Immediately when we got to the stop sign at the edge of Forest Hills Trailer Park, Eddie took the picture from moments earlier and looked at it, a smile tugging at the edges of his mouth. Eddie placed it on the dashboard of the van. Eddie looked over at me, a playful smile plastered on his face. "You really do look amazing, sweetheart."

I teased, "I thought I always looked amazing?"

Eddie placed his right hand onto my thigh, "Oh absolutely. Are you ready for the night of your life?"

"Are you making promises?" I accused.

"More like a guarantee." Eddie shrugged, grabbing the zippo from his jacket pocket and lighting my cigarette as he pulled off. "I'm really glad you agreed to come tonight."

"I'm really glad you asked me, actually." I answered, watching the trees pass out the window. "I've been excited for it all day." I admitted.

Eddie beamed excitedly, his white teeth shining in the dark car. "Really?"

"Of course." I answered, squeezing lightly at his hand that he hadn't taken off my thigh. "Does that surprise you?"

"Well, yeah." Eddie answered. "I can't wrap my head around why someone like you would even bother speaking to someone like me."

"Eddie.." I rolled my eyes looking over to him, he was paying attention to the road in front of him. "You're the most pure, deserving, fun, kind person I've met the entire time I've been here. Don't start with me."

Eddie glanced over, his brown eyes filled with emotion. "You really think all that of me?"

"I'd never lie to you." I assured him.

"Well," Eddie began with a small embarrassed laugh. He was back to focusing on the road. "If we're on the path of being honest, I think I should warn you. Corroded Coffin isn't like the best band ever."

I laughed. "Eddie, I'm coming along for the company. The music is a bonus. Besides, I don't think I ever told you, but I used to be in a punk band too."

"What?!" Eddie exclaimed.

"Yeah."

"How come you never told me?" Eddie asked, "You let me play for you and everything and never said a word."

I rolled my eyes. "In case you've forgotten, you're talking to the most shy, awkward, and easily embarrassed person on the face of the planet."

"Fair enough." Eddie answered. "It's kind of a miracle you could get on stage at all, now that I think about it."

I agreed. "I have crippling stage fright. I always had to inebriate myself before playing."

Eddie chuckled. "I mean, I can see it. What do you play?"

"Bass," I answered. "I also did a little bit of vocals whenever I'd get brave enough. I absolutely loved to write music though."

Eddie was quiet so I continued. "It was really the only way I found it easy to express myself for a while."

"You're going to play with me," Eddie answered after a moment. "Now that you told me that you have to."

"I'm not really that good," I answered.

"Oh whatever!" Eddie retorted. "I very, very highly doubt that. Besides, you have to let me be the judge of that."

"You're a little biased." I reminded him.

Eddie rolled his eyes. "You may be right, I think everything you do is amazing. However, I'm being serious, I'd really love to hear something."

Eddie parked around the rear of the building, Gareth and Jeff were already unloading a truck w/ equipment to the rear of the bar. "Look who decided to finally show up!" Gareth yelled as the van came to a stop.

Eddie hopped out, "Shove it, dude. I was occupied."

"With what?" Jeff scoffed. "Since when do you have previous engagements?"

Eddie had walked around the van and opened my door, taking my hand gently. "Watch your step there, princess."

I followed Eddie around to the truck, grabbing a bag to help the boys get situated. The two of them stopped dead in their tracks, mouths gaping at Eddie. Eddie crossed his arms smugly. "I told you."

I smiled at the boys, suddenly shy that their eyes were so fixated on me. I extended my hand to shake theirs. "Hi, I'm–"

"Wyatt." Jeff answered.

"Oh believe me," Garrett continued, snickering a little. "We know ALL about you. Eddie doesn't shut up about you."

"Like at all." Jeff added.

Eddie was blushing, kicking his feet at the tiny rocks on the pavement.

"Well I hope it's all good things at least."

Gareth answered, "Well duh, he's obsessed. I didn't believe him when he said he was going to ask you here tonight. Eddie doesn't talk to girls."

Jeff laughed, "More like girls don't talk to Eddie."

