but they as well can't seem to get any words out that will end the situation. "oh, uh, I'm actually okay over here. But Ummm, thanks" you try to sound as polite as possible as to avoid any unnecessary conflict, but Jason being Jason does take very kindly to rejection. "I'm sorry was that a no?" his voice was suddenly filled with malice. His eyes were staring daggers at you as if they themselves were threatening you to choose your next words carefully. "I guess so, it's nothing against y-you or anything, I'm just not a people person or anything--" Jason quickly cut you off slamming his hand on the table, not saying anything about what you said. Just staring at you with those eyes, his hands clenched in a fist. He seemed shocked at the rejection and enraged by the thought of the "freaks" being better company than him. So, instead of leaving the no at a no, Jason decided to Gareth's lunch, and dumb all of it on you. You could feel the warmth of the weirdly runny mashed potatoes, the coolness of the obviously ignored peaches, and the solidness of the half-eaten "steak". Then, finally, Jason walked away, as if nothing happened. Each and every single member of hellfire just sat there, nobody made an effort to help or even moved. After a minute or so of incredibly awkward silence, you spoke. "Can we- can we not mention this to Eddie, please?" You couldn't put this on him, this was nothing compared to what he went through every day. "y/n we can't just not tell him, you know he would want to know about this. You're his best friend, he deserves to know?" Mike says in a questioning tone. Nobody at the table understood why you didn't want Eddie to know about the seemingly small incident. "Just, please, Eddie already hates Jason, I don't want to add fuel to the fire. You know how things can escalate. Please" Not wanting to argue the topic further, you went to your locking and grabbed your gym clothes to go change in the bathroom.

As you make the short journey from your locker to the bathroom, you heard the unmistakable voice of Jason. You internally sighed as he called your name. You tried to ignore his calls and attempts to somehow get your attention, but that's when you feel an arm grab your shoulder and spin you around. There were those fucking eyes again, somehow filled with more anger than before. "Are you seriously still going to ignore me? You saw what happened last time you did that, wanna try that approach again?" His words left you in silence, not wanting to push the situation any further, but also not wanting to seem as if you wanted to talk to him. There was no middle ground between the two with him, you wither give him exactly what he wants, or you don't. In this case, your silence as you thought about how to answer was enough for him to shove you against the wall. once again leaving you speechless. you quickly squirmed out of his grasp and made a B-line for the bathroom. Thanking whatever God that might be out there that he did not follow you in.

Changing into your gym clothes, luckily gym was your last class of the day so it would be easily explained away if Eddie asked about your clothes. You didn't know whether to go back to the cafeteria or just sit in the stall until the end of the period. opting for the ladder, you sat there. While you sat there, you couldn’t help but think about the other small things people have done or said to you, only because you were friends with the hellfire club. Eddie knew about some of them, most of them even, but this was one of the bigger things people have done to you, and you really could not put this on Eddie. He would constantly worry about your safety, and your mental well-being if this was added to the list of things he knew people had done to you, and if you had already decided he wasn't going to find out,you aware going to stick by that decision.

______________________________________________________________

Finally, the school day came to an end and all you could do was hope you wouldn’t see Jason or any of his goons on your way out of the building. Luckily, you didn't see them so you were able to walk your way to the theatre building in peace. When you walked in nobody but Eddie was there, which hopefully meant the group had not told Eddie about the lunch incident. " Hey, sweetheart, eager for the  finale huh?" he greeted you with his warm smile and big brown eyes. "Of course Eds how could I not be? it's not like it's the biggest moment of the game or anything." you replied sarcastically, earning yourself one of Eddies subtle laughs, and small smirks. " take your seat princess I'm sure the boys will be here soon" You never actually played with the boys, you enjoyed the story and the excitement from all of them more than playing the game with them, and because of this, Eddie had gifted you your own "throne" next to his. The throne in question was a plastic lawn chair that Eddie spray-painted gold. He had made it for you shortly after you had met, you knew that Eddie was going to be one of your closest friends when he proudly presented it to you.

Soon after you arrived the boys had made their way in, looking at you as if they were silently asking if you had told them. you gave each and every single one of them a look as if to tell them you had not, and that they should not either. With everyone there the campaign began, everyone, forgetting about the incident in the meantime. That is until Dustin decided to ask "does anybody else smell mashed potatoes?" With that, you could feel your heart rate begin to quicken, and everyone but Eddie quickly glanced at you. Mike, trying to dismiss it threw out a quick "no" and you just look at him in a questioning way trying to hide your panicked state. Eddie, not thinking anything of it, continued the game.

