The air outside was crisp and cold, the smell of approaching rain swelled in through the van windows and we rode down the windy roads. Windows down our wild hair blowing with the breeze and Iron Maiden blaring through the speakers. Eddie was still riding his high from performing on stage, and that made him practically glow in the moonlight.

Eddie refused to tell me where he was taking me, and to be honest, the man could be leading me to my death and I'd gladly follow him without question. This Eddie was someone I hadn't seen before, so happy and so pure. He was magnetic.

We had been driving for a fairly decent amount of time before Eddie pulled off to a dirt patch on the side of the road, cutting the engine and turning off the headlights. With that shit eating grin that I couldn't get enough of, he looked over at me. "I hope you don't mind a little bit of a hike?"

With him? I'd hike to the fucking moon with him and not complain one single time.

Eddie reached to the rear seat and slung a backpack onto his shoulder as he stepped out, happily opening my door and assisting me out, like always, except this time he made sure to intertwine my fingers with his and give me a squeeze. Again I felt that nagging knot in my stomach from before.

The trees and brush were so thick I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of me, but Eddie seemed to know exactly where we were going. I didn't really care if he didn't, I was just glad to be along for the ride.

"So," Eddie spoke after a few moments of walking, swinging my arm hand in hand with his, "What did our dear ol' Jason want?"

He noticed that. I frowned, I had all but forgotten Jason even spoke to me until just now. "You know, just starting a witch hunt."

Eddie threw his head back and laughed like bells echoing through the trees. "Ha. Let me guess. I'm the witch, right?"

"But of course," I teased. "Big Bad Eddie."

"I really don't know what that butthead's problem is." Eddie thought out loud. "I never even had a conversation with the dude."

I shrugged, "He's definitely convinced that you're the boogeyman of Hawkins."

Eddie answered, "I guess the real question, then, is if he's convinced you?"

I smirked at him, "I am walking through the woods in a strange town, at night, with no one knowing where I am. Does that sound like he convinced me?"

Eddie chuckled darkly, "I mean, you could have a death wish for all I know." Eddie was quiet for a moment, he gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "What exactly did he say?"

I was watching my feet as I walked, leaves crunching beneath me. I glanced up at him briefly. I couldn't quite read the emotion on his face. "Does it matter?"

"Yes." Eddie answered simply.

"Why?"

Eddie thought for a second. "Is it really hard to believe that I care about you getting the facts right? Like…" Eddie paused, thinking of how to word what he needed to say. "I want you to know me. The real me. And if you're hearing things from other people, I'd rather be able to set the story straight myself…. Instead of just… ignoring it."

"Eddie," I started, bumping against his shoulder lightly. "I don't care what other people say about you."

"That isn't what I asked."

I sighed, "Okay. Well, if you're really going to make me tell you…"

"I am." Eddie assured.

"Jason just sat down and basically told me that you get in trouble with the law a lot."

"Which is true." Eddie laughed

"Obviously." I smiled a little at him, and kept on. "And… he told me that you basically killed someone last year. That you're dangerous."

The corners of Eddie's lips tugged upwards just briefly. "Do you believe him?"

I thought for a moment. The truth was I knew Eddie sold drugs to people, Eddie never lied to me or tried to hide that from me. I also didn't ask many questions about it.

"Your silence is killing me, Stephens."

I decided to let my mind just take over my mouth, "I don't. Not at all. The truth is, even if it were true, it wouldn't matter to me."

"Why?"

"I don't have the answer to that, Eddie." I answered truthfully. "I just have this feeling… I can't explain it… There's just something about you, and the Eddie that Jason claims you are… that isn't my Eddie."

Eddie's gentle tugged lips turned into my favorite grin immediately. "Your Eddie. I like the sound of that."

I'm pretty sure he could see my cheeks turn fire red, even in the cover of night. I rolled my eyes, "Don't read too much into that, Munson. I just mean that isn't the Eddie I know."

"Too late," Eddie laughed, "I already read waayy into that." Eddie reached up to push back a few large branches, pushing me through the cleaning he made. "Right this way, princess."

We had arrived at a clearing with a large group of huge rocks, the biggest of which appeared to have eyes. This must be the "Skull Rock" that Steve always goes on and on about taking these girls to, which hit me. "Skull Rock" was a well known make out spot.

Eddie must have read my mind. He spoke as he approached up from behind me, making a play at my earlier words to him. "Don't read too much into it, Stephens." Eddie plopped down on the ground, flat on his back, elbows behind his head.

