Chapter updated 1/22/23

Chapter 1: Seduced by Suit and Tie

The groans from behind my bedroom door would give the impression that cruel and unusual punishment was being performed, as opposed to a high school right of passage. I banged my fist on the door for the third time to try and distract from the torture.

"Come on out, it cannot be that bad," I said, jiggling the handle with my ear pressed to the door. It was locked, and I was met with more shouting.

"It absolutely can be that bad! I look like a flippin' sheep in a penguin suit."

"Exactly!" I pressed my mouth against the crack in the doorway in hopes the words would get through to him. "We want you to look like the other sheep. We need you to blend in if we're ever going to pull this off."

"Can I change my mind? I don't need to blend in. In fact, I prefer it this way. And besides…. I can't figure out this goddamn tie!" The voice shot up out of frustration.

Just when I considered using my shoulder as a battering ram to break down the door, my brother Chuck came crashing out of his room. He was 2 years older, and a student at Indiana University. After a week of begging, he had driven home to let me borrow the suit from his Fraternity initiation. We had never been particularly close, so it was surprising he had agreed to it at all.

Chuck scoffed as I knocked on the door to no avail.

"While I'd love to stay and laugh at the loser in a suit and tie, I have to get back to campus for the Sigma Chi rager."

He slung his overnight bag over his shoulder, prepared to leave without another word.

"Hey! Not a loser…" I argued back defensively.

"Annie, he was supposed to graduate in my year and yet he's still a Hawkins loser. It's what, his third time redoing senior year? I'm still not seeing what you're seeing," he said, shaking his head.

"Good thing I don't need your approval," I said shortly. It didn't matter what he thought of the situation. All I needed was his clothes and the willingness to lie to our parents for me.

"Whatever you do, do NOT let mom and dad catch you." He said with a finger pointed in my face. At that, he went flying down the stairs before I could argue further.

"Thanks for the suit! Love you, Be safe!" I yelled sarcastically as the door slammed behind him.

The old Chevy motor turned over twice and grumbled to start. The engine roared as he pulled out the driveway, speeding off to escape suburbia.

"Hey, he's gone," I knocked on the door again. "Come on already, open up."

"The suit, the fucking suit, why did I have to agree to the bloody suit!" I heard the voice behind the door say.

There was no use fighting with the locked door, so I checked my reflection in the hallway mirror. My blonde hair was done in a half updo with curled ringlets, the most effort I was able to put in before there was a knock at the door. I was still in jeans and a plain black t-shirt, my dress still hanging in the closet.

The hallway clock read 7:22. We were due at the school at 7:45 before the other students were allowed in. At this rate we were bound to show up late, if at all, underdressed and ill prepared.

Another round of expletives was cursed inside the bedroom. A was being waged between stiff fabric and limbs, and from the sounds of it, the fabric was winning.

"Let me in to help. Or are you forgetting this was your idea in the first place?"

"Have you ever considered that I might not have the brightest ideas? You of all people should know this," he sighed.

"Yeah, I kind of learned the hard way when you convinced me to ditch the library and go to the drive-in. I was supposed to be tutoring you in French," I said with a slight chuckle.

I was met with a full blown laugh.

"And ohhh what a movie that was….. what movie was it again?" He asked with a cheeky tone. His voice was getting closer and closer to the doorway that was keeping us apart.

I knew exactly what part of the night he was alluding to. The part where we slowly began to break the barrier of tutor and student. It was all fun and games, a challenge to be won, until things took a step beyond friendly flirting. An unplanned kiss awoken something within, and I had spent weeks trying to ignore the urge to do it again.

The night that changed my perspective on exactly who this man, who had failed senior year twice and seemed to fit in nowhere, would turn out to be.

"You don't remember the movie? It was a rerun of the 1982 romantic comedy that swept every young girl off her feet: Swamp Thing. The least sexy movie you could have chosen!"

"Ahh, oui oui, Swamp Thing," he said, mustering up an exaggerated French accent.

I could tell he was just on the other side of the door now. I tested the handle, but it was still locked.

"Keep your oui oui out of this!" I said with a laugh.

"Oui oui," he said again, with a deeper seductive tone.

"Maybe if you hadn't been failing French you would have been allowed to go to the dance. And maybe then you wouldn't need to borrow this silly getup to blend in."

