"Have you done this before?"
"Kind of? Most girls at school probably have. Guys run by and do it." That hasn't really happened since junior year, anyway. Jocks are usually the culprits. They like trying to get away with it during football season in the fall when the cheerleaders are cold and less likely to chase the players down.
Eddie's quiet for a moment. All she can hear is his heavy breathing. At least in a different position, it might be easier to see his face. "...That and spanking are not the same."
"No?" That doesn't make much sense to her. Is this like his 'dark fantasy erotica is not monster porn' argument from earlier? As far as she's concerned, there's really no difference. It's just a less dirty way of saying the same thing.
"Hell no. One is just some creep tryin' to get a free feel and the other isn't. It's more… Well, you'll be able to tell. Do you trust me?"
Asking questions like that is making Chrissy more nervous and puzzled at the same time. She thought he'd just go for it again. Is that normal? This isn't her area of expertise, but it appears to be his. "I do."
The last time anything like this happened was at a Halloween party. When Jason had one too many beers and slapped her butt really hard after she got off a couch to get him another bottle. It hurt even more because that was entirely unexpected… Enough to almost make her knees buckle. Not that he remembered it that way later on. And with so many people around, she forced herself to laugh it off as a 'boys will be boys' moment.
When other guys have done it, it's always when the 'target' is off guard. It's just so much more hilarious that way. Also causes a delayed reaction out of shock, giving them enough time to run off to their buddies and joke about it. This is a little nerve-wracking from those experiences. But he said spanking isn't the same. She does trust him and is willing to give this a chance to prove her wrong.
"Good. That's the most important part. If both sides don't trust each other, things can go to shit real fast. So, I guess we're using the traffic light system. Seems easiest. You already know 'red' means stop. 'Yellow' is slow down. Like if it's a little too hard and you want me to take it down a notch. Saying 'green' a million times seems pointless, so… yeah. Cool with that?"
"Mhm." That's actually not a bad idea and she'll have a lot more say in this than anticipated. It's better than him just whacking the hell out of her with zero regards. Then again, he doesn't seem like that type of guy. Well, aside from the initial smack that he already profusely apologized for.
Chrissy jerks when the tips of his fingers hesitantly graze the spot that was already hit. A soft caress over the tight black fabric as he slowly gets more comfortable and eases both of them into this. It goes from a light touch with his fingers to pressing his splayed hand along her backside, slowly moving it around. Massaging the place that still stings.
'Wow. Just one of his hands almost covers my entire cheek.'
She lets out a shaky breath, trying to calm herself down. This is insane. Waking up this morning, it was easy to assume the day would be lax and uneventful. Do some reading, cook a little, maybe go hangout with Natalie or something… Getting spanked in Eddie's trailer after finding his collection of monster porn was never a scenario she could've ever imagined. That sounds like a game of mad libs gone terribly wrong.
This is really happening. It isn't just some dream taking a crazy turn. The warm palm on her bottom is very real. And it feels good. Especially when he adds a little more pressure, kneading the tense muscles firmly. His other hand does the same for the left side. The magazine slips right out of her grasp and falls to the floor. Totally forgotten. That doesn't matter anymore.
The cheerleader melts under his touch as the tension in her body gradually fades away. She knew it. There's magic in those hands. He wasn't joking when he said they're good for lots of things. Her upper half hangs limply down the side of the bed, no longer having the strength to do much else. If this comes with the whole spanking thing, maybe she just found a new hobby.
"Jesus Christ… I can't fucking believe this…" Eddie mutters to himself, almost too quietly to hear. He sits up a little, shifting most of the weight to his knees planted on the mattress. It's a relief. The heavy pressure from him straddling her isn't so bad now. Unfortunately, the massage also stops. His cupped hands softly pat her cheeks, like he's working out how to get the best angle. "Okay… That should be good."
Smack!
Chrissy loudly gasps when the first hit lands. More from surprise than anything. Both hands quickly cover her mouth, trying to stop any more noises from escaping. She inhales sharply through her nose as he rubs the spot again. There wasn't much force behind it. Nothing like the initial one that started all this.
"You good? It didn't hurt, right?"
"It's... I'm fine. You can keep going. 'Green', or whatever." Thankfully this is happening with someone who actually cares.
"Okay, okay. I got you."
Smack!
"Mm!" A shiver runs through her body when his hand comes down harder on the same spot, setting the dull sting ablaze. He freezes for a minute and she can feel his legs stiffening up. It doesn't last long before shaking it off, going back to kneading the tender flesh with his palm.
'I must be losing it…'
The captain attempts to keep the sounds clawing their way up her throat at bay with the next few swings. Each one has a little more pressure added to it as he alternates sides, noticeably avoiding hitting the same place too many times now. And always massaging it before continuing. Doing his best to soothe the burn, only to make it flair up again seconds later. She can't help tensing up with anticipation from not knowing when it's coming. But he waits until her muscles relax to have another go at it.
Smack!
"Ah!" The hands covering her mouth shoot out to grab the elastic band on his sheet instead, needing something to hold on to. She sucks in a greedy breath from not getting enough through her nose alone. It's too hot in here. The air's too thin. Hanging upside down like this isn't helping. Blood is rushing to her head and it's making it seem extremely light and heavy at the same time. There's no doubt her face is almost as red as the Corvette out front.
