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Steve’s party was loud, music blasting through the main doorway as people wandered in and out of the large house. You could hear the wasted singing from the loungeroom, watched as your fellow peers swayed against each other, and smelled a mix of weed and cigarette smoke lingering in the halls.
Instantly you knew Steve was in for a world of pain when his parents got home this weekend, but you could tell he could care less, watching the man dance with Robin, the two of them all limbs and no rhythm. He caught your eye then, waving at you before leaving the dancing crowd, and heading your way.
“Hey, kid! I didn’t think you’d make it.” He offered you a beer for the cooler, and after cracking the top off for you, he passed it over to you.
“You know me, Harrington, never one to turn down a party invitation.” He chuckled at your remark, shaking his head and leaning against the wall next to you.
“Oh come on now, Mayfield, everyone knows you’re not the party type. Still, I’m glad you’re here.” You smile at the man, clinking your beers gently as you scan the room, looking for someone else you might know.
It seemed like Steve invited the whole town, the lounge room jam-packed with dancing bodies, and the rest of the crowd spilling out into the hallways, front lawn and back yard. You could see Nancy and Jonathan dancing closely as if they were in their own little world, and Robin was now talking to Chrissy, sipping sodas and laughing amongst themselves.
But someone was missing from the crowd, someone that promised he’d be there, making his usual deals, and your gaze couldn’t help but search for the brown-haired guitarist, sighing when you couldn’t find him.
Steve couldn’t help but chuckle behind you, watching as your shoulders fell into themselves and a frown formed on your face. Sure, everyone knew you were into Eddie and vice versa, but he didn’t think you were so head over heels for the eccentric super senior. He leaned towards you then, mouth by your ear so you’d hear your friend, and gave your shoulder a squeeze with his free hand.
“Don’t worry, kid, he’s here.” You turned to Steve, trying to hide the sudden warmth of your cheeks when you caught him smirking at you, knowing exactly who you were looking for and why, but he only laughed and shook his head in amusement. “Eddie got here early, said he wanted to make a few deals before people got too slammed to think straight. He’s outside near the pool.”
‘Why do you think I wanna know where he is, Steve?” He can tell the question is a distraction, something to delay you from having to seek out Eddie in an unfamiliar atmosphere, but Steve answers nonetheless.
“Because, Mayfield, I know that he’s your best friend, and you’re only at this party because Eddie said he would be here.” You go to stop him, say that you were here cause you wanted to be, but Steve put his hands up and hushed you. “Look, I know I’m your favourite movie store worker, and I know you said you’d come, but face it, kid, we both know this isn’t your scene. And that’s fine! But, can I let you in on a little secret? Eddie wasn’t interested in coming either until I told him that you’d be here. Sure, he can score a couple of deals, and make some money on the side, but he’s really just here to see you. Now, don’t argue, because if you start we’ll be here all night, just go and talk to him.” Steve pushes you gently then, in the direction of the open door leading into the backyard, and he doesn’t give you time to reply before the jerk is closing the door behind you.
The backyard is lit up with hanging lights, the gentle glow of the bulbs illuminating over the shimmering pool, and it’s a lot quieter out here, a small breeze rustling through the trees above. There’s a few small groups of people standing around and smoking or drinking, and a couple or two dancing slowly to the quiet music coming from inside.
Eddie’s standing by himself, leaning on the wall and taking a drag of his blunt, and you can tell he hasn’t noticed you yet, too focused on looking up at the night sky and getting high. You wander over, hands shoved in your pockets to protect yourself from the slight spring chill, and then you’re knocking your shoulder against his, a small smile on your face.
“Got one of those for me, Munson?” Eddie turns in surprise, nearly choking on his blunt at the same time, and you can’t help but laugh as you smack his back a couple of times, waiting for the man to stop coughing.
“Fuck, Mayfield. You really know how to creep up on a guy.” Eddie hands you a blunt from his cigarette case, lights it for you, and watches as you take a puff, a lazy smile on his face. “When did you get here? Harrington and I thought you weren’t coming at this point.”
“Yeah well, I got bored at home, and Max is hanging out with the boys for the night, thought I should give myself some entertainment.” Eddie passes you a fresh beer, clinking the neck with his own, and then stubs out the remainder of his blunt.
