The Ballad of Eddie Munson

Lead Me Not Into Temptation

Lissa had never noticed Eddie Munson so much. It seemed that as long as they were in the same room, she was hyper aware of his presence. She spent the entire date thinking about Eddie, his animated gestures, and the way he could seem so serious without any effort. He made her curious.

—

In Mrs. O'Donnell's empty classroom, Lissa threw her head back and raised her arms, working her long, wheat blonde hair, one knee cocked forward.

Eddie leaned in the doorway and watched the quick process, enjoying the unintentional sultry pose.

She turned to see Eddie watching her and peeped.

"You're so jumpy."

"Only around you, freak."

He rolled his eyes and smirked. "Way to hide your feelings."

"Let's get this over with."

"Oh, quick to finish?" he raised a brow, aware of the double entendre.

She scowled, refusing to entertain him.

"So the date didn't go well?"

"What?"

"You're still grumpy," he crossed his arms.

"What? It was fine. The date was fine."

The seriousness came back, "Maybe he didn't do it hard enough."

Her pupils dilated. "No."

A smug grin pulled at his lips.

"No, not that. I mean, we didn't do anything." She nervously brushed her hands against the front of her thin sweater and skirt.

"Oh poor baby, Chad didn't make a move?"

"Why are you so interested?"

"If you're unfocused I'm gonna be real unfocused."

She sighed and lifted her notebook from the teacher's desk. "Nothing happened. I mean, I think he tried to kiss me but he's so boring I rushed out of the car."

"Jeez, and I felt bad for you?"

"There's just no chemistry."

Eddie looked down. There's chemistry here. "Your shoe's untied."

"What?"

He dropped to his knees and sat on his feet. He grabbed her foot, losing balance she grabbed the desk behind her. Oh fuck, not again, she thought. He placed her foot on his thigh. Uncooperating with her brain, her body remained still. Her short, pleated skirt felt suddenly worthless as a feeling of vulnerability fluttered across her legs.

Eddie looked down, grinning to himself as he finagled the laces of her spotless sneakers back into a bow. He held the back of her ankle and planted her foot back on the ground. He looked up, capturing her stare, and moved his hand slowly up the back of her calf.

She pressed her fingers into the desk. Oh my god. What is he doing? Is he really doing this? Right here?

His palm reached the back of her knee.

"I'm going out with him tonight." she panicked.

His hand stopped, a disappointed twinge in his chest. He stood back up, unsure of what to say.

"He's picking me up from school and we're going to get a movie and then hang out at his house."

"Sounds like a perfect Friday night. So why don't you give me some weekend homework."