He was in a loss for words as soon as he saw it was the old creaking piano emanating those notes. And a very concentrated someone he had never seen before. Eddie fixated on your eyes, and the way they were half closed, centered on the way your own fingers moved over the keys. He could see you counting, with the way your head bopped, your hair cascading on your back, bouncing after every movement your arms did, trying to reach the right note. 

“Fuck” you grunted before blowing air through your lips. Eddie’s head tilted to the right. Curious about what happened. It sounded good to him, he even was begging to sing along in his head. 

His eyes followed you, the way you stood softly shocked him, he half expected you to stump your way through the music room. He watched as you reached for one of the beat up guitars that hung in the wall. Eddie found himself scoffing, he knew those guitars were out of tune. But once again, he was shocked when he saw you tune it in a matter of seconds, just needing a couple of strums per string. 

He watched closely once again as you sat back down on the piano stool, and the way your fingers quickly found the chords that the piano had already played. He stood there for a bit longer, the urgency he had was now long forgotten. Instead curiosity invaded him. He was trying desperately to figure you out. 

“Found you fucker” You whispered after strumming after where you had stopped with the piano. 

He was deeply impressed, and he couldn’t quite understand what was going on, or why he had stood there. Or even how you had not caught him yet. 

The soft sound of the piano accompanied by the whispering of your voice led him back to reality. Eddie shook his head, letting his hair hit his face softly enough for him to refocus. With one last look, he left. 

Though the rhythm accompanied his steps. 

The lyrics repeated in his head. 

tangerine, tangerine

living reflection, from a dream. 

-

The faint smell of smoke filled the room, as the ashtray was slightly overflowing. The window slightly creaked open, even in the February cold. Papers were scattered around the table, some were partially stained, the fizzyness of the sodas making them stick to one another. The party looked at each other in a daze, at a true loss for words, the only thing left to do was stare at Eddie, waiting his words. 

He was captivating, as he narrated how the heretic Paladin Sir Keer was being accompanied down to the cells of the castle prison. He had been accused of treason, of an attempt on the life of the king, the very king the party was in charge of protecting. In the middle of a joust, there have been 3 separate attempts to end his life, Sir Keer on the center of all of them. 

“I would like to go visit Sir Keer.” Will spoke softly, under the attentive gaze of all of his colleagues. 

“You find your way through the cold and dark corners of the stone corridors, a couple of guards stand before the cell of Sir.Keer, what do you do?” Eddie asks, his hand gesturing as he asks. 

“In the name of the king I implore you to grant me a few moments with the prisoner.” Eddie smiled at the new found confidence that Will was exhibiting. Deep down he knew it had something to do with the recent change he had over the summer. 

After a persuasion check, and a very intimidating Will, he had somehow managed to get himself inside the jail cell. He was on the ground, acting as though he was on his side. A spy on the inside. 

“Tell me where to get another poison dagger, I can finish the job, I can get close to his highness.” 

“Emperor Fabicci, he was the one to give me the dagger, I’m sure he could give you one as well” Eddie let out in a thick Italian accent, not being able to avoid the smile that formed on his lips as soon as he saw the reaction on the party’s face. 

“Guards.” Will added coldly, a bit louder than before. “Arrest Emperor Fabicci at once. He just admitted to treason.”  

“Apostate!” Eddie wailed as he mimicked his arms chain into a wall where his throne was. 

“Well, where is your god now?” Will whispered back as his friends went ballistic around him, and Eddie couldn’t help but smile proudly. 

The session finished amidst of all the chaos that had formed in a second. 

He had one thing clear, that kid was the future of Hellfire. And Henderson. Henderson who was celebrating the narrative that had been created as if it was a personal gain. 

While Eddie pretended to clean, he paid attention to what they all talked about. It was an old habit he picked up a while ago, needing to know what they thought of the campaign. He paid close attention to what the young ones were talking about. 

“Wait, Steve’s not coming to pick us up?” Mike winned as he threw his backpack on. 

“Yeah, no, him and Robin are stuck at Family Video.” Dustin recited, by the tone of his voice it wasn’t the first time he said so. 

“It’s okay” Will added, looking straight into Mike’s eyes. “My sister is supposed to be studying, mom told me to pick me up. I’ll call her, I’ll tell her to drive you guys.” 

“10 bucks says she’s sleeping” Lucas whispered into Dustin’s ear, he looked back and quickly nodded, before Will could catch them. 

Eddie smiled to himself, and started gathering the papers he had hiding behind the screen. He had a system, in a way. 

“Shuffeling everything into the bag isn’t how you organise things” Dustin spoke carefully around him, expecting the shove Eddie playfully gave him. 

“Shitehead.” Eddie added before rustling his hair. He’d never admit it out loud, but seeing Dustin’s hair get longer and curlier filled him with a sense of joy, as if he was being seen for once, and not just tolerated. “You know, I could’ve driven you kids home.” 

