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BROKEN RECORD

Eddie Munson x OC!Reader || stranger things || seasons two - four

SUMMARY: Lyra Hargrove had to grow up quickly, constantly adjusting to unwanted changes. The hardest was moving to Hawkins, Indiana after her father remarried to keep up a facade of a happy family. Weeks into their new life, Lyra notices Max acting secretive and avoiding everyone. She soon discovers that Hawkins is linked to the Upside Down, a dangerous, demonic version of their town. Joining the monster hunting club brings more secrets, lies, and potential heartbreak.

WARNINGS: friends to lovers, second chance romance, cursing, angst, stranger things violence, some talks of blood and gore

A/N: I do not own any of the stranger things characters only Lyra and her storyline as well as any other OC's that I create. Please do not copy or translate my work; paraphrasing is still copying! As always, thank you for all the support in my writing, I appreciate every single one of you! 🥰

➩ SEASON TWO

➩ SEASON THREE

➩ SEASON FOUR

SEASON TWO ➩ BROKEN RECORD

Eddie Munson x OC!Fem!Reader

SUMMARY: a new year typically means a fresh start. Well, not for Hawkins. New dangers arise, secrets and lies emerge, and new residents must confront hidden truths. Navigating these challenges, will uncover deeper connections and face even greater threats, testing bonds and resilience.

chapter one: new neighbors, new nightmares

chapter two: unforgettable encounters

chapter three: if darkness had a son

chapter four: problem child

chapter five: trick or treat, freak

chapter six: rock n’ roll dream

chapter seven: the awakening

chapter eight: thunderstruck

chapter nine: hells bells

chapter ten: cherry flavored

chapter eleven: maneater

chapter twelve: one step forward, three steps back

chapter thirteen: made for lovin’ you

CHAPTER ONE: NEW NEIGHBORS, NEW NIGHTMARES

Eddie Munson x OC!Reader || WC: 1.9K

A/N: i told myself I wasn't going to write another story yet here we are!this series has been in the works for a VERY long time, I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I loved writing it! beautiful divider by @dreamland-gallery <3

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HAWKINS 1984

“This place is such a complete shit hole!” Billy Hargrove huffed throwing himself down onto Lyra's bed completely disregarding the clothes that lay neatly organized on top of it. "Not even three seconds of being here and you're already complaining." Rolling her eyes, she shoved her brother who completely disregarded her.

"Quit pouting," To which Billy rolled his eyes. "Just sucks that we have to go to school tomorrow, figure we'd have a few days to adjust." Lyra thought aloud all while trying to redecorate her new room. "Neil doesn't care about that. Or that he completely flipped our lives upside down." Lyra shrugged.

"Max and Susan aren't that bad," She defended. "Besides, I think It's nice to have a little sister." She smiled organizing her cassettes. "I have to disagree." Billy muttered under his breath smirking, which ultimately earned him a pillow being thrown in his direction.

"Shithead." Just as Billy was going to retaliate there was a knock on Lyra's door. "This place sucks." Max muttered sitting on the chair on the opposite side of the room. "At least you two have that in common." Lyra smiled, pointing between Max and Billy who were already glaring at one another.

"You can't tell me you like it here?" Lyra shrugged. "I haven't really decided, but I know that I will not miss California's beaches." She shuddered. "Plenty of beaches here if you ask me." Billy sassed directing the statement towards his step sister who in turn flipped him off.

"Both of you, play nice." Neither of them said anything, instead occupying themselves with Lyra's surrounding items. Max reached for a snow globe on the nightstand, turning it over in her hands, watching the faux snowflakes settle over the miniature cityscape of Seattle inside. Billy fiddled with a stack of vinyl records, flipping through them without really seeing the covers.

Both their movements deliberate, a silent barrier in the already stifling room. The tension was a palpable entity, squeezing the space between them with invisible, yet forceful, hands. Neither dared to breach the silence, each moment stretching into eternity, filled only with the quiet shuffle of objects and the loud unspoken words that refused to surface.

Lyra looked between her sister and the obvious grimace on Billy's face and decided to break the awkward and rather suffocating tension. "You know what," She spoke gathering Max and Billy's attention. "I don't know about you two, but I'm starving." She emphasized her point with a hand on her stomach. "I saw a diner a couple of miles from here."

Lyra immediately nodded agreeing to Max's suggestion quickly discarding the pile of clothes that lay unsorted in the corner of her closet. Before Billy could refuse, shutting down the redhead's idea Lyra was quick to grab his wrist trying and inevitably failing to haul him off her bed. "Come on, I'll even buy you a milkshake." Lyra pouted tugging harder on Billy's forearm.

Almost as if contemplating his options Billy held Lyra's gaze, his face void of any emotions which made the blonde exaggerate the pout that decorated her face. She let out a triumphant cheer fist-bumping Max. "Can I drive?" Billy couldn't help but snort at his sister's question. "Nice try." He scoffed.

"You can only win one battle with him." Lyra muttered, swinging her arm around Max's shoulders as they followed after Billy. "Where do you three think you're going." The booming voice of Neil Hargrove questioned, which made a shiver run down all three teenager's spines. "Heading out to a diner Max pointed out on the way here." Lyra explained with an exaggerated sweet smile and added a cheery tone to her voice.

"Have fun girls," Susan Mayfield nodded approvingly. "Your sisters' will be in the car, don't you dare drive like a maniac," Neil's venomous eyes bore into Billy's. "Understood." He spat sternly in order to get his point across. "Yes sir." Billy responded curtly. "We'll be back later." Lyra's sugary voice cut in, quickly opening the front door and ushering Max and Billy through before waving at her father and stepmother.

"You can have shotgun." Max muttered as Billy unlocked his Chevrolet Camaro. As the car roared to life, Lyra nodded appreciatively at the AC/DC tape that blasted through the speakers. "Don't forget you owe me that milkshake." Billy declared, pulling out of the driveway. "A promise is a promise." She winked, grinning widely at the small smile that threatened to break out on her brother's lips. Lyra took that as another win. 

Benny's Burgers was completely swamped for a Sunday afternoon. The neon sign buzzed and flickered, casting a warm glow on the chrome exterior of the diner. As the door swung open, a bell chimed, and the scent of sizzling burgers and fries wafted out. Inside, the black and white checkered floor gleamed under the fluorescent lights, reflecting the red vinyl booths that lined the walls.

Each table was adorned with a mini jukebox, the selections filled with the hits of the decade—synth-pop, rock, and new wave tunes that would occasionally burst into life when a patron dropped a coin. Waitresses in pastel uniforms and white aprons glided across the floor, balancing trays laden with milkshakes topped with whipped cream and a cherry, club sandwiches stacked high, and blue-plate specials.

The sputter and hiss of the grill provided a comforting backdrop to the hum of conversation. At the counter, patrons sat on swivel stools, elbows resting on the Formica surface, as they chatted with the cook who flipped pancakes with a practiced flick of the wrist. The walls were adorned with memorabilia—movie posters, album covers, and neon signs advertising ice cream sundaes. The air was filled with the clinking of cutlery, the clatter of dishes being stacked, and the occasional laughter that erupted when stories were shared.

Lyra didn't hesitate to slide into the booth after Max, her gaze immediately drawn to the laminated menu propped against the condiment rack. The pages were a collage of vibrant images and bold text, each dish vying for attention. The pages were a feast for the eyes, adorned with images of juicy steaks, glistening with a perfect sear, and platters of golden-fried fish accompanied by lemon wedges and tartar sauce. She pondered over the pasta section, where spaghetti tangled with meatballs in a rich marinara sauce, and fettuccine ribbons lay draped under a creamy Alfredo.

Max wasted no time in reading the menu over her shoulder as Billy slid in across from them, peering over his menu. The fluorescent lighting overhead glinted off the glossy pages, illuminating the colorful photographs of towering burgers and milkshakes crowned with whipped cream. Max's finger paused over a picture of a blueberry waffle. Billy, on the other hand, seemed drawn to the heartier options, his attention captured by the 'Lumberjack Platter' with its promise of eggs, steak, bacon, and french fries.

Their eyes danced across the pages, occasionally darting up to the specials board that hung above the counter, chalked with today's date and the promise of homemade cherry pie. The server arrived, pad in hand, ready to take their order with a smile on her face. With a final glance at the menu, they each nodded, having made their silent selections. The server's pencil scribbled across the paper, capturing the details of their choices before she whisked away.

"Gross." Max grimaced kicking Billy under the table which he returned. "For the record, this is not behaving." Lyra scolded. "She started it, I was just finishing it." Before Lyra could intervene, Max beat her to it. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't drool over our server before she even brought out the drinks." Billy scoffed avoiding his sister's smirk from across the table.

