Stranger Things Short Stories

Eddie Munson - Stood Up

Today was your birthday, your eighteenth to be precise. Today was also the day you were going to introduce Eddie to your parents. Against your own will, your parents had decided to hold a get together for your eighteenth, loving to have an excuse to gather the family round and get collectively drunk together.

While you weren't one for parties or family get-togethers you were hoping this one would be different, after all Eddie was going to be there. The two of you had been dating for well over a year now and you were convinced that despite his scary exterior, he was the sweetest, funniest, most thoughtful boy ever to exist. To you he was the very definition of don't judge a book by its cover.

That was until tonight.

After tonight, you had never hated a person more.

It was 3am when Eddie finally decided to show up at your birthday party. Nine whole hours after it should have started. 4 hours since people started to go home. 3 hours since you parents said goodnight and headed upstairs to their hotel room. 

He swanned into the party room (it was one of those hireable halls that people use to hold weddings or baby showers), clearly high and completely drunk. He was smiling happy, a little gift bag swinging in his hand as he walked towards you calling your name. Though his smile soon faded when he saw the tear stains on your cheeks and the luck of disgust in your eyes.

In what seemed like seconds he sobered up, realisation of what he'd done sinking into the very core of his being.

"I didn't mean for it to happen y/n." The words fall out of his mouth within no time, as if they'll somehow comfort you. "I'm sorry."

"I need to leave." You say, rising to your feet and walking straight past the man you claimed to love. Tonight you were in no mood (nor were mentally stable enough) to fight.

"Not like this. Please don't leave yet. Give me a chance to explain." He begs, his hand reaching out and latching onto your wrist.

"Explain what?" You say quietly, your voice not even sounding like your own right now. "Do you want me to stand here and listen to you explain to me how you didn't mean to forget my party. Do you expect me to argue with you when you tell me that you didn't mean to get high."

"I sat for hours Eddie waiting. Waiting for you to show up just like you promised. Do you know how embarrassing that was, to have family members coming up to me and asking where you were, if you were okay? My dad watched me sit there willing for you to come. My mum thought I had made you up for Christ's sake."

"Y/n I didn't mean for th-"

"I don't care Eddie. Look, I'm used to being humiliated at school, in front of my friends and you know what? I can handle that. But they're my family and you made me look so- so stupid."

You need to get out of here. You need to clear your head. Almost as though he was reading your mind, he moves in front of the door, blocking you from leaving. Despite all the rumours, the whispers that would follow him around you had never been scared of Eddie. That was until this very moment. And with each second that passed an unbearable hatred weighed down on you, corrupting every thought, every good memory of him you'd ever had.

"I want to leave." you tell him. "Please."

When he doesn't move you try and reach around him for the door handle but he's too strong and too fast. He pulls you close to him and in a brief moment of weakness you let him stand there holding you close to his chest. His strong arms wrap around your waist, his hand coming up to the back of your head, stroking you hair softly as he whispers he's sorry over and over again.

"You can't leave hating me y/n." He says.

Calm down, y/n. Don't cry. Save the heartbreak for when you get home. You can't go around looking weak now can you.