Work Text:
The thumping base reverberated in your chest as you drained the remaining punch from your cup. Wiping your mouth, grimacing at the taste, you continued your search for your best friend.
Chrissy Cunningham was Queen of Hawkins High, dating star basketball player, Jason Carver, head of the cheerleading squad, pretty, smart, and somehow best friends with a drama geek. The drama geek, according to most of Chrissy’s jock friends. Though it had yet to happen, you still worried that one day Chrissy would take their words to heart and abandon you- but that was ridiculous. You two had been inseparable since third grade, when Chrissy complimented your Monkees lunchbox and you had pushed a boy off the swing set for saying The Monkees were stupid.
Having circled the party twice with no sight of Chrissy or Jason, you huffed in annoyance. You only came to Benny’s because Chrissy had begged you to go with her, promising that the mid season party with the team would be fun, “I’ll be with you the whole time, I swear.”
So much for that…
Dropping the plastic cup, you headed outside in hopes of finding your ride home.
The air was less stale outside, still loud- noise pouring out of the boarded up windows, but the music was reduced to a dull thump. Still no sight of Chrissy or Jason.
Damnit, Chrissy, you huffed into the slight chill of the night.
You take in the cars in the parking lot, searching for Jason’s car, or even the deep red BMW belonging to former King of Hawkins High, Steve Harrington. You had never been much of a fan of Harrington, but he and his girlfriend at the time, Nancy Wheeler, had been surprisingly good company at the few parties you had attended with Chrissy last year, even offering a ride home once.
Unfortunately, neither car was present, at least from what you could tell. The only car you recognized, much to your dismay, was the loud, blue monstrosity driven by Billy Hargrove. How you hadn’t realized he was here was beyond you. That boy was the most obnoxious person you had ever had the misfortune to share a school with.
With a groan of frustration, you spun and laid your forehead against the side of the building.
How the fuck am I gonna get home…. Damnit Chrissy.
As the early spring chill nipped at your skin, you headed back into the party, determined to find either your promised ride home, or someone with a car who was sober enough bum a ride from.
Back inside the party, the stifling heat from drunken bodies dancing mixed with the smell of beer and booze, making you kind of regret rejoining the fray- sure, it was cold, but at least it smelled better outside.
A loud cheer sounded as someone- Billy, of course- dropped down from his keg stand, presumably beating his record. Rolling your eyes, you scanned the crowd, hoping against hope that you would spot Chrissy or Jason.
Instead, your gaze found Andy- another basketball player, best friends with Jason Carver- sporting his signature snapback. You pushed through the sea of bodies towards him, apologizing profusely as you were unceremoniously shoved into him by the moving crowd.
“Woah there,” Andy laughed, catching you against him. “It’s not a problem, you okay?”
“Uh, yeah, thanks,” you half yell back, attempting to be heard over the music. “Hey, have you seen Jason anywhere? He and Chrissy were my ride home.”
“I uh, I think they left like, maybe 10 minutes ago?”
“Oh, great,” you laughed humorlessly. Of course I got left behind at a party at Benny’s. At least at house parties I can actually walk home if I get ditched.
You were startled from your thoughts when Andy leaned in closer, placing a hand on your shoulder.
“If you need a ride, I can take you. I have my dad’s truck for the night.”
“Are you sure? You don’t have to leave to take me, I’m sure I can find someone else to catch a ride with.”
“Yeah, I was gonna head out soon anyway.”
“If you’re sure,” you trailed off. Andy nodded and slid his hand to your lower back, walking you back through the crowd.
Once again outside, you let out a heavy sigh, happy for the music and people to be left behind. Andy pointed out the truck you were walking towards, assuring you once again that it was not a problem to drive you home.
“Can’t leave a pretty thing like you stranded all the way out here,” he said with a grin that you knew made plenty of girls from school swoon.
You, however, were not really in the mood for jokes on that particular topic.
“Your buddy Jason didn’t seem to have such a problem with it,” you shot back without thinking.
“Chrissy probably wasn’t feeling well,” he defended. “Happens more often than you think, them leaving parties early because she’s sick.”
You hummed noncommittally, unwilling to fight with the guy giving you a ride home.
Andy started to back out of the parking lot as a couple more people poured out of the once beloved diner, either heading home or just to smoke.
You gave Andy directions toward your neighborhood and settled in for the ride, eyes drifting closed briefly in the silence of the truck.
After a short time, or a long one, it was hard to tell in the dark silence, Andy reached out and shook your knee slightly, asking, “You awake over there?”
“Yeah,” you replied, stifling the beginnings of a yawn. “Just a long day, you know?”
Andy started to respond, but you were not paying attention, instead focused on the tall trees that lined the road. It took a while for you to notice that Andy hadn’t moved his hand.
Or rather, he hadn’t removed his hand from your knee, having slid it up ever so slightly to rest on your lower thigh.
“How come you don’t come out with us more often? I know Chrissy is your best friend or whatever, but you don’t seem to hang out a lot.”