Not even a second later, the waitress had returned balancing three drinks in her hand. "Here you folks go, two strawberry milkshakes, and one chocolate, your food should be out shortly." She assured paying extra attention to Billy who was giving her a flirty grin. "Thanks, sweetheart." Billy winked leaving the girl a giggling mess. As soon as the waitress left, Max turned to Lyra as if to prove her point.

"You should be used to this, Max." Lyra shrugged having grown accustomed to her brother flirting. Before she could take a sip of her milkshake, Billy reached across the table beating her to it. "What the hell!" Lyra huffed trying to take the glass cup back from him. "You said you'd buy me a milkshake." He stated matter-of-factly. "You have one right there." She pointed to his untouched chocolate milkshake.

"Forgot I like this one better." He shrugged plopping the cherry in his mouth. "Asshole." Lyra cursed taking his chocolate milkshake in retaliation. "Hey shit-bird," He taunted gaining Max's attention. "You know what they say if you can tie a cherry stem with your tongue, right?" He smirked, enjoying the fact that he could get a rise out of her.

Just as Lyra was about to scold him once more their waitress came around the corner of the kitchen and set their designated plates in front of them. With yet another flirty smile and wink from Billy promising that all of their orders looked correct, they finally dug into their meal. As they started eating in silence, the delicious aroma of their food filled the air.

The silence between them was broken only by the satisfying crunch of their fries. Despite the tension, the food was too good to ignore. As the last bites of their meal were finished and the plates cleared away, the tension that had built up seemed to dissipate with the satisfying end to their meal.

Lyra couldn't help but steal another sip of her strawberry milkshake, her sweet revenge for Billy's earlier comments. Billy simply just shook his head with a smirk, knowing better than to comment again. Their waitress returned, placing the bill neatly on the table, her pen tucked behind her ear and a professional smile on her face.

"No rush, whenever you're ready." She smiled, before turning to attend to another table. Billy immediately reached for his wallet. "I thought I was the one paying for the milkshakes?" Lyra teased holding back her laugh at the look of deep offense written on her brother's face. "I got it." Lyra just rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips, knowing this was just another chapter in their ongoing banter. 

Max rolled her eyes noticing Billy scribbling his number on the bill. Making it a personal mission to hand it straight to their waitress. "Y'all have a lovely rest of your night." She gushed pocketing the bill as if it were a trophy after noticing what had been scribbled at the bottom. "Thanks, doll." Billy purred, his grin morphing into a suggestive smirk upon seeing the color of the girl's cheeks redden the longer he held eye contact.

"That's our cue, Max." Lyra gagged linking her arm with the redheads. As the trio made their way out of the diner, Lyra was completely oblivious to a curly-haired boy with a pair of dark chocolate eyes sitting in the very back corner booth following her every movement, feeling quite envious of the dirty blonde's muscled arm around her shoulders leading her to a Camaro he could only dream to afford.

CHAPTER THREE: IF DARKNESS HAD A SON

Eddie Munson x OC!Reader || WC: 2.1K

A/N: another filler chapter, I'm so sorry guys! I wasn't going to post early, but I couldn't wait to get another chapter out for you guys for all the love on this series!

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"Please feel free to stop me if I'm rambling." Lyra winced momentarily feeling bad for Jonathan whom was walking next to her through the crowded hallways of Hawkins High. The bustling noise of lockers slamming and students chatting filled the air, creating a chaotic backdrop to their conversation. Ever since Lyra had "saved" him from brainless jocks, the two had hit it off after discovering that they were in the same English class.

"N-No, it's fine." Jonathan mumbled reassuringly, his eyes darting around nervously. "I've never heard anyone so passionate about comics before," he paused, adjusting the strap of his worn-out backpack. "Well, maybe except my younger brother Will." Lyra's eyes lit up at his words. "My younger sister Max is obsessed with them too, however she'll never willingly confess to that." She smiled, thinking of the hidden box of comics that Max made her promise to never tell anyone about.

The box was tucked away under Max's bed, filled with dog-eared issues of Spider-Man and X-Men. "You two close?" Jonathan question watching a smile breakout onto Lyra's face. "We all are," She replied sucking in a breath she was holding. She grimaced slightly taking back her words. "Well for the most part." Jonathan gave her a small smile urging her to continue. The fluorescent lights above cast a soft glow on his face, making his expression seem even more gentle and understanding.

"Billy isn't so thrilled that we moved here." She admitted, her voice tinged with frustration. "He and Max don't really see eye to eye. I'm essentially the mediator when we're all together, I sometimes wish it wasn't like that." She sighed clutching her books tighter to her chest. Noticing the silence after her confession, Lyra shut her eyes in embarrassment. The bustling hallway seemed to quiet down, amplifying her discomfort. "I am so sorry." She murmured, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

"Don't apologize," He reassured once more, his voice steady and calm. "Something tells me you needed to get that out of your chest. My mom always says its better to let it out rather than to hold it all in. Says it makes your spirit feel lighter." Lyra nodded taking a second for his words to sink in. She could feel the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Wise woman." She praised bringing a smile to Jonathan's face. "Yeah, she is," He said softly, his eyes reflecting a mixture of fondness and nostalgia.

Lyra watched as Jonathan fumbled with his camera, his fingers tracing the edges as if it were a lifeline. The hallway was bustling with activity, and they had to navigate through a sea of cheerleaders and their boyfriends. The cheerleaders' bright uniforms and high-pitched laughter contrasted sharply with the glares their boyfriends sent Jonathan's way. Lyra noticed the audacity with which they smiled at her, as if she were an exception to their silent judgment.  

Jonathan held onto his camera tighter, his knuckles turning white. Lyra could sense his discomfort and felt a surge of protectiveness. She walked a little closer to him, hoping to shield him from their disdainful looks. "You know," She interjected, trying to lighten the mood, "Your mom's advice is something I should probably take to heart more often." Jonathan glanced at her, his eyes softening. "It's not always easy, but it does help," he admitted. They continued walking, the noise of the hallway fading into the background as they found solace in each other's company.

Reaching the darkroom, Jonathan's hand hovered over the door handle before turning back to Lyra. "If you ever need to talk about anything, you know where to find me." He assured. Lyra couldn't help but snicker, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm assuming that doesn't include shit-talking Mrs. O'Donnell?" She joked, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Jonathan shook his head in amusement, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You're the absolute worst." He teased. "It's a good thing I moved to Hawkins then, I keep your life interesting."

Jonathan did not agree nor disagree; he simply shrugged his shoulders, a movement Lyra couldn't quite decipher. It was as if he was keeping a part of himself hidden, something she found both intriguing and frustrating. "Well, these pictures aren't going to develop on their own, I'll see you Lyra." With a final wave, he disappeared into the darkroom. The door closed with a soft click, leaving Lyra standing alone in the now quieter hallway. With a sigh, she turned and walked to the opposite end of the hallway to her locker.

The metal door creaked as she opened it, and she quickly grabbed her books for her upcoming classes, swapping out the old ones. The routine felt oddly comforting, a small moment of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic school day. Just as she was about to reach and grab her Biology textbook, a denim-clad hand beat her to it. She looked up to see Billy, grinning mischievously. "Sup, nerd," He teased, giving a playful tug on a strand of Lyra's hair. His cerulean blue eyes sparkled with a familiar blend of affection and mischief.

Lyra rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips despite her best efforts to appear annoyed. She snatched her book back with a swift, practiced motion. "Real mature, William," She shot back, emphasizing his full name with mock severity. Lyra watched with satisfaction as Billy's face scrunched up in disgust at the sound of it. "Don't call me that," Billy groaned, shaking his head as if trying to shake off the name itself. His reaction was exactly what Lyra had hoped for, and she couldn't help but laugh.

"Where have you been today? I didn't see you during lunch." She questioned, closing her locker with a soft click and making her way towards her last and final class of the day. "Nothin' you need to worry your pretty little head about, sunshine," He smirked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Lyra knew better than to press for details; the playful gleam in his eye told her all she needed to know. "Good," She insisted, her tone laced with mock seriousness. "Spare me the details of your midday rendezvous."

As they walked, the noise of the hallway began to fade, replaced by the rhythmic sound of their footsteps. Lyra glanced sideways at her brother, noting the way his hair fell messily over his forehead, and the confident swagger in his step. "Well, if you must know," Billy began, leaning in conspiratorially. "No I really don't." She repeated hoping to get her point across. "I was busy saving this shit hole from utter disaster." He winked, and Lyra couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head at his antics.

"Sure you were," She replied, rolling her eyes with an exaggerated sigh. As they reached the door to her classroom, Lyra paused, turning to face him. "Just try to stay out of trouble, okay?" She coaxed giving him her best glare. "No promises," With a playful salute he was sauntering off down the hallway. "Billy wait," She called out, her voice echoing slightly in the now less crowded corridor. He paused mid-step, turning to face her once more, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"Don't forget, I can't cover for you today, Susan and Dad are going to be home," Lyra reminded Billy, her voice tinged with concern. Almost immediately, the tension between the siblings grew palpable. Lyra could see Billy's entire demeanor shift, his shoulders tensing and his jaw clenching. "Don't worry, I'll do all the talking," She assured him, trying to ease the situation.

