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You had been at this party for an hour and you were already regretting the decision to come. You had allowed your friend, well, more accurately colleague, to drag you here, and within twenty minutes they had disappeared on you, leaving you completely alone at a high school party. So now here you were, smoking a blunt in a stranger's garden.
"Do my eyes deceive me, or is this Y/N at a party?!"
Eddie Munson. He'd been your best friend since the beginning of high school when you ended up partnered up in Science. You quickly realized you had a lot in common and became inseparable. You both liked the same music, you both played Dungeons and Dragons, and you were both seen as freaks by most people in school. You weren't really friends anymore though, you had dropped out of school - and life - after your Dad's passing.
You rolled your eyes as you took the smoke into your lungs. "What's up Munson, you not babysitting tonight?" You asked as you exhaled.
"Ha ha, very funny. You know, some people would say it's adorable I'm friends with kids." Eddie replied and you sniggered.
"Others would say creepy." You said, and Eddie gasped as he joined you on the floor, your backs against the wall. You offered him the blunt and he took it from your fingers, thanking you as he took a long drag.
"I know you miss D&D." Eddie said while he held the smoke in his lungs. "You should join us, you know, for old times’ sake."
Mental images of you and Eddie playing Dungeons and Dragons filled you with so much nostalgia and a sense of happiness that seemed like a lifetime ago. You took another drag and blew the smoke out slowly.
"When are you gonna let go of the past, Munson? Things change. People change." You said with a shrug.
"Is that you trying to tell me you've changed?" Eddie asked, not even attempting to hide his laugh. You looked at him, with your head resting back on the wall and you raised your eyebrow at him. You watched as he took a drag of the blunt, before breathing the smoke out slowly, a surprisingly mesmerizing moment. Before your mind could take you to places you had avoided for months, Eddie spoke again.
"Okay, is your favorite band Fleetwood Mac?" Eddie asked.
"Of course."
"Is your favorite film A New Hope?" He asked, and you flicked your tongue over your lips as you smirked.
"Yep." You replied and he grinned.
"Oh really? Or is your favorite film actually Dirty Dancing?!" Eddie shouted, gleefully and you laughed.
"Dirty Dancing is a fantastic film with an incredible soundtrack!" You replied,
"Okay, okay, do you still have your teddy bear? What was its name...?"
"Mr. Fuzzy." You mumbled and Eddie cackled as he threw his head back against the wall. "What exactly are you trying to prove, Munson?"
"I thought it was obvious...that you haven't changed as much as you think you have." He replied, the blunt dangling in between his lips. You took it from his mouth and shook your head.
"Just because some things haven't changed, doesn't mean I haven't." You replied, defensively.
"Nah, you hide behind the walls you've built, but you're still the same person who loved Dungeons and Dragons and who used to hide behind a pillow when we watched horror films." Eddie said softly.
“Yeah well, I only watched them because you wanted to.” You revealed, and Eddie’s face softened, which is something you’d noticed happened pretty frequently when you spoke to each other.
You wished he was right, but he wasn't. You had let your trauma and grief consume you, you'd put a barrier between you and the world, including the only person you had left to care about, Eddie Munson. You knew that if you just opened up, Eddie wouldn't hesitate to be there for you; he'd done it before, after all. But you didn't want to be a burden, and honestly, you'd started to believe you were cursed. Everyone you ever loved; first your mother and now your dad, had died, and you as ridiculous as it was, had let the demons in your head convince you it was your fault.
"You don't know me anymore." You said to him, and he scoffed slightly.
"Whose fault is that?" He asked. You knew he didn't mean anything by it, but it struck a nerve. Of course, it did, you knew it was your fault.
"I'm gonna go." You said as you stubbed the end of the blunt against the wall, and you stood up. "Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Munson, really." You said, with a sad smile.
"See you around, Darling." He replied, and as you walked away, you couldn't help but smile at his use of his old nickname for you.
****
For the next two days, all you did was think about Eddie fucking Munson, and how he used that nickname. You weren't stupid, you knew exactly what he was trying to do, and it had worked. It had unlocked something inside you, something you'd kept successfully locked away for a year; and yet all it had taken was one god damn nickname.
As you made your weekly drive to The Hideout, you thought about the conversation that led to the nickname Eddie had come up with for you.
"I remind you of...Peter Pan?" Eddie spluttered. "The guy in the green tights? Is this supposed to be a nice way of telling me I need to grow up?"
"Well..." You replied before you giggled at his wide-eyed look. "I'm not, I promise! I just mean...well, you're daring and adventurous, you're charming and you're carefree, and I swear you're gonna be eternally youthful, just like Peter Pan! You explained.
