Chapter Text
Battle of the Bands
Your muscles tensed knowing it was finally time. There was no going back. You heard the murmur of the crowd behind the curtain. This was your senior year and you would make it memorable. ‘86 was going to be your year. It had to be.
“Let’s welcome to the stage…” The teenager looked at the paper in their hand, looking for a name. “Hold on!”
The gawky teen turned their heels and peeped the curtain open. “Hey, what’s the name? There’s nothing here,” they asked, waving the sheet.
You looked quizzically, at Robin, to your left. She stood in front of the keyboard and shrugged her shoulders.
You looked at the kid before you “The Downside-Ups” you said quickly
The kid nodded and disappeared. You heard the cheer of the crowd again.
“Ok. Let’s do this again,” the excited teen pumps up the crowd. “Let’s welcome, the DOWNSIDE-UPS!!” You looked to Robin on the keyboard and Ellie on the drums, giving both a nod of readiness.
You heard the squeaking of the stagehands rolling the red curtains open. Slowly the stage lights engulf you and the band. With eyes closed, you took in a deep breath. Your eyes squinted open, hands hovering over your face as you tried to adjust to the bright lights. The crowd was eerily quiet. So quiet you heard someone cough and another teen yell “HURRY UP” the crowd laughed in response. Your heart pounding in your throat. Heat began to build from your nerves.
“We are.. uh. “ you spoke into the mic. There was feedback from the mic. The high-pitched sound spooked the crowd. You turned to Robin, wide-eyed, shaking your head.
“We’re the Downside-Ups” Robin took over.
Ellie started by rhythmically tapping her drumsticks against the edge of the drum as she stomped her foot on the pedal. Robin’s hands hovered over the Roland keyboard and started playing. Closing your eyes, with your pick between your forefinger and thumb, you used the rest of your hand to grab the mic. Left hand grasping the neck of the guitar. You hesitated as you moved yourself closer to the mic. Nerves paralyzed you. Quick to think, Robin leaned into her mic and began singing.
Feel so down, not so quick, but don't put on
Too much now, waiting on you to find out
That I will let you run ahead
It was the fall of ‘83 in the cusp of winter rolling around the corner. Sophomore year. Also the same year of Will Byers disappearance, your little brother's best friend, and the year you officially met Eddie.
You sat huddled under the bleachers, during lunch, crying. The crisp fall air burned your lungs as you tried to catch your breath. You wrapped your arms around your knees and sniffed into your jeans. You should have known that the anonymous love letter, in your locker, was a prank from the boys on the J.V. basketball team.
“Fuck” You heard the metal gate shuffle from behind, startling you. You forcefully wiped any evidence of tears from your puffy eyes. Getting caught crying behind the bleachers? How embarrassing would that be? The cold stung the warm patches on your cheeks.
“Hey, Hey,” a calm voice spoke. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle.” Palms up in defense with a meek smile across his face.
You knew who he was. He was Eddie ‘The Freak ’ Munson. There was a plethora of talk about him. From what you’ve heard you knew he was the school drug dealer, into heavy metal, and was just all-around weird. This was the 80’s… Being weird was never cool.
“Y.. You didn’t” you sniffed. You used the palm of your hands to try and lift yourself up. Eddie noticed your hand slip on your jeans and reached his hand to help. You grabbed it without hesitation. But being the clutz that you are, you managed to trip over your foot and into his chest.
“Hey, there” Eddie caught you by your elbows and made the effort to sound reassuring. His hands lingered on your arms. There was a softness in his face and tone. Not like the attention seeking brute you usually saw in the halls or at parties.
You unintentionally glanced at his lips. His lips were slightly parted, tongue between his teeth. He smelled of weed and sweet musk. It wasn't incredibly strong. But it was just enough for you to want to soak into him. You also noticed how his chest radiated warmth under your palms. He was like a furnace. He raised his hand to your face and gently moved a wandering strand of hair out from your face. His eyes scanning your face. You felt the heat of embarrassment rise to your cheeks. You quickly pushed yourself away. Making Eddie let out a small chuckle that was sorta sweet.
“Ouch” he teased as he wiggled his eyebrows “That bad, eh?”
“No” you replied a little too quickly. Looking up you saw the darkest of brown eyes. Eyes you could see yourself drowning in. A halo of light surrounded the shaggy hair that reached his chin. He had a mischievous grin across his boyish face. He wore the usual leather jacket with a jean vest on top, ripped jeans, and boots.
“Eddie Munson'' he casually leaned against the concrete wall. His hands reached into his pockets, grabbing a joint and lighter. You couldn’t help but watch him. He wasn’t as intimidating as everyone assumed him to be. There was a gravitas in the way he lit the joint. Butterflies flapped in your guts.
