Yakuly - Yakully

⍉ 𝒫𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝒞𝓇𝒾𝓂𝑒 ⍉

⮔ (G)I-dle (ot6)

⮔ Genre: criminal!Gidle, criminal universe, angst, !minors do not interact!, inspired by the "Chicago" broadway musical/movie

⮔ Warnings: Cursing, sugestive, mention of sex, mentions of abusive relationship (please do not read, if it triggers you!), murder!

⮔ Chapters: 7

⮔ Posting: Every Tuesday, after 18 p.m (Brazil)

⮔Summary: The 1920s in the city of Chicago were incredibly prosperous for citizens. Everyone seemed to live in a haze of lust, making them spend and flaunt all their riches. Bars full of Jazz, Whiskey, and cigarettes. Indecent women with their fishnet stockings made good men sin, and forget their wives. At the same time, a wave of crime swept through the city.

Everyone who read the newspapers knew them, and even those who pretended not to, as they believed they were too "cult", knew their names, faces, and the crimes that led them to the much-feared "Cook County Jail" of Cook').

So maybe by knowing their true story, they can have their own understanding of their cases. And maybe, who knows, absolve them of their sins.

⮔A/N: 1° These movie/musical characters were inspired by true stories of 1920s Chicago criminals. But this book is just a fictional work of the characters created, and not inspired by the real women (although their stories are amazing too!);

2° As the story is based on Native American people, but the members are Asian, so in this book, they will be part of a small Asian community in Chicago (so the essence of the story remains the same);

3° The rating is +16/+18, so if you are a minor, please do not interact with this book.

Hi again, it's me, your long-forgotten friend! I have had this story written for a while, but university got me stuck, and since the girls dropped the comeback, I thought "why not?" So please receive "Passional Crime" and also be kind, since English it is not my first language! Hope you have a great time xoxo

Chapters!

♡ Pop! ♡ Six! ♡ Squish...

♡ Uh Uh ♡ Cicero. ♡ Lipschitz!

♡ Judgements

Y O

The non-natives know

I'm in love with this! 🥺

✧*:.｡. sᴛᴜᴅɪᴏ

▻ Pairing : Kim Hongjoong x Fem!Reader

▻ Genre : Fluff, Suggestive

「Warnings」 : just a little spice at the end. Nothing much :)

「Authors Note」 : Sorry for not posting anything lately, I've just not been in the mood to write. Im lazy and stressing over my exams next week and then the work for the rest of the year. Not looking forward to it whatverso but enjoy this <3

๛ ©𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 //

*please do not steal, copy, or plagiarize in any way, or on any platform !!!

*please note that this does not depict who and how idols/groups are irl. It's a figment of my imagination and just that !!!

The endless laughter you shared with your fellow Co-worker throughout the entirety of your drive finally came to end when she pulled to a stop at your destination.

As the vehicle halted, Jiyoo unlocked the doors and you hurriedly got out not wanting to keep her up or take any more of her time since she had already so kindly offered you a ride.

"Thank you so much, Jiyoo" You smiled gratefully as she rolled down her window.

"Seriously Y/n, don't thank me. It's the least I could do" She shook her head and you nodded before birding each other a final goodbye.

As her vehicle disappeared from your line of sight, you turned around and walked into the familiar building and navigated yourself through the hallways, corner after corner until you came to the studio room where Hongjoong was in.

The light clicking of the mouse mixed with the subtle beats coming from his headphones, Hongjoong was caught up in his own little world, ignorant and oblivious to his surroundings which explained why your knocking went unheard.

The soft thudding of the wood was heard once your knuckles made contact with it in a small repetitive gesture. But with no response whatsoever, you waited about a minute before pushing the door ajar and peaking in. You wanted to be certain it was the right room, the one where my boyfriend was in and not another before you just barged in. And there he sat, his body swaying with the chair left and right, his face deeply invested in the computer as you were sure his eyes were busily trailing across the contents of the screen absorbed in whatever he was doing.

You smiled to myself and just watched him for a few moments longer, loving the way he seemed so carefree with his head bopping to the soft tunes you could just barely hear coming from his headphones. Not wanting to disturb him you quietly closed the door despite knowing he probably couldn't even hear you in the first place, and then you walked in and took a seat on the couch behind him not making your presence known.

For a while you both sat like this. Him oblivious to your arrival and existence, and you fully absorbed in watching him work. That was until he stopped clicking on the mouse and took his phone rapidly typing away at the screen.

Not even a second later and it was your phone that buzzed signaling a new message.

━ From: Joongie♡ ━

Where are you? :(

I'm still waiting... impatiently!!!

Seeing his message you couldn't help but chuckle as he had no clue you had been sitting behind him for the past fifteen minutes or so.

━ To: Joongie♡ ━

Look behind you Love XD

Once you saw the two small blue ticks you looked up and watched as his head suddenly turned around and looked directly at you.

His eyes bulged and he quickly pressed pause on the music he was listening to.

"You're here" He exclaimed, a toothy smile breaking out as he pulled down his headphones to rest around his neck.

"Suprise" You laughed, getting up and moving towards him.

"How long have you been waiting?"

"A few minutes..." You pressed your lips into a tight lipped smile as he placed his hands on your hips.

"Why didn't you let me know love"

"Because you looked really into what you were doing and I didn't want to disturb you"

"-Ontop of that, I love watching you work because you're so talented and good at what you do and you can see the passion and pure love in both you're beautiful eyes, and pretty smile, and body language" You recited fluently not missing a beat as you leaned down to brush your lips lovingly against his warm ones, reminding him of how proud you were of what he does and how you admired his endless passion.

"You're amazing, you know that"  He whispered as a matter of fact whilst continuing to stare intently into your eyes.

"Yes, you are, Joong" You captured his lips and he didn't even deny you, as always he welcomed the contact and even took the lead.

"Oh how I love you to the ends of the world and beyond" He chuckled, pressing a kiss to my head. "Same, Princess"

"Now, take a seat and help your loving boyfriend out"

Instinctly, his arms wrapped around your waist and he rested his chin atop shoulder to look at the screen.

"How much help can I even be Joong?" Your lighthearted laugh echoed around the room as you stood up to get the chair in the corner when his hand stopped you, the other patting his thigh gesturing for you to sit there. Your lips pursed and your eyebrows furrowed as you gave him a look which he reciprocated in a more, challenging way. Of course you had lost and therefore gave in and did as he instructed by taking the seat on his lap obediently.

"So how was your day? Manage to get those designs finished?" His fingers pressed smoothly yet aggressively pressed against the keyboard in search of something on the computer while simultaneously talking to you.

"I actually finished them today, much earlier than I expected.. but I'm not complaining"

"See, and you were stressing for what?-" He grinned with a raised brow, and you sighed, knowing he was right.

"And as I'm sure they're going to look amazing... even though I am rather excited to see the final results, I would prefer it much more if you would listen to me next time and not cut our quality time together short"

The seriousness in his voice conflicted you and you wasn't sure whether you were supposed to be internally squealing, dancing due to the butterflies he caused, crying at his devastatingly cuteness, or actually be fearing for your life as the underlying threatening tone in which he spoke in was not to be taken lightly especially since it was him of all people.

And so you nodded, partially out of fear for the future, and partially out of awe.

"Now that that's out of the way, here" He paused before reaching for a paper and handing it over to you.

"I've been working on this for a while now and as you can see, I've changed it quite alot these past few days" He gestured to the multiple crossing out lines and red circles.

"There are still some parts I'm not fully satisfied with, but I can't change them because I hit a dead end"

"I still have to wait for Mingi to show me his versus and see what he has so that I can put it together..."

You thoroughly scanned his writing from top to bottom, piecing together lyric by lyric and somehow managing to decipher the hidden messages as well as genuinely feel the emotion he was trying to convey through this song despite his blockage.