“We just run in different circles I guess,” you say, trying to move your leg from under his hand without making a fuss. Just need to get home… hell, if I can get within a few blocks I’ll be happy… “Cheer keeps her pretty busy, and I have drama club and all that stuff, so…”
“Why not try out for cheer? You’d be great at it.”
“I don’t know about-“
“Oh come on, you could hang out with Chrissy more, we’d spend more time together, and I bet you would look great in the uniform.”
You laugh nervously, this time trying a bit more forcefully to dislodge his hand from your thigh.
“I doubt that, and I spend plenty of time with Chrissy, just not at school or parties-“
“Well what about us?”
“What about us, Andy? You barely know me!”
“And I’d like to fix that, get to know you better,” Andy said, tightening his grip on your thigh.
“I- Andy, I’m flattered, but I am not interested.”
“What, you got a secret boyfriend or something,” he asked, aggression leaking into his tone.
“What? No! I don’t- I’m just not interested, Andy, is that really so hard to believe?”
Andy slammed on the brakes jolting your body forward, thanking whatever higher power there was that you had put on your seatbelt.
"What the fuck, Andy?!"
"Get out."
Your jaw dropped.
"I said get out."
"Are you being serious right now?"
"I am so serious right now, get out of the truck," he said, not even looking at you, his hands now in a white knuckle grip on the steering wheel.
Without another word of protest, you threw off your seatbelt and jumped out, slamming the door closed behind you. You stumbled back a bit as Andy took off down the road, leaving you stranded between two distant streetlights in the middle of the night.
"ASSHOLE!"
Sure, he couldn't hear you, but it made you feel better.
You mutter angrily to yourself, confused by the entire night as your exhaustion started to really set in.
"Fuck me," you mumble, wrapping your arms around yourself against the chill that had settled deeper into the night air.
You head off in the direction Andy had driven, hoping that you were closer to civilization than the woods let on, or that some other car load of partiers would offer a ride and not run you over.
"I am never going to one of those stupid parties at Benny's again," you say aloud, mostly to distract from the silent darkness between the trees. "This was so stupid, I didn't even want to go, and now I have to walk a billion miles."
It did not turn out to be a billion miles though.
Your feet sore from your cute, but less than comfortable shoes and skin now numb to the cold air, you found yourself nearing the entrance to Forest Hills Trailer Park.
Being a drama geek, you didn't know a lot of your peers, mostly just the ones you had classes with, Chrissy, and some of her friends, but you did know one person at Forest Hills for sure- Eddie Munson.
Eddie "The Freak" Munson was a notorious drug dealer, a satanic cult member, just an all around Bad Guy.
At least, that's what most people in Hawkins would tell you. In your experience, Eddie couldn't be farther from that description if he tried.
Well, except for the drug dealing, that was admittedly accurate.
To you, Eddie was your sister's friend, a dork who loved Dungeons and Dragons and metal music. A guy with friends he could count on his fingers and still have some left over. A boy that smelled like stale cigarettes, weed, and suspiciously like lemon Pledge, which he would adamantly deny.
You hadn’t spoken to Eddie since the Hellfire club members had wished her well at college in Chicago at the end of their summer campaign, and even then, you had sat in the car while she returned some belongings and said her goodbyes outside Gareth’s garage during one of their band practices.
The brief moment of relief you felt at the sight of some kind of civilization dissipated as you thought of your sister.
You missed her.
You missed waking up in a house where she was, missed having a ride to anything you happened to want to do, missed watching her pluck cigarettes from the mouths of her friends and throw them as far as she could while berating them about the dangers of smoking.
You even missed her over protectiveness- her warning to Eddie that she better not catch him selling you any kind of drugs, the way she placed herself between you and any boy that dared to approach you, the late night rides around town when she promised that if anyone messed with you they’d have to deal with her.
As you walked down the dimly lit dirt road to the trailer park, you hoped Eddie would help. Eddie had always been nice, but he still felt like more of your sister’s friend than yours.
The black van parked in front of the only trailer that was playing music at a frankly obscene volume was indication enough of which home was Eddie’s. The gravel crunched beneath your feet as you approached the door, second guessing your plan.
What if this is somehow the wrong trailer? What if he’s busy? What if he hates you now that your sister is gone and your best friend is still Chrissy Cunningham whose boyfriend hates Eddie more than anyone else?
Your mind whirled with what if’s, but with your options limited to ‘ask Eddie for a ride home’ and ‘walk over five miles home’, it wasn’t much of a choice.
Knocking on the trailer door you braced yourself- for what? Who knows, your heart was racing at the prospect of talking to Eddie alone.
A dull thumping got louder and louder, then the door was flung open and a cloud of smoke rolled down the rickety porch steps and into your waiting form.
Backlit by the lamps inside, Eddie looked majestic- his long hair pulled back into a bun, showing off his pale neck and the line of his jaw, his dark t-shirt hanging from his thin frame, flannel pajama pants slung low on his hips. A mostly smoked joint hung loosely from his fingers, the tip still glowing red. His brown doe-eyes widened at the sight of you, a smirk creeping across his face.
You shivered lightly at the warmth that poured out of the trailer, smokey and weed scented as it may be.
“Well, well, well, Lorwyn the Younger, what brings you by at this late hour?”
