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When you first noticed Eddie Munson it was a Friday night. A basketball game had finished and you were driving your shiny BMW home with tears in your eyes. You'd just broken up with Jason Carver after a particularly nasty fight. They lost the game by 5 points in the second half and he came off the court, sweaty and angry. You started a shouting match and ending up breaking up with him right there in the school parking lot. You'd wanted to do it for a bit now, but you never thought you had the guts. So, now you'd done it and you were crying, trying to drive home in the rain in your shiny, new car. You saw a figure by the side of the road. You drove past, making eye contact with it. It wasn't an "it," but rather a "him." It was Eddie "the Freak" Munson. You weren't sure why you did it; maybe it was the pouring rain or the fact that you felt the need to help someone, but you stopped the car, put it in reverse, and backed up to Munson, rolling down the window.
"Need a ride?" you asked.
Munson smiled.
"That you, l/n?"
"Yea, don't cream your pants. Get in."
Not wanting to push his luck, he hopping around to the other side, slipping into your car. He was soaking wet and his curly hair laid flat against his forehead. He was smiling and dripping water all over your leather seats and upholstery. He smelled of mud and rain, but also of the upcoming summer.
"Wow, this must be a dream," he said. "I'm in the y/n l/n's daddy's car."
"Shut up," you mumbled.
Eddie turned to you, ready to make another sarcastic comment, taking in your face for the first time. You were gorgeous, everyone thought so, but your mascara was running down your face and your bright eyes were puffy. He also noted that you weren't wearing your usual "J" necklace around your neck.
"Hey, thank you," he said, softly. "You didn't have to do this."
"Where to?" you asked.
"Wherever you want to go," he smiled.
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You took him to the woods. It was a typical stoner's hotspot, but you knew nobody you knew would find you there. You weren't sure why you drug Munson along on your pity trip, but misery loves company. Surprisingly, Munson didn't pry and you ended up talking for hours. The talking didn't come from you, but rather the weed he offered.
"You've never been high before?" he asked.
You shook your head.
"Well, a breakup calls for a treat," he said, pulling out a dime bag from his lunchbox.
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You'd started giving Munson rides home quite often, driving around Hawkins with him and getting stoned. You didn't know what it was about him, but you could tell him anything. There was nothing too out there for Eddie.
"I thinking about kissing you sometimes," you told him after smoking a bowl in the back of your car. The two of you were laying on your hood, staring at the clouds. He shot up.
"What?" he asked.
"I don't know, sometimes I think you're kinda pretty," you laughed. "God, Munson, I think it's your hair and tattoos. You're so pretty."
Feeling bold from his high, he leaned over and placed a soft kiss on your lips. You sat up, kissing him back. The two of you sat in the sunshine, his hands in your hair and yours around his neck. He tasted of weed and sweetness and he thought you tasted of heaven.
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You started dating. You didn't really care about the weird looks from your former friends or ex-boyfriend. Although, you did realize that Jason's bullying of Eddie had gotten worse. Eddie didn't care, because he had you. Carver could suck his dick for all he cared. He was just mad because he didn't realize what he had until he lost it. It wasn't until Eddie and Jason got into a full-fist fight that he showed you how much it affected him.
"I'm so sick of that asshole!" he shouted in the passenger seat of your car. You had driven him to your usual spot in the woods.
"Hey, it's okay," you tried to soothe.
"No it's not!"
"Eddie, you never act like this. What did he say?"
Your friend who witnessed the fight had told you that Jason had antagonized him until Eddie just whipped around and punched him in the face.
"I just wanted to get him to shut up."
"Was it about me?" you asked, tenderly.
Eddie nodded.
"He kept going on about you. He said you'd be back with him- that you're only dating me because your dad spends too much time at work to pay attention to you, so you're trying to get it the only way you know how. Said you're only dating me to piss off your parents."
"Eddie, you know that's not true."
"Yea, but, well, what if it is? I know girls like you. Girls like you don't date guys like me. I'm just a phase before you move on and settle down with Jason Carver and he becomes some real estate agent or some bullshit job like that and you have 2.5 kids and a white picket fence. I'm a wild story you tell your grandkids and laugh about later on with him. So, I'm begging you, y/n, if this is some phase of yours, just tell me now. Tell me now before I fall more in love with you. Please, I won't be mad at you. I'll understand. I know what asshole parents are like and I know what it's like to want attention. You don't have to pretend anymore."
You noticed how his voice cracked and his eyes got a little watery. You started crying.
"You're an idiot, Munson. Do you really think I'd put you through all of this for a phase? I love you and 'guys like you.' Jason never treated me with half as much respect as you do and he never took time to talk to me like you do."
Eddie's breathing calmed.
"You love me, too?"
"Yes, you idiot."
He gave a small smile, leaning in to kiss you.
"What do you say we move this to the backseat?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.