"Mhm" Mindlessly you hummed, completely invested in his work. You skimmed through the pages not even paying attention to Hongjoong who had just removed his chin from your shoulder and leaned back into the chair, hands playing with the slightly dead ends of your bleached hair.

"You're unsatisfied with this?" You asked softly while adjusting your position on his lap so that you were able to look directly at him.

"How..." You exclaimed. "I don't know how much of a professional opinion I can give you with song writing and stuff, but as a fan, and your girlfriend, and a supporter of Ateez, this is absolutely beautiful"

"There's not really much I can say Joong. The lyrics you have are already perfect enough as it is. The words are meaningful and relatable, they speak comfort and understanding" You complimented one after the other meaning every single one of them.

"Yeah?" The uncertainty in his voice was still evident despite your best efforts at assuring him. "I just feel there ar-"

You were quickly to cut him off, "You're doing what I did Hongjoong" You laughed.

Realization seemed to hit him now and his face scrunched, agreeing with you.

"Sorry" He shook his head smiling softly.

"You should be, but also shouldn't be. We all tend to over think things, question alot more of those things, and doubt our best effort"

"You know, you may as well just become a lyricist Y/n" He interrupted with a smirk that caused you to snicker and inwardly groan at how he so easily changed his mindset to accepting what you have been saying.

"Haha, really funny joong. Thanxx for ruining the moment"

"You're most welcome Princess"

And all you did after that was roll my eyes.

"You're just too much to handle at times" You ignored him as he wiggled his eyebrows and gave you devilish grin, instead, you focused on neatly collecting the papers and putting them safely in a folder on his desk.

"Have you started working on the melody?"

"Yes and no- needs a bit more tuning but I have something in mind..."

"Okay, enough work talk now. Let's have some us time" His hand placed on your thigh and gave it a small squeeze before patting them and getting up which forcefully made you do the same.

He gave you not even a second to say anything and he was already intertwining his hands with yours and pulling you along with him to the couch.

"Are we not supposed to head home now though?" You asked taking a seat beside him, pulling your legs up into a crossed legged position facing him.

"Hmm" He simply shrugged bushings off the question. "Seonghwa can suffer alone with the kids for a while longer, I'm sure he won't mind"

"Cruel, Hongjoong, very harsh and cruel" You shake your head in disappointment but somehow a chuckle escaped making your attempt at disagreeing with him fail terribly. "Y/n, for once, just give me what I want and sit quietly and love me"

"Since when do you ever not get what you want!"

And he glared. "Okay, okay, sorry" You held my hands in surrender.

Hongjoong smiled accomplished and settling down more into the couch and shutting his eyes.

"Can you come closer?" He asked in a light tone due to his body relaxing and calming down.

Without arguing this time, you kicked your legs off the couch and shuffled closer to him where he instantly opened his arm for you to comfortably rest your head against his chest.

"Thank you" He mumbled with a smile and you nodded enjoying this just as much as he was.

Time seemed to pass by slow as you sat there cuddled together. With your palms firmly pressed against each others, fingers entwined, and your breathing slow and even.

"Are you excited for this comeback?" Your tone lowered as you spoke out in the silent room while playing with his fingers. "Yeah-" He answered without hesitation. "I just hope things go well and that we're able to show Atiny everything we have to offer"

"I hope they find our music enjoyable and worth supporting"

"And I'm sure they will..."

He peered his one eye open to see you already looking up at him. "Those who truly deserve it will always see your hard work and will appreciate it to the fullest" You tilt your head back and he leans forward pressing a chaste kiss to your cheek before settling on longingly on your lips.

"God I love you" He moaned breathlessly after your movements began picking up drastically upon finding a rhythm. The once soft and innocent kiss started off slow, only progressing into a more hungry and needy one where you couldn't get enough of each other.

The pace was rushed and the kisses became sloppy with every second that passed while you both simultaneously tried to to savour each movement.

Slowly as you becake more absorbed in each other, you subconsciously pushed yourself up to better capture his kisses. Hongjoong helped by shifting to sit up a little straighter in order to support your weight.

"Ah.. slo-"

"Slow- d-down" Your words were muffled as he followed your lips upon pulling away. You attempted to regain your lightheaded self and remember you needed air to breath if you ever wanted another kiss, however, Hongjoong didn't like that and immediately caught your lips once again. With all his vocal training that included being taught breathing techniques so he was able to hold more air inside the lungs, or rather yet, he knew how to better use it. Hongjoong was able to go on longer than you could and had other plans when you tried to pull back for third time.

Hongjoong hungrily indulged himself in your clash of tongues before biting down on your bottom lip quite harshly in order to simply have his way and make you surrounder any fight you had in you, only you never had one to begin with today.

"Hongjoong" The syllables barely sounded like the word they formed.

"H-Hongjoong"

You could feel the devils lips twitch into a wide smirk as his tongue swirled around yours in a teasing manner.

"I just realized something-" You opportunity for air arose as he pulled back to speak. You heart raced with an indescribable speed as it thudded loudly and aggressively in your chest as, heaving with every harsh intake of oxygen.

To put it simple, you were a mess in both my appearance and mind.

And it wasn't about to get any better as Hongjoong finished his previous sentence.

"Since we're in the studio..."

"The entire room is sound proof and no one would hear us even if we screamed bloody murder"

"Suddenly I-I'm concerned as to w-what's going on in t-that little head o-of yours" You stuttered in between inhales.

"That also means no one would hear if you screamed my name" He began pushing you down onto the couch in a slow, agonizing and anticipating manner which had your body raging in heat.

"You can scream as long as you want Princess, be as loud as we can be"

As exciting and appealing as that sounded, even with the dazed state you were in, against fighting all your desirable needs, you couldn't find the courage to have sex in a studio especially when there was a possibility producers or other staff members who used this studio to work in as well, could walk in anytime.

"You're look pretty busy thinking there Princess" He whispered seductively adding a wink at the end.

"Thinking of all the ways I can ruin you?"

"Pleasure you?" His nose brushed against you cheek to your ear and down onto your neck, tracing the veins that you sure was visible.

"Don't do that" You let out a whimper as his lips attached themselves to your color bone.

"Why?" He had the audacity to ask knowing full well why you didn't wish to continue this.

With your head high in the cloud, addicted to a drug that made your mind soar to places beyond imagine. You certainly were not in your right state of mind, and somehow he had all the control.

"We're i-in the studio" You point out bit he could care less, expected.

"So?"

"It'll be embarrassing..." You confessed shyly, eyes fluttering closed as he continued to leave a trail of kisses across the exposure of your neck.

"Mhm"

"Hongjoong!"

"Nope" He popped the 'p' as he raised his head to look at your drunken state. "You like it" He grinned mischievously.

"I do, b-but I'm also being serious" Your eyes lowered, not meeting his expecting ones. "I'm not comfortable doing it here"

Out of shyness, you still couldn't bring yourself to look at him and so you missed the moment of his eyes softening into understanding.

You felt his finger gently grasp your chin and turn it to him. His mouth pressed a delicate kiss to yours unlike your roughly shared ones before.

"Okay, Love" He smiled warmly as his fingers roamed down from your arm to the curve of your hip while his 9yjer free hand pressed firmly into the black leather couch beside your head supporting his body weight.

"I love you so much" You mutter those three words meaning them wholeheartedly, as you always did.

"Impossible," He denied, "I love you more"

Silently you wrap your arms around his neck tightly and used one hand to pull his head down once more for a kiss to seal those three words. My fingers tangled with his oddly soft hair despite the many times he's dyed it, twirling it around your fingers and tugging on it here and there.