“Sure, local freak drives kids in his van, that’ll work” Dustin sarcastically commented as he lifted his eyebrows, embracing Eddie’s hand on his chest with a chuckle. It wasn’t a warning, but a demonstration of appreciation. They both knew, they both understood. 

“How else am I gonna kidnap you?” Eddie added to the ongoing joke, smiling deeply once he heard Dustin’s chuckle. 

“It’s alright, Mrs.Byers is a bit paranoid about Will getting back home anyway.” With a scrunch of his shoulders, he started helping Eddie. 

They stayed quiet, talking about the campaign here and there. Eddie enjoyed that closeness, and the feeling that he mattered. 

As always, they all walked outside together, closing each door carefully. With each step, the coldness was more noticeable, that icy smell that fills the lounges in that spiky specific way. 

Thankfully for you, the car shields you from that cold. 

The soft buzzing of the motor dozes you off, you let your head rest against the window. For a few seconds, you enjoy the quiet. You let yourself close your eyes. You let yourself not think for a second. 

The loud closing sound of the metal door startles you. 

Will smiles at you, waving his hand eagerly from side to side. You can’t help but beam at the image of him. The amount of love you have for your brother couldn’t even be measured if you tried. You catch Dustin digging into his pocket just before slapping Luca’s hand. 

You let yourself out of the car, eager to help Will and his friend puzzle in their backpacks onto your trunk. 

Eddie’s lips curled upwards. As soon as he saw your hair moving, he recognised you. The mysterious musician had a name, a family, was real. 

He hadn’t imagined it. 

With the light of your car hitting your figure from the back and the soft mist that was starting to fall, Eddie thought he was in the making of a movie scene. 

He needed to know more about you. 

-

“You should go out more.” Robin teased again, her feet high on the table. 

“I do go out.” You mumble out, getting a fistful of sweets and nit picking the ones you actually like. “I went out to pick you up.” 

“I meant like, parties and stuff...” She let out, quickly and softly. Sometimes it was hard to understand her words. 

“You want to go on parties?” You spun around, your eyes now looking straight into her. 

“Not a lot, just…some.” 

“Who’s the girl?” You immediately asked, shoving your foot into her leg. You rested your head on the back of your sofa, looking at her as you waited for her to stop being embarrassed. 

“Vicky…” She whispers, her cheeks flushed, her freckles almost disappearing. 

“You look like a strawberry. Cute.” Robin chuckled as she returned the shove you had just given her. “Yeah, we can go out, wherever she is.” 

“As if you need more excuses to distract yourself.” Steve’s voice erupted as the door opened. You rolled your eyes as you shook your head. 

“You’re starting to sound like my mother.” 

“You’re starting to stand like her too.” Dustin added, slightly pointing at the way Steve’s hands were on his hips. 

“You already have kids, like her.” Robin joked further. Breaking Steve’s concentrated face with a small smile. 

“Well, Mrs.Byers is an excellent mother, and so am I… it appears.” Steve threw the hard VHS tape onto your lap as you grunted. 

Dustin walked around the sofa, plummeting himself on your side as he left the pizza boxes on top of your table. 

“How come you’re not at Luca’s game?” You chirped, taking his cap off so you could rustle his hair out of his eyes. 

“Rude.” He said before snatching the cap out of your hands. “I didn’t feel like third wheeling.” 

“Will went.” 

“Exactly.” 

“I don’t get it.” You added going back to inspecting the tape. 

“Is Jonathan coming?” Robin spoke after a short chuckle, her eyes shifting from you to Steve. 

“Nah, he’s at the game with Nancy, she asked him to get some pictures for the Highschool paper thingy” You replied, before looking back at Dustin. “Is that what you meant?” Dustin just shook his head with that grin he seemed to have inherited from someone. 

“What are we watching exactly?” 

“Labyrinth, it says so on the tape.” Steve chirped as he plummeted to the once blue armchair. “You're so far behind you’ve forgotten how to read?” 

“Dingus.” You recited in Robin’s tone. “What’s it about.” 

“You’ll like it, Bowie’s in it.” Robin shuffled her leg so she could hit yours. 

“Does he sing in it?” The light came back in your voice. Everytime music was involved in something, your voice seemed to do that. It got higher in tone, fuller on every syllable. 

“That he does.” Robin chirped as she swiped the tape away from your hands, squatting in front of the T.V so the movie could start soon. 

-

It went by smoothly. 

Though you bolted to your room as soon as the movie ended, picking up the broken guitar you had found in Hopper’s garage. It was missing one of the strings, and you could never get it on tune. It was perfect, even if it sounded off. 

They knew the deal, you needed to figure out the musicality of every song you liked, and as soon as they saw you counting with your fingers when Bowie sang along the goblins. 