Eddie delivers a smack that sets Chrissy on fire. It's raging across her backside and begins to travel, settling into the cheerleader's gut. She squirms beneath him, trying to ignore how her abdomen tightens to the point it's painful. Or the toes curling in her pristine white sneakers laying across the bed. Or the beads of sweat running into her bangs.
Perhaps he was right to call her a freak in the forest the first time they hung out.
This isn't something she could ever dream of doing, let alone enjoying. No way. The sweet captain of the cheer team is getting a rush from being spanked? By Eddie 'the freak' at that? An hour ago, she might've died from overheating just at the thought, but the shyness that gets in the way all the time is taking a backseat on this one. The other sensations coursing through her body are drowning it out, refusing to be deterred in their quest to explore uncharted territory.
Isn't this supposed to be some kind of punishment for being bad? Maybe that applies here… What a turn. This is all happening too fast and too slowly. It hurts but is also kind of pleasurable. It sounds like a bunch of contradictory nonsense. That's not the important part. For once, the power is in her hands. A single word can put an end to this. That's strangely gratifying. Only because it's Eddie and she trusts him to listen to her. Doing this with another person—like Jason—wouldn't play out the same way.
"Now that you're warmed up, it's time to pay for your crimes, princess. The atrocities committed today cannot go unpunished. Unfortunately for you, I'm judge, jury, and executioner in this land." His voice is deep and thick. Strained. That sends a fresh wave of excitement through her as he goes back to putting out the flame he created. "I've already found you guilty on all counts. First and foremost is the felony charge for possession of a nice ass."
'...What is he going on about?'
"I'll just run down the list of your evil deeds." Smack. "Stealing my belongings." Smack. "Daring to call it monster porn." Smack. "Trying to run away with the stolen goods." Smack. "Making me run around after just getting out of the shower." Smack. "And after feeding me all that food." Smack.
This is too much. The room is spinning from becoming too lightheaded. They shouldn't have done it like this. Not in this position. She's numb to the hits now. Those are an afterthought compared to trying to force air back into her lungs.
"R–Red!" It sounds far more like a desperate plea than intended. The hands delivering corporal punishment quickly abandon their job in order to pull her up onto the bed. All the posters and equipment become a whirlwind of colors as her head lulls back and forth. Far too dizzy to make sense of anything.
"Woah! Hey, you okay? Did I go overboard?" Eddie sounds a little panicked when he tries to sit her up and she teeters, almost falling over onto the covers. He moves fast to help steady the cheerleader, letting her use him to regain some sense of balance.
"Need...Need a minute." Chrissy sighs with relief after dropping forward against something warm and solid. His chest. She keeps her eyes closed and takes deep breaths, waiting for the merry-go-round ride to stop. "I… I'm just lightheaded from laying like that."
"Crap! I'm such a goddamn moron." He loudly slaps his forehead, groaning in frustration at himself. "Why the hell didn't I think of that? Like, no shit that was gonna happen. What an idiot."
She finally opens her eyes, focusing on the image across his faded red band shirt. It says 'W.A.S.P.' in dark lettering and has a guy holding two skulls with blood dripping from them. Well, at least things are mostly back to normal. Her 'nice ass' is a different story. Sitting might be uncomfortable for a while with how sore it currently is. And hot. Ridiculously hot. The rest of her body is cooled off, making the difference even more apparent.
"No, you're not. You shouldn't say mean things about yourself. I kept my mouth shut, so I guess that makes me an idiot, too." Maybe they're both dumdums. That would explain a lot.
It's difficult, but she forces herself to look up at him. Somehow, the guy's worse off now than when he burst through the bedroom door. Her eyes flicker to the trickle of sweat slowly trailing along his temple. The once-damp waves became a wild mess of curls and frizz from romping around.
"Fine, fine. I won't… You okay now?" The Hellfire leader tilts his head to the side, inspecting her.
"I think? I feel really cold for some reason." She hugs herself and curls inward. Maybe it has to do with blood circulation? Most likely. 'Red' should've been yelled out sooner, but it just wouldn't come out.
Eddie leans across the mattress to grab something by his pillow. A throw bunched up at the top of the bed that she didn't notice before. He drags it over and drapes the small blanket across her shoulders, wrapping it around snuggly. "Both times you came over, you ended up in a throw cocoon." That makes him chuckle as he pulls the captain closer, trying to warm her up.
It's working. Between the cozy blanket, the hands rubbing along her arms and back, and being this close to a human volcano, she's beyond thawed out. That's not even an issue anymore. Larger ones are cutting the line and leaping right in front of it.
"So, uh… Did you like that?"
The big question. Did she actually like getting spanked? The pulsing, sensitive skin on her backside says hell no. Cursing both of them with words she'd never utter in front of another soul. But it'd be a huge lie to say that was terrible. All the signs were there. She enjoyed him touching her. There's a sliver of shame simmering on the inside over it that's being pushed to the back burner.
'Don't get in my way.'
"Yeah, though I feel like I'm not supposed to… I probably would've enjoyed it more if we were sitting differently."