"Is there any last few editing or stuff you want to do before we go home?" He gave it a few second thought before nodding and lifting himself off me. "Will you sit with me again?" A hand was offered to help you up and you accepted it.

"Of course, Joong"

So you returned to the computers, but this time you had your own chair after a quick argument with Hongjoong. He had put his headphones on and offered you a set but the loud ringing of your phone suddenly interrupted use and so you got up to fetch it making Hongjoong put the headphones back down on the table in the meantime.

After checking the caller ID and answering, you made your way back to Hongjoong but stayed standing which led him to loosely wrapping his arm around your waist.

"Seonghwa?..."

"Hey, Y/n. When are you getting home?" Seonghwa asked frantically.

"It better be soon because I can't take it anymore" He joked but you could hear the slight edge in his voice.

As you was about to answer his desperate questions, a scream echoed loudly in the background from Seonghwa's side that made you pull the phone far away from your now ringing ears.

"Okay, I see why you asked"

"What's happening there?" You asked.

"If you must know Y/n, I could use a little help" He spoke occasionally after finally getting the chance to due to scolding who you were assuming was one of the members. "Your niece and nephew are here and you can pretty much guess what sort of chaos they're getting on with Wooyoung and Yeosang right now"

"Okay that's really a big headache" You massaged your temples, feeling his pain already.

"I'm soo sorry Hwa, I'll make sure to let Irene know when I'm home so she can stop unexpectedly dumping her kids there for you to watch when I'm not even home"

"Sorry in advance for the headache you're going to get"

"Actually, no. It's all good. Sort of... They're quite pleasant and have their moments, it's just the members"

"They're- encouraging their more.. Disobedient side so to say"

You could practically hear Seonghwa sigh in agitation, and you felt sympathetic for him, but you boyfriend on the other hand who no longer had his headphones on, laughed upon hearing the eldest pain.

"HONGJOONG!" Seonghwa yelled and it was so loud you could hear him clearly despite the call not being on speaker.

You flinched drastically at the volume but it wasn't the end there.

"You idiot.. Stop leaving me alone with these idiots it's-"

And Hongjoong didn't let the poor guy finish before he grabbed your phone. "We'll be home soon" And he hung up.

"Seriously?" You questioned.

He only shrugged.

"You heard him Joong, let's go" Hongjoong grunted and got up grabbing his phone and keys.

"Seonghwa needs a break" You uttered feeling sympathetic of him.

"No, we need a break, alone" Hongjoong muttered to himself and you laughed, placing a quick kiss on his cheek.

"We all do"

Primeiramente, gostaria de agradecer todo mundo que passou a me seguir e curtir meus trabalhos aqui, isso significa muito e tô MUITO feliz!

Segundamente, queria pedir desculpas por não ter postado mais, mas eu tô com um bloqueio e por isso tô sem escrever por um tempo, mas se quiserem, vamos conversar, sei lá, manda um ask com umas perguntinhas aí, só pra gente se conhecer e tals (só não vamo de pesadão ein djns)

Cherry Blossom Colored Kisses

prompt: when Eddie confesses he wants to ask Chrissy Cunningham to prom, you start coughing out flower petals.

pairing: Eddie Munson x female!reader

show: stranger things

note: besties, be proud of me! i wrote this in second person!! so this is a "you did X Y Z" narration, instead of "I did X Y Z" narration. is it stupid to be proud? probably a little - but i'm feeling good about this. maybe i'll even graduate to using "y/n" next.

second note: i've reedited!! thank you to everyone for pointing out when my wonky brain goes wonky and reverts back to first person. i think i fixed everything, but if you notice first person from now on...let's just live with it 😅

word count: 8.8k [got a bit carried away]

warnings: Hanahaki Disease ([Japanese folklore] fictional disease where the victim coughs up flower petals when suffering from one-sided love), cursing, angst, seemingly unrequited love, but things work out! ✅ no spoilers 🔪 please note there are a thousand ways to write Hanahaki Disease, and this is just my variation. yes, i did research, and yes, i tired my best.

Like every other Friday night, you hitched a ride back to his trailer with Eddie as you had nowhere else to be. Well, probably wasn't true as you were a social butterfly with plenty of prospective friends to hang out with, but your favorite place on any given day was always with Eddie.

He was home, he was safety, he was warmth, he was what you needed after either a really bad, or even a really good day.

Eddie had this superpower where he could either turn your bad mood around or he could increase your happiness tenfold. He was next to never upset or angry or frustrated, he was content to vibe in a constant state of "chill".

Your feelings for him might've started around your sophomore year, when he decked Jason Carver in the jaw for making you uncomfortable. Even to this day - it was one of the only times you've seen him angry, and the fact that it was because Jason was flirting with you made your heart lift. It spurred the hate between the two boys, but only solidified your everlasting friendship with Eddie. Yet, you buried these feelings out of fear of rejection, and change - you didn't want things to change.

You liked things where they were.

But it was getting harder to pretend you didn't like your best friend. As if everything he did didn't make you feel silly, stupid, and giddy all at once.

As if those wide, brown, doe eyes didn't make you melt, yet simultaneously make you feel stronger than before. A single look from him could give you enough confidence for a week.

As if his antics, pet names, hand holds, late night cuddle sessions when you were feeling lonely didn't put your stomach in knots but send you heart up to the sky, like if was filled with helium.

However, you were content because you never wanted to lose him. So, you'd suffer through whatever this was if it meant he stayed close. Despite the heaviness in your chest, you continued to pretend nothing was wrong because if Eddie picked up on it, he would surely hound you until you confessed - something you couldn't handle.

So, you curled up beside him in his (stained) bed with your head leaning on his shoulder as his hands distracted themselves by fiddling with the strings on his acoustic guitar while you nursed the joint between your lips. You were content to simply exist with him; be in his presence and listen to his musical talents. Occasionally, your hand would raise the joint to his lips, allowing him to take his own hit and for the peacefulness to prolong.

Things were good - like they've been for the past few years of being "best friends". I mean, yeah, you knew Eddie before the "Jason incident", but you were just a Freshman that only knew the town's Freak from a distance. You had two classes together. Often saw him at lunch. Sometimes gave him notes if he missed class. And ever since that day that he protected you from Jason's creepy moves, you've been thicker than thieves.

Things were quiet in his room outside of the occasional crackling of the joint's end, and his lazy strumming; things were peaceful; things were good.

Until Eddie sighed and leaned back to the wall behind you both, interrupting the simple thoughts in your head.

"What's up?" You asked quietly, turning to ash the joint in the plastic tray on his bedside table. "Huffin' pretty loud over there, pretty boy, I can practically hear you overthinking."

"It's stupid," he chuckled, focusing on the strings beneath his fingertips again. "Don't even think about it."

"I doubt it's nothing," you countered. "C'mon, you tell me any and everything."

"I, uh... I don't know how to tell you this thing, though..."

Now you were curious, "You kill someone?"

"What? No! God!"

"Gotta hide a body?"

"Not this weekend."

Nodding, you asked, "You fuck my mom?"

"Not yet, but can't say it's not on my to-do list," he teased lightly.

"Then I don't know what scenario there could be that you're too scared to tell me," you chuckled, smoking wafting in the thin air between you both, lingering from the lack of circulation. "C'mon, cutie, what's up with you? You don't usually hold back."

He sighed, the strings plucking harshly as he his head flopped back now. "It's just... Have you given any thought to prom?"

"Prom?" You repeated with a small laugh. "Not entirely, I don't know. Why? Thinking of crashing it?"

But he was silent, which made you a little nervous. You sat up and turned to face him head-on, your criss-crossed legs resulting in one knee pressing to his thigh. He looked like he wanted to say something, but a subtle shake from his head assured you that he changed his mind.

"Are you going?" he asked softly instead.