You roll your eyes, fighting the smile pulling at the corners of your mouth (and failing). It shouldn’t have, but Eddie’s reference to the early Hellfire campaigns he had allowed you to sit in on since your sister played surprised you.
“My sister and I literally are not that much alike, Eddie.”
“Could’ve fooled me, and every other person in Hawkins,” Eddie replied, bringing the joint up to his lips.
“And,” you continued, “You’re the one who made Lorwyn the Younger, I wasn’t even playing in your campaign, I just took notes sometimes.”
“Ah, but you could have, still could if you took some time off from playing at popular.” Eddie’s smirk grew a mean edge.
“What’s that supposed to mean,” you asked, smile beginning to fall.
“You know what I mean.”
“Just because I’m friends with Chrissy doesn’t mean I’m trying to be popular, I’m up to my eyeballs in drama club stuff,” you huff, rubbing your arms against the chill. “Just because I’m not being accused of Satanism or whatever doesn’t mean I’m vying to be popular.”
You and Eddie stared at each other, listening to the ambient sounds of the woods behind his trailer mix with the dull thumping of whatever music Eddie had left playing in his room.
“Oh shit, are you cold? Here, come in.” Eddie swept his arm back, allowing you to step inside the trailer.
“Yeah, thanks,” you said quietly, looking around.
It had been years since you had been in the trailer- it looked bigger then. There was a newer looking recliner in the corner, a different threadbare blanket tossed on the couch, the floor likely more stained than the last time you saw it, but otherwise it was exactly the same as you remembered it.
“Wayne’s still not one for decorating, as you can see.”
You had met Wayne Munson a handful of times, and each time he had a different novelty mug full of coffee, either on his way in from or out to work at the plant. He was always a bit surprised when Eddie had people over, used to others' judgement of his nephew.
“How is he?”
“Same old,” Eddie shrugged. “Mildly annoyed by my bullshit, as usual.”
“Well if anyone is entitled to being annoyed by you…”
Eddie surprised you with a laugh, a genuine one. The sound brought your smile back.
“You know, that’s fair. But seriously, what brings you by my place? Don’t tell me you’re here to buy, your sister’ll have my ass if I sold you anything.”
“No, not here for weed. But honestly, with the night I’m having it doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”
Eddie’s brows knitted together, head tilting to one side as he took in what you said, watching you review the slight changes in the trailer. But rather than ask the question he clearly wanted to, he went in a different direction.
“How’s Lorwyn the Elder?”
“She’s good,” you shrugged. “In Chicago at school. I called her yesterday, but she had class so she couldn’t talk for long. She says hi, by the way.”
“Really?”
“Well, if she knew I was talking to you, I’m sure she would’ve said hi, so… she says hi.”
“I guess I say hi back then.”
Eddie gestured to the couch, circling the coffee table to throw himself into the recliner. You took a seat as he snubbed the end of his joint into an ashtray on the table. He watched as you opened and closed your mouth a few times, trying to find words to a conversation you never thought you would be having.
“I… kind of, uh, I need a ride home,” you finally settle on, looking him in the eyes despite your nerves. You had always had your sister and the Hellfire club as a buffer- this was the first time you were talking to Eddie completely alone.
“What, your ride here ditch you,” Eddie joked.
Forced laughter made its way from your throat as you looked down at your lap, fingers twisting together and picking at the skin around your nails. Eddie’s light chuckled stopped and he sat upright in his chair.
“Hey, I was just kidding, don’t- did someone actually leave you here?”
The events of the night- looking for Chrissy, talking to Andy, the sudden stop of his truck, the walk to Forest Hills- flashed through your head.
“Kind of? I, uh, I was at Benny’s with Chrissy.” The tickle of tears tracking down your face surprised you, made you more nervous, an embarrassed flush reddening your cheeks. “She practically dragged me out of the house with her and Jason, said it would be fun.”
Eddie’s face dropped further at Jason’s name, an entirely predictable reaction you anticipated, even in your current state..
“I know, he’s an asshole, but Chrissy’s my best friend, Eddie,” you glared at him briefly, tears freely falling down our face now. “They were my ride, but I guess Chrissy felt sick? So they left, without me, and I asked-“ Your voice hitched as you remembered that you hadn’t asked for a ride. He had offered. “Andy said he would give me a ride home, but he kept hitting on me and when I told him to stop, he kicked me out and drove off, and you’re the only person I know here, and you have your van, and- and I thought I, uh thought I’d see if you could drive me home?”
Silence descended on the trailer. Eddie’s music had come to an end at some point during your rambling explanation. You took a few deep breaths, attempting to stop the tears and high emotions running through your body.
Eddie was quiet, an unnatural state for him. Even at school, where he had a target on his back for being himself, he could be found loudly preaching his antiestablishment views. A quiet Eddie was worrisome.
“But, uh, it’s not a big deal, Eddie, I can just- I’ll walk home, it’s fine,” you said, the back of your hand wiping at the tear tracks on your cheeks.
“What? No, I- I can take you home, that’s not a problem,” Eddie rushed to assure you, clambering over to sit beside you on the couch. “Are you okay? That’s a stupid question, sorry.”