About an hour later, Dustin decided to speak up again "Are we all sure this room doesn't smell like school lunch, I might not have shoulder bones, but I have a pretty good noise and I swear I smell steak or something right now" You glared at Dustin, and he quickly looks away. "you know what, yeah, whos holding out on us?" Eddie states making everyone laugh, everyone except for you. All you could do was walk out of the room in hopes to avoid any further food remarks.

Eddie goes through so much bullshit in this school, all the comments about him being a freak, all the side-eye glares, rude gestures, all of it. He really, REALLY, did not need the added stress of worrying about your wellbeing.

Everyones gaze followed you as you walked out the door. Nobody made any effort to stop you, nobody followed you out. Or at least, so you thought. You made your way to the woods to try and clear your head, worries, stresses, and everything else in between. you knew that your reaction to the food statement was going to lead to one of the boys telling Eddie about the incident. All you had to do was wait for the confrontation from him. You couldn't help but worry about his reaction, was he going to be mad? sad? unbothered? All of those reactions seem awful at the moment. As you sat there thinking you heard the subtle crunching of leaves, indicating someone was coming toward you. "Hey, sweetheart" It was Eddie, your heart dropped as you made no attempt to look in his direction, or speak to him. "sweetheart look at me, please" his voice sounded desperate and sad but you still could not bring yourself to match his gaze. With a sigh, he sat down next to you and joined you in your silence. Pulling you into his shoulder, with his arm around your waist and his other hand holding yours.

You don't know how long you sat there, it seemed like forever and less than a minute all at the same time. "talk to me princess" there it was, the silence you so desperately held on to was gone. knowing you can't ignore his request again you finally spoke." it's nothing Edds, a small moment of weakness no big deal" you say as you simultaneously hold your arm out flexing your almost nonexistent muscles trying to lighten the situation. "its obviously not nothing, you walked out of hellfire, you've NEVER done that sweetheart" his voice sounded so soft and caring, you never really seen this side of Eddie. whenever you mentioned the previous incidents he would always make a joke to try and make you feel better, you've never actually talked about what happened. " You've already got so much to deal with, I can't be another thing to worry about Edds. I can't ask you to do that" You look down as you speak, not being able to make eye contact with him fearing if you did he would be able to see right through you. "It's my job to worry about you, hell, it's not even a job. even if I didn't want to worry about you I would, I think about you all the time, I mean a gross amount of time is spent thinking about you y/n" The use of your name spoke more than he knew. you could tell he truly meant what he was saying, and with that, you finally looked at him. "I'm sorry Edds" You can feel yourself crumbling as you speak, as you look at him, as you think. "I'm sorry you worry about me, I'm sorry, I'm not important enough for you to worry about me. you should be worrying about the hellfire club, you should be worrying about graduating for real this year" tears begin to form in your eyes as you speak again. with every word his face softens. "sweetheart, no, no, no, no. you are more than important to me. you are EVERYTHING to me, you're the reason I get up in the morning and come to this hellhole of a school, you're the reason I'm able to tolerate all the assholes that walk around here, and you're the reason I feel like I can be myself." He holds eye contact with every word he says, trying to make you understand what he is truly saying with his words. "I'm not all that special Edds, I don't do anything, I'm always just kinda there, there isn't anything great-" you're suddenly cut off by Eddie kissing you. You quickly kiss him back, not wanting the moment to end you wrap your arms around him in the hopes of keeping him there forever. but all good things must come to an end "you are special, you are not unimportant, you are perfect in every sense of the word, please come back to hellfire. back to me?" He stands up and holds his hand out, waiting for you to grab it. The look in his eyes tells you he isn't going to go or move until you go with him. "Okay Edds, okay," you say with a smile, a smile growing on his face as well.

" And while your at it you might as well be my girlfriend just saying"

"that has a pretty good ring to it Munson"

[unhingedhuman]

Freaks

Eddie Munson x Cheerleader!Reader

Kinda fake dating, Jason is an asshole, Eddie is a sweetheart who deserved better. Pre season 4.

Cheer had never really been your scene, it was all an act to seem normal and avoid the jeers and bullying of the student body.