"I'll make a note of that. I mean, if you ever want to do that again… I could bend you over my knee next time. You know, when Frisky Chrissy misbehaves." His eyes light up at the prospect and she can almost see him imagining it from the look in them.
"Frisky Chrissy? You can't settle on one, huh?" She giggles and slips a hand from under the throw to lightly slap his chest.
"Nah. Kinda your fault, though. As soon as I do, you pull some shit that sends me right back to the drawing board." He reaches up to grab a stray lock by her ear, twirling it around his finger. It's just now that she realized the rings are missing. They must've come off after their little scuffle. "Not that I'm complaining. I like getting to see different sides of you."
"Well, what do you think of them… a, um…" Chrissy falters when he abandons the bundle of hair to cup her face. She peers up at him and finishing the sentence no longer matters. He's giving her that look again. Suddenly, she's at a loss for words.
"What do I think? I think I… like everything I see. All of it." Eddie says quietly, dragging his gaze over to the hand on her cheek. It's warm and rough—just like him. A soft sigh slips out as she leans into his palm, hanging on every word being said. "I think I'm really screwed."
A line was already crossed. Going back to simply being friends probably isn't an option anymore. She can feel it in her bones. Hear it in his voice. See it on his face. They keep tiptoeing around the obvious. Dropping subtle hints here and there or making the smallest moves, like a peck. Neither really taking the plunge.
That might change today.
The tip of his thumb brushes across her bottom lip, carefully tracing the soft curves. He stares at it intently and moves closer. This is the point of no return. She knows it and forces herself to stay completely still, afraid any sudden movement might cause him to back off. Stopping just a few inches away, he hesitates for one agonizing moment. His eyes shift to hers, searching for an answer to the question floating in the air between them and it's on full display.
The butterflies down below burst through their cage and find a new home in her chest, fluttering around wildly when he finally leans in, pressing his lips against hers. It's gentle and sweet and ends far too quickly. Pulling back slightly, there's a brief pause as he glosses over Chrissy's face, trying to gauge her reaction. There's uncertainty in his expression as if half expecting to be pushed away or swatted at.
"Green. Again. Do that again, Eddie." Her voice sounds too eager to come from such a mousey person. But that does the trick. The corner of his mouth quirks up and whatever doubts were plaguing him seem to disappear. He doesn't waver this time, swiftly swooping in for another.
She joins in enthusiastically, getting a thrill of excitement that he's the one to initiate this. The first few attempts are messy, showing her that any prior experience won't be of much use with him. They quickly figure out how they fit together, finding themselves on the same wavelength.
Unbelievable. Her imagination didn't do him justice. Those lips are warmer, softer, and fuller than her naïve stare picked up on when they laid in bed together. And it took very little for him to fall in step with her. This man's a musician. Finding the right tempo and rhythm is part of what he does.
Eddie deepens the kiss, pushing forward fervently as his hands snake around her. One slides down to rest on the small of her back and the other deftly pulls out the large blue scrunchie, releasing the sea of strawberry blonde locks from their confines. The hair tie falls to the covers to be forgotten while his fingers knot themselves in the silky strands, gathering a fistful of it to hold onto.
The arms embracing the cheerleader tilt her backward and she willingly goes along with it, letting them support her above the mattress. It should be alarming how little she cares about what might happen next. Right now, none of that matters. The constant stream of frenetic noises upstairs falls silent as she relaxes, allowing herself to get completely immersed in the moment.
This is exhilarating. For once, everything going on is the result of the choices she made. It's not out of peer pressure or to satisfy some ridiculous expectations. If anything, it's the complete opposite. An act of rebellion. Just doing exactly as she wants with someone she chose, regardless of the consequences.
That drives Chrissy to kiss him harder, dropping the throw to run her hands over his chest. Reveling in the heat radiating from him and how his muscles jump wherever she touches. The wild pounding beneath the surface sends her reeling. He's so excited. Out of curiosity, she cracks a lid to catch a glimpse.
'Oh!'
Her heart stutters. It might give out at any second. Who knows what she was actually expecting, but it wasn't this. Eddie looks like he's caught somewhere between pain and pleasure. Brows knit together tightly, nostrils flared, and eyes squeezed shut. His face twisted in blissful agony. Like the sketchbook, it feels almost too personal to let her gaze linger for more than a few seconds.
In a strange way, she can't help finding him beautiful. That word is all that comes to mind while he's like this and that makes it even more enticing. Her hands skim over his shoulders to clasp the nape of his neck, using it as leverage to pull herself closer, pressing right up against him.
She's not sure what the hell's gotten into her. Maybe the prayer from earlier went out into the atmosphere and all the sexy, confident women out there responded at once. Giving their blessing and an aggressive push to just go for it. To each other's surprise, Chrissy captures his bottom lip, giving it a little tug. The Hellfire leader's eyes shoot open with a gasp, only to become more startled when she sucks on it, letting out a soft moan against his mouth that reverberates through the both of them.
'...More.'
He jolts, shivering for the second time today. The shaky hands still holding onto her tighten to the point the cheerleader thinks she might burst into a million pieces. "S–Shit…" That finally breaks it. Pulling back, he stares down at her wildly, trying to regain control of his ragged breathing. "Jesus Christ, Chrissy. You're killing me."
