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Lotus Eater | chapter 11 - 8k words

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summary: it's time for a change. and spring break!

warnings: slow burn, 18+ mdni, mentions of shitty home life, talks of being poor, being kicked out, getting high, robin is bestie!!, jokes about 'walking into traffic', being caught kissing, grinding over pants, lots of making out, talking around the topic of sex, obsession with eddie's hands (again), teasing, jealousy, reader is onto robin's queerness (with NO judgement, of course), reader doesn't swim, light argument. saving some tags for spoilers, so tread lightly!

a/n: this chapter was quite fun to write. i love getting to the fluff of it all for you guys (; i have three more chapters planned out, with one including an eddie pov! i'm sorry for the delay in getting this out, i'm really trying. let me know your thoughts!

You finally had a day off.

It was a random Wednesday in mid-March. You and Eddie had spent the last couple of days building up excitement to spend an evening together without any interruptions. He didn’t have Hellfire or a performance at the Hideout; you didn’t have work. No expectations, just you two lying around in his bedroom and listening to random records.

You always grew up needing alone time. You vividly remember a time before Kacey was your best friend. You would tell your parents you did not have friends at school because you liked the silence when you were thinking. People too often spoke over you, disregarding your thoughts. Kacey was always good at speaking over you, too. You never felt heard or seen.

But with Eddie, you were all he saw. When you spoke up, he looked you dead in the eye and hung onto every word.

Hanging out with him never felt like a chore. It felt like a privilege, especially on the long days at work. You could knock on his door, covered in fry grease, and he would invite you in to hang out for 30 minutes. You would drone on about how much you didn’t make that night, and he would feed you ramen and listen intently.

You were lying flat on your back while he sat on his desk chair, picking away at his guitar strings. After a couple of hits from his joint, you were completely at ease. You had not made weed a regular thing whatsoever, but you did enjoy smoking with Eddie when the opportunity was presented.

His bed was never made, but you didn’t mind snuggling into his wrinkled sheets and throwing the light sheet over your lower half. His desk is scattered with notes about Dungeons and Dragons and random song lyrics he told himself he would eventually put together.

You drop the roach from between your fingers into an ashtray on his wooden side table, making sure the end is no longer burning.

Eddie strums his guitar, humming along to a song from the record of his choice. Metallica.

“I keep meaning to ask you,” He quips, shifting closer to poke you with his foot, “Did you want to come to the lake in a couple of weeks for Spring Break? It’s only three days.”

“Who’s all going?” You tilt your head to bring his wild hair into focus. Somehow, this guy was even hotter when you were high. His shirt is riding up a bit on his guitar, giving you a peek of his happy trail.

You lick your lips as he rattles his brain to think about the line-up of people.

“Gareth, Jeff, Grant, Grant’s cousin Tucker, and I think he’s bringing his girlfriend and her friend. Apparently,” He rolls his eyes just thinking about his next words. “The friend is into metalheads. She begged and pleaded to join the group.”

Your curiosity was piqued then. You sit up on your elbows, eyeing Eddie with careful precision. You knew you could always trust Eddie, but it seems as though he’s making this information very prominent. “So I have to go?”

He shakes his head, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “I didn’t say that.”

You squint, “You are insinuating something.”

“I’m just saying if you don’t go, I will be a target for this random chick, and no matter how much I tell her I’m taken, she will be feral for me. Because,” He gestures to himself, “Look at me. I’m a hot commodity to weirdos like her.”

You sit up completely, crawling to the edge of the bed. This man could truly not be serious.

And by the look on his face, he’s absolutely reeling you in intentionally.

“I’ll go,” You bite, “Under one condition.”

He puts his guitar on the ground, his fingers sliding down the neck of the instrument with gentle ease. He treated that thing like it was a newborn baby. You teased him endlessly about it.

“What’s that?”

He’s leaning towards you now, his wheeled desk chair creaking as he does. Your proposition may be met with resistance from the other guys in the group, but not Eddie.

You grab the pilled collar of his Hellfire t-shirt, tempting him with a smirk. “I get to bring a friend, too.”

His eyebrows shoot up, knowing exactly where this is going. “You want to bring Robin?”

Robin and you had become close over the last month or so. You even spent time on the phone in your free time talking about school and your jobs. She worked with Steve Harrington so she always had plenty to talk about. The guy was a mess, and it brought some sick satisfaction to you knowing that the most popular guy in school last year was now fighting for his life working at a video store.

Nonetheless, she had become a pretty good friend, and you knew this would be a cool opportunity to hang out with her, too.