You sniffed a laugh and Eddie rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed.
“It is a stupid question.”
“I’m not good at this, okay? Not a lot of experience with my friends sitting on my couch and crying, especially girl ones.”
“We’re friends?”
Now it was Eddie’s turn to laugh.
“Yeah, we’re friends. You came knocking on my door for a ride home in the middle of the night- if we weren’t friends before, we have to be now. Adventuring together is a strictly friend thing to do.”
“I wouldn’t call getting ditched on the side of the road then needing a ride home an adventure.”
“Not all adventures are fun,” Eddie shrugged. “I mean, grocery shopping is boring as hell- could still be an adventure.”
You laughed again, not so much because it was funny, but the warmth in your chest at his attempt to comfort you.
Eddie grinned, standing to wander into the kitchenette, pulling a pair of cups from a cabinet and filling them with water. He held one out to you when he returned to the couch, chugging from his own cup with fervor.
A third laugh escaped you as some water dribbled out of the corner of Eddie’s mouth.
“Sorry, thirsty,” Eddie said, his cheeks turning a light pink.
“It’s fine, sorry, I just- I needed that.” You sipped from your own water cup, grateful for the water as you came down from the adrenaline of the night. “Thanks.”
“Any time.”
You and Eddie settled into a comfortable silence as you drank your water. You were surprised when Eddie spoke again, mostly because he wasn’t ushering you out to his van.
“Those basketball guys are assholes, don’t let one of those dickheads make you feel bad. What kind of person kicks someone out of their car in the middle of the woods?”
“I know right? I thought he was joking,” you replied, matching his righteous incredulity.
“He’s not funny enough to make a joke, lost too many brain cells throwing balls into baskets.”
Laughter filled the trailer, the heavy feeling from earlier entirely gone.
“You know, if you ever need a ride, you can call me,” Eddie offered. “I’m usually home this late, unless it’s Tuesdays.”
“What’s on Tuesday?”
“Corroded Coffin plays at the Hideout on Tuesdays.”
“Oh, right! That’s cool, that you guys get to do that,” you replied, blushing- how could you forget? You had helped cover for your sister the few times she had snuck out to go see them.
You had wanted to join her, to see what she and her friends would get up to, but it was more practical for you to stay home.
“You should see us play sometime, I can give you a ride, there and back,” Eddie said with a grin. “Scout’s honor.”
You barked out a laugh at the last bit.
“You’ve never been a scout in your life, Eddie.”
“Fair, but I can promise not to leave you behind.”
You had to look away from him or your heart would burst from your chest.
“That’d be cool, I guess.”
Eddie smiled his genuine, sweet smile at you, before clapping his hands together and suggesting you head out.
“Now, I can't have you out too late, can I? Not if your parents are gonna be okay with you going out on a-“ Edie gasped dramatically, “School night!”
You chuckled at his dramatics and stood up, ignoring the tiredness that had settled into your bones. Every cell in your body willed you to sit back down, to rest on the couch instead of venturing back out into the chilly night, even if you were actually getting a ride home this time.
You waited as Eddie ran to grab his usual leather jacket, yelping when he called a heads up and tossed a bundle of fabric your way- well-worn hoodie.
“Figured you could use a sweater, too.”
You were so filled with warmth at his actions that you almost didn’t need the sweater. Almost.
You pulled it over your head as you descended his front stairs and made your way to his van. Eddie, ever the gentleman, opened your door for you, waiting for you to get settled before jogging over to the drivers side. He started the van, the last tape he had been listening to blaring to life from the speakers.
He turned the music down to a reasonable level, then pulled a carton of cigarettes and lighter from his jacket pocket. With one place between his lips he asked, “You’re not gonna throw this out the window like you sister, are you?”
You smiled, remembering your sister's habit of cigarette snatching.
“Nope, it’s your car, your lungs, if you wanna smell like cigarettes for days, that’s your business,” you replied, watching him light it before exhaling a cloud of smoke, looking far more attractive than anyone should. “Could we open the windows, though?”
“Oh, yeah, for sure.” Eddie rolled his widow down with vigor before he began pulling out onto the road.
The ride to your house was shorter than you thought it would be- or maybe it had just been a long, long night. You didn’t realize that you hadn’t given him directions or an address until he was pulling up along the curb outside of your house.
“Here we are, my lady,” Eddie said in almost a whisper, as if worried someone on the empty street might hear.
“Why thank you, good sir,” you whispered back, smiling.
You hopped out of the van as quietly as you could, not wanting to wake your neighbors. As you shut the door, you looked up at Eddie to find him watching you.
“Thank you again, for everything.”
“No sweat, Lorwyn the Younger. Just- next time, don’t get stranded, I might not be as close.”
You nodded, wanting to say more, but not sure what. Eddie seeed to understand anyway.
“Have a good night,” he said with what was the softest smile you had ever seen adorned on his face.
“You too,” you said back, turning away to hide the blush creeping up your face, even though it was dark enough that Eddie couldn’t have seen it if he wanted to.