Eddie placed the joint between his lips and leaned into the flame of the lighter and sucked in. There was a soft orange glow around the bottom of his face.
“I know”
"Of course" he rolled his eyes.
A ray of sun bounced off his eyes making them sparkle with specks of gold as he raised his head to you, blowing smoke to the side. He raised the joint towards you offering a puff.
“I’m good.” You looked down at your hands. “We actually have lunch together.”
Why am I gdznervous ? You thought to yourself.
Eddie nodded and snapped his fingers “Ah! Knew you looked familiar. Never caught your name.” he looked at you with a child-like wonder, the joint hanging from the corner of his mouth. Your heart created a quick skipping rhythm in your chest.
You were surprised he even noticed you. Nobody noticed you. Unless you were the basketball team, pranking you. You weren’t popular by any means. But you just skirted through the cliques just enough to be able to easily camouflage yourself within the different groups.
“Y/N Henderson” you gulped. He wasn’t this scary freak people warned about.
He repeated your name. With a light push off the wall, Eddie grunted while dramatically clutching at his chest, and dropped to the floor. All the while his joint still hung between his lips.
You panicked and ran towards him. “Eddie!”
A noise burst forth was like a cross between a snort and a drunken laugh. “Nice to meet you, Henderson” He laid on his back, laughing, with his hand out for a shake. You couldn’t help but laugh as well. You grabbed his hand and gave it a shake.
“Nice to meet you, Eddie” You smiled back. His smile was infectious.
“Pleasure is all mine, sweetheart” Eddie gave your hand a lasting squeeze.
After Robin finished the first chorus, you knew it was now or never. You've been practicing this song for months. You knew that you knew this song in and out, front to back, up and down. You finally belted. Your voice was soft and pleasant, high in pitch. This surprised the anticipating crowd. They weren’t expecting this, especially from you.
Seems so far away and it seemed a fake
Well anything you say, I will get what I take
It seemed that way, it seemed that way, it seemed that way
You steadied the bass guitar over your shoulder, fingers hovering over the strings. Your fingers started strumming the chords. Once you struck your first chord your nerves settled and washed away. Letting that knot in your stomach unravel and let you feel the adrenaline bubble over and take over your body. Becoming more confident your voice grew louder and even. You let the music sway you. There was a sudden roar from the people. The feeling was electric and you fed from it. Beads of sweat formed on your forehead, but it didn’t matter.
How can I explain this to you?
I'm talking with no tongue
You build me up, enough
You finally opened your eyes, again, and smiled as you sang into the mic. You knew he was there. He had to be. Corroded Coffin was playing later. He just didn't know you signed up for Battle of Bands let alone played the bass. You threatened Dustin to not tell anybody by hovering his DnD dice over the toilet.
Through squinted eyes you scanned the crowd looking for him. Throngs of your classmates jump from their seats and start dancing. When you spotted him his eyes were wide with surprise and his face was bright with excitement. Even if this wasn’t the type of music Eddie listened to and bobbed his head to the tune. He was bewildered but was listening. There was an explosion in your heart when you saw him give you a double thumbs-up. You could feel the energy boiling in your veins.
How can I explain this to you?
I'm talking with no tongue
You build me up, enough
You began to sing with a little more vigor. Your shoulders slowly began to bounce with the music you were playing. Singing the confession of emotions that you wanted him to hear, to understand. It was a long time coming and it needed to be perfect. You closed your eyes again and belted.
Feel it now, I knew it, I knew I had a feel for you
Chemistry was violent
And sucked me dry like a branch that won't decay
Eddie couldn’t take his eyes off of you. Mesmerized. Soaking in the sound of your voice. All the years that he'd known you, he didn't know you play bass, let alone sing. You could see Dustin standing next to him whooping and hollering, a huge smile plastered on his face. You dropped the guitar to your waist and confidently grabbed the mic with your hand while the other pointed into the crowd. Eddie knew you were pointing at him.
Robin lifted her hands off the keyboard, above her head and began clapping her hands, the masses joined in. Excitement buzzed the air as your voice echoed throughout the auditorium. Leaning into the mic you continued. Lowering your voice, the melody of the song slows down.
Hey, I thought that it would come around without a word
And so far babe, I haven't heard
And anyway, you should stay, you should stay
In Fall of ‘85, Dustin and his friends finally started high school. And it wasn’t a great start. You tried your best to introduce them to some people you knew. But nobody wanted to hang out with freshmen.