Upon hearing her words, Billy somewhat deflated, yet his guard remained raised. He was always on edge, always ready for a fight. "Can't wait," Billy huffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He walked out of the double doors, immediately reaching for a cigarette. For once in his life, he found himself hoping that the school day would drag on. Anything to delay the inevitable confrontation at home.   

Family dinners were the one thing in the entire world that made Lyra's anxiety skyrocket. Since they had moved from California, Susan and Neil had hardly been home due to their demanding work schedules. The house often felt more like a hotel than a home, with everyone coming and going at different times. However, on a rare Wednesday afternoon, they had both decided to have dinner together as a family in their new home. The evening air was filled with the rich, inviting scents of home-cooked food.

With the help of Lyra and Max, Susan had prepared an array of beautifully smelling dishes. The table was set with the mismatched dishes they had brought from their old home, each piece holding a memory of their past life. The faint sound of Madonna's "Like a Virgin" played from the kitchen radio, adding a nostalgic touch to the atmosphere. The aroma of the food filled the house, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, but Lyra couldn't shake the knot in her stomach.

"Dinner's ready!" Susan chirped, snapping Lyra out of her thoughts. She was ushered to sit next to Billy, who had his head down and desperately wanted the attention not to be drawn to him. Max shared a glance with Lyra whom only gave her a reassuring smile in return. "Looks delicious, honey." Neil praised his voice filled with genuine admiration for the spread before them. With that the food was passed around, everyone filling their plates.

The only thing that could be heard being the music filling the silence. Lyra hoped this dinner would be over quickly, her anxiety making it hard to enjoy the meal. Oh, how wrong she was. Almost as if reading her thoughts, Neil was the first to break the silence in the air. "Max," he began, his voice cutting through the quiet. The redhead in question snapped her head up upon hearing her name, her eyes wide with surprise. "How was school today?" He asked his voiced laced with curiosity.

"It was fine," She mumbled vaguely, playing with the food on her plate. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but Neil seemed to be satisfied with her answer. His eyes then moved over to his eldest daughter. "Lyra, how's school treatin' you, sweetheart?" The blonde set her silverware down carefully, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. "It's good," she answered quickly, her voice steady but with a hint of underlying exhaustion.

She could feel everyone's eyes on her, waiting for more. "Sure is keeping me busy, especially with college applications coming up," She added, trying to sound upbeat. "There's a lot of work to do, but I'll manage just fine." She explained briefly, hoping her answer would be enough to hold her dad over from more questions. About another minute of silence went by, the quiet stretching out uncomfortably. That's all it took for the once homey atmosphere of their house to shift into one of tension. The air seemed to thicken, and the previously warm and cozy dining room now felt stifling and oppressive.

The soft ticking of the wall clock grew louder, each second amplifying the unease that settled over the family like a heavy blanket. The dim light from the chandelier cast long shadows across the room, adding to the oppressive atmosphere."I suppose that's the opposite of what you're doing." Neil seethed glaring daggers at Billy whom had yet to say anything since they had sat down to eat. His tone a stark contrast to how he had acknowledged his daughter and stepdaughter earlier, his voice dripping with disdain. "Got anything to say for yourself, boy." Billy's lack of response only seemed to aggravate him even more.

"Of course not," Neil scoffed venomously, his face contorting with anger.. "While your sisters is off being successful, I'm going to have to be draggin' your useless ass along for the rest of my life. You're so fucking pathetic, a deadbeat's all you're ever gonna be." The words hung in the air like a toxic cloud, suffocating any potential for peace. Not wanting to hear any more, Billy forcefully pushed his chair back, the legs scraping loudly against the floor, and walked out of the dining room. He stormed into his room, slamming the door shut with a resounding bang that echoed through the house.

On instinct, Lyra pushed her chair back to follow Billy. She could see the pain etched on his face, the way his shoulders slumped under the weight of their father's harsh words. But Neil's booming voice made her stop in her tracks. "Let him go, Lyra," He demanded rather sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument. It made Lyra reluctantly sit back down, her eyes filled with worry and frustration. "He's not worth it." Lyra couldn't disagree more. She clenched her fists under the table. The room felt colder, the warmth of family dinner replaced by a chilling silence.

CHAPTER FOUR: PROBLEM CHILD

Eddie Munson x OC!Reader || WC: 1.8K

A/N: THE TENSION!! You guys better get ready for this one’s it’s a long bumpy ride! Sorry this was another filled chapter for y'all, much more to come in the next couple!! Completely worth the wait I promise!!

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The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a dull orange glow over the nearly deserted high school parking lot. The only sounds were the distant hum of the freeway and the occasional rustling of leaves in the cool evening breeze. Billy paced back and forth like a caged animal, his boots scuffing the cement, his face twisted in a scowl. "Where the hell is she?" He bellowed, the veins in his neck bulging with each word, his patience fraying like a worn-out rope.

He and Lyra had been waiting for what felt like an eternity for Max to show up. The empty spaces around them echoed the emptiness of his patience. "Would you relax?" Lyra's voice cut through his frustration with the sharpness of a knife. She reached out with a swift flick of her wrist, plucking the cigarette from between his clenched teeth and crushing it under her shoe with a satisfying crunch.

Billy's jaw clenched tighter, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. "I specifically told her not to be late again," He growled, his fists balling up at his sides, ready to unleash his anger on something, anything. Lyra, unfazed by her brother's growing rage, let out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes. She leaned against the hood of the car, her arms folded across her chest, her expression one of bored annoyance at Billy's antics. She knew Max would show up eventually, and Billy's temper tantrum wasn't going to make her appear any faster.

Almost as if on cue, Lyra caught sight of Max's red hair skating towards them. Lyra locked eyes with her sister, a knowing look passing between them. With a subtle nod in Billy's direction, she silently communicated that he was on the verge of exploding like a ticking time bomb. Max approached the Camaro, her hand hesitating over the door handle, bracing herself for the inevitable confrontation.

"You're late again," Billy's voice boomed, reverberating through the tense air as Max neared the car. She remained calm, her voice steady as she explained, "Yeah, I had to get catch-up homework." Billy scoffed dismissively, his impatience palpable. "Jesus, I don't care. You're late again, and you're skating home. Do you hear me?" Max, unfazed by his empty threat, climbed into the backseat without a word. Lyra shot Billy the fiercest glare she could muster, determined to protect her sister.

"If she skates home, I walk with her. Understood," She threatened, throwing his own words back at him before getting into the car herself. Wanting to diffuse the tension, Lyra changed the subject. "How come you didn't dress up, Max?" She asked, noticing the multitude of middle schoolers in Halloween costumes as they left the school parking lot. Max looked at her sister as if she had sprouted two heads. "Halloween's lame."

Lyra couldn't help but retort, "Tell that to your Michael Myers mask hanging in your room." Max huffed, "I wasn't about to wear a costume to school like some nerd. Besides, it's for later." Lyra nodded, earning herself a puzzled glance from Billy. "I'm taking her trick-or-treating, then I can come meet you at that Halloween party," Billy simply shrugged, nonchalant about the change in plans.

"Fine by me." Lyra could sense the brewing storm behind his casual facade, the calm before the inevitable outburst. Within the span of a heartbeat, Billy's voice, laced with disdain, broke the short-lived peace. "God, this place is such a shit hole." He muttered under his breath, his words a toxic whisper in the confines of the car. Lyra didn't miss a beat, her response sharp as she caught the tension in Billy's jaw from the corner of her eye.

"So you've said." She retorted, challenging the negative energy he exuded with every clenched muscle. Max, jumped to the town's defense, her voice a blend of innocence and conviction. "It's not that bad," She insisted, only to be met with Billy's scornful chuckle. Billy's gaze found Max's in the rearview mirror, a challenge in his eyes as he powered down the windows with a flick of his wrist.

"You smell that, Max?" He asked, taking in a deep, mocking breath. "That's actually shit. Cow shit," He declared as if his senses were the ultimate arbiters of truth. Lyra, unimpressed by his dramatics, shook her head, refusing to play into his narrative. "I don't see any cows," Max stated, her logic unassailable in its simplicity.

Billy's retort was quick, a jab aimed at the unsuspecting high school population. "Clearly you haven't met the high school girls," He sneered. The silence that followed was a testament to Billy's inability to tolerate the absence of reaction, his need for engagement as palpable as the tension in the car. "So what, you like it here now?" He prodded Max, searching for a crack in her armor. Max's head shook, a silent ripple in the charged atmosphere.

