Fight or Flight (Eddie Munson x Y/N)

21. "Night of the Vampire"

Your tutoring lessons stayed at the library, because quite frankly, you were taking them seriously. The guitar lessons didn't really matter; although you did want to learn how to play the guitar, it wasn't make or break for you. It was just something you thought about over the years. Something that came to mind as leverage in the cat and mouse game you and Eddie first started to play. If those lessons basically always turned into make-out sessions in his bedroom, you were okay with that...more than okay with that.

But Eddie graduating high school was make or break. You wanted him to have his degree so he could do what he wanted with his life, get out of the trailer park. He was smart, determined, talented. He deserved to live a life better than his father set him up for, more than one Uncle Wayne could provide him.

But didn't mean Eddie didn't try to get out of keeping the library a make-out-free zone from time to time.

One Thursday at the end of September, you are leisurely scanning the rows of books for something new to read, while Eddie should be working on an essay on Bram Stoker's Dracula. You were thankful Mrs. O'Donnell assigned that novel in particular; right up Eddie's alley.

You are startled by strong hands that grip either side of your hips. "'I am Dracula. And I bid you welcome," he says in a low voice and nips playfully at your neck.

You laugh, leaning your head to the side, giving him better access. "Oh no! Someone save me!" you whisper sarcastically. He uses the hands on your hips to quickly whip you around and face him.

A devilish smirk plays on his lips. "No one can save you now, sweetheart," he purrs, dipping his head down to leave soft kisses and bites across your collarbone, up the side of your neck and jawline, and to that spot just behind your ear that you're now learning makes your knees weak.

"Mmm, Eddie!" you protest through giggles, putting your hands on his chest. "There are people here."

"Really? I don't see anyone but you and me," he smiles innocently.

He slips his tongue between your lips and presses you up against the bookshelf with his hips. The hands that were placed on his chest to push him away are how in fists, grabbing his Corroded Coffin shirt to pull him closer still.

"God, I love kissing you," he says between sips of air.

"I love kissing you, too," you say, pushing him away a little now catch your breath. "But I also love the idea of you walking across the stage at graduation."

He growls, still grinning and keeping you within arms length by the loops of your jeans. "You sure know how to talk dirty, Y/N."

Eventually, you get Eddie to refocus and sit back down at your usual table in the back of the library. As you're packing up for the evening, you sling your messenger bag over your head and ask, "So...what do you want to do after you graduate?"

"You mean 'if,'"Eddie corrects. Now that he has a real motivation to graduate, the phony bravado around this being "his year" was gone, at least with you. With you, he was more vulnerable. He allowed you to see the chinks in the Munson armor.

"When," you insist. "What's your plan? Where do you go from here?"

"Wow, um," he rubs the back of his neck nervously. "I don't really know. I didn't really think that far. I mean, my first choice would be to become a rockstar, tour the country with Corroded Coffin. But, I also really love working with my hands. Building things, working with cars. Getting out of my shit box trailer would be a step in the right direction...what about you, Y/N? Surely your future is brighter than mine."

"I..." you sigh. "I really love writing. All kinds of things. I was a writer and then an editor for my school paper in Colorado. I would love to get into it here, too. I've just...been a little busy," you smile up at Eddie, playfully batting your eyelashes, as you both make your way to the exit.

"Hey," he says gently, grabbing your shoulders to stop you, turning you to face him. "Promise me something."

"Sure..." you say slowly, curious to know what you'll be agreeing to. You can tell by the way his eyes are shifting between both of yours that he's nervous.

"Promise me you'll never hold yourself back on my account. You want to join the newspaper? Join the newspaper. We can work tutoring sessions around it. We can work...the other time we spend together.... around it. I want you to do what lights you up."

The request sounds weird to you. How could he ever hold you back? "Deal," you smile cautiously, still trying to understand the request , standing up on tip toe to kiss him gently.

He kisses you back, but he seems...not there...in his head. "So you want to be a writer then?"

"I guess," you laugh. "A writer, a journalist, maybe even something in marketing or PR. I put out applications for college this past summer. All over the place. A few reach schools. A few back in Colorado."

"None in Indiana?" Eddie asks.

"No," you realize as you answer him. "I didn't realize I was coming back, at the time." Should you apply for a few in Indiana before it's too late?

There's a beat of awkward silence between you; you're both thinking the same thing, although neither want to have a conversation that heavy so soon. It was something you'd have to talk about eventually if things continued the way they were going , but the two of you were just diving into whatever... this... was.

"And after you get this amazing college degree and this amazing job writing for wherever, what else?"

"Jeez, you really want my 10 year plan, huh? I don't know, Eddie," you laugh again, shrugging your shoulders . "I just...want to be happy. Make it on my own. Not like my mom who married my dad right out of college and didn't ever make a career for herself. Spent time getting a degree rendered useless by becoming someone's wife. Although I do think I'd want to get married eventually. Start a family someday probably. I don't know. If you would've told me this past summer that I'd be back in Hawkins and dating a boy that everyone else referred to as "The Freak," I would've laughed in your face. Clearly, how you think your life will turn out can change very quickly."

Something about what you say strikes Eddie. You see a mixture of desire, sadness, and hope swirl in his dark eyes. "I know exactly what you mean, Y/N."

Author's Note: Couldn't help but make a Kas reference... 😏