To The End || EDDIE MUNSON x READER||

Noise and Nerves

"Dustin! Eddie's here!" I yelled, bounding down the stairs two at a time. My backpack bounced against my shoulder as I snatched my jacket from the hook and sprinted out the door.

Eddie was already leaning on his horn, the familiar rumble of his van echoing down the street.

"Stop honking!" I said, throwing the door open and sliding into the passenger seat. "He's coming!"

Before I could buckle my seatbelt, Eddie's hand found my cheek, his rings cold against my skin. He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my lips.

"Oh God, please stop!" came Dustin's groan from behind us as he slammed the back door shut.

Eddie grinned devilishly, shifting the van into drive. "Morning to you too, Henderson."

As we pulled out of the driveway, Dustin piped up from the backseat. "So, I've got a question..."

"That's never good," I teased, flipping through radio stations.

"Today's Lucas's basketball game—"

"I know, Dustin. He's been talking about it all week," I said, rolling my eyes. "He's gotta stop pretending he's one of the cool kids."

"That's not the point," Dustin snapped, sounding like a tiny dad.

"Alright, alright," I said, holding my hands up in mock surrender.

"Well," he continued, "we need someone to fill in for him at D&D tonight since he's gonna be at the game."

I turned to Eddie, who already looked like he was trying not to smile. "Really, Eddie? You can't just play without him?"

"Of course we can't," Eddie sighed dramatically. "We need a full party."

I smirked. "I get something in return then."

"What do you want?" they said at the same time, suspiciously eager.

"I don't know yet... I'll tell you when I figure it out."

Just then, my favorite song came on the radio, and I gasped. "Wait—no. I know what I want. The whole album on cassette."

"Done," Eddie said instantly, reaching out a hand. We shook on it like we were signing a deal with the devil.

By the time we pulled into the school parking lot, I noticed a drop of red fall onto my hand. "Oh, great," I groaned. "Why does this keep happening?"

"Here," Eddie said, passing me a napkin from the console. His brow furrowed in quiet concern as I leaned back, pinching my nose.

We waited until it stopped bleeding before heading inside. Mike appeared at the window, knocking impatiently. "Dustin, let's go! We're gonna be late!"

The boys took off, leaving me and Eddie behind. I eyed his shirt — that classic black Hellfire Club one I'd been begging to borrow.

"I better get to wear one of those," I said, pointing.

He smirked. "Fine. But only because it'll look better on you."

I smiled and tossed the napkin in the trash as we walked inside. It was Friday, thank God, and the promise of spring break hung in the air like freedom.

At lunch, Eddie was—of course—on top of a table.

"As long as you're into band," he announced in an overly dramatic voice, arms outstretched, "or science, or parties..."

I was already laughing before he continued.

"Or a game where you toss balls into laundry baskets!"

The cafeteria erupted in laughter. That was when Jason, the golden boy of Hawkins High, stood up from his table. "You want something, freak?"

Eddie grinned, unfazed, and raised his hands in devil horns, sticking out his tongue like a rockstar.

"Come on, Eddie, just sit down," I said through laughter, tugging at his leg until he finally dropped back into his seat beside me.

He just grinned wider. "Couldn't resist the stage, sweetheart."

Lunch ended the same way it always did — the Hellfire Club huddled around one table, talking too loud and laughing too much.

When the final bell rang, I found Eddie waiting by his van, sunlight glinting off his rings.

"I'm gonna go meet up with someone at the usual spot, okay?" he said, dangling his keys in front of me.

I snatched them. "Alright. Don't be long."

He winked. "Wouldn't dream of it."

I climbed into the back of the van — our little den. We'd lined the floor with an old carpet, and the air smelled faintly of Eddie's cologne and the worn leather seats. It was cozy, messy, and very us.

While I waited, I turned on the radio. One of Eddie's tapes was still in the player — good sign. The second the song kicked in, I started drumming my hands against the dashboard, pretending to be the world's most enthusiastic drummer.

"ARGHHHH!"

I screamed, jerking so hard I nearly hit my head on the ceiling.

"AHHH!" I shouted back, turning to see Eddie doubled over with laughter outside the window.

"Prick!" I yelled, unlocking the door and smacking his arm the second he climbed in.

"Couldn't resist," he snickered.

He started the van, and we drove off toward his trailer, the late afternoon sun spilling through the windshield.

By the time we got there, I was half-asleep. I kicked off my shoes and collapsed face-first onto his bed, groaning. "I'm so tired."

Eddie laughed and flopped down right on top of me.

"Eddie, you're heavy," I groaned into the pillow.

He mimicked me in a ridiculous voice. "Eddie, you're heavy."

"Get off me!" I laughed, wriggling until he finally rolled to the side.

"Hold on," he said, his voice suddenly excited. "You gotta hear this."

I heard the familiar click of his tape player, followed by the opening chords of a song that could only belong to one band.

"What's this?" I asked.

"The new Metallica track," he said, his grin wide and wild. "Came out a few weeks ago. I already learned it on guitar."

The music exploded through the speakers — fast, furious, alive. Eddie launched himself back onto the bed, headbanging so hard his curls whipped into my face.

"Master! Master!" he shouted along with the song, his voice cracking.

I burst into laughter, pushing at his face. "Eddie! You're insane!"

He laughed into the chaos, grabbed my face, and kissed me quickly before bouncing up again to air-guitar the solo.

When the solo hit, he turned the volume even higher. "It's good, isn't it?" he yelled over the music, dropping into his chair with a look of pure joy.

"It's amazing!" I shouted back, grinning. "We should go see them live!"

He jumped up, fist pumping. "HELL YEAH, BABY!"

The guitar screamed through the speakers, Eddie's laughter filled the air, and for that moment, everything else — school, Andy, the stupid drama of high school life — faded away.

It was just us, the music, and the noise that made the world feel alive.