Eddie turned around, cheeks still flushed with blood. "What are you doing? Let me take that." Eddie took the bag off my shoulder before I could object. He placed his hand along my waist and began to lead me towards the propped open door. "Let's get you inside and cozy."

Eddie led me to the booth that was set up closest to the stage marked as reserved. There was a pizza set up on the table, along with a few stacks of loaded nachos. "Let me grab you something to drink, help yourself to any of the food."

"A vodka cranberry, please?" I asked.

"Anything for you." Eddie gave my shoulder a squeeze and a kiss on top of my head as he headed over for the bar. "I'll be right back."

I glanced around the bar as Eddie waited for my drink. There weren't many people here, mostly a few older burly biker men, and a few of the jocks from school and their little preppy pets that kissed the ground they walked on.

The one who's name I knew, Andy from study hall, looked up meeting my eyes. Andy leaned over and whispered something to his friends Jason and Patrick and they all three looked over at me, a small laugh looked like it was plastered on Jason's face.

Eddie returned as I turned to look away from the group of them, suddenly very self conscious. "Here you go, a refreshing beverage for the guest of honor." Eddie could tell something was making me uncomfortable. His eyebrows furrowed in worry. "Hey, what's wrong?" He slid into the booth, grabbing my chin and pulling my eyes to meet his. His large brown eyes were full of concern, "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." My voice was small and nearly cracked.

Eddie kept his hand on my chin, refusing to let me look away. "You're lying."

I rolled my eyes with a frustrated sigh.

"No, no, no." Eddie scooted closer, not letting go. "Tell me what's wrong, please. You can tell me. If you don't want to stay… If you want me to take you home…"

"No!" I answered immediately. "No. I want to be here with you, Eddie."

"Okay.." Eddie answered, confused. "You're kinda giving me whiplash here, Wyatt. You gotta give me more than that." I glanced over at the table where the large group of them sat, a few of the girls were still looking at me.

Eddie followed my gaze over towards them. I could see him frown dramatically. Eddie looked back at me, his face close to mine. He gently stroked my cheek with the back of his index finger, I could feel the goosebumps rising along the trail of his touch. His voice was low and careful. "Don't worry about them, sweetheart. They're just shitty ass people. I don't want this to ruin our night, ok. Please."

Eddie reached over me, taking a paper plate and grabbing a slice of pizza scooting it in front of me. "Here, extra cheese because cheese makes everything better."

Gareth yelled out from the back door, "Eddie, are you going to come get your shit or do we have to bring it in for you?!"

Eddie gave me a small apologetic smile, "Duty calls." Before he headed out to grab his guitar he gave me a gentle peck on the tip of my nose.

The smell of the hot pizza took over my nose, and on that first bite I finally realized how hungry I had been. Eddie was right, cheese does really make everything better.

"Thank you, Hawkins for showing up tonight," Eddie began after the stage was set. "We're Corroded Coffin,"

"Freaks," I heard Andy yell from the corner booth.

Eddie ignored him. " and uh — tonight's show goes out to a really special someone."

The older bartender gave Eddie an encouraging cheer.

Eddie continued, "A week ago I ran into the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen and this afternoon I got the balls to ask her here tonight… So Wyatt… tonight is all about you, babygirl."

Eddie was absolutely in his element on stage. There was something magnetic about the way he performed. The music swelled in the air and definitely boosted Eddie up with it. I had never seen him so energized and playful, and just so …. Happy. I had completely forgotten about how uncomfortable I had been just moments before the show.

"So…" A voice yelled over the guitar solo Eddie was shredding, interrupting my train of thought. "Did the long haired freak kidnap you or something?" A blonde boy was standing in front of me, with a fake friendly smile. "Because you say the word and I can make sure you make it out of here alive."

"Fuck off, Jason." I rolled my eyes, turning away from him.

Almost like he didn't hear me he slid into the booth adjacent to me, leaning forward on his elbows. "Look, you're new here, so it's ok that you don't know about Eddie. But from what Andy says, you're a smart girl. And let me tell you… Eddie is right about one thing, you sure are beautiful…"

I kept my face stony.