There's no response to that. She just keeps watching him while taking in little puffs of air to calm down. Did that really just happen? Oh, God… It's like suddenly coming to her senses after being under a powerful spell. An enchantment that was close to letting loose some starving animal from deep inside. One that was leaning back on its haunches and swishing its tail, getting ready to pounce. Ending the kiss slammed the cage door on it before anything got out of control.
The captain shifts around uncomfortably, feeling hot and agitated after that. Everything is pulsing the same way her backside did when he spanked it. That's what caused all this. Him and those wicked hands.
Eddie appears worse off by comparison. A total mess. Sweating bullets and still winded. He tears his gaze away from her face to stare at something across the room. His pupils are so dilated that she can barely see those dark brown irises anymore. "Hah." A thin brow arches at the breathy chuckle, wondering what's funny. After a moment, she's lifted back up and set down on the covers as he unravels himself from her.
"W–What?" The ruckus above returns with a vengeance. A million thoughts ricochet off the walls in her mind at turbo speed. Maybe she's not a good kisser? Did it suck? Was that last part a bad idea? Is that why it ended?
"Nothin'. It's just that we, uh, went out of order." There's a crack in his voice towards the end. Grabbing onto the sleeve of her jacket, she tugs on the light blue fabric while observing him carefully. Watching as he sucks in the kiss-swollen bottom lip she nibbled on, dragging his teeth over it. "Figures."
"Out of order?"
"You know… Kissing usually comes before spanking, but whatever. Just thought it was kinda funny. Sounds about right for us." He runs a hand over his face and into his wild hair, still not looking at her. "So, yeah… Give me a few minutes, then we can go on that ride."
Chrissy gapes in surprise as he awkwardly gets off the bed and rushes out of the room. A second later, she hears the bathroom door slam shut and the sink turn on. Wide blue eyes stare at the open doorway, not knowing what the heck to make of that.
'I don't get it… Why did he run off? Did I do something wrong?'
Well, he is super sweaty… And that hair is out of control. He probably wants to cool off and rinse his face before they head out. That's what she settles on to avoid beating herself up. It just seemed to end so abruptly.
"I can't believe I did that." She whispers to herself in disbelief. Now that he's gone and there's some time to think, it's starting to sink in. Reaching up, the tips of the cheerleader's fingers gently brush over her lips. They really did that. Both hands cover her flushed face as she squeals, flinging herself against the mattress.
'I'm a little hussy...'
Diving right in, latching onto him, pressing her chest up against his… And that wasn't enough. She wanted more. More of what is the real question. It's not entirely clear. Perhaps just kissing a little longer would've been fine. Maybe not. He put a stop to it so they didn't get far enough to know.
The captain tosses the throw over herself and flops down, burying her face into his pillow. All of it smells like him. Naturally. It's comforting. Something she needs right now. Closing her eyes, she snuggles up with it, breathing in the heady scent surrounding her.
"Mmm…" Chrissy curls up under the small blanket, melting into the bed. How silly. She's not a hussy. That's the purity garbage from the church still whispering in her ear. It's a bunch of nonsense. Even if it was true, so what? There's nothing wrong with that.
Every second of it was great. Liberating. Enlightening. Sent her soaring above the clouds. The freest she's ever felt. Totally different from the ones before. It seems that's how things are with Eddie. Being with him opens up opportunities to explore and widen her horizons. Try new stuff. Take more chances. And that's exactly what happened today. People were right about him. He is trouble. The best kind.
'Trouble is taking a while. Is he giving himself a bath in the sink?'
At least ten minutes pass before the bathroom door opens. Hearing feet shuffling across the carpet, she rolls over and sees him standing in the doorway, just staring at her. Not saying anything. When they make eye contact, his gaze darts away only to come right back.
'Is something wrong? What's with him? He looks like a guilty dog that's waiting for his owner to find out he chewed up her new pumps.'
Sucking in his lips, he strides over to the abandoned bandana on the floor and snatches it up. It dropped when realizing what she was reading. He makes quick work of the black cloth with white skulls, covering the top of his head and tying it in the back.
What, is he going to make things weird now? Isn't that her job? Unless tugging on his lip really was a bad move after all… Perhaps it's a big turn-off. Could be something else. Chrissy dips under the throw and slithers over to the edge of the bed, reaching down to pick up the magazine off the carpet. How funny. This is what gave them the push to take a step forward. Monster porn. Like he said earlier, figures.
"Um… Here's your magazine. Sorry for going through your stuff." She says softly and holds it out, hoping this might patch things up a bit. The awkward silence is not sitting well with her. That's when unwanted thoughts begin making the rounds.
Eddie takes it from her, finally getting the so-called 'hostage' back. Glancing at the cover, he does a lip trill and flings it over his shoulder. The magazine flies through the air, landing on the long white desk and knocking some items off the side. "It's all good." That shit-eating grin makes a reappearance from seeing her shocked face. "No biggie. Do they bother you?"