"Think too much into what?" I asked with fake innocence, joining him on the dirt.

Eddie had lit a joint. He turned over, propping his head on his elbow to look at me. "I know why other people come here, and that isn't why I like this spot."

I took the joint from between his lips and took a drag myself. "Okay then, Munson." I blew a little smoke back in his face. "Tell me, why do you like this spot?"

Eddie laid back down, facing the sky. "Take a look for yourself."

I followed his gaze to the sky, and boy was he right. The way the stars lit up the navy blue sky was breathtaking, you could see them by the millions.

Eddie broke the silence. "I love just coming here to think. Looking at all those stars up there, it reminds me that we're so small in the grand scheme of it all, do you know what I mean? Like all the problems we have, all the shit we deal with. I sometimes forget how little it all really matters." Eddie passed me the joint. "And then I come here when it gets to be too much, just to count them all; count them until I forget what has me upset in the first place." He paused for a moment and looked over at me, he reached down and took my hand tenderly. "And I think that makes this a little more special to share than just some stupid teenage make-out spot."

I smiled over at him teasingly, "Is that what you tell all the girls you take out here?"

Eddie laughed, it bounced off the rocks and the trees and back at me, "You give me too much credit, Wyatt. I don't know how you think I just pull all these girls. Besides, none of them are worth the time to bring anywhere like this anyways."

"What makes me so special then, huh?"

Eddie looked at me, big brown eyes pensive. "I haven't figured that out yet. I have figured out one thing, though."

I matched his pose, head propped up on my elbow, looking deep into his eyes, getting myself lost. "And that is?"

"You are nothing like anyone else in this town."

"You really have no clue." I answered with a deep breath. "I've never felt so out of place, actually." It felt funny admitting that to him.

"Oh yeah?" Eddie took a piece of my hair from in front of my face and tucked it behind my ear, making me shiver from the contact. "What do you mean by that?"

His chocolate eyes were hypnotic, almost trancing me into speaking exactly what was on my mind against my will. "Maybe it's because my personality has solidified more over the years… but I just feel like there's something off about this place. Or maybe, and probably more likely, off about me."

Eddie looked deeper into my eyes, digging deep into the depths of my soul, "Impossible. You're different, Wyatt, that much is true; but there is absolutely nothing off about you. This isn't the sort of town or sort of people you want to say that you fit in with, anyways." Eddie took his hand from my hair and gently placed it on my waist. "Take it from someone who was in your shoes before."

"What do you mean 'In my Shoes'?" I asked.

Eddie smiled tenderly, "Not too long ago I was the new kid here too, middle school actually. I was sent to live here with my Uncle. Wayne was the only stable one in my entire bloodline, apparently."

I was quiet so Eddie continued. "My parents weren't the best people. My dear old dad was in prison for most of my life, he'd only be home for maybe a week or two between lock ups. Mother dearest was addicted to pills, and to doing whatever she had to get her hands on them. I remember the day that children's services showed up to the apartment we were in. There was garbage piled to the ceiling, the toilets didn't work, there was no food what-so-ever in the fridge, just the liquor, the entire place smelt of fecal matter. Mom hated my dad so much.. But she saw so much of him in me.. Whatever little time she was around she spent knocking me around because she was just so fucking angry at him, which I understand because I was angry too. Hell, I'm still angry." Eddie chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "They called Wayne from the police car, my first ride in a police car. I remember the officer bought me a huge Italian sub and a family size bag of chips and I had never tasted anything better in my whole 12 years of life.." Eddie smiled fondly. "I kinda owe my life to Wayne. He might not be perfect, and he might not be around a whole lot, and of course I give that man a run for his money when it comes to raising me. Despite all that, he never gave up on me. I never even heard him yell at me, now that I think about it."

"I'm so sorry, Eddie."

Eddie smiled sadly at me, "Nah, don't be. I turned out okay, I mean all things considered. I guess now that I think about it, I ended up more like my parents than I ever wanted to be. Apple and the tree, all that good stuff."

"No." I answered firmly. "No. That isn't you."

"What?" Eddie asked, when he finally met my eyes again his looked as if he was fighting back tears from the memory.

"That's not you." I repeated, gently wiping away a tear that nearly broke free from his eyes. I shook my head, keeping my hand on his cheek for a moment. "That's not my Eddie."

