Welcome To Hawkins

1

"Please?" The whininess in my voice makes me want to barf. I never beg, especially do I never beg my best friend, Eddie. But what choice did I have?

"No, (y/n). That would be too weird." He's moved across his small apartment, putting distance between us as he pretends to look through his record collection.

"Please! I swear I won't ask you for anything ever again!"

Despite his obvious agitation, Eddie chuckles, "Yeah, I believe that."

"I promise you! Just one week back in my hometown, so my parents get off my back. I'll--" I try to think of something I can do to convince him to come home with me and pretend to be my serious boyfriend, "Buy you that jacket you've been saving up for from Duke's."

This catches his attention. The long-haired man looks up from his records, "The black leather one?"

"Yes! I'll buy it the moment we get back from Hawkins."

Eddie looks back at the record he's holding, running his finger across the edge of the jacket as he contemplates what I'm proposing. "What would I need to do besides show up?"

Damnit, I knew he'd want the full details of everything I'm asking him to do... "Well, besides spending time with my parents and extended family--? Um..." I hesitate, "There's a family reunion at my Gam Gam's house--"

Eddie snorts, a wide smile spreading across his face, "Gam Gam?"

Rolling my eyes, I say, "Yes, Gam Gam. That's another thing you'll have to do. Use my stupid pet names for my grandma."

"I can manage that. Is there anything else you're not telling me? I don't want to get there and be blindsided by your crazy family expecting your," he makes air quotes with his free hand, "serious boyfriend to propose. I'm not marrying you so you can escape your prying family's interest in your love life."

I know he's joking around with me, but talking about this with him is still embarrassing. We've been close ever since I moved to the cities and met him at one of his band, Corroded Coffin's gigs. That's why I had gone to him first when I panicked and told my mom over the phone I was bringing my secret boyfriend I'd been dating for the past year to my visit back to Hawkins. If I had to pretend to date someone, it made sense to choose the one person I felt the closest to.

"Shut up; I'm not asking you to propose, Eddie Munson. But, you could... I mean, it wouldn't hurt if you dressed a little more midwestern Suburban..."

"Hell no," his face turns icy at the mention of changing anything about his appearance.

"I'm not asking you to cut your hair or anything! Just maybe wear a nice button-down and pants without rips in the knees."

Eddie pulls a face, "You're really abusing our friendship, asking me to dress like I have a mortgage and a divorce."

God, he was so dramatic. "It's one week! And then you can come back here and wear your nice new leather jacket!" I tack on his reward, hoping it will distract him from my requests.

"Do I have to kiss you in front of people?" He suddenly asks.

"What?" I squeak out, "No, of course not!"

That stupid shit-eating grin pulls at his lips again, "You don't think it would be weird if your long-term boyfriend didn't kiss you at all? I mean, even I would find that weird."

I hate to admit it, but he's got a point. My parents, especially my mother, would find it weird if I completely avoided being affectionate with the guy I was supposedly dating.

Scrunching up my nose, I concede, "Fine. But nothing more than a chaste kiss once and a while.

"Lucky me," Eddie says dramatically.

"You're such an asshole..."

"Hey, you're the one who wants to fake date me. I tried to dissuade you."

Rolling my eyes again, I change the subject, "Do you even have any nice clothing you can pack."

Eddie's expression sours again, "My clothes are nice. Are you sure your parents wouldn't be thrilled for their little girl to be dating a wannabe rockstar?"

"It is every parent's dream," I get up from his couch, "For real, though. Do you have anything besides ripped jeans and band t-shirts?"

"Do I look like someone who owns a tie (y/n)?"

"Do you even know how to tie a tie?" I say with an innocent tilt of my head.

He laughs, "touché."

"And I don't trust you to buy appropriate clothing--"

"Smart."

"So..." I bite the inside of my cheek, "I'll foot the bill for that as well."

"I've always wanted a Sugar Mama," he grins, thinking himself so clever.

"Another condition, Munson."

"Yes, dear?" He replies in a sugary-sweet 'tv-sweetheart' voice.

"Cut the attitude. My dad hates smartasses."

Saying this only makes Eddie's grin grow, "What's a family reunion without a little drama between your girlfriend's dad and yourself?"

Hearing him refer to me as 'his girlfriend' sends a little unexpected thrill through my body, "My god. You're going to make me regret this, aren't you?"

Eddie scoffs, "Do you see this shirt, (y/n)? It's made of boyfriend material. You have nothing to be worried about."

"This shirt?" I tug at the front of his Metallica shirt, "Definitely not. But the nice ones I buy from The GAP will be."

He pulls a face, "The GAP? Are you sure you don't hate me?"

I laugh, "We'll see by the end of next week, won't we?"

Eddie groans, "Forget you regretting this. I'm clearly the loser in this affair."