She's not sure what to be more taken aback by. His rough treatment of the magazine he chased her all around the trailer for or him even asking that. Why would it? They're not even together. Her feelings about them are irrelevant. And it's no biggie? Didn't seem that way when he was freaking out about it. "Well, it's really none of my business what you have in your room… or do. It doesn't matter." His blank stare at the response causes her to raise a brow. Was he expecting more? "I do think you're a huge pervert, though."
"Hey, now! At least I have taste." Stomping over to the desk, he grabs the magazine and holds it up, tapping the cover with a ringed finger. "These actually have a plot, character development, and no one gets exploited for them like the mainstream bullshit. It's not just monster po—erotica, either."
"I see. So it's ethical porn consumption with a mix of other things you like."
"You got it, sweetheart. That's only one part of it though." He flips through the pages with a little smirk until finding a particular section. "You're not gonna find anything like this in Hustler." A double-page spread from the chapter is hoisted up gleefully and she wants to die. The image of what happened after Tork said screw it and escaped out of the tank that's supposed to keep him contained. Aside from the main character, no one else on the team knows how often he gets out.
"Eddie!" So much for him being embarrassed. But now she is, despite already seeing it. He's holding the artwork of Melissa being 'restrained' in midair like it's some kind of prize to show off. It didn't take long for this guy to become shameless again. "Of course not. They'd need a lot of money and an amazing special effects team to pull any of that off."
'What the heck am I saying? That'll only encourage him.'
"Damn right it would. And why do all that when something better can be made with ink? If folks legit tried this, it'd look so goofy. Hard pass." The Hellfire leader snorts, tossing the magazine back onto the desk. "Besides, I'm not crazy about the real stuff, if you catch my drift. Just doesn't do it for me."
"Real stuff? Like with actual people? So you're not into Playboys or those dirty tapes?" Why are they still talking about this? And why is she trying to get more out of him? This whole situation is making her feel really weird, but Chrissy is genuinely curious. She's intrigued by his interests and he seems cool with indulging her.
"Nah. Those are expensive and boring. And don't get me started on pornos. They're a lot of the same, only with shitty acting and a funk track playing in the background. That's not for me. I need a storyline. Decent dialogue. Compelling characters with at least some friggin' chemistry. Also the artwork... Eh, whatever. I'm just sayin' there's more to it than just the pervy crap."
'Jeez. I didn't know he had such strong feelings about porn of all things.'
"How did you get into them? I'm just wondering. I didn't know there were things like that."
"Long story short: Dom. Dude's always gotta crap ton of magazines behind the bar, mostly Heavy Metal. The problem is that there's a big chunk of time between each issue, so I spread my wings and found similar series like this bad boy." He motions to the abandoned magazine hanging partway off the side. "Usually find 'em through word of mouth. If you liked that, you might dig this one gem I got my hands on a while ago. It's a dark fantasy collection by chicks for chicks."
"Why do you have that?" A small smile breaks out from this unexpected turn. She didn't think he'd be so willing to talk about his magazines after that initial reaction earlier. Yet here he is, making recommendations. Where'd the sudden change of heart come from?
"Oh, uh…" Eddie leans back against the desk and crosses his arms. "Well, back then I wanted to see what ladies were into. Thought that might help. Figured it's better to get it straight from the source than other dudes. Made more sense to me."
"It does." She slowly nods, pulling the throw tighter around her. Another little tidbit from him. "Then it's like how you tried to grow a shag rug on your chest. I'm surprised by the effort you put in to impress girls." He always appeared like someone who couldn't care less. Granted, his methods are a little unusual compared to other guys she knows. They usually do it through clothing, cars, or working out.
"No–Not exactly. Girl, singular. There was only one person I was tryin' to impress with all that stupid crap. A chick I kinda had a thing for back in middle school… and, ah, most of high school." He tilts his chin down, looking at something on the carpet. "I mean, it wasn't anything wild. Just a little thing that popped up here and there. Didn't work anyway."
Of all the times they've hungout, she doesn't remember him opening up about that part of himself. The most she got was the shaving bit. This guy hasn't mentioned any exes or crushes or anything specific. Unlike her, whose very recent dating history has been shoved in their faces. For him, literally. He's still banged up from it.
"Why not?"
"Dunno." A hand reaches up to scratch the side of his mouth. He lets out a deep sigh before those warm brown eyes make their way back to her. "Guess I didn't show up on her radar. She was into other dudes. You know, guys that aren't like me. Probably wasn't her type."
'Aww… I feel sorry for him. Reminds me of Konstantin. How heartbreaking.'
"That really sucks…" She follows up with a sigh of her own. "I sort of know how that feels."
Eddie's brows shoot up as he stares at the cheerleader incredulously, craning his head forward. "Do you now?" Each word drips with skepticism and that irks her a little. Does he honestly think she never liked someone who didn't return those feelings? That happens to everyone at one point in their life, right? Especially in high school, when hormones and emotions are all over the place.
"Well, yeah. Plenty of people go through that." Chrissy shrugs, moving to cross her legs on the mattress. "I had a huge crush on a guy that also started in middle school and went on for a while. He was older, so we weren't in the same grade. I even changed my clothes and hairstyle to get his attention." She chuckles and shakes her head, feeling embarrassed by her younger self. It wasn't just her. Other girls went gaga over him, too.
