AN: So, I started a new story - Cruel Summer, also Eddie/OC but very different from this one. We still have a bunch to go through here but I'm almost finished with writing the rest, so it felt like a good time to start another.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy! Love, Daisy!


December 1986

To say that Andy was absolutely pissed would be the understatement of the century.

She was livid, seeing red from anger, pissed off at herself, at Eddie Munson, at the people of Hawkins, and the stupid events that they organize instead of making an effort to solve actual problems. Every waking moment of her days since the day after Christmas was packed full of shit she didn't want to do. From decorating the gymnasium to helping Steve unload the drinks from his car into the impromptu bar, Andy was overwhelmed with the amount of work she had on her plate, with every moment of her day going either to that or to sleep.

It was New Year's Eve, and not only did she not have a chance to speak with Eddie, but she didn't even see him around. She tried to say no to people, for the first time since joining the Hawkins rebuild efforts, but they weren't listening. Instead of being told to enjoy her day off and that they would take care of it, she got another box thrust into her hands, another order barked at her, or another problem to solve as soon as humanly possible.

The only, truly, the only saving grace, was that she knew that Eddie was just as busy as she was, if not even more. What was left of city officials made it a point to open the Mayor's office for New Year's, complete with a firework show. That meant that every male in the near vicinity was helping out in wrapping up the final stages of remodeling. Having stayed in her family home since Christmas, Andy heard Steve return home every night, the same way she heard him leave before she even got out of bed. If she had the time to chase Eddie down, she wouldn't even know where to begin. She tried calling, of course, but every time she did, it went unanswered. And it would have worried her sick, if Steve didn't mention him in passing, usually in the context of Eddie losing his shit with the amount of work that needed to be done in such a short time frame.

Not even in passing. It's been five full days since she last saw him, since the day they kissed, and she didn't even see him in passing. It drove her absolutely mad and turned her into a little pissed-off ball of nothing but negativity. Robin and Nancy could smell it from a mile away, doing their best to talk as little as possible - neither even dared to mention Eddie to her, as they valued their lives and wanted their heads to remain on their shoulders.

It was almost done, Andy reminded herself, as she resumed passing out leaflets asking for support to the Hawkins Library. The gym was slowly filling up, with Hawkins' best coming out in droves, wanting to see and be seen. The whole night would be ten times less torturous if she wasn't forced into a dress and heels, something Andy wouldn't have minded as much if it was her choice. She felt like an old and broken discount barbie, found at a bottom of a wet box in a closed thrift shop. Not even the presence of her friends helped her feel better. Not even the knowledge that Eddie will too be there soon enough helped - she felt miserable, through and through. If anything, knowing that she would see Eddie only made it worse.

They had to talk, about serious shit, shit neither of them was good at discussing. It couldn't be done in the middle of a town party, on New Year's Eve of all nights, when she will likely be busy with stupid shit they make her do, and Eddie with avoiding a gang with torches and pitchforks that still believed he should pay for crimes he didn't commit. Any chance of a normal conversation, or just a moment alone, was non-existent. Perhaps she could dodge people, and delegate her tasks to Robin and Nancy - Andy knew they'd both help her out if she bothered asking, but she needed to know Eddie will be there before doing so.

She knew he'd be there, Steve had told her at least ten times that he checked with Eddie directly, but Andy will believe it when she sees it. More than once, she wondered if Steve offered an explanation and told Eddie that she was the one asking. If he had, he hadn't told her. She wouldn't mind it either way. Before, just mere days ago, she would strangle him with her bare hands, but after the kiss… she didn't mind Eddie knowing that he haunted her every waking thought. Hell, he sometimes even haunted her dreams, too.

"Andy!" Robin hissed at her. "Nine o'clock."