Of course moving to Hawkins from Malibu and already having an understanding of how cruel kids and teens could be helped because it gave you a chance to reinvent yourself.

You hadn't planned on how exhausting it was pretending to be someone else all the time. Constantly having to keep up with the current trends, music and makeup. Was it really worth all this trouble, normal had started to seem overrated. What even was normal supposed to be anyway?

That was how you had ended up walking alone through the woods behind the school. Trying to get away from all the things you were trying to be. It was easier when you were alone. There was noone to have to pretend for you could relax and be yourself. You had your walkman on, a mix of your favourite metal songs playing.

You weren't paying much attention to everything around you. Just tapping your fingers against your leg to Hallowed be thy name by Iron Maiden. The trees had started to get thicker and the sky darkened as a cloud covered the sun.

You shivered, the air suddenly cold. You pulled the headphones down around your neck and looked around.

You had never been this far out into the woods before. The trees seemed thicker here. There was a picnic bench ahead of you. You moved closer to it wanting to just sit down and enjoy isolation.

The sound of a stick cracking behind you made you jump. You spun around to see the man they called Eddie 'the Freak' Munson. You hated that they called him a freak, truthfully he was the kind of person you would have hung out with back in Malibu.

Eddie was older than the other kids, thus was his second attempt at senior year. He had a reputation around the school as the Freak, an idiot, everyone thought he was scary but if your experiences had taught you anything you knew those were nothing but rumours.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you" he said softly, a kind smile on his lips.

"It's fine I didn't realise how deep in the woods I was. I just wanted to be alone. Away from all the shallow people in that school." You admitted

Eddie laughed. "Well princess with the people you hang around I can see how you feel that way"

"You have no idea. Can you keep a secret?"

You had never spoken to Eddie before but you knew he wouldn't betray your trust, he seemed kind a genuine just from the short interaction you had just had.

He looked at you confused. "Why me"

"You're here and you seem kind enough… besides I think you will understand."

You and Eddie made your way to the picnic bench and sat across from each other. He placed his metal lunch box on the table, slipped his leather jacket off and crossed his arms on the table I front of him. You looked at his forearms, smiling as you noticed one of his tattoos. It was a flock of bats flying.

"I thought it would be easier… being popular… all of this" you waved your hands in front of your body "it's an act… all of it"

Eddie's brows knitted together over his deep brown eyes. "What do you mean"

"Back in Malibu before my dad died I spent weekends working on his camaro, I listen to iron maiden, megadeath and black Sabbath. Being a cheerleader girly girl it's not my style" you rambled. "I go home and I'm exhausted. Pretending to be someone I'm not, is way harder than I thought"

"Is this some kind of joke" Eddie sounded hurt.

Eddie glanced around the trees waiting for Jason and the others to jump out and harass him.

"No, absolutely not. I just needed to rant to someone who seemed genuine. And to my luck you were out here"

You pulled the tape from your walk man and handed it to Eddie showing him the label "Y/Ns metal mega mix"

"You can have it if you want." You handed him you walkman "my mum will just buy me a new one and I have a copy of the tape"

"Thanks" Eddie smiled.

Eddie put the headphones over his fluffy hair and put the tape into the player. The woods were quiet as Eddie listened to the music. A smile played on his lips.

"God hanging out with those assholes must be hell for you" he laughed pulling the head phones off.

He was right, most of the time you tried to keep to yourself. Jason was the worst he constantly got on your nerves about how Satanism was on the rise in America and Metal music was the cause.

"I hated getting called a freak and a satanist all the time in Malibu and I thought moving here would be easier being normal… but I miss being a freak, don't get me wrong I don't miss the bullying but I miss being myself ya know"

"So Malibu Barbie is actually a metal head" he taunted.

"Is the pope catholic?" you laughed "And now I am stuck hanging around Jason and all the other assholes having to listen to all this shallow bullshit not to mention hearing them talk about the things i like with disgust… I hate it and I wish I could go back in time to kick myself… so I could avoid all this trouble and just be myself"

"So stop pretending"

"I can't I'm trapped, I just need to get through this last year and then I'm outta this godforsaken town." You sighed "unless you have any ideas other than me just waltzing in there metallica blaring and announcing that I hate cheer and that I think Jason should die in a hole"

Eddie laughed "Well I have one"

"Mmmm… im all ears"

Eddie's idea was brilliant.

