How I Wish it Ended: Eddie Munson

Part One

You sat cross legged, eyes tracing Eddie's quick movements in the tall grass of the meadow as he practiced swinging around the garbage can lid of nails. You watched as he ducked and lunged at imaginary enemies; grunting and shouting as he did so. A soft smile crept its way across your face as you looked on at this man adoringly, a feeling you had never quite allowed to take root in your heart. You were just a normal girl in Hawkins, Indiana ready to leave this god forsaken place and never return; 'destined for greatness' at a prestigious university on the east coast. But here you were, on the cusp of apocalypse, wielding a handmade spear and dressed in a camouflage jacket. Your mom would practically die at the sight of you ready for battle and that thought made you giggle aloud. At the melodic sound of it, Eddie turned to face you with a mischievous smile spread wide across his face.
"Something funny, m'lady?" He shouts in your direction while giving a curt bow, arms extended to either side. You shake your head as you laugh, shoulders shaking from the effort as he dives in your direction and lays on the grass by your side. As he rolls onto his back, he places an arm behind his head, sighs deeply, and closes his eyes. You find yourself once again tracing his features with a lingering gaze as they inspected the curve of his lips, the way his curly hair framed his face, and the dimples that caressed his cheeks. Eddie was, to many people, a nobody turned villain but to you he would always be the kind soul who made you laugh through life's toughest moments and, looking over this man who you had known for so long, you realize that you didn't truly know him. Sure, he was in a dungeons and dragons group with your little brother Dustin, but you didn't know much else about him other than what you were told and the brief interactions when he'd come to pick up your brother for their game sessions. He'd tease you as you were doing homework saying it was 'a waste of a Friday night' or give a light tug on the frizzy ends of your perm that didn't quite look like it did in the magazines. Eddie was a crush that you had begged your heart to forget between the lined pages of your diary, but still you couldn't help but wonder...
"Are you alright?" Eddie asks earnestly, his eyes searching your face for any sign of distress as you realize you are staring at him. Your cheeks burn bright red as you abruptly turn away and tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear and pull your legs to your chest.
"I'm fine." You lie uneasily, the half truth getting caught in your throat as you speak. Sensing something is off, Eddie sits up and turns his body to face you, placing a hand on your knee in comfort.
"I'm scared, too." He admits reluctantly, his words a soft whisper on the breeze as he speaks. His deep, brown eyes peer into yours and you bring your own hand to hold him in desperate need of reassurance. He was right, you were sacred. You all were. Despite the fact that everyone besides you and Eddie had fought an upside down threat before, you hadn't fought anyone. This plan that they created might work, but it might not and as you all sit in this meadow and prepare for a fight against evil, you are also preparing to maybe not make it back.
"Some friends we got, huh?" You break the silence in a light-hearted attempt to brighten his mood. Eddie beams back at you warmly as his eyes dart to where Dustin sat in the field taping a hunting knife to a broom handle.
"They're pretty great, aren't they?" Eddie replies with a wavering of emotion in his words. He goes to pull his hand away, but you hold him tighter; not releasing his hand.
"Eddie, if we don't make it out of this...whatever this is, I just want you to know that I think you're really great. Like, truly amazing." You blurt out in a flurry of words that jumble together in a high pitched plea. For a second Eddie looks stunned, but his unsure look of shock quickly melts into a heart racing smile.
"Never change, y/n. Promise me?" He whispered, his words coated in urgency.
"I wasn't planning on it." You whisper back, giving his hand a firm squeeze and releasing your grip. He lets his hand lazily fall to the grass between you and gives a nod of approval, gaze falling back to the group.
"God, I really hope we make it though." Eddie proclaims sullenly, "This is my year. I'm gonna actually graduate this time."
"Gosh, graduation. Don't remind me." You sigh, falling backward into the grass and rolling on your side to peer up at Eddie. He smiles wistfully at you as he tucks your perm, frizzed stray hair behind your ear and smiles.
"I will remind you because, unlike me, you are incredibly smart and doing the one thing I never imagined myself doing."
"What's that, Eddie?"
"Leaving Hawkins, sweet cheeks. This place is as bogus as it gets and I'm damn near the end of my rope with judgey stares and considering I'm public enemy number one? I think Hawkins is ready for me to go." He admits quietly, a sad forlorn look creasing his brows. Looking at him like this, vulnerable and open causes that feeling to stir once again. It's on the tip of your tongue, the urge to grab him by the collar and pull his lips to yours in an electric kiss that will forever be seared in your heart; pouring into him every once of want and love and desire that he matters. Maybe not to Hawkins, or the world but to you he did. You wanted to shake him, scream that you both should just leave right now and go. See the world and explore and try as hard as you can to find happiness, but as you open your mouth, Steve calls for the group to assemble and go over the plan once again. Eddie slowly stands and brushes off his pants. He extends a hand to help you to your feet as he wraps his hand around your wrist and pulls you a little too quickly causing you to collide with his chest. You place a steadying hand over his heart as you gain your footing and look up to see a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Dude, get over here. We need to finalize this now." Steve beckons in anxious annoyance.
"Come on, we'll be okay." Eddie reassures you as a pit of despair settles firmly in your stomach. He releases you and walks toward where the rest of the group gathered to finalize the attack on Vecna.