You found your way back into the sofa, under the watchful eyes of your friends, you started strumming the strings as you mumbled the notes you remembered. Without uttering a word, Steve rewinded the tape until the scene started again and threw the remote at you. You nodded as a way to say thank you. 

The door opened, Will found his way next to you. 

“Jonathan’s staying over.” Will muttered as soon as he sat next to you. 

“Lucky him” You joked with your younger brother as he shuffled closer to you. 

“What are we working on?” The question came out of his lips naturally, having asked it a million times. 

“Bowie.” 

“Your favourite.” 

“Only because you like him so much” He giggled as he observed you closely. It had become one of his favourite activities. 

Whilst they pretended to clean, Dustin was planning one of his schemes. 

He recognised that look. That driven, obsessed, head over heels look for one thing. Music. 

Steve also recognised Dustin’s look. He quickly gave him a shove. 

“What are you scheming?” Steve’s accusatory tone made Robin turn around, her eyes swifting from you to Dustin. 

“They’d be perfect, no?” 

“Who?” Steve and Robin asked in unison. 

“Her. With Eddie.” Dustin stated as if it had been a universal truth wrongfully ignored. 

A silence fell between the three of them. 

All three heads thinking different scenarios, situations of the could be met up, how it would work. What could happen. 

“She’d be too blunt.” Robin shushed, covering her mouth as she spoke. Afraid that she might be wrong. 

“And he wouldn’t?” Steve shrugged, his hand leaving his hip to play with his hair. A nervous tick he had when he tried to assess a situation. 

“He might get into a speech she’s not interested in.” Robin concluded, sharing Steve’s point of view. 

“Or, perhaps. They both speak the same language.” Dustin pointed out, his eyebrows raising slightly. 

As soon as their eyes looked back at you, and saw you hunched over the guitar, they all could swear the same thing. It was like seeing double for just a second. 

It was only made more evident by the little celebration you shared with Will, as soon as you got the chorus riff right on that out of tune guitar.

-

Eddie’s mind seemed to be elsewhere. 

Wayne had caught on quickly, by the way he took off his shoes when he arrived home, late as ever. Instead of them being thrown into a corner of the hall, one pointing west and the other east, they were both neatly gathered by the side of the door. The way someone who was deep in thought and wanted to pretend to be perfectly fine would take them off. 

Wayne said nothing. 

He just checked, as he always did in those early hours of dawn when he came back home, that his godson was resting inside his room. Nestled inside a cocoon of covers and blankets. His hair everywhere, covering his face. Wayne always made sure to open a window, letting the soft air flow through the closed room, allowing the sun rays to wake Eddie up in a few minutes. 

Usually, that’s how he woke up. This time around, he simply closed his eyes tighter as soon as he heard Wayne’s footsteps, pretending to still be asleep. Opening them as soon as the door was closed once again. 

Everytime his eyes closed, that image of you playing the piano, softly counting the rhythm with your head nods would appear. If not that one, his more recent one would invade his thoughts. You really had looked like an angel when the light of your car hit you from the back. Your arms opened so you could hug your brother. 

Eddie wondered. He wondered while he was making an extra pot of coffee for Wayne, he wondered while he was getting changed, he wondered while he ate his buttered toast with some leftover jam, he wondered while he was brushing his teeth, he wondered while he was gathering his things before leaving, he even wondered has he was driving. 

What would your voice sound like? Were you as soft as you seemed? What did your hair smell like? Was it vainilla or coconut? Where did you discover that song? What other songs could you play? How long did it take you to learn a new one? Where did you find the sheet music for it? Was it all in your head? If so, could you teach him how to do that? He saw you playing guitar, how old where you when you started playing? Had you both been playing for the same amount of time? What flavour are your lips? Is your skin soft to the touch? WOuld you allow him to find out? 

He couldn’t stop. 

It was driving him insane. 

He was so deep in thought, he thought he was imagining things. 

It took him longer than he would like to admit, realising that you were actually speaking with Robin, and that you had dropped off Will and Dustin in the span of five minutes. All happening a few feet from where he was. 

You smiled. 

You smiled and the world stopped. 

It wasn’t at him, but he didn’t care. He saw you smile and laugh with Robin, before heading somewhere he couldn’t follow you to. The crowd had engulfed you. Just as quickly as he spotted you, he had lost you. 

Fuck, not again. 

It was torture. 

Before he was conscient of what he was doing he found himself between Dustin and Robin, both of them looking at him astonished. 

“Good morning?” Robin asked with a puzzled look on her face. 

Eddie’s eyes were still searching for you, someplace, anywhere. 

“Yeah, yeah” Eddie shushed, switching his gaze back on his friends. “Who was that, exactly?” He needed to get to the point, anything, something. 

“Who?” Dustin's voice sounded ironic, expecting a laugh from Robin that came out in a muttered chuckle. 

