𝙾𝚑, 𝚠𝚎'𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖,

𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚙 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚜,

𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚊𝚢 𝙸'𝚖 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚋𝚞𝚝

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜.

𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚒𝚜𝚜.

𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙸'𝚖 𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚎𝚍, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚜𝚝.

𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍,

"𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛, 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜."

𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠

𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐

𝚃𝚘 𝚍𝚘 𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐

𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎,

𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛,

𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜

𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚒𝚝𝚜

𝙵𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎

𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕.

Lennon leaned in and fell helpless the instant her lips melded to his. He tasted like cold metal and cigarettes now and the contrast seemed wild in comparison to the last time her tongue was lapping up the taste of him.

His lips were soft and his face felt smooth against hers as she nuzzled closer. She took a long inhale between kisses and savored the smell of his natural oils and faint, day-old cologne.

Her hands slipped from between his fingers on her stomach as she reached over and twisted herself around until both her hands were placed on the floor beside Eddie's mess of curls. She didn't want to struggle to kiss him. She didn't want to miss out on anything being bent and twisted on top of him. She wanted to feel all of him.

Eddie's head followed her every movement as she slowly adjusted her body on top of his.

She had taken the soft ends of his hair and wrapped them behind his ears and appreciated the beauty of them. She had planted her knees on the ground as she straddled the older man between her legs.

Eddie pushed up against her as she held his head between her hands.

She sighed against his kiss, feeling how the muscles at his neck moved and stretched to reach for her without disconnecting from his lips. Lennon fell back as Eddie's hands clasped around her back, cupping her prominent shoulder blades as they poked out like angel wings.

Eddie hummed with satisfaction against the friction between them, stretching his back and leaning forward as he pressed her backward with a passionate kiss before she gained dominance over their level bodies.

Her hands traveled down the back of his neck, over his shoulders, and onto his chest before moving to the nape of his neck again. She curled in on him, tightening her thighs around his waist and leading his head with her persuasive hand at the back of his head. Her fingers were buried deep in the roots of his chocolate-brown hair and the feeling sent shivers down Eddie's spine.

He bit down gently on her bottom lip, tasting something sweet hanging in the undertone of her mouth and insisting on figuring out the flavor. His skillful tongue danced with hers until he identified the flavor to be pomegranate. But that only drove him more feral. He wanted to know more. He needed to know more.

His hands had traveled down her spine, running down the sides of her hips, and rested them at her thighs with a gentle and encouraging squeeze as she pulled him closer.

She instinctually rolled her hips against him and her eyes immediately bolted open.

"This isn't right," she hissed, and pushed Eddie back, bringing her hand to her lips and wiping the damp remnants of his kiss away.

She was staring at Eddie with wildly wide eyes before she crawled off of him. Eddie's eyes looked blown in the best kind of ways. He had fallen back on his elbows after being shoved but he wasn't in a rush to follow Lennon's lead and get to his feet. He was fine with watching Lennon freak out. She didn't do anything wrong and he adored the innocent panic looming in the air.

"What?" Eddie asked curiously.

She shook her head and reeled back alarmingly. "You... You shouldn't even be here and we... We aren't-" she rambled, pointing her finger between Eddie and her chest as he stayed to the floor and she stood on her feet. "We aren't together and-"

"It's what you want though..." Eddie interrupted roguishly.

"I-" she stuttered. "I don't know what I want, okay? It's not that simple," she complained.

"Seems pretty simple to me, princess," Eddie groaned, hopping to his feet and rattling the chain around his right hip as it was pulled from the ground.

"Don't," Lennon scoffed incredulously and turned away from him embarrassingly. "Don't 'princess' me..." she pulled her hands to cover her face as she tried not to find comfort in his warm words.

"Why not?"

"Because it makes it really fucking hard to keep..." she snapped. "To keep pushing..." her tone went mellow when she faced him.

He was deliriously bewitched and seemingly incapable of seeing how conflicting their affections were. It was pure innocence in the form of a promise and she couldn't stop adoring him.

