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“Try to understand, try to understand, try try try to understand….He’s a magic man!” You sing along to your Walkman as you shimmy your pants up over your hips. You bop your head and dance around the room while scanning your floor for a shirt. You pick one up and sniff it. It smelled like deodorant and cheap cologne and a little bit of weed. Eddie’s Hellfire Club shirt. He must have left it last time he came over. You had been walking home from school together and it had started to pour rain. When you got to your place you had changed into dry clothes and given him an old shirt of your brother, Steve’s so Eddie wouldn’t catch pneumonia.
You take your headphones off for a second and pull the shirt over your head. You were going over to Eddie’s to study for an English exam. ‘86 was going to be his year, as long as he passed English. You two had met through the Hellfire club, of course. The enigmatic leader of his little ragtag troupe had noticed you sitting alone, and decided to pull you into his circle. Much to the dismay of your older brother Steve, cool boy extraordinaire. Yep, he was Mr. popular and you were….well, not. You didn’t really care about popularity, though. You were just happy you didn’t need to eat lunch alone anymore.
As time went on and you learned all about dungeons and spells and hit points and charisma, you also learned a lot about Eddie. You both had so much in common, from music tastes and favorite books to recreational marijuanna usage. You began to hang out outside of Hellfire, and became almost inseparable friends on the verge of something…more. Your jokes turned more risqué, stares lingered, hands brushed, cheeks flushed, but neither of you had done anything about your feelings. You knew he liked you. You were pretty sure he knew you liked him. But what you had was good, and why ruin a good thing with complicated feelings and bullshit?
Steve had the car, so you shove your Walkman in your backpack and hop on your bike. You arrive at Eddie’s trailer sweaty and out of breath, but knock on the door with a big smile on your face. The door swings open, and there’s Eddie in all of his heavy metal, grungy, pretty boy glory.
“Harrington!” He cheers, wrapping you in a hug.
“Munson!” You giggle as he lifts you off the ground with his hug. “Ready to kick this test in the balls?” You strode through the door and go right to his bedroom, Eddie following behind you.
“Is that my shirt?” He questions, and you throw him a saucy wink over your shoulder.
“Yeah, you left it when we got drenched that one time. I need to do laundry and couldn’t bike over here topless.”
“I mean, you could if you really wanted to, but you might get arrested and that would be a shame since I really need your help on this stupid test.”
“Yeah, getting arrested would suck. And why the hell would I give Hawkins a free show? They’ll have to pay good money if they want to see these puppies.” You bounce and your breasts jiggle a bit. A blush creeps up Eddie’s cheeks and you laugh. You love to mess with him. Maybe one of these days it’ll be the push he needs to confront his feelings for you. You take your converse off and sit cross legged on Eddie’s bed, unzipping your backpack. “Come on, I brought flash cards.”
Studying lasted all of maybe twenty minutes. Then both of your attention spans failed and you ended up talking about Corroded Coffin’s new song, and your stupid job at the hardware store, and how your Walkman was on the fritz and kept destroying your cassettes.
“Let me see it, maybe I can fiddle with it.” Eddie said, holding his hand out. His silver rings glint in the orange sunset light filtering in through the window. You pull out the Walkman and pop out the tape.
“This one is my favorite, I really don’t want it to be murdered like my Bangles cassette. It fuckin destroyed Manic Monday.” Eddie rolls his eyes but takes the Walkman, laying back in bed against the pillows and turning it over in his hands.
“You and your pop music. What’s on that favorite tape of yours? You can put it on if you want.” You let out a fake gasp and clutch your heart.
“Eddie Munson…is going to let me play….POP MUSIC?? Be still my heart!” You laugh and wander over to the stereo, popping out his Ozzy tape. “Lucky for you, it’s rock not pop. Magic Man by Heart.” Eddie raises his eyebrows at you, but nodded in approval.
“Why do you like that one so much? Don’t get me wrong, Heart is good, just curious what’s going on inside that head of yours.” Eddie was fiddling with the buttons on your Walkman intently and didn’t look up when he posed his question. You hit play, as a blush rose on your cheeks.
“No reason, it’s just really good.”
“I can tell you’re lying.”
“Shut up, Eddie. Let me enjoy my music.” You glare at him and he laughs loudly as he checks the battery compartment on your Walkman. You begin dancing around the room and singing along to the music. This song always made you feel a little bit sultry and mysterious. You move your hips and tangle your hands in your hair in what you hope is a suggestive way. “Come on home girl, he said with a smile…you don’t have to love me yet, let’s get high a while…” You close your eyes and continue to move your body and roll your hips while singing, a relaxed and happy smile on your face. You couldn’t help it, music made you happy and dancing was how you expressed joy.
Eddie put the Walkman down and was watching you. Specifically the swivel of your hips and the curve of your ass in those jeans. Your bare feet with your cute pink painted toenails against the carpet. The way your chest bounced. The way your mouth formed the words of the song, and how beautiful your voice was. He clears his throat and you opened one eye to look at him, still singing.
“If you keep dancing like that, I feel like I should be throwing money at you.” He moves to sit on the edge of his bed and you sashay over to stand in front of him.
“By all means, feel free to pay the lady if you are so inclined. If I was wearing a bra I’d let you put some dollar bills in it, but you’ll have to settle for the waistband of my jeans today.” You bit your lip and bent down so your face was inches from his. Eddie choked on air.
“You are a menace to society.”
“I know, it’s fun.” You continue to dance in front of him, enjoying the look of blood draining from his face. “Oh, lighten up Eddie. Come here.” You grab his hand and pull him standing. His eyes were wide, as you place his hands on your hips and you lazily wrap your arms around his neck. “I know you like me, Eddie. I see how you look at me.” Eddie chuckles darkly and pulls you closer to him, squeezing your hips lightly.
“And how do I look at you?” His hands travel from your hips up under your shirt to your waist, rubbing small circles on your soft skin with his thumbs.
“Like you want to eat me alive but you’re too chicken.” You press your body against his and look up at him, biting your lip.
“Chicken, am I? You know exactly what you’re doing, don’t you.” His lips turn up into a predatory smile.
“Who me?” You bat your eyelashes innocently. “I’m just having fun. Just dancing.” You wind your fingers into Eddie’s hair. He sways with you to the rhythm for a minute.
“I know why you like this song.” He says, his eyes piercing yours.
“Oh yeah? Tell me why.” The song was almost over, and Eddie leans down.
“I’m the magic man.” He whispers, almost against your lips. Then his hands were on your cheeks and he was kissing you with the ferocity of a starving animal. You moan happily into the kiss, savoring the taste of his lips. You break apart breathless.
“Fuck yeah you are, Munson. Now kiss me again.” You softly tug on the collar of his leather jacket, and he obliges again and again and again.