“She came to pick you guys up, she was laughing with Robin just a second ago?” He was starting to lose it, not wanting to tell on himself. He was over-animated, focused, driven by a mystery he needed to solve. 

The only thing they could do was laugh. Not at him, but at the conversation they had last night, and just how right -once again- Dustin had been. 

“Girl Byers?” Robin chuckled, playing with her hair to avoid looking intimidating. Eddie was close enough to her to understand, this teasing was part of her way of caring. 

“What about my sister?” Will chirped, as they all started walking to their classes. 

“Since when do you have a sister?” Eddie grunted with confusion, his eyebrows raised as the words left his mouth. 

“Since I was born…?” Will answered with clear sarcasm in his tone. He felt a small shuffle in his shoulder from Robin. 

“Fuck off.” 

“Why so many questions, Munson?” Robin inquired, standing still in the hall, before parting for her class. 

“She appeared out of thin air, I’m worried she might be part fae” The way Eddie lied was hypnotic, he always found a way to divert people, to create an environment where the line between what was true and what was a lie was blurred. But this time, Dustin caught the lie. It was his eyes, they were a bit too open, a bit too alert. 

“She could be a bard, she hasn’t let go of that beat up guitar lately” Will commented absentmindedly. 

Beat up? The guitar in the music room was old, but not beat up. The mystery got wider in Eddie’s mind. 

“Who’d thought? She failed the same classes… like a hundred times.” Dustin added fuel to the fire, his right hand under his chin. 

Eddie went quiet, he just wanted to listen, to gather information. To know what to do, what to say if he runs into you again. 

“I think that has more to do with Lonnie…” Will go shy at the end of his sentence, as if speaking his name brought only misfortune. 

“Lonnie? Who’s that?” Eddie couldn’t help but let the words out with one breath. He regretted it immediately, seeing how Will went blank in that same instant. 

“His dad, total douchebag.” Lucas finally spoke out, appearing behind them just at the right moment. 

“She had to go away, some legal stuff with my mom… But she has finally come back, so she’s finishing the classes she needs to” Will felt like he was monologuing now, and too many eyes were on him. He got nervous, he started to press his fingernails against the inside of his fingers and his palm, right where he could feel it most. Eddie noticed, he always notices. 

“I don’t wanna break the moment, but we’re gonna be super late to Mr.Clark’s so…” Lucas rushed, pushing Will and Dustin out of the way. 

They left laughing, as they usually did. 

Dustin mouthed an I told you to Robin, which made her think of the perfect excuse. 

“Look, we’ve agreed to go out to the Robinson’s this Friday, come by, she’ll be there.” Robin tried to sound non-chalant, but Eddie could tell how the prospect made her happy and excited. He just nodded, before heading off to a different class. “Munson!” 

“I’ll think about it, Buckley!”

-

He had done nothing but think about it. 

But you were oblivious to it all. 

You were dancing, closer to the corner of the room where the record player was, closely eyeing Steve’s failed attempts to get a couple of new numbers. 

You listened closely, the honeyed words he let out, choosing what he said, when to ruffle his hair, when to laugh and when to stare. It was mesmerizing, seeing him try this hard. It was equally funny to comment with him after they left. 

You heard as Steve asked for her number, and were actually shocked once she gave it to him. A crumpled up piece of paper with watery black ink. 

She left, looking back with a soft smile, while Steve very deliberately ruffled his hair.

“Yeah, she’s not the one.” You whispered as you bumped his chest with the side of your head. He threw his arm on top of your head before holding it tightly, a half embrace you were used to by now. 

“Absolutely not.” Steve whispered back in your ear, his true smile now on his lips. “But she’ll be a fun ride.” 

“Ride?” You questioned looking back and forth from him to the girl that had now a frown on her face as soon as she saw him close to you. You shook your head in an attempt to reassure her, somehow. “I doubt she can give you a piggyback ride.” 

“Only if I’m lucky.” He winked at you, making you realise what he meant, earning a well deserved slap on his chest. 

“Gross” 

You both laughed, he twirled you around before starting to look around the room once again. 

You tried endlessly to change his opinion, you reminded him how maybe, just maybe, if you started going out on other towns, maybe even into the city, he’d see more beautiful girls. He half joked about it, how he would start his second round soon, how you might be right. 

You looked at your empty cup, and he just nodded. You found your way to the kitchen aisle. 

You felt a stare somewhere you couldn’t quite place.

Eddie was frozen in place. You were right there, looking for a bottle opener, mouthing a never stopping river of “sorry” to every single person that bumped into you. He thought he had his opening then, his old, beat-up keychain that functions as one could be the answer. 

He remained astonished by you once again, as he watched carefully how you positioned the bottle diagonally against the table, the cap gracing the corner, and with a sharp strike against the edge of the wooden surface the red bottle cap was now on the floor. 

He grew more intrigued by you. 

He stayed where he was, thinking how to introduce himself. 