It was Monday morning when the black van pulled up to your home. The stark contrast of the beat up van parked out front of your upper-class house would be enough to turn the heads of your neighbors. Combined with the sound of the new Metallica album blaring through the speakers it must have been making their blood boil.

Eddie honked his horn like the sound of the music hadn't alerted you to his arrival. You rushed out the front door of your house walkman in hand. The short skirt of your cheer uniform flapping as you ran to the van.

Mrs Robinson across the road shook her head as she pruned her roses.

Eddie turned the music down as you got in. He looked at you, your hair down for the first time, soft curls framed your face. He was so used to seeing you with your hair in a ponytail, perfect makeup, sitting next to Jason and his gang he had never imagined you like this. You wore no makeup today, the ghost of left over eye-liner marked your lower lids. With out the thick foundation and blush you usually wore Eddie could see the freckles splattered across your nose.

"Hello princess" He smirked

You rolled your eyes at his teasing tone. Your heart beating quickly with excitement as you put your belt on.

The front seat of Eddie's van was remarkably clean although it smelt like menthol cigarettes, weed and leather. You turned around and looked at the rear, a ratty mattress in the back with blankets, a bong and a case of beer.

"You can still change your mind sweetheart" Eddie said

"No we're doing this one, I need out and two, it will give that prick Jason and the others an aneurysm"

Eddie laughed at the thought of seeing Jason's face as you revealed who you really were.

Eddie was a good driver, he didn't go above the speed limit or drive aggressively like you were used to guys doing. You assumed they did it to impress you, but they didn't know that you would never be interested in their shallow personalities.

The first step of Eddie's plan was easy.

His van skidded to a stop music blaring next to the gym where the other cheer girls were looking for you. You were never late but today was different and it was all part of the plan.

You jumped out of the van and flipped your head forward pulling your hair into a high pony. As you came back up Eddie was standing in front of you.

He pushed you gently against the van and kissed you. He was surprisingly gentle. You put your arms around his neck making sure that everyone could see. You could hear the whispers of the other girls louder now as they gossiped about what they were witnessing.

You giggled as Eddie's soft hair tickled your face. In addition to the smell in his van Eddie also smelt like green apple shampoo, cheap aftershave and denim.

Eddie pulled back looking at you. The adorable smile on your face even with no makeup and left over eye-liner smudged. You were beautiful. He brushed his hand on your cheek wiping away a speck of dirt.

Eddie's eyes smouldered as he looked at you. He knew this was all in act, you making out with him in front of the cheer squad was his idea after all but something in him wanted it to be real. He wondered if after graduation you two could get out of Hawkins together and see as much of the country as possible.

You slipped past Eddie and walked towards the girls, reaching your arms up and adjusting your ponytail. As you did so your vest slipped up revealing your back to Eddie and he caught a glimpse of the soft skin and he wanted to pull the vest the rest of the way off.

"See you later Princess" He called.

You laughed as you walked past the wide eyes of the other cheer girls. You walked into the locker room and they all surrounded you, questions firing.

"The Freak really Y/N" Kelly scoffed.

"Seriously" you hissed "if this is how you act then I quit"

"You can't quit" Chrissy pleaded pulling you away from the others.

"No Chrissy, I can. I have to" You spoke softly "I'm sorry this just isn't me. I'm not this person I need to be myself. I like metal and all the stuff most of the girls here hate. Let someone who actually enjoys this stuff be in the squad"

"Okay" chrissy sounded defeated.

"Thank you," you whispered "chrissy you're the only person on the squad who is kind and genuine, I'm glad you are captain. And even though I won't be here, you can still talk to me. You're one of the few people here that I like. Even if you are dating Jason… you deserve better"

Chrissy smiled at you. "We are still friends okay, no matter who you like or what you do. You are kind and you don't judge me like the others… or my mom"

"Thanks Chrissy" you hugged her "don't listen to the others they're just assholes"

Phase two was harder. You had known Jason had a crush on you for a while and even though he was with Chrissy he would try to make moves on you. You would always politely decline. Today would be different however.

You walked into the lunch room and Jason made a beeline to you. He always managed to make sure it was hard for you to get away from him. Today he had you next to a wall.

"So Y/N I didn't see you at practice or the assembly this morning but my parents are out of town again I was thinking maybe we could…"

"Or a game where you toss balls into LAUNDRY BASKETS" Eddie's voice filled the Cafeteria.

