𝙷𝚎'𝚜 𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜.

𝙸 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝙸?

𝙷𝚎'𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎, 𝚎𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎,

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚜, 𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜.

𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚐𝚘.

𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎,

𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎

𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗

𝙷𝚎'𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗.

𝙸𝚝 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚝, 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐.

𝙷𝚎'𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎.

𝙷𝚎'𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎 𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐.

Lennon laid between the grass and Eddie's backside with crimson cheeks stained with tears and a pair of bright red, cracked lips strung out in a smirk.

Snow fell around them, littering Eddie's leather jacket and capturing Lennon's contrasting freckles as they fell into the mess of her hair.

"I don't need to look up when I can see the snow in your eyes," he said in a near-whisper, causing her heartbeat to beat slowly but harshly

Eddie watched as her pupil grew in size, finding warmth in those welcoming eyes. And Eddie kept thinking about how lucky he was that she gave him her elusive attention despite all the convincing people have done to keep her away.

Here she was, laying on her back as he laid on top of her with his arms hanging loosely by her sides, his legs pressed to the side of hers, and his head nuzzled off to the side of her left shoulder. There she was, staring deeply at his face as he set a swarm of butterflies loose in her belly.

He could hardly pay attention to the words leaving his lips when her heart was beating between his shoulder blades and the gentle rise and fall of her chest lifted his body with hers. He couldn't focus on anything when her leg was pressed against his and he could smell the sandalwood radiating from the collar of her sweater. He could feel the ripples of ribs on his back and he couldn't help but notice how the beat of her heart matched the bass line of one of his favorite songs.

"It's uh..." she said in a hushed tone, finding her eyes flickering down to see his tongue running over the edge of his upper lip. "It's cold..." she blinked and forced her eyes back to his eyes. "We should..."

Her eyes lingered on the snowflake falling onto his lashline and felt her body react to the image in a way that seemed off at first. Her forehead was relaxed and her eyes softened. She held her breath nervously and her lips parted slightly as she gazed up into those endless brown eyes nestled beside her head.

"What?" Eddie drew out roguishly. His voice got deeper and his eyes traveled down to her lips before making their way back to her eyes in the same manner she had.

"We should..." she repeated but felt like her thoughts were beginning to turn foggy like the clouds above their heads. "Get back inside," she found the words and blinked past the trance she set herself in. She swallowed nervously and scanned Eddie's face for any inclination that he agreed.

But he just kept looking back at her like the words didn't even register until she let out a breath of air she wasn't aware she was holding in.

"Was I right?" he asked innocently.

"Hm?" she furrowed her brows slightly as her eyes moved between his left and right eye.

"Feels like your breathing again..." he admitted quietly, piercing his lip between his teeth in thought.

Feels...

He could feel her...

Shit.

"Mmhm," Freya nodded her head slowly.

"Pressure."

The word sounded so soft and wispy when he said it. It was just a word; a meaningless, silly word. But he said it so affectionately and so assuringly.

"When your uh..." his eyes felt heavy all of a sudden. "When your body recovers from all the overstimulation, it's like a wound..." he insisted quietly. "You're hurt," he stated simply.

He accused her of being hurt and yet she didn't feel vulnerable when he said it. "You put pressure on a wound to keep it from bleeding, you put pressure on your body to keep it from suffocating," he explained carefully.

Eddie didn't move.

Lennon didn't move.

They stayed put for another minute, feeling the rise and fall of their breathing until they matched in rhythm.

"Did..." Lennon drew out, now feeling the desire to get closer. She was aware of it and the realization worried her. "Did your friend teach you that too?" she pondered, hoping to stun Eddie into reeling back and giving her a reason to look away.

But instead, he shook his head and hummed, relieving her chest even more as the vibration from his body bellowed into hers.

"I remember laying on the beach during a really bad anxiety attack and wanting someone to bury me in a tight hug and..." he turned his head shyly and cast his gaze up at the sky. "I don't know... I thought a hug was a little intrusive for two people who can't even be seen eating lunch together," he smiled nervously.

