February 8, 1986

Eddie’s van pulled into your driveway with its signature sputter, the sound echoing through the quiet morning. You watched from your bedroom window as he stepped out, his leather jacket catching the pale sunlight. For a moment, you debated pretending you weren’t home. This plan felt more ridiculous by the second but then you heard your mom opening the front door.

“Good morning, Eddie!” she called out warmly, coffee cup in hand.

Eddie grinned, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “Morning, ma’am. Hope it’s alright I stopped by this early. Your daughter wanted some help with, uh, something she’s working on.”

Your mom raised a curious eyebrow, stepping aside to let him in. “Of course, come on in. You’re always welcome.”

Eddie stepped into the foyer, looking around like he’d been here a hundred times but still wanted to make a good impression. Your mom gave him a once-over before asking, “So, Eddie, who’s the lucky girl you’re taking to the Cupid’s Ball?”

His grin faltered for half a second before he recovered. “No one, ma’am. Don’t think those things are really my scene. Pretty sure no one’s expecting me to show up, anyway.”

Your mom frowned, clearly not a fan of his answer. “Oh, nonsense! You’d be a hit if you went. Why don’t you take my daughter? She’d have a wonderful time with you.”

Eddie chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “Ah, I don’t think that’s gonna work. She’s got her eye on this guy... Silas, from the animal shelter.”

Your mom blinked, tilting her head as if she hadn’t heard him correctly. “Silas? Who’s Silas?”

At that exact moment, you appeared at the top of the stairs, overhearing the last part of the conversation. Panic set in immediately, and you rushed down, your cheeks already heating. “Mom, Silas is no one! Stop asking about it! Eddie, let’s go upstairs.”

Your mom smirked, clearly entertained by your flustered state. “Alright, alright. But don’t hide him from me forever. You know I like to meet your friends!”

You grabbed Eddie’s arm and tugged him toward the stairs, ignoring his amused expression. As soon as you shut your bedroom door behind you, you let out a groan and flopped onto your bed.

“She just had to ask, didn’t she?”

Eddie leaned against your desk, arms crossed, that infuriatingly charming smirk still on his face. “To be fair, you did mention Silas to me first. Not my fault, it’s a mystery she wants to solve.”

You glared at him, though your heart was racing a little too fast to keep up the act. “I swear, if you tell her anything else, I’ll make you regret it.”

Eddie raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. But, uh... just curious.” He paused, his gaze flickering over you, his smirk turning a little more knowing. “So, what’s the plan for impressing this guy?”

You exhaled, relieved the moment had passed, and gestured for him to grab the notebook on your desk. “That’s what you’re here for, remember? Let’s figure this out.”

As he settled into the chair, jotting down ideas with more focus than you’d expected, you couldn’t help but wonder if he was just playing along for your sake. Or if his thoughts were elsewhere. He’d seemed a little off when he mentioned Silas, but you didn’t know if it was just your imagination. Either way, you were grateful to have him here, even if your heart wasn’t quite sure how to handle it. Eddie leaned forward, resting his elbows on your desk as he tapped the pen against the notebook with a look of mock seriousness. “Alright, so I’ve been thinking,” he began, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Option one: we train a dog at the shelter to walk up to him with a note tied around its neck. The dog’s gotta be cute, all sad-looking so it tugs at the heartstrings, you know?”

You stared at him blankly, not even trying to hide your skepticism. “Eddie, you do realize training a dog like that would take forever, right? And where exactly am I going to find the time?”

He waved a hand dismissively. “Details, sweetheart, details. But imagine it! A dog with a note. It’s cute, it’s original.”

You shook your head, chuckling despite yourself. “That’s your idea of romance? No thanks. I don’t even know if I could train a dog that well, let alone have it deliver my love note.”

Eddie grinned, completely unbothered by your rejection. “Okay, okay. Option two: you bake him some chocolate chip cookies, BUT  now hear me out…you slip little notes inside each one. Like, a fortune cookie situation. And the last one says, ‘Go to the Cupid’s Ball with me.’”

You burst into laughter. “Oh my god, Eddie, if I wanted to choke him maybe. Who’s gonna eat chocolate chip cookies with paper in them? You do realize that sounds like a disaster, right?”

Eddie chuckled along with you, hands raised in mock surrender. “Yeah, yeah, I guess that one’s a bit too… crunchy.”

He shifted in his seat, tapping his chin thoughtfully. You could see the wheels turning in his head as he came up with something else. “Alright, new idea: How about I make you a mixtape?” he said, eyes gleaming. “You said Silas is into metal music, right?”

Your expression softened a little, intrigued. “A mixtape? What’s that gonna do?”

Eddie leaned in, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. “You bring it with you, give it to him, and just… leave it. At the end, you can leave your number. If he’s into it, he’ll call you and bam You’ve got yourself a date to the ball. It’s low-key, personal, and you don’t have to go overboard.”

