"I want everyone to pass this cup of water around and spit in it."

Chrissy Cunningham wrinkled. She watched in disgust as their health teacher, Mrs. Brauer, spat in a red solo cup in demonstration. She then handed the cup to Harvey Gallagher who promptly hocked a wad into the cup. He passed it to Kendall Jacobson who shrieked in disgust, before delicately spitting in the cup herself. On and on it went, until everyone in the class had contributed DNA.

The cup was returned to Mrs. Brauer who grinned at them. "Now who wants a sip?"

"Ew!" Vivian Peterson exclaimed. "That's disgusting!"

Mrs. Brauer nodded vigorously. "Correct! It is disgusting!"

She fixed her eyes on the women. "Vivian, I want you to think of your body like this cup of water. You wouldn't want to drink a cup of water a bunch of people had spat into, would you? Why would you expect your husband to want you if you've given yourself to several people too?"

To emphasize her point, she pulled out a stick of spearmint gum. "Let's say this stick of gum is…Chrissy Cunningham."

Dread pooled in the pit of Chrissy's stomach. Why did she have to be pulled into this?

"Jason, would you give this stick of gum a few chews?"

Of course. Jason obligingly took the fresh piece of gum and chomped it noisily. Mrs. Brauer took a small napkin and requested Jason spit the gum out. With another sanctimonious smile, she offered the chewed up gum to Nathan Sharpe.

Nathan went green. "Um, no thanks."

Mrs. Brauer laughed. "I don't blame you! Why would you want this gum after another man has chewed it?"

Something unpleasant curdled in Chrissy's stomach. The girls around her snickered mercilessly—they knew she was dating Jason Carver. Possibly the teacher knew too. They were the It couple. Maybe that was why she was used for this horrifying example.

"This is so fucking stupid."

The class went silent at this pronouncement. Chrissy turned with wide eyes towards the senior in the back. Eddie Munson leaned against his seat, legs splayed across the desk, looking thoroughly unimpressed. To her surprise, she actually thought she saw anger in his gaze, not just the usual disdain he held for every class.

"Mr. Munson," Mrs. Brauer's voice was clipped at this interruption. "Did you have something to add?"

"Nope," He said, folding his arms behind his neck. "I think 'this is so fucking stupid' about summed it up."

"Really," Mrs. Brauer's nostrils flared and she marched to the back of the class, sticking the chewed up wad of gum under Eddie's nose. "So I can assume you would want this used up piece of gum?"

Used up of piece of gum. Chrissy shrank lower in her seat, pulling her cardigan tightly around her, as though it were armor. Eddie's eyes flicked towards hers for an instant and then he stood up.

He climbed up onto his desk, his combat boots knocking a doodle-filled notebook off. With gusto, he swiped the wad of gum off Mrs. Brauer's napkin, tossed it into the air, and caught it like it was a piece of popcorn.

He chewed it theatrically and then, without further ado, swallowed it.

That was in all Hell broke loose.

The class was in pandemonium. Jason was practically apoplectic and would have fully climbed across the classroom in order to deck him had Chrissy not grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Everyone was either laughing or yelling or expressing their utter disgust that Eddie Munson would do something like that.

Chrissy, however, did not know what to think.

Mrs. Brauer hauled Eddie off to the principal's office. As soon as she was gone, Chrissy was shocked to see the class looking at Jason, asking what he was going to do about this blatant disrespect.

"Oh, he'll get what's coming to him," Jason answered darkly. "Mark my words."

He wrapped a suffocating arm around Chrissy's shoulders and she shook him off, biting her lip to keep from saying anything. When the bell rang, she shoved her books into her bag with unexpected force and Jason finally realized she was annoyed.

"What's up babe?" He asked her.

"I don't know," She snapped. "You tell me. You're the expert on how I feel."

His brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

She threw her pencil box into her bag which exploded, scattering pens and pencils everywhere. "Well, since my stick of gum obviously belongs to you, you're the clear governor of my feelings, right?"

"That's what you're mad about?" He said incredulously. "Chrissy, it was just a class demonstration. Mrs. Brauer didn't mean anything about it. She knows I'm the pastor's son, she knows you're a good girl, she knows that we're in a serious relationship. She just assumed that we're going to get married someday. Haven't we talked about that?"