But you were too busy making eye contact with a very nervous Robin. Who came to you dancing anxiously, her eyes trying to find something or someone. 

“What’s wrong?” You asked as soon as she was now in close distance with you. 

“Nothing, I just…” 

“Is it V?” Your eyebrows raised with concern, not wanting your friend to feel any pain. 

“No, she’s actually really nice. I just, too many people all of a sudden. Steve?” She demanded after she spun her head around once more. 

“I think he’s hitting on Linda, but we can go find him, do you want to find him?” You were frenetically speaking now. 

“No, no. It’s okay. Just, some quiet? Then we’ll come back?” She was begging. You nodded, holding your hand out. 

You knew she needed you right now. You were also not sure what exactly to do, besides being right next to her. That same feeling of someone staring at you persisted. 

Eddie broke the distance, he followed you both out. 

The paleness on Robin’s face made him forget about his feelings for a second, concern clear in his eyes. 

“Robs? You okay?” She shook her head. That’s all he needed. 

He made way, bumping first into people so you both could have an easier time walking behind him, finding a way outside, where it was quiet, and cold enough to shock your lungs. 

He took Robin’s hand out from yours, quickly nodding at you. 

You starred back. 

You watched as he took both of her hands and made her sit on the floor. You listened as he asked if she wanted to lie down for a second, at how he laughed with her when she admitted the cold felt nice on her skin. How he counted for her, Eddie asked gently “Can you breathe with me?” and then just counted to six, then to four, then to eight.

“Wizard” Robin whispered with her hand on her chest. 

“I have my moments” He continued the joke, his eyes shifting to you for a second. You with the light hitting you from the back, making you look angelic once again. “You want to come join us, angel?” 

You chuckled. The world stopped. 

You laid down next to him. 

“I’m-” 

“My brother won’t shut up about you.” 

He smiled. He enjoyed the knowledge that that phrase gave him. If Will didn’t shut up, maybe you have been as consumed by the image of him as he had been by yours. He let the moment breathe. For once in his life, he was thankful the music wasn’t loud and clear, but distant and soft. The perfect environment for him to enjoy the coldness of the ground, the sparkled black sky and your short breaths. 

He rejoiced in the silence for once, careful of the way he was breaking it. “All bad things I hope”

 He couldn’t stop grinning. 

He kept switching from the star filled black sky to your eyes. 

Somehow your eyes shone brighter. 

“Mmmh, stalking’s bad enough.” You muttered, looking back into his eyes. 

“Stalking?” Robin chirped, incorporating herself, slowly. 

“You’re back!” You celebrated, your voice a tad eager to hear hers. Eddie whipped his head fastly, from your starfilled complexion to her short-haired friend. 

stalking’s bad enough kept repeating inside his mind. Have you been aware? All of this time, you knew he was looking out for you? In every corner? In every assembly? In every possible place you might appear again? Did you notice him too in the music room? If so, why hadn’t you said anything? Why did you choose to keep playing as if he had been a ghost? 

He was the one spiraling now. 

But as soon as he looked back at you, and your dumbfounded smile he couldn’t help but grin at himself. You radiated light. Comfort. Goodness. 

How could he be inside his head doubting anything when you were there? 

“Can we find Steve?” Robin’s words were polite, careful and with a hint of shame you couldn’t quite place. You just nodded, holding her hand again in a reassuring gesture. 

“Of course.” You quickly glanced back at Eddie. The tall curly haired guy intrigued you in more ways you could rationalise in that instant. “Coming?” 

“Gladly.” 

You let them talk. Will has told you how Eddie talks, he starts with a miniscule thing, something nobody notices, and goes on and on and on. You were enjoying him, and his voice. Especially his voice, and the way it envelops you. It’s not too harsh and it’s not too slow either, it has a perfect tempo and colour. Then again, you remember the begging your younger brother had done for you to drive them to a musty bar because he was singing. You assumed he’d be off tune, sang too fast, screamed too much. 

But you doubted yourself now. 

His voice was fit for the most beautiful notes.

Even as he spoke it already sounded like a song.

You couldn’t help but smile quietly to yourself. 

As soon as Robin found Steve she ran at his arm, begging for an ear that’d understand the way she was feeling. Unrequired love wasn’t new to him, and right now, even if Robin trusted the both of you deeply, he needed his friend. 

You nodded, with your usual smile. You understood. 

Eddie took advantage of the moment, trying to answer his previous questions. 

“Hey, what did you mean before?” 

“What’re you talking about?” You asked as you found your way back to the cold beers. 

“Stalking?” He reminded you, his head tilted ever so slightly to the right, a bit lower than before. 

“Well, you did.” The honestly fell out of you. Eddie tried hard not to grin at the way he was once again enamored by the way you chose to open the beer bottle. “The door was wide open, you know?” 

“You saw me?” 

