One Night and Forever

Safe Place To Stay

"Eddie?!" You exclaim with surprise

You watch him back away from you until his back was pressed against the opposite wall. He slid down until he was sitting. You blink a few times to make sure you were actually seeing him. Very quickly you go to the door and shut it turning off all the lights and using your phone as the flashlight.

"It's late. I don't need my neighbours thinking what are they doing at this late hour" You explain. You feel sorry for him. The poor guy being accused of murder. You believe he's innocent.

You turn to him and see he hasn't taken his eyes off you the whole time. You look at him and see he looks terrified.

You make your way next to him and sit down. You cross your legs and lean on the wall behind you. You can hear his breathing and it's shaky and uncertain.

"Did you see?" He shakily asks.

"I did" you say softly

I didn't do it" he cries his voice shaking

"I know" your voice quiet

"Wait you believe me?" He asks shocked. No one has believed him tonight

"I don't know you that well Eddie but you don't strike me as the type to hurt someone let alone kill them" You say. You hope what you said brings him some comfort. You haven't seen each other in a year. And here he was. On the run hiding in your shed.

"Oh my god" his voice full of relief that someone actually believes him. And it's the person he's been waiting to see for a year.

Eddies thoughts: I cannot believe it. Someone actually believes me. And they hardly know me. I think i might cry at thought of someone believing me. I cannot fathom that they also live in Hawkins? That was stroke of good luck. Thank you universe. They remember me as well? I wonder if they thought about me everyday like i thought of them? Do they think about that night? Do they regret it? Even worse they don't regret it but i was just a hookup they could brag their friends. So many thoughts spinning around right now

"It's funny that we bump into each other tonight" you laugh softly

"Whys that?" he croaks out

"The minute i saw the news i almost called you" You don't know why you tell him this you just wanted him to know you thought of him

"You still have my number?" He questions. He's pleased to hear that you still have his number

"Uhm yea guess i do" you say embarrassed

" I almost called you tonight too" he says softly

"Honestly didn't think you'd remember me" You're surprised he remembers you at all let alone still has your number saved

"How could i forget?" he says a little bit sadly. He never forgot you. He's thought about you everyday but you wouldn't know that.

You two finally look at each other and the second your eyes meet you both feel that spark you felt a year ago

Your thoughts: Oh crap that damned spark is still there. How is it i didn't feel anything for the past year but this guy who i've only ever met once can do this to me? It's like fireworks keep going off every time he looks at me and i feel weak at the knees. I was just another one of his hookups i meant nothing to him

Eddies thoughts: That spark is still there. I wonder if they feel it too? I hope they do. Maybe being on the run won't be so bad. If they believe me maybe they'll help me. And we can spend more time together and get to know each other. Big dream right there as if that's gonna happen

"Well it's late. You need to sleep you've had a big day. I've also had a big day i'm going to bed" you yawn. it has been in fact a very big day

"Do you uh live alone?" he doesn't want someone walking into the shed to find him and call the cops

"I do. My parents live in Hawkins too but who wants a 23 year old still living with their parents?" you laugh

"This stays between us right? You're not gonna tell anyone i'm here are you?" he's scared you're going to turn him in. He doesn't want to go to jail. He's terrified.

"Another secret between us. Fantastic" you say with a hint of sarcasm. But you see his face and see that he's not in the mood for jokes

*You get up off the floor and so does Eddie*

"You can't stay in here" you say to him softly

Eddies heart dropped. He knew it was a long shot that you'd keep him hidden. He felt really guilty that he's put you in a position to lie. or worse. Hand him into the cops

"Uhm okay i'll pack up and leave sorry" he says hurriedly. If he packs up quick enough he could run a fair bit again even though he's exhausted.

Eddie starts packing up the pillows and blankets and putting them back into their boxes.

"It's too cold in the shed i have a spare room you can sleep in there" you say smiling at him. you gathered he could use a smile tonight.

"what?" he asks not sure if he heard right

"You don't honestly think i'm gonna let you roam the streets? You're a wanted man Munson best stay hidden" You say to him with a bigger smile on your face. You think if you keep smiling he'll feel better about the situation

"And no one knows we know each other so it's the perfect set up" You say to him

You and Eddie quietly make your way to the house and go inside. You show him the spare room and where the bathroom is. He's very quiet throughout the house tour. Soaking up all the information. And getting his head around the fact that not only does he have a place to stay. It's in an actual house with beds, a bathroom, food everything. Even better, it has you. The person he hasn't been able to get out of his head.

"i don't have work tomorrow so we can figure out the rest then okay?" You ask him. If you were working you wouldn't hesitate to call work and say you can't come in. Eddie really needs someone right now

"Okay thank you believing me" he says unsure what to say to you. it's unbelievable your kindness

"Of course. Now if you need anything I'm just in this room here. Okay?" you give him a soft smile

"Okay" he smiles back at you

You turn to enter your room however you feel a strong but gentle wrap around your wrist. He spins you back around so you're facing him. He tugs you close to his chest and wraps his arms around your whole body enveloping you in a hug. You hug him back knowing he needs this. You let him decide when to let go because you know he really needs some comfort right now and you don't want to cut it short for him.

He let's go of you and looks into your eyes. And you look into his melted chocolate brown ones

"I am so grateful it was your shed i hid in tonight" he says softly and quietly. He feels extremely lucky that it was you he ran into tonight.

"Guess i am in a way as well. Who knows what would've happened otherwise? But we'll figure this out okay? It's going to be fine" you reassure him

"We'll figure this out" you repeat and promise him. This feeling you have isn't going away any time soon. So why not try and help him?

"Together?" he asks softly looking down at his shoes.

"Yes, Munson, together. Have a good sleep okay? See you in the morning" you give him a tired smile. It's been one heck of a night.

"See you in the morning sweetheart" flashes you a million dollar smile

You shake your head and laugh at the nickname. You go into your room and lay down in bed. Eddie enters the spare bedroom and lays down in bed. He smiles to himself thinking it's not the greatest situation to be in but he's happy that he's finally found you. And that you believe him

"I cannot believe they're helping me" he mumbles to himself

"The universe is really working her magic on this one" you mumble to yourself