"Then why are you defending it?" Billy pressed, unable to let the matter rest, his voice a mix of curiosity and confrontation. "Billy, drop it," Lyra warned, sensing the tension escalating. "Sure sounds like she's defending it," He persisted. Max deadpanned, "It's just that we're stuck here." Billy, quick to respond, shot back, "You're right, we're stuck here. And whose fault is that?" Lyra, trying to defuse the situation, intervened.

"Hey," She coaxed, placing a gentle hand on Billy's forearm. "It's nobody's fault. Let's think of Hawkins as a fresh start." But Billy shrugged her off, his patience wearing thin. "What did you say?" He taunted Max's words pushing him to his breaking point. "Did you say it's my fault?" He gritted. However, Max shook her head, and Lyra, hoping to redirect Billy's attention, interjected. "She didn't say anything, Billy. Let's leave it alone." But Billy's stubbornness got the better of him.

"Max," He eerily taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "You know whose fault it is, say it!" Frustrated by the silence, he impulsively stepped on the accelerator, causing both girls to jump in surprise. "Billy, slow the car down," Lyra urgently warned, but he only responded with a taunting smirk. From the backseat, Max's eyes widened as she spotted three of her classmates riding their bicycles just a few feet away. "Billy, please slow down," Max pleaded, her voice laced with anxiety.

Lyra echoed her plea, "Billy, there are kids on the road, slow down!" Reveling in his cruel game, he taunted, "Oh, these your new hick friends? I guess you won't care if I hit 'em, then. What do you say, Lyra? Do I get bonus points if I get them all in one go?" Lyra shook her head in disbelief. "No, Billy, stop! This is not funny. They're kids, for fuck's sake!" Ignoring their pleas, Billy pressed down harder on the accelerator, tapping his fingers to the rhythm of the song blaring from the stereo, completely oblivious to the danger he was causing.

Just as he was getting dangerously close to the three kids on the road, Lyra took matters into her own hands. She reached in front of Billy, grabbing the wheel and forcefully turning it in the opposite direction, away from the kids. The screeching of tires and Billy's laughter filled the air as both Lyra and Max turned in their seats, relieved to see the boys escaping Billy's wrath in the nick of time. Exhaling sharply, Lyra could feel the heat of anger radiating through her as she caught the smug, self-satisfied smirk plastered across her brother's face.

It was one of those grins that knew exactly the kind of turmoil it was stirring up inside her. "Pull the car over, now," Lyra demanded, her voice laced with a sharpness that made Max jerk in surprise. The tension in the car was a palpable force, thick and heavy. Max had seen Lyra and Billy go at it with their usual sibling quips and jests, but this... this was a whole new level of hostility. "Max, stay in the car, please." Lyra's command was firm, leaving no room for argument.

As soon as the car came to a stop and she stepped out, slamming the door with a force that echoed down the street, she rounded on Billy. "Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you?" Her words were like daggers, each one thrown with precision and enough venom to let Billy know that this was no ordinary squabble. This was something deeper, and Lyra was not about to let it slide. Billy's voice was a storm of indignation, his words crackling through the air like thunder. "I was teaching that brat a lesson," He fumed, his face a mask of twisted fury.

But Lyra, with a cold, incredulous laugh, countered his rage with a sharp dose of reality. "No, this was absolutely not necessary. I get that you're upset at god knows what, but nearly running over three teen boys is not going to help you feel better!" Her voice was thick with scorn, her disbelief at his actions painting her tone. She watched his jaw clench, the muscles in his neck tense as she added fuel to the fire. "Look, I get that you're upset about moving here, but scaring the shit out of Max isn't going to help."

The words tumbled out of her mouth with a venomous edge, her frustration with the situation reaching its peak. Billy's retort was swift and sharp, a verbal lashing that cut through the tense air between them. "What the hell do you know about what's going to make me feel better?" His words were a slap in the face, and Lyra recoiled, her heart racing, her breath catching in her throat. The hurt from his words was a physical blow, leaving her feeling wounded and exposed.

For a fleeting moment, as Lyra's pained expression registered, Billy's cerulean eyes softened, the stormy sea within them calming. "Lyra—" he began, his voice a tentative whisper against the howling wind of their argument. With a raised hand and a shaky breath, she silenced him. "Just get us home," Her voice a mere echo of her usual strength. And with that, she turned away, leaving the words unspoken and the air still charged with the remnants of their clash.

Billy's heart sank as he watched Lyra get back into his car, her retreating figure a painful reminder of the damage he had caused. Deep down, he knew he had gone too far, but his stubbornness held him back from offering an apology. As they made their way back home, the silence weighed heavily upon them. Billy's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, regret mingling with his stubborn pride. He wanted to make things right, to mend the fractures in his and Lyra's relationship, but the words caught in his throat, trapped by his own stubbornness.

bittersweet cherries I e.m   INTRO 

couple: eddie munson x aurora henderson

word count: 705

summary: brief mention of the past- Aurora returning home shocking her mother and brother, dustin henderson.

a/n: this is my first time writing or posting for tumblr. i hope this turned out as well as i want it to. i do have a good idea as to the whole outline of the story i wanna try to complete so hopefully i can. I've been thinking about this for a while so I'm excited to try :)

________ “Here you go, princess. One cherry cola and packa’ gum.” Eddie said as he handed you the items from the gas station. Throwing the plastic back in the back that probably held a bunch more snacks and a six-pack. 

The two of you were driving to Corroded’s next gig, a couple of towns south of Hawkins. Gareth and the rest of the boys were driving over separately just you could drive with Eddie and all the equipment. 

One last time. 

One last drive with all the windows down, Mötley Crüe blasting through the beat-up speakers in the van, Eddie’s hands drumming along against the stirring wheel, and both of yours’ hair going crazy in the wind. 

“I gotta say, princess. I’ll never get tired of this.” Eddie sweetly caresses your cheek as you look over towards him. You can feel the cool metal of his rings on your cheek. 

A much better sensation than what you’re actually feeling. His words stabbed your heart because only you knew this was the last time. And he wasn’t prepared for you to leave. 

________ 

The air was finally turning as fall approached Hawkins faster. Trees started to shed the leaves they had, and it covered the streets like confetti. Everyone in town has just started to curate their pumpkin collection outside their houses, and denim jackets have become a justified choice for the weather. 

It was your favorite time of the year. But this wasn’t like previous years. 

You were returning after a year of being away from Hawkins. Being away from your bratty little brother whom you loved, your caring mother who somehow puts up with you and your brother's antics, and all your friends who you missed greatly. 

Do you regret leaving? Yes. 

Do you wish you had listened to your mom and stayed home? Yes. 

Do you wish you had told Eddie why you left? Yes.

Are you scared to come back? Yes. 

You took a huge deep breath before opening the door to your house. Nerves fill your body and make you more clumsy than you usually were. The door opened swiftly, but you tripped on the trim, making your presence known throughout the house. 

“Dusty, I told you to stop reading and walking at the same time!” Your mother bellowed from the kitchen. 

“I’M NOT WALKING, MOM! I AM LYING DOWN!” Dustin screamed back from his room. 

“I tripped on the trim of the door, mom. It was just me.” You said, entering the kitchen where your mother stood in front of the sink. “Sorry about that.” You sheepishly continued. 

“Oh my gosh!  Aurora, oh, my darling! You’re back!” She dropped the towel and came rushing towards you, pulling you into a tight hug. 

“Oh, you’re back.” She repeated. Probably trying to convince herself that you’re actually standing here.

“I’m back, mom. I’m back for good.” Rubbing a soft hand against her back, trying to console her. 

You broke apart the hug to set down your bags and backpack, which was straining your back. As you did so, you almost got pushed into the wall. When you turn to see why you see your little brother with a frown on his face. 

“Dustin! Why are you shoving me against a wall?”

“Because! You decided to return without calling or giving any warning! That’s mean!” He argued. 

“Okay, dude, that's fair, but come on. It’s me, your big sister,” You should him a gummy smile similar to his, “The same one who brought back books for you, but I guess I’ll give them to someone else since you seem ungrateful.” Teasing him back. 

“Woah, Woah, let's not make any rash decisions.” Raising his arms up in defense 

“They’re in the blue bag, dingus.” You laughed at his excitement as he shuffled through the stuff in the bag. 

You feel the warmth that’s in the house. Your mom has some type of pie in the oven, causing the house to smell like cinnamon and sugar. Dustin has started to read one of the books you got him aloud, filling the house with noise. A house you’ve missed terribly and are glad you’ve returned to. Although, you know, the next couple of weeks will be tough. 

bittersweet cherries I e.m  CHAPTER 1

previous chapter

couple: eddie munson x aurora henderson (oc)

word count: 1.2 k

summary: aurora remembers things about the past, making her nostalgic and a little sad. Dustin coaxed her into driving him and Mike to hellfire. She finally sees one of her old friends since she hasn't left the house yet. Avoids running into eddie

a/n: this ended up being longer than I expected. But its not too bad. I hope you all enjoy it! :)

________

Being back in Hawkins was surreal to you, considering how abruptly you left a year ago. Only two bags and a small backpack traveled with you to New York to live with an aunt of yours.  