She followed the direction with her line of sight, just in time to see Eddie walking towards them. If Andy thought that she did a good job of hiding the reasons for her frustration, she clearly hadn't managed to fool Robin, as she seemed to know exactly what, or more specifically, who she was looking for. Whether or not he was looking for her, something which she will never know for sure, he found her, too. For a moment, Andy could see what she could only describe as the look of someone whose life flashed before their eyes, but before she even had a chance to process it, a small, somewhat awkward smile, appeared on Eddie's face.

Only then she realized that he looked a bit different than he usually did. His hair was more tamed than it usually was, pulled back in a ponytail. He was wearing a blue button-up, and his jeans, although still black, had no rips in them, nor any chains or bandanas hanging around for decoration. His style almost directly mirrored hers, in it that neither was wearing something they wouldn't be caught dead wearing, but it also wasn't something they would be caught describing as comfortable, or as their first choice. It was oddly reassuring to Andy, to know that she wasn't the only one that was literally miles away from her comfort zone.

"Honey, you're drooling," Robin's voice snapped her attention away from Eddie, and the girl smiled angelically at Andy, feigning innocence.

"Shut the hell up!" Andy managed to hiss at her friend before forcing a smile and handing a leaflet to a random woman that passed them by - Andy could swear she had never seen her before in her life, but then again, most people in Hawkins had the personality of a slice of white bread - all identical, all plain, all so damn uninteresting in every possible way.

"I will step away and give you some space but remember, you're in public," Robin warned her, and there was no trace of humor in his voice. Andy laughed at the idea of ever forgetting that she was in public. Eddie, too - both of them seem to be hyperaware of everyone and everything around them, as well as where the quickest exit could be found.

She didn't have time to stop Robin but even if she had, she wouldn't have done so. Eddie saw the opening and was making his way directly toward her, and Andy had nothing but a few seconds to calm down and hope she doesn't turn into a blushing mess.

It was one of those situations when neither had to speak in order for the other to know what they wanted to say. Eddie's pursed lips, awkward bounce from leg to leg, and the subtle lift of his eyebrows - Andy saw it all and recognized the awkward 'hey' he couldn't pronounce.

"Nice outfit," she blurted out, no more capable of a 'hey' than Eddie was.

Luckily, he laughed, giving her a poignant once-over. "You're the one to talk."

"Oh, shut up," she whined, automatically reaching for the end of her dress and pulling it down. It wasn't short; actually, it was longer than most of the dresses she owned. The context was the issue at that time, but it was only fair that Eddie returned the hit. "We both had to dress the part, it seems."

"Yup," Eddie swayed on the back of his feet, looking every bit as uncomfortable as Andy felt. She wanted to say something, to explain why she hasn't been able to get to him, to talk to him since Christmas while knowing damn well that not only was that not the time or the place, but she also didn't know what exactly she should be saying. "Steve told me that you were super busy last week. Like… really busy."

Bless Steve - Andy owed him for that one. "Yes," she confirmed, grimacing. "It's been insane, every single day. I still haven't stopped," she added, waving the leaflets in front of his face. "You wanna help Hawkins Library?" she asked awkwardly, on the off chance that he might actually take the stupid paper. Lo and behold, he did take it.

"How could I not?" he asked, pretending to be deadly serious, but when Andy broke and smiled, he started laughing. "Will I see you around tonight?" he asked, picking the safest way of asking if they will have a chance to talk without asking it directly. At least, that was how Andy interpreted his question.

"I think so," Andy answered, before realizing that she can't claim that. "Well, I hope so. I can't say for sure, but I hope so," she added, hoping that he understood what it meant. He must have, if his smile was anything to go by. Andy was staring and she knew it - she couldn't help herself. In the handful of days since she last saw him, he kept replying that night over and over again, especially the kiss, only to stew in regret because she hadn't kissed him again. The first kiss was their only, and although it was special in a way that even the memory of it makes a chill run through her entire body, Andy wished she had more. She hoped that she will have more, and not just one precious memory.