You made your way up the drive quickly, expecting to hear the sound of Eddie’s beat up van pull away from the curb. But the sound never reached your ears.
You glanced back half way to your house to find Eddie exactly where you left him, watching as you approached the looming shadow of your home. He offered a small wave, which you returned.
He’s waiting for you to get inside, to be safe. The thought made your heart flutter.
When you finally reached your front door, you turned and offered Eddie a thumbs up. Only then did you hear his van roar to life once more.
You pushed open your front door and waved one last time to Eddie. He returned it with a two-fingered salute and pulled off down your street and into the night.
With your front door closed and locked securely behind you, you sagged against it with a heavy sigh.
-
The weekend passed almost without you realizing, still stuck in the daze of your long Friday night.
When Monday morning rolled around, you groaned at your alarm clock, genuinely thinking about faking sick to stay home.
Eventually you did make it to school, choosing to ride your bike and enjoy the weather. You jumped when you felt a hand on your shoulder as you looked through your locker.
"Did you hear about what happened to Andy?"
Chrissy leaned against the locker next to yours, eyes shining with desire to share the newest gossip. And normally you would be all ears, eagerly listening to your friend as she shared whatever news had swept the school.
You tried (and failed) to hide your annoyance as you asked in monotone, "Oh no, what happened to Andy?"
"Eddie Musnon beat him up."
Your eyebrows shot up, your jaw dropped. You fought the smile that threatened to plaster your face as Chrissy continued.
"It was crazy, Jason and I were walking through the parking lot and Munson was just beating on him, it was so scary."
"What did Andy do?"
"What do you mean? A teacher pulled Munson off him and I think he's at the nurse now-"
"No, I mean, what did he do to like, start the fight?"
"Oh, well Andy said he didn't do anything-"
"Chrissy, you know as well as I do that every fight Eddie has ever had with them started because they were bothering him, and as if I'm gonna just take his word for it that it was unprovoked, like-"
"Hey, are you okay? You seem, like, really annoyed, and I don't know if it's me or something else," Chrissy cut you off.
You blew out a heavy sigh and rested your head on your now closed locker. With a small smile, you reassure Chrissy that you're fine, you just had a weird weekend.
"Okay, well if you want to talk, I'm here for you." Chrissy gave you a blinding smile.
"Thanks, Chrissy. Speaking of, how are you doing? Andy said that you left early on Friday because you felt sick."
"Oh, uh, yeah, just drank too much too fast, haha," Chrissy's laugh was hollow, her smile no longer reaching her eyes.
"Sure, I hope you're feeling better. If you need anything, I'm here for you too."
Her smile softened into something closer to genuine. You nudged her shoulder with yours and walked off to class, back into the usual flow of your weekday, the Eddie Munson conversation mostly forgotten.
As much as you tried, you couldn't help but have questions for Eddie about what happened- what did Andy do this time? Why did you hit him? How long are you suspended?- and the only person you could ask wasn't allowed at school for god knew how long.
You wouldn't let yourself think about the question you wanted answered most- did you do that for me? It was a ridiculous thought, that it wouldn't leave your head for the rest of the day (more like rest of the week) didn't mean anything.
Andy probably just said something really horrible. It really wouldn't surprise you.
-
It was a while before you saw Eddie again.
With his suspension from school and your busy schedule with the end of year show the drama club was putting on, there hadn’t really been time.
You had thought about going by his trailer, but your nerves had talked you out of it.
Part of you, and you would never admit it out loud, hoped that he would seek you out.
But he didn’t.
And it was fine, really, because you were very busy pulling costumes for final projects, or painting scenery for the show, or hanging out with Chrissy, or doing your homework and studying.
So you had almost completely put Eddie and the events of so many weeks ago out of your mind, resigned to simply fading back out of Eddie’s life, of him fading out of yours, when you are startled from your trance of hanging costumes in one of the drama room closets by a loud thud.
“Hello?”
With no response, your shoulders tense, the hair on the back of your neck beginning to rise. You grab the closest object to you that could potentially function as a weapon, which just so happened to be the iron hanging beside its board on the wall opposite the costume racks. The cord wrapped around one fist, the iron raised back, prepared to swing, in the other, you crept toward the closet entrance to have a look.
Before you could peer around the doorway however, a head popped out from beyond the frame, sending you into the air with a shriek at the figure’s “Oh, sorry.”
When your heart had left your throat and you could hear beyond it’s rapid pounding once more, you swatted the figure on his leather jacket-clad arm.
“Eddie! What the fuck! You almost gave me a heart attack!”
“I already said I was sorry,” Eddie whined with a small grin, the expression not quite reaching his eyes.
“Yeah, just- I was spooked, is all, should get you a bell,” you laughed quietly. “So did you, uh, need something? Or were you just hanging around?”
Eddie looked you up and down for a silent moment.
Just before the moment stretched too far, Eddie said, “Nope, nothing needed, just lurking about.”
“How have you been?”
Eddie visibly tensed at your question, only for a moment, but you had caught it.
“You know, same old, same old.”
“Oh okay, well, I’ll just, uh- I’ll get back to this then.” You and Eddie nodded at each other from opposite sides of the costume closet doorway.
