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shybunnie20 · 2 years

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Eight Years - Eddie Munson x Reader | One Shot

★My Masterlist

Summary: Your visit to Hawkins after moving away many years ago brings back good memories as well as the hurt you've endured from losing your best friend.

Author's Note: Angst, not a happy ending (for Eddie). AU with no Upside Down. No use of Y/N. Be sure to reblog, follow, and show some love ♡ My fluffy pieces don't do well in terms of traction so I went all-out angst with this one. ps. gender neutral!

Word count: 2.6k

Warnings: Includes swearing, mentions of drunk behavior and alcohol, anxiety and overstimulation, trauma, food/eating(vaguely).

tags: @protecteddiemunson4vr

It feels a little odd being back in what used to be “home” after all these years.

Unsurprisingly, things don’t look all that different despite it having been just shy of a decade since you were here last. It feels foreign but familiar. Steve jokes that Hawkins is the gutter of the Midwest. That it’s a grate that traps the town folk in life’s plentiful misfortunes.

As a twelve year old you didn’t know how dumpy Hawkins was, but it's apparent now. As you drive past Forest Hills Trailer Park your stomach twists into knots. Seeing your old stomping grounds brings an unpleasant feeling of sentimentality.

Over the years you’ve become good friends with Harrington and Buckley, mostly through writing letters and postcards. On one of the road trips Steve took to visit you, he brought Robin along and you’ve been close ever since. Not to mention you’ve spent plenty of late nights giggling with Robin over the phone. They felt like long-distance sleepovers.

Steve stands behind the kitchen island, chopping vegetables and preparing dinner for the three of you. “Hey, bub. Mind running to rent some movies for tonight? You can take Ruby.” He hesitates, holding the car keys away when you reach for them. “Be careful, please? If she comes back with so much as a scratch, your ass is grass. And by that I mean you’ll be sleeping in the front yard.”

“Yeah, yeah.” You roll your eyes and snatch the keys from his clutch. “Your precious car will return untouched. Cross my heart.” You mark an X over your chest for dramatic effect.

Robin shouts from the living room as you head out the front door. “Can you get The Breakfast Club? Oh! And some Twizzlers? Thanks, doll!”

The Family Video store opened some years after you’d left. Despite Steve’s incredibly vague directions, you luckily find your way.

The lights in the window of the tobacco shop pulse brightly, blinding you a bit as you park against the curb in the mostly empty lot. You hop out of the car and stroll inside Family Video to grab the requested items, putting them on Steve’s tab.

When you’re about to open the car door to leave, you freeze in place. Your eyes catch a silhouette that’s outlined by the striking lights. The figure shuffles and stamps out a cigarette on the bricks of the building.

Their stance is as stiff as a board, a posture you’d recognize anywhere.

“Munson?”

Eddie whips around to see who called his name, his jaw falling open in disbelief. He hardly recognizes you considering that you’re a young adult now. “No way. Wha-are you shitting me?”

You practically run into his arms and he embraces you, your feet lifting off of the ground. “I’ll be damned!” He beams while letting you down but keeping you at arm's length. “Jesus-look at you! You’re so-” Developed, he thought.

You're smiling so wide that your cheeks ache. “Me? Oh my god, no. Look at you! Look at all this hair!” You chuckle, twirling one of his frizzy curls around your finger.

He typically doesn't let people touch his hair but he doesn’t mind at the moment. “What, expected the buzzed watermelon look?”

“Your head was always melon-sized, you’re right about that.” You chuckle. “It’s surprisingly soft.” You spoke too soon. He hisses at your finger catching a knot, so you gently brush through it with your fingers.

Eddie’s eyes study you, his heart thumping painfully. He’s overwhelmed by your presence and his palms start to sweat. The conversation progressed quickly, the two of you fondly recalling the old days. You hold onto his bicep while you laugh about pranking your neighbors with firecrackers and hanging out at the bakery you frequented together. You remember how he’d always get jelly on his face from the doughnuts.

Considering you lived a few trailers down, becoming friends was a no-brainer. He was never much of a daredevil but he loved getting a rush with you in the sleepy town, you felt no different. Shenanigans ensued and you even built a fort in the woods beside the trailer park. There was never a dull moment by your side, be it good or bad.

Most middle schoolers are self-conscious and constantly searching for validation, but not you. You never cared what other people thought of you. You were always true to yourself and unapologetically authentic. More importantly, you never judged Eddie. Your acceptance meant the world to him. From the start, you made it clear that he didn’t have to be anyone but himself around you.

