Work Text:
Prom fever had infected Hawkins High, transforming the usually-drab hallways into a cascading flood of glitter and streamers. Whispers and nervous energy rolled off students in waves as they all prepared for the biggest night of their high school lives.
You, however, felt only the unease and anxiety that sat heavy in your chest.
While your friends remained indifferent, being the outcasts that they were and having already resigned themselves to going stag for the main event, a sinking feeling swam in your gut. It wasn’t the dance itself that left you feeling as though the floor might disappear from beneath your feet, but rather the question that consumed each of your waking thoughts since you heard the quiet murmurs of prom mentioned all those weeks, months , ago.
Would he say yes? Or, more importantly, would you ever muster the courage to even ask him?
Eddie Munson. The school’s social pariah, the outsider, the master of your own private corner of chaotic spiralling thoughts.
Your crush was a secret that you had kept locked away from the very moment you first laid eyes on the metalhead. Happy to exist as simply his friend, because regardless of your ever-present feelings, Eddie was someone worth knowing. He was someone that few gave the chance to truly get to know, and yet he was someone whose kindness was unwavering to those who deserved it.
But when the chance presented itself, an opportunity to let him in, to admit that your feelings ran deeper than he knew, well it was an itch you couldn’t quite resist.
Finally, with prom only days away, desperation outweighed your timidity. With a racing pulse and sweaty palms, you found yourself cornering him outside the cafeteria.
“Eddie,” You blurted out, cheeks warming exponentially. “Would you- I mean, if you’re not busy, or whatever. Would you maybe like to go to prom? With me.”
The words hung in the air with an awkward silence. He looked at you, as if trying to find a hidden meaning behind your question.
“Prom?” His voice held a mix of amusement and scepticism.
“Yeah, I- I thought it might be fun.” You stammered. “And…you know, never mind. Forget it.” Shaking your head, you turned to leave, silently berating yourself.
“Hey, hey, wait a minute,” Eddie said as he reached out for you, his tone softening. “It’s cool, it’s just not really my thing, y’know.” With a lopsided grin and a gentle punch to the arm, he began backing away, “I’ll see you later, yeah?”
He didn’t wait for your answer, spinning with more grace than you ever could as he half jogged towards his next class, leaving you feeling hollow.
The rest of the week was pure torture. You tried to shake it off, plastering a fake smile on your face. But Eddie’s words, regardless of how kindly he meant them, played on repeat in your mind. Every casual glance from him felt like a shard of ice straight through your aching heart.
Eddie, for his part, couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that he’d done something wrong. Your usual shy smiles and timid exchanges were replaced by smiles that didn’t reach your eyes and stilted conversations that you cut short as soon as could be deemed polite. The subtle shift in your demeanour left him feeling unsure of himself. Driven by both genuine concern for you, and a spark of guilt that it was somehow his fault, he knew he had to get to the bottom of it.
“Hey, man, I think I screwed up.” Eddie began with a nudge to Steve’s shoulder. The video store was quiet, leaving Steve to restock the shelves as the metalhead shuffled along behind him.
“What did you do now?” Steve laughed, rolling his eyes at the other boy.
“Okay, well, I kinda got asked to prom.” Scratching his head as he spoke, Eddie shifted from one foot to the other, though he was soon shocked to stillness as Steve spoke.
His mouth hung agape as Steve instantly said your name in response, the question clear.
“How- whatever, yes.” Eddie side-eyed Steve suspiciously, “They asked me to prom, and I guess I kind of shrugged it off. It’s not my thing, you know that. And, well, they’ve been kind of off with me ever since?”
Steve’s eyes widened with a look of horror reserved only for the truly clueless.
“How are you this much of an idiot?” He groaned, slapping a hand on Eddie’s shoulder with more force than the other boy expected. “That’s not okay, dude! You should be on your knees, begging for forgiveness right now.”
“Why? They said it was fine.” Eddie shrugged.
“Eddie, my man. You are not this dense. They asked you to prom .” The videos Steve had stacked precariously in his hands fell to the floor as he gesticulated widely. Crouching to pick up the fallen movies, Steve groaned, “They like you, dumbass.”
A knot of dread settled within Eddie’s stomach. It was so ridiculously obvious now that Steve had laid it out for him. He hadn’t been a jerk, or done anything wrong , per say. It’s just that he had been so completely and thoroughly dense. You had asked him out, stepped out of your comfort zone and put your heart on the line, and he had unknowingly stamped on it right in front of you.
It was Friday. The day the entire school had been waiting for. The hallways were filled with the excited hum of teenagers, discussing their dates, their outfits and who would be sneaking in the prohibited and obligatory flask of alcohol to spike the punch.
But you were sitting alone, tucked away on the bleachers with a well worn copy of your favourite book, entirely oblivious to the world around you. That is, until a familiar voice startled you from your safe haven.
“Mind if I join you?” Eddie asked, his gaze holding a hint of hope.
You nodded hesitantly, scooting over on the bench to make space. Settling down beside you, Eddie struggled with the right words to say. Finally, after the silence between you began to grow awkward, he spoke.
“Look,” He began, his voice laced with sincerity. “About prom,”
You braced yourself, expecting yet another rejection that was wholly unnecessary.
“I messed up.” You looked up at him in surprise, “I misread the situation and I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to brush you off like that.”
“I- I understand, Eddie. Prom isn’t for everyone, and…”
He cut you off gently, hesitantly placing his hand on top of yours.
“No, that’s not it.” He said, sucking in a breath before continuing, “I didn’t realise you meant it like a date . I just- I never thought you’d be interested in me like that.”
The confession, unexpected as it was, left you speechless. But the silence only left Eddie to misinterpret the situation further, his voice growing quiet.
“Forget it, I’m being stupid. You clearly didn’t-”
He moved to remove his hand, but you instinctively squeezed it, holding it tighter in an attempt to get him to stop. The action seemed to jolt him, making him look at you, his eyes searching yours.
“You’re not stupid, Eddie, for many reasons. But especially not for this.” Your cheeks burned as you smiled shyly at him.
His answering smile was as blinding as it was mischievous.
“So, if I was to ask you out…” He began, leaning towards you conspiratorially, “forget prom for the jocks and cheerleaders. How about we have our own little prom, just the two of us?”
His suggestion, whispered softly with the promise of an evening you would never forget, sent a thrill through you.