As you nod your response, you shift closer towards him. Your face is less than an inch from his when you inhale sharply and let out a long exhale. Eddie’s eyes light up a smidge, his lips curling upward. You smile back, knowing that he couldn't care less if you dragged someone else along, he just wanted you there.

“Fine with me,” He practically whispers, licking his lips. His hand ghosts over your hip on the edge of the bed, “I just want you there. Don’t need this random chick trying anything. God forbid she tries in front of my girl, ya’ know?”

My girl. Shit.

He had not said that word before. You were ‘baby’ or ‘sunshine’ to him most of the time. But he used that terminology before. It feels like needles are in your hands as your hands move closer to him.

You don’t say anything.

His vinyl skips as it feels like time starts moving in slow motion. The air thickens with that familiar tension that rises every time you are alone with Eddie like this. The shift makes your heart race and heat linger between your legs.

Your eyes trace between his lips and his eyes, a trick you learned in a teen magazine in middle school. An irresistible, enticing con that would win him over.

And of course it does. Because before you can respond with some sarcastic chirp, he’s pressing his newly wet lips to your somewhat dry mouth.

His hand tightens against your side. Your fingers flex on his collar and pull him closer, almost like he’s your next meal and you need a bite immediately. He’s practically falling out of the chair the moment you drag him on top of you, his knee falling between the spread of your legs. The chain from his belt weighs slaps down onto your thigh as his lips go from kissing your lips to eagerly peppering down your cheek, to your jawline.

You two have not gotten past this point. You were not entirely sure why you were so afraid of actually giving in, but you knew the moment he got too handsy, you would squeak and start giggling. And the second you do that, it’s almost like the moment is shattered, because he starts to giggle along with you.

His lips connect with your neck in that particular spot that sends shockwaves through every nerve ending in your body.

He groans into your skin, “Shit, you’re so beautiful.”

Instead of laughing, you sink yourself further into his bed. His navy blue linens always somehow smell like his citrus shampoo, which you don’t hate.

The moment you move against his leg, he pulls away from you, looking down at you like you just committed the most heinous crime ever.

Your eyes widen in response, afraid you did something wrong.

“Hmm?” You hum, almost too nervous to speak. Your mind races towards the worst-case scenario.

Did you touch him wrong? Should you move your hands from his shoulders? Was your lack of laughing off-putting for him?

“Did you wanna?” He clears his throat, his lips pursing as he moves his leg against your core, “I uh…”

You clear your throat, moving your hands down his biceps, “Eddie, I don’t know-”

He sits back on his knees, his thigh no longer making contact with your clothed pussy. It makes your mind go fuzzy, realizing how turned on you are in this moment.

Eddie begins frantically rubbing his hands over his face.

“No! Right, if you don’t wanna. Shit, I uh,” He rambles, looking around as if to choose an excuse to not push the subject. But his bloodshot eyes are blank, and there’s practically no thought behind them.

You grab his hand that moves up your thigh, halting it from going anywhere. While you are here, completely disregarding any sense in the situation, Eddie is overthinking every movement and breath. You two have completely switched attitudes, which makes you smirk a bit.

You pull it closer to your hip firmly, preventing him from shifting further, “Stop, I do. I wanna, I really do.”

His head snaps back to look at you, almost as if you were speaking another language. “You do… what exactly?”

That makes you giggle. You do want to do other things with Eddie. Your body has never felt more ready than in this moment.

Eddie’s touch radiates on your bare skin as you lick your lips. They taste like nicotine and the apple juice he drank when you two came home earlier.

“Wanna do other things.”

He smiles, his cheeks reddening with your words. It was always so sweet when you made Eddie all flustered and red. He was easy to rile up, and hinting at the fact that you actually did want to sleep with him only makes him more bemused.

“Shit, really?”

You reel him in closer, nodding your head at his dumbfounded response. You glance down his chest, seeing that you overextended the thread on his collar earlier, and now that it’s stretched, it reveals his collarbones. Your brain is just static as you listen to his shallow breathing.

Oh, to press your lips there.

Another nod. “Yeah, I just… haven’t done things… like that, in a while.”

He lingers closer to your face, tilting your face up towards his with a nudge of his nose, “That’s fine, yeah… Uh, me either.”

“We don’t have to right now,” You reply, ghosting your lips over his panting mouth that is glistening with your combined saliva. Those lips, so perfectly crafted by whatever God existed.

You wanted him. You did not know how this was even possible.

“I want to. I want to,” He confirms, dipping his head down to capture your lips. You expected an eager and hungry kiss, but instead you got a slightly timid and guarded peck, “I just wanna make sure you’re good.”