He’s carried that outlook through the entirety of his school career. Always brushing off his peers’ jabs and remarks. He stood his ground and kept his friends close. Eventually, he instilled that very lesson in the freshman he took under his wings. He passed your wisdom onto them, that trying to be someone you’re not isn’t worth it in the long run.

You tilt your head at him. “I’m surprised to see you! I thought you’d have gotten out of here ASAP after graduating.”

Eddie is ashamed and doesn’t want to admit to graduating only four months ago. He shrugs, “Uh-yeah. Gotta stick around for Wayne, y’know?” It’s the best lie he could think of on the spot.

His wristwatch beeps, signaling the new hour. You take his wrist into your hand and look at the time. “Oh, shit. I should get going.” You sigh, wanting to be back in a timely manner so as not to worry Steve and Robin.

After swinging the car door open and plopping into the driver’s seat, you yell out of the rolled-down window. “See you around!”

Eddie hollers. “Wait!” Before he could say anything else you’ve pulled away and driven out of the parking lot. His mind races with your last sentence hanging in the air. See you around.

Once you get back to Steve’s the three of you enjoy dinner while watching the movie. Initially, Steve scoffed at having to watch it again but he wasn’t going to get Robin revved up about its impactful societal commentary.

You’re giddy and cheerful the remainder of the evening until the movie got to the part where Andrew Clark says to John Bender, “If you disappeared forever it wouldn’t make any difference. You may as well not even exist…”

That’s when it dawns on you. It was on purpose.

It’s been four days since running into Eddie. Because you’re staying with Steve, you’re obligated to be at his Halloween party, given it’s being held at his house. You put on your best “I’m social and parties are delightful” attitude because you know Steve is looking forward to introducing you to the rest of his friends.

The afternoon was spent putting the finishing touches on the decorations. Steve is visibly eager to have his gaggle of pals together for a night of spooky festivities.

Robin arrives with Tupperware stacked in her arms, full of creepy goodies she made herself. Cookies that resemble witch fingers, candy corn-colored Rice Krispie treats, and caramel popcorn balls.

Music blares from the stereo in the living room. You’re seated on the couch talking with Steve who’s leaning against the fireplace mantel that’s strung with faux cobwebs. Eddie strides through the front door with a case of beer balancing on his shoulder.

Eddie isn’t used to attending parties for fun. Usually, he goes to make money off of teens who are too plastered to bargain a reasonable price for weak bud. He pretends to hate costumes but the geek in him secretly loves dressing up.

“You both came as zombies?” Steve groans. “How creative.”

Dustin wraps his arms around Eddie’s torso, hugging him so tightly that Eddie groans in discomfort.

You turn to see who Steve is addressing and Eddie looks at you with an indiscernible look in his eyes. He can’t believe it. Not only are you here, but you’re both dressed as Eddie the Head from The Number of The Beast album. It’s a fairly simple costume, a white t-shirt with jeans and a little makeup, but it makes his chest throb in adoration for your shared interest in music.

You don’t look at him for long. Instead, you flash him a polite grin and turn back to Steve, continuing the conversation. Eddie was expecting you to run into his arms like before but you remained seated. A shockwave of dread jolts through his extremities. He knows you’ve got a bone to pick with him for what he did.

Later during the party, you find yourself in the kitchen chatting with Steve, Robin, and Nancy while the youngsters are hanging out in the living room. The heated debate about whether trail mix should contain peanuts or not lacks your participation. You’re more so listening than contributing. You lean against the counter, quietly snapping your fingers at your side. You’ve been doing well so far but you’re starting to feel anxious because your social battery is running low.

Eddie walks into the room and recognizes your nervous habit immediately. He recalls how you get overstimulated by loud music and commotion. The freshman running through the kitchen, shouting and laughing puts you further on edge.

Eddie can tell you must’ve never found someone who loved you enough to teach you how to cope like he’d hoped would happen. It makes his heart heavy knowing you’re still dealing with anxiety after all these years. It makes him wonder how often you must’ve needed him and he wasn’t there for you. He thought removing himself from your life was in your best interest. He assumed you’d be off doing bigger and better things without him in the way. Somehow he failed to realize how much he hurt you.

You were always there for him. Especially the afternoon that the two of you were reading Lord of the Rings in your fort in the woods. Shouting rumbled off in the distance. Both of you got to your feet and walked a few steps to the tree line to see what the racket was.

Earl Munson, Eddie’s father, had shown up unannounced and belligerently drunk.