He was too handsome for his own good, and Andy questioned her sanity for not realizing it sooner. She had known before that he was good-looking, she wasn't blind - but in all the years they spent walking the hallways of the school they were in that night, she never saw him as anyone more than another student. God, she wished she saw it then. It might not have made anything different - for all she knew, Eddie hadn't noticed her much back then, either. But knowing what she knew then, realizing that whatever the hell she was feeling was very much mutual… A part of her will likely always regret the time wasted.

"I hope so, too," Eddie smiled - the genuine smile, the one that reached his eyes, eyes that were as sparkly as ever. "And if not, we always have tomorrow?" he suggested.

"We do," Andy confirmed immediately, wanting him to know that if she couldn't get to him that night, she would get to him sooner or later, and her mind hasn't changed. "See you next year?" she frowned at her own stupid joke. "Okay, kill me now."

"Nah, I want you alive," Eddie was a good sport that laughed, regardless of the stupid joke.

God, Andy knew then and there, if anyone looked at them, her emotions would be written all over her face. It was so clear, she was sure of it, that she looked at him like he was the only guy in the room, the only guy of any interest, ever, anywhere. She hoped that Eddie could see it, too. As soon as it was all in the open, and she knew where she stood, at least, for the most part, she had no issues with him knowing just how into him she was. As long as it doesn't scare him away and make him run in the opposite direction of her.

"I'll find you," she promised. At that moment, she knew, she would find a damn way to stop doing stuff she no longer wanted to do - she will ask their friends to cover for her, and she will find him. He was so much more important than the stupid Hawkins library.

"And I'll hold you to that."

Oh, Eddie knew. He must have, Andy realized, because his expression looked exactly like what she imagined hers to be. To him, she was also the only girl in the room. The world could be falling apart, crashing and burning, and they would stand in the middle of it, only looking at each other. With them, sometimes, words just weren't needed. And that moment was one of those, when the look they exchanged held so much promise and hope. It was impossible not to smile like a fool, blush even harder than before and look away from each other as they parted.

Whenever she does get to him, she will wish she had gotten to him sooner.


Most of the night, she had no clue where he was. Almost always, her eyes were above the person she was speaking to, scanning the room in the search of Eddie. Every now and then, she would find him, and more often than not, he was already looking her way.

Andy knew that she would be stuck half the night socializing with people she didn't particularly care about, but she hadn't imagined that Eddie would have been in a similar predicament. As the night passed, she noticed that the pitchfork mob wasn't the only type of group that was interested in him.

Of course, those were there. Andy saw people looking his way, snickering between themselves, giving him dirty looks and sending eye-rolls his way. There were, of course, their friends - El and Mike spent a good portion of the night keeping him company, saving him from the third group of Hawkins residents - the ones Andy would refer to as morbidly curious.

She shouldn't have been surprised, seeing as even actual criminals along the lines of Ted Bundy and such, had girls that were willing to fall on their knees in front of them. There was something fascinating about Eddie to certain people, especially younger ones - they carefully approached him, starting a conversation that he would then clearly try to avoid.

Andy remembered their conversation from a while ago, about people using him to have their moment of teenage rebellion. He was the local bad boy back then, and now, he was even more fascinating to certain people, for all the wrong reasons.

She did feel a pang of jealousy when she noticed a few teenage girls giggling while making eyes at him, but it passed very fast. Andy couldn't keep being jealous when she knew damn well that she was one of the few people in the place that Eddie actually cared for. He knew that she sought him out to be his friend, to make sure that he was doing alright. And Andy knew that she had a chance to see the sides of Eddie not many have - he told her that himself. Giggling teenage girls might have been a threat in a different life, but after everything that they've shared, Andy could only laugh and worry about their well-being.

It also helped that no matter who he was talking to, she would catch him looking for her. They'd share smiles and awkward looks all night, both of them knowing that the other one would rather be with them, and not whoever they were speaking with at the moment.

Except, maybe, Max. Because when she found Andy and sat down next to her, Andy couldn't help but give the girl every bit of her attention.