As Eddie turned to leave, you remembered something you had been thinking since club elections the previous week.
“I wanted to tell you, Eddie,” you said, your hand already reaching for his arm to keep him in your presence, keep him from leaving, “That, uh, since Megan is graduating, um, drama club had elections last week, and I know she said Hellfire couldn’t use the drama room for meetings anymore, but uh, I’ll be club president next year, so if Hellfire wanted to use it next year, uh they totally could.” Eddie didn’t say anything to you, but the fidgeting of his hands had stopped. “As long as they don’t give me shit during tech week. And promise not to break anything we leave out.”
The longer Eddie said nothing, the more you wanted to explain yourself.
“Not that, uh, not that they would want to, I just know that uh, you liked using it. And um, I don’t know who will be in charge of Hellfire next year, but I thought you would, and you could just, let them know… that the offer, I guess, is there… if they want.”
By the end of your rambling, Eddie had a wide grin on his face, a hand had pulled a lock of his hair in front of his face, acting as the worst disguise and/or face shield a person could imagine.
“Lorwyn the Younger, drama club president? Letting the Satanic Hellfire club use the drama room for our meetings? Megan is gonna be pissed when she hears about this.”
“Well, it’s not her business anymore, let her be pissed.”
You could feel the wide smile on your face, sure it was matching the one poorly concealed behind Eddie’s hair.
“You need a ride home?”
“Oh, uh, I still need to finish this,” you gestured behind you at the costumes till left to hang up. “But thanks, I appreciate the offer.”
“I can wait,” Eddie shrugged, “I don’t have anywhere to be.”
Your heart skipped a beat. How had this kind boy been set as the pariah of Hawkins? Just what was it that the whole town saw that you seemed to miss?
“Oh, well, um, sure then, if you really don’t mind waiting. I won’t be long, promise.”
“Take your time, can’t have Miss President doing sloppy work now can we?”
“Oh you’re gonna be annoying about this, aren’t you?”
“Me? Annoying? Never.”
Your combined laughter filled the previously silent space. It took far longer for you to hang 12 articles of clothing than it ever should.
And after the costumes had been hung, you continued to Eddie’s van.
“Did you quit smoking,” you asked him suddenly, throwing him off enough that he tripped over his feet.
“What? No, why do you ask?”
“Just figured you’d be dying for a smoke break by now,” you shrugged. “Not weed,” you added in a hushed tone, looking over your shoulder back at the school, as if it could hear you. “Thought you’d have a cigarette lit as soon as we cleared the hallway, is all…”
Eddie twirled a strand of hair around and around his finger.
“Oh, I just- uh, I’m trying to cut back. Some of the Hellfire guys, they’re uh, allergic? Or something? So I’m uh, trying to, uh, cut back,” he finished lamely.
“That’s so nice of you, Eddie, maybe they can get you to quit altogether.”
“Uh yeah, maybe.”
Eddie opened the door for you to hop into his van, waiting patiently as you climbed in before closing it behind you.
You watched him jog around the front of the car and couldn’t help the flutter in your stomach at his actions. Eddie Munson, a true gentleman.
-
“Soooo, how are things?”
You listened to your sister catch you up briefly on her semester and what she had been up to since you had last spoken.
“And I just got promoted at work, got a raise and everything.
“That’s awesome!”
“It does mean that I won’t be home this summer.”
“Okay, less awesome,” you said, deflated.
“I know, but I can actually maybe start making some money AND have some days off,” your sister reasoned. At your huff in response, she continued, “Which means that when you visit we might actually be able to do something fun.”
“Fair point, it just sucks, is all. Who is gonna take me places this summer? I’m sick of listening to Jason’s rambling when he drives me and Chrissy around. He's gotten way more preachy, especially since Eddie gave me a ride after school last week.”
“Eddie gave you a ride? When?”
“I literally just told you it was last week after school.”
You could feel the look she was giving you through the phone.
“Okay, I was doing club stuff in the costume room, Eddie came by, we ended up talking while I finished up and then he gave me a ride home. I guess Jason saw me leave during a break at practice or something? I don’t know, but he’s being super annoying, Eddie is not even half as bad as Jason says he is, it’s ridiculous. And I told him that he needed to calm down because, like, what the hell did Eddie ever do to him?”
“Defending Eddie pretty hard there…”
“What? Jason says horrible things about him, but look at who he’s hanging out with! His best friend left me in the woods in the middle of the night, what leg does he have to stand on preaching about decency? And besides, you know Eddie, why is it weird to defend him?”
“It’s not, it’s just,” you heard her sigh on the other line. “You have been putting up with Jason’s shit for years because of Chrissy and never said a word to him.”
You sat in silence at the realization that she was right. You had spent years listening to and ignoring Jason’s strange ramblings and commentary, usually of a religious nature, on everyone and everything around you, and for Chrissy’s sake you mostly held your tongue- until now. Until Eddie.
“And now,” your sister continued, “you are defending Eddie, of all people, to his face, just a bit of a change is all.”
