Love to Hate You

Don't Hate Me

Eddie was giddy – talking a mile a minute and gesturing wildly as he drove me back home. I watched him, absolutely smitten with him and how he looked at me. He took my hand in his and grinned at me, making my heart catch.

I didn't feel much different, but I was fluttery from our afternoon together. Part of me wondered if I should have told Eddie that he was going to be my first, but I knew he would have freaked out and gotten even more nervous or pulled some chivalry bullshit. He had been so sweet, too – attentive, always checking in and apologizing if he felt that he messed something up. He never did.

"What are you thinking about, princess?" he asked, kissing my knuckles. I smiled at him and leaned my head back on the headrest.

"Just about how I'm the best you've ever had," I replied, squeezing his hand. His jaw dropped and he flushed.

"Quite the potty mouth, Ick," he chided, turning onto my street. I laughed and watched him as he looked forward and smiled, his eyes crinkling. God, I was so into him. It was almost embarrassing – if you had told me two months ago that I would feel like this, I would think I was going insane.

We got to my house and Eddie raced around the front of his van to help me out. He wrapped both of his arms around me, making me laugh as he made it hard to walk to the front door. He kept kissing my neck as we walked in, grabbing my sides and pulling me tight.

"Victoria?"

Eddie froze and dropped me immediately, suddenly blushing and nervous. I smiled at him, taking his hand.

"Hey, mom!" I called. I looked to Eddie who was still fumbling and nervous. "What's wrong?"

"I'm not great with parents," he whispered, his voice wavering. I grinned and kissed his cheek.

"Oh, the dorky metalhead with an authority problem isn't great with parents?" I teased. "Color me shocked."

"Such an asshole," he replied, finally smiling. I leaned into him and pulled him to the kitchen. My mom was sitting at our kitchen table, going through the newspaper I had brought in this morning. She looked up and smiled.

"Hey, honey," she greeted. I grinned at her and dragged Eddie along, looking forward to actually introducing them.

"Hey, mom – you remember my boyfriend, Eddie?" I asked. Eddie looked at me, his eyes suddenly soft and full of excitement.

"How could I forget the strange man who was in my house in the middle of the night?" my mom teased, holding her hand out to shake Eddie's hand.

"I'm so sorry about that, Ms. Davis, I shouldn't have fallen asleep—"

"Eddie, I'm teasing you," she interrupted, laughing as she dropped his hand. He turned red and smiled.

"I guess I know where Vic gets her sense of humor," Eddie joked. He looked panicked for a minute until my mom started laughing, agreeing with his observation. She invited us to sit with her and we joined her. I placed a hand on Eddie's knee as soon as he started bouncing it out of nerves. He looked at me nervously and smiled.

"So, Eddie – tell me about yourself," my mom asked, setting the paper down. He cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head.

"Oh, um, I'm Eddie, I, um, I met your daughter in school, I, uh, I'm in a band—"

"Oh, what kind of band?" my mom asked. He blanched, not knowing how to tell my mom he was in a metal band. I squeezed his knee.

"He plays the kind of music I like – what you always complain about," I replied to my mom. She smiled and nodded, understanding immediately. She leaned back in her chair.

"Are you in any kind of sports?" she asked. Eddie flushed and shook his head.

"No, ma'am, I'm, uh, I lead, um, a club at school," he answered, trying to answer her question without telling her the whole truth. She turned her head to the side.

"What kind of club?"

He looked at me, panicked. I knew he did not want to say the words "Hellfire" to my mother. I leaned into him.

"It's like a creative writing club – he does a lot of cool storytelling," I explained. My mom grinned.

"That's wonderful," she replied. Eddie let a sigh of relief and smiled back her, nodding. I patted Eddie's thigh.

"Do you go in tonight, mom?" I asked. She nodded, leaning forward on the table.

"Working a double," she answered. I smiled and nodded.

"Okay – Eddie and I are going to hang out in my room. Come say bye before you leave," I said. She grinned.

"You bet. Eddie, it's nice to meet you in the light of day," she teased. He flushed again and nodded his head.

"Yes, ma'am – it was nice to meet you. I'm really sorry about the other night, again," he responded, standing with me. I took his hand and led him back to my room. He was giddy and goofy, weirder than usual. We got to my room, and I closed the door before turning to him. He was still squirrelly, giggly and silly. I put my hands on my hips and furrowed my brows.

"Why are you being weird?"

"You called me your boyfriend!" he answered immediately, smiley and giddy. I felt my face flush, suddenly self-conscious.

"Well, I mean, aren't I your girlfriend?" I asked, crossing my arms, trying to play it cool.

Did I make a mistake today? His grin grew and he walked over to me, wrapping his arms around the small of my back. I kept my arms crossed and suddenly felt ridiculous – Eddie didn't think I was his girlfriend and I had slept with him today. He used the whole "be my girl" bit to get around actually dating me. I was so stupid.

"I've been calling you my girlfriend to anyone who would listen to me – we've just never said it in front of each other," he explained, kissing my forehead. I felt a wave of relief, feeling a different kind of stupid now.

"Oh," I replied, pressing my face into his chest. He laughed and I looked up at him.

"You didn't think I thought you were my girlfriend?" he asked quietly, his eyes soft. I flushed.

"I did until you said that!" I replied. He laughed and kissed me, making me smile. He suddenly got a mischievous glint in his eyes and dropped me. I watched him as he leapt onto my bed, dramatically throwing his arms out.

"Fair maiden – I come to you on bended knee to humbly request your hand," he asked, dropping to a knee. I belly laughed and took his hand as he reached out to me. He pulled me close, still on the bed, and watched me, waiting for my answer.

"You are such a dork," I teased. He grinned and placed a hand on the side of my face.

"Takes one to know one," he replied, kissing me quickly. He pulled back and traced my cheek with his thumb. "So? What do you say?"

I grinned at him and blushed. He was smiling, his eyes crinkled from smiling so big, and his hair was wild and askew. He was so handsome, but so fucking dorky. God, it was embarrassing how into him I was.

"I accept," I replied. He smiled bigger and pulled me back onto the bed, falling backwards and making me laugh. I continued to laugh as he tickled my sides, kissing my neck and jaw. He pulled back, still giddy.

"I can't believe Icky Vicky is my girlfriend," he whispered, brushing hair out of my face. I rolled my eyes, smiling up at him.

"I can't believe that Eddie 'Stinky' Munson is my boyfriend," I replied. He grinned and kissed me hard, wrapping his hand around the back of my neck.

"Girlfriend, you're my girlfriend," he repeated between kisses. I felt my butterflies rage against my chest and flushed. Eddie Munson was my boyfriend.