Lennon leered and smiled. "But climbing on top of me is what?" she giggled. "Child's play?"

Eddie laughed and cursed under his breath before climbing off of her.

"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable," he admitted, getting to his feet and extending his hand to help her up.

Her eyes fell to his ringed hand and took it without a second thought.

It was cold now and the silver around his ring, middle, and index finger didn't help warm them.

"That's the last thing I'd want to do..." he continued.

Lennon shot him a sideways smile and unclasped their hands despite her intrusive thoughts.

Those lips... Those full lips and those fulfilling dimples... You could make tea in those dimples... No. Don't say anything that will lead him on, Lennon. You can knowingly break your heart but you won't break his. Change the subject. Don't keep playing this game. Stop thinking about his hands... or his lips... or his eyes... or his hair... or his neck... Fuck.

"But hey," Eddie continued speaking when Lennon lost herself in her thoughts. "I don't blame you. I wouldn't wanna be caught hangin' with the freaks either," he shrugged, casting his gaze down to his feet and popping his bottom lip out.

"That's not-" she shook her head. But what was she going to say?

'No, Eddie. That's not it. I don't care what people think. I'd love to be seen hanging out with you and your friends'?

She'd be lying.

"My brother would kill me if he knew I've been hanging out with you. He doesn't like you and Steve is his best friend," she explained. "And the only other friend I have happens to be his girlfriend so... Doesn't really do me any favors..."

"Mmhm. Brontë the Bitch," Eddie leered suspiciously. "Sure," he grinned. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

"I'm serious," she expressed sincerely.

"So what are you doing here now?" his voice went dark as he lifted his hair to his face, hiding behind the curtain of waves cheekily.

Lennon rolled her eyes with a smile. "You followed me, remember?"

"You would've left by now if you wanted to be strangers... And judging by the way you left Friday night... I didn't think you would," he smirked devilishly.

"No," she agreed bluntly, surprising Eddie by her compliance. "But that doesn't make us friends either," she raised her eyebrows teasingly.

"And what would a freak like me need to do to earn the status of 'friend' to the Lennon Seagrave?" Eddie matched her teasing tone. "I can only imagine the most theatrical of proposals for the rising cheerleader and most wanted girl of all of Hawkins High."

"That's a bit much," she cringed, putting her hand up in disgust.

"It's not, actually," he informed her. "Let's see..." Eddie lifted his eyes to the sky to act like thinking of all the guys who wanted her was difficult when it wasn't. "I think it's only appropriate to start with the whole of the basketball team. We've got the nerds in band, the dweebs in the chess club, the meatheads in the wrestling team, some swim team members, the dude playing Antony in Antony and Cleopatra... Should I continue?" Eddie scrunched up his nose and relished the sight of Lennon's discomfort.

"Please don't," she cringed. "There's no way that's true either," she loathed. "People do not know me nor have I even met that many people at this school."

"Doesn't stop them from drooling," Eddie quickly shot back. "So," he put his hands on his hips and recovered from his know-it-all performance. "What do I have to do to be knighted as a 'friend' to Lennon Seagrave?"

Lennon scoffed unamusingly.

"Lennon Seagrave wants to stop being called Lennon Seagrave when she's standing right here, and I think she's going to go inside before she becomes a popsicle," she pinched her lips together and started towards the open piece of land that would expose her to anyone walking by outside.

"Shame," Eddie called out. "I think I could get some good income from every parasite with a penis in this joint if I were to sell that flavor."

"That's disgusting," she nodded her head with a contradicting tone of encouragement toward her words.

"I doubt you'd taste disgusting," he countered faultlessly.

"You," she corrected him "are disgusting."

"Thank you," he pressed his hand to his chest as if he was proud to be complimented with such bitter haste.

She took a deep breath and sighed, ignoring Eddie's sarcastic response and dropping her teasing tone in the process.

"Well... Thank you," she sang out. "For the chest compressions," she backed away. "Let's hope I won't have to repay the favor."

Then she was gone and Eddie was left in the snow with a head full of dopamine.

