Adjustments
It hadn’t taken you long to adjust to having Eddie around.
Steve, Robin and yourself had formed a comfortable friendship, it was easy, peaceful and despite everything you all went through you melded back into reality once again.
Except this time, Eddie Munson melded too.
Right as if he’d been there the entire time.
For the last two years his loud and unapologetic presence had become a normality in your life, and the two of you couldn’t be more different.
He had the same cautious prejudgments of you from High School, and having ran in the same crowd as Steve for a while, you couldn’t exactly blame him for his weariness around you at the start.
But High School was a long time ago.
Well it felt like a long time ago.
While Eddie was all leather jackets, heavy boots and loud music, you were somewhat shyer than when you were younger and more reserved now. Not wanting the attention anywhere near you, a quiet life in the shadows was exactly what you preferred now.
And it took Eddie a while to get used to you too.
He wasn’t sure why you were so quiet around him to begin with, it put him on edge but as time went on he realised actually that’s just how you are, and he’s more than happy to speak for the both of you, often spending time together in the group you would rarely get a word in between him and Robin.
It was a nice balance and having him around to be the loud outspoken one was a comfort.
It was funny because you weren’t even aware of your feelings until Robin pointed them out, Steve catching on to her words too.
“Oh shit honey, I actually see it.” He had informed, realisation dawning on you.
While that was about a year ago now and while Steve and Robin loved to tease you about it, you obviously weren’t going to actually do or say anything about it.
He probably still thought you were preppy and stuck up like back at school.
Which bought you to now, present time and currently stuck on the side of the road just outside of Hawkins and glaring at your car.
It was smoking a little and you tilted your head in thought as to whether it was a real issue or if you could just wait it out, but considering it had broken down, and was literally smoking you concluded it probably was a real problem.
Looking around you spotted a phone booth just down the hill so with a huff and eye roll you headed over. This really wasn’t what you needed after the day you had just had. All you wanted to do was go home and watch some movies, maybe hang out with Steve or the whole gang.
Sighing heavily at your evening plans dwindling away you dialled the number you knew by heart.
And it only rang twice before you heard him.
“Yeah hello?” He barked down the line and despite the gruffness in his tone his voice made you smile.
Actually it made you grin.
“Hey Eddie it’s me.” You announced and there a bit of a scuffle on the line before you heard him more clearly.
“Hey Pretty, what’s up?” Blushing at the nickname he had called you which he’d given you years back, having probably forgotten your actual name at the time, but for some reason it stuck.
“I kind of broke down, well my car definitely did.” You told him cringing at your own sad tone.
“Broke down? Where?” He asked worry woven into his tone and the burst of excitement you felt seemed odd at a time of crisis like this.
But he really sounded like he was worried, biting down on your bottom lip to stop the smile you hummed trying to think of where you were.
“Just on the way into Hawkins I guess, as if you’re heading to Hoppers cabin before town.” You heard him clutch some keys on the other end of the line before barking orders at you.
“Don’t move and stay in your car.” He instructed.
“Eddie! No it’s smoking I don’t want-“ he cut you off with an impatient sigh and a firmer tone.
“Get your pretty ass in the car Y/N and stay there until I find you. I’m on my way.” And then the dial tone.
Following his instructions you did as you were told trudging back to your car. Sighing heavily as you say patiently in the drivers seat.
You could be home by now.
Out of your stupid dress and makeup wiped off.
But then maybe ten or fifteen minutes later you saw Eddie, he was in Wayne’s tow truck and you could make out his navy overalls were a little smudged with oil but he gave you a grin and sarcastic wave through the windshield.
He jumped out and you rolled your window down to pout up at him.
“Need a hand?” He asked teasingly poking his head through.
With a playful eye roll you turned to him with pursed lips to really show your sadness at the situation, but instead goosebumps prickled at your arms at the closeness of the two of you. The freckle on his nose visible to you he was so close, but he cleared his throat before standing up and opening your door.
He about melted at the sight of you pushing your bottom lip out, yours eyes looking up at him for saving.
And saving he could do for you.
“I think she’s dead.” You told him and he gave you a sad smile.
“I can fix her, come on go get in the truck there’s AC in there.” He told you helping you out the car and up the step to the truck.
He licked his lips as he took you in, bare tanned legs in front of him as you climbed up, a baby blue summer dress and white little heeled shoes. Not your usual attire these days and it reminded him of High School.
Remembering only then that you had mentioned a lunch at your grandmas house a few towns over.
He made a mental note to ask you about it.
Seeing your patents wasn’t something you usually ever wanted to do.
You watched as he popped open the hood of your car took a look around, tried a few things and then tried to start her up but nothing came of it. But no matter what he tried within 30 minutes he had latched her up to the tow and joined you in the truck.