“How’s Max doing after…” He doesn’t exactly know how to ask the question you both know he wants to, but you just smile a sad smile and look away.
“She’s okay. She’s hanging out with Lucas again, and she’s spending less time in her room, which I guess is good. You know my family, Eddie, we’re not really into sharing emotions.” He chuckles bitterly at that, but you know he doesn’t mean any harm by it.
“The Mayfields and the Munsons, a match made in heaven for people constipated by their own emotions, how ever will we survive?” You laugh, head thrown back and Eddie grinning at you, enjoying the sound of your laughter wafting through the spring air.
“Constipated by our own emotions, I like that. What about you, Munson, I thought you’d be gone by now after you’d taken all the cash from the jocks.” Eddie shrugs and scratches the back of his neck, a tell-tale sign that he’s nervous.
“You know me, kid. Free beer, semi-decent pizza and a place to smoke without the cops busting my ass, I’m all for it.” He’s holding something back, and you can tell by the way his fingers tap against the glass bottle of beer he’s holding. You nearly wanted to ask what was on his mind, but you knew pushing him wouldn’t make it better.
There are more people in the backyard then, the party spilling out into the open air, and Eddie and you are pushed into a shadowy space near the corner of the yard. Something’s changed then because his arm is around your waist to bring you closer to him when a basketball player nearly stumbles into you while attempting to dance in a semi-decent way.
Eddie doesn’t remove his arm either, even though you’re leaning against his side, and you can feel the warm breath of his mouth against your neck, leaning closer to your ear so he makes sure you can hear him.
“You um…wanna get away from here? I think the party atmosphere has gotten a bit boring now.” He’s already tugging you away from your little spot without an answer, but he knows you’re coming willingly when you clasp his hand tightly, trying not to lose him the in moving crowd.
But then the music shifts, and you can’t help but stop him near the edge of the yard, right when you were both about to make your escape. Eddie’s looking at you, confusion in his eyes as he goes to open his mouth to ask what you’re doing, but you don’t really have an answer.
“Can we stay for one more song? I really like this one.” The song is a slow one, not something that Eddie would normally listen to given the choice, but he can’t deny the melody is nice, and it has enough of a beat for him to move along to. You’re looking at him with big begging eyes, hands holding his and your body already swaying to the gentle beat, and Eddie just smiles.
“Sure, sweetheart, whatever you want.” You grin back at him, and without even thinking, you move closer to him, arms winding around his neck, chest to chest. Eddie freezes for a moment, but you don’t notice, and after taking a deep breath, the metal head tentatively puts his arms around your waist.
“Uh…I’m sorry…I don’t really know how to dance.” His mouth is near your ear, lips accidentally brushing against your skin as he speaks, and you can only look up at him, a soft grin splayed over your face. Your arms hold him tighter, but he doesn’t complain, even if he thinks you deserve better; deserve an actual dance under starlight in an uncrowded backyard with someone that can actually treat you right.
“You know, it’s never too late to learn, Eds.” Your voice is soft, and he nearly misses it in the mixture of music and surrounding voices. “I quite like you holding me like this though, I don’t need any fancy moves tonight.” He’s shocked by your words, and there’s a sudden lump in his throat, and maybe it’s the two beers and the blunt talking, but suddenly Eddie is spilling all his thoughts out in the little space between you.
“Earlier…when I told you I was only here for the beer and pizza, I kinda lied to you.” You looked up at Eddie, curiosity filling your eyes as you listen to him speak, holding him tight so you don’t miss a word. “Sure, don’t get me wrong, pizza and beer are always good…but I was staying…hoping that you’d turn up.” He stops then, breathing deeply and looking away as he gives you time to take in your words, but you’re already shooting off the next question.
“You were waiting for me? Really?” Eddie chuckles bitterly again, and you can already tell what’s coming next, but you’re distracted when the pad of his thumb brushes under the material of your t-shirt, gently touching the soft skin of your hips, raising goosebumps and making your cheeks warm.
“Ridiculous, right? Me waiting around for you all night even though I know I have absolutely no chance with you, but I’d rather see you and see you dance with some jerk from the basketball team than go home to my empty trailer. I knew that Steve only invited me to try and set you up with me, and I know I should have told him he was wasting his time, but then he told me you were coming…and I couldn’t stay away.”
