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The house was crowded. Too crowded. And loud. Which was normal, considering you were at a party.
You walked to the backyard, that was surprisingly empty. Everyone was probably puking, sleeping or making out. You’ll hear on Monday at school the things everyone did. Who hooked up with who. Maybe some couples broke up this night. But it was too soon to think about Monday. You could already feel the morning headache, like someone was inside your skull knocking very hard. You needed to sit down.
Not wanting to go back into the house or get on the ground, you head to the swing set by the fence. You tried to walk in a straight line while sipping on the bottle of water you had. Getting closer to the swings, you saw there was someone already there. As you were still walking and squinting, trying to see who it was, you slammed your leg into something solid.
“Fuck!” you cursed when your leg started throbbing with pain. “Who the hell has a big rock in the middle of their backyard!” you grunted angrily to yourself. You passed the rock and heard a low chuckle coming from the swings.
“I asked myself the same thing” the same voice said. “That’s why I thought you already saw it and I didn’t have to warn you about it.” he said. You looked at him. He wore a denim jacked, a Black Sabbath shirt and ripped jeans. You glanced at the beer in his hand, but more at the rings he wore.
“Why, are you like the keeper of the stone, waiting creepily in the dark to warn people?” You entered his game and he grinned.
“Yes, that’s exactly why I’m here.”
“Well, you failed and I nearly broke my leg.” You were now standing in front of the empty swing, contemplating if you should sit or not.
“I am so sorry” he said and touched his heart with a palm theatrically, bowing his head. “What can I do to redeem my mistake, my lady?”
“My lady? You flatter me.” His curious eyes were on you, waiting for a response. “Hmm” you tried to look pensive. “Maybe you can let me sit on the empty swing.” you offered.
“Of course.” he nodded.
You sat down. Your head stopped hurting. Silence followed, but it wasn’t awkward. It felt peaceful. Like you were sitting with someone you knew for a lifetime. You could hear the music and people cheering inside the house. The night was so clear. You looked at the stars, hoping for a few moments you’ll catch a falling star. You turned your head back to the boy, finding him already looking at you. He quickly looked at the sky.
“I know you. You’re Eddie.” You had some classes with him. He sat in a few seats from you in maths and history. You noticed him every day, always doing his thing. Drawing, scribbling words on scrapped paper, never paying attention in class. He was interesting to you, a puzzle you were too shy to solve. Sometimes, you caught him looking at you during class or during lunch, when your eyes found each other over the sea of people, too often to be by mistake.
He tilted his head, his eyes on you again, almost like not believing you said his name. “I hope you don’t know it for the wrong reasons.”
“No” you claimed. “We share a few classes. You asked me once for a pen.” You squinted at him and raised an eyebrow, shifting your face to a fake serious expression. “You never gave it back to me.”
Eddie looked caught in a trap, but when you smiled he started laughing.
“I swear it’s somewhere safe, in my room. I’ll look for it and give it to you in maths class.” he offered
“Nah, you can keep it. I don’t even remember what it looks like.”
Another silence falls over you, but this time it felt different. Like you both wanted to say something, but didn’t know how. You opened your mouth, but he already started speaking.
“Can I be honest with you? I didn’t think you were gonna sit here.” he confessed.
“What?” you blinked.
Eddie shrugged. “You know, I’m at the bottom of the food chain. And you’re…” He stopped “You’re you.”
You tilted your head, confused. “What does that mean?” You were a bit stunned by the fact that he paid enough attention to you to notice that.
His eyes widened, thinking he offended you. “Sorry, I meant people like you and you’re smart. High school treats you well.” He looks at you holding his breath, thinking he ruined the moment.
You laugh and he exhales relieved. “Is that what you think of me? People sometimes talk to me during class because they want to know what homework we had. Or, you know, they ask for a pen” You smirked and he puffed. You leaned on the chain “But I don’t really have friends. Just Robin. And sometimes Nancy. I guess people don’t like me enough to want to be my friend.” You couldn’t believe how fast you just told him one of your biggest insecurities. That you’re not interesting enough to be approached. It was something about him. Like if you could pour your entire heart for him. Maybe it was the alcohol in your veins.
“I told you that because when people talk I sometimes hear your name and they say nice things about you, that’s all.” he said and took a sip of beer. He offered you the bottle and you took it. Your fingers brushed for a second, sending a strange feeling to your stomach. You couldn’t believe you were here, sharing a beer with Eddie Munson.
“Sounds like you’re watching me.” you teased. He looked caught again.
“I’m not doing it in a creepy way, I just-” He said quickly, trying to explain himself but failed.
You smiled “It’s okay, I-” You felt embarrassed for what you’re about to say. “Sometimes I watch you too. Like you said, people talk and I always thought there’s more to you than what they say.” Eddie looked at you, studying your face, like he was trying to see more than what you let on. “You know, I didn’t peg you for someone to come to a Valentine’s Day party. Don’t think you’ll find Black Sabbath playing here.” you said, pointing at his shirt.
