Always and Forever (YN x Eddie Munson - Stranger Things S4)

Chapter Eight

When the two of you arrive at the mall, you immediately feel in your element. Before they worked at Family Video, Steve and Robin worked here, at Scoops Ahoy. Out of habit, you beeline for the ice cream shop, Eddie following suit behind you. 

You go up to the counter and order your usual, a chocolate truffle cup with whipped cream and chocolate jimmies. Eddie orders some weird, vomit-inducing, tooth rotting, mound of sugar. 

The two of you sit in silence for a bit before you speak up "So, where to first?" 

Eddie puts down his sundae "Well, I need some guidelines first."

"Like?" You question.

"Like..." He continues "Are you open to piercings and hair dye and what kind of clothes would you actually wear again." 

You think for a second "What kind of piercing?" 

He lights up "Really? You, queen of Hawkins high, princess almighty, are going to let me give you a piercing?" 

"If you tell me what kind first." Your mom might kill you for it, but it's not like you'd never be able to take them out, right?

"Ok, so I'm thinking double nose piercing, more on your ears, and an eyebrow." He makes a picture frame with his hands and squints one eye shut like you're a work of art. 

You think for no more than a second and then agree. Because let's face the facts, you're 18 years old, you've never drank, smoked, gotten any piercings, or dyed your hair. Besides cheer, you were sort of, well, dull.

As soon as you're done with your ice cream Eddie drags you over to some weird store called "Spencers" 

When the two of you walk in he looks at you with genuine embarrassment, not at you, at your surroundings "Hey, don't go into the back, K?" 

Confused "Yeah, sure." 

He takes you over to a whole wall of jewelry and such "Take your pick of the litter." He points to one section after another "These ones are for your nose, these are for eyebrows, and these for your ears." 

Might as well go all out you think to yourself and pick out an array of studs and rings that have skulls, bats, and a plethora of other gothic symbols.  Once you've checked out, Eddie takes you to a different store that seems more your style.

You walk into a salon and beauty store and Eddie asks "So what're we thinking? Bright or black?" He points at crazily colored jars labeled "Manic Panic! Permenate Hair Dye!" 

You think back to an earlier conversation the two of you had where you learned each other's favorite colors. His was black, of course, and yours was green.

You look up at him "Can I have two colors?" 

He looks surprised "Um, yeah I guess if you want." as a smile graces his lips. 

Then you ask "I'm giving you full control, but! I have one request." 

"What?" 

"I want to dye a strip of your hair, too." 

He thinks for a second, pondering over how well you've already fit into his model "Of course, princess." You get ringed up and leave. 

At the final store, it's time for clothing. Eddie asks your size for pants, shirts, and dresses and makes you sit in the dressing room so you don't know what you're getting. 

After 15 minutes, he returns and knocks on the dressing room door. 

You let him in to hand you the clothes and quickly usher him out despite his complaints "How will I know if it looks good?" 

"I'll come out and show you" You answer 

Once he's out, you undress and pick up the first item. A black silk slip dress with chunky black shoes and ripped tights.

who'd wear ripped tights? You think to yourself. They wouldn't even keep you warm.

You put on the items and walk out, in search of Eddie.

He's staring at the ground, picking at something with the tip of his shoe. He doesn't notice so you try and get his attention "Ed?" 

No response "Eddie?" 

You walk over and push some hair out of his face "Ed? What'd you think?" 

He jumps as if surprised by you touching him and looks up. For a while he just stares at you, then he stands up and takes your hand, spinning you "Wow.." 

"Wow?" 

He looks you in the eyes "Yeah, that's the only word I can think of right now; Wow." 

More or less the same process goes along with every outfit, you coming out, him not seeing you, you yelling somewhat to get his attention, and him being flabbergasted by your appearance. 

That is, until the last one. It's another dress but this one's a zip-up. You got in on, repeated the dance of showing him and giggling at his cheesy jokes. Only, when you're back in the dressing room, the zipper gets caught and you can't get it down.

You try by yourself for maybe a minute before opening the door only a crack, trying to get Eddie's attention yet again "Ed!" you yell maybe a little louder than you needed. 

He looks up and stands "Is something wrong?" 

"Um, yeah actually." you turn deep red. That always seemed to happen with you were around him. 

You gesture for him to enter the room, he's hesitant at first but does as you ask.  He seems very worried "Princess are you ok? We can leave if you want." 

"No, I'm fine. Well, I'm not fine but I don't want to leave." 

Now his worry turns to confusion "OK then what's up?" 

"You don't meet his eyes "The zippers stuck." 

"And you need me to?" 

Now you're teetering on the edge of annoyance and anger "Yes, Ed!" I need you to unzip this and help me out of the dress!" 

He holds up his hands in the classic "unarmed" stance. "Ok, ok. Turn around." 

you do so, clutching the hem of the dress just to have something to do with your hands. He gently brushes your hair over your shoulder and grabs the back end of the collar with his pointer and thumb. 

He softly tugs at the zipper, but it doesn't work "Jeez this thing's really stuck." 

"Yeah, it is. Now please take it off." 

A shop attendant knocks on the door "Is everything alright in there?" 

At the same time, you both respond with over-lapping "Yup"s and "'S all good!"s 

Once the person is gone, Eddie speaks up "Ok this time's going to be a little harder, ready?" 

"Ready." 

As he harshly pulls downward on the zipper and it must be a miracle because it unsticks. He undoes the rest of the zipper and you turn around, still beet red. 

"Thanks, Ed. I know that was probably embarrassing for you, too." 

He chuckles "No, I'm not embarrassed." 

A comfortable silence falls between you. He jerks forward slightly as if approaching a wounded animal and then backs away. 

He takes a full step forward now and plants a prober kiss on your forehead. "I don't think we'll be getting this one, huh?" 

You chuckle and nod in agreement, shooing him out once more so you can change into the clothes you can in.