This takes place in the '80s. I had to incorporate a rock ballad somehow! Thanks for reading, let me know what you think.


It'd been a long day. Instead of being tired, she was restless. Jason would make her pay for the next few days by giving her silent treatment. Putting up appearances at school, at the same time keeping her a cool distance away. She honestly could say she didn't care. When did she stop caring? She wondered.

Trying to busy her mind, she tried studying for her last exam but couldn't concentrate. She even tried organizing her out-of-control closet. She ended up sitting on her bed, headphones on, music drowning out the nagging feeling in her gut.

Then it occurred to her it was Tuesday and Eddie and his band played at The Hideout on Tuesdays. With a renewed purpose, no matter how momentary it was, she kicked the blankets off her legs and started to get ready.

She curled her hair in large tight rings, put on a thick layer of mascara, applied bright red lipstick. Eddie said the bar wasn't the type of place that carded people, she still wanted to pass for at least twenty instead of the seventeen years she really was. She put on the black Metallica t-shirt she'd recently bought at Spencer's at the mall, tucking it into her Levi's.

She gave her hair one last spray of Aqua-Net and slipped on what had become her favorite pair of shoes - the boots with the fringe. From her closet, she grabbed the leather jacket that she hardly ever wore because she felt it was too edgy for a cheerleader from Hawkins. A half-hour after she decided to go see Eddie's band, she snuck quietly down the stairs.

While her parents had been more lenient about her curfew and when she left and when got back home, she still snuck quietly out the door. No questions, it was easier this way. No one noticed. Not even her little brother who seemed to be apprised of all the comings and goings of the family.

They had given her her father's old Nissan as an early graduation present. She'd need something for college, after all, they had said. He was already asleep in his recliner and her mother was in bed, they probably wouldn't even know that the car was gone. Or their daughter.


The Hideout was essentially a dive bar in the next town over. Somehow she managed to find the bar, only stopping once to refer to the map her father kept in his glove compartment. The parking lot was quite full. There were a few more cars than the five patrons Eddie claimed there to be. She found a spot in the back row and carefully steered the small car into it. If she so much as dinged the bumper, her father would notice and lecture her about taking care of her things.

She made her way to the entrance where no one was carding and walked through the door. Round tables were set up in the middle of the large room, booths lined the outer edge. Bar stools were set up to the right along the long wooden bar top. A small stage, centered at the back of the room.

About half the tables were occupied by men and a few women. The bartender was a curvy woman with bleach-blond hair, hair-sprayed and winged to an inch of its life. A cigarette hung out of her mouth and bounced up and down as she laughed at whatever the man wearing a leather vest sitting at the bar had said.

Chrissy decided to sit at the far corner of the bar. From here she had an unobstructed view of the stage and would hopefully not be noticed by the other customers who were mostly men, mostly in their late twenties to late forties by her best guess.

"What can I get ya?" The bartender minus the cigarette asked, eyeing Chrissy with a smirk on her face.

"Can I get a coke?" She asked, knowing how young she sounded and must have looked to the bar matron.

She smiled and Chrissy noticed at one time she was probably a real knockout, time hadn't been nice to her. "Sure thing, sweetheart." She retrieved the glass bottle of coke from a mini-fridge, placed it in front of Chrissy, popping the top with a bottle opener hooked to her apron.

The bartender leaned forward, suddenly very interested in Chrissy, her ample breasts spilling out of her tight tank top. Chrissy was sure she looked like a stick figure next to her. "So. What brings you slummin' to my neck of the woods?"

Mid-swig Chrissy nearly choked. "I'm sorry?"

"No offense and I really mean no offense, but you don't exactly fit in here." She gestured with her hand, the many bangles on her wrist clanging together. "I'm guessing you didn't just decide to come here tonight on a whim. There has to be a reason."

"Oh, umm… A friend is playing tonight." Tipping her head towards the stage. Chrissy tried her best to sound casual. Not as eager as she felt.

"Really now?" She said, batting at Chrissy's hand on the bar top. "Let me guess," she squinted. "Eddie?

Chrissy couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, Eddie."

"I knew it," she stood again. "Is he your boyfriend?"

Chrissy was caught off guard by her question. She didn't expect to have to answer questions here. "No."

"Yeahhh," she let the word drag out. Smiling knowingly, she said. "But you want him to be."

Chrissy's cheeks flamed under the woman's astute scrutiny. She took another swig, shook her head no.

"Uh huh. Well, I'm sure you'll enjoy the show. He's good. You'll see," she said, moving down the bar to another customer.

Chrissy had heard about people getting butterflies in their bellies. She'd never experienced it until now. Except they weren't so much like butterflies as pterodactyls. It felt like forever before the band came out, setting up their equipment talking among themselves. Soon Eddie glanced toward the bar and finally noticed Chrissy sitting on the stool with her back to the bar. He straightened, smiling broadly, a question in his eyes. She gave a little wave, smiling back. Motioning for her to come to the stage, he leaned down to speak to her over the din of the crowd.

