Head Over Heels for Eddie Munson

Ch7: Heaven can Wait

    The look on Eddie's face told me that he needed me. His eyes begged for my company and I was afraid of what would happen if I had left him alone. "I think I'm going to stay here, you guys," I told the group, "keep Eddie some company." I smiled at four near the door and they nodded, all except Steve. "What if we need you, Lori? What will happen when you're not with us?" I could tell Steve was annoyed by my choice, I could tell he wanted me to be with the rest of them. "You know, Lori. What if we have a mind that needs to be read? What about a monster that needs to be put to sleep or emotions that need to be changed?" Steve started up again, raising his voice and shaking his hands. They all looked back at me again and Eddie said, "Look, you guys, I know how much Lori could help, but I don't think she'll be safe out there. And, you know, I...might need her help too..." Eddie's hesitance made Dustin smile at us as he pushed everyone else out the door. "No problem, you guys! I'm sure we will be fine without you, Lori. Have a good Saturday!" The door slammed and we waited for the car to start and drive off before we started saying anything. Sitting there in silence was worse than saying something weird, or at least it felt like it. The broken bottle spun from side to side by my feet, Eddie still so close to me. I open my mouth to speak, but Eddie beats me, "Hey um... Oh! Sorry, go ahead." He stops, allowing me to speak. "No, you go ahead," I answered, too afraid to say anything. He looks towards me, "So, from what I have heard, you have some kind of superpower? How does that work?" I knew he'd ask about it and it was the very thing I was worried about. I stared at him, I've never really liked having this power, it made me into a monster and a weapon. "Well," I hesitate, "I was born in a lab and put under many tests. And in these tests, I gained... abilities." I gave Eddie the simplest explanation, to spare time and to make things less confusing. "Okay...so can you like...fly?" He said, blushing from embarrassment. It seems like he already knew the answer, but I replied with a laugh, "No, not at all!" I stopped for a moment, wondering how much he would hate me after knowing who I really was, "I can, however, really screw up someone's mind. You know, the whole mind control thing. Along with changing emotion and creating illusions and-" He stopped me, "Wait so you can make people see different things? Williams, do you know how cool that is?" I looked up from my hands to see the biggest smile on his face, it made me smile for a moment. "Really? I mean, I always thought I was like... a villain or something," I let out, regretting everything I had just said, laughing it off. "Come on Williams, you're talking to the guy who left someone dead in his trailer. You? A villian?" He becomes aware of what he had said, staring off and tearing up again. "Eddie, you cannot blame yourself for that!" I started getting upset, "I mean, after what you saw, I...I just wouldn't expect anyone to do anything different." I paused for a moment, Eddie never replied and just put his head into his hands. "A year ago," I took in a deep breath, "you know how the mall fire was actually the mind flayer? Yeah, well, I was supposed to stop that. And," I laughed, "for some god awful reason, I couldn't. I wasn't strong enough, I wasn't enough to save all the people that day. I just let them die. I left them there." I thought back to that night, the amount of trust everyone had on me to help, the lack of power I had. I was useless. "Lori..." Eddie looks back to me, I wipe the tears quickly, "I had no idea. But, that is not your fault, you know that? Williams, those deaths have nothing to do with you! I mean, it was the mind flayer." I respond with a weak smile, thinking about what he said, then it hits me. "Eddie, Chrissy's death isn't your fault either, I hope you know that. Just like me a year ago, you had nothing to do with that, that was all Vecna! You shouldn't be blaming yourself, it's unfair!" I can see what I had said made him mad, but it was the truth. "You know, if you get to blame yourself, then I do too! You weren't there that night, you don't know, man," he stops as he sees the look on my face, "Look, Lori, I'm sorry. I've been a dick lately, I'm sorry. But if you see the way she looked, Jesus man..." I stopped for a moment and said, "Eddie, I did see. I saw exactly what you saw, I went into your mind and witnessed everything." We both looked at each other, tears in our eyes, I could feel his regret in this whole conversation. "Lori, I am so sorry," his voice breaks, "You didn't need to see that." His fingers go through his hair, grasping his roots. "No, I'm sorry. Eddie all my life, I have been seeing crazy shit like this, my whole life is fucked up. But you...you don't deserve that," I watch as more tears leave his eyes, streaming down his face. He sniffles and I walk over to him, all the anger I felt towards him that rose up in the conversation leaves as I watch his face. Then, as though he also had released all his anger, he fell into me, wrapped his arms around my waist, and dug his face into my shoulder. "I was stupid to get mad at you, Williams. I've been really stupid lately," he laughs, the tears soaking through my sleeve. I hug him back, our bodies fitting so well together, as if it's meant to be. "You bet you were," I smile and wait, "I'm sorry too, Munson." There was no way for me to get mad at him, it was impossible.