"So stop pushing," Eddie advised nonchalantly, shaking his head with a small smile and briskly walking up to Lennon, taking her by the back of the head and kissing her with unwavering fervor.

She fell against him, feeling a wave of ecstasy invade her body as he took her into his palms and kissed her.

He leaned down and prevented her from refusing. The only reason he didn't do it before was that he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. But it was clear to him now that she was anything but uncomfortable.

He made himself uncomfortable breaking his own rule about dating classmates. They were only two years apart but it was complicated and scary to think he had the power to manipulate and groom her. He wanted her but never like that. He was nineteen and she was seventeen. It was a hard gap to comfortably fill and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her.

He didn't want to touch her with confidence in fear of making her feel obligated to fulfill some demented role in their nonexistent relationship. He didn't want to bluntly insinuate anything that could've made her feel uncomfortable because he didn't want to prey on her, he wanted to be loved by her. But if she didn't, he didn't want to change her mind.

He just wanted to see her be happy and if he couldn't be a part of that, then he could watch from the sidelines with a heavy heart knowing she was okay. However, if he could be a part of that, he wasn't going to waste it.

He was terrified though. He was horrified and scared now and the only thing that eased him was her. He was somewhere he had never been before and she was on top of him and she had the reigns on what happened to him. He exposed himself to her and there was very little he could've done to protect himself if he needed to.

But that was the thing, he didn't feel like he needed to; not with her.

The only reason he was able to take her into his grasp and steal a kiss from her was because she could've pushed him away. She could have shoved him and yelled at him and there had to be a phone nearby in case she felt threatened. She could've run to a neighbor. She could've obliterated his innocence at school. She had so much power over him in every way possible and when she admitted to having feelings for him, he knew that she wanted it too.

Lennon's brows knit together with passion. Her hands ran to his waist, pulling him closer and feeling the thin material of his Ozzy Osbourne shirt be soft to the touch. She savored him. He was everything she thought she hated wrapped into something beautiful and alluring.

She hated beer and cigarettes and yet they've never tasted better dripping from his lips. She hated heavy metal with the exception of what Rion used to listen to and yet she could feel Eddie's music play her heartstrings like a guitar. She hated small talk, she hated being silent company, she hated being touched, she hated hugs... but not his.

She would sell parts of herself to have a conversation with him. She would sit in silence with him and feel wanted and not at all useless or unworthy. She craved his touch. From a handshake to his consuming kiss, she wanted his touch like she wanted equal rights. She would fight for it. She would fight for him.

"Eddie," she muttered longingly, gasping when he took her by the waist and smirked against her lips, silencing her and twirling her to the sound of KISS in the background.

How was that possible? How could someone be so hot and arousing and sweet and playful? She was truly incapable of fearing him. She couldn't hate him. She couldn't be afraid of him taking something from her or hurting her. He couldn't. She knew that now. But how was he even real? How could he kiss her like it was the last day on earth and dance with her a second later like a dork falling in love?

"Eddie," Lennon giggled against the soft caress of his lips. Eddie hummed humorously and sealed the separation quickly as his hand found hers and he began to sway with her in the middle of the room.

Lennon didn't recognize the song immediately but Eddie had taken it upon himself to start humming the tune as he laid his lips against hers.

"Eddie!" she cackled, turning away and causing Eddie's head to fall to her shoulder as he too laughed at the action.

"And I can't get enough of you, baby. Can you get enough of me?!" Eddie laughed, placing a kiss on her neck after muttering the words. He began turning his head and leading Lennon into a gentle sway to the music as she didn't push him off.

"What is this?" Lennon giggled, pulling Eddie from her neck and forcing his eyes on her.

"This is a good song," he furrowed his brows judgmentally. "What do you mean, 'what is this?' Dance!" he laughed, taking her hand into his with an assuring grip and spinning her on her toes before reeling her back into his chest.

"Eddie!" she screamed jovially. She wanted to protest but at the same time, if it brought a smile to his face, she didn't want to.

So, she didn't.

"I was made for lovin' you, baby. You were made for lovin' me!" Eddie continued to sing humorously before breaking the connection and falling to his knees.