He nodded and shrugged. “I’m here for the free booze. I don’t mind hanging out in the backyard. Last month, I switched the tape that was playing with one of mines. At first no one noticed, but then that guy Trevor came and tossed it.”
“That was you? Those were the best two minutes of the party. What was it? ‘Heaven and hell’?” You remembered Trevor’s party. All you heard for three hours was Madonna. You were groaning every time a new song started.
Eddie stared at you in disbelief. “You listen to Black Sabbath?”
“Yeah. I have a pin with them on my backpack. I guess you’re not watching me too closely.” I smiled.
He placed a hand on his chest. “I promise I’ll watch you even more from now on.” He said with a wide smile on his face. “What else?”
“Bowie, Beatles, Alice Cooper, Motley Crue. I saw Metallica with my dad.” You looked at Eddie. He looked like he was zoning out. “Eddie?”
“Sorry, did you just say you saw Metallica? I feel honoured to be in your presence.”
“You’re really dramatic, you know that?” You rolled your eyes. “My dad has a camera. He took some photos. I can show you if you want.” you offered. You couldn’t help but smile at him. He looked like a kid on Christmas morning.
“That would be so cool man.” When he looked at you, you could feel something shifted between you. “You’re way cooler than I thought. I was actually watching you bec-” He looked shy. “Because I wanted to talk to you.”
“To ask me for another pen?” you teased him. You both laugh, but you couldn’t hide that his words flustered you. “I wanted to talk to you too. Guess I thought you’re a bit scary. I didn’t know anything about you. I mean, the real you” you said trying to look him in the eyes. When you did, even in the dim light, you noticed how brown they were. And how they almost seemed like they were looking for something hidden in yours. For a few moments neither of you dared to move. You could hear ‘I’m not in love’ faintly playing from the house. You felt something strange in your stomach again. Embarrassed, you cough, trying to get rid of the flush in your cheeks.
You kept talking, jumping easily from a topic to another. Movies, books, movies. You found out you shared a Lord of the Rings obsession. Sometimes, when he talked, he gestured, and you couldn’t help but stare at his hands and rings.
“You should come to a d&d meeting. I know you’ve probably heard a lot of bad stuff, but I promise you we’re not summoning demons. I can teach you how to play, if you want.” he looked at you with anticipation.
“I’d like that.” you nodded. “Find me at school next week.”
“Perfect!” Eddie smiled wide, his heart racing. He finally did it. After months of stolen glances and trying to make up the courage to talk to you, somehow you stumbled into him and somehow stayed.
Eddie drove you home. When he pulled up in front of your house, you didn’t move. Tension built up during the drive. You didn’t want to leave, to end this night. You looked at him.
“Thanks for the ride. And for tonight. You saved me from that party.” you fidget. “I’m glad I didn’t listen to those jerks. You’re really cool.”
“You’re really cool too.” he smiled gently. He wanted more time with you. The burden of everything he wanted to say to you was crushing and it put him in a short state of misery.
Going through the same storm of feelings and being too nervous to say anything, you turned to the car door to leave. As you touched the handle, you got a sudden rush of adrenaline and turned to him. At the same time, he started speaking:
“Wait, do you wan-” You stopped him with a kiss on his cheek. Eddie stopped, looking at you with those wide, brown eyes that drove you insane all night. You started to feel embarrassed that you interrupted him, but his cheeks were now a light colour of pink. He blinked and lightly touched his cheek with his fingers. He was aware that he was acting like an idiot the whole night every time you looked or touched him, but this was on a whole other level.
“Sorry, I-” you turned, scared that you ruined the night.
“No, don’t be.” he said, still flustered. He wanted to kiss you right then and it took everything not to. “I was wandering if you want to go to watch the new movie. With me. There’s a screening at six. I wanted to go alone, but I think you’ll like it.” he asked quickly, his hands shaking a bit. “I can pick you up.”
His question took you by surprise. You smiled. “Yeah, I’d really like that.” Butterflies flooded your stomach. “Do you have a pen?”
“What? Yeah somewhere” He started searching through the cup holder. You looked too. It was filled with bottle caps, guitar picks, folded paper, a few cigarettes and a pen. He handed it to you, confused.
You took his hand and scribbled your phone number. “Call me before you leave your house.”
You didn’t need to give him your number. Not really. But you wanted him to have it. You were still holding his hand as he stared at it. Eddie closed his hand around yours. He brought it up to his lips and kissed your knuckles. Your cheeks had to be a deep shade of pink, as you could feel them burning. His lips were soft against the back of your hand. You already missed his touch when he let go of your hand.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He said.
“Yeah, see you.” The cold February air brushed your face, cooling it. Damn, you were sure looking like a tomato. You circled Eddie’s van, heading to the door. Before you unlocked it, You turned your head to his window. Eddie was already watching you, smiling. You smiled too and opened the car door and he started the engine.
Now in your bed, you could still feel the shadow of Eddie’s lips on your knuckles.
When Eddie pulled up in the trailer park and opened the door, he touched again the cheek you kissed earlier. Damn. You got him wrapped around your finger in one night. He was in big trouble.