He was standing on a lunch table taunting the basketball players.

"Hold that thought" Jason scowled

You rolled your eyes, everything was going to plan. Jason was easy to bait into retaliating.

"You want something FREAK" Jason shouted at Eddie.

Eddie made devil horns with his fingers and stuck his tongue out, making weird noises before smiling a gorgeous smile that melted your heart. This was supposed to be fake. Another act to get you out of the stupid faking you were doing until you graduated and moved away. There was no way he would like you in that way, you were a true poser just of a different kind. You pushed the feelings away and smirked as Eddie jumped off the table.

"Freak" Jason mumbled under his breath

"Anyway" Jason turned back to you.

"Shove it Jason" you hissed, walking straight to Eddie.

This hadn't been in the plan you were just supposed to sit at the table with Eddie and the others but you were like a woman possessed. Screw it you thought. The truth was you liked Eddie alot, he was kind and genuine. If he didn't like you that way you could play it off as all part of the act to get back at Jason.

Eddie was smiling as you walked over to the table. The smile quickly turned to confusion as you continued to storm towards him.

The entire Cafeteria erupted in gasps as you pulled Eddie down to you smashing your lips against his. Wrapping your hands around his neck. Eddie quickly melted into the kiss and placed his hands at your waist pulling you into him. You pressed against his quickly hardening dick. And moved your hands up into his long fluffy hair.

Eddie could tell this kiss wasn't a fake kiss for show like the one earlier; this was the real deal. Eddie pulled back and looked into your eyes, his pupils blown in shock from the kiss.

"Are you oblivious to how hot you are or are you actually trying to turn me on" he breathed

"What do you think?" you chuckled playfully.

Eddie was shocked, he must have done something right in his life for God to send you to him. His perfect girl.

You could feel the eyes of everyone on you and Eddie. The room filled with loud whispers. You turned around to look at Jason wanting the satisfaction of seeing the look on his face.

Jason definitely looked like he was having an aneurysm, his eye was twitching and his face was red. You half expected him to storm over. There was one more thing you needed to do.

"Get fucked Jason…" you shouted "Oh and Chrissy like I said you deserve so much better than that prick"

The Cafeteria laughed as Jason stormed out slamming the doors behind him. You knew the next few months would be hard but with Eddie there with you it wouldn't be as bad.

[daadddysprincessss]

Part 1; Stranger things shiftverse.

Summary: Your Dustin Henderson older sister(your going into senior year) - this part takes place in season 3. Your working at Starcourt mall, upper level floor in the brand new record store - your coworkers are Eddie Munson & Gareth. Every lunch Robin and you share some fries in the food court. (of course within season 3 Robin knows who Dustin is and he is present for when the group goings to see Dawn of the Dead)

(you were present for all seasons) - Things have gotten tense between Steve and you since he basically saved you from the tunnels when you decided to help the kids distract the demodogs (season 2). You were one of the popular girls in school - you also happened to be a secret nerd who loved playing DND with her little brother, your best friend is Robin Buckley - until you dropped band to hangout with your "new friends". Those same friends teased and humiliated Nancy Wheeler, you werent a bully but you sure didnt like Nancy - maybe thats why the both of you never got along, because of the shared likeness of Steve - of course only Robin knew how much you liked him (season 1).

It was a normal day in the record shop - stock, hangout, front face, hangout - and took a lunch somewhere in there. "Hey Eddie - im gonna head for lunch" a smile ripped across your face "you know your like the coolest boss i could ever ask for" -

Eddie exhaled sharply - "if your asking for a FREE extra 15 then you better come back with some Orange Julius for me" he smiled. Before you could squeal your bottom lip was between your teeth -"thank you Eddieee".

You were zipping through the crowd of people on the escalator to reach scoops before it was too busy in the food court - 'thank god' the table Robin and you usually sit at was unoccupied. Quickly you walked over to scoops to grab Robin - to your surprise Steve stood front and center slinging ice cream, "Wheres Robin?' you asked while walking in-

"Ahoy there" Steve softly shouted with his big goofy smile - "shes just grabbing more cones in the back, but judging that your here im assuming its lunch?" Steve spun the ice cream scoop in his hand - quickly to attach it to his side.

You nodded softly - "yeah - let her know ill be at the table" you smiled back - Steve nodded. You heard the door fling open behind you as soon as you turned around.