He looked the part. Like he'd been born to front a band and play guitar. Black jeans, a chain connecting the wallet in his back pocket to a front belt loop. He replaced his normal Hellfire shirt for a black one with a grim reaper on it. He wore his sleeveless jean jacket over it. Big boots combined with the height of the stage and he towered over her

"What are you doin' here, Queenie?"

"Don't want me here?" She pretended to be offended. "Well, I can leave." She was bluffing, she wasn't going anywhere.

"I'm glad you're here. I just didn't expect it. You look good," he told her, taking in hair and band t-shirt and tight jeans.

"Come on, Eddie. Let's get movin'," one of his bandmates called from where he sat at the drumkit.

She returned to her seat and soon they were playing. Her cheeks were starting to hurt with the amount of smiling she was doing. Some of the songs she recognized, and she sang loudly along. Other songs she didn't know. Some were metal, others were softer rock, mixed with a few ballads. Eddie and one of the other guys took turns singing and playing. A shiver ran up her spine when Eddie would make eye contact with her over the microphone.

Not that she was surprised, but he was good. As good as anyone she heard on the radio.

Toward the end of their set, Eddie took center stage and spoke into the mic. "Uhh, this is a song I wrote, just wanted to share it with you all tonight." His eyes drifted to hers and landed hard. "Let me know what you think."

The song started out with the twangy sound of a six-string guitar echoing over the cheap sound system, filled in by the emotional wail of Eddie's blood-red electric guitar. All the other background noise of the bar-goers talking, some loudly, dissipated. All she heard was Eddie and his music. He watched her as he sang.

Who's the one that makes you happy?
Or maybe, who's the one always on your mind?
And who is the reason you're livin' for?
Who's the reason for your smile?

A slight smile played on his lips before looking away again, back at the guitar. His fingers danced over the strings before picking up the lyrics again.

I feel so lonely, 'n I know I'm not the only one
To ever feel this way

Chrissy stilled. Goosebumps ran up her arms as Eddie continued. A pulse shot through her body, centering between her legs.

I love ya so much that I think I'm goin' insane
I'm goin' crazy, outta my head, I'm goin' crazy, outta my head
I can't think about nothin' but your good, good love,
And what you give

Emotion bubbled up from her chest, wishing she could blame the sting in her eyes on the cigarette smoke hanging thick in the air.

Everyone needs somebody
And ya' know, Everybody needs someone
Well, and yes it's true, everybody needs a special kind of love
And you're the only one I'm thinkin' of
You mean the world to me, you are my only
I feel so lonely, 'n I know I'm not the only one
To carry on this way

I love ya so much I lose track of time, lose
track of the days
I'm goin' outta my head, I'm goin' crazy, outta my head
I can't think about a nothin' but your good, good love
And what you give

The music kicked up and Chrissy got to her feet. She fought the urge to walk up to the stage. It was just a song she tried to convince herself. It didn't mean anything. But what if. What if it did mean something? Who was she to have these… feelings for someone else. Someone that isn't her boyfriend.

It's not whatcha got. It's whatcha give.
It ain't the life you chose, it's the life you live.

The music slowed once again and Eddie played. Played as she'd never seen or heard anyone play before, pouring his heart out through his guitar. He looked at her. Sang the lyrics in her direction.

And you're the one that makes me happy
Oh yeah baby
And you're the one always on my mind
You are my reason
My one and only

She looked from Eddie to the crowd, some paying attention others weren't. No one seemed to understand what was being said. She had to be imagining it. She glanced over her shoulder at the bartender. She smiled and winked at her, reaching over the bar, she squeezed her shoulder once. "He's got it bad for you, Hunny." She seemed to understand and that solidified it for Chrissy. Eddie was singing to her.

That I've been living for
Why can't forever be
Forever and nothing more?

Chrissy grabbed her bag off of the bar top and turned her back to the stage. Unable to breathe she reached for the door pushing it open The cold night air hit her face as the music faded into the background behind her.

It's not what you got, It's what you give
It ain't the life you choose, it's the life you live


Eddie found her in the parking lot, digging in her purse for the keys to the car. "Chrissy," he said, his voice hoarse from singing for the past hour.

"I gotta' go, Eddie, I'm sorry." Her hands shook. Where the hell are my keys? And why the hell is it so dark out here?

"Look at me." and when she didn't he said her name.

"Chrissy." The tortured way he said it had her lifting her eyes to meet his. They stared at one another, neither knowing what to say. The wind kicked up and she shivered. Eddie stepped closer and in one motion caught her up in his arms and pressed his lips to hers


The song is What You Give and is by Tesla. It was released in 1991. I'm feeling very old. hahaha