Archive of Our Own

"Don't sound so surprised," Eddie replies sarcastically, giving his friend a look.

"I don't think Steve meant it like that," Nancy joined the conversation in an attempt to make things better after Steve's comment. "It's just...it's hard to believe since you two look so different."

That was very much true. He was the typical metal head who looks mean and intimidating, while you always seemed to have a smile of your face and seemed to be one of the nicest people to have ever existed. And you are head cheerleader, which means he's really not the type of person you hang around with.

But things changed that one day when a teacher decided you two should do a work project together. You weren't fond of the idea of having to spend time with Eddie Munson at first, and he was definitely not excited to spend his time with one of the popular kids.

Much to yours and Eddie's surprise, you two had so much chemistry and connected almost instantly. He would say the most random thing that wouldn't fail to make you laugh, and you were so adorable it made his heart melt.

You remember he first asked you out on a date the last time you two hang out in the library to finish the project, and you obviously accepted. More dates came after that before he asked you to be officially his girlfriend. You two have been together even since.

"Yeah, well...opposites do attract I guess," was his response, failing to hide the smile appearing on his face. "I honestly still have no idea how we even end up together."

"You and me both," Steve muttered, still very much in disbelief. Nancy subtly nudged him and gave him a warning look. "But– but I'm so happy for you, man! Really, great news."

"Thank you, Wheeler," Eddie leaned across Steve as he thanked her, evidently noticing her latest gesture. "Look, Steve, not my fault you still can't manage to date a girl longer than a weekend. Some of us do get girlfriends."

Nancy laughed at Eddie's comment, covering her mouth in an attempt to hide her smile as she looked ahead at the group of cheerleaders getting ready for their routine. Steve didn't argue back, knowing his friend was only telling the truth. Besides, he was an asshole just now so he totally deserved it.

The group noticed you finished talking with your friends and immediately scanned the crowd in hopes to spot Eddie. As soon as you did, your eyes light up as you wave at him, a gesture he immediately replied. You knew he hated basketball games, but he made the effort just to see you and be there with you.

The game was about to start, so you and the rest of the cheerleaders begin your routine to hype everyone up before the players joined everyone at the gym. Nancy looked at Eddie just in time to see him beginning to clap and cheer you on, and she immediately smiled to herself. She has never seen her friend this happy. Like, genuinely happy. Not just pretending to always be on a good mood ready to throw a fun little comment here and there, but actually feeling like life was good because he had you by his side.

Robin, who was standing with the band just a few rows below them, turned back to look at them and pointed at you excitedly, almost as if she saw a celebrity, already being able to identify you as Eddie's new girlfriend. She gave Eddie a thumbs up in sign of approval before turning back and wait for their moment to join in with the music.

..

After the game, you tried to be as quick as possible to get all your stuff ready to walk outside the school to meet Eddie. He said he would be waiting for you by the parking lot, already giving you the heads up that he wanted you to finally meet his friends.

It was weird to you at first that his group of best friends, aside from all the people that conform the Hellfire Club, were none other that Steve Harrington, Nancy Wheeler and Robin Buckley. This quartet has to be the most random combination of people you could ever create, and yet they were important enough for Eddie to want you to meet them and introduce you as his girlfriend.

You can't deny you were a little bit nervous, because you've never spoken to any of them. You kinda knew Robin because she's in school with you, but you've never interacted with Nancy and Steve. Like, at all. And since they are your boyfriend's best friends, you really wanted them to like you.

"Hi, sorry it took me so long, guys!" you quickly excused yourself, flashing a smile to the entire group in front of you. "It's nice to finally meet you all!" you added excitedly, leaning into Eddie when he wrapped an arm around you.

"Hi! I don't know if you've seen me around school...probably not– uh, you probably had absolutely no idea I existed until today," Robin was the first one to talk, obviously her own brain failing her as she once again found herself talking way too fast.

"No, no. Of course I know who you are," you replied. "I've seen you when you guys practice at the gym before the games," you replied. "And I think we have almost every class together."

"Holy shit, really? You actually know who I am?"

"Robin," Eddie warned. Robin quickly figured out that was her queue to stop talking.

You chuckled at what just happened, "You guys were great today, by the way."

"Whoa, I...uh, thanks!" she replied, genuinely surprised by how nice you actually are, which immediately made the group understand a little better why you're dating Eddie. "And the cheers were awesome, as always. You guys are just...fantastic, really."

"Thanks. I did today's routine so it's really nice to know you liked it."