Of course they had. Early on in their relationship, when Jason had seriously told her that he wasn't interested in dating casually. No, he believed in courting, he believed all dating had to have the end prospect of marriage.

He was her first boyfriend. When they started dating sophomore year and he spelled this out for her, she was breathlessly excited. She felt like she was in a fairytale, with a handsome prince asking for her hand. It all fit together so beautifully. He would be her first kiss, her first boyfriend, her first time…as soon as they were married. Her body was a gift and she would give it to Jason, untouched and unsoiled.

It wasn't until now, her snior year, that she started to feel uncomfortable. The fairytale story of her and Jason, which so enraptured her, now felt stifling. Everything was just laid out. There was no room for error. Jason would go to Evansville for basketball. Chrissy would also go to Evansville, get her degree in…whatever, it didn't really matter. Her mother was quick to remind her that all she needed was the MRS. degree. After Jason graduated, he'd get a job with his father in the insurance business and they would get married.

Jason even talked about getting married right after graduation. They could live in shared housing that way. That way, Chrissy could focus on homemaking rather than her degree and there would be less student loans. Their youth pastor (they had premarital counseling every weekend) was especially encouraging on this front.

The more the plans began to take concrete form, the more Chrissy felt utterly constricted.

"I'm just protective over you," Jason told her as they walked out of class together. "Can you forgive me for losing my temper?"

She stopped at her locker to switch out her books. "Yes," She sighed.

"And forgive Mrs. Brauer too. She was just trying to protect us too. Protect all of us. She didn't mean to embarrass you."

"I forgive her," Chrissy said dully. She paused in the midst of taking her biology text book out. "Should I forgive Eddie then?"

Jason winced at this turn of logic. "I guess…well, Bible does say to love our enemies," He looked at Chrissy proudly. "You know, that's a good point. We should try and do that. You see? That's what makes us such a good Christ-centered couple. I lead you, and you keep me on the faith."

She nodded without much enthusiasm. Luckily, Jason didn't seem to notice.

"I'll see you after school, okay?" He kissed her cheek. "Movie date!"

He was referring to their plan of him coming over to her house to watch a movie on tape. Chrissy had tried to convince him to go to Starcourt, but he insisted on her living room, knowing that her father was at work and her mother was at the Women's League at church.

She knew exactly why he wanted to be alone with her. It didn't matter that he was the head of Teens for Life, Morning Prayer Club, and ran a weekly devotion for the football players.

Heart-wrenching chewing gum metaphor aside…Chrissy knew she needed to do something. To protect herself.

One of the Hawkins school nurses used to supply girls with condoms and birth control…Mrs. Finch was her name. But someone in Teens for Life ratted her out and Mrs. Finch was promptly fired, replaced by a Mrs. Goody (ironically enough), who encouraged abstinence only. So going to the nurse was out. She was worried if she asked one of her friends, it would get back round to Jason. And if she took a field trip to the Planned Parenthood up in Indianapolis…no way. Her mother would notice if she took a three hour trip in the middle of the school day. Jason would too.

An idea struck. She recalled Eddie Munson's utter disgust at Mrs. Brauer abstinence fueled lecture. Had he been with a lot of girls? He was head of the D&D club, high school rules leaned towards no, but there weas an easy confidence that indicated otherwise. Perhaps he could help her.

A plan began to formulate.

Chrissy had to do this carefully. Jason would not be happy if she approached Eddie in the lunchroom and any of her cheerleaders—who often scored weed and other illicit substances from Eddie—would be sure to rat her out. Even Jocelyn, her closest friend on cheer—well, she had a big mouth. She'd leak something even if she were trying not to.

She waited towards the side door of the cafeteria, eyeing Eddie carefully. He was seated at a lunchtable filled to the brim with other outcasts and social pariahs—Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Jeff Kowalsky, Gareth Scott—Lucas Sinclair too. That surprised her. Lucas was a rising star on the basketball team. She wondered how long he would stay with his friends.

Eddie was ranting something about conformity. She watched in surprise during the middle of his rant as he politely bowed, allowing two cheerleaders to scurry by him. It was a curious act of chivalry she didn't quite understand.