He falls silent. The captain watches him intently, patiently waiting for some kind of reaction after that. Instead, he squeezes his arms tighter against himself and begins pacing across the carpet. Her eyes follow along with the movements, trying to figure out what's going on in that head before he stops. "...An older guy?"
"Yeah."
The Hellfire leader nods and resumes walking back and forth. Is this some little game to guess who it is? She'd be shocked if he didn't have the slightest clue. A lot of girls had a thing for that guy before he graduated. It's not a huge secret. "Do I know him?"
Maybe not personally, but he definitely knows of him. They were technically in the same grade for a year. "Mhm." That response causes him to freeze right in front of the bed. He fidgets and then rubs his chest, letting out a deep breath.
'Why's he acting like that? It's not that big of a deal.'
"Who?"
Chrissy stares at him unblinkingly as something finally dawns on her. It's too late now and she doesn't want to lie. That might be even crueler than being honest. "...Steve Harrington." She's never seen a person's face drop so quickly. His eyes pop open and jaw goes slack, staying like that for an uncomfortable amount of time.
'Oh no! I think he thought I was talking about him… Now I feel terrible. I'm such an idiot!'
To her horror, Eddie tips and falls over, slamming into the floor with a loud bang. He didn't even attempt to brace himself. "Eddie!" Tossing the throw away, she scrambles to the edge of the mattress and hops off, rushing over to him. The cheerleader drops down to her knees beside the stiff body lying face–down, totally motionless. "Are you okay?! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"Go ahead, Chrissy. Step on me. Spit on me. It'd be hell of a lot kinder." He groans, voice muffled by the carpet. The guilt only increases from this sad display. When they met up in the woods, they already went over that she didn't realize he was the same boy from the talent show. That wasn't a lie. So how could he possibly be her crush all these years?
"I wasn't trying to hurt you," Chrissy says gently, brushing the dark hair sticking out from beneath the black cloth.
"Harrington? Really?!" She jumps back when he suddenly shoots up and adjusts the skull bandana, scoffing in annoyance. "Of course it's Steve fucking Harrington. Every chick wants that guy. Rich, good-looking, popular… A huge jerk."
"That's not true! He's always been nice to me. And so what? That was forever ago. I only brought it up to try to make you feel better. Like, to relate." The look on his face almost makes her burst out laughing. She pushes it down, not wanting to upset him even further. "Okay, then tell me who you were talking about so I can have a super dramatic reaction, too."
'Is he just jealous or was Steve mean to him before? I'm not stupid. I know quite a few of the popular kids are bullies. Some put on a nice act, then turn around to torment 'losers' when they think no one's looking. Hopefully that's not the case.'
"Uh…" That changes the mood instantly. Eddie whips his head away and exhales deeply, glancing at the posters on the wall. Almost as if looking for something. "T–Tammy Thompson." As soon as it comes out, he winces and pinches the bridge of his nose.
"No way! For real?" She wasn't sure what name would get tossed out, but that one's a shocker. There might be some truth to it or he just said that because of the whole Steve thing. Who knows? But if he's being honest, that shows this guy has a type. Preppy, popular girls with strawberry blonde hair. "I never would've guessed that. You're both into music, so I can kind of see it."
'Even if that's a lie, it's still interesting that he chose her. Tammy's really pretty and sweet, too.'
"You know what? None of that matters. Screw it. We're going into the past. That was then, this is now. Right?" This conversation is visibly bothering him. From his body language and tone, he wants nothing more than to drop it completely. She hums in agreement. "So, I'm ready whenever you are. Let's go take that beast on a rampage." Hopping to his feet, a hand's held out to help her up off the floor.
"Okay, but you're driving."
"Umm… You sure about that? Like, for real?" From a logical standpoint, it's a terrible idea. No person with any sense of self-preservation would allow this man behind the wheel of their car after seeing him in action. Even he's raising a brow at the suggestion. "I mean, I'm totally down. I just wanna make sure you're one hundred percent certain."
"I trust you. Besides, you promised last night that you'd try not to almost kill us again." Maybe this is really stupid, but he's been driving that van around like a maniac for a while and hasn't completely totaled it so far. That takes some amount of control and skill. "I'm putting my life in your hands." She pulls on the front of the white tee to fish out the keys in her bra before tossing them to him.
Eddie quickly snatches the set in the air. Holding the keys up, he leans in close and pokes them. "Lucky little shits." She laughs as they get shoved into a pocket before he grabs the aviator sunglasses off the bedside table. "Let's hit the road hot stuff."
'Nice. She's actually loving this.'
His eyes dart to the rearview mirror that's turned to the side just enough to steal a glance at the person sitting in the passenger's seat. It lasts only a few seconds before shifting right back. This time, having a wandering gaze could actually get them killed. Nope. Not today. Screw all that.
But…
Chrissy looks blissfully happy. Just beaming while leaning out the window as they take off down the highway. Letting the wind whip her loose hair every which way and reaching out as far as the seat belt will allow to feel the air rushing by. If he wasn't wearing sunglasses, the bright rays coming off of her might've blinded him.