"That's amazing, it was really good!" Nancy said this time, extending out her hand for you. "I'm Nancy."

"Oh, I already know all of your names," you confessed a bit shyly, shaking her hand.

"It's nice to finally meet you. Eddie talks a lot about you," she added.

"He does?" you asked, looking up at Eddie with a grin while he avoided to look at you to spare himself from getting teased by you.

"I'm not sure about the a lot part..."

"You won't shut up about her, dude," Steve cuts him off. "Guy's nuts about you."

"Really? Because he said he just told you that we were dating."

"Well, then he was clearly lying because it was the three of us that helped him build the courage to ask you on a date."

"Can we talk about something else?" Eddie intervened, clearly embarrassed.

"You and me have to continue this conversation some other day," you said to Steve.

"Sure, I'm always available to piss him off."

"Are you her friend or mine?"

Steve gave him a look, grinning before replying, "Honesty I like her better already." Eddie and Steve laughed at their little exchange, but before any of you could say anything else another cheer walked outside the school.

"Ah, there you are!" she said directly at you. "We're at the gym about to take a photo with the basketball team for the yearbook!"

"Okay, I'll be right there," you quickly told her before she politely smiled to the group you were with before walking back inside. You turned to look at Eddie immediately, "I'm sorry."

"It's fine, go," he quickly reassured you. "Your duties as head cheerleader call," he added sarcastically, making you chuckle.

"Stop doing that!" you replied. He always made fun of you for your status at school, which you found hilarious because the two of you disliked the whole idea that being popular suddenly made you better than other people. As if high school means anything after you graduate. "I'm really sorry, guys."

"Don't worry, we should go find the kids to take them home anyway," Steve said, looking around him in hope to find at least one of those little devils.

"I don't think we're all gonna fit in your car, though," Nancy commented.

"Yeah, but Eddie can drop some of them off, right?" Steve asked, to which Eddie replied with a nod. "Great. In that case Robin, Nance, Mike and Lucas go with me. Dustin and Max go with you."

"Got it," Eddie nodded after his instruction.

"I'll be back soon," you said to him, since he was also giving you a ride home and you didn't want him and those two kids waiting for you for too long. "And again, it's been great meeting you guys. We should hang out sometime."

"Totally!" Robin agreed. "I think we're all free this Friday."

"Yeah, Friday sounds great," Nancy also agreed.

"I'll see you on Friday, then," you smiled at the three of them, giving Eddie a quick kiss on the cheek before heading back to the school's doors. "I'll be back as soon as possible!"

With that said, you rushed back inside the school to head to the gym for the photo. When you were gone, Eddie looked at his friends to see what they thought. "So?"

"She's great, man," Steve was the first one to answer. "Totally not what I was expecting. She's nicer than I thought."

"Yeah, me too," agreed Robin shortly after. "I have to admit I was terrified of her at first, but she's very nice! If you ever break up with her I'm going to hate you forever."

"Believe me, I don't plan to do that."

"I'm happy you found someone, Eddie," Nancy said this time. "You look genuinely happy around her and you truly deserve to have someone that cares so much about you."

"Aw, don't get all soppy on me, Wheeler," he teased, thought appreciated his friend's words, pulling her in for a hug.

"A thank you would've been better," she commented with a smile, returning the hug.

"Oh, oh!" Robin exclaimed. "This never happen between us! We never hug. Does this mean we can hug?"

"Nope. Just us," Eddie quickly clarified, pulling away from Nancy shortly after.

"Ah, don't be like that, Munson!" Steve said, immediately wrapping his arms around his friend so he wouldn't escape. Eddie tried to push him back, but there was nothing he can do when Robin joined the hug too, making it impossible for him to set himself free.

"Yay, we're hugging!" Robin says with obvious excitement. "Join us, Nance!"

Nancy rolled her eyes, but joined them anyway, sharing a group hug that only lasted a few seconds. As soon as they were backing down, Eddie took a step away from them, as if he didn't enjoy hugging his three best friends (truth is, he did).

"Hey, weirdos!" they heard Dustin calling out for them, all of the kids standing outside of Steve's car. "Can we go now?"

Steve, Nancy and Robin walked towards them. Lucas was there with them, which meant all of you were done with the yearbook photo. Just as that thought was crossing Eddie's mind, he noticed you walked out of the school again, walking over him to grab his hand.

"Henderson, Red!" he called, both Dustin and Max turning around to look at him. "I'm driving you home, let's go!"