You lie back, pulling him back onto you. Lips colliding, tongues swirling. You assume that he wants you to show him how good you were. Your panties are wet, your mind is racing, and your mouth is just watering, looking at him on top of you. You are so, so good.

His lips don’t depart from yours immediately, only deepening as his knee kicks up closer to your covered core. When you continue grinding on him as he makes contact, he hums into your mouth before he retreats. “Maybe when we aren’t… high?”

You groan, discontent with the response he’s giving you. He’s being responsible, which, for Eddie, is rare. But it is frustrating to your hormonal brain. You knew that you wanted to be fully present for something this important, but you can only imagine how good it would feel to fuck him high.

For your own sober self’s sake, you nod in agreement, “Yeah, yeah, that makes total sense.”

His eyes flutter across to your slightly downturned lips, “I want it to be special for you, sweetheart. Our first time together should be… something notable.”

His husky voice is not helping, so you decide it’s best that you move away from pushing yourself down onto his leg. You are not doing yourself any favors.

You clear your throat, trying your best not to sound too disappointed. “That’s very kind of you, Eddie.”

Because he is thinking about your track record of overreacting and being melodramatic, which was very kind. But it’s still maddening the way his eyes are half-lidded and his lips are so tempting that you could scream.

“I’m a very kind guy.”

You cannot help yourself then, knowing that even if you don’t go all the way with him, you need a part of him to get by. “You’d be even kinder if you… moved your leg again.”

A playful glint passes over his deep brown eyes as he changes the load-bearing leg to rub against your inner thigh, “Yeah? You liked that?”

You lock your hands onto his shoulders, body melting back into a rhythm. “A lot. Yes.”

Every time you reflect on yourself from a year ago, you picture that girl grinding on any guy like this, and it’s borderline comical. You were not very interested in messing around then, let alone with your neighbor and resident weirdo, Eddie Munson.

But here you were, completely spent by the idea of him being between your legs.

“We can do that then,” He remarks, sounding like something is caught in his throat, “Just that.”

You tilt your head back, gasping like you are losing all the air in your lungs. The way your denim and his black jeans rub together is maddening to say the very least. You wrack your brain trying to think about a time your body was this reactive, and not one memory pops in your head.

Then again, you’re high. And the horniest you have ever felt. There’s something about the haze from the thin curtains hitting Eddie’s face makes him the prettiest he’s ever been, too.

“Mhm.. yeah, just that.”

He’s moving now. His body starts cowering down to mere centimeters above yours, and you cannot help but tug him closer. Before he can kiss you, you feel his bulge press against your pelvis. The touch is enough to send him into a moaning mess. His curls create a tunnel to your face as he lazily captures your lips. His mouth is completely open, his tongue awaiting your jaw to drop and allow him in again.

Your lips part, and he immediately pushes his wet tongue past your teeth. There’s no battle for dominance; you simply let him wander all around your mouth while you continue to rub yourself against him.

“God, yeah…”

As your voice trails off, you hear a door slam right outside Eddie’s door. You both freeze, lips still partially connected. Your hips still flush with his.

He’s the first to move, scrambling up from the bed and stalking over to the door. You assumed that Wayne would be working late, but maybe you thought wrong. He grabs the knob, slowly turning it and peeking outside the room.

You both let out a sigh of relief when you hear Wayne clear his throat and the familiar jingle of his keys.

“Wayne?” Eddie calls out into the dark hallway.

“Yeah?"

You both thought wrong. He was home.

“What are you doing home?”

The floor creaks with every one of his footsteps. From your position, you cannot see down the hallway. You just watch as Eddie shifts on his feet. Wayne’s arms come into view, holding a Chinese food takeout bag. “Was gonna go over on hours, so they sent me home. Stopped and got some of that sweet and sour chicken you like.”

You move from your spot, which causes the bed to creak. You see his head peer past Eddie’s shoulder, and suddenly you realize how compromising this entire situation is.

He looks between you and Eddie, letting out a long sigh. “Did I catch you two at a bad time?”

Eddie wastes no time in interjecting, “No-”

“No, Mr. Munson. We were just-”

“I was having her help me with the new campaign I’m working on, ‘is all.”

You swallow, trying to play along with Eddie’s excuse, but you knew practically nothing about Dungeons and Dragons. You also realize he’s crossing his legs, probably to disguise the pressing situation under his jeans. So you just make something up quick, “Yeah! Eddie was telling me about the dragon creature he was creating.”

“Really needed her opinion on that one,” Eddie’s voice cracks, grabbing onto the door to slowly push it closed. Like that would help.

Wayne’s face gives away that he’s totally not buying the story, but he just shakes his head and whispers something under his breath as he walks away. You cannot hear what he says, but Eddie sure does. His face is bright red as he turns back to you.

