Stranger Things One Shots

Chrissy + Eddie: The Gig

They're dating on the down-low and Chrissy misses his band's performance. 

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"No, no way is it over!"

A familiar voice calls out from the back of the dark bar. Eddie's shoulders drop in recognition of the girlish voice, but he only stops for a moment before continuing to coil some wires around his arm. Slowly, he turns around to Chrissy, wearing more makeup than usual from the away game, with a heartbroken look on her face.

"Eddie, I swear, the second that last buzzer went off, I came straight here." She moves quickly to where he and his band are standing at the front of the room by the makeshift stage. Her arms are up and around his neck, and before he can think he's pulling her closer, his hands on her waist.

 "I'm so sorry, I was looking forward to this all week," she mumbles into his neck.

Eddie sighs, standing still, the adrenaline of the show still running through his body but coupled strangely with disappointment that she didn't make it. He knew that it was a lot to ask for the head cheerleader to skip out on her team and the basketball team to come see, what, her friend? Some guy with a guitar playing in a questionable bar with questionable audience members. Just because it was unlikely didn't mean his chest hadn't filled with hope when she stuck the note in his locker that she thought she'd be back in time. It wasn't like she had any responsibility to be there, right? He hadn't been to every game to see her, although he had secretly enjoyed himself when he forced himself to get over his hatred of all things mainstream to see her new routine she was always talking about. Chrissy stepped back from their embrace, her hands on Eddie's shoulders.

Stupid basketball, she thought, how could anybody care about something so dumb when it means I have to see him look so hurt now? They don't speak for a minute, and there's just the sound of his bandmates shuffling around with the equipment a few feet behind them. She shoots them an apologetic smile before looking up at Eddie again. His wild hair was somewhat managed by a bandana over his forehead, and he smelled like adrenaline and sweat and Eddie.

 "How did it go?" she whispered, scared to hear the answer either way. Was it amazing, and she had missed him in his element, or had it been a rough night when he could have used her support more than ever. Eddie cleared his throat before finally making eye contact.

"It was good, yeah, it went well," he said, nodding. "We, uh, we played that song I showed you, the Bon Jovi one? Everybody liked that." 

Her eyebrows pulled together, tears pricking her eyes, and she felt her stomach drop even more. That day had been a good day, both of them in the record store one town over, Eddie all alive and energetic about all the music she was so unaware of. He had played her song after song, singing the praises of every guitar note and every shouted lyric, forcing her to jump around and "rock out" with him. He had very patiently waited while she bought a single Madonna record, before she had slowly dragged the Bon Jovi one across the counter as well. Yesss! He had crowed. My Chrissy, the hard rock fan! He grabbed her by the waist and spun her around before grabbing her records and dragging her out of the store. He had stopped short in front of his uncle's van, stepped close, and kissed her softly for the first time.

"Of course they loved it, you guys are amazing. You're amazing." He nods and gives a half smile, stepping back and continuing to coil up the wire. Chrissy starts again, "Will you play it for me some other time, maybe? I'd really like that. I'm so, so sorry, Eddie." He keeps nodding, like he's trying to shake off whatever he's feeling.

"Yeah, some other time, definitely. Sorry you wasted your time coming out when it's all over, Chrissy." Eddie turns and drops the tangle of wire into a box on the edge of the stage. Chrissy steps up to him, grabbing his arm and turning him back towards her.

"Hey," she whispered, "It's never a waste of time when I get to be with you." 

Pressing up on her toes, bright white shoes against the dirty bar floor, she pulled him towards her and pressed her lips on his. Surprised, he pulled back briefly, his eyes searching hers, silently asking Is this ok? Where anyone could see us? Her response was to entangle her fingers in his hair, brushing her thumb along his jaw, pressing her body against his. Eddie's hands circled her waist, his rings cold against the strip of skin exposed by her uniform, and he kissed her back, hard. When Chrissy pulled away and dropped back down to her normal height, she grinned and whispered, "Am I forgiven now?" Eddie grabbed his guitar and slung an arm around her shoulders.

"Come on, babe, I think I owe you a song."