You blinked, taken aback for a second. The simplicity of the idea actually kind of appealed to you. “Huh. That could work. It’s not over the top, and I’d get to share some music with him.”

Eddie's grin widened. “Exactly. Plus, you know I’m the master at mixing tapes. I’ve got all the good stuff.” His tone was playful, but there was something about the way he said it that made you feel a little warm inside.

You paused for a moment, considering. “Alright, Eddie. Let’s do it.”

Eddie nodded, clearly satisfied with the plan. He grabbed the notebook and scribbled a few things down. “I’ll make sure it’s got all the best tracks. You’ll win him over in no time.”

That makes you smile but you can’t have Eddie make the tape. “Actually Eddie, I think I want to pick the songs, you can help me though. Do you think I could just borrow your double cassette player?”

Eddie’s eyebrows shot up in mock offense. “My double cassette player? You think you can just waltz in and borrow my pride and joy?”

You rolled your eyes, crossing your arms. “Yes, Eddie. It’s not like I’m going to break it. And I’m picking all the songs. No way I’m leaving it to you. You’d probably sneak in something ridiculous, like the ‘Muppet Show’ theme song or something.”

He gasped, clutching his chest as though you’d wounded him. “First of all, that’s a classic. Second, you wound me! I’d never sabotage your masterpiece… unless it’d be hilarious.”

“Exactly why I’m doing this myself,” you replied with a smirk. “So, hand it over. I’ll take good care of it.”

Eddie sighed dramatically, leaning back in his chair. “Fine, you can borrow it. But only because I’m curious to see what you put on this thing. If you botch it, though, don’t come crying to me.”

“I won’t botch it,” you said, sticking out your tongue as you grabbed the notebook from him. “And thank you, oh generous mixtape master.”

He grinned, shaking his head. “You’re lucky I like you, you know that?”

You ignored the way your stomach flipped at his words, instead focusing on jotting down your song ideas. Eddie watched you, an amused glint in his eye, but he didn’t say anything else, letting you take the lead.

Eddie leaned back in his chair, watching you scribble song ideas in the notebook. “Alright,” he said, tapping his fingers against the desk. “How about this: we hit up the music store. They’ve got a bargain bin full of old cassettes. Might find some hidden gems for your little ‘Silas seduction’ tape.”

You glanced up at him, arching an eyebrow. “Silas seduction? That’s not what this is.”

“Sure, sure,” Eddie said, smirking. “Anyway, I’ll let you go through my collection too. Between the two, we’ll have this mixtape done in no time.”

Later that afternoon, the two of you were sprawled out on the carpet in Eddie’s room, surrounded by borrowed tapes, album covers, and a rapidly growing pile of discarded ideas. Eddie was leaning against the edge of his bed, notebook balanced on one knee, while you lay on your stomach, sorting through his collection.

“Alright,” Eddie said, tapping the pen against the paper. “We need songs that make a statement. Stuff that says, ‘I’m cool, I’m mysterious, and I’m totally worth taking to the Cupid’s Ball.’”

You snorted. “Is that what this is supposed to say? I thought it was just supposed to be good music.”

Eddie’s grin turned devilish. “Good music is subjective. But trust me, we’ll make this tape unforgettable.”

“Okay, first track,” you said, pulling a cassette from the pile. “‘Take It Easy’ by the Eagles. Classic, laid-back, and a good opener.”

Eddie jotted it down, nodding. “Good choice. Alright, how about ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ by Guns N’ Roses? Everyone loves it.”

You smirked. “True. Add it.”

Eddie glanced at you with a raised eyebrow. “You’re really going for the ‘romantic and edgy’ vibe, huh? Are we still gonna hang out when Silas falls head over heels for you?”

Rolling your eyes, you leaned forward to grab another tape. “Yes. How about ‘I Want You to Want Me’ by Cheap Trick?”

He chuckled as he wrote it down. “Subtle. Real subtle.”

You ignored him, reaching for another. “‘Take My Breath Away’ by Berlin. It’s a classic for a reason.”

Eddie hesitated before writing it. “Alright, but don’t blame me if Silas thinks you’re about to propose.”

You threw a pillow at him, laughing. “Shut up, Munson.”

Next, Eddie held up a tape. “‘Somebody to Love’ by Queen. Bold, emotional, and shows you’ve got taste.”

You grinned. “Perfect. Write it down.”

He added it to the list and teased, “You’re really swinging for the fences here, huh?”

Your next pick was ‘You Really Got Me’ by The Kinks. You held up the tape with a grin. “This one’s a no-brainer. It’s catchy, confident, and says, ‘Yeah, I’m amazing.’”