"If I was actually allowed to go, we wouldn't be doing this in the first place. You're making me regret a lot of life choices right now darling, don't make me regret another one."

"Come on, let me in! At least let me see what we're working with so I can make the finishing touches."

There was a deep sigh from within the room.

I tried the handle one more time. Simultaneously it broke free, and the light in my bedroom was switched off.

"Eddie?"

I advanced beyond the threshold and began feeling for the light switch. I could tell he had retreated a few steps back, but the room was too dark to show anything but his silhouette.

"Just don't laugh…" he said in a near whisper.

This confident guy, who outwardly gave no fucks about what anyone thinks about him, had an air of trepidation. Was he really concerned about what I would think?

"I won't…" I said gently, finding the light switch.

Our eyes met as they readjusted to the light, and I realized just exactly what I had gotten myself into.

Eddie Munson, Metalhead Munson, was looking back at me. Freak to the world, but friend to all who were cunning enough to give him the time of day. The boy who was slowly becoming my best friend, though I'd been hesitant to admit it. Fully outfitted for a high school dance, and completely out of his element. And he was standing inches from my bed.

How many times had I imagined this, only for this to not be at all how I pictured it. Somehow, it was so much better.

All of this started because Eddie had a Senior Year Bucket List that he'd been working on before he finally graduated. Most of it was good natured, harmless pranks. Tonight I agreed to help him tackle some of the more ambitious items on the bucket list. Sneak into the Homecoming Dance, spike the punch, give some weed to the freshmen, pants someone on homecoming court. Extra points if he goes home with the Homecoming Queen. I was trying not to think of that last part.

My best friend Grace, who was on the Homecoming Dance planning committee, agreed to sneak us in in exchange for a week's worth of gas money. I offered to skip the dance and spend the night with him somewhere else, but he insisted. Which meant if he was going to sneak into the dance, he had to blend in and dress like everyone else. If he waltzed in wearing his ripped jean vest with buttons and patches, over top of his Hellfire Club shirt, everyone would notice him right away.

I was merely hopeful when I suggested we borrow Chuck's suit to sneak him into the Homecoming Dance. I had no idea if it would fit or if this plan would work.

Eddie was wearing a gray fitted suit and tie with a white button down shirt. The slacks were a hair too short because he stood a few inches above Chuck, but you couldn't tell. They were a bit fitted around the thigh and rested nicely around his waist. The white button down was hanging loose and untucked, but even that was fitted perfectly. I could just begin to see a hint of the lean muscles you would never know were hidden beneath. The sleeves were rolled up just enough to show most of his forearms, the bats tattooed on his arms making an appearance. And the top two buttons were undone, showing a peek of more forbidden markings that I haven't been lucky enough to see with my own eyes, but have thought about for weeks.

The tie was wrapped loosely, incorrectly, around his neck and the suit jacket was abandoned on the bed. His hair was ruffled from the chaos, bangs hanging in his eyes.

"Admit it, it's terrible," Eddie said, woe in his voice.

I just stood there a little slack jawed, taking it all in, unable to formulate a reply. I'm not one for pushing conformity, but I was shocked by how good he looked. Which is why I surprised myself by immediately imagining him out of it.

"Annie, you're freaking me out… what is it?" He said, panicking over my non-response.

"Take it off," I said quietly, my entire body screaming at me. I didn't know what I was doing, but I knew what I wanted and I had to act fast.

"What? I thought this was part of the-"

"Take it off." I interrupted, a little louder this time.

"Annie, what do you mean?" Confusion was written all over his face, confidence shrinking.

"I said…" I took my chance, stepping into the room and closing the door behind me. My heart was beating a million miles a minute, my words came out breathy and shaky.

"Take it off."

I switched the lights off and advanced towards him in the dark. Chin up, back straight, determined to get what I want.

No turning back now, Annie Cooper.

The room was dark, and I couldn't see ahead of me. The sun sets early in the fall, and the moon wasn't yet in the sky to provide a guiding light.

"Annie?" Eddie said again, not moving from where he stood. I reached my arms out to try to make my way to him. 30 seconds ago I was ready to pounce, and just as easily my confidence was leaving me.