But now, you’re back in your old bedroom, which held all the memories you tried so hard to remember while you’d been away. 

All the converse you collected over time was still in a large pile in the corner, looking like it was about to topple over. The top shelves of your bookcase are lined with cherry coke cans, and the middle shelves overflow with books. A single touch to one of them and the whole thing would fall. Posters and notes cluttered the wall, showing an array of movies, bands, and jokes Eddie left for you in your locker. Some of them had little doodles on them you had drawn on them. Plushies stuffed into the bottom of the closet and your old clothes your mother never let you get rid of. 

You sat on the beaten-up wicker chair in the corner next to your shoes facing the window. You often sat here reading or doing schoolwork while in high school. The molding paint was chipped, showing the true wood color that matched the trim against the floorboards. 

Eventually, at night, Eddie would crawl through the window and give you a rundown of his day. Everything he did within the five hours after you saw each other in school. He always came prepared with a bag of cherries you’d share with him or a cherry coke for you. 

He was a constant presence in your house, whether he had snuck in or entered with the guidance of Dustin after a miscommunication between him and your mother. He was scared to be near her without a buffer after that incident. Eddie never liked to talk about it. It was very embarrassing for him. He always told you off when you teased him about it. 

You didn’t realize how loud the sigh you let out was or that Dustin was standing in your doorframe. “How long have you been standing there?” 

“Since the first tear fell down your face.” He explained. You hadn’t realized you started crying, quickly whipping away the wetness on your cheek. “Why are you crying?”

“No reason. I just am, I guess.”

“People cry for a reason, Rory.” He moved to sit across from you on the bed. 

“People cry just to feel something sometimes, Dustin. Maybe that’s what I’m doing. I’m not sure.” 

“Rory.” His voice was sincere and quiet. Using the nickname that almost everyone called you by made you want to cry more. You hadn’t been called that in a while. 

“Coming back was a good thing, I know that. It’s just- there are a lot of emotions with returning. It’s slowly catching up with me. That's all.” Finally, giving in to him. 

“Have you talked with anyone since you got back? You haven’t really left the house.”

“I’m afraid to, Dustin. I left without warning. I-I’m not sure if I’m ready to see certain people.” You sniffled and wiped a rouge tear that had escaped. Dustin knew exactly who you were talking about. Hell, Eddie is one of his best friends and sees him most days. You’re still unsure what you want to do, so you decided not to see anyone yet. 

“I think if you saw someone else other than Mom or me, you would feel better. Even if it was just Mike or Nancy.” He offered with his gummy smile. “Come on, I need someone to drive me to Hellfire anyways. We gotta pick up Mike on the way.” Dustin swiftly left the room after throwing the keys he had in his hand at you. 

“You little shit.” You let out another sigh, grabbed a hoodie from your floor, and made your way to the car in which Dustin was already sitting. 

“Your plan was just to get me to drive you, not to be a nice, concerned brother?” You gave him a dirty look. 

“I gotta say, you know me better than I do.” He started laughing, but it stopped once you flicked him on the forehead. “Ow! Rory, that hurt.”

“Oh, it did not.” The both of you bickered all the way to the Wheeler's house. 

_______

The familiar shape of the Wheeler’s filled your vision as you turned around in the cul-de-sac. All the memories rushed to you of spending Halloween with Nancy as the boys trick-or-treated or sleepovers that included doing each other nails and watching whatever Tome Cruise movie had just released. 

“I’m not going inside. Go get Mike.” Putting the car in park and sitting back. 

“Uh, no way. You’re coming with me. Come on.” He opened the car door and walked around to open yours. “Let’s go, milady!” Showing off is smiling one more time before you exit the car. 

“Fine,” you let out with a huff. “Let’s go.”

Dustin knocked on the door just for his favorite person to open the door, Mr. Wheeler. “Oh, hello. Here to take more of our food, I presume?” He mocked. 

“No, sir. Here with my sister,” motioned towards you, “to pick up Mike for Hellfire.”

“MIKE! Your friend is here for your club of high school dropouts.” He left the door open for you and Dustin to walk in. 

“Aurora, is that you?” Mrs. Wheeler walked into the foyer, wiping her hands with a dish towel. “You’re back, sweetie?” 

“Oh, yes. I got back this week. It’s nice to see you.” The two of you exchanged a small hug when you noticed Nancy and Mike standing on the staircase's landing. 

“Holy shit.” They both said in unison. 

“Hey, what did I tell you about that language?” Mrs. Wheeler walked off back into the kitchen, shooting them both a glare. 

Nancy ran up to you, immediately engulfing you into a hug, squeezing a bit too tight. “Oh, my gosh. I missed you so much. I cannot believe you’re back.” She finally stepped back. 

“Yeah, I know. Neither can I, honestly. It’s a little freaky.” The two of you continued a bit more before Dustin and Mike started bickering about something in D&D. 

“Okay, well, I have to drop them off to be someone else's problem or a while. I’ll see you soon, Nance.” You joked a bit while ushering the boys out the door towards the car. 

“Bye, Rory!”

________

The one thing you tried to avoid thinking about while driving was where you were going. Which isn’t necessarily the safest thing. But you couldn’t help yourself. You start to panic the closer you get to the school. 

You also pulled your hood up over your head as you pulled in. Attempting to cover up as much as possible. If anyone saw you, you might have a heart attack. 

“Okay, here ya go, boys. What time do you need to be picked up?” 

“We don’t, uh,” Dustin looked over to Mike, “ You don’t have to pick us up.” They both left too fast, almost tripping on the ground and slamming the doors behind them. 

Ignoring what just happened, you also left very fast. The car skidded across the pavement for a moment before leveling out. 

You can see Eddies van pull into the school's entrance in your rearview mirror. “That was close.”

bittersweet cherries I e.m  CHAPTER 2

previous chapter

couple: eddie munson x aurora henderson (oc)

word count: 830

summary: eddies pov*, hellfire meeting, driving the boys and erica home, reminiscing about aurora, asking about her, small convo with dustin

a/n: surprisingly got another chapter out today, little short, but that's okay. the weekend is close so I should be able to write a few more then. i hope yall enjoy it! :)

________

The doors busted wide open, revealing Eddie with both hands on the doors. His hair was in its usual disheveled state, but his typical leather jacket was replaced with his work coveralls. “Okay, dungeon children. We have one hour until I have to be back at the shop. Let’s do this.” He smirked as everyone in the room cheered. 

He walked over to the dungeon master throne he crafted years ago when Hellfire started. “Lady Applejack, your late arrival is going to cost you.” Eddie teased in a sing-song voice. 

“We’ll see about that,” Erica responded curtly. 

The whole group began playing and continued until the hour was up. They left everything in the same place since they were coming back the next morning to complete the last leg of Eddie’s campaign. 

Erica led the group down the high school hallway with her brother, Dustin, Mike, and Eddie, following shortly behind. Arms slung across each other as they recap the events of the meeting, still arguing over one of Mike's crit hits. 

“Kiddos, come on. Pack it into the van. I’m taking all of you home or to Mikes?” Eddie would admit that he loves the boys and cares for them deeply. But never publicly announce it. 

“All to our houses,” Lucas answered, sending him a thumbs up as he was the last to pile into the back of Eddies van. Both doors shut with bits of rust coming off the old handles. 

________

“See you guys tomorrow!” Mike, Lucas, and Erica all jumped out of the back of the van and waved Eddie and Dustin off. Dustin also climbed up front to sit next to Eddie, taking a bag of trail mix from his backpack to snack on.

It was just becoming dark, so the sky still had bits of orange and pink mixed together. Street lamps turned on as they continued to drive down the road to Dustin’s house. The radio in the car played a crackly version of a random cassette tape Eddie popped in. 

Over the past year, Eddie and Dustin had grown closer than anyone could imagine. After knowing each other for years, it seemed they were already as close as you could get. Since after you left, it made them grow closer because they both loved and missed you terribly. Eddie had become sort of a brother for Dustin. 

“Hey, uh,” Dustin turned his head to face Eddie, “Kid, you look like a squirrel.” 

“Shoure doh!” His response was barely audible. 

“Anyways, I was gonna ask you… Have y-you heard anything?” Eddies voice had gone quiet and soft. 

Dustin knew you had come home, but after your conversation earlier, he didn’t feel it was his place to tell Eddie you were back. “No. My mom called our aunt the other day but said she was out.”

Dustin felt like shit lying to Eddie. He wanted to make Eddie happy and tell him your back. He could go to your room and see you in person. He could hug you or kiss you. Just seeing you in front of him would make him so happy. 

“Oh, okay.” Eddie sighed and brought his hand up to his mouth, chewing on the nail bed of his thumb. A habit he broke off years ago once Corroed Coffin started getting regular spots at the Hideout. It hurt more when he played, and you helped him break the bad habit. Nevertheless, bad habits creep up fast once there’s an opening. 

