Chapter Text
The idea comes, like most brilliant ones, when they’re all drunk.
Gary’s passed out on the couch while Jeff is smoking the last dregs of a cigarette, so it’s really just Eddie and Gareth bullshitting back and forth.
“Who has the best ass in the school and don’t say Mrs. O’Donnell.”
Gareth snorts at that and shakes his head. “Gotta be Misty Jacobs.” He takes a swing of lukewarm beer. “Ever seen her bend over in woodshop? I thank God for the high tables every day.”
Jeff barks out a laugh and continues to flip through whatever magazine he found. Eddie smiles and rolls himself a joint.
“Who’d you pick?” Gareth pokes Eddie’s elbow and he spills some of the weed.
“C’mon man!” He grumbles and carefully picks up the green nugs.
“We all know he’s going to say Chrissy Cunningham.” Jeff makes a kissing face and Eddie sneers.
Gareth hoots and suddenly jumps up, bumping into the table and knocking the rest of Eddie’s stash on the carpet. “Jesus Christ. You owe me, like, fifty for that Gare.”
“Yeah, whatever. I’ll pay you triple that if you take this bet.”
He lifts a brow. A quick 150 for some dumb bet? Sounds perfect.
Eddie crosses his arms, “And what is this bet what you’re willing to sell your stereo for?”
Gareth’s smile grows, “Get Chrissy Cunningham to have sex with you.”
A moment of silence before he and Jeff burst out laughing. Their bellowing wakes Gary who blinks and then falls back asleep.
Eddie runs a hand through his hair. “How much have you had to drink? You think that Chrissy Goody Too Shoes Cunningham would speak more than five words to me, let alone,” he shares a look with Jeff, “let me close enough to bed her? Yeah right.”
Gareth blows a curl off his forehead, cheeks flushed. “She’s not dating Carver right now and if you play your Oh I’m So Charming routine you could probably get her to go on a date with you.” A shrug and another swig from his bottle. “That’s half the battle. From what Carver’s mentioned in the locker room you won’t have to try too hard.”
Eddie’s smile falls an inch.
He’s heard what the so called King of Hawkins has said about Chrissy. That she was an easy lay and knew what to do with her mouth well enough that it made up for how annoying she was.
Eddie sighs, “I don’t know. It doesn’t seem right.”
The curly haired boy groans, “Ugh. I’m not saying get her to fall in love with you or anything. Shit.” He whips his mouth, “Look how about you have from now until, ah, graduation?”
Jeff clicks his tongue, “Four months is a long time.”
Gareth claps his hands together, “Exactly! Plus girls have this stupid, three month rule anyway. Even your dumbass could get Chrissy to sleep with you by then.”
Eddie’s head starts to pound and his tongue feels too heavy. Was it really so bad? It’s not like he actually needed to date Chrissy or that he would force her. If she said no and laughed in his face, so what? Same thing happened to him last month in Chicago.
Maybe Gareth was right and it wouldn’t be that difficult. And by the end of it he’d have an extra 150 bucks to add to his get the hell out of Hawkins fund.
Eddie shakes his head and holds out his hand. “You sonofabitch, you gotta deal.”
Gareth laughs and grins Eddie’s hand tight. “By the end graduation.” A squeeze, “Now don’t you fall in love with her.”
A scoff and he sits back down on the couch to finish his own beer, “As if. Get ready to pay up.”
Eddie’s only somewhat shocked that Chrissy agrees to go on a date with him. Nothing fancy, just movie at Starcourt. What is utterly baffling is how happy she looked. Almost gleeful, Eddie thinks as he watches her scribble her address and phone number on a slip of paper. He notices that she doted her I’s with tiny hearts.
A bright smile that showcases those slightly crocked teeth when she says, “See you later!”
A sudden pang in his chest and maybe he was in more trouble than Chrissy.
Chrissy Cunningham was a girl that seldom knew what she wanted and even rarer got it.
Her mother had decided for her that cheerleading was the path Chrissy would travel down, despite her wanting to stick with dance.
When she was asked out by Jason Carver in their freshman year, Chrissy had tilted her head to side and shrugged. Her friend Jennifer had been next to her and laughed awkwardly before dragging Chrissy to the side. “Are you crazy? Jason is like, the most popular boy in our grade. You have to go out with him.”