He giggled to himself and loosely twirled as the snow fell around him in a tangle of soft flakes, hair, and chains.

His cheeks had reddened once left on his own. He was well chuffed.

She was a charmer. She was practically a witch, enchanting him until she became his own thought. She managed to ease his heavy heart with a single string of words and the feeling of her body beneath his lit his belly on fire. He felt like he had to cling to the grass for dear life or else he'd be lifted off the ground and lost in the clouds for all eternity.

He felt high.

But not on weed or opioids. No. This was a different kind of high. Not even ecstasy could make him feel this on top of the world.

And he knew it wasn't just him.

He wasn't alone.

He wasn't the only one wanting it.

He wasn't the only one wanting the intimacy between them to stretch into days that would stretch into months and eventually stretch into years.

It was in the way she held her breath like she was trying to prepare herself to feel him get closer.

It was in the way she looked at him like he was made of the most expensive and soft metal in the world.

It was in the way she didn't hurt him or ridicule him for being so stupidly enamored by her.

It was in the way she let him lay on top of her and talk about the things that would've been hard to talk about if it were anybody else.

It was in the way she didn't leave him in a hurry or push him away.

It was in the way she got nervous talking about something that wouldn't have been revealing unless its origins were of some secret, passionate part of her being.

It was in the way she trusted him against her better judgment.

It was in the way she never used their codeword.

It was in the way she didn't express her discomfort.

It was in everything.

He wouldn't be able to stay away from her.

But he knew now that she didn't want him to...

***

When Brontë got home, he and Steve unintentionally woke Lennon from her sleep and when she asked what they were doing at three in the morning, she learned Steve had been broken up with. He and Nancy were no longer a thing.

Even though Lennon didn't care about Steve as Brontë did, she was sympathetic and sat with them throughout the night and drank until the sun came up.

Brontë called out of work and Steve and Lennon stayed home from school to help Steve through the heartbreak.

Come Wednesday, when Lennon saw Nancy, she looked a lot less upset than Steve was. When she asked, Nancy seemed a little secretive but otherwise well.

Lennon wasn't going to quit the editorial or stop talking to Nancy because her brother's friend was no longer dating her, she just wasn't expecting them to be around each other anymore.

That wasn't going to be a difficult adaptation either.

Nancy hardly hung out with Steve anyway. She was usually with Barb, Mike, Vickie, or Jonathan.

By lunch, Eddie was sitting at his usual table with the rest of the freaks and geeks by his side and Lennon was sitting with the cheerleaders who were all over Steve and his moping presence.

It didn't take long for people to swarm around him like ants. As soon as he was single, there was a lineup of people wanting to shoot their shot. But either Steve didn't seem interested or Lennon didn't seem interested in finding out because she got bored of watching rather quickly.

Her eyes kept shifting to the long-haired man across the room but nobody by Lennon ever seemed to notice.

The only people who noticed Eddie's attentive eyes from afar were the guys sitting around him. His bandmates made jokes and the freshmen who recently joined the D&D club back in September were laughing and egging them on.

"She's so out of your league dude," Jeff scoffed.

"Why do you keep trying?" Gareth asked incredulously.

"I bet you five bucks she's gonna get with Harrington," Grant laughed.

"Would you all shut up?" Eddie scolded them.

"Would you stop staring?" Dustin snickered.

"She's never gonna give you a chance. Look at her," Mike teased.

"Jesus," Eddie rubbed at his eyes and moaned. "It's never-ending..."

"You're so obvious it hurts, Eddie," Will shot him a humorous look of sympathy.

"You want to know what hurts, Byers?" Eddie snapped threateningly.

Everyone went quiet and took the hint to yield in making fun of him.

"Didn't think so," Eddie scolded. "Besides, I've never seen a girl on any of your arms," he leered across everyone at his table. "And I'm not too convinced this Susie even exists..."

The conversation kept leading back to Lennon though. Everyone seemed determined to break it to him straight but something inside Eddie made him incapable of believing them. He knew her better than any of them. He knew he didn't have her, but he knew he had a chance, and that was all he needed.

He just had to find a way to get her alone...