“Here, ya go, kid. See ya tomorrow.” Dustin thanked him, grabbed his backpack, and left the van. 

Eddie waited until he got into the house safely, but his hand stopped on the gear shift. He looked through the car's shield to look at your window. The house's siding still has scrapes underneath the window from when he snuck in. Every time he dropped Dustin off after Hellfire, school, or hanging out, he waited and looked at your window. 

Hoping.

Wanting. 

Praying.

That he would see your shadow through the shades dancing to whatever Pat Benatar or Madonna song you had playing on your record player. Or to see you sitting in your wicker chair reading some book he would never understand. 

Nothing was there. No movements, no sounds. You clearly weren’t back, and Eddie had to accept that. 

Eddie switched the gear and backed out of the driveway of your house. 

He was hopeful that you would return. Come back to Hawkins, work at Family Video again, get back together with him, and spend every day together. Just like you guys had planned to do after graduation. Create a life for the two of you like you promised each other. All Eddie could do was wait for you to come back. He was sure that you would; he never gave up on you. Others think he's reaching a bit for the stars, but you never know.

A cigarette soon met his lips as a tear fell from his cheek. 

“S-shit.” 

bittersweet cherries I e.m CHAPTER 3

previous chapter

couple: eddie munson x aurora henderson (oc)

word count: 1.5k

summary: small flashback between eddie and aurora, conversation with her mother about eddie, dustin tells aurora to go to eddie to talk to him

a/n: idk how to structure this chapter, but I think it worked out well anyways, I hope yall enjoy it :)

________

“Come, Eddie. You have to try it on once before graduation! We have to check if it needs to be hemmed!” Your argument had been going on for an hour, and Eddie wasn’t letting up.

“Did you just call me short?!” He scoffed, flipped his hair, and walked off. 

“Babe, please. Just put it on so I can check the length.”

“Noooo!”

“I’ll give you a kiss if you’ll put it on.”

“Really?”

“No, Eddie. Just put the gown on, pleaseee.”

“No kiss, No gown, darling.” He teased me. 

“Please, Eddie”

“Nooooo!”

“Why not?”

“Because… It's bad luck.” Eddie finally sat down on the couch. “It’s gonna jinx my chance.” 

Over the last year, you worked with Eddie to ensure he didn’t have to army crawl to graduate. You ensured he understood the subjects well, helped him with some projects, and studied with him tirelessly every night. He was very proud of himself when he got his first B, and Wayne hung it up on the fridge. It later got replaced by his first A- which you, Wayne, and Eddie all celebrated that night with a little dance party.

Although it took him a long time to graduate and people always made fun, he is still very proud. He never thought he could do it, especially not without you. He owed this to you. But he was still his peculiar self, and it had to be done his way. 

“Bad luck? Sweetie, who told you that?” 

“No one did. I guess I’ve just convinced myself that if I put that gown on, my chances of graduating will go away.” You sat next to him on the couch, curled up with your legs providing an armrest for him. He hung his arm against you, lightly tracing circles on your leg. 

“Eddie, I promise you that trying on the gown won't ruin your chances. Nothing can ruin your chances because you worked hard and earned this.” Your hand held his trying to comfort him. “If anyone tries to get in the way, I’ll kill them.” 

He laughed, “Sure, sure you will, Rory.” 

“Please. Just for me? Let me make this day perfect for you. I need to check the length, Eds.” Hoping he would let you if you pleaded some more. 

“Fine,” You cheered, “But I don’t wanna see.”

“Deal.” Dragging his butt off the couch and into his room. You helped him with the sleeves and zipped up the long green gown, tracing your finger against the orange piping. 

Eddie wasn’t looking; however, you were. He was standing in front of you in his high school graduation gown, something he never thought he’d be able to wear. A tear escaped you as you checked him out. 

“Rory, please hurry up. This thing is hot as shit.” 

“Hold on one second. I just need to pin it.” You took a pin and folded it over the fabric's edge that was too long. Readjusting it to make sure it was even on both sides. “There ya go! You can take it off now.” 

________

After only seeing Eddie’s van when dropping Dustin off, you felt worse. You wanted to turn the car around and go back to him. Instead, you were too afraid. Nerves would’ve taken over your body and made you unable to move. So instead, you acted like a coward and drove back home. 

“Mom? Where are you?” You kicked off your shoes and put your hoodie on the hook. 

“My room, sweetie!” 

She was in there folding laundry. You moved to sit on the bed next to her and started folding the towels. Doing things with her was always comforting because she would never make you talk. Dustin, oh, she should drill into him because he's her Dusty-Bun. But she never forced you to talk about anything. She knew if you wanted to, you would speak up, giving you the option to speak on it. 

“Do you think you could do something for me, mom?” placing the folded towel on the pile, “Could you somehow get Eddie to come here tomorrow?”

“Aurora, are you ready to see him? You haven’t even seen the rest of your friends yet.” 

“I know, but I think I have to make things right with him before anything else.” Your mind was a wreck trying to figure out the words you would say to him. “I need to, mom. I miss him too much.”

She scooted closed and pulled you into a hug. Immediately you started to cry on her shoulder. “I’ll call him, okay? I’ll ask him to pick up Dustin or something. Does that work?” All she felt was you nod against her. 

“Aww, sugar, I know you will make things better with him. The two of you are meant for each other.”

________

When Dustin got home from Hellfire later that afternoon, he wasn’t as jacked up as you thought. You have vivid memories of him coming through the front door, cheering and rambling on about whatever troll or monster he slayed in the game. 

Today he went straight to his room and didn’t come out until dinner. 

You worried that because he saw Eddie, he might have been in an uncomfortable position. Last night, when you guys were recapping on what had happened while you were away, Dustin mentioned that Eddie often asked if he had heard anything from you. Dustin's conversation with you probably made him more nervous about speaking with Eddie. You felt awful because of this. Dustin and Eddie were close, and you didn’t want to come in between them. 

“Hey, Dustin,” You leaned against, “how was Hellfire? Did the campaign end?”

No response.

“Dusty? Did you hear me?” You questioned him once more before moving closer, sitting next to him on his bed. The both of you faced his scattered desk, which had piles of work on it, sheets from D&D, or assignments from Physics. The occasional leftover snack bag was hidden under some of the piles. 

He sniffled, which made your heart break. “Talk to him.” His voice cracked as he said it. Dustin wasn’t the most emotional person in the world. Sometimes they just got too overwhelming for him.

“What?”

“He needs you. You need him. Please, I’m begging you. Go talk to him.” 

“Dustin…”

“No, Rory, you have to. I told him we hadn’t heard anything after he asked, and you could see the tears forming in his eyes.” The image of Eddie crying alone made your whole body limp. You felt sorry for making him feel like that. You felt terrible. “I don’t care if it ends up with the two of you grossly making out or in a huge verbal fight. You just need to go to him.”

You laughed at his comment of you making out, but he was too serious to even laugh at it. “Okay, look. I had asked mom earlier if she could somehow get Eddie over here tomorrow. I figured that if he came here, I wouldn’t be able to run away as easily. I know I need to talk to him, but I’m still scared to.”

“Rory, you’re my sister. I want what is best for you. And I honestly think that Eddie is what's best for you. I never saw you as happy as you were when you were with him. I might be an annoying younger brother, but I care about you.” Everything he said warmed your heart. 

“If it makes you feel better, I’ll be there with you when you see him. Is that okay?” Dustin offered. 

All you did was nod in response. You pulled your brother into a tight hug, not caring how hard you squeezed him. 

After you released him from your grasp, you took a moment to think. 

“Let’s go now.” You stated. In a way, shocking you and Dustin at the same time. 

“What? Isn’t mom having him come tomorrow?”

“You’re right, Dustin. I need to go to him and I wanna go now. Grab your jacket, it got colder.” 

You left the room, going into yours to freshen up your look. Did you really care that much? No. But you had been crying earlier, and your conversation with your mom made you tear up some more; as a result, eyeliner was smeared under your eyes, and the mascara you had on stained your cheek. You quickly put on your red converse and met Dustin at the front door. 

“Mom, we're going to grab some snacks and a movie! We’ll be back in a bit!” She waved the two of you off with her monologue on being safe and not getting too much sugar. Her words were cut off by the door slamming. 

The air at gotten colder, as you figured. The two of you piled into your car turning the heat on as soon as you got in. 

“You ready?”