“Sorry, dudes.” You say at the lunch table. “I can’t drive you home after school, ya gotta trek it like the rest of the normies”
“What? Why not?” Dustin asked, scrunching his eyebrows. “Mom said you had to drive us to Mike’s”
“Not today. Meeting Robin at Family Video, Steve weaseled a job for us” you shrugged your shoulders.
“But our campaign,” Lucas whined as he threw his hands up.
“Earlier the setup, the longer the game” Mike protested. "All for shit!"
“Oh god, a half hour is not going to kill you guys.” you rolled your eyes
“We don’t even have our bikes here” Dustin continued to complain. You grabbed your brother's sandwich and took a big bite.
“Get over it” with a mouth full of pb&j. “You’re walking to Wheeler’s, buds.”
“What’s this I hear about an adventure not to be commenced?” You felt a heavy arm drop over your shoulders, the shock making you choke.
“Shit!” Eddie rushed to pat your back quickly. “Sorry, Henderson.” One hand vigorously trying to hit your back. You quickly clenched your hand around the collar of his jean jacket for support. Once last whack to your back you were able to gasp for air.
Turning your heels, you grabbed his face, pulled him close to yours and squeezed. His big brown eyes staring wildly into yours. Lips pouty from your grip. “Y..ou..” Catching your breath some more. “Almost killed me, Munson.” Dustin and the boys looked on in horror. Even some of the tables next to you looked over to see what the commotion was about.
“Sorry, sunshine!” Eddie felt a small pang of guilt. But, you playfully patted his cheek and softly pushed his face from your hands. Eddie, once again, placed his arm over your shoulder giving the boys a feeble smile. You absentmindedly grabbed his index finger and held it there for a beat. There was a small flush that rose to Eddie’s cheeks. Eddie slowly moved his hand down, tapping his fingers along your spine before resting on the small of your back. He then dramatically plops himself to the edge of the lunch table. He reaches over and grabbed a handful of Lucas’ fries and stuffed them into his mouth.
“Who the hell is this?” Your brother, emphasizing as he pointed at Eddie with revulsion.
“Eddie Munson at your service.” He gave the boys a theatrical bow with his arms out. Dustin and the boys continue to give him a baffled look.
“Eddie, this is my annoying little brother, Dustin,” you introduced, hand rummaging through Dustin's curly hair. “You remember Mike and Lucas?”
Eddie nodded his and clapped his hands together, raising them to his face. “Shit! So this is the other Henderson?” He acts surprised. “Amazing,” he whispered in your ear. A shiver traveled up your spine retracing his hand's previous path. There was an innocence in the Cheshire grin that splayed upon his face.
“The… they’re a.. a stupid little dungeon and dragons group.” You stuttered, shaking your head trying to compose yourself. Butterflies escaping from the knot within your belly.
“Hey!” Mike grumbled
“I told you. DnD is not stupid, y/n.” Dustin affirmed in frustration, slapping the table. The people at the next table looked at him weirdly. You rolled your eyes again.
“Whatever. They’ve been playing since they were in, like, 6th grade” You told Eddie, trying to reach and grab for your brother’s juice box and his hand swatting you.
“You know there’s a DnD club, right here at Hawkins” Eddie announced smoothly as he gently played with your fingertips. You, in return, fiddled with the bulky rings on his hands. The butterflies now felt more like wind turbines in your stomach.
“What, no way!?’ Lucas smacked the back of his hand against Mike’s chest. You saw Mike mouth Ow and rub the spot Lucas whacked.
“Yeap!” Eddie looked up at you and then tilted his head at the kids “And you’re speaking with their Dungeon Master” He had a playful beam on his face. In an instant your cheeks were rosy and everyone saw you blushing.
“I’ll take you younglings under my wing.” he offered, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. “If the princess allows this quest, my little friends.”
How can I explain this to you?
I'm talking with no tongue
You build me up, enough
You repeated the chorus. You swung your body to the beat of your music. Taking a quick glance at the guitar out of habit.
Wash off all the pain been causing
I want someone to keep the moment holding on
Your eyes returned to Eddie’s. He looked so proud of you. He was jumping and pushing along with your brother and the rest of the Hellfire crew.
Robin joined you in harmonizing and repeating the last of the song together.
(I'm talking with no tongue, you build me)
(I'm talking with no tongue, you build me up)
(I'm talking with no tongue, you build me up)
Build me up
The crowd was going wild. There was a huge roar at the end of the song. Your head is held high. Your cheeks cramping from the gigantic smile on your face. Robin and Ellie moved to the front of the stage, with you, and bowed to your classmates. Sweat poured down your back. The curtains began to close. You took one last glance at Eddie, he wasn’t there.
Your heart dropped.