"ill be right there y/n - just a sec" Robin shouted - she was holding what looked to be at least 6 really long boxes of cones. You wanted out of there - looking at Steve was reminding you of his 'heroic' moment - saving you from that demodog, sharing a soft kiss - just for him to run right back to Nancy's side. You rolled your eyes at the thought and waited for Robin. Robin came jogging out of the back with her backpack on and holding her cassette player - "go go go" Robin laughed -

"ROBI-" Steve shouted behind the both of you. - "what did you do??" you questioned while walking over to your table-

Robin still laughing - "I hid both ice cream scoops" she snickered.

Lunch always felt short, Eddie always gave you a free pass with letting you go for longer lunches but Robin always had to go back at the 30 minute mark. Robin packed up her backpack and took the rest of the fries(you usually shared) - "I'm still good to come to your house this weekend right?" you asked while picking up your mess.

"yeah yeah my dad said it's cool" - Robin smiled - "see you after work"

Robin walked back to scoops and you walked towards Orange Julius to grabbed Eddies drink. You stood in line tapping your foot to the beat of the mall music - well of what you could hear, 'why was it always so busy at this time' you thought to yourself-

"Hey" Steve's voice chimed through your ears - startling you

"what the hell dude" you jumped "that was not cool" your heart was racing

"What are you doing? I thought your lunch was done 5 minutes ago" Steve asked - now standing beside you.

You looked down at your feet - then quickly back up at Steve - "just grabbing a drink for Eddie." you practically vomited out that sentence - "he lets me take an extra 15 if I grab him a drink"

Steve's hand quick met the back of his neck - looking down at the ground now - "so are you and Eddie - like a thing now?"

You started to laugh "sure he's cute - but Eddie is just my friend" still laughing - "well and my dudgeon master"

Steve's face quickly lifted from the ground - "NEXT" the cashier yelled out - quickly Steve and you jolted forward, Steve stood there silently while you ordered Eddies Original Julius smoothie.

"So - y/n, I'm throwing a party this Saturday - would you uh like to come?" Steve looking down at you with those soft brown eyes-

You exhaled sharply and grabbed Eddies drink - "maybe - I'll think about it" you smiled - "Have a good lunch Steve" you smiled.

[toziersoneliners]

Losers! [Chubby Reader]

⛓ | summer |

For some, the last day of school could be sorrowful. However (Y/n) couldn't help but feel a little relieved. She wasn't worried about not seeing her friends until school started up again, Richie was her neighbor and she practically spent all of her time with either Eddie or Bill. Though recently she'd been hanging around the nice boy Mike Hanlon. Though a bit shy, he was sweet and gentle, something (Y/n) wasn't really used to. Though she was apart of the Losers Club and hung around all boys, she was never really a tough girl. Some could have said it was due to her abusive home, but nor her or the boys thought so. If it was really because of her constant abuse, then she'd be strong, not weak. Her mother was the villain in her story, and that woman scared the daylights out of the chubby girl.

(Y/n) feared nothing like she feared her own mother.

Usually you'd see the father being the abusive one, but that wasn't something (Y/n) could ever see happening to herself. Her father, Matthieu Snow, was the kindest man in Derry, Maine. No one could ever convince her otherwise, either.

Despite her horrid home situation, she was often finding herself distracted these days. Her best friend Eddie Kaspbrak had been locked up in his house for a few days, no doubt to the fault of his overprotective mother. (Y/n) was bored out of her mind. While Eddie sure wasn't the most exciting person to be around, she found the boy to be wholesome, reminding her of a lost puppy almost. Like mentioned before, she wasn't strong willed, so she didn't have the guts to show up at the Kaspbrak residence to go and ask to see Eddie. Sonya was terrifying to (Y/n), intimidation making her hesitant to even go near Eddie's house. It was extremely annoying, because she couldn't find Richie either. Her last bet was Mike, but then she'd have to take the risk of bumping into Henry Bowers, something that too, just like her own mother or Sonya Kaspbrak, scared the girl numb.

Instead, she went to find fun elsewhere, by herself. The arcade was the first place that jumped into her precious little head. Though she hated being alone, she knew that a good game of PAC-MAN or Street Fighter could cheer her right up, distract her from her loneliness. She should have known, of course, that Richie Tozier would be at the beloved arcade, training, as he called it.