“I think so.” The car backed down the driveway, and you drove towards Forest Hills trail park. You didn’t have a plan as to what you would say to him. His reaction alone was still worrying you. It was a rough year for the both of you being separated from each other. For years, you were always together. Either at school, in the woods, in his trailer, or with your friends hanging out. You had never really experienced not having Eddie in your life until you left. With everything Dustin told you, it seems that Eddie wasn’t his best self without you here. 

bittersweet cherries I e.m CHAPTER 4

previous chapter

couple: eddie munson x aurora henderson (oc)

word count: 930

summary: dustin and aurora go to eddies with a small plan on how to talk to him. aurora remembers some memories she shared with eddie

a/n: this was going to be a longer chapter but I think instead the next one might be really long :) sorry lol I hope yall enjoyed this one!

________

The drive to the trailer park wasn’t long, but it started to rain in that short time. The windshield wipers were working hard to keep your field of vision clear enough to drive without concern. Dustin was content in the passenger seat, letting you freak out over the weather. 

The two of you had come up with a plan. Was it an amazing one? Not at all. But it was better to have something than show up on Eddie's doorstep with nothing. The plan was for Dustin to knock on Eddie’s door, get himself invited in, chat for a bit and ask if Eddie could get him something from his room. At that point, he would signal for you to come inside, and, hopefully, when Eddie returns from his room, you would be sitting in the living room alone. 

“I’m scared, Dustin.”

“I know. It’s okay to be scared, but I don’t think anything bad will happen.” He tried to comfort you. “He misses you like crazy. The man chain smokes for hours after he sees a cherry coke can and wants to cry because he misses you. The man is still infatuated with you. Rory, you have nothing to worry about.”

You pulled the car in front of his trailer. Mud covered the car's wheels as the rain continued to beat down. “Okay, I’m going in!” He signed off and ran quickly to the door. The small metal covering barely protected him from the rain. 

“Eddie! Eddie, it’s me! Dustin!” He pounded on the screen door. “Eddie!”

“Jesus, calm down, Henderson.” You heard him scream back at your brother. You saw him open the door a crack and let Dustin in. The car was hidden enough on the side of the trailer that he didn't see you. Probably assuming the kid rode here on his bike. From what you can tell, it looked like he just woke up from sleeping due to his clothing choices. But that was all you could see before the door shut. 

________

Sitting in the car waiting for Dustin to pop his head into the bay window was nerve-wracking. All of a sudden, every emotion hit you like a bus. You tried hard to hold the tears back, not wanting to cry even more. Along with the emotions, memories came back to you as well. 

All the time, you and Eddie had gotten caught in the rain while smoking in the woods during school. You guys ended up skipping the rest of the day a few times or would show up back to class, both completely soaked. Or the times you guys ‘borrowed’ tapes from Family Video, annoying Keith because he knew it would take weeks for you guys to return them. Later, you’d trade him some weed for tapes when he refused to let you borrow them. Eddie didn’t want to waste his stash, but he had promised you that you guys could watch Mommie Dearest.

Eddie convinced you one time to dance in the rain when you guys were younger. That was the moment you thought you fell in love with him. His frizzy curls flattened and his bangs stuck to his forehead as he swayed with you in the rain. Your curls turned straight in the rain, and you can still remember his hand gently running through your hair and leaning in to kiss you.

Trying to push back all the emotions you were feeling, you turned your focus back on the bay window. The back of Dustin's head was visible from sitting on the couch underneath the window, but you needed to see his face to go in. A few minutes passed, and then you saw him. Dustin's head was turned to face you and gave you a silly look. 

You exited the car and ran up the door, trying to beat out the rain. Dustin opened the door, gave you a quick thumbs up, and headed to the car. Walking over the couch, you observed the rest of the trailer. Not much had changed. Wayne had gotten a few more mugs and maybe a hat or two in his collection. Pictures of Eddie as a little kid were still taped to the fridge, much to his dislike. A small vase full of flowers sat on the table. They looked a few days old and were just starting to wilt. 

Out of the whole house, you could see the flowers were the only thing out of place. Wayne and Eddie tried to limit the number of things you needed to take care of in the trailer since they weren’t there or asleep most of the time. 

“Henderson, did you want both the tapes? I have Sabbaths Sabotage and also Vol. 4. Personally, I reco-” He froze. 

He wasn't even fully in the living room. Standing before the threshold between the kitchen and the room. He looked pale and tired. His hair was messy from sleep, and his eyes were heavy with bags under them. His shirt was faded, but you could roughly make out the words ‘heaven’ and ‘hell’ on the front of it. His boxers peeked out from his sweatpants. Even though he was standing far away from you, the smell of cigarettes and the cologne he used were strong. The smell brought you back and made you feel at ease. 

“Hi.” Your voice was quiet and small. Exactly how you felt. “Uh, Dustin, let me in. I hope that was okay?”

bittersweet cherries I e.m CHAPTER 5

previous chapter

couple: eddie munson x aurora henderson (oc)

word count: 1.5k

summary: eddie and aurora talk a little bit for the first time. lots of memories bit on how they met. rushing back home and seeing steve* kinda.

a/n: i rushed the end a bit I'm sorry, but i just really wanted to get this chapter out.

________

Eddie hadn’t reacted for a few minutes, making you worry.

“Eddie….”

“Hold on.” He put his hands up, trying to figure out what was happening. “I-I don’t know what’s happening. How the fuck?” He started mumbling a bunch of different things. “Are you real?”

“Yes, I’m real. I am here, right now.” His arms and shoulders dropped to his sides, losing the tapes in his hands, and ran up to you. Luckily, you were able to stand up in time for his embrace. 

“You're sure you are real?” He questioned. 

“Yes, Eds,” You laughed a bit at him, “I’m real.” You felt his body sigh and relax against you while also grasping onto you tighter. 

The second he hugged you, you were met with every memory you had with him. Unlike Dustin and the rest of his friends, you knew Eddie a lot longer. Since middle school, where you met him in detention. He was in for vandalizing the music room with paint while you had skipped class to read in the library. You argued with the principal that you didn't need detention, but they gave it to you anyways. You made friends with Eddie while in detention, shocking people whenever you told them or when they saw you guys hanging out. From that moment on, you and Eddie became best friends. Sometimes you purposely got yourself in trouble on the days you knew Eddie had detention so that you could hang out with him. He always slipped notes into your locker, letting you know how his day was going, including a really bad joke and if he had detention or not. 

Once the two of you had reached High school, people started caring more about who you were friends with. Your friend group was a weird mixture of band nerds where you met Robin and Vicky, but you also became closer with Nancy and Barb simultaneously. Eddie got lost in between because of the reputation he started earning while in school. “The Freak,” as he was dubbed. But he didn’t care. He was happy doing what he wanted and still knew he had you as his best friend, no matter what school people said about him. Halfway through the sophomore year, you gave up trying to uphold your ‘status’ at school, which seemed like the most important thing ever to some people.

Nancy was starting to get together with Steve, and Barb had started distancing herself from both of you. You returned to where you knew you’d be comfortable, with Eddie. You joined hellfire, balanced it with the band, hung out with Robin a lot more, and felt normal again. Like how you felt back in middle school. Eddie, Robin, and you became a little trio that would often hang out after band practice in the music room. Eddie and his bandmates fooled around with instruments as you and Robin gossiped over snacks you guys got from the vending machines. 

All the memories you had with Eddie over the years made you emotional. You missed his touch, his smell, his hair. Hell, you missed the trailer as a whole, reminding you of some of your favorite memories. You missed sleeping over at the trailer on the weekend, staying up to study. Or crashing here after you helped the band play a gig at the Hideout. Eddie chasing you around the trailer, both of you in pajamas during Christmas time, trying to figure out what you got him, but you would never let up. While you love your home, Eddies’ had become another home for you. 

“You have no idea how much I missed you. God, I miss you so much, Ror.” His own spin on your nickname pulled at your heart and made the tears you had been able to push back before threatening to fall. He let go of you slightly, standing up more, but his arms never left your body. “I cannot believe you're here.”

While you still felt nervous, how Eddie reacted was helping with your anxiety. He wasn’t angry, as far as you could tell. Honestly, it seemed like he was going to get emotional. 

The two of you settled on the couch sitting far away from each other. Now the air was uneasy. The initial shock was over, and now you guys actually had to talk. You didn’t know what to say or if you should say something. 

“Um, Ed- Can I ask you something?” He cut you off. 

“Yes.” Your hands were gettings sweaty. Either from nerves or the fact that you were starting to get hot sitting there.

“I love that your back, and I’m glad that you came back, it's just….” He confessed, “How long have you been back for? When did you come back?”

“I came back two days ago.” 

“So, if you got here two days ago… You dropped off Henderson and Wheeler today. That was you, wasn’t it?” You could see the realization take place in his mind.

“Yeah, it was. Dustin tricked me into driving them. I was trying to avoid school or anywhere you might be.” Honesty was the only thing that was going to work for you. You felt a little shy as you explained yourself. 

“Avoid me? Why?” 

“I was afraid to see you because of how I left. I left abruptly and didn't talk to anyone while I was away. I figured you hated my guts by now, burned a picture of me with the butt of your cigarette or some shit.” 