“I guess I’m just getting tired of his bullshit. Lots of people repeat a year, it’s not the big deal Jason makes it out to be.”
“Most people don’t have to do it twice though.”
“What? Eddie isn’t graduating?”
“Nope, he got suspended and missed some test, O’Donall wouldn’t let him make it up because he has so many absences, the old bitch.”
You immediately thought back to that day in the costume closet, only a week or so after Eddie was back at school, the way his face had fallen when you asked about him. The question you had pointedly ignored for weeks burned in the back of your mind- did he beat up Andy for you?
“That fucking sucks.”
“Tell me about it, I’ll honestly be surprised if Eddie doesn’t just disappear until school starts again in the fall, no point finishing classes he’s gotta take a third time.”
You hummed, guilt beginning to consume you. It had been one thing when Eddie might have gotten suspended defending you, but having to repeat the whole year? Your stomach turned at the thought.
Then again, maybe you had it all wrong, maybe Eddie and Andy’s fight had been entirely coincidental and here you sat making Eddie’s problems about you.
“Yeah,” you murmured. “That’s probably fair.”
After a few more minutes of catching up, your sister had a class to get to.
“Ugh, I can’t imagine having to go to class right now, it’s practically the middle of the night.”
“Better than an 8am, to me anyway,” your sister chuckled. “Hope Jason gets less annoying about, well, everything.”
“Ha, fat chance of that happening. But thanks, I hope so too.”
You heard her laugh over the phone before you asked a question before you could talk yourself out of it.
“Hey uh, before you go, do you think that, uh, Eddie would maybe want like, not tutoring, but-“
“I dunno, but I know who would know if Eddie wanted help with school shit.”
The silence between you felt like an eternity.
“You totally like Ed-“
“Shut up shut up shut up, I do not, I just thought it would be nice.”
“Suuuuure you did, has nothing to do with your little crush from way back when.”
“I’m hanging up now, never speaking to you again.”
“Talk to you in a few weeks, tell Chrissy I said hi.”
“Will do-“
“Tell Eddie I said-“
“GOODBYE.”
You heard laughter fill the line as you hung up on your sister, groaning at her teasing.
On the bright side, she hadn’t said it was a bad idea… she didn’t warn against getting closer to Eddie like you had expected either, so you would take that as a win.
-
You didn’t see Eddie much over the next few weeks.
Well, that’s not true- you saw plenty of him, just always at a distance.
There were stolen glances in the cafeteria at lunch, timid smiles of acknowledgement in the halls, but never any conversation. And oh, how you wanted conversation.
Only two short weeks before summer break officially began, you had had enough.
When you found yourself in the small storage area for the larger set pieces, the hair on the back of your neck stood up. You didn’t need to look up to know who was watching you.
“You know, you don’t need to stalk me if you want to hang out, Eddie.”
You turned in time to watch Eddie trip and attempt to catch himself on a precariously balanced board, which only delayed his journey to the floor.
Despite your best efforts, your laughter burst from your lips, tears beginning to collect in the corners of your eyes. Eddie couldn’t help himself, his own laughter shortly joining yours.
You made your way over and offered a hand up, still trying to contain your giggling in an effort to make sure he was okay.
“So what did you need, Eddie?”
“What, I can’t just want to hang out with you sweetheart?”
You pointedly ignore the increase in your heart rate and flush you hoped wasn’t noticeable on your face at his words.
“Not when I’m busy, no,” you laughed in an attempt to cover how breathless you sounded. “I do exist outside of school, if you want to hang out somewhere less depressing, though.”
Eddie had that strand of hair twirling around his finger, covering what looked like a smile on his face. You went back to your work to avoid making the harsh pounding in your chest even worse.
“What if I like watching you do your thing, Miss President Lady,” Eddie asked, his voice playful as he leaned into your space fully to see what you were doing.
“Then I hate to disappoint you, but I’m done here.”
“Woe is me, deprived of the honor of your presence as you work with the dedication of one thousand men,” Eddie sighs, draping himself over a set piece.
You lightly hit his chest, rolling your eyes.
“I do have a life outside of school stuff, Eddie.”
“Oh? Do tell sweetheart, I’m dying to know.”
The grin on Eddie’s too close face was almost feral.
“I’m not that easy, Munson, gonna have to buy me dinner if you want my secrets.”
You made your way to the door, Eddie following closely behind. He held the door open for you above your head, giving a small bow as you walked past him.
“Dinner is kind of a while from now, how about milkshakes?”
“Hmm, well if you’re driving me home afterwards, who am I to say no?”
“But of course, madam president, I am ever a gentleman.”
You laughed as you clambered into the passenger seat of his van.
-
You and Eddie were seated at a booth, milkshakes half empty and fries scattered across the table from Eddie’s insistence that he could catch them in his mouth if you threw them - No, sweetheart, not like that, throw them right or else I can’t catch them!
You watched Eddie tell some story from earlier in the year, his hands whipping around and imitating different voices, unable to stop just how at home you felt listening to him ramble.
“So O’Donnall, of course kicks me out, but instead of going to the office I just though ‘fuck it’ and drove to Indianapolis, which is how I started going to those shows I told you about. I want to get Corroded Coffin there, get our stuff out somewhere outside of this damn place.”