Eddie pondered your reasonings before he grinned. "So, if I'm Peter Pan...does that make you my Wendy?" Eddie questioned.
"Wendy? I'm not Wendy!" You pouted. "I'm clearly Tinkerbell!"
"No, no, you're Wendy! You're caring, you're responsible, but when you're with me, you seem to relax, you're a little more wild and adventurous, just like Wendy!"
"I'm stubborn, constantly irritated, hot-tempered, and determined! Just like Tinkerbell!" You argued.
"Tinkerbell was also in love with Peter Pan, are you trying to tell me something with your comparison?"
"Wendy was his love interest too, Eddie. "
"Okay, that's a fair point." Eddie chuckled. "You do bring up some good points, m'lady, but I stand by that you're Wendy."
"Ugh, I hate you." You mumbled, crossing your arms. Eddie laughed and flung his arm over your shoulders as he pulled you into his side.
"I know, Darling." He replied, and the blush on your cheeks and the feeling in your chest meant you didn't really mind being his Wendy.
You parked the car next to the back alley of the building and climbed out of it, waving to Tommy, the 40-something-year-old owner of The Hideout, who was smoking next to the dumpsters, seemingly hiding his habit from his wife of 35 years, Ruth.
"Hey, Trouble." He greeted you, pushing his greying hair out of his face. You'd known Tommy since you were 8, with him being best friends with your dad. You couldn't remember why he called you Trouble, but you didn't mind. It was the last little link to your dad that you had left. "How you doing?"
"I'm alright, are you hiding from Ruth?" You questioned, glancing pointedly at the cigarette in between his fingers.
"Maybe a little bit." Tommy chuckled. "Are you still hiding from Eddie?"
Your cheeks started to flush, but you shook your head vehemently. "I'm not hiding from anyone."
Tommy's booming laugh echoed through the alleyway as he took a drag. "Well, just in case you are, he was loitering around the kitchen before."
"Thanks, Tommy." You said, with a smile as you opened the door. Then you stopped and turned to face him again. "You, uh- haven't told him, have you? That I come every week?"
"Not hiding from anyone, huh?" Tommy grinned. "Don't you worry Trouble, my lips are sealed. Although, you should talk to him. Take it from this old man, it'd mean a lot to Eddie."
"I'll think about it." You promised, earning a wink from Tommy before you headed inside. Luckily, you could hear the bands soundcheck as you walked through the kitchen, so there was no chance of bumping into Eddie, and you managed to slip in undetected.
You kept telling yourself that you didn't know why you'd stopped talking to Eddie, but you were lying to yourself. It was difficult -between your dad passing away and being forced out of the house you grew up in, and moving to the trailer park, and your rapidly growing feelings for Eddie - you felt truly alone for the first time in your life. Really, this should've brought you closer to Eddie; he lived in the trailer park and he was your friend, he'd been there for you before. Instead, you pulled away, distanced yourself, and used your grief as an excuse. It was a valid excuse, but an excuse all the same. You soon became a shell of the person you used to be, and you hated it; but you didn't want to be a burden to Eddie, and you were scared that if you let yourself be happy and move on, you'd forget your dad.
But on one Tuesday night, three months after you'd last seen Corroded Coffin play at The Hideout, you found yourself driving past after a shift at the animal shelter. Your curiosity got the better of you and you turned into the parking lot, entered the bar, and hid in the back. When you saw Eddie on stage, having the time of his life, your frozen heart began to melt. He looked like he completely belonged up there, and you realized how much you missed him. Yet, you couldn't bring yourself to talk to him, so instead, every Tuesday night, you'd sneak through the kitchen, hide at the back of the bar in the shadows, then slip out before Eddie could see you. And when Eddie initiated conversation every so often, you never once brought it up.
Something about tonight was different, though. While watching Eddie on stage, you noticed he seemed distracted, looking into the crowd as if he was looking for someone specific. You couldn't help but wonder if he'd invited someone, if he had a crush or a girlfriend. You tried to ignore the sick feeling bubbling in your stomach, the feeling you recognized as jealousy. You and Eddie were barely friends, which was completely on you; you had no right to be jealous, and Eddie deserved happiness.
You sighed and slipped through the crowd, towards the kitchen door, making an early exit, but not before taking one last look at Eddie on the stage, who was scanning the crowd again, only this time, his eyes were planted on where you'd just been standing. As you turned out the door, you didn't see Eddie had noticed you as you left.