And attention Max needed, as she had an update to share with Andy. Lucas had told her earlier in the night, well, asked her, whether or not she had a midnight kiss set in stone. And when a blushing Max told him that she did not, Lucas promised to find her. Which led to Max having a meltdown in front of Andy. A good kind of meltdown, though.

"Sweetie, I won't tell you to calm down, 'cause I know it's useless," Andy began to reassure her, running her hand up and down Max's back in what she hoped were calming motions. "I will however try to remind you that this was something you were hoping for. It was, right?" she checked quickly, as it was possible that Max's feelings might have changed since the last time they discussed Lucas - it's not like it was Max's favorite topic.

"It is, but just because I want something doesn't mean that I'm ready to get it," Max sighed, sinking into her chair dramatically. Andy commiserated, patting the girl on the back.

"If we look at it like that, are we ever really ready for anything?" Andy asks, realizing immediately that she is referencing not just Max's predicament, but her situation, too. "We call comfort zones that for a reason. We don't wanna get away from the comfort, from the safety. But if something we want is on the other side of it, we'll never reach it if we don't move our asses. If we imagine your comfort zone like a circle around you, we can see that Lucas went as close as he could to the edge. He can't just barrel through. So, if you want him, you either need to let him in, expand the circle a bit, or leave it entirely. I think. I mean, I'm talking from my own experience, I suppose," Andy grimaced, fully aware that she was not trained enough for this. Her experience doesn't make the suggestion right, she's not a pro!

"Did you step out of your comfort zone for Eddie?" Max demanded. Her tone was snarky, but Andy couldn't hold it against her. The nerves were speaking out of her, and if she wasn't a nervous mess, Andy knew that Max would have chosen her words better.

"I have, actually," Andy chuckled. "In fact, I think I do it a little bit every day."

Max had a question written all over her face, and she almost asked it, opening her mouth, before closing it, blinking up at Andy a few times. "You have, haven't you?"

"I have," repeated Andy. Ever since Christmas, she hadn't said a single word to anyone about what happened with Eddie. The decision was simple, since there wasn't much to say. If she had known what they were or what they were going to be, there would be something worth saying. They just kissed and that was it - it wasn't exactly what Andy wanted the whole world to know. So that little moment, Max asking and Andy confirming, was Andy's own little way of saying that things between her and Eddie have changed, if only just a little. "It's not always easy. Especially when the two that are trying to… communicate or connect, are both a bit closed off. If you want Lucas around, if you want to have… something with him, you will have to meet him halfway. And if you don't, you will have to tell him that. I know this is horrible advice because it's not something anyone would want to hear but you have to talk."

Like always, Andy does her damn best to help, all while not bothering to listen to her own advice. She always used to do that, but not anymore. Not anymore, not with Eddie.

"I don't think I can afford to keep pushing him away," Max admits after a long silence. "I want him around. I want… us. And I'm willing to give the effort to make it happen."

"Good," Andy smiled at her friend. "One step at a time, Max. If you need time or space, I am sure he will understand. Just make sure you tell him, okay?"

"Yeah," Max nodded, the look of determination clear on her face. Andy had a pretty good idea of how Max's night was going to go, and she was happy for her friend. A year or two ago, she saw Max and Lucas as a kid love, something that was precious and memorable but that won't last. Looking at it then, years later, Andy realized that if there ever was a chance for childhood sweethearts to become the real deal, it was going to be Lucas and Max.

"Are midnight kisses a thing, though?" Andy frowned, somewhat shifting the subject, as it wasn't something she had considered before. "I know we did it a few years back, it was a whole thing, but I completely forgot about it."

Max laughed at her friend. "Hell yeah, they're a thing. Even if you don't have someone - it's your chance to find them. Nancy even told me one of her friends ended up with a boyfriend like that."

Andy will have to check with Nancy who that was because she wasn't familiar with the story.

"So just… find someone to kiss at midnight?" Andy frowned.

"In theory, yes," Max laughed. "Except if someone, like you, likely already has someone lined up and puckered up," she joked.