Gareth stood up, intending on dumping his tray. Here was her chance. He walked to the garbage cans, taking one last bite of French fries. Chrissy cleared her throat.

"Um—Gareth?"

He froze and turned towards her. He looked absolutely petrified.

"Hi," She said nervously. "Do you know who I am? We sit together in biology."

Gareth nodded mutely. Chrissy shuffled her feet awkwardly.

"Um—I was hoping to—to buy some things off of Eddie. Do you think you could—do you think you could ask if we could arrange that?"

Gareth swallowed hard and gave another robotic nod. He walked mechanically towards the D&D lunch table, leaned down, and whispered something into Eddie's ear. Eddie stiffened and said something to Gareth. Gareth shrugged, his eyes flitting over to Chrissy.

Eddie, thank God, did not look over at her. His brow furrowed for a moment and he spoke again to Gareth. Gareth nodded and made his way back to Chrissy, still hiding behind the lunchroom door.

"He says—he says to meet him after school in the clearing behind the back building," Gareth seemed to be sweating profusely. "He also asked if there was something specific you wanted."

"Um—" How was she going to explain this to poor Gareth, who looked like he was about faint. "Something for a girl who needs—protection. Can you tell him that?"

Gareth was mystified. She was grateful for that. He nodded slowly at her and made his way back to Eddie, who kept his eyes trained forward, refusing to look for her. She appreciated that. He must know she was risking Jason's wrath.

Gareth said something to Eddie, who nodded in response. She hoped he got the message.

Winter's chill still clung to April like a bad habit as Chrissy made her way towards the back of the school. The grass and leaves crunched under her feet and she wrapped her cardigan about her more securely. Midwestern winters were always a gamble. Sometimes they could be beautiful, but more often than not, winter would spring at them like a bear trap.

She reached the clearing in the woods and exhaled. There was a small picnic table in the center, but it was damp and covered in beer cans. It was chillingly quiet here. Chrissy imagined it could be peaceful if she wasn't so nervous.

She examined a large oak tree for a moment, checking to see if there was poison oak. She walked a little backwards to take in its looming presence—and backed straight into Eddie Munson.

"Whoa, hey, hey, hey!" Eddie Munson chuckled half-heartedly. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."

Chrissy exhaled shakily. His eyes flicked her up and down. "You okay?"

She nodded. Something unfamiliar fluttered in her stomach as she remembered Eddie plucking the chewed up gum that was supposed to represent her body and swallowing it whole. It was something akin to anticipation, even a little bit of fear—she was feeling it now and didn't understand it.

He gestured towards the picnic table and she took a seat, staring at the grains of wood. He shucked off his jacket and glanced at her in bemusement.

"There's nothing to worry about, okay?" He tried to assure her. "No one ever comes out here. We're safe. I promise."

She shivered and wrapped her cardigan tighter. His eyes glanced between his jacket and her and he shook himself, as though trying to talk himself out of something.

"So," Eddie cleared his throat. "Gareth was a little cagey about what you were looking to buy."

Chrissy grimaced. "I was cagey about telling him what I wanted to buy."

"Well," He said reasonably. "I probably have it."

"It's not exactly…illegal."

He quirked dark brow.

"I was hoping for, um," She looked at her hands. "Um—birth control pills."

There was a long silence, interspersed with Eddie tapping his ringed fingers against the picnic table. He tilted his head, trying to match her gaze, probably wondering if she was serious.

"It's just," Chrissy cleared her throat. "It's not something I can get on my own. My mom would find out. And my dad would be horrified. There used to be a school nurse—"

"Finch," Eddie nodded. "I remember her."

"Yeah, so," Chrissy picked at a loose thread on her cardigan. "I can't get them from the new nurse. And my mom has my schedule booked completely so I can't sneak a trip to—to—I mean, I don't even have a car—"

"What about your boyfriend?" Eddie asked. "He can't help?"

There was something about the way he said boyfriend that made Chrissy flinched. She bit her lip.

"He doesn't believe in them."

"Hmph," Eddie snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "Well, they exist whether he believes in them or not."