The arcade was dark, but the neon lights from the various game machines lit up the place like a huge Christmas tree. The only adults to be seen was the owner of the arcade and a few man-children, ones her father would tell (Y/n) to stay away from in the future.

'Whether you marry a man or not, stay away from those boys who still live with their mothers past the age of twenty.'

She could see why, of course. As soon as she was able to understand the complexities of boys, she knew what kind of person she'd want to marry in the future. Whenever she thought about it, Mike ended up coming to her mind, as odd as it may have sounded. She wasn't interested romantically, or at least she didn't think she was. (Y/n) had no idea what love was, and wasn't sure if she really wanted to know. Love, according to some of the girls at school, entailed showing your private bits to every boy who asked, and (Y/n) knew for a fact that she wasn't that type of girl, in fact she was sure that she never would be.

"Fuck!"

The vulgar manner of speaking belonged to none other than Richie Tozier himself. The boy groaned to himself in irritation as he lost a battle in SF, pushing his large glasses up with one finger. He catches a hint of light blue and turns around only to see the chubby girl he'd come to know over the years. Richie wasn't sure what had made (Y/n) a loser, but she was one... a very cute one. He didn't give a damn about her weight, she was too cute and it killed Richie. Her sweaters and ripped up jeans, high top converse, it all made her so... LOSER. It didn't bother Richie in the slightest, damn he'd say he loved her weird sense of style.

He'd wanted to ask her to join him in the arcade just as school let out, but like always she had run off with Eddie. Was it disappointing? Yes. But did that really matter now? Not really.

Richie could guess from her bored expression and no one accompanying her, that Eddie Kaspbrak was indeed locked away in his house. She only ever wandered around when there was no one else from the Losers Club to hang out with. However, she always seemed to find one of them anyway, just as she'd found Richie in the arcade.

He smiles goofily, stepping away from the video game machine and walks towards the shy girl. Sliding his extra coins into his pocket, Richie comes up behind (Y/n) as she was momentarily distracted, staring at the greasy seeming floor of the arcade with slight disgust. She loved the arcade, she really did, but couldn't they make it a bit cleaner?

Sneakily, Richie wraps his arms around her shoulders, scaring the living crap out of her.

"HOLY FUDGE!" She squeaks out, looking behind her only to see the toothy smile of Richie Tozier. She really should have known it'd be him, after all, who'd just come up behind some girl and squeeze them like that?

"Gotcha! Where's Eds?" Richie asks, letting her go. He kind of already knew the answer, but the girl in front of him didn't know that. She huffs cutely, fiddling with the ends of her light blue sweater. Richie was of course the one who scared her, her neighbor.

"Mrs. Kaspbrak won't let him leave the house, so I came here." (Y/n) explains, looking a bit sad. Though she definitely loved all of the Losers, Eddie was by far her favorite. After all, she'd known him for such a long time, what was she supposed to do without him?

"I was going to find Mike, but then I'd have to pass Henry's house and that definitely wasn't going to happen. After all of that I was boredom so I came to the arcade."

Hearing her explanation, Richie couldn't help but flinch. Earlier that day he'd seen Bowers walking around with his dumb goons, Belch and Vic. The freckled Tozier knew very well how scared they made (Y/n), and he had a sick feeling in his stomach telling him that they weren't too far away. It didn't matter though, Richie thought to himself cheerily. He would be there to protect (Y/n), because he was in every way, a man. He'd be damned if he'd let some dumb Henry Bowers scare him off. Still... it'd be good to stay away from the easily irritable teen. There couldn't be any harm in staying inside the darkness of the greasy arcade, right? Sure, it wasn't the best place to hang out with a cute girl, but shoot, she didn't seem to mind either.

"You're still here? I thought you'd at least go home for a nap." She says, snapping Richie out of his thoughts. He lets out a funny sounding laugh, that type of laugh he gave whenever he was nervous but trying to keep a good mask on.

"Yeah well, I might have seen Bowers outside of the arcade earlier, so I wasn't about to leave." Richie says, letting out another weird laugh. She was half expecting him to go back to his game, but he instead grabbed her hand and dragged her away from where they were standing. A soft squeak left her as Richie pulled her down underneath a dusty table, pushing her to the ground while holding a hand to her mouth.

He looked scared, she realized.