“What did he say?” You whisper, hastily standing up. You knew it couldn’t be good.

His Adam’s apple bobs, “As long as we are using protection.”

You slap your hand over your mouth.

He chokes out a harbored laugh. Your heart is hammering in your chest as you storm towards him, slapping his chest lightly for chuckling at something so embarrassing.

“Eddie! It’s not funny!”

He grabs your arms, completely disabling you from continuing your playful assault. “It’s not funny, it’s just… yeah, it is funny, actually.”

“I am going to walk into traffic,” You say, leaning forward and placing your forehead on Eddie’s pectoral, “I won’t be able to face that man again.”

Eddie presses a kiss to the top of your head, “It could be worse. He could’ve just walked in when you were begging me-”

“I’ll kill you with my bare hands, Munson.”

Another chuckle, “Fine, I’ll shut up.”

-

“Thanks for picking me up, nerds!”

Robin throws her bag in the van before she crawls up, making a grossed-out expression at the state of the back of Eddie’s backseat. She leans forward between you and Eddie’s bucket seats, biting her lip like she’s holding back a mean comment. Robin had no filter, and neither did Eddie.

“I know what you’re gonna say,” Eddie gripes, revving the engine to hint at her to shut the door.

She rolls her eyes, throwing herself across the seat to slam the door. “I’m not saying a goddamn thing, Munson.”

You turn yourself around to face her, scanning her outfit. Robin always joked that she was poor, but she always had about 15 articles of clothing on. You wondered if she just stole as many items as she could by just putting them on under her oversized jackets.

She was not a terrible dresser by any means; she just layered her clothing like she needed to cover up something.

“You know it’s like 70 degrees, right?” You laugh, eyeing her t-shirt and cropped cardigan. The weather was calling for transitional spring temperatures, which, to you, was exciting. You loved the winter months, but you were craving t-shirt-and-jeans weather.

She scrunches her nose at you while her hands make a frantic motion to find her seat belt, “I don’t like that tone, Brains.”

You giggle, pointing to the overextended strap near her arm.

“I don’t have a tone!” You defend, slapping the center console in defiance. Eddie pulls away from Robin’s house, turning his wheel sharply to make a U-turn in the middle of the street. His head snaps to make sure he’s clear both ways, and when his hair shifts on his shoulder, you catch the hickey you gave him the night before.

It makes your breath hitch, the bite mark too dark on his almost-pallid skin. Before you can move to hide it for him, he whips his head swivels to you, his curls becoming a curtain to shield it from prying eyes.

“You always have a tone, sweetheart,” He mumbles, shooting you a glaringly smug expression. Even when he was being a smartass, your urge to kiss him only grows stronger. You move your hand across to his face, playfully open hand slapping him in slow motion.

Robin clicks the seat belt at the same time you draw back a bit and aggressively pinch Eddie’s cheek. “Enough outta you.”

Robin fake gags, smacking your arm away from touching him any further. You do not remember when you became so touchy with him; it had to be within the last month or so. You did not care who was peering at you two; you would always grab him on his arm or leg. Or back. Or shoulder.

And he did the same. Maybe all of it was him rubbing off on you. Again.

Robin pulls you out of your blissful stare at Eddie’s side profile by asking you a question you had been hoping she would forget.

“Did you talk to your Mom about quitting the diner?”

It had been a conversation you and Robin had last week. She was telling you how desperate Family Video had been to find someone to work morning shifts on the weekends. When you had joked about quitting your job to help them out, she somehow excitedly transformed the conversation into convincing you to actually quit.

You weighed the pros and cons of the situation. Way more pros than cons, for sure. The pay was better. You would not work with your Mom. You would be able to work fewer nights.

The only real con was telling your Mom.

And a con it would be. When you brought it up after getting home from school yesterday, your Mom erupted into anger. She had been three beers deep since she did not have to work, and she did not need to take you.

It had been the first time in years that you stood up to her, really. When she told you that your paychecks would still be her’s, you told her you were not giving her every dime you made anymore. You were hardly home. Why were you having to pay the electric bill in full? When could she enjoy buying a pack of cigarettes a day? It was never an even trade off and you needed to save money to buy a car. Still.

That’s when it spiraled into her basically telling you to move out. Words were said that you could not take back. Things you had been aching to get off your chest since everything with your Dad. She had been using you just as much as he had been.

You were sick of it, and maybe it had been time for you to just leave.

You had nowhere to go besides Eddie’s house. You knew you were welcomed there.

So, you packed your bag. Both for the night, and for the long weekend trip to the lake. You headed over to his house, hearing your Mom loudly tell you how the locks would be changed when you got home from your ‘undeserved vacation’. You knew her slurred words would not be true. She could not afford a locksmith.