“Of course I did Munson, you’re kind of hard not to notice.” 

“Why didn’t you say anything?” He genuinely could not understand what went into your head. He needed to know exactly what you thought. 

“I was busy.” 

“You were playing piano.” His eyes opened a bit wider, closing the distance between the both of you a bit more. If you asked it was because the music was a bit too loud, but deep down you already knew it was something more. 

“Yeah. I was busy.” 

“It’s piano.” He added, reaching for a beer, his arm softly gracing yours. 

“It was Zeppelin.” You clarified. “And it’s hard to come up with the arrangements.” 

“You’re lying.” He challenged with a grin that made you bite your lower lip for a second too long.

“Why would I be lying?” Your pitch was higher, trying to not sound as offended as you might become. 

“There’s no way you just came up with the arrangements for tangerine” He mocked, choosing not to believe you. 

You slapped his chest in a playful manner. Electricity. Warmth. A need for more. 

“I had to. I wanted to understand how they wrote it.” You defended yourself, taking a big swig from the cold bottle. 

“Do you do this for every song?” Eddie’s voice was as hypnotising as he had become with you. He could listen to you talk for a very long time, he decided. 

“Only the good ones.” 

The sparkling on your eyes came back the moment they made eye contact with him. The grin on his face didn’t leave for the rest of the night. 

-

Time moved fast. 

It had to be because of him. And the fast paced conversation. 

You were trying to make him realise that Fleetwood Mac has some of the most impressive canonical arrangements you had ever heard. He was trying to get you to admit that Metallica was a smidge better in that category. 

 It was a beautiful back and forth that only made sense to both of you. 

You eventually found your way back outside, with a couple more stolen beers for you. The sharp cold felt good in contrast to your flashing cheeks. The tip of your nose was just as rosy as they were, Eddie became lost with your complexion. He realised he could memorise every inch of your face if he only had the time. 

You were intoxicating. 

Meanwhile, Eddie made you have that feeling, right before you jump into the abyss. The same feeling you had when you were little and were getting into a rollercoaster, that grasping for the unknown. The curiosity and the need to know more. 

You could drown in him. 

It took both of you a while but after the distant music stopped, you realised you were the last ones standing. 

You shared a quick glance before bursting with laughter. It filled your chest and ignited your skin at the same time, the sound of his laughter. 

“I should start walking then” You finally let out, your eyes lost in the short space that separated both of your hands on the grass, a whisper away from each other. 

It surprised you how badly you wanted them to touch. 

“Walking?” Eddie flinched, his eyebrows raising while his head tilted towards yours. 

“Yeah. Steve’s gone.” You nodded at the empty space left from Steve’s beeper. 

“So?” 

“I’m not gonna bother Jonathan. He’s probably getting it on with Nance…And my mom needs some rest so…” You slurred your words on some short occasions. People wouldn’t notice, but he did. You were also smiling a bit wider than before. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was because everything seemed out of focus but Eddie and his smile. 

That damn smile. 

You heard the rattle of keys in Eddie's pocket before he started speaking. “As If I’m gonna let you walk all that way.” He stood up before continuing. “Come” His hand reached out for you to hold. 

You didn’t expect it to be as soft. There was a roughness in some places if you had any doubts before, now you knew he worked with his hands. But the back of his hand, where your fingers rested, was softer than promised. You couldn’t help but draw circles on it, sending warmth through both of your bodies.

You didn’t have to talk.

“You don’t have to, y’know?” You pointed out as you reached his van. Your free hand resting in the door handle. 

You both felt comfortable.

You both enjoyed this feeling.

You both felt somehow more complete now that your hands knew one another.

“I know. I want to.” He responded with three quick squeezes to your hand. 

You were left with a shy smile on your lips while he circled the van to climb on the driver seat. 

It was a comfortable kind of silence, the one that formed between the both of you while he drove. He stopped drinking long ago, in hopes of this moment occurring. The perfect excuse to drive you home, to make sure you were safe. He turned down the usual loud music just so you could keep talking, if you wanted to. 

He gladly listened when you told him which way to go. It made his heart skip a beat, knowing that you lived as close to the forest as you did. That you were a short walk away from him. 

Once the car stopped, you moved your whole body to face him. 

There was a quiet understanding between the both of you, words were unnecessary for once. Your eyes couldn’t, wouldn’t leave his lips, and the way they curved upwards. His eyes couldn’t stop staring at the way yours glowed with hope. He also wondered what your kiss would taste like. 

“I should…” You started muttering as your hand reached for the door handle. 

“I uh…” Eddie talked at the same time as you did, causing both of you to chuckle. His hands held yours one more time. “I would, I want to kiss you.” 

He declared avoiding your eyes. 

Your smile was wider than ever before. You secretly wanted those words to leave his mouth, hearing them was the closest thing you could get to heaven on earth. It gave you away before you could formulate the right words. 