He presses his foot down further on the gas pedal, grinning from hearing her giggle excitedly when they go faster. Little speed demoness… Most people lose their shit over his driving. Clinging onto anything in reach and bitchin' up a storm. She's getting a kick from it right now. Egging him on to keep going while he weaves in and out of the lanes, quickly passing other cars in their way.
This Corvette is really something else. No wonder folks will spend top dollar for it. He never imagined getting the chance to take one of these for a spin. After all, who in their right mind would let him? Especially with how fast it is? It couldn't be any more different from his ol' clunker. The lightest touch is all it takes for this thing to go flying.
Metallica's 'Ride the Lightening' plays at a deafening volume and adrenaline surges through his veins. This must be what it feels like to be a rock star offstage. Getting to drive a fancy sports car with a hot chick next to him. Sneaking another peek, she's turned around and hanging partway out the window. Ballsy Chrissy is having the time of her life.
Dammit. It's right there. Her ass is sticking out and within arm's reach. So perky and supple. So biteable. He salutes whoever made those leggings. They have his eternal gratitude.
'Down, boy.'
His eyes reluctantly tear away from the little heart-shaped backside gently swaying to the music. No. These bastards need to focus on the road. There will be more chances to stare at her ass later, but not if they get into an accident. Besides, he got a chance to touch it earlier. And when Chrissy hopped into the car, she winced after sitting down. That made him feel like shit. It wasn't supposed to hurt her…
That was the whole point of using the traffic light system. Despite being completely messed up from everything happening, he at least had the sense to keep certain things in mind. The conversation between her and Carver told him they had major issues. Like with communication, boundaries, and consent. A perfect recipe for disaster. Also, a great way to catch a charge or traumatize someone.
From what he's read and heard, BDSM is all about that stuff. Trusting the other person, setting boundaries, and mutual agreements. He already screwed up by going for it the first time. To his shock and excitement, she wanted more… It only made sense to use what works—laying it all out and putting the kill switch in her hands.
"I can't help it. You're hot."
Eddie's glad she's cool with the music blasting like this. It covers up all the sighs and shaky breaths. He's sure of it now. Chrissy Cunningham is hellbent on sending him to an early grave. Either that or he actually died last night and this is all some kind of ruse before the real punishment begins. That would be his luck. Well, if Dave Mustaine or Kirk Hammett come out of the woodwork wanting a jam session, then it's clear he's totally fucked.
'I'm fucked regardless…'
The tip of his tongue slowly traces his bottom lip as the next song comes on. Ozzy's 'Shot in the Dark'. It's wild. This chick has him in a tizzy and things are not going as imagined. He's really diggin' it. Just thinking about earlier is making his heart race all over again. The jitters still haven't completely worn off.
There was nothing he could've done to prepare himself for any of that. Kissing his tat. Reading his erotica. Chasing her around the trailer. The taunts and teasing. Or the cheerleader turning off shy mode and trying to maul him. That was so damn hot.
Maybe too hot.
'...Shit.'
Nothing will make it clearer to a dude that he's touch-starved like getting so wound up from a little smooch. Pathetic. Weak sauce. All it took was seeing how Chrissy was staring at him after hopping out of the shower to get his blood pumping. And what she said… Everything went straight to hell after that.
Wanting to be spanked, kissing him back so eagerly, biting his lip, that noise she made… Yeah, Eddie had to jump ship before embarrassing himself. If it can be helped, he really doesn't want to screw up this thing going on between them. It's not a stretch to imagine their sudden make-out session could've turned into something else. The princess seemed more than game from the way she was climbing him like a tree.
Saying he doesn't want her that way or hasn't fantasized about it would be the biggest lie in human history. Those ideas pop up pretty often. It's a pain sometimes. Literally. Blue balls are a real bitch. Still, not messing this up means having to think shit through. Aside from some crappy thoughts gnawing at him, doing that wouldn't have ended well from how riled up he already was.
After what went down, all she had to do was grab his junk and he would've blown the roof off the trailer. Just explode right then and there, like a goddamn loser. And what then? He'd rather let the Douche Brigade beat him with shovels than have Chrissy think he's some two-pump chump that's good for nothing. Of course, she'd probably smile sweetly and tell him it's okay, which would only make him feel worse.
That needs to be fixed. It was bad enough leaving her high and dry earlier to take care of himself in the bathroom. An impromptu date with Mary Palmer and her five sisters… That can't happen again. Wasn't even the first time skedaddling to go clear his head. The same shit happened last Saturday. So friggin' embarrassing… There's probably many rounds of hand to gland combat coming his way in the very near future. Hopefully, that'll help build up a tolerance toward her. If they're gonna continue in that direction, he can't go bursting at the seams before the curtains even open.
'She's driving me crazy.'
"My turn next!" Chrissy yells over the music. Giving a fair forewarning before it ends, then popping the cassette out. He got his four songs and now they're switching. It was her idea so they both can get a little something out of it.
She flips the tape around to A side and a few seconds later, 'I Ran' from A Flock of Seagulls starts playing. One of the songs on the mixtape he made for her birthday. Donna suggested the waver tune. He doesn't hate it. Their guitarist's riffs are on point. Not his style, but that's fine.
"I walked along the avenue… I never thought I'd meet a girl like you… Meet a girl like you."