When you knocked on Eddie’s door, he and Wayne welcomed you in without hesitation. Wayne had made spaghetti and put on a stupid made-for-TV movie. When Eddie roped you into cuddling in his room, you spilled out everything. How Robin had convinced you to take a stand, how you actually did it, and it blew up in your face. How you were going to be homeless.

He didn’t say anything as you vented your fears. Your doubts. Your wild intrusive thoughts.

When you finally stopped rambling, he rubbed your shoulder and kissed your forehead.

“You can always stay here. I don’t mind taking the floor if it means you’re comfortable.”

Of course, you cried because you felt like a failure. You couldn’t even keep a roof over your head.

But somehow, Eddie was still there. Managing to always make you feel like it would be okay. He had your back. And you appreciated the comfort and reassurance he constantly brought you.

It scared you a bit, imagining living with him before you graduated high school. You felt more at home with him than your Mom’s house, sure, but usually guys and girls moved in with one another when they were expecting a baby or something. The rumors at school would fly if someone caught wind of it.

Would not be the first rumor of you two, you thought to yourself.

You fell asleep in his arms, not too long after you told him how grateful you were to have him.

Now here you sit in his van with your friend, hoping to God something good would come from agreeing to help her at her job.

You bite the inside of your cheek, nervous that somehow she would change her mind and not help you get the job. “Yeah, I quit the diner. Just let me know when I can come in for an interview.”

Robin excitedly squealed, slapping her thighs like it was a drum, “Keith will only ask you like three questions and give you a vest, I know it!"

Eddie shot you a look, his lips wiggling slightly into a smile. You breathe a sigh of relief, hearing her excitement.

It was like a silent confirmation. You were taking back a piece of yourself. Doing something for your benefit. No one else. And he would stick by you, no matter what.

-

The lake house is a large wooden cabin set right on the lake’s edge. It has four sprawling bedrooms and a huge central living space that could house at least three families. You and Robin marvel at the beauty together as the other guys unpack the cars. Coolers, duffle bags, and random instrument cases. You walk around the property with Robin, each of you ‘ooo-ing’ and ‘ahh-ing’ at every little detail.

They had a hot tub? Grant’s parents must be doctors or something because there is no way some normal family gets the privilege of having a hot tub at a lake house.

You two eventually make your way back inside, listening to the boys being rowdy in the living room. You all get introduced to Grant’s cousin and the girls he brought. Robin instantly locks up the moment the girl who you believed to be a friend of the girlfriend, extends her hand to her. It’s almost like she had never touched another person in her entire life. You try not to laugh as you all stand in a circle and Grant introduces everyone.

Tucker was a lot like Grant, which meant he was easy to talk to. His girlfriend, Olive, seemed quiet, unlike her friend.

The friend, Cara, was pretty and bubbly, to say the least. Long brown hair, freckles, and vibrant blue eyes. She looked like a brunette Malibu Barbie in all black. When you tell her your name, she repeats it and compliments you over and over again. Your hair. Your eyebrows. Your skin. Everything was ‘so beautiful’ to her. She had a deep, raspy voice, which was unexpected and only made her more attractive. It gave her words more gravity, somehow.

And the other guys noticed her. Gareth was practically tripping to help her get her bag from Tucker’s truck. Jeff just stared at her like she was some painting at the Louvre, precious and priceless.

You could tell Eddie was intentionally trying to dodge her, only introducing himself briefly. The moment she extended her hand to him, he turned away like he did not notice it and went to grab more stuff from the van.

As he does that, you learn that Cara, Robin, and you would be sharing a bunk room nearest to the bathroom, which was not the worst possible situation. You could at least grab first dibs on the shower in the morning.

Everyone dispersed to get settled. You throw the strap of your bag over your shoulder, but before you can take a step towards the open staircase, Eddie’s grabbing it and pulling you backward. He shimmies it off your arm and pulls you in with a quick grasp of your hip. Your back collides with his chest, and you let out an ‘oof’.

“You can always sneak off to my bed if you get lonely,” He murmurs, ghosting his mouth right above your ear. As he’s speaking, you see Robin and Cara pushing the bunk room’s door open and scrunching their noses.

“It smells weird in here!” Robin calls out, flicking the switch on the wall and stomping inside. You can hear her footfalls clear as day by the way the wooden floors crackle. There’s no sneaking around this place.

Cara tosses her head back to look down at you and Eddie, his arm locked possessively around you.

Much to your surprise, she smiles and winks at you. She walks in behind Robin, commenting about the smell, and you let out a long, dramatic sigh.