Lennon stifled her laughter as Eddie leaned back, holding an imaginary guitar between his hands and strumming erratically with his bottom lip sucked between his teeth.

"Bum... Ba-dum... Ba-dum... Ba-bum..." he banged his head to the pretend sound of him hitting the notes. "Oh, ooh-oh, oh-oh, oh! Can't get enough!" Eddie's voice went mockingly squeaky until he couldn't hold back his laughter anymore.

"What are you doing?" Lennon whined with a wide smile spread across her face. Tears had formed in her eyes as she laughed at him sliding back to his feet and coming back for her.

"What aren't you doing?!" Eddie countered with a smile. "I won't tell if you won't," Eddie winked and took her by the hand before spinning her in circles.

Lennon giggled as Eddie whipped her back and forth around the living room, encouraging her to just let go and let the music run through her body like no one was watching. Lennon was reluctant but the smile on his face was quite persuasive. She wanted to see more of it. She wanted to see that smile all the time. She wanted to know he was happy. She wanted to make him smile so she obliged.

"There we go!" Eddie got giddy when Lennon moved to increase the volume on the TV. She started to stare at Eddie with a look of fake disinterest as her head bobbed to the beat of the bass but Eddie admired it.

"You're ridiculous," she shook her head and joined him opposingly.

"And you love it!" Eddie teased.

He was laughing and biting his bottom lip as he scrunched his face up with passion before shuffling his feet across the tiled floor. He approached Lennon with his back facing her, pressing his spine to Lennon's as he pretended to shred a guitar, using her as support to keep him upright.

"I can't with you," she buried her face in her hands to hide her shame for being unable to match his energy. She turned over her shoulder, feeling her body shake with Eddie's as his right hand strummed manically across his pelvis.

"Do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do..." Eddie grinned, turning around and scrunching his nose up preciously at Lennon. "C'mon!" Eddie smiled widely, deserting his air-guitar to grab for her hands.

"It's the chorus, baby. C'mon."

He picked up her right hand and lifted it above her head before dropping it simultaneously when he rose her left one. He was forcing an awkward dance between them but he adored the frown-like smile she had on her face as she tried not to enjoy it.

"If you can't be seen with me in public, at least give me the honor in private," he taunted, causing Lennon's shoulders to drop dramatically as she shot him a playfully disappointed expression.

"Fucking. Ridiculous," she stated blandly, groaning and tightening her grip on his hands before giving him a quick tug. His body was pressed into hers as she smiled into a kiss. Her hands had slipped from his and into the mess on top of his head as she locked him in. Eddie chuckled into her mouth as the mood shifted from solemn and melancholic to a more comfortable and playful one.

Lennon was in control and for once and Eddie didn't mind it. She stood on her toes for a moment to place a heavy kiss on his lips before she pulled back and pressed her forehead to his.

"I was made for lovin' you, baby. You were made for lovin' me!" Lennon shouted passionately as she turned her head slightly to allow them both room to breathe.

"Shit..." Eddie giggled, falling warmly against her as he brushed the tip of his nose against her cheek.

Eddie's hands ran up her back which allowed them to rock on their feet. He felt her fingers run against his scalp and immediately felt cold with goosebumps riding along the surface of his skin. She knew what she was doing but she didn't stop. She wanted to feel him. She wanted that feeling forever. That... elation and safety.

She turned her head to face him and her eyes fell shut with relief as she kissed him once more. He smirked against the feeling and hummed ecstatically as the song played to an end.

His tongue eased her mouth wider as the smile faded and was replaced with a more consuming purpose. He was gentle but sure when taking her by the wrist and blindly leading her against a wall. She yelped out quietly when he back came into contact with the wall beside the couch. She peeled her eyes open and turned away.

"Mmhm," she hummed negatively, shutting her eyes and refusing to face him when he pulled back.

"Why not?" Eddie smirked lustfully, resting his hand against the wall beside her head and forced her eyes to meet his.