Did she, though? If Andy wasn't crazy about the idea of a theatrical midnight kiss to greet the new year, why the hell would Eddie be into it? Not that it was something they've had a chance to discuss, but she imagined Eddie not being too into commercialized sides of dating, like Valentine's Day or mistletoes. But was he? And if he wasn't, did he think that she was?

"I'm not so sure about that," Andy admitted, trying to be honest whilst avoiding sharing too much, too soon. "It's not as simple as it might seem on the outside."

"No one expected it to be simple," Max shrugged in response. "Doesn't make it wrong. I say, go for it. Do you have more to lose or gain? In my eyes, it's worth the risk. I'd pick up my pace though, as you only have 10 minutes till midnight, and we'll all be going outside soon."

"Shit!"

Andy lost track of time, and as soon as Max had pointed out what time it was, she had to run. In a matter of moments, she found Nancy, and dragging her by the arm, explained in a panic that they need to make sure everyone is outside and making their way to the football field. It was ironic, given how last year's 4th of July fireworks were the official, although not entirely accurate, cause of the fire that turned Starcourt Mall to ash - not one, but two fireworks shows were scheduled in Hawkins. The New Year's one at the football field and the day after, to celebrate the opening of the Mayor's office and building. The town that never learned - Hawkins, Indiana.

She and Nancy worked on getting people out, reminding them of what waits outside, all the while trying to not cause a stampede. For the most part, it worked, although the traffic was a bit jammed closer to the door. Nancy solved it, by dashing across the gym, avoiding a bunch of people, and opening another set of doors. Once divided, the crowd trickled out, most of them carrying plates of food, drinks, or even both as they went, continuing the conversations that were initially interrupted.

Andy could see Steve and Robin and she kept an eye on them, for the sake of having someone to experience the countdown with, but she was also trying to chase Nancy around.

"Did you see Jonathan?" Nancy ran up to her, a little breathless and frantic.

"No clue," Andy shook her head, looking around for not only Eddie, but now Jonathan, too. In a normal setting, spotting Eddie in a crowd would be easy, but with his clothes formal and his hair pulled back, Andy was as good as blind. And Jonathan was their own little chameleon, noticeable to them when he wanted to be, and extremely blendable in a crowd when needed. "Do you see Eddie?" she asked Nancy as the both of them gawked around.

"He was close to Steve, I think," Nancy answered, and Andy turned around in the direction where she last saw Steve and Robin. "Oh, there's Jonathan! I gotta run, see you later!" with that, the girl was off, running towards her boyfriend, leaving Andy alone to try and find Eddie. A little bit of panic grew in her as the countdown started and she still didn't have him in her line of sight. For someone who hadn't even thought of a midnight kiss until minutes ago, she sure as hell wanted to have one.

They were on seven when she noticed him. Much like Andy, Eddie too was looking around, looking for her, Andy hoped. With deliberate steps, she marched toward him. At two, he noticed her. At Happy New Year, she was in front of him.

"Happy New Year, Eddie," she beamed up, and without thinking twice about it, she stood on her tip-toes and pressed a quick kiss against his cheek. Eddie was surprised, his eyes widening, a reaction that made Andy grimace as she pulled away. Was it a mistake?

"Happy… Happy New Year?" Eddie's words sounded more like a question. "Um, what was that for?" he asked, rubbing at his cheek, confusion written all over his face. It was a mistake. The fireworks started at that moment, the sky colored bright red and yellow, the light making Eddie's beautiful face even sharper, even more prominent. Andy was stunned, too stunned to speak for a moment too long.

"Um… I figured, new year's kiss, right? It's a thing? So I wondered maybe… but yeah. I think I was wrong. Was I wrong? Don't listen to me, I might be sober but I'm fucking lost," she kept on talking, yapping on, her tongue twisting over the words she was rushing to utter.

If she could, Andy would have dug up a hole for herself then and there, and stayed in it for all of eternity. She regretted doing anything - they haven't even talked yet! And there she was, kissing him on the cheek casually, in front of the whole town to see! Granted, everyone was too busy wishing everyone a better year than the last one was, or watching the fireworks above them, but it was still in public. Unprompted. Undiscussed.