"Um, nobody's asked so I don't know. I'd like to, maybe," you tried to joke. "Why? You offering?"

He chuckled lowly, "Uh, well, I would be, if..."

"If?"

He gulped, "You know Chrissy?"

Of course you knew Chrissy Cunningham, who didn't? You didn't live under a rock, for God's sake. She was the designated 'it girl' of Hawkins, the 'queen' as people dubbed her - a sweet girl who was captain of the cheer squad that had an impeccable smile. Adorable strawberry blonde hair. A petite body, sweet voice, and of course, she'd been Eddie's crush since middle school. Yeah, you knew Chrissy Cunningham.

"Yeah," you breathed, nodding slowly. "What about her?"

"Well, I uh... I was thinking of asking her to prom. You know, before we graduate and get the fuck out of this town... Thought maybe I'd try my hand, you know? See if... See if something could finally happen."

You swear your ears started ringing because no way you heard him correctly, right? No way he was telling you he was going to ask Chrissy Cunningham to prom - no way. There wasn't any way. After all, the plan since about a year ago was that you would go together pending no other offers. No way the guy you've been in-love with for fucking YEARS was telling you he wanted to ask someone else.

And Eddie didn't know, but about 8 different guys had already asked you but you didn't want to go with them. You wanted Eddie to ask you - you wanted to spend a night of teenage normalcy with your best friend, and maybe get the chance to confess your feelings for him on the dance floor. Maybe you'd dress to match. Maybe he'd even get you a corsage - but Eddie wasn't the type.

So, why was he thinking about asking Chrissy? High school thriving Chrissy? Who would definitely want the stereotypical high school experience? Like - prom with a pretty dress, lots of laughter, her date giving her a corsage as her mom snapped pictures.

She would want all that, right? Would Eddie be the right date to give it to her?

You were honestly shocked he wanted to even go due to the idea that anything socially conforming was out of bounds for him. And when you made that pact, it was mostly out of a joke but you had hoped this whole time he was being serious. And he was being serious about prom, but not with you...

"Sweetheart?" Eddie asked softly, his brows now furrowed in concentration. "You okay? You look a little shaky."

Instantly, you nodded. "Yeah, totally, just, um... Just remembered I have this huge essay due Monday, yeah, uh-huh, yep. I should probably get started on it." Eddie's brows now fully crinkled as you jerked your leg away from his when his hand moved to lay on it, turning and instantly finding your belongings scattered around the floor of his bedroom. "Um, yeah, so, as for prom and Chrissy - I think it's cute. You should ask her, she'd be stupid to say no."

Eddie watched you tug your shoes on in haste, sitting up, "Hey, slow down, speed racer, I'll drive you - "

"No, it's cool," you assured swiftly, tugging your jacket on to combat the chill of the spring night. "I need the exercise."

Eddie scoffed, "I'm not letting you walk."

"I don't want a ride, Eddie," your voice took on an uncharacteristic hardened tick, something you've never had to use with Eddie. But you couldn't help it, your chest was caving in and lungs burning the longer you stayed there. "I just wanna walk for a bit, clear my head before homework, okay?"

He nodded slowly, "You sure, doll?"

"Positive."

Eddie frowned when your bag was tugged up your shoulder, turning from his room and jumping when he called, "Wait!"

Praying to God he was going to tell you he changed his mind and he wanted to ask you to prom - not Chrissy - you turned to look back to him. But he only pouted, "Don't leave without sayin' goodbye, sweetheart, c'mere."

Fearing the wet sensation coating your throat, you just backed up to the door and blindly reached for the doorknob, "You'll see me later, Eds. I've gotta go."

"Call me when you get home?" He asked, standing from his bed when you pulled his bedroom door open and moved out into the hall of his trailer. "Hey, hey, honey, what's the rush?" Eddie called, jogging a couple steps to follow after you.

"Just gotta go, Eds," you couldn't face him. But something tickled your throat and nose, prompting you to ask, "Um, do you have any tissues?"

He nodded, watching you pause by the front door before turning for the bathroom. A moment later, he returned with a box and handed it over, "Take it. I'm sure your allergies are acting up."

You nodded, "Thanks."

"Wait - "

But you were out the door and surging down the steps of his 'porch', turning on the gravel and making for the main road. Eddie watched you go from his front door, worrying over whatever he'd said, but after wracking his mind, he couldn't understand. He didn't need to know your chest was so painful, you debated if you were having a heart attack at 18; making you desperate to get away from him if it meant the pain would lessen.

You cried the whole walk home. The 8-minute car ride was actually a 41 minute walk due to the tightness in your chest, the tissue box tight in your hand as your lungs started to itch, burn, constrict themselves.

The coughing started that night. The entire walk, you used tissue after tissue to cough into and would ignore the flecks of color present against the soft white, shoving them down into your bag.

When you arrived home, the house was, as usual, empty. Steve Harrington used to hang out a lot with you due to how often both of your parents are out of town but once he started dating Nancy Wheeler, all visits stopped. Granted they were broken up now, he still didn't come back, and you were forced to get used to the loneliness. It left room for Eddie to slide into his place, often coming over to keep you company as being home alone for so long often made you nervous.

Eddie hated you feeling nervous, so, he had a couple of shirts and pants at your house for him to change into when he stayed the night. Now that he was going to make a move on Chrissy Cunningham, it made you think there wouldn't ever be other sleepovers. You worried he would never come back to your home, and an ice pick was conjured to stab through my heart.

In your room, you tossed your bag to your bed and groaned when it bounced off and spilled the contents over the floor. Shaking your head, you coughed a couple more times and got ready for bed; but soon, the coughing turned violent.

Kneeling over, your throat burned with crushing pain as your chest felt too tight with pressing tension. The heaviness was back, sitting right on your sternum and causing a twisting discomfort when you hurled into the toilet bowl. However, when your watery eyes opened, they were staring straight into clear water that was peppered with tiny little florals with swirls of bright red blood.

Panting in shock, confusion inked into your mind as you stood shakily to your feet and rushed for your bag again, pushing through the belongings to find the used tissues. Panic swelled in your chest when the tissues found, too, were coated in petals and blood.

"What?" you whispered to yourself, fear taking over. However, instead of doing the rational thing, like go to the hospital, you just threw the tissues away, flushed the rest, and curled up in bed out of exhaustion and draining adrenaline. Sobs wracked your lungs, making your body convulse and for the coughing to get worse.

You didn't move all weekend. You couldn't, for the pain was too great in your heart, mind, and body. Even when the phone rang multiple times through those two days, you couldn't care enough to get out of bed and answer it to see whatever was wanted from you. When the next Monday came around, you forced yourself to get in the shower and wake up from the cold water; getting dressed and heading out the front door to spy Eddie's van at the base of your driveway.

You sighed and made sure there were extra tissues in your bag as you made for his passenger door. When you hopped in, you were greeted with a glare.

"How was the essay?" he grits.

"Fine," you sighed, knowing it was a lie to make your swift escape, and leaned your arm on the door to prop your head up and stare out the window.

"Mhm. Thanks for letting me know you got home safe," he snipped. "Not like I was driving around at 1 am to make sure you weren't dead in a ditch somewhere."

You nodded slowly, "I forgot, I-I'm sorry."

"You forgot?" he repeated before scoffing. But when he glanced over and noted the heavy bags under your distant (watery) eyes, he frowned, "Hey? Y-You okay?"

"Mhm."

"Your nose is bleeding."

"Shit," you hissed, reaching for a tissue, and trying to mop up the blood from under both nostrils. "It's nothing," you tried to explain, sniffling a few times, and noting how sharp the action made your chest. Like something was stabbing through you, perhaps that ice pick again.

He shook his head, leering, "Suuuuure, mhm, okay." But when you didn't respond for another 3 minutes, he was annoyingly asking, "The hell's up with you?"

