Stairway To You || Eddie Munson
She left without a trace. She came back with scars. And Hawkins will never be the same.
When Noelle Henderson returns to Hawkins after eight long years, she's not the same girl she used to be - and she has no intention of becoming her again.
Hardened by trauma and fiercely protective of her younger brother, she keeps to herself, avoids attachments, and tries to ignore the boy with the big hair and bigger attitude who acts like he's seen a ghost every time he looks at her.
Eddie Munson isn't exactly known for keeping quiet - but when it comes to Noelle, he says nothing. Because he remembers. And she doesn't.
As Hawkins begins to unravel again and secrets claw their way to the surface, Noelle is dragged into a war she doesn't understand - a war with monsters, with guilt, and with her own heart. And somehow, Eddie is always there, pulling her in closer just when she swears she'll run.
Love is dangerous in Hawkins. But some people - and some memories - are impossible to outrun.
💥 Themes:
Abandonment & Found Family
"Sometimes the ones who stay aren't the ones you're born to - they're the ones who show up when it matters most."
Emotional Repression & Vulnerability
"It's easier to laugh than cry. Until it isn't."
Memory & Nostalgia
"You remembered me?" - "I never forgot."
Identity in Transition
"You don't have to be her anymore - That girl who is just trying to survive - You get to be whoever you want now."
Slow-Burn Romance & Uneasy Triangles
"With Eddie, she felt seen. With Steve, she felt safe. But which one felt like home?"
Guilt, Grief & Healing
"Healing isn't loud. Sometimes it's just someone sitting beside you when the silence is too heavy to carry alone."
Teenage Chaos, Quiet Intimacy & Everyday Magic
"Sometimes the most important moments don't come with fireworks. They come with a smile and a song you both know by heart."
Word Count: 290,573
Started July 21, 2025 - Finished December 06, 2025