“Who are you rooming with?” You press, tucking your lip between your teeth. Were you seriously contemplating sleeping with Eddie? By the look on Cara and Robin’s faces, you were getting an unpleasant-smelling room, so what harm would it be if you slept next to your... other friend whose clothes lingered with the scent of fresh linen and cigarettes instead? Seems like a way better trade off.

“Gareth and I are rooming across the hall from you. Jeff and Grant are sharing, and Tucker gets a room with his girlfriend.”

You quirk an eyebrow, “Is yours a double or twin?”

“It’s a queen, baby.” You can hear his smile, and it sends your mind spinning. All the possibilities.

“Just keep your door unlocked,” You hum, rocking against his broad chest, “Maybe I’ll pop by.”

-

You did not expect it to be so warm in late March. It felt like late spring outside as the wind whipped through the slightly ajar window. Robin was pressed on ‘airing out the room’. The stench was there to stay; you knew that for sure.

After settling in the more-than-musty room, you and Robin change into your swimsuits to meet up with the guys by the pier. You throw on a random oversized t-shirt that has crackled writing across the chest and sandals. You never thought to buy a cover-up, so the three times too big t-shirt would do.

When you slip out of the room, Eddie and Gareth are already in the hallway in muscle tees and swim trunks.

They stop dead in their tracks, voices dampening the moment your eyes flicker down at their outfits.

Gareth’s swim trunks are light blue, which is a rare color for him to wear. Eddie’s wearing dark red swim trunks that hug his hips a little too tightly. You assume they must be an older pair, and he just never got around to buying anything that actually fits. The guy was not known for hanging by a pool in the summertime, anyway, so why would he need to invest in new shorts?

“What’s with that look?” Gareth immediately questions, putting his hands on his hips. Eddie’s eyes slowly trace your body down to your bare legs, which you try to ignore for the sake of your friends.

You shake your head reassuringly, knowing Gareth took your glance as a direct attack. You were just looking. You did not realize it came off pointed.

“Think she’s just surprised to see the two pastiest boys in Hawkins wearing swim trunks,” Robin comments, leaning her shoulder against the door frame. The girl never held back; you gave her that. Even if that was not the reason you were staring, it made you giggle.

In the seconds it takes for Gareth to take a breath and target his probably biting words towards her, everyone else comes pouring out of one room at the end of the hall.

They are all sporting their swim attire. The other guys wear multicolored swim trunks with button-ups that hang open, revealing their bare chests. Olive is wearing a cute white dress that only allows a peek at the purple one-piece underneath. Her long blonde hair is perfectly curled in place, and her blue eyeshadow is vibrant, almost like she walked out of a Seventeen magazine photoshoot.

Cara doesn’t have a cover-up on just some denim shorts and her black bikini top. Her tanned skin practically glistens due to the body glitter that she has rubbed all over her arms and chest.

They both looked like something out of every guy’s wet dream.

Then there’s you and Robin. Wearing baggy t-shirts and shorts with burn holes in them.

Cara catches Gareth’s eye, and he forgets what dimension he’s even in. Or that he was even in the midst of a conversation.

You smirk, shooting Robin a mutual eyeroll as the group moves towards the stairs. Gareth takes a spot next to Cara, making some random comment about looking like the princess from his D&D campaign. It was painfully awkward, so you chose to block it out and train your eyes on the wall next to Robin.

There are so many separate conversations bouncing off the walls that it’s overwhelming. You stay behind and watch as everyone excitedly moves through the house and out the front door to the waterfront. You don’t move from your spot quite yet, because there’s still one lingering presence nearby.

When you shoot a look at Eddie, he just smirks at your stationary position. Robin rolls off the door frame, taking the lead and moving towards the staircase like everyone else did. She probably assumed that Eddie’s eyes were just a bit too gooey for her liking, and some sort of mushy thing would happen between you two.

And she was right.

Because the moment he starts sauntering towards you with those big brown eyes, his head droops and his thumb skirts over your chin. No rings. No jewelry at all, you realize.

“I like this look, sweetheart.”

You look down at yourself as if you have forgotten what you put on. Your face heats up as Eddie’s thumb travels to your jawline.

“I don’t know if I like yours,” You admit, your voice hushed. Like it’s a secret you don’t want anyone else to hear.

His brows narrow, the creases in his forehead disappearing as he looks at you, “Why’s that? Not into my red swim trunks from 10th grade?”

You grab the hand he has resting on your chin, yanking it up and holding it centimeters from your face. You practically go completely cross-eyed looking at his bare fingers. “I miss your rings. And bracelets.”

When your eyes focus in on his face again, he has the softest smile displayed on his lips.