“I’ll take her to the shop, Wayne can have a look. He usually figures out what’s wrong pretty quick.” His tone was easy and you nodded at him suddenly aware that the two of you would be spending time together alone.
There was rarely an occasion you’d hung out without Steve or Robin also present. And even if you weren’t used to it there was still a comfortable warmth around you. You felt safe and it was easy being in his presence.
“Thanks Eddie.” You told him with a sweet smile, head lolling to the side to look at him, tugging your dress down when you noticed it had crumpled higher than usual.
Eddie’s eyes flicking down at your movement before focusing back on the road.
“It’s my job.” He fobbed off with a chuckle and you frowned.
“I didn’t call you because you’re a mechanic or anything, I called you because well you’re you and I knew you could help me.” Your words made his cheeks go a little pink, he huffed out some air from his nose before beaming over at you.
A proud glimmer in his eye.
“Well aren’t you a little charmer today.” And it was your turn to blush because as he said he reached his hand over from the stick to squeeze your knee.
But after driving back to the shop in peaceful silence, Eddie’s music playing from the radio keeping a comfort, you finally pulled up outside the garage and followed Eddie to the office where Wayne was sat.
“Uncle Wayne, we got a case of an over heated cooling unit and low battery.” Eddie diagnosed as Wayne looked up giving you a friendly smile.
“We’ll get her fixed right up girly.” Wayne reassured making you roll your lips into your mouth at the expensive sounding issues. “Don’t you worry about nothing.” He barked in a tone sounding familiar to his nephew’s and you saw where Eddie got his kindness from.
“Thanks Wayne but I can talk to my dad-“ you started to try and offer but he gave you a stern look. Probably knowing first hand what an asshole your father is.
“Take her home Eddie.” Were his next words as Eddie began ushering you out to his van, one hand on your lower back and the other grabbing his keys off the hook at the door.
“Wanna go grab some burgers?” He asked as you put your seatbelt on.
“From Benny’s?” You perked up in excitement making him chuckle with a sideways glance at you.
“Yeah from Benny’s, what they didn’t feed you at your grandmothers lunch?” He teased trying to broach the subject and still be a little light hearted but you groaned and closed your eyes.
“It’s not polite to over fill your plate or eat more than two quarters of a sandwich.” You informed him and then looked over. “Apparently it’s not lady like.” You added.
Your parents were from the same cut as the Harringtons, it’s how you and Steve became friends. Forced to sit in boring itchy outfits at the country club every Saturday and Sunday as your parents paraded you around like trophies.
It’s also why you live in a studio above the coffee shop on the high street and why Steve lives in a one bed two buildings down. Neither of you having much of a relationship left with your parents.
“It’s not polite to go hungry either, besides that little dress makes you plenty lady like.” His tone was flirtatious and you knew he was trying to cheer you up while making fun of you.
“And don’t worry I’ll even get you a milkshake so I know you’ve been fed through the night.” Grinning at his words you looked over at him excited for the evening again.
“I love Benny’s.” Was all you managed to say.
“I know Pretty, that’s why I’m taking you to Benny’s.” He assured as if it was obvious but you didn’t think he paid that much attention to you, until now. And pulling into the parking lot he was happy to be with you.
Not that he was brave enough to say that out loud.
Once you had both eaten and you were picking at his left over fries you hummed content. The conversation about Robin’s new love interest, or Steve’s latest dating disaster had died down and you had just been laughing at a story he was telling from his gig last weekend, you couldn’t wipe the smile off your face.
“We should do this more often.” You told him bravely, dropping the fry and leaning closer by resting your chin on your hand.
“We practically live in Benny’s.” Was his blazè response as he watched you gulp and nod slowly, realising maybe you had meant more than just the diner.
“Sure but I mean just me and you. We should hang out more often, without Steve or Robin.” You said it so quickly he barely had time to recover but he’d caught your every word.
And he knew he had to think quickly before you took it back or changed your mind.
“Just me and you?” He echoed as if seeing what it sounded like on his tongue as well as getting confirmation before he got too nervous to bring it up again himself later.
“Yes Eddie, just me and you. I had fun with you this afternoon. It’s nice.” You looked away from him and down at the fries, your confidence fading. He took in how your cheeks were reddening and the tip of your ears were on fire.
“Steve and Robin are pretty annoying.” You laughed out loud at his response, and his way of making you laugh even in moments like this made your chest hurt.
You almost thought that was him rejecting you, softly and kindly.
But rejection nonetheless.
But when your hand reached over for the last fry he grabbed it gently with his own, placing the softest of kisses on the top.
You watched intently, lips rolled into your mouth trying to suppress a relieved grin.
“Just me and you huh?” He teased harmlessly and grinning at you like he’d just won the lottery.
“I like the sound of that.” He hummed happily.