So Chrissy said yes because that was what she was supposed to do apparently, although Jason seemed too caught up in his own life to be interested in her.
Her teen years pass her by with little intervention from herself. Her mother will chime in about what she can wear and eat and Jason informs her what would be okay for her to say or who she can be seen with. All in all, she has very little need to make any choice for herself.
When Chrissy mentions offhandedly that she might want to go out of state for college, Jason laughs and pats her head like she’s a puppy. He coos before pushing her down on the bed and paws at her clothing. “So silly Chrissy. You’ll go to Saint Mary’s while I’m at Notre Dame and we’ll get married after.”
Her brow furrows but she doesn’t complain. Maybe Jason’s plan is the right plan. How could she know the difference anyway?
Jason slobbers at her neck and she makes the sounds she knows that he likes and their sexual routine is finished with Jason’s howling in her ear. Chrissy smiles politely when Jason kisses her cheek. She stays staring at the ceiling wondering if this is all her life will ever be.
Jason breaks up with her as she’s counting a Laura Approved number of carrot sticks. “I just don’t feel the support from you Chrissy. I can’t have my girlfriend not be behind me 100 percent.”
She paused her counting to look at the blond boy, “I wrote the speech that you gave at the pep rally.”
Jason puts on that you’re so cute face that Chrissy finds a bit condescending before he sighs, “Look, we’ll still be friends. Maybe one day if you work hard enough I’ll think about dating you again.”
Chrissy stares as he walks away to sit with the basketball team. She wonders if she should cry. She did just get broken up with after all. Instead she takes a bite of her carrot stick and feels relief. Like a weight that had been dragging her down had finally been lifted.
Perhaps that’s why she said yes to going on a date with Eddie Munson. Jason had always told to her stay away from him. Usually with venom in his eyes and the way he said freak made it seem like a curse.
Chrissy could never make heads or tails of Eddie’s antics. He was very loud and that startled her, but he never did anything to her personally.
She knew that he sold drugs and this was bad, but only if you didn’t buy it for a party. Poor Shelley Connors was practically exiled because it was found out she bought some acid tablets and didn’t share with Rachel Stevens. It was an unspoken rule to share otherwise you were a junkie.
Chrissy thought there were too many double standards, but whenever she spoke on Jennifer about it the other girl just shrugged, citing “It’s high school Chris. Get used to it.”
During one of the cheer sleepovers, a few of the girls giggled about who they would kiss or sleep with. Wine drunk, Carrie Anne mentioned Eddie and Stacy Abrams agreed. Some of the younger girls stared wide-eyed and Stacy laughed, “He has nice hands.”
Chrissy paid more attention to him them. If Stacy thinks that Eddie would be suitable, than she could too. Although maybe she should’ve paid more attention as none of the girls said it was alright to date him.
Eddie smiles and moves around so much that she finds it hard to pinpoint where to look. When he makes a joke, Chrissy laughs and for some reason Eddie’s eyes look at her then. She finds the dark brown warm and it makes her hear the beating of her own heart.
So she agrees to go to the movies with him. A date where she can relax for ninety minutes and then maybe feel the thrumming in her veins again.
Chrissy dresses modestly; a light pink sweater and green skirt. She briefly glances in the mirror to check her makeup (mascara and chapstick only) before heading downstairs. Her mother, still upset that Jason broke up with her, huffs and turns her attention back to her needlework.
Her father nods his approval, “Be back by eleven, sweetie. Do you need money?”
Chrissy shakes her head and kisses him on the cheek. “No. I’ll be back by 10:30.” She pauses and adds, “The skirt fits mom.”
Laura’s brows raise and then a small victory, “About time. Only a handful of popcorn.” Chrissy’s shoulders relax and she waves goodbye.
While she did give Eddie her address, the concept of him meeting her parents is too intimate. It’s amazing enough that her mother is allowing her to go out at all, let alone with someone not previous vetted.
She watches as he pulls up to the curb and before she can even consider opening the passenger door, he’s stumbling out of the van. “Whoa, hey! I can’t have a lady open her own door.” He pants and she blinks because Jason never opened any door for her.
Chrissy takes a step back and watches as Eddie stands tall before taking the handle and jerking it. He bows dramatically, “Miss Cunningham.”