****
After a stressful day at the animal shelter, you were looking forward to a quiet night, but when you pulled up to your trailer and saw Eddie sitting on the steps waiting for you, you had a feeling a quiet day wasn't on the cards. You were puzzled though, he usually kept your interactions to - at the most - once a week, so this was unusual.
"What are you doing here?" You asked, slamming the car door behind you.
"I was having a smoke, and I knew you'd be home soon." He replied, jumping off the step, holding his hands behind his back.
"What, 'cos you know me so well?" You snipped and he shrugged.
"Well, yeah, but also because I heard your shitty car from five miles away!" He retorted and you rolled your eyes. You walked past him, which made him jump backward, keeping whatever he was hiding behind his back away from you. This piqued your interest and you raised your eyebrow as you tried to peek around him, but he just grinned as he stepped backward some more.
"Alright Munson, what's going on?"
"I haven't heard you play your record player for a while, do you still have it?" Eddie asked.
"Yeah...why?"
"I have something for you. Consider it a birthday gift."
"Are you forgetting my birthday was four months ago?" You smirked.
"Are you forgetting you weren't exactly talking to me then?" He snapped back, a twinkle in his stupidly beautiful brown eyes.
"I'm barely talking to you now, so why the gift?" You retorted.
"Just...here."
He pulled a bag from behind his back and you took it from his outstretched hand, ignoring and definitely not wondering if he felt the sparks that you felt when your hands touched. You furrowed your brow and glanced up at him as he watched you pull out the gift with big brown eyes and bated breath.
It was a record of Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper, and your grin got wider, for no reason other than he had bought you a record, and maybe a little at the thought of Eddie Munson buying a Cyndi Lauper record. You turned the record over in your hands as you looked up at Eddie.
"Thanks Munson." You said, then you chuckled. "Why this song, though? I mean, it's a fucking great song, but..." You trailed off.
Eddie shrugged, a small blush creeping over his cheeks as he tried to hide behind his mass of curls and ringed hand.
"It just reminded me of you." He mumbled. Your eyes widened as you pursed your lips, stifling a laugh. "I heard it on the radio, alright? In the truck on the way to band practice!"
"Sure, whatever you say." You giggled. "You wanna come in and listen to it with me?"
Eddie gasped, and you threw your head back in exasperation as Eddie staggered backwards, dramatically. "Whoa, hold up. Are we about to hang out?"
"Are you going to make a big deal out of it?"
"Me? When have you known me to ever make a big deal out of anything?!" He shouted, and you were pretty sure the whole of Hawkins heard him.
"Oh my God, Munson." You laughed, unlocking your trailer door. "Just get in here, and you better have some smokes, you're not stealing all mine!"
***
A few hours had passed, and truthfully, you could've stayed in this bubble forever. With you lying on the floor, and Eddie lying on the couch, a cigarette hanging lazily from his mouth; the record player played quietly in the corner, you were starting to feel a resemblance of how you used to before everything went to shit.
"So...I know you were at my show last night." Eddie said. He'd tried to make it sound casual, but you knew that he'd be wanting to say something since he got here.
Just play dumb, just play dumb. "Was I?"
"Yep. Your car was parked behind the building, near the back exit for the kitchen."
Fuck.
"Oh."
"Oh? OH? That's all you have to say?!" Eddie exclaimed, his head whipping up off the arm of the couch to look at you. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? Where were you stood? I couldn't see you anywhere."
"Um-"
"What did you think? We've gotten better, right?" Eddie was swarming you with questions and you groaned loudly.
"Oh my God, Munson, chill out with the fucking questions!" You half yelled, and his face dropped slightly.
"I'm sorry! I just don't know why you wouldn't mention it. Your first show in a year and you don't tell me you're coming? We've been friend-"He caught himself, and sighed. "-we've been back on talking terms for ages now, I just don't understand why you hid?"
"Drop it, Munson." You warned.
"You know, it's really fucking suspicious that you won't answer me."
"I just don't want to talk about it."
"Well, why not?" Eddie pestered. He began to say your name, over and over, shoving you with his foot that dangled off the couch.
"Oh my God, fine!" You yelled. "Maybe that wasn't the first show I've been to."
Silence fell over the trailer as the record scratched, signaling the end of the album. You glanced up at Eddie, who was staring at you, or rather, through you. He had big, Bambi eyes anyway, but you had never seen them this wide. His jaw was practically on the floor, and you sat up just enough to put your fingers under his chin and close his mouth.
"It's not that serious, Munson." You said, leaning across the table to grab the half-smoked blunt and a lighter. You sparked the blunt and took three tokes, before offering it to Eddie.