"Nothing, Eddie."

"Bullshit! You haven't looked at me once, didn't even greet me when you got in, and now you're sitting there, silent as the grave."

You only shrugged, not knowing how to put it in words, "Just tired, Eddie."

"Bullshit," he sighed. "But fine, if you don't want to talk, that's whatever. Just continue ignoring me, I guess."

Your eyes shut as you sighed, whispering, "I'm sorry."

"Why? What'd you do?"

Only shrugging, your head shook, and you sat up when you two made it to school. The moment the car stopped - not even in park - you were opening the passenger door and hopping out to take desperate gulps of fresh air. You waited a moment as Eddie got out, too, and just as his arm lifted to wrap around your shoulders to lead you into school, his attention was caught by someone else.

"Oh, there's Chrissy," he smiled, seeing the pretty cheerleader at her car. "Should I do it now?"

Gulping, you shrugged, "Do whatever makes you happy, Eds."

Eddie didn't understand what he did wrong to deserve your cold shoulder but figured he could talk to you later before making a beeline for Chrissy while you made for the front of the school. You ignored peers around you as you stuffed books and such into your locker, wheezing into a tissue when coughing took over.

A few other students paused to look at you with concern; you hand slamming to a closed locker as you couldn't draw breath in. The pain was suffocating, and the coughing made you nearly double over.

Robin paused at the sight, making her way over to you and just before she could ask if you were okay, she was gasping lightly. Looking up, you saw what caught her attention to spy Eddie Munson entering school with Chrissy Cunningham daintily hanging off his arm. Jason's glare was most prominent, but your best friend’s was much, much fiercer, and you? You had to look away because the ice pick was now hacking at your heart; palpitations making your chest throb with white-hot tension.

"Oh, no," Robin paused, glancing at you to see tears already in your eyes as your hands shook. "Oh, honey, I'm sorry - "

"Why?" You sniffled, shaking your head. "Doesn't matter, they look happy, right?"

"You don't," she whispered.

"Doesn't matter," you repeated. "I'll see you later, Rob."

She frowned as you charged away, watching you go as Eddie and Chrissy came to a halt beside her. "She say what was wrong with her?" Eddie asked the girl softly.

"No," Robin grit her teeth, offering him a stale up and down look. Though, she was slightly impressed Eddie bagged the popular cheerleader, she knew of your feelings for the metalhead, and huffed through her nose before taking off down the hall after you.

"Is everyone mad at me now?" He asked, looking down to the girl he'd successfully asked to prom.

"I'm not," Chrissy chirped with a soft smile.

So, here's the whole thing. Even though you've denied it for years, your friends knew DAMN well how in-love with Eddie you were. Robin had been the only one to really pick up on it a few years ago but kept quiet because of how close you and Eddie were. However, when you sat down for lunch, the Hellfire Club were ready to ask what was wrong when they saw their Dungeon Master enter the cafeteria with Chrissy.

They offered you looks of pity, understanding your behavior now.

Your hands started to shake, and you coughed harshly, bending at the waist to cough into a tissue half under the table. From beside you, Dustin caught a glimpse of pink and red in the tissue as your hand fisted over it and sniffled hotly. "Are you okay?" Gareth asked in concern, his wide eyes looking ready to shed tears. "You're sweating."

"Yeah," you whispered, catching sight of Eddie and Chrissy heading for your table. "Um, I-I forgot I have a test to make up in Spanish, so, I'll see you guys later, okay?" You rushed, picking up your untouched tray of food and shouldered your bag.

Before any of them could protest, you were tossing the tray and racing out of the opposite doors Chrissy and Eddie had come in through. You vaguely heard Eddie calling your name, never turning around, and shoving out of the doors.

You gasped when the fresh air hit you, not caring that you lied about some test and now headed down for the field. You didn't care if someone picked up on your lie. You didn't care about anything other than the crushing feeling in your chest; the way your lungs felt deflated, and how your throat was consistently wet from blood.

Robin had seen your abrupt departure and left Nancy Wheeler's side to follow you. When she found you under the bleachers, coughing and throwing up with tears down your cheeks, she knew something was wrong. Robin crawled under the bleachers, not caring about the trash or debris left, to reach your side and hold your hair back.

"Oh, my God," she wobbled, catching sight of the puddle under you. "W-What the hell is that?"

You panted, a string of blood hanging from your lips before falling to the saliva beneath you. "I-I think... I think something's wrong, Robin."

"No shit!" She hissed. "Let me take you to the nurse - "

"No, it's fine," you insisted, using another tissue to wipe at the blood under your nose. "I uh... I think I know what's going on."

"What?"

"We'll need to go to the library first," you nodded before shaking your head. "No, never mind, y-you should go back to class."

"Nope," she insisted. "I'll go to the library with you. Want me to call Steve? Get us a ride?"

You sniffled and nodded, tugging your bent knees into your chest as she nodded and begged you to stay put before dashing for the outside payphone. She felt anger as her eyes cast through the glass windows of the cafeteria, catching sight of Chrissy and Eddie laughing away with the rest of the Hellfire Club. Her fingers roughly punched in Steve's number and insisted he come pick you and her up. "Right fucking now, dingus!"

About 9 minutes later, Eddie had glanced out of the windows and caught the distance sight of Robin holding you in her arms and walking you (slowly) to Steve Harrington's trademark BMW.

His brows furrowed in confusion and concern before Chrissy's sweet voice was distracting him. In fact, he might've let himself get swept up in the sweetness of Chrissy - that he forgot you. The girl he's wanted since middle school was finally in his grasp but in order to do that, he had to let you go - resulting in cherry blossoms to sprout in your lungs.

The moment he made up his mind about Chrissy was the moment your fate was sealed. And after a trip to the library with Steve and Robin, you had your answer as to what was going on. It didn't make sense, but you understood there were three options for you at this point.

Option One: die. Literally, that was it. Let this disease kill you. Okay, then Option Two: get Eddie to love you back... And that was seemingly farfetched and way out of asking range. Third Option was to undergo a surgery, but according to literature, choosing this surgery would save your life but erase Eddie Munson from your memory. It was the only way to stop the pain besides dying from it or make someone to fall in love with you.

But that wasn't real love, was it?

So, you checked the book out and Steve drove you home.

You thought you could handle things, after all, the book said it could be manageable. So, you soldiered on and played everything off the next Monday as if you had some head cold making you a bit off, and not literal florals blooming in your fucking lungs.

Eddie didn't question it because he was too excited to tell you that Chrissy had said yes. She said yes - to him! To prom! And she was going to wear red, his favorite color. He was so shocked, it made you want to weep a little because Eddie Munson seemed to be the only one (minus Jason Carver) to not understand how amazing Eddie Munson truly was...

Well, maybe the rest of the school body didn't understand either, but that was beside the point. Eddie was always too hard on himself and hearing how shocked and happy he was that Chrissy said yes, just made you honestly sad. He didn't even know how loved he was, making the self-deprivation very real. It was once upon time ago that your job was to help him out of those ruts, but now it would be Chrissy's responsibility.

You knew if he was yours, you wouldn't let a single day go by where he thought he was inadequate. But he wasn't yours, and now that he had Chrissy, you knew he never would be.

Your throat swelled and more petals were coughed into a tissue in your hand when you realized that you'd bought a prom dress (in case Eddie did ask you) about a month ago, and it, too, was red. Yet, he was going to match Chrissy and you'd wasted $150 on a pretty, silk dress... And new heels because your mother insisted you feel (and look) like a princess.

You tried to be excited and happy for him, but it was hard to when Eddie was enraptured with Chrissy. You coughed more in that week than when you had that terrible flu 2 years ago.