"We need to talk," Eddie reminded her and the frown on his face broke her heart in an instant. She did push him too far. "Come with me," he tells her, grabbing a hold of her hand. He didn't wait for her to react or to stop him, or anything, really. Andy didn't have much of a choice but to follow him, breaking into a jog to keep up with his steps. Eddie was in a rush and only paid attention to others if he had to avoid colliding with someone. While in a state of mild panic, Andy did have the time and brain to pay attention to their surroundings, but luckily for them both, no one seemed to be keeping an eye on them.

While she was too busy making sure that they weren't noticed, Eddie led the way all the way to the bleachers. He stopped walking, and so did Andy, looking around in confusion.

"I mean I know we needed privacy if we're going to talk, but sheesh," she tried to joke, pointing out the obvious - hiding behind bleachers was never meant for talking.

"Press pause on the talk," Eddie tells her, confusing her even more. "If we're going to have a New Year's kiss, we're going to have a real New Year's kiss."

"Oh," was the only thing that Andy could utter. Staring at her, Eddie once again put his hands on her cheeks, taking one step closer toward her, but leaving enough space between them. Andy waited, waited for something, anything, but all she got was Eddie staring at her lips. "Have you changed your mind?" she sheepishly asked, genuinely scared of an answer.

"I'm waiting for your permission," Eddie deadpanned, very clearly confused.

Andy let out a laugh, a nervous one, more than amused. It only made Eddie's confusion grow, and Andy knew she had to speak fast if she didn't want to ruin the moment. "Eddie, trust me, I admire and appreciate your gentlemanly qualities, but can you just fucking kiss me now? Or do I have to-"

She didn't have to. The moment he knew that she wanted him to, he was kissing her. And unlike the last time, unlike the very first time, the kiss wasn't as tame.

It started like that, very much so - just his lips pressed on hers. But not even seconds later, Andy was pulling him closer to herself, opening up her mouth and breathing him in. Their breath mingled as they grabbed onto each other and Andy found her hands sneaking into his hair, grabbing a hold of the strands from the now-weakened ponytail. Eddie must have liked it if the groan that escaped him was anything to go by. It pushed him further, too, because he didn't hesitate when moving his hands away from Andy's face and down her body, pressing her front to his, ghosting his hand right over her ass. Andy's gasp was what allowed a kiss to turn into a full-out makeout session, and before Andy knew what was happening, her back was slammed against the poles that held up the bleachers. She grabbed at Eddie, at any parts she could reach, managing to let his hair loose - it was what she wanted the most, to run her fingers through it, to anchor herself against it as she presses her body closer to him.

Pushed by desire and emboldened with his reactions, Andy didn't hesitate when biting his bottom lip, somehow knowing in her bones that he would appreciate it. And appreciate it he did, if the front of his jeans was anything to go by.

Andy was going to lose it, and the last remnants of her sanity were screaming at her to get them out of there.

"Wait, wait, wait," she managed through the kiss; immediately, Eddie let go of her completely, taking a step behind as he was catching his breath. His stepping away just showed Andy how much she didn't want him to do so, especially when he looked the way he did - she had managed to mess his hair up completely, and somehow even unbutton the very top of his shirt. He was taking deep breaths, widened eyes glued to Andy, scanning her up and down, up and down, and back again.

"I'm sorry," he grunted out through deep breaths. "I kind of…"

"No, don't apologize," Andy interrupted him, realizing she sounded a little too crazy. "I just… we need to get somewhere more private."

"Oh," Eddie's eyes widened with realization.

Andy laughed, loudly and genuinely. "Damn right, oh. My place?"

Eddie doesn't say anything; he just smiles and offers her his hand, and Andy knows that's him accepting the invite. Laughing, and not even looking back at all of Hawkins or the fireworks behind them, the two make their way to Eddie's van.