She also realized that Henry Bowers himself was snooping around the arcade, eyes glowering dangerously. She, of course, didn't know how long he'd been there, but he seemed like he knew what he was looking for. He didn't happen to see her enter the arcade, did he? A sudden feeling of guilt washes over (Y/n). Richie was just having a grand time before she decided to show up and ruin everything. There would hav been a huge chance that she was completely wrong, but she couldn't help the disgusting, slimy feeling.

The feeling she'd done something wrong.

Whimpering, she pulls Richie closer to her, her eyes wold as she watches the bully stalk through the dusty arcade. The neon lights of the games seemed to illuminate Henry's face, making the experience that much more horrible. He looked... terrifying.

Though he was trying to act brave in front of (Y/n), Richie was sweating, and he was sure she could feel it. His hand that was still covering her mouth was sweating. When he realizes this, he doesn't think much of it. Though he was sure if Eddie was there they'd get caught. The hypochondriac would flip his shit if he saw Richie touching (Y/n)'s mouth, it was, for some reason, a big no no.

Eventually, Henry passes.

Richie grabs his friend by the scuff of her light blue sweater and yanks her right out from under the dirty table, dragging her quickly out of the arcade.

|

"I'm sure he didn't just follow you into the arcade." Stan says, flipping through his bird book with an uninterested expression. Really, Richie brought out the worst in (Y/n). He brought out her paranoid side, and it was showing obviously right then.

The two eleven year olds were nearly screaming at Stan about their terrifying encounter with Henry Bowers. (Y/n) wasn't yelling like Richie was, and she definitely wasn't cussing like he was, but she still seemed panicked. If it had been just her that came to Stan, he would have believed her and tried to comfort her, but of course Richie was there. The trash mouth was always putting stupid idea into (Y/n)'s mind, and Stan was fed up with it. She was, unlike some of the Losers, a good kid. She got good grades, she was nice, and she was undeniably cute. She just seemed to choose to hang around with the wrong people.

People like Richie Tozier.

"Are you sure this actually happened? Or is this some stupid fantasy Richie put in your head?" Stan questions, rubbing the back of his neck hole looking at the wide eyed (Y/n) and Richie. The two of them were sweating, near tears, and motioning with their hands wildly. It was an odd scene, you could imagine. Suddenly (Y/n) stopped to stare at Stan with a monotone expression.

"Of course it happened!" She exclaimed, her eyes searching for any kind of doubt in Stan's expression. He sighed, pressing a hand down to close his bird book.

"Are you sure, though?" Stan asks, rubbing his eye slightly. He looked, above all, bored. His first day of summer break had been going pretty slow. He knew he was probably supposed to be studying for his Bar Mitzvah, but he wasn't exactly in the studying kind of mood. He had, initially, gotten himself into a better mood when he saw (Y/n), but this ridiculous story, or maybe it wasn't so ridiculous, had put him right back where he started.

She stopped to give Stan a look, that look. In all rationality, (Y/n) was the mom of the group. That look, it was the kind of look a scolding mother would give her young child for coming home too late or something similar. Stan never really payed attention to it, but he guessed that it wasn't just some fantasy Richie had put in her head. She only ever gave him that kind of look when she was serious about something, that Stan knew.

"Stan."

"Alright, I believe you."

"Didn't take too much to convince you." Richie muttered, wiping his sweaty palms on the material of his jeans.

|

Stan, Richie and (Y/n) had spent their first day of summer break walking around Derry. Running around with ice cream, soda, and several other things. They had caught Bill running around as well, and he had hitched with them too. Besides the encounter at the arcade, there had been no sightings of Henry Bowers or his stupid goons, and all of them were glad.

"I wonder... how long do you think Eddie will have to stay locked up?" (Y/n) asks, looking at Bill and Richie as the sun started to disappear from the sky, leaving the pink cotton candy to float around. Bill, handing her another cone of vanilla ice cream, lifted his lips up in a small smile.

"What? Can't deal with us by yourself?"

Richie snorts while (Y/n) takes a bite of her ice cream, it was her third one that night, but no one in the group was complaining.

"No... I just miss him."

Once again, Richie snorts.

"Hey, Marshmallow."

The Losers freeze.

{I'm reading the book, so things may be different, but I've also watched the 2017 movie, so that's the character design I'm thinking of. Probably not going to go in when they're adults, I prefer the younger version just because. This book is a little bit of an AU, not a lot of major character death happens. Trigger warnings for death and abuse, but it's not really that bad.}