When that Friday rolled around, you were heading for his van (like usual), only to find him and Chrissy waiting on you.

"Hey," you greeted cautiously, smiling at the pretty girl you never really had a full conversation with.

"Hey," Eddie smiled - and you noted the lack of pet name. "Uh, you ready to go?"

"Um, yeah," you cleared your throat, glancing at Chrissy again.

He understood your nonverbal question. "I'm thinking I'll drop you off at home first. Cool?" Eddie offered, looking at you as his arm snaked around Chris' waist.

Confusion warped into your voice, "Um, i-it's Friday?"

"Yeah," he nodded.

"I-I thought we hung out on Fridays? Like, every Friday?"

Eddie's other hand rose to rub the back of his neck, "Well, yeah, usually, but I'm taking Chrissy out on a date, so, I'll have to drop you off first."

"Oh," your eyes widened, and you felt so fucking stupid in that moment. "Shit, okay, my bad," you backed away, "I can get another ride, it's no big deal. Have fun on your date!"

"Hey, no, don't be ridiculous," Eddie shook his head, taking a tentative step forward as if he was nervous to leave Chrissy's side and approach you. "I take you home every day, c'mon. It's nothing, get in the van. I always take you home."

But you felt sick over the petty idea of sitting in the back while Chrissy took your seat in Eddie's car... Your place in Eddie's life.

Your head shook and a half-smile was forced over your lips. "No, it's seriously okay. You guys should go, it's cool. Have fun, okay?"

Eddie frowned, "I'll call you later tonight, okay?"

"Sure," you whispered, turning finally, and hustling your steps back for the school. Your hand balled in a fist to catch the splatter of blood and petals that shot out of your mouth, trying to shake the sick off so nobody would notice.

Light pink petals danced to the pavement behind you, and your heart plummeted with it as Eddie's van tires squealed when he peeled out of the carpark.

Robin was still at school and agreed to give you a ride home with Steve and Dustin Henderson; the two sharing looks of concern for you the entire drive. They kept asking if they could do anything, but the truth was, they could see the life slowly draining from you, and knew they couldn't do anything.

You didn't answer Eddie's call that night. You didn't let him drive you to school, either, since he'd been busy with Chris that all your conversations now revolved around the girl. This didn't mean he didn't come pick you up, but you usually always opted for the bus to "catch up on reading." You didn't hang out on Fridays either, because it was "date night with Chrissy", and you didn't sit at the Hellfire Club table at lunch.

It went on like this for another three weeks. Eddie replaced you with Chrissy, and she was everywhere you looked. You stopped going to lunch all together in an effort to save yourself from the sight of Eddie's arm around the pretty, popular cheerleader; instead, coughing out cherry blossoms under the bleachers and then forcing a smile on your lips like nothing happened.

The time you did spend together (a minuscule amount of time in comparison), Eddie would fill the space between you with chatter about how amazing Chrissy was - unaware of the pain he was causing you.

Unaware that every word strangled air and rational thought from you.

Unaware that you often held your breath to save you from the pain; to save you from bursting into tears; to save you from yelling at your best friend that you didn't care he finally bagged his crush.

Eddie was going mad, however. He didn't understand your distance, but he also didn't do anything to rectify the situation. He just figured you were going through something, and you'd show up at his trailer soon; tears down your cheeks as his arms open to welcome you.

He started to count the day since he last touched you. Eddie began to feel as if maybe he'd done the right thing by choosing Chrissy due to how far you pulled away from him. He's loved you for years but never admitted or confronted the feelings; so, he convinced himself to let you go in pursuit of Chrissy. So, to save himself from rejection of the most important person in his life, he thought it was a "safer rejection" by asking Chrissy.

He was just shocked she accepted, though he had a sneaking suspicion it was just to piss Jason off. Eddie didn't mind being her distraction because Chrissy was his distraction from you.

When the week of prom rolled around, you couldn't get out of bed because you were in excruciating pain in your heart and mind. Your mother had left on another business trip and only left a stack of cash for "emergencies", telling you she loved you, and never noticing your overflowing waste bin of bloody tissues. So, when Eddie rolled up that Monday, he was confused when you didn't come outside for a few minutes. He beeped, waited longer, beeped again - louder - before confusion troubled his heart.

He knew you were upset and distant, he knew you "liked" riding the bus now; but he also knew you weren't out of your house, yet. He planned on showing up earlier than the time you left, because he wanted to ensure you drove to school together - like usual.

Eddie got out of his van and approached your door, knocking repeatedly but never receiving an answer.

When he got to school, Chrissy told him to call your house and check on you - standing with him, as all he did was listen to the dial tone of a connecting call. You never answered.

At lunch, Eddie found Robin and asked her if she spoke to you at all this past weekend. She glared, "What? You didn't?"

"No," Eddie admitted, "I-I was with Chrissy the whole - "

Robin's eyes rolled and she stood abruptly, making Eddie take a step back. "Forgive me while I go vomit," Robin deadpanned, casting a single glare over his shoulder to the strawberry blonde before pushing past them both.

Eddie asked Hellfire what he'd done - but none of them had an answer. "She's not been looking well," Dustin mentioned. "Keeps coughing out blood."

"What?" Eddie asked, rigid with fear.

Dustin nodded slowly, "I don't think she knows I know, but Steve gave her a ride with us, and her tissues are all bloody."

"She's coughing out blood?" Gareth asked sadly, Dustin nodding. "That's not good, we should get her to a hospital."

"She won't go," Dustin frowned. "I heard Robin trying to convince her, but she keeps saying she's fine."

"She's not fine," Eddie growled.

"Obviously," Lucas rolled his eyes. "She's also not sat with us for weeks."

"She's been avoiding everyone," Jeff added sadly.

"Wonder why," Lucas sneered, casting a glare at his Dungeon Master.

"Am I supposed to know what you're insinuating, Sinclair?" Eddie snipped.

"Aren't you her best friend? Shouldn't you know that she's sick - instead of hearing it from Dustin?"

Eddie shrugged, "So, what? I haven't been able to track her every move. I've been busy - "

"With Chrissy," Dustin and Lucas chimed together; Lucas rolling his eyes before stabbing a green bean forcefully.

"We know," the Freshman 'all-star' basketball player rolled his eyes, pushing his tray away and glaring to the tabletop.

"What did I do?" Eddie asked, looking to his comrades with earnest confusion.

None of them answered because nobody knew what was really wrong. All your friends (including outside of Hellfire) felt concern fester because you were never forthcoming with problems. You never asked for help - it was something observed by others before they're offering you a hand. So, if you were going through something, they knew you'd handle it alone until you couldn't anymore and would confide in them.

Eddie grew increasingly frustrated as time went. For you, time was slower than ever, and you were forced to live through each painful retch and convulsion of your muscles. You laid in bed; a bloody projectile pattern splattered across your sheets; dotted with sticky, pretty petals.

The night of prom rolled around, and you were knelt in front of your toilet again. It had gotten worse; Dustin phoning you every day to update you on school, and unconsciously complaining about how much time Eddie and Chrissy were spending - causing a riff in the group. You tried to assure the Freshman that it was a new and exciting relationship for them both, but Dustin voiced his concerns after spying Chrissy speaking with her ex, Jason Carver.

The vomiting got worse after Dusty's phone call. Acid burned your nose and your throat wept for relief; finding only more pain as the toilet bowl before you decorated with not just your blood, but actual buds of flowers. You knew naturally that cherry blossoms didn't have thorns, but there, before you, were floating pieces of your flesh that was cut from the sharp floral.

You sobbed the whole night. Your chest was ready to cave in and the vomiting, nor pain, wouldn't stop. You wondered if this was how it ended for you - alone, on prom night, coughing out blood while the rest of the town got their romantic night.