Chrissy giggles as she steps into the van. The leather is faded and there are about a dozen scattered papers on the floor, but it surprisingly doesn’t smell. Her body relaxes into the seat and watches Eddie walk around to the driver’s side. His curls seem less unruly and she wonders if he styled it for her.
How odd.
“So, what kind of music you into?” A causal question as they drive to the mall.
Chrissy shrugs. “You can put on whatever you like. I don’t mind.”
She always listened to gospel hymns or whatever sermon played on the radio with her parents. Music was almost as foreign as having dessert.
Eddie continues drumming on the steering wheel, “Yeah? You’d be into Metallica? They just released their new record and there’s this one song that I’ve been trying to memorize.”
Chrissy shrugs, “Sure. Maybe I’ll like it.”
Eddie hoots and then tunes the radio before shoving in a cassette. He grins wildly at her, “Get ready to have your socks knocked off.”
Chrissy doesn’t know what she expected, but it certainly wasn’t that. Very loud and fast. It made her heart race, but she couldn’t decide it if was from the music itself or the fact that Eddie kept taking his hands off the wheel to imitate playing a guitar? She had no idea, but the fact that they hadn’t crashed was a mystery.
“So, did you like it? Think I could have the solo down after a few more listens.” Eddie smiles at her and Chrissy realizes that he always gives her a real smile. All teeth and his dimples on full display.
She licks her lips, “It was a song.”
Eddie barks out a laugh, “Oh ouch, Cunningham. You hated it.”
She shakes her head, “No. I’m not a good judge.”
Eddie continues to smile at her and till his head as if studying it. Chrissy doesn’t shy from his gaze like she typically would do with Jason or her mother. A warmth fills her.
“Give me a song you like.”
A noncommittal, “Maybe Dancing Queen.”
Eddie hums and repeats the maybe. “Not sure? Do you like ABBA?”
She shrugs. Jennifer saw them in Chicago when they were ten and it inspired their cheer routines all throughout middle school. Chrissy didn’t mind the band.
“Let’s forget the movie and go to the record store.” Eddie says suddenly.
Chrissy frowns and looks at the time, “What? Why? The movie starts in fifteen minutes.”
He purses his lips and Chrissy has the strangest impulse to touch them. To see if they’re actually as soft as they look.
“Because you can’t name one song you like and that’s a travesty.”
She exhales through her nose, “A travesty? How dramatic.”
Eddie clicks his tongue, “To a musician yeah, it kinda is.”
She fidgets in the seat. Something stirs inside of her. Not exactly anxiety, but still she has to ask, “Are you upset with me?”
She watches as confusion grows in his eyes. “Upset? Chrissy I- Jesus, I’m sorry.” He runs a hand through his hair. She wonders if that’s soft too. “Forgive my flirting skills. Those are the real travesty.”
Chrissy blinks, “Flirting? With me?”
Eddie laughs not unkindly and sucks on his teeth. “Thought that’s what we were doing. Being on a date and all?”
Oh.
Her chest isn’t as tight and she nods, “Forget what I said. We can go to the record store if that’s what you want.”
Eddie’s brows knit, “Chrissy do you want to? We can totally watch the movie.”
Her lips thin. Is this a test? Her mother always does this. Pretend to give her a choice only to get mad if Chrissy picked the wrong one.
“I- I did want to watch the movie.” Her voice is just about a whisper, but Eddie seems content.
“Okay, cool. We’ll go to the record store on our second date.” He winks and that strange warmth fills her again.
He doesn’t try to touch her during the movie and this confuses her. Wasn’t the point of being in a dark room so no one would see what they did? Chrissy peaks from the corner of her eyes to see Eddie’s hand resting in his lap. The other abecstmindly picking at the plastic lid of his soda. Maybe she could- Wait.
Did she want to hold his hand? She looks again. Chunky silver rings and blunt nails, but his fingers were long and she could see the veins highlighted from the movie screen.
Chrissy bites her lips. Stacy was right. Eddie’s hands were nice. She bets they would be warm too from all that waving around.
Chrissy’s so lost in thought that she doesn’t notice the lights turn on. She blinks and Eddie’s facing her. “So you like it?”
“Hmm?”
His eyes crinkle as he chuckles, “The movie? Did you like it?”
Chrissy tries to think of something to say. “Um, not really. I don’t like how it took Blane the whole movie to finally decide to be with Andie.”