Eddie looks down, and he’s stopped swaying you in his arms, his Converse covered feet scuffing the dirt, and his arms leaving your body, instead pushing his fists into his jacket pockets. He’s guarding himself, knowing that soon there’s going to a rejection spilling from your lips, and as much as he knows he’s strong, he also knows he wouldn’t be able to take that.
“Can I tell you something, Eddie?” Your hand is on his cheek then, making it so he’s looking right at you and your other hand is resting on his chest. Suddenly it feels like the two of you are too close, but Eddie’s frozen in his spot, not able to move when you start speaking. “In all honesty, I only came because you were. We both know I have no interest in parties, and I certainly know you normally only go to get some deals done.”
“You came…for me?” Eddie splutters out the question like he can’t believe it, because he honestly can’t. You’re smiling then, in a teasing way that makes him feel warm and loved, and your hand is running through the hair on the nape of his neck, with his body absent mindely leaning into the touch.
“Of course, silly. You really think I’d wanna dance with someone like Jason or Luke over spending time with you? No fuckin’ way, you make everything better, Eds, and I’ve wanted to tell you that for years.” He’s blinking at you, wide eyed and mouth frozen open as he attempts to take in the words, and when he finally shuts his mouth, he doesn’t know how to reply. “Now come here, lover boy, I’m teaching you to dance whether you like it or not.”
You’re pulling him back into the crowd then, his hand clasped in yours tightly and you can hear his perls of laughter behind you, grabbing your waist when you finally stop. The dancing isn’t perfect, your timing is way off and he’s excellent at stepping on your feet, but it’s the most fun you’ve had in months, surrounded by the boy you loved.
You stay for another hour or so, dancing with Eddie, and by the time it hits three am, and the cops roll around to shut down the party (much to Steve’s dismay), Eddie’s insisting that he drops you home.
“It seems, Munson, that you forget where I live. Of course I’m gonna let you drive me home, I’m your neighbour.” The obvious fact dawns on him then, and he groans in embarrassment as you clamber into the passenger seat. The drive is short, only a couple miles from Steve’s to the trailer park, and before you know it, Eddie’s opening the passenger door for you.
“I had fun tonight, with you I mean.” He’s blushing again, hand rubbing the back of his neck and his gaze avoiding yours. He’s walked you to the door of your trailer, and you want him to take that leap of faith that he knows is right there, but he doesn’t want to scare you off. So you do it for him.
You’re kissing him before you can stop yourself, a hand cupping his cheek and another clutching the collar of his denim vest. You can feel him take a breath through his nose, then he’s wrapping his arms around you, kissing you back with no hesitation. It’s not a fairytale kiss like they have in those romantic movies, because Eddie nearly trips on his feet and drops you, and your finger gets stuck in a button hole on his jacket, but to the two of you, it’s fucking incredible. His lips are chapped, and the scent of smoke still clings to him, but you can’t get enough of him. You only pull away when it feels like your lungs are about to burst, and Eddie’s cheeks are so red, his hands still clutching your sides.
“I uh…should probably say goodnight now…like a gentlemen.” His voice is shaky, like he can’t believe what happened, but he’s already swooping back in for another kiss, another taste of your lipbalm, and another squeeze of your sides.
“Oh, like a gentlemen, huh? As if you aren’t wanting to keep kissing me right outside my door.” He laughs against your skin, and even though he doesn’t want to, he untangles himself from you, sighing when your lips leave his.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah? Maybe I could take you out for breakfast?” Eddie’s smiling like a giddy school boy, and when you nod your head, give him one final kiss on the cheek and a sweet grin, his heart is bursting out of his chest. “Okay, um, I’ll pick you up at ten, okay?”
“Okay, Munson. Now go, before my mum catches you on her porch.” He’s laughing, and stealing another kiss to your surprise, a wet smack on the lips and a squeeze of your hips as a goodbye, before he’s jogging back to his trailer, a final wave then watching you finally enter your home.
Parties were’nt your thing, and they weren’t Eddie’s either. But maybe, if you had more nights like with your metal head, you might become party people yet. Oh, and you definitely need to thank Steve, even if he’ll rub it in for the rest of your life, because you’ll always be thankful for his party nights now.