"It's darker than I was expecting… where are you?" I said barely above a whisper. My eyes were failing at adjusting in the darkness.

"I'm right here" he said calmly. I took a few steps forward with my arms outstretched until I made contact with his chest. I readjusted, placing my hands around the sides of his arms. I couldn't find my words, didn't know what my next step should be. Somehow, smashing into him with a passionate kiss seemed stupid in hindsight.

"So you hate the suit too, huh?" He said, trying to break the tension.

"No, actually, I quite like it. I would just…. Rather… see you without it right now," I said boldly, my head down in preparation to avoid whatever reaction he'd show on his face. I had already made a fool of myself, took it to a place of no return. Might as well go for what I wanted.

"Oh?" He said. I could feel the tender excitement creep into his voice, and he shifted his body closer. His right arm slid under mine and wrapped gently around my waist, showing some assertion. Boys were simple, most would be drooling if any girl showed them even the slightest bit of dominance. But Eddie wasn't like most boys. He was confident, but tender.

I looked up, and I could just make out his face in the darkness because we were mere inches away. A small smile was creeping onto his face he was trying to suppress.

I reached my hand up towards his collar and let my fingers brush against the skin of his collarbone, my eyes following my movement. "Is that okay?"

I looked up at Eddie. His face broke into a full blown grin I could tell he no longer could hide.

"Corrupt me," he said with a little backward toss of his hair, indicating he was mine for the taking.

"Impossible," I laughed softly, ready to jump right back to my plan. My nerves were buzzing. I looked into his eyes, matching his smile as I closed the gap between our bodies. He softly grasped my chin in his hand and brought my lips to his.

We handn't kissed since that night at the drive in. Even then, it had been a lot more innocent than I was expecting from a guy like Eddie Munson. And even though we had spent a lot of time together since then, the issue never came up. I think I was too shy to mess things up, and he was too respectful to push the issue.

We shared a few soft kisses with our lips closed before I remembered my original initiative to remove his shirt and expose his chest. As I moved my fingers to the first fastened button, he opened his mouth a bit wider and grabbed my bottom lip between his. A tiny moan escaped from my mouth and I leaned in for more. He left just enough room between our chests so I could continue working on the buttons. The hand around the small of my back tightened, our waists were now pressed against each other. I was trying to work swiftly on the buttons but I was getting panicky. He took the hand that was on my chin and wrapped it around the nape of my neck, his fingers tucked in my hair.

I finally undid the last button on his shirt. I ripped the front open and placed my bare hands on his exposed chest. His skin was radiating heat. I allowed myself to explore his torso with my hands. Beneath the bit of hair, there were lean muscles. I teased my arms up and down his exposed chest before wrapping my arms around his back and pressing my whole body against him. His tongue swiped between my lips and I opened my mouth wider to deepen the kiss.

This time I heard a moan escape from Eddie. I felt the erection in his pants stiffen where my waist was pressed against his. My heart was quickening. I pulled my arras back and reached up to his shoulders to free him from the shirt as I slowly pulled the sleeves off his arms. Our waists never disconnected, as he alternated keeping a hand pressed on my lower back.

Eddie pulled himself back from the kiss, but kept his forehead pressed against mine as he said with a deep breath, "It's taking everything in me not to pick you up and toss you on this bed." There was a longing hunger in his voice. Oh, so I wasn't the only one pining the last couple of weeks I had been tutoring him? Good to know.

"I might not mind that… Did I just fuck the friendship up?" I said, looking into his eyes, suddenly worried that I had taken things too far. I had dreamed about this moment for weeks, but that didn't make it any less scary. I had honestly grown accustomed to our "study sessions," joking and planning with him about all the bulllshit surrounding high school, our annoying classmates and asshole teachers. I didn't want that to end by being too overt. However, my worrying was all for naught as I was met with a reassuring look.

"No, no no no no. If anything, you enhanced it. Leveled up. Conquered the beast. Eddie the Conquered! I'm yours for the taking, Annie Cooper" he said, arms outstretched to emphasize his point. He took a few breaths smiling as I calculated my next move.

"You're going to regret saying that…" I said, advancing on him. I turned his body to the left and gave a little push, and he fell backwards on the bed with a little bounce. He flipped his head back in a booming laugh. This was going to be fun.