Eddie nods, “So is the way of high school cliques.”
He stretches and the bottom of his shirt rides up. Chrissy’s eyes widen as she sees the faint line of black hair. Quickly turning her head she fiddles with the ends of her sweater. Another confusing feeling.
“You got a curfew?” Eddie checks his watch. “Only 9:43. We could grab some ice cream or something.”
Chrissy nods, “Or the record store?”
Eddie’s eyes brighten. “Really?” She smiles and Eddie does take her hand then.
She likes how animated Eddie gets speaking about music. He tells her the difference between a guitar and a bass guitar and why the guitar player is always more important. No I’m not biased because I play guitar okay Chrissy?
She does pick up one Smiths album only because one of their songs was in the movie, but Eddie had sighed dramatically and pointed to the rock/metal section so she doesn’t spend long browsing.
“You should listen to Siouxsie or at least Joan Jett.” Eddie holds up two albums that she must’ve make a face at because he whistles and puts them down. “Yeesh. Tough critic. What about Bowie? Even I can handle some of his old stuff. Don’t think you’d like Dio or Maiden, but hey who knows?”
Another smile and Chrissy questions how it’s so easy for him. To just exist. Taking a deep breath she says, “I liked, um, this one song I heard.”
Eddie nods and urges her to continue. She picks at one cuticle. “It was called Both Sides, Now.”
She hears a light laugh and looks up to see Eddie smiling at her. “Joni Mitchell makes sense for you.”
The corners of Chrissy’s lips raise. “Really?”
Eddie nods again and points to another section of the store. “You got a record player? I’ll buy you one of her albums.”
A sudden rush fills her and her mind blanks. “You’d do that?”
He waves a hand, “Course. Might have to sneak in one of my favorites, but you won’t mind.”
Chrissy shakes her head. “I’d like that.”
She hasn’t realized that she moved close enough to feel the cuff of his jacket against her fingers. To smell nicotine that clings to him like a second skin. Close enough to see the light stubble on his chin. To feel his warm breath on her face. Close enough that if she stood on her tiptoes that she could kiss him if she wanted.
Chrissy coughs and looks towards the clock. “I promised my dad I’d be home by eleven the latest.”
Eddie sighs and grabs for her hand. His fingers tangle in hers and she likes the weight of them. “No problem, princess. Let’s get your records and then back home before you turn into a pumpkin.”
He continues to hold her hand the entire drive back, but doesn’t try to kiss her. Chrissy’s mind reels because shouldn’t they have kissed? Was this a bad first date? Did she say something wrong?
“And you’re home safe and sound with a few minutes to spare.” He turns off the engine and thumbs to her door. “Want me to walk you? It’s pretty dark.”
Chrissy shakes her head and crinkles the plastic bag holding the albums Eddie bought her. Her heart is pounding so loud and God why was she feeling like this?
“Did we have a nice date?” She blurts and Eddie sputters. “Uh, yes? I mean I had fun. Did you?”
Chrissy hums and then like someone else has possessed her says, “How come you didn’t kiss me then? You could’ve at the movie or while you played me that ‘Flash before your eyes’ song.”
“Ride the Lightning,” Eddie corrects and then blinks wildly. “You wanted me to kiss you?"
Chrissy unbuckles her seatbelt to face him. “I think so.”
Eddie tucks some hair behind her ear and whispers, “You think or you know?”
She licks her lips and leans forward. “I know.”
A quick intake of breath and then Eddie presses his lips to hers. They are soft if slightly chapped. It’s chaste and Chrissy wonders if he’s as nervous as she is.
A swipe of her tongue along his bottom lip causes him to gasp and she sighs into him then. Her own hands go to his hair and oh it is soft.
His mouth is hot and she can taste the mint he had still on his tongue. Eddie’s hands move to her chin and he tilts her head up to kiss her deeper. Her teeth nip at his lips and Chrissy’s unsure which of them moans. She’s the one to break the kiss and laughs.
“Thanks.”
Eddie’s eyes are lidded and his thumbs caress her cheeks. “That’s my line.” He mumbles something she can’t hear and then, “I can take you out again right?”
Chrissy presses her lips to his once more before untangling herself. “Please.”
For the first time in maybe ever, Chrissy writes in diary about something that she likes.