“You can” You admitted, your voice soft. 

Eddie shook his head, bringing your hand to his lips. Leaving a warm kiss on the back of it. That need, that electricity grew stronger. 

“Thank fuck.” He giggled, before leaving another one on the same spot. “But I'd rather do it when you’re not drunk.” 

You nodded, your fingers drawing circles once again on the back of his hand. A soft gesture that let him know how much that short gesture meant to you. 

“When will you kiss me?” You begged, your voice barely above a whisper. 

Fuck. You were going to make him lose his mind. 

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow?” He answered, his words melting as he did so. 

“Please” You begged once again, finally opening the door. 

Eddie watched carefully waiting for you to reach the wooden door. You waved goodbye with a shy smile, pushing your hair behind your ear in a nervous tick. 

You waited for the van to leave and headed to your bedroom, with the excitement of a newly made promise; unbreakable and undeniable. 

-

the exact terms of your relationship with steve were vague, at best. he dropped by your house with a casual indifference most nights, kissed you until you were dizzy, won you over with charming grins and one liners, but he’d never let you get close. he kept you at arms length, you knew, even when he was between your sheets, even when he was trembling and moaning beneath you. you knew the version of him that most did, the easygoing and carefree version, the one with cocky smiles and shrugs and quick jokes. you could see glimpses of something deeper, though, little peeks into his real feelings, a haze in his deep brown eyes that couldn’t have been happiness. you knew he had it good, like everyone loved to remind him. in high school, he was the most popular guy you knew, well loved by everyone, freaks or jocks or nerds or pretty girls. he made everyone feel like a friend, charmed and flirted with the girls, or joked and roughhoused with the boys, as if he knew everyone on an intimate level. the two of you had started seeing each other the year after graduation, sneaking around and stealing kisses behind closed doors, going on the occasional date and sharing a milkshake and fries. you knew his reputation, of course, and tried your hardest to keep yourself from falling any deeper under his spell. steve harrington wasn’t the sort of boy to commit to one girl, you knew, but late at night, you let yourself believe you might be lucky enough to keep him for a little bit longer, each time he came and went.

the holidays are tricky to navigate during an uncertain relationship. you wanted to do something nice for him, of course. he wasn’t just a casual hookup, he was a friend, someone you’d come to know as deeply as he’d allow. you spent weeks mulling over the perfect thing to get him, wanting to nail it, to surprise him the way he always managed to surprise you. finally, you’d decided, with only a few days left to spare before christmas came calling. you went down to the music shop in town, picking out the prettiest guitar your very small wage could buy, something used but still shining. you got him a pack of picks, a small book of basic chords, and went on your way, smiling over at it in your passenger seat the entire drive home. later that night, you called him up, twirling the cord of your phone around one finger, giddy with anticipation. “hey, stevie,” you said as he picked up, smiling to yourself. “hey, what’s up?” his voice was warm, even through the phone. “i was just wonderin’ what your plans are for the holiday?” you tried to keep your tone light, casual, “i was thinkin we could get together on christmas eve, if you aren’t too busy.” “i don’t have any plans,” he said, a beat too quickly, “we’re not doing much, i mean. i could swing by.” “cool,” your smile grew, “maybe about 6?” “yeah, sounds great,” you told yourself you were imagining the grin you could hear in his tone, “it’s a date. see you then, princess.” “bye, stevie,” you giggled, cheeks warm from the nickname, even as you placed your phone back in the receiver.

when christmas eve came, you spent hours tidying up your small house, lighting scented candles in each room, making sure everything was perfect. you put on a red dress, taking time to take each roller out of your hair carefully, swiping on a pink gloss and mascara over your lashes, spritzing perfume on your neck and wrists. you tied an apron over your dress as you got to work in the kitchen, careful not to mess up the satin dress. the doorbell rang just as you finished laying out the food on your dining room table, two plates set with care. you opened the door, and there he was, dressed in an undoubtedly itchy green sweater, a lopsided smile on his lips. “merry christmas, princess,” he leaned down, not wasting a second, pressing a kiss to your lips, “you look beautiful.” “thanks, steve,” you blushed, closing the door behind him, “i love that sweater on you.” a red flush creeped up his neck, and you smiled to yourself, untying your apron and setting it aside, “oh, i hope you like roast. i made dinner for us.” his eyes fell on the table, the roast and vegetables laid out on a serving plate. “oh, you didn’t have to do all this,” you thought, for a second, his voice wavered, “thank you, sweetheart. this is really nice.” “don’t thank me yet,” you laughed, “let’s taste it first, then we’ll see.”