“Rory, why? I’m not mad at you. I don’t hate your guts, Ror. I could never hate you.” He moved closer to you, closing the giant gap between the two of you. “You know that, right?”

“Yeah, I know, but still. I left.” 

He reached over to put his arm around me and pulled me closer. “Would you tell me why you left?”

You hadn’t explained why you left to anyone. Not even to Dustin or Nancy, or even your mother. When you initially left, no one could change your mind if they tried. Being headstrong was a disadvantage sometimes. But after being with your aunt for a while, you felt better and got your thoughts in order. Your fear of returning was the only thing that got worse over time. Making you put off your return longer. 

“Eds…”

“C’mon, princess, you gotta tell me at some point.”

“At some point, I will. For now, let me just relish in the fact that I am here talking with you before I have a breakdown.” You snuggled further into him, and he fully wrapped his inked arms around you. You felt bad not telling him but were afraid it would start an argument. Overall, you were still a coward.

“I promise I will tell you. Soon.” All Eddie did was hum in response against your head. 

You and Eddie sat there, cuddling up for a while. Just talking about random things as you mindlessly traced his tattoos. Something you missed doing. When Eddie first started getting them, he would let you trace over them while in bed. He used to take a pen and draw some on your arm so you guys would have matching ones. You might have been a bit more rebellious as a teenager, but your mother would kill you if you ever got a tattoo. 

Knocking on the door startled the both of you. “RORY! EDDIE! Please let me in it's freezing in the car!”

“You didn’t leave him the keys? It's freezing when it rains!” 

“I was freaking out internally, okay?!” 

________

Eddie let Dustin inside, and we came over to sit with us on the couches. The three of you guys just watched some tv and chatted for a while. Just like when you used to babysit him with Eddie when he was younger. Eddie started teaching Dustin D&D whenever he made you write campaigns with him after school. You knew you had to go home at some point because Dustin had to be home, but you wanted to stay with Eddie forever. 

“Rory, we should leave, right? Mom’s probably calling everyone, trying to find us.” He joked, but we both knew she would call everyone. 

“Yeah, I guess we should.” You turned towards Eddie,” I’ll call you later, okay? Talk some more.” You gave him a smile, and he squeezed your hand tighter. 

“Alright, I’ll talk to you then.” 

“And I’ll be beating your ass tomorrow!” Dustin teased. 

“Henderson, you better watch out!” The boys erupted into an argument which was moments away from a physical fight, but you pulled Dustin out of the trailer just in time. The two of you packed into the car, rushed to the corner store, grabbed some snacks, and prayed that Family Video was still open. 

The rain started letting up as you drove, but it was still pretty heavy. As you pulled into the spot in front of Family Video, the car splashed into the pothole-turned-puddle. Dustin ran in, grabbed a random tape, and left quickly as you heard Steve yelling at him. 

“I’ll bring it back along with the others I still have, Steve.” You said, startling Steve.

“Rory?!”

“Yeah, it’s me. I’ll bring them tomorrow, you working?”

“Every damn day.” 

“I’ll see you then.” You signed off and sped back home. Hoping to make it back before your mother started a search party. 

bittersweet cherries I e.m CHAPTER 6

previous chapter

couple: eddie munson x aurora henderson (oc)

word count: 1.2k

summary: more memories of eddie and rory lol I love writing them, Eddie visits Auroa at home, fall asleep together

a/n: sorry this chapter took me so long to upload. I had it done last night but I decided it was too short and made the flash back a bit longer. I hope yall enjoy!

_________

The rain beat down on the metal roof of Eddie’s trailer as you sat on his bed. Schools, books, and notebooks surrounded you all over, and your hair was just as scattered as your mind. Midterms were your biggest fear because you hated taking exams. The pressure, the time limit- it added to your anxiety. 

Eddie asked you to come over to hang out with him, chill, and watch a movie. But when you showed up, he saw the scared look on your face and just let you be. He moved off the bed, giving you all the space he could to let you study. He didn’t care; he just wanted you there with him. 

“Babe, you look like you are summoning a god.” He was on the floor with his metal lunch pail and his stash bin open, rolling joints and organizing his ounces for his sales. His hair was half up in a bun, showing off the spare cigarette behind his ear. 

You didn’t respond to his comment.

“Babe, look at me.” 

“Huh?” Your eyes scanned the physics textbook in your lap as you tried to write notes simultaneously. 

Eddies hand came up, waving in front of your face. “Take a break, Ror. You’re driving yourself crazy.” 

“I cannot take a break. Midterms this year are harder, and I will fail.” Your voice sounded strained from how much you studied your flash cards the night before. 

“Com’ere. Come on!” He patted the spot next to him. You crawled off the bed carefully to make sure no books fell off. You quickly situated yourself against the foot of the bed, leaning into his body. 

“You’re gonna do amazing on your exams, and you know so, silly. You don’t have to drive yourself crazy every time.” Consoling you was one of Eddie’s best talents. “You are beautiful, you’re smart and ready for the test. You’re gonna do amazing.”

You sighed on his shoulder, feelings some pressure lift off your own. 

“Thanks, Eds.” He kissed the bit of forehead that wasn’t covered by your hair. 

“Anytime, gorgeous. Now go back to your books. I can feel you worrying.” He joked. You let out a small laugh and returned back to your spot on his bed. 

Eventually, he finished up and joined you on the bed. Moved some books around, so he could sit behind you against the headboard, you in between his legs. He read the severely beat-up copy of Lord of the Rings he had and lit a cigarette. Occasionally passing it between the two of you. 

The rain continued to come down throughout the rest of the evening, and you never stopped studying. Slowly, Eddie felt your body fall back into him, curling up against his chest. He removed the pen from your hair and moved the books over the side of the bed, pulling up the blanket onto you. You and Eddie both soon fell into a deep sleep in his bed, the warmth from his body keeping the both of your cozy under the blanket. 

________

You couldn't fall asleep that night because all you thought about was Eddie. You finally saw him, and it made you miss him more. Now that you had gotten a taste, you wanted to go back for more. Time away made you miss him more than your thought was possible. His scent, the taste of his lips, and the feeling of his hands on your shoulders were overwhelming. 

You and Eddie were permanently attached to each other. The two of you were a pair and were always associated together, especially during middle school. When Eddie first asked you out, you thought he was joking and not being serious because you didn't believe he actually liked you. You guys had been friends forever. It seemed like that's all you would be, even though you forever harbored a giant crush on him. You took him up on the date; afterward, you were never seen without him during your free time. 

The second you got a break from work, you’d bike over to Gareth's house, where band practice was taking place, or to his trailer just to hang out with him as he rolled for that week's sales. Eddie loved the company, and you were just happy to be around him. More often than Eddie would admit, he would end practice early so he could pick you up from work and occupy you for the rest of the day into the weekend. No one would see the two of you until school Monday morning. 

*knock* 

*knock knock* 

*knock-knock knock knock* 

And that was how you knew he was at your window. You turned and saw the shadow of his frizzy hair against the window and curtains in front. 

“What are you doing here, Eds?” You said and lifted the edge of the window, sitting in the chair next to it. “I was going to call you tomorrow. What’s wrong?”

“Bold of you to assume something is wrong, isn’t it?” He climbed through the window, landing on the carpet with a soft thud. All you did was give him a look. 

“Okay, so maybe I started missing you again the second you left the trailer. And I really wanted to give you another hug, shoot me!” He threw his hands up in surrender. 

“Eddie…” 

“Just com’ere and let me hug you, please.” His voice was soft and sweet, which made it easier for you to go over and hit on his lap, allowing his arms to tangle with yours. Eddie was always confident about what he wanted with you. If he wanted to give you a kiss or wanted just to cuddle in his bed. He didn’t care if it made him soft. He was deeply, madly in love with you. And even though he didn’t like to be seen as a soft person since he’s all metal, he’s okay with it when it's you. 

“Forgive me for being greedy, princess. It’s just your finally back, and we have a lot of time to make up for.” You hugged him tighter and felt him sigh. Some hairs on your shoulder tickled your neck. 

“Believe me, I know.” You slowly rubbed your hand up and down his back which was covered by his usual jean vest + leather jacket combo. The feeling of the shirt he sewed on the back panel and the patches on the edge brought back many memories. 

“New patches?” 

“Yeah, Dustin and Mike found some in a store a few months ago and gave them to me.” He pulled back slightly to show another one to you. “I taught them how to sew them on.” 

“That’s sweet. I’m surprised Dustin hasn't started curating his own vest.” You joked and tighten up the hug again. Feeling wrapped up in his arms puts you at ease. 

Slowly, the two of you shifted in your spots, cuddling on your bed and lying down. Both bodies still facing each other, but now his one arm lays across your waist, keeping you locked in, and the other hand is lost in your hair. Shallow breaths and the soft breeze from your window filled the space between you as slumber took over.