His Salvation [Eddie Munson]

Chapter Five

Eddie's eyes start to travel around my face and to my lips. My stomach is in knots and my heart is pounding.

"Whatever you want."

His last words stay on repeat in my mind as the silence builds between us. His hands start to travel down the chains on the swing, coming closer to mine.

The movement of his hands sliding down gently causes a sway in the swing. My nerves caused my palms to sweat and as my seat rocks forward I lose my balance and begin to fall back.

I let out a shriek and Eddie wraps his arms around me pulling me to him.

"Whoa, easy there!" He helps me upright on the swing. We both laugh as I look down in embarrassment. I need to get my shit together.

Eddie leans over picking something off the ground and inspecting it. He places it between his lips and pulls a lighter out from his pocket. "Damn, I almost lost you," he says to himself as he lights the joint and inhales deeply.

I've tried drugs before, but it was something I never did often. He makes it look like it's something that I've been missing out on. He made everything look good, even when it wasn't.

He looks at me as he walks back towards the rusted merry-go-round, "Maybe this will be more stable for you." He laughs as smoke clouds his face.

Walking towards him I give him a shove, "Whatever, Munson." He stumbles back and chuckles.

He lays down with one arm behind his head and the other holding his joint, "what are your plans after you graduate?"

The metal is cold on my arms as I lower myself on my back to lay next to Eddie, causing the merry-go-round to spin us slightly. I relax my hands on my stomach as I take in the night sky. It's a clear night and the stars are putting on a show.

"I think I'm going to try and go to Cosmetology school. I'd love to run my own shop one day." I smile thinking of what that would look like.

Eddie shifts up on his side with his forearm holding him up, "wait, are you telling me that you can tame this?" He shakes his head side to side, throwing his curly hair in his face.

I laugh at him and answer "I mean if you want to be my test subject."

"You can only make me look better at this point."

I reach out and touch the ends of his hair. "I think I can work with this. There is potential." I joke. His hair was beautiful and he's a fool for thinking otherwise. I drop my hand letting go of his soft curls.

His laugh is softened by another hit of the joint. There is a moment where I only hear the wind brush the trees above us as he's looking at me. Those eyes will be the death of me.

"Do you trust me?" He says in a soft voice that makes me go weak.

"Yes." I breathe, suddenly getting butterflies.

Eddie leans over as his fingers reach out and touch my skin sending chills across my body. He tilts my chin up toward him and slides closer to me. My eyes are fixed on his. His lips are so close that if I moved at all I'd brush them. And God, I want to.

"Inhale deeply, hold and release." He instructs. I'm transfixed by him and all I can do is nod in response.

The joint lights up between his lips. His stare is burning through me, but I don't look away. I briefly feel his thumb brush my cheek as my chin rests in his hands. He slowly blows the smoke into my parted lips and I inhale deeply.

It burns as it fills my lungs and I hold back a cough. Eddie is nodding, encouraging me to push through and I listen.

I release my breath and smoke fills the small space between our faces. As the smoke clears I see his infection smile.