You huffed another laugh, admiring Eddie’s spontaneity.
“Whatever, O’Donnall is a bitch anyway.”
“Tell me about it, Eddie grumbled, sipping his milkshake.
“I’m sorry she didn’t let you make up that test,” you said quietly, stirring the whipped cream into your milkshake with your straw.
“Ah, don’t worry about it, just means I get to stick around for your senior year.”
You look up at him, finding his eyes on you, a wide smile across his face.
“Finally, I’m friends with the town cult leader,” you smile back.
Just then you hear the sound of the diner door opening and familiar voices drift in- Chrissy and Jason.
When Chrissy saw you she waved, eyes widening and hand falling as she saw who you were seated with. You waved back, unashamed of your company- you and Eddie hadn’t done anything wrong and you refused to feel bad about it.
As you turned away from your friend, Jason saw you and saw you see him. When he noticed Eddie seated across from you he glared, eyes filled with a look that it seemed only Eddie could cause.
Jason stormed over, trailed by a hesitant Chrissy, not quite yelling, “What the hell are you doing with her, freak?”
“Oh fuck off, Jason.”
Jason whipped around to face you at your outburst.
“What did you say to me?”
“I said fuck off. I don’t need you causing problems with my friends for no reason.”
You could see Eddie shift in your periphery, but you refused to look away from Jason, to blink first.
“You know he’s-“
“I know what you think of him, Jason, and I thought I had made it clear that your opinion was not wanted or needed. Now can you get back to your date with my best friend who you are ignoring in favor of yelling at me?”
Jason didn’t look so angry anymore, mostly he just looked shocked.
“Are you gonna leave or keep standing there?”
You chance a look at Eddie, who is sitting there in awe.
When Jason didn’t respond, you huffed, “Fine, we’ll go, we were done anyway.”
You rolled your eyes and dug out your wallet from your backpack, throwing enough to cover your and Eddie’s food before sliding out of the booth. Eddie followed suit, adding “see you around Carver,” as he rushed out the door after you.
When you were back in the van, Eddie looked at you with a grin before he asked, “So that’s what you do outside of school? Hand carver’s ass to him?”
“Recently, yeah. He’s been more of a dick than usual since you gave me a ride after school.”
“That’s a pretty great way to spend your time, honestly.”
“Thanks,” you laugh, “I’ve got plenty of material to yell at him about. I mean who does he think he is trying to tell me who I should and shouldn’t spend time with when his BEST FRIEND is an asshole? I’d rather be friends with the cult leader who deals drugs.”
“Aw I’m touched, sweetheart.”
When Eddie pulled up outside your house, neither of you moved to get out.
“Thanks, by the way,” Eddie said, fingers twisting the rings on his fingers.
“What for?”
“For sticking around when Carver showed up… Not, uh, not usually what happens.”
“You deserve better.”
He looked at you, wide brown eyes making Eddie look younger, more vulnerable.
“You deserve a lot better, Eddie. You’re one of the nicest, funniest people I know, I don’t get why this town hates you, but I don’t.”
You and Eddie stare at each other in silence for a long while.
You notice his eyes glance towards your lips, your own eyes doing the same to him every so often.
“Y/n?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I kiss you?”
Before Eddie can finish, you are leaning over the center console and pushing your lips together.
Eddie’s lips are soft, softer than you thought they’d be. You had expected them to be chapped, to taste like the stale cigarettes that lightly scented his van and his clothes. You couldn’t be happier to be proved wrong.
“I’ll have to thank the Hellfire guy that got you to stop smoking cigarettes, I couldn’t even taste them on you.”
Eddie blushed at your comment, looking away.
“What is it?”
“I may have lied about that…” At your continued confusion, Eddie went on. “There is no kid with allergies in Hellfire, you just didn’t hang around as long when I did smoke them so I kind of cut back to hang out with you…”
Your jaw dropped, but was stopped short by your smile.
“For me?”
“For you.”
You kissed him again, giddy at his confession. But that got you thinking…
“Can I ask you something?”
“Shoot, sweetheart.”
“Why did you beat up Andy and get suspended?”
Eddie took a deep breath before answering.
“I didn’t mean to hit him, was just giving him shit for being such a dick to you that weekend. He was talking shit about me, whatever, but when he started about you-“ you saw his fists clench and took one in both your hands, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t blame yourself, I probably wouldn’t have passed this year anyway, I don’t regret what I did.”
Your mouth, which had opened to say something- an apology again probably- shut once again.
“Thank you, Eddie.”
“Anytime, sweetheart.”
You brought his hand to your mouth, where you kissed his knuckles that had been bruised not too long ago from his fight.
“A guy who can fight and play an instrument? I hit the jackpot, huh?”
“Oh, I can do so much more than that sweetheart.”
“And I look forward to finding out what,” you grin, kissing him once more.
How you and Eddie ended up in this cliché romance in the middle of Hawkins- falling for your sister’s friend who defends your honor, then defending his honor in return before your big first kiss- neither of you knew, but you wouldn’t have it any other way.