Jason continued. "I just think, someone like you deserves better than that. Or at least a fair chance at knowing who she's dealing with."

I still didn't answer him. I was hoping if I didn't say anything he'd get bored of hearing his own voice and leave.

"Eddie Munson is dangerous. He's got a police record six miles long." Jason smiled sympathetically, lowering his voice. "Last year, someone Eddie sold drugs to overdosed and died. Has Eddie told you about that?"

I refused to acknowledge him.

"Wyatt," Jason pressed. "I understand that you dislike me, and I get why you feel like I can't be trusted, but I'm trying to look out for you, that's all."

I sat there, not looking at Jason, but paying as much attention to Eddie as I could. Finally, after what felt like 10 more minutes of silence, Jason stood up. "Just make good choices, okay." With a pat on the back of my shoulder he was back towards his friends.

Looking up at Eddie on stage, no part of me had any doubts that what Jason was saying about him was flat out wrong. The Eddie I knew and spent time with, was not dangerous. I had never even heard Eddie raise his voice at anyone, or even get truly angry.

Eddie was chaotic and dramatic, sure he is a little bit of a troublemaker and definitely needs to apply himself better in school; but Eddie was kind, funny, and so compassionate and gentle. When he is passionate about something he just radiates joy, like my own personal ray of sunshine. He truly was the only person I had ever honestly felt at ease with immediately. My Eddie and the Eddie that Jason was trying to convince me of were not the same person, not even a little.

Eddie had locked eyes at me just as he was finishing up his set, just absolute euphoria written all over his face. Eddie was fucking beautiful like this.

It was mere moments before Eddie was sliding into the booth next to me again, a huge shit eating grin stamped on his face. "Well? What did you think?"

"Eddie," I breathed in awe. "You are fantastic!"

I didn't think Eddie's smile could get any wider. It did. "Do you really think so?"

"Absolutely! I wish I could show you how great you do up there. I'm so jealous. It's like you're made for this." I reached up, brushing a piece of sweaty hair from his eyes as I got lost in them for a moment. The way his eyes held onto mine was building a huge knot in my stomach.

His lips were soft and pink, his warm breath spilling onto my face as he was panting attempting to catch his breath while he didn't know he was taking mine away. I saw his teeth gently tug at his lower lip as his tongue traced around the edges.

Eddie's eyes looked so nervous, and part of me wondered if he could tell how absolutely anxious I was. His breath halted for a moment, as I felt him leaning in towards me. My guts were doing somersaults like never before. Eddie's face was so close to mine I could feel the heat radiating from him, his breath smelt like menthol cigarettes and I had never wanted to taste something so terribly bad in my entire life.

Eddie's hand gently cupped the side of my face, his thumb and index finger resting on my chin, pulling my mouth mere centimeters away from his.

This was it. This was the moment I was actually going to fucking kiss Eddie Munson, and in this moment I couldn't think of anything I'd ever wanted more in my entire life. Eddie tilted his head just slightly as his mouth approached mine, practically no more space between us.

"Whoo!" I was jolted back out of my trance by Jeff jumping feet first across the table from us. "Man! That was fun!"

Eddie let go of my face, pulling back. "Fuck." He muttered under his breath, his brown eyes rolling into the back of his head, knocking his other fist against the table. Was it possible he wanted that just as badly as I did?

"Oh shit." Jeff stated, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt…"

I exhaled the breath I had been holding in anticipation, lightheaded from the tense few moments of not breathing combined with my heart attempting to run out of my butt. "No.. you weren't interrupting.." Yes, Jeff. Yes, you fucking were.

Eddie slammed down a tall boy and crushed a basket of nachos quickly, not talking to the guys for the rest of the time there. After barely choking down his chips, he opened his mouth to speak. "Come on, sweetheart. You wanna get out of here?"

I smiled at him, heart still racing as I couldn't stop thinking of how close we were and how warm his skin felt so close to mine. I put my hand inside the one he had held out for me, waiting. "I'll go anywhere you want me to."

And that was the absolute truth.