"You, uh- you've been to our shows?" He squeaked.
You nodded and watched closely as he bobbed his head and smoked. Then he looked back at you, passing the blunt back to you. "When did you start coming again?"
"Does it matter?" You asked.
"It does to me." He replied. You groaned as he shrugged, his face very much mirroring a puppy begging for attention. There was something about Eddie that you always had a hard time saying no to, especially when he pulled this goddamn face on you.
"I hadn't been to a show in three months." You muttered, stubbing the end of the blunt into the ashtray.
"You've been coming for that long, and you didn't say anything?!"
"Of course I didn't! In case you haven't noticed, I've been a fucking mess! You exploded, and the words tumbled out, like all your thoughts and feelings had finally spilled over, and they needed to come out. "I just...I got curious, and I got to the door, and I could hear you playing, and I just, I needed to see you. So I stayed in the back, hiding behind people, and I saw you on the stage looking so fucking badass and happy! I found myself coming back every week, to watch you, to see you. It was the only way I felt comfortable seeing you, and it didn't feel creepy, because you were on the stage. It's not like I had binoculars staring at you through the fucking trailer window! It's not like I ever stopped caring about you, or lov-" You caught yourself before you finished that thought, and you sighed.
At some point, Eddie had moved from the couch, to right next to you on the floor. He stared at you, fascinated, and a little amused by this rare insight into your brain, into your heart.
"You wanted to see me?" He grinned and you flung your arms up into the air as you threw yourself back onto the floor.
"Of course that's all you heard."
"No, no! I heard all of it!" Eddie insisted. "I hear everything you say, even the things you don't say!" He grabbed your hands and pulled you upright. "Why do you think I kept my distance, while also annoying you every so often?"
"Honestly, I thought you hated me." You confessed. Might as well, you thought, everything else was coming out today. You looked down at your fingers, which were playing with a thread of cotton from your ripped jeans.
"I didn't need to, you were hating yourself for the both of us." Eddie teased, but then he sighed. "Darling, I don't think I could ever hate you."
Your glanced up at him, surprised by how close he was to you. Your eyes locked with each other's, but not before yours darted to his lips, you were almost mesmerized by the way his tongue ran over them. Your heart began to race as you realized you couldn't take it anymore. You couldn't take pretending that you didn't need Eddie, that you didn't want him.
Your lips were inches from his, when he suddenly pulled away, just slightly. You pursed your lips as you leaned back, your heart dropping into your stomach, as the embarrassment of rejection washed over you. Eddie must've seen it in your face, because he grabbed your wrists gently, so you wouldn't pull away further.
"Look, I'm gonna be honest. I've been wanting to kiss you for a really long fucking time." Eddie confessed.
You felt your chest tighten, like someone was twisting your heart in their hand, and you tilted your head at him, confused.
"Okay, so what's the problem?"
"If I kiss you, I won't want to stop."
Your smirk turned into a full grin, and you sat on your knees, leaning closer to Eddie.
"So don't stop then, Eddie." You whispered.
The way you breathed his name was enough to drive him crazy. He removed his hands from your wrists, cupped your cheeks, and pulled you towards him, his lips crashing down onto yours. As you kissed, you felt the final block of ice that your heart had been caged in melt away. One of Eddie's hands left your cheek and slipped under your hair, clutching to the back of your head, as his other caressed your cheek, his rings cold against your burning cheek and you found yourself never wanting this to end.
Eddie was the first one to pull back, and he rested his forehead on yours, both of you grinning, as you gained your breath back.
"That was...something." Eddie said, and you giggled, nodding in agreement. You pulled away and Eddie pulled you into his side, his arm tight around you as you rested your head on his shoulder, his fingertips tracing your bare arm softly. "It's getting late, maybe I should go."
"Hmm, you could," You murmured, glancing up at Eddie through your lashes, "Or you could stay? I mean, you only live a few trailers down."
Eddie gasped dramatically, his hand on his chest, mimicking one of the old ladies down at the church, clutching her pearls. "You mean...?"
You stood up and walked backward as you grinned. "But if you wanna go home, that's fine by me."
You laughed as Eddie crawled quickly across the trailer on all fours, before he jumped to his feet. He flung you over his shoulder, as your laughter got louder.
"There is no fucking way I'm going home just yet, Darling." He growled as he carried you to the bedroom, your giggles echoing through the trailer, making his heart soar.
Maybe, just maybe, you were going to be able to get back to the way things were after all, with a little help from Eddie Munson.