“Fuckin’... fuckin’ good for nothing son of a bitch!” Earl roared.

Wayne could be heard yelling back at him. “Cops will be here any minute, you better… don’t you swing on me! Motherfu- drunk bastard!”

You clung to Eddie and he held onto you twice as tightly. Watching his deadbeat father behave erratically wasn’t something that was easy to look away from. Chief Hopper and another deputy showed up quickly due to there being a warrant out for Earl. He intensely resisted arrest, making one hell of a scene. Eddie cried that day, and you’re still the only one who knows about it.

“Here, c’mon. Let’s go outside.” Eddie whispers, gently taking your hand and guiding you outside to the back porch. He knows you need fresh air. Generally, he’s ecstatic to finally get you alone after watching you all night but he’s unnerved about the inevitable conversation about to unfold.

“So-uh.” He rubs his hands nervously, conveniently generating heat to fight the evening autumn breeze.

"Now you wanna talk? So fitting." The feelings of abandonment threaten your composure. “I tried calling, y’know. Quite a few times, actually.” You cross your arms in anticipation of whatever excuses he’s going to give.

Eddie avoids eye contact and shifts his weight between the balls of his feet. Struggling to find the right words to explain. “Sometimes… I think it’s just easier for people if I’m not around. I figured I’d do you a favor.”

A favor. Your breathing quakes as the words reverberate in your mind, the remaining anxiety pushing you over the edge into bitterness. He wasn’t busy and his phone number hadn’t changed. He meant to do it.

At the time, it was obvious to him that you were a force to be reckoned with. You’d been lucky enough to get out of Hawkins and he didn’t want to hold you back. He knew you’d conquer the world while chasing your dreams.

“You intentionally ignored me. That’s what you’re saying?” Tears roll down your cheeks but you keep your expression as neutral as possible. “That’s it, huh? You decided you were done with me?”

“No!” His eyes meet yours with bold intensity. “I said I would never let you go. I pinky promised, matter of fact. I never let go. There wasn’t a single fucking day that went by that I didn’t think about you.”

“Oh? And not a single day did you call me, or write me!” You huff. “Eight years, Ed! Eight whole fucking years.” Your face is glowing red with frustration. “You made me question myself and my worth. You made me feel like I did something wrong.”

The ache in your chest comes back stronger than ever, thinking about all of the nights you spent curled up in your bed with tears pooling under your eyes. You felt so alone without your best friend by your side. Eddie assumed you were adjusting to your new life, but you were suffering. As time went on, you managed. Except, the only thing ignoring you did was teach you how to live without him.

Eddie’s own tears begin to fall, guilt burying him beneath the earth’s surface. He feels like he’s suffocating, soil clouding his lungs as he watches your expression break while reliving the betrayal. “I-I love you.” It’s all he can muster, his tone sounds remorseful despite not actively apologizing.

“Don’t! Don’t you dare.” You snap at him while wiping your cheeks roughly. Putting your walls back up and braving forward. “If you loved me you wouldn’t have vanished. You don’t… you don’t abandon someone that you love.”

Eddie does love you. But at this point, it doesn’t matter. The damage has been done.

“Just let me explain, please.” He sobs and reaches for your hands. Even though he used his pain as an excuse to justify hurting you, he is sincerely penitent.

You let him take one of your hands into his large palms. His grip is trembling. He’s coming apart at the seams.

“No need.” You fixate your gaze on his fingers mindlessly stroking yours. “If anything I should thank you.”

Eddie’s eyebrows knit together in confusion, his eyes closely watching your mouth as if he could see the words falling from your lips.

With a deep breath, you meet his gaze and continue. “I learned the difference between being patient and wasting my time. Day after day I sat by the phone and waited. That was a waste of time. You taught me that.”

Eddie sniffles loudly, letting your words sink into his skin with the sting of the pain they harbor. “I won’t fuck up this time, okay? Give me another chance, please.”

You ignore his plea. You can’t trust that he won’t do the same thing again. “Ed, I won’t forget what we had, you made that time in my life so special.” You begin to withdraw your hand.

He stops your fingers from slipping through his. “Please- just. Don’t regret me.”

You flash him an unconvincing grin and avert your eyes before turning and disappearing back into the house. He doesn't see you for the rest of the night. The look you gave him was your goodbye, and it was the final one.

After driving home once the party is over, he sits in his van and cries harder than he has in years.

Eddie was wrong about you not needing him back then, but you sure as hell don’t need him now.

★My Masterlist

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