“Don’t wanna tarnish them, baby. ‘Specially not the matching ring.”

That makes total sense. You start to feel bad about wearing your necklace, but you do not anticipate on swimming, so it should be fine. Eddie's eyes flick down to it as his smirk grows across his face.

You hear Robin’s footsteps heavy on the steps as his words clip to silence. You seize the moment, pushing up on your feet and grabbing his neck, bringing him to your height. Your lips are on his in a second. You don’t know when you will get to do this again. You were not sure if you were ready to be this handsy in front of other people.

The lingering glance from him earlier made you practically feral, though. The feeling of his mouth on yours, his hands exploring your sides and waist, is intoxicating.

Kissing him now feels different after you both confirmed the desire for more. The passion is more rampant than it was before. His hands explore more, his lips move with more intent, and the sounds from his throat are louder.

It’s like a perfect harmony of a million love songs happening all at once when you kiss him.

He draws back first, and that’s when you realize Robin is shouting at you two from the bottom of the stairs.

“Stop sucking faces! I want to swim!”

The grin never leaves his face as his heavily lidded eyes scan you up and down, and his hands move up your back. “Let’s not keep Buckley waiting, hm?”

Your forehead falls against his shoulder so you can cover your huffing and puffing. You don’t want her to hear.

Eddie giggles before yelling, “Coming!”

-

“You and your boyfriend are quite cute.”

Her sultry voice in your ear catches you off guard. You practically jump off the edge of the dock in surprise before you realize what’s happening. Cara crawls beside you, matching your position and putting her feet in the water.

“What?” You mutter, your gaze snapping over to her as she leans back on her palms. She smirks as she lazily drifts her head back.

“You and Eddie. He’s your boyfriend, right?”

In unison with her words, you hear yelling and splashing nearby. The boys had already started playing chicken in the lake. Eddie has Gareth on his shoulders, but the wet mop that is his hair is completely throwing them off their game. He’s walking around aimlessly as his brown curls stick to his eyelids. Gareth won’t stop yelling at him for being too wobbly.

You cannot hide your smile at him.

“Ooo girl, you’re in love, too.” Her voice is mumbled, but you catch what she’s saying and immediately tense up.

Love. That word was more than intimidating when it came to defining anything in your life.

You wanted to love. You wanted to feel loved. But all your life, most of the people you knew did not express such things. No hugs goodbyes. No ‘I love you’s’ before bedtime. No ‘drive safe’ when you left the house.

The only time you felt truly seen was with Eddie. And sometimes it was like he saw right through you.

Maybe that was love, and you had never really experienced it before.

You finally look back at Cara, the girl you hardly knew, who sent your mind reeling. “Why do you say that?”

Her smile brightened at your question.

“That’s the kinda look you only really ever see in movies, darlin’. I have seen it up close maybe twice before,” She looks back out on the water, her eyes trailing across all the boys. You scan her up and down to spot an insincerity within her body language, but she’s so even and composed.

You don’t have the chance to say anything back because Robin comes back with the beers you told her to go grab. She stands over you and Cara, her eyes locked onto the brunette’s tanned arms.

“B-beer?” Robin manages, holding the glass bottle out to you. You grab it without saying anything, your mind spinning as your eyes pin down Eddie as he flips Gareth off his back. You can tell he’s a bit annoyed by the scrunch of his face.

You take a swig of the golden liquid as his eyes meet yours. His expression softens slightly before he begins the swim over to the dock you have been held up on since everyone got outside a couple of hours ago.

Cara playfully nudges you when Eddie’s about 20 feet away from your hanging legs, which causes you to look at her with a confused expression. “He’s got the same eyes for you, by the way.”

Eddie’s hand meets your thigh, splashing water onto you instantly. You flinch at how cold it feels and slosh your beer onto Robin’s shorts.

Eddie laughs at the mistake. Robin groans in annoyance at your clumsiness. Cara gets up straightaway to offer a helping hand to Robin, who stutters at her recommendation to throw the shorts in the washer. They get up together, walking down the dock with their bare feet slapping against the wood.

Cara rambling on as Robin gawks at her like a lost puppy. If you didn’t know any different, you would think Robin has a crush.

While the chaos surrounds you, you are biting the inside of your cheeks and actively avoiding Eddie’s gaze. He notes your dodging because he dramatically flings himself back in forth in front of you.

“Did I piss you off?” He inquires, his cold hand returning to the meat of your thigh.

You finally glimpse down at him. And you feel it.

It’s only ever happened with Eddie.