Fuckers, you thought bitterly.

But then - the weirdest fucking thing happened. Amid vomiting more buds and thorns, your chest started to feel a little clearer and you could cough the rattling wetness from your lungs. There was just slight relief, but enough for you to draw in harsh breaths. You panted and spat out another bloom, trying to ignore how oddly poetically beautiful this was - to die by a fucking flower strangling you. Your body was thinner in the weeks since your turmoil started, throat too raw to pass any food as your lungs were stuffed with petals. It made living harder.

It made getting out of bed physically impossible.

It made your feet numb.

Your chest to ache.

Your head to throb.

And your stomach to knot itself.

Sweat pooled over your brow and your hand rose to wipe at your nose, smearing blood over your cheek. More vomiting. More pain. More petals and blooms and thorns and blood.

It felt like it'd never end but that was the most justice you had - that this would kill you because you couldn't let go of the love you had for Edward Munson. Love that would last a lifetime - or until it killed you.

Seemed like a fate closer than graduation.

You were startled when knuckles began rapping on your window as another violent purge overtook you. Shaking and sobbing, you ignored whoever had climbed up to your window because you were so focused on keeping your hair back as you purged.

The rapping turned into full-on pounding; the glass pane shaking.

The blossoms were bigger now. Thicker. Small, wee little stems on them that only added to your pain. Petals were left behind on your tongue and sticking to your cheeks; throat bleeding into your stomach from the way thorns shredded it up and down.

"Hey, hey, hey, sweetheart," you recognized Eddie's voice over the sounds of your retching. "Oh, my God, my sweet girl. Shit, you're okay, you're okay, I got you," he assured quietly, taking your hair in his hands to hold back as another wave racked through your body. "You're okay, let it out," he soothed, sitting on the lip of the bathtub, and rubbing your back.

You sniffled and spat the remaining petals from your mouth, using your arms to cover the toilet bowl and block his sight. "W-What're you doing here?" You asked through a thick tongue.

"Your window was open, I let myself in." He reached out for the toilet paper and pulled a bit off, gingerly reaching up and wiping the blood from your lips. "A-Are those petals?" He asked in shock, looking at the toilet tissue.

"Why're you here, Eddie?" You asked again, turning to close the toilet lid and rest your head on it. The cool porcelain felt nice on your feverish skin.

"Where else would I want to be?"

You scoffed, "Just fuck off back to Chrissy, I know that's where you want to be."

It was quiet as sweat dried on your skin and created a new cooling sensation across your tired muscles. "Why're you throwing up blood and petals?"

"Why are you here?" You snapped, lifting your head to glare at him. "If I wanted you around, I would've called."

"Haven't called me in weeks."

"Then maybe I don't want you around. Just go - get out," you grit, turning away from him again. "This is hard enough without you fucking here. Get out."

It was quiet as Eddie didn't move, your chest rattling with every labored breath to make it sound like a wheeze. It caused a new wave of violent coughing, Eddie's eyes widening when you appeared to choke on something in your throat, toilet lid lifted as your fingers crammed in the back of your throat.

From this position, Eddie could make out the blood and blooms floating in the water, flinching when you threw up blood - a sight he'd never wanted to see again. Thorns cut your mouth and lips, making you whimper in sheer pain as your chest was ready to cave in finally. Sweat coated your skin again, and Eddie refused to leave your side. He watched you as your body shook with each retch; how the color of blood stained your lips like expensive make-up.

When you panted and threw yourself back to the wall behind you, Eddie reached out and started to wipe blood from your nose, mouth, chin, and cheeks.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked.

"Tell you what?" You wheezed.

"That you were sick."

You scoffed, "Would it have mattered? You're too busy with Chrissy."

He shook his head, "We broke up."

Now this - this shocked you. Your brows furrowed, "It's prom night."

"Mhm."

"All you wanted was to go to that stupid fucking dance with her," you pointed out with a glare.

Eddie nodded, "I thought so, too. Until we got there, and I realized that I was with the wrong girl... I thought I wanted to be with her, she was unobtainable and has been my crush for years..."

"Guessing the real thing didn't compare with your imagination?" You sneered, rolling your eyes. "Big fucking deal, Eddie - "

"No, no, I uh... I just, we got there, and I wanted it to be you."

Something in your chest twisted.

"That's not funny," your eyes rolled again.

"I'm not joking. I wanted to be with you all night - hell, every day of the past few weeks that you've been avoiding me, I just wanted to be with you. Why did you pull away from me? Was it that shitty to see me and Chris together?"

You admitted, "Yes."

"What?"

You chuckled dryly, "It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me."

"Why?"

"Because I love you."

And there it was... "Yeah," You whispered, "love me like a best friend, right - " Only, the words were gargled as you leaned forward and puked violently.

"No, sweetheart," Eddie frowned, holding your hair again. "Shit, this isn't good, baby, we need to get you to a hospital."

"No," You groaned into the bowl.

"Please," he begged, other hand coming to soothe up and down your back. "You're in pain, and - "

"It doesn't matter, Eddie," you coughed again, sticking your tongue out to pick a few petals off. They fell to the water, a sightly morbidly beautiful image as thick blood swirled.

"It does matter! To me, it does!"

"Why!?"

"Because - Jesus Christ!" He raged, anger finally morphing over his expression. "I'm in love with you, God damn it!"

Your brows furrowed, bottom lip trembling, "W-What?"

He shook his head, "You really don't know?"

"Know WHAT?" You felt anger swell in your stomach. "That I've spent the past however many years thinking I was only good enough to be your friend, and now you're telling me you're in love with me? What? Did Chrissy stand you up? You need a rebound?"

He sighed, nudging you over an inch to slide down the wall into the space between you and the bathtub. You both stared forward, a light splattering of blood across the pale porcelain you stared at.

"I was the one who left her," he admitted with a sigh. "I just... We got to the first dance, and I just hated myself, because all I wanted - for the last few weeks, too - has been to have you in my arms, again. I've missed you more than anything."

You shook your head, "You've wanted Chrissy - "

"She was a want, doll," he whispered. "But I realized tonight that you're a need. I need you in my life, baby, please believe me. Look, I-I got caught up in the excitement of dating Chrissy, but she knew my heart wasn't 100% in it, and told me it was okay."

"Ch-Chrissy told you to leave?"

"She told me to run to you and not let go when I had you in my arms," he nodded, looking down at me now. "She knew the whole time... I couldn't stand being away from you, not talking to you, so she offered to help distract me until I bucked up the nerve."

"Nerve to what?"

"Ask you to be mine," he smiled softly. "Look, I know, I've had this thing for Chris, and when I finally had her, I just didn't know what to do. But she knew the whole time, and insisted I come find you."

"Oh," you breathed, chest tight for a new reason.

"And I realized I was at prom with the wrong woman," he nodded, gingerly reaching his hand out to stroke over mine. I sniffled and turned my hand over to lace our fingers together, leaning into his shoulder. "Not seeing you there, I felt worse than ever before. I couldn't admit I was in love with you - I was scared we'd lose this. Our friendship, we'd lose the comfort and protection."

Tears swelled in your eyes as you squeezed them shut; a few tears rolling sadly down your cheeks. "You don't mean that..."

"How can you say that?" He asked incredulously.

"Because you just feel bad," you whimpered. "It's okay, Eddie. I'm okay - you don't have to do this. It doesn't matter - "

"Anything regarding you, to me, definitely matters. Why're you so against this - against us?"

"Because it's not real," you sniffled. "You've been in love with - "

"Please, please, go ask Chrissy yourself," Eddie begged, shaking his head. "She'll tell you - go ask Dustin, Garth, Jeff - anyone, baby. Please. I'm in love with you, and I need you to believe it."

"Why now?"

"Why what?"

"Why tell me now?"