dinner, it turned out, was exactly as you intended. steve ate like he’d never had a roast before, barely stopping to make conversation, washing down bites of yeast rolls with sips of wine you’d poured. “this is incredible, seriously, thank you. this is like, unbelievably delicous,” he told you after his second portion, wiping his mouth carefully, “i haven’t had a home cooked meal like that since i was a kid.” that surprised you, really, and your brows furrowed, “your mom doesn’t cook? i assumed you’d have meals like this every night, honestly.” “nah,” he shook his head, waved a dismissive hand, but he looked bothered, “i had a nanny when i was a kid that did, but they let her go once i got to middle school. i learned how to make a pretty mean bowl of ramen, though, i’ll tell you that.” he shot you a grin, but it lacked its usual luster. “oh, stevie,” you frowned slightly, “that’s awful. are they not home a lot?” he hesitated, his posture rigid, before shaking his head, shrugging once again, “nah, not really. it’s no big deal, yknow? my dad travels for work, takes mom with him. i couldn’t miss school, so they started leaving me home alone when i was 12. it was cool, though. that’s why i hosted so many parties in school, they weren’t around to stop me.” you felt a deep, terrible ache at this newfound knowledge. “i’m sorry,” you reached across the table, placing your hand on his, “is that- is that why you’re free tonight? they didn’t want to do anything together?” “it’s fine, alright?” he stiffened, looking almost irritated, but then it slipped, and he frowned, “sorry. it’s not you, it’s just- yeah, they don’t really celebrate, i guess, haven’t since i was a kid. they let me live there rent free, though, so is what it is, yknow? it’s fine.”

“they’re still your parents,” you murmured, shaking your head, “you don’t deserve that, steve. even if you’re an adult now, you’re still their son. it’s unfair.” “it’s fine,” he met your eyes, smiling faintly, and your heart cracked, “besides, i’m glad they aren’t keeping me from this. i would’ve missed out on this delicious dinner.” “you’re sweet,” you squeezed his hand one last time before standing, clearing the table, steve in tow, carrying the dishes you couldn’t. “i got you something,” you said, wiping your hands on the dishcloth once you’d finished, “cmon, it’s just in here under the tree.” he paused, like he was confused, only following when you tugged on his arm. “you didn’t have to get me anything,” he told you, biting at the inside of his cheek, sitting stiffly on the couch when you guided him. “it’s christmas, stevie,” you huffed, “don’t be ridiculous. now sit still and close your eyes, it was too big to wrap.” he didn’t argue, his eyes closing and his posture relaxing only a fraction. you grabbed the small gift bag, containing the accessories, before lugging up the guitar case by the handle, placing it on the floor beside him and handing him the bag. you sat beside him, nudging his shoulder, “go on.” he slowly opened his eyes, glancing at you shyly before pulling the tissue paper from the bag, revealing the picks and chord book. “what is-“ “look,” you gestured to the guitar case, and he hesitated, gaze flickering between you and the leather. “open it,” you urged, grinning. he pulled it into his lap, unbuckling the latches and opening it slowly, his eyes sweeping over the acoustic guitar inside. “this-“ he swallowed, fingers tracing the strings, eyes bleary, “you didn’t have to do this, i don’t even know how to play. this is too much, i-“ “hush,” you shook your head, rubbing his back as he gazed down at the instrument, “i remembered you telling me, that night at the diner, that you used to beg for guitar lessons when you were little. it’s never too late to get started, yknow? i couldn’t afford lessons, but i’m sure you’ll learn quick, like you do with everything else.”

he went still, and for a moment, you were afraid you’d overstepped, breached too far into relationship territory, but then he set it aside, turning to face you, and you saw the tears in his eyes. “that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me,” he said, voice thick and trembling, “i don’t even know what to say. i didn’t think you’d even remember that, it was so long ago. i really don’t know what to say, i- thank you so much. this is so much, you’re-“ “it’s okay,” you pulled him in, your hand on the back of his neck, hugging him close, “merry christmas, stevie. you deserve it, and more.” his arms looped around you, and you felt a damp spot on your shoulder, his shoulders shaky. “i’m sorry,” he sniffled, “it’s just, i don’t talk about my parents with anyone, but they never really cared about me that much, i guess? i know they love me, but- it’s stupid, i know i have it made, it’s just nobody’s ever done anything like this for me. i don’t know how to thank you.” “you don’t have to thank me,” you combed your fingers through his hair lightly, “it’s christmas, this is what it’s about. i wanted to do something nice for you, because i-“ you stopped, swallowing, “because you’re my friend.” “friend,” he repeated, the word tickling your skin, “that’s not all you are, sweetheart. you know that.” “i know,” you didn’t, really, but you knew how you felt. “i have something for you, too,” he sat up, looking rejuvenated, no longer on the verge of tears, “it’s in my car, i forgot, sorry. i’ll be right back, okay?” you nodded, smiling as you watched him go, nerves buzzing with anticipation. he came back moments later, cheeks red from the blistering cold, a small, neatly wrapped box in his hands. “here,” he placed it in your palm gently, sitting back down beside you, watching you.