"Because you need to get going," she playfully hit him across the chest, knocking him back slightly before she was freed from his containment. "And whatever this is," she flicked her finger between the two of them as she drew out light-heartedly. "Won't work."

"You're such a masochist," Eddie rolled his eyes and threw his head back sarcastically. He started to back away and hid his smile when his back was facing her. He walked over to the staircase and bent down to grab his jackets off the floor.

She didn't want him kissing her anymore and he had to accept that. He had already proven her affections for him. Any time he had with her was a blessing and he wasn't going to push his luck.

"What?" she laughed incredulously, following him halfway and folding her arms over her chest as she reached the entrance to the hall where they were laid on top of each other moments before.

"Lennon the Endurer," he addressed her in a tone of voice that sounded performative and announcer-like. Eddie shrugged on his leather jacket and smirked at the title he came up with for her. "Endurer of pain because pain, she loves," he teased, pulling his denim vest on over the leather jacket.

"You're so full of yourself," she rolled her eyes and smiled tenderly at the man who managed to capture her heart.

"And you create unnecessary pain to endure, Lennon the Endurer," Eddie continued speaking dramatically as he slowly approached her. "Masochism is not a great trait to behold when the real monsters are coming after you. They'll give you plenty to endure on their own, you don't need to add to it, you beautiful Blood Hunter," he teased her but she didn't know how.

"Blood Hunter?" she asked sarcastically, lifting her eyebrows and scoffing in disbelief.

"Mmhm," he hummed cheekily, knowing she'll never know just how long he's thought of her in his D&D game with the boys at school. "Lucky for you, I'm bilingual so I'll translate. In English, it's Clever One. In nerd, you're a Blood Hunter," Eddie winked.

Lennon couldn't help but swim in those pools of dravite staring back at her. She was addicted to the way they changed color in the lighting and obsessed over the way they glowed with interest every time he mentioned his love for music and D&D.

She didn't want to look away but knew he needed to leave before neighbors questioned the van sitting in front of the house.

The longer he stayed, the more tempted she was to let her walls fall around her feet. The longer he stayed, the more she wanted him to never leave. And unlike what he said about her masochism, she didn't want to make the pain of seeing him go any worse than it was going to be.

"You're breathing again, right?" she ignored his charming drawl and played dumb until she knew she could resist him.

"I'm sorry?" he scoffed.

"Your... anxiety attack," she giggled, feeling inconsiderate for laughing at something as serious as an anxiety attack but she already knew the answer and her own pretend-oblivion was humorous. "You're uh... All good now, right?" she gently patted his shoulder and cleared her throat as she found her composure.

"You're kidding..." Eddie let out a stuttering laugh as his eyes grew into half-lids. "You think I dance and make out with people as I'm mid-anxiety attack?" he derided sarcastically.

"Well..." she giggled as her eyes raced around the room, trying not to be persuaded by him any more than she already was. "I guess you don't need to be here anymore then..." she sighed. "I'm home safe and you're breathing fine and I guess that means we should part ways, Munson."

She finally met his eye again and he wasn't believing a word she was saying.

"Right... Because... You know... There needs to be a logical reason for the freak and the cheerleader to be together..." he leered suspiciously, mocking her and making fun of her for being unable to submit to her emotions. "We can't have people thinking we're doing something horribly against God's will," Eddie put his hands up in fake surrender as he widened his eyes with humorous terror. "The horror!" he gasped dramatically.

"No," her voice deepened as she smiled. "I'm actually worried people are starting to think I'm buying drugs from you so you need to go," she giggled, taking him by the shoulder and leading him towards the front door.

"But if I was selling," Eddie pursed his lips and furrowed his brows questionably, "don't you think you'd be the worst customer considering Brontë the Bitch gets sourced by the same guy I get my shit from?"

"Oh my god," Lennon scoffed and shook her head in disbelief. "Go home, Eddie," she sang out, opening the door for him and sending him out into the snowy expanse.

"Drive slow," she spoke earnestly as she shivered in the doorway. "And... not that it derives from the fact you shouldn't be here," she pointed her finger at him accusingly. "But thank you; for making sure I got home safely..."