The trained gaze on his face is like he is trying to memorize every aspect of your face. The racing of your heart when he smiles at something you said. You sometimes feel tingling in your hands and feet or hear buzzing in your ears when he touches you a certain way.

It’s the same feeling every time. Like an adrenaline rush that feels like you are about to jump off a tall pier into frigid waters on a scorching hot day. Exciting and relieving, but also terrifying.

“No, baby, you didn’t.” You mumble, trying to reassure him. As much as you try, you are not good at being nonchalant.

He swims to the spot where Cara was just sitting and uses all his upper body strength to pull himself up onto the dock. The water rushes off his body as he plops down wetly onto the rotting wooden boards.

He’s dripping water all over you, but you don’t care that much. The only reason you flinched earlier was because he caught you by surprise when you were pondering if Cara was right, and you were in love with him.

“What did Cara say that’s got you all weird?"

Your neck almost snaps with how quickly you peer over at him, “How do you know Cara said something?”

“'Cause she whispered in your ear when I was swimming over.”

Make up something. Quick.

“It was something about guys with tattoos,” You lie, not able to look at Eddie in the eyes as you say it. You train your gaze on his bat tattoo on his arm. To add to your statement and make it more believable, you press your pointer finger into the black ink, “I said I never really went for guys with them, but just ended up with a guy with a lot.”

His face contorts in confusion as you leave goosebumps on his arm with your touch, “Just ended up with a guy, huh?”

He can always see through you.

You flutter your lashes, trying to evade more of his questioning, “Yep, he kinda just fell into my lap.”

You don’t expect him to lean towards you, mere centimeters from your face, to simply respond.

“We talked about this, sweetness.”

“What?” You immediately respond.

“No lying.”

He’s got you pinned. The smile on his face does not let up as he purses his lips to kiss yours. It throws you off balance for a moment, feeling his cold lips against your beer-flavored ones.

You pull away, tucking your lip between your teeth, “What’s a little white lie, Eddie?”

His eyebrows shoot up, surprised that you are immediately admitting to your schtick.

“So you are lying.”

“I’m fabricating what she said for idiosyncratic reasons.”

You decide to frame it in a more complex way, so maybe he would get distracted by the complete fluff of words and move on from the subject. You did not need to admit to him that you were deconstructing the idea of being in love with him.

“Don’t use those big SAT words against me,” He retaliates, sitting back on his palms like Cara did before she escaped with Robin. His swim trunks are starting to hang lower as he shifts over the planks, and it promptly becomes the only thing your brain can think about for a minute.

You manage a smile, trying to look indifferent. “It was nothing. Promise.”

He tilts towards you, letting his curls dribble droplets onto your shoulder, “Was she objectifying me?”

Of course, he thought you were talking about him. And though he was right about the topic being him, it was not talking about how erotic he looked in the water as he gripped onto Gareth’s calves, showing off his muscles.

Cara was not objectifying him, but you surely were.

And that was not the topic of conversation, anyway.

“Jesus, Eddie, no.”

You can tell by the tick of his jaw that he’s growing impatient, and you have done nothing to curb his desire to know things. “Then what was it?”

You’re not ready for this conversation, as much as you would like to unpack it. What if he didn’t feel as strongly about you? What if what you’re experiencing isn’t love but just unadulterated lust that disguised itself as affection? There was too much stuff to weigh, and you did not want him to push it.

“Let it go.”

It comes out clipped and hasty as you just crave silence for a brief second. Between the splashing of water, the yelling, and the nagging, you become sorely overwhelmed.

But Eddie is unwavering with his mission to get something out of you, “Come on-”

“I said let it go!” You snap, putting your beer down beside you and using both of your free hands to push up and stand. Eddie watches you with an expression that is similar to a kicked and wounded puppy.

You sigh as you pick up your beer, tapping your nails against the neck of the bottle. Eddie does not look away from you, even when Grant and Jeff yell from the shore for him to come help grill the hot dogs.

“Look, it’s nothing you gotta worry about, okay? If it were that important, I would have told you. It was just…” You stop, carefully thinking of your next words, “Girl talk.”

You expect him to just nod and accept your words, but he flexes forward and stands up in front of you. His body language is guarded instead of accepting. The sun setting over the water still highlights his dark brown eyes as he peers down at you.

“If it wasn’t important, you wouldn’t have lied about it.”

The gust of wind he leaves behind as he brushes past you gives you chills. Maybe it was that and his words. Cold and unanticipated. You stand there with your back to the beach as Gareth remarks something about everyone being hungry to Eddie when he gets to the end of the dock.

You don’t move, you just stare out over the lake, swirling the beer you had left in the bottle. Silently wishing you had more so you could drink away the stabbing feeling in the pit of your stomach.

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