Eddie smirked as he wrote it down. “Bold move, but fine. We’ll give Silas the illusion that you’re all that.”

You rolled your eyes. “Oh, please. He’s lucky I’m even considering him.”

Next, Eddie picked up ‘Let’s Go’ by The Cars. “What about this one? It’s upbeat, fun, and very you.”

You grinned. “It’s our adventuring song! You know, the one we blast whenever we’re cruising nowhere in your van.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow, fighting back a smile. “So, is this tape for Silas or for us?”

You shrugged playfully. “A little bit of both. Write it down.”

The debate over ‘Crazy on You’ by Heart took a while, with Eddie rolling his eyes at your insistence. “You’re really going for the drama, huh? Is this a tape or a soap opera?”

“It’s a great song,” you argued. “If Silas doesn’t get it, that’s his loss.”

Eddie sighed and wrote it down. “Alright, but you owe me for adding this.”

“I’ll buy you a soda,” you shot back with a grin.

Eddie smirked as he wrote it down. “This is starting to sound like a love letter.”

You grabbed a Led Zeppelin tape and held it up. “‘All My Love.’ It’s perfect.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow, his grin turning sly. “Oh, really? He has all your love now?”

You threw the tape at him, your cheeks burning. “Just write it down.”

He laughed, catching it easily, but there was a flicker of something in his expression that you couldn’t quite read.

When you picked ‘I Was Made for Lovin’ You’ by KISS, Eddie gave you a knowing look. “Really? Trying to send a message with that one?”

You grinned mischievously. “Maybe. If Silas thinks I’ll put out, he has to say yes, right?”

Eddie raised an eyebrow, leaning forward with a teasing tone. “Oh yeah? You’re gonna put out to a guy you haven’t gone out or spent time with outside of cleaning up after dogs for taking you to a ball?” His tone was light, but the words tasted bitter.

You rolled your eyes. “Well, no of course not.”

He chuckled, but his grip on the pen tightened slightly. Of course not, he thought. You’re your own woman, he reminded himself. You can say whatever you want. But the words still stung. The idea of you joking about putting out for Silas it pissed him off in ways he couldn’t quite explain. He didn’t have a claim on you, and yet the thought made his chest tighten. Shaking it off, he forced his usual grin back in place, determined not to let you see how much it got to him.

He smirked. “Exactly. But since you’re trying to send a message, how about ‘Hot Blooded’ by Foreigner?”

You laughed, shaking your head but relenting. “Fine, add it.”

The list continued with ‘Whole Lotta Love’ by Led Zeppelin and ‘Walk This Way’ by Aerosmith. Eddie’s grin widened as he wrote the latter. “Classic. Silas better be impressed.”

Finally, you gasped, holding up a tape like you’d found treasure. “I found the perfect closer!”

Eddie glanced up, curious. “Oh yeah? What is it?”

“‘Nothing Else Matters’ by Metallica,” you said, smiling.

Eddie’s hand froze for a split second before he forced a grin. “Yeah. Perfect.”

Eddie’s pen hovered over the paper, his thoughts swirling. He forced himself to focus, but the ache in his chest lingered. He couldn’t help but wonder if, somewhere deep down, you’d meant it for him.

“Hey, Eddie,” you said, pulling him from his thoughts. “Would you come with me tomorrow after school? I need to go dress shopping for the ball.”

His eyes widened slightly, and his heart skipped a beat. “Dress shopping?”

You nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “Yeah. Diana’s coming too, but... I kind of want you there.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow, his voice softening. “You want me there?”

You met his gaze, your smile genuine and warm. “Yeah, I really want you there. But... if you're offering your expert bag-carrying services, that would be an added bonus.”

Eddie chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. “So you want me there to hold your bags, huh?”

You shrugged, eyes twinkling. “I mean, it would be helpful, wouldn’t it?”

Eddie grinned wider, leaning back in his chair. “Well, princess, if you're asking, I wouldn't wanna be a mule for anyone else. But for you? Sure. I’ll carry those bags like a pro.”

You laughed softly, the teasing in your voice evident. “Good. As long as you promise not to make fun of my choices.”

He gave a mock-serious nod. “No promises. But I’ll carry your bags without complaining. Maybe.” He winked.

You rolled your eyes playfully. “Thanks, Eddie. It’ll be fun. Plus, I need someone with taste to keep me from making bad decisions.”

He couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement. “Deal. And just remember, if Diana picks something ridiculous, I’ll be brutally honest.”

“Wouldn’t expect anything less, Munson,” you teased, your smile brightening.

As Eddie finished jotting down the last song on his list, he couldn’t help but look forward to tomorrow, eager for the chance to spend more time with you.

Have a mini chapter 2.5 The Journal Entries as a treat!

Thanks for reading! Are you excited for dress shopping? What do you think so far?

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