That statement once again brought an involuntary smile to his mouth, but it didn't touch the sadness in his eyes. I hadn't noticed that it had started to rain while he was telling me about his difficult past, but it seemed to suit the mood. The water had begun to soak through my jacket, but I didn't want to move from next to him.

There was something truly and deeply beautiful about Eddie, and it wasn't just the way his wet shirt was starting to cling to the muscles under the cloth, or his bright smile, or endless chocolate eyes. It was him. It was the way he could smile, despite moments like this where he wanted nothing more than to break apart. It was the way he knew how I was feeling, sometimes before I even knew myself. It was the way, despite how rough he tries to make himself, he always made sure to treat people with kindness.

There was a depth to Eddie's soul that I had never found in all the thousands of people I had met over the years. I felt completely safe with him, like I was home. Here with him, or anywhere with him, was the most at home I had ever felt anywhere. I'd follow this man into hell if it meant I could be here, like this, in his presence.

A smile broke across Eddie's face again, tearing me from my thoughts. "Dance with me?"

"What?" I was caught off guard.

Eddie stood up, pulling me along with him, he was not going to accept no. "I said, dance with me."

I shook my head as he pulled me close to him, "I can't dance, Eddie. I'll trample all over you and break your feet or something."

Eddie laughed a little, completely ignoring my protests. With one hand in mine and the other on my waist, he sat his chin on my head and hummed a slow tune, swaying with me through the pouring night rain and the rays of moonlight. I had never been so close to him, nearly no space left between our wet bodies, but the cold rain pressured me into wanting to be even closer. The melodic sound of his humming hypnotizing my insides into a waltz of their own.

After a moment Eddie spun me around and back into him, the swaying stopped and he just stared deep into my eyes for a moment, his energy pulling me to him like gravity. Eddie took his hand, running a finger along the side of my cheek, and my skin felt like it caught fire, his eyes never broke away from mine. "God I wish you could see yourself the way I see you right now. You're so fucking impossibly beautiful."

Eddie never let go of my face, his expressive eyes darting back and forth between my eyes and my mouth, silently begging for my permission. There were no interruptions now, slowly Eddie pulled my mouth towards his, his other hand caressing the back of my head. The world around me started spinning and my chest felt heavier than the boulder just inches behind me. I closed my eyes, the heat from Eddie's breath tickling my face inviting me in. I closed my eyes to try to catch my breath with no success.

Eddie started slow; his soft, warm lips gently brushing mine. I gasped. Partially in surprise, but mostly from the electric explosion I felt go off inside of me immediately. Eddie took his opportunity, deepening the kiss. I felt my back press against the rocks behind me, Eddie's body pressed against mine to keep me on my feet, he slammed his arms on either side of my head.

I instinctively snaked my arms around his neck, and his teeth grazed my lower lip lovingly. I felt a heavy breath escape my mouth and Eddie's tongue made an entry to play with mine, quickly gaining dominance.

I could feel the fireworks exploding all over inside my body, the knot in my stomach exploded like an atomic bomb and the heat radiated from between my thighs with need. I had never felt such a primal pull, the absolute need to have someone touch me before. Eddie's mouth moved from mine towards my neck, leaving flames everywhere they traveled along the way that were ignited by the small clasp of his teeth at my skin.

Eddie hoisted me up, sliding my dress up my thighs as he wrapped my legs around his waist, pressing his body hard against mine as he trailed kisses lower and lower down my body, leaving no spot untouched, one hand wound its way around my throat with a strong squeeze, his mouth playing with a spot just below my ear. I couldn't stop the longing moan from escaping between my lips, making him go harder. Eddie's other hand supported me against his waist while rubbing against my skin under the soaking wet dress.

"Don't stop." I begged him, pleasure scratching at my voice.

Eddie grinned devilishly against the pulsing skin of my neck, squeezing his hand harder but slowing down his mouth. After a moment he pulled away, breathing heavily. His eyes met mine, on fire with a desire that told me he wanted nothing more than to keep going. He took his hand from my neck and slowly grabbed my chin, pulling my lips back to his for a sweet, tender kiss and standing me back to my feet.

My knees were trembling with anticipation, making me stand on shaky feet. Eddie chuckled, his hot breath against my face. Eddie placed a final kiss on my forehead, making sure to not let my legs give out from under me. "Come on, let's get you into some dry clothes. I don't want you to get sick."