It was all completely removed from what Eddie was used to. His eyes were trained to his face in the car mirror, his fingers fiddling with the dark curled tendrils of hair that he'd attempted to brush just moments prior. God, he was nervous. When he performed on stage he wasn't nervous, when he jumped on tables in the middle of the cafeteria he wasn't nervous and even when he'd do drug deals to some of the less than kind residents of Hawkins guess what, he wasn't nervous. However right now, Jesus H Christ his palms were sweating like his portly maths teacher in the height of summer.

Everything was reliant on this date going well. If he didn't impress you tonight, well that was it. You could so easily decide there was nothing there between you. Sure he'd made that huge statement, played freaking grease in the middle of family video just to get you to say yes, but that didn't mean you couldn't crush his heart, it was resting in the palm of your hand after all.

Another ring-clad hand raked through his hair as he used to other to slap the side of his cheek.

"Cmon Munson... get a fucking grip dude..."

Eddies eyes fell to the time on his wrist.

18:58

He'd told you to arrive at Enzo's Italian at seven o clock that same day. Sit-down meals weren't really eddies style, he was more of a six-pack of beer and a nice view kinda guy. However, after chatting to Robin and primarily Steve, he had suggested Enzo's was the perfect date spot. Eddie even rented a few rom-coms just to see what girls usually wanted, and low and behold, most of them were in fancy restaurants.

So that brought him to right now. Hair freshly washed and brushed, instead of a moth-bitten band-t he wore a flannel button-down and some not-so-ripped jeans. He looked... well he looked the same just less chaotic than normal, one could say slightly more well groomed.

Exiting the van that he had parked up the street, Eddie gripped the bouquet of roses like if he let them go they'd sprout wings and fly away. He whispered pick me ups with his eyes trained to his feet, he was yet to notice the odd stares from other people. Evil satanic cult leader Eddie Munson gripping... oh not a goat's skull, a bouquet of flowers.

Enzo's was finally in sight, and Eddie took one final breath before his eyes caught onto a lone figure standing outside the entrance. You were a vision. Truly the most breathtaking sight. Sure, Eddie thought you always looked gorgeous, you could have turned up in a bin bag and he would have thought you were the most beautiful girl in all of Hawkins, screw that the world. But shit, your hair was done just perfectly, and that dress hugged everything he could have wished to see. Perfection. As he got closer the view got even better, and your eyes finally met.

"Hello Eddie..."

Your soft voice called out and he felt the heat go straight to his face as you planted a gentle peck on his cheek. How the fuck was he going to get through tonight if he couldn't even go five seconds without wanting to faint. He was acting like a middle schooler in love. Get a fucking grip dude.

"Hello m'lady... might I say you look ravishing on this cool summer's eve..."

He could practically see the bashfulness sprout through your entire being. That was more like it Munson.

"Thank you very much... so uh should we go in?"

With a quick nod, and an awkward exchange of the flowers, Eddie was quick to open the door for you. That was another tip Harrington had sprouted in his interrogation.

"Dude, trust me open the door for her, pull out her chair... chicks dig that shit..."

"What basic manners?"

"SHUT UP ROBIN"

The inside of Enzo's was fairly quiet. Just the light strummings of what sounded almost like elevator music and a few people's chattering filled the atmosphere. Eddie pulled out like your chair just like he'd remembered, and your stifled laugh made him sprout one of his own.

———

Once seated you couldn't help but notice something off with your beloved metalhead. Your? Could you call him yours? You wanted to, lord you wanted to, but he wasn't, not yet anyway. It's not that he seemed different, his hair did, had he brushed it? Your heart warmed at the thought of him brushing his hair for you. No, he just seemed strange, out of his element.

You would be lying if you weren't shocked when Eddie had come up to you the Monday after his declaration of fondness and said...

Princess... me... you... Enzo's at seven pm on Friday...

Enzo's just didn't seem very... him. You were expecting a rented movie in his trailer, not a full-blown dinner in one of the only formal restaurants in Hawkins. A tiny bit of guilt welled in your belly, you didn't want him to compromise what made him, well, him just to impress you. Before you could dwell on it, the waiter had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

He was a tanned Italian with the name badge Fabio. His teeth were so white you wanted to squint just at the sight.

"Good evening... may I take your drinks order?"

Thankfully for you, Eddie spoke first. You were always far too indecisive.

"I'll just have a cola thanks..." Fabio nodded scribbling on his flip-up notepad before turning to you "And for the pretty lady..."

You could practically feel how tightly Eddie clenched his fist.

"Oh uh... just the same thanks..."