    And in that moment, we were just two people, who completely understood each other. Two people who shared similarities and differences, but who embraced each other's difficulties. It was as if that touch sparked a deep connection. We knew the parts of each other that made us monstrous, but only saw them as another level in our beautiful complexity. I felt all the stress escape Eddie's mind in that moment, all the trauma he experienced seemed to disappear in that minute. Separating, we giggled and walked in different directions. He turned and started fidgeting with his rings, punching the wall lightly, and I picked the skin around my nails. "Hey, do you want to get something to eat," we turn around saying the same thing at the same time. We both laugh, it's always so awkward after you let all your feelings out. "I'll go out and get something. Is pizza okay?" I ask, taking down my high ponytail that has been in for over 20 hours. It was getting darker, I didn't realize how long Dustin had stayed over. "Uh...yeah, pizza's great," he looks at me, reaching into his pocket, "Here." He handed me a crumpled ten bucks, but I refused to let him pay, holding up my wallet. "Be safe out there, Lori. It's dark and..." he looks at me, still wearing my cheer skirt and sweater, "it's...cold." He throws me his keys and I catch them with one hand. I smile and walk out the boat house, driving to pick up pizza, praying that nobody will think too much of me driving Eddie's van.

    I came back about an hour later, the time was 5pm. In order to not freak Eddie out again, I knocked lightly on the door, letting him know it was me. I quickly come up with an idea, "Hey, how about I knock 'S.O.S' on the door, so you know it's me? I can teach you the morse code for it." I juggle the pizza box, keys, and two drinks in my hand as I struggle to get through the door, Eddie runs over to help me. "That sounds like a plan," He smiles. We sat down and opened the box, grabbing a slice each. It was fairly easy to teach Eddie the morse code, so we spent the remainder of the time just talking. It was all so real. We talked about nothing and everything: our childhood, likes, dislikes, gossip, DnD, cheerleading, what made us sad or upset. Eddie was such a good listener and when things got hard for me, he knew exactly what to say. At one point, he got up and turned on the music again, the song 'Honey, Honey' by ABBA plays. "Oh, Lori, don't tell me you listen to this?" He laughs and I almost spit up the root beer I was drinking in mere shock. "What? I love this song!" I put down the bottle and jumped up to my feet, "Just listen, I know you will end up liking it." I held out my hands to Eddie, he held them and I started swaying his arms around. He laughs at my attempts to get him to dance along with the song and eventually gives in. We continued listening to a couple more songs, but the light started to fade and we started to get tired. I cleaned up the box and the bottles as Eddie went to turn off the music. "You know, Lori. I can't say that a lot of people listen to me as much as you have today," He turned towards me, "It's nice to have someone that understands." I look at his smile again, making me smile. "Yeah, anytime Munson. It's nice to have someone to talk to."

    "Goodnight," I say, turning off the light and laying down where I usually slept. Eddie lays next to me, in his usual spot, "Night." But as the night went on, I just couldn't sleep, it was too cold. My teeth chatter and I start shivering, trying my best to warm up. "Come here," I hear a groggy voice to the left of me. I turn to see Eddie holding out his left arm towards me. "What?" I whisper confused. "You are freezing, Williams, come here," he replies, literally not helping me at all. Then I realize, he wants to help warm me down, by getting really close to him, like cuddling status. I blush, thanking God that he couldn't see my face. Hesitantly, I inch towards him, putting my head on his chest and curling up next to him. His arm hugs my side, rubbing my goose-bump filled arms, genuinely trying to make me feel comfortable. He was right, it really worked and, in no time, I was all warmed up. Nothing could beat this feeling, I knew he didn't feel any romantic feelings towards me, but it was still nice. The slight rise and fall of his chest, his scent, and the feeling of his hand on my arm. "Feel better now?" He asked, wrapping his other arm around me. "Yeah...thanks," I replied, feeling my face turn a deeper red. Right now, I felt on top of everything, nothing could feel better to me, heaven cannot beat this feeling. And until this moment is over, heaven can wait.
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A/N: Omg did not realize how long this was, lol. I love this chapter, its rly cute and builds up their relationship more. I hope you liked it as much as I did. Anyway, thanks so much for all the love you guys, we are almost at 300 reads!! Oml i wasn't expecting more than 10, thanks so much. As always if u have anything to say at all, let me know! Moving has been rly hard so Imma try my best to get chapters out ever other day, but it will be difficult so bear with me. Love y'a!