METANOIA | Eddie Munson

The Dive, Part 5

3rd Person's POV

There was something about the two of them, it took them back to being in middle school. It took them back to a time when things were simpler.

With the newfound warmth his hand provided her, she walked with him in a comfortable silence.

They walked past a final few trees only to come across lover's lake.

"I don't see a gate," Valerie frowned, as she scanned the area, "and I certainly don't see our incompetent friends either."

"Would you quit staring at me?" She looked at him, finally noticing his gaze on her. He'd actually been quiet since they got here.

"You know, I've seen two people die so far, right in front of me. I didn't do shit about it. I kept running away. You were this close to being the third,"

"Eddie-"

"so I'm sorry if it bothers you," He follows their connected hands, tugging himself closer to her, "but don't expect me to be taking my eyes off of you anytime soon. I barely just got you back."

"When have you ever been sorry about bothering me?"

"That's not fair." He grabbed one of her braids, twirling it around his fingers.

"What's... not?"

Valerie cursed internally.

Now where was this nervousness coming from?

"You're kinda hot when you get angry."

It was downright unfair, the way goosebumps appeared on the skin his fingers traced over; as he went from playing with her hair, to her neck, and finally cupping her jaw.

And if Eddie knew this was the way to catch her off guard, he would have done so a long time ago. Those beautiful eyes of hers were wide open, he managed to make her tongue tied for once.

He was getting back at her, for all the times she made him feel this way. And she didn't even have to do anything.

Her heart was beating so fucking fast; why was he coming closer? Why was he leaning down? Why was he focused solely towards her parted lips? Why did he look at her like that.

She couldn't help it, it made her look at his too. He had the audacity to smirk at her, and she knew, she was so fucked.

But there was still that small, stubborn part inside of her, refusing to give in.

She slowly raised her arm and put it against his chest, in hopes of pushing him away. Instead it just stayed there. The pathetic attempt melted away as fast as it came, when she felt the heat seeping through his t-shirt and onto her hand.

Flashes of waking up on that very chest crossed her mind, as if it wasn't bad enough already.

He was close enough to feel the shaky breath she just let out. He wanted to be closer.

He wanted to feel her lips again, preferably with his own this time. But he was dying to run his thumb over them first, reminiscent of the night he first felt them. And he was just about to.

"See I told you it would lead to lover's lake!"

She pushed him away so hard, and so fast it made him stumble back.

Valerie wanted to drown herself in the lake and never come back.

Eddie wanted nothing more than to squeeze the life out of Steve Harrington.

"Hey guys!" Dustin waved at them, the rest of the crew behind him, "I don't think I've seen you in braids since you were in.... middle school?"

"Yeah I was, um, feeling nostalgic." Valerie muttered. She refused to even look at Eddie.