And in a flash Fabio was gone, leaving the two of you to stew in your own thoughts. Why was this so... awkward? One of the things you credited Eddie with was his ability to make conversation. It could be about the most random of subjects, and he'd find a way to pull you out of peril. Right now, he just looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"It smells lovely..."

Your voice cut the tension, but it didn't diminish it. Eddie merely nodded before stuffing a breadstick in his mouth like a toddler. His eyes must have spotted the wash of disappointment that had washed over your face because he was quick to speak or at least attempt to. The poor guy had clearly forgotten he had a mouthful of bread. Once he'd swallowed it and your nervous laughter had subsided, Eddie spoke again.

"Sorry... yeah... yeah it does... smells amazing... bit like you really..."

"I smell like pasta?"

"NO... no you smell... you smell lovely..."

"Eddie I'm only teasing..."

Eddie knew you were joking. But he couldn't help but feel like a failure, and you'd both been here for twenty minutes. It had taken him twenty minutes to choke on a breadstick, get jealous of the stupidly attractive Italian stallion and compare your scent to that of linguine. Great going.

Truthfully Eddie felt wrong. All of it felt wrong. The only thing that didn't was his dream girl sat in front of him. He wasn't one to sit in a fancy restaurant and pretend to have any idea why you needed more than one spoon. He'd never felt like more of a freak, and honestly, it scared the shit out of him.

Only now was he realising that it had been nearly five whole minutes with no speaking. Eddie wasn't stupid, he could see the longing in your eyes, the want of any kind of communication, but he just couldn't bring himself to talk. What if now you realised he wasn't the leading guy in your rom-com? He was just some drug dealer on a date with a girl way out of his league.

"Eddie are you okay?"

His eyes raised to your own and he swallowed almost comically. Before he could answer however, Fabio the stud was back with your drinks.

"Here we go two cokes... one for you sir... and one for the beautiful lady in the stunning dress-"

"Okay, will you just fuck off Fabio..."

Your eyes were wide as saucers and it felt as though the entire restaurant fell silent. Eddie had royally fucked up. This was the final nail in the coffin that was your and Eddie's relationship. He could only watch as you grabbed your bag and got your feet apologising profusely to the waiter who looked almost ready to cry. God, he was such a dick.

Eddie expected you to storm off, never see him again, glared at him in the halls leaving him to ponder on what could have been. But instead, you grabbed his wrist and dragged him through the restaurant. Your brows were in a permanent furrow, and a couple of petals were shedding from the roses just from the sheer speed at which you were walking.

The air was colder than before, not because of the lowering sun, but because of the scenes that had just taken place. Once up the street, away from hungry eyes gunning to see some form of drama, you finally turned to him, eyes brimming with hot tears. He'd never felt worse.

"Look is it me?"

"What?" Now he was very confused.

"Have you realised you don't like me or something? Because I'd rather you just tell me now instead of dragging out this bizarre date... I mean is it the dress? My hair? I just... I thought you liked me... and god I sound so pathetic-"

Oh god, this is exactly what he was trying to avoid.

"I do like you... god, y/n I like you so much that it hurts... I... I'm just not good at..." he pointed between the two of you "this..."

"This? What's this exactly?"

"Dates! Being a... being the typical guy. Yunno the types of guys in movies... all suave and rich... I... god I eat packet ramen every day... I don't know how to be this great boyfriend... and you deserve that... you deserve everything..."

The silence now was painful, but somehow Eddie felt lighter, like the thoughts that had been banging around his brain were finally being verbalised. Maybe not the most eloquently, but it was out there now.

"Jesus Eddie you are an idiot..." His heart sunk at that "I don't want fancy dinners or a guy from a rom-com... they're not real! They're not you..."

His big brown doe eyes stared into your own, and his shy smile grew. He wanted to hide behind his hair. This sort of sincerity was so rare, the blatant declaration of affection. Unbridled ardour. Eddie didn't know how to take it. You just wanted... him.
In a second Eddie enclosed you in his arms, squeezing you so tight he was worried you'd fade away.

"God princess... I'm... shit I'm sorry..."

"Just shut up... I like you okay... a lot... more than I've ever liked anybody... and I'd take eating instant ramen in your trailer than eating twenty-dollar pasta any day..."

Eddie pulled away and pushed the hair from your face, patting your head ever so gently "Shit princess... you know... my uncles out... and I do have two packs of ramen with our names on them..."

Sure, your night hasn't exactly gone to plan. But the thought of cosying up with this loveable dork was enough to turn that frown upside down.

"Lead the way, Romeo..."