"He believes in waiting for marriage," Chrissy explained. "But sometimes—sometimes he gets…I don't know, pushy. And I'm worried that something could happen and I don't want—I just don't want to risk it."

"He believes, he gets pushy," Eddie muttered. "What about what you want and believe in?"

She paused. This was a fair question. She had pushed her beliefs and desires aside for a long time. And if she was honest, no, she didn't want to have sex with Jason—it just seemed like something inevitable, that she would need to prepare for.

"Sorry," She heard him say gruffly and she peeked up at him. He raked his fingers through his curly hair and she caught herself wondering what it felt like.

"It's none of my business," Eddie sighed. "But—I guess I'm still not sure why you came to me. You've gotta have a girlfriend or something that could help you get this stuff."

She shook her head. "None that might let it slip to Jason. Even unintentionally. And a lot of them—well, they'd be…judgmental about it. A lot of them are in Teens for Life. But when you…during Mrs. Brauer's class…"

Chrissy's face heated. The barest traces of smirk appeared on Eddie's face as he recalled his moment of defiance. He folded his arms against his chest and she found herself staring at a spider tattoo that just barely peeked out from under his shirt collar.

Stop staring at his chest.

"I was just hoping…hoping you could help," She finished lamely.

He considered this, resting his chin on the palm of his hand. "Well. I'll be honest, this is a new ask for me. But…yeah, I can help."

"Really?"

Eddie nodded. "Yeah. Just—can you promise me something?"

She looked at him questioningly.

"If you don't want to have sex with Carver, then don't. Say no. Don't just give in to whatever that dickhead wants."

Her gaze dropped to her lap. "It's not that simple."

"Are you saying he'd force you?"

Eddie's voice became very sharp. She looked up at him again and saw there was fire in his stare, something that made her feel hot all ever.

"No," Chrissy replied quickly. "Just that he could—get carried away, you know?"

"No, I do not know," He said coldly. "Sex involves two people, not one."

"I know that," She snapped back. "It's just—you know, guys are like—like—"

"Do tell," He said dryly.

"Like microwaves," Chrissy said desperately. "And girls are like crock pots."

"Come again?"

"Microwaves heat up really quickly and crock pots…you know…take longer to get hot." Her face grew just as hot as the proverbial microwave.

He looked like he was trying not to laugh. "I'm sorry, where did you hear that?"

The answer was Mrs. Brauer and an assortment of youth pastors and church ladies who warned her about showing off her body too much. She picked at her nail instead of answering.

"Well, it's bullshit," Eddie said casually. "Girls can get hot just as quickly as 'microwaves'—if the guy knows what he's doing."

Oh?

She stared at him for a moment, trying to sus out the smirk on his face. There was an easy confidence in his expression, as though he'd done the legwork to prove it. An assortment of wild statements flew into her mind—how about you prove it, and other such scandalizing variations.

Instead, she said bitingly, "And I guess you're the expert?"

"I know my way around," He replied coolly. "Now, look. I'll get you your stuff. But you gotta promise me that if you don't want to have sex with Carver, you'll say no, and if he tries to pressure you or force you—you tell me."

His dark brown eyes flashed and she gulped at their intensity. She nodded slowly.

"He wouldn't force me," She said guiltily. "He might—get frustrated or something…"

"Tough shit," Eddie said promptly. "Blue balls won't kill him."

She thought she recalled Jason complaining that blue balls very well could medically endanger him. But Eddie was older and he seemed…much more confident at all this.

Her woebegone expression seemed to soften him. He reached over and took her hand. "Hey," He said quietly. "I'll get you your stuff. Do you want condoms, just for now though? I've got some in my van."

Her cheeks went pink as wild thoughts swarmed through her head. She shook her head. "He doesn't—"

"Believe in them," Eddie finished sarcastically, releasing her hand. She felt a little crestfallen at the loss. "Okay, I get the picture. Meet me out here on Thursday. I'll have the stuff you need."

"Thank you, Eddie," Chrissy said gratefully. "I—I'll make this up to you, I swear."

There was something almost wicked in his expression, as though he were considering ways she could 'make it up' to her. But the look disappeared and he gave her a little wave, leaving her alone in the clearing.