***

Come Friday, she had her paper done for the newspaper and she got to know Jonathan a little better. She spent more time collecting ideas and photographs from him around the school or in the developing room which was where he spent most of his time when not in class.

Tutoring Jane and Max ended when finals started coming around and Friday was the last day she had track since it was cold and the team didn't have any national events to look forward to that year.

The only things she had left to focus on were finals and the winter game. Or so she thought...

Eddie had ridden up on her in the halls, scaring her half out of her wits between periods, and even though all he wanted to talk about was some innocent paper he was asking help with, being seen next to him was unnerving when in a crowded place.

She had a lot to hide. She wasn't supposed to know where he lived or what his room looked like or what his hair smelled like or what his leather jacket felt like. She knew too much about him and pretending not to was harder than she expected.

She stopped by her locker and shoved a textbook and some notebooks inside as she tried to act as nonchalant and innocent as possible while talking to him. But Steve had appeared out of nowhere and pressed his back to the lockers beside Lennon, taking up residence on the opposite side where Eddie was standing.

"What's he want?" Steve wasted no time asking as he eyed Eddie suspiciously.

Eddie scoffed and rolled his eyes at Steve's miserable attempt to play the protective brother role on her. He knew better than most of the school that Lennon wasn't too keen on Harrington and didn't trust him to keep her secrets when his best friend was her brother.

But the problem was, he wasn't supposed to know that. People who only spoke once or twice wouldn't know that. And yet he did because they spoke a lot more than once or twice since she moved to town. And even though he wanted to spend more time with her, to see more of her, to speak more with her, he wasn't going to be able to do that if people like Steve put a wedge between their seemingly innocent plans.

"He wasn't asking you," Lennon eyed Steve up and down and turned back to Eddie.

"You couldn't have picked an earlier time?" she asked.

Eddie seemed off guard and didn't realize she was going to be so quick and calm when addressing him.

"Uh," he huffed out a breath of air to put some humor between the tension. "I've been busy."

"Yeah, well, so have I. I have to study," she started to sound like she was going to deny him help. "But if you can do some work over the weekend, I can try," she admitted, knowing if Steve was there to bear witness to the agreement, Brontë would have to let her go.

Eddie stifled a smile. "Does Sunday work?"

"You have a place in mind?"

"Of course I do," he replied smugly, causing Lennon to look away bashfully and try to hide her amusement from Steve who refused to leave them even after the bell rang.

"You wanna write down the address?" she handed him an open sheet from her notebook and a pen, closing the door and giving Steve her backside.

Eddie's eyes traveled past Lennon and glared at Steve mischievously. There was dominance in his eyes as he smirked and scribbled down his home address while keeping his eyes on Steve.

"You know when I'll be home," Eddie handed her back the pen and paper and instead of meeting her playfully innocent eyes, she was staring at him with a look of horror.

"Actually," she gritted through her teeth. "I didn't," she reminded him, forcing an easygoing and calm tone while her face, which was hidden from Steve's view, was warning him of their company.

If they only spoke once or twice, she wouldn't know when his uncle worked or how he only had gigs at the Hideout on Fridays and Tuesdays. It didn't cross his mind until Lennon's furious green gaze was making him feel green on the inside.

"Well," Eddie's hand went to his hair for comfort. "Anytime between noon and two or after four," he informed her.

He had band practice at two but he would've skipped it if it meant he could hang out with her. They were practicing the same five songs for over a month and even though Jeff insisted they needed to be perfect, Eddie knew they had it all down.

Steve glared cynically. His eyes went wide, his brows furrowed, and his jaw tightened with a growing distrust for the older man.

"Right," she nodded her head, trying to dismiss her earlier state of fear for one as neutral as possible. "I assume you have a copy of Wuthering Heights then?"

"Uh... Negative," Eddie admitted.

She sighed. "You're lucky that out of all the Brontë's my father was horribly obsessed with, Emily was his least favorite, and by default, that makes her my favorite. I'll help you with that paper on Sunday then... Eddie? Right?"

She blushed as she pretended not to know his name.