He chuckled, "Because I hoped there was enough time to get here and take the girl of my dreams to prom."

"You don't even like prom. Or any social gathering, for that matter."

He chuckled, "Yeah, very true, but you're everything to me and I know you wanted to go. Remember last year?" You sighed, soft smile stretching across your face. "You were so excited that I made you that pact that if neither of us had a date, we'd go together." You nodded against his shoulder. "And I just thought... I thought other guys wanted to take you, and you'd want to go with them more sine they could give you the full 'prom experience'. So, I panicked and focused on Chrissy..."

You sighed, "I wish you told me the truth... And that you'd have just asked me properly."

"I regret nothing more," he sighed. "Because it made you feel left out and neglected."

You nodded, "Eddie?"

"Yeah, peaches?"

The old nickname from 10th grade made heat pool in your chest, cheeks, and ears; feeling flustered as you whispered, "I'm in love with you, too."

"Yeah?" He chuckled.

"Mhm."

He sighed, "Oh, thank God."

You couldn't help but chuckle lightly, "What?"

He looked down at you with a grin, "Been waiting years to hear that."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Since I decked Carver in the face, yeah," he breathed. "Just wanted to pull you into my arms and tell you how much I loved you."

"Maybe if you did, we could've had more time together."

"We have all the time in the world now, baby," he beamed. "'Cause I'm not letting you go - hear me? You're mine, and I'm not letting go."

You smiled and leaned up so you could rest your forehead on his, "I don't want you to let go."

"I'll hold on forever, baby," he whispered. "But I have something important to ask you..."

"Hmm?"

"Think you're feeling up for a dance with me?"

You chuckled and nodded, "Uh, maybe one. Do we have to go to the school?"

"Nope, not if you don't want to."

You paused for a moment, asking shyly, "Eddie?"

"Yeah, peaches?"

"Would you go to prom with me?"

Eddie chuckled, "You're throwing up blood, baby, I think I should take you to the hospital instead. C'mon, instead of a prom dress, I'll dance with you in a hospital gown."

You couldn't help but giggle under your breath. "Come with me, I need to show you something," you sighed after, reaching forward to flush the blood and petals before standing up. With his hand in yours, you lead him from the bathroom and to your room, sitting on the bed and placing a book in his lap.

"What am I looking at?"

"Just... Read this page," you pointed to the paragraph you wanted him to read; taking the spot beside him and leaning to his shoulder again as he scanned the page quickly.

"Holy shit," he breathed at the end, looking up at you with tears in his eyes. "Doll, no, no, no. I-I did this to you?"

"I did it to myself," you whispered.

"B-But I've been in love with you, too? So, how did this happen?"

"Neither of us admitted it to ourselves. At least for me, it was until the night you told me you were thinking of asking Chrissy out."

"For me, it was until tonight," he realized with a whisper. "I-I told Chrissy I loved you, an-and it was the first time I admitted it..."

You nodded, "Yeah... So, uh... Yeah."

"Fuck," he shook his head. "I'm so sorry, I-I didn't know it hurt you this bad. Jesus Christ, sweetheart, you didn't deserve that. I'm so sorry."

"But it's over now, right?" you asked quietly.

"Yeah, baby, it's all over," he nodded, tossing the library book aside to turn and wrap you in his arms. He whined lightly and tugged so you were straddled in his lap, running a hand through your hair. "Oh, my sweet girl, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine the pain."

"You're here now," You whispered into his neck, fingers twirling a strand of his hair as your other hand clung to his neck. "That's all I care about."

"I'm never leaving you again," he swore, arms tight around my waist to drag me all the closer. "I'm so sorry, peaches, I-I didn't mean to hurt you."

"It's okay," you promised, sniffling after. "I could've spoken up, too, but I was ashamed. I didn't want to ruin anything between you and Chrissy."

"Promise me, you'll tell me from now on. Okay? I don't care what's happening or where you and I stand - you fucking tell me if something's going on with you, okay?"

You nodded, sniffling lightly, "Yeah, okay, baby, deal."

"Hey," he cooed, pulling me from his neck. His hand reached up to caress the side of my cheek, "I love you, pretty girl."

The smile on your lips felt silly, but you replied, "I love you, too, baby."

"Can I kiss you? Please?" He pouted, making you chuckle lightly before reaching for his cheek and bringing him in to meet your lips. He groaned in relief, hands tightly over your ribs before sliding to your back as his tongue poked against your lips, sweeping into your mouth in a slick dance. You whined lightly, Eddie making a noise of surprise as he pulled back, a string of saliva trailing between your lips.

Your brows furrowed as he reached up and picked something from his tongue; a light pink cherry blossom petal stuck between his pointer and thumb. "Oh, my God," you wheezed, leaning forward to rest against his chest and push your face into his neck. "I'm so sorry."

He chuckled and let the petal flutter to the ground, "Kinda hot."

"Eddie," you whined.

"I'm sorry, baby," he chuckled, pecking the side of my head. "Are you feeling better?"

"Mhm, much better now, honestly. Having you here helps."

He pulled back to grin brightly at you, "Wanna go to prom then?"

You sighed lightly, gazing down at him in his suit and smiling lightly when you pressed over his red shirt. "Did you match Chrissy?"

He sighed, "She ended up choosing a green dress. Thought red was more my color," he smirked lightly. "But I can't lie, we looked like human Christmas."

You snorted in humor. "Red's definitely your color," you agreed, glancing back at your closet before back at him. "Um, wanna give me a few minutes? We can leave after?"

"Take as much time as you need, peaches," he nodded, leaning in with another smile to press his lips to your own. He chuckled a few times, pecking his lips rapidly before pulling away.

Within an hour, your hair was fixed off your neck; make-up minimal but still noticeable; and red dress shimmied up your body to then tie over your shoulders. Lacing your shoes on, you looked in the mirror before exiting your room and descending the stairs to find Eddie hunched over a counter, working in the kitchen on something.

You cleared your throat as your fingers fiddled together nervously when Eddie turned, and you swear time stopped. "Shit," he breathed, eyes weeping you up and down. "Oh, my... God."

"Yeah?" you asked, looking over the red material.

"Oh, hell yeah," he nodded, slowly approaching you. "You look beautiful, peaches, wow... Shit."

"You've said that," you teased. "Whatcha makin' over there?"

He smirked and picked up a flower from the counter, turning and taking your wrist. "My girl needs a corsage," he explained, showing off the flower he'd clipped from an old bouquet and then fashioned with a rubber band and safety pin. "There," he smiled when it was settled, "now you're ready for senior prom, huh?"

You nodded, hands placed to his chest as you smoothed out a few wrinkles, "You look unbelievably good right now."

He chuckled, "Look who's talkin'. Givin' Bo Derek a run for her money, aren't you? God damn."

You couldn't help the bright grin across your face, stepping into his embrace. "I love you," you whispered.

"I don't think I'll get tired to hearing that," he beamed, pecking your lips after. "I love you, too, baby - so much. And I'm so sorry it took me this long to admit it. You didn't deserve anything you suffered through..."

"It's done now," you nodded.

"And we're never going back," his hands rose to caress either of my cheeks. "Now - wanna go rock this prom?"

"Smoke up your van after?"

"You know it, princess," he grinned, pressing another kiss to your lips. "My lady," he smirked teasingly, offering his bent arm.

"My lord," you breathed, arm around his, and chest feeling lighter than it had in weeks months. Maybe things would be okay and they could work out, but for now, it was refreshing to live in the moment with Eddie. Your partner in crime. Your other half. Your best friend, and now your boyfriend. Someone you adored - and someone who adored you in full return.

Maybe love wasn't too bad after all - when it's not trying to suffocate you from the inside.

•

[joshu_acoustic]: 💙