The cheerleader smiles brightly and shimmies along to the beat, thoroughly enjoying herself. This chick isn't the only one. He's captivated by what's happening in front of him. Getting to see her opening up more and having fun is a real sight to behold. The change is noticeable. She's a blossom slowly blooming just in time for spring. And he's the lucky person given the chance to witness it.
'Yep. I'm done for. Had to open my big mouth in the room, too… Oh, well. Worked out in the end, I guess. Looks like she's not the only one being ballsy as hell this weekend.'
Someone honking like crazy breaks that train of thought. Doing a quick glance out the driver's side window, his brow furrows seeing a car riding alongside them that keeps blasting the horn. They're coming a little too close. Even Chrissy leans forward to see what's going on. Turning down the music, Eddie shifts his gaze from the road ahead over to the left lane and back. A group of dudes in what he's pretty sure is an '82 Mustang GT.
'What the fuck do they want?'
Is this the part where some assholes try to take a shit on his good day? Hell no. Winding up the middle finger to tell them to piss off, it drops when he notices the guy on the passenger side making hand gestures. Then the driver himself revs his engine a few times. So that's what it is… His lips curl up into a smirk as he gives them a thumbs-up.
These bastards wanna race, huh? They don't realize who they're tryin' to play with. Not only can this Corvette outrun their Mustang, but there's a maniac behind the wheel who doesn't know when to quit.
Tightening his grip, he shoots Chrissy a look and grins. "Hold on to your tits, sweetheart."
"What?"
She yelps when he floors it, getting pushed back against the seat as they speed down the highway. The Mustang is right along with them, keeping up. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see the people in the back going wild. Leaning over the armrest while pumping their fists and yelling at the driver.
Thankfully, it's not busy. There aren't many other folks out here today, but he has to swerve into the right lane and back to the center when a minivan gets in the way.
"You better not lose, Eddie!" The captain shouts out the command, sounding much braver than she actually looks. Her hands are gripping onto the seat belt and headrest, hanging on for dear life.
"Gotcha, princess. I won't. Not in this bad boy." Okay, no more playing games then. If Chrissy wants a W, she'll get it. Still, a thought jumps out that widens his grin. "So, uh… do I get anything if I win?" He nips at the inside of his cheek, waiting on the answer after she's silent for a moment. It wouldn't take much more to pass the car they're racing. There's about a 30 mph gap in their top speeds. He's just having fun dragging it out. If the reward is another kiss, these guys are about to get smoked.
"Yeah, you won't get smacked for scaring me."
'Damn. I tried.'
"...Well," His ears perk up when she hesitantly speaks up. Now's not the time to steal another glance, but he'd bet money her face is pink just from the way she sounds. "You might get a little something. We can talk about it after you beat them."
"Oh?!" That's pretty vague, but leaves enough room to bargain and tease the hell out of her. Alrighty, then. "Hang on tight."
Eddie leans forward in the driver's seat and clenches his jaw, applying more pressure to the gas pedal. Unlike last time, he's not letting up. Screw these guys. There's a reward waiting for him at the end of this. Revving the engine, the guys in the Mustang are flashed a huge grin before they fly past them. Barreling down the highway and leaving them in the dust.
"That's right! Eat dirt, dumbasses!" He doesn't hold back, hooting and hollering while slapping the side of the steering wheel. Smiling like the biggest idiot in existence. Throwing up his hand, Chrissy laughs and high-fives him. They did that shit, and it was one hell of a rush. "So, where's my prize? Hmm?"
"Uhn-uh. I've learned my lesson. You're not getting anything until we're parked somewhere. I don't need you almost causing an accident… again."
'I'm never gonna live that down. Can't blame her, though. She's not wrong.'
"Oh, shit!" His eyes turn into saucers seeing the flashing lights in the side–view mirror. That's a Chevy Caprice… A state trooper. Not one of the bumpkins from Hawkins. They don't mess around and are coming in hot down the center. "Shit, shit, shit!" Switching between looking at the road ahead and the mirror, he debates what to do. They could outrun him. That Caprice won't catch her Corvette unless backup is called in to cut them off further down the highway.
'Fuck me… This could end up in a Bonnie and Clyde ride or a double booking.'
The trooper veers off into the left lane and right up behind the dudes in the Mustang, pulling them over. Lady Luck is on their side it seems. Doesn't mean they're off the hook just yet.
"Oh my God… I thought he was coming for us." She peeks over the top of the headrest again before sinking down into the seat, sighing in relief. "I don't need a ticket after just getting this. My dad would definitely try to take the keys away."
"We're not in the clear yet. I've had a few run-ins with the big dogs. They're sneaky son's–a–bitches. Those guys were just closer. All it takes is a call on the radio for the bloodhounds to come sniffin' around and we kinda stick out." Seeing the look of panic on the cheerleader's face, he reaches over to stroke her head. "We'll be safe enough once we make the jump to hyperspace. Besides, I know a few maneuvers. We'll lose them!"
"What the heck are you talking about? Getting in a high-speed chase with the police?" Seems like that only made things worse. Now she's really worried.
"Christ. You know what? One of these weekends, we need to sit our asses down and watch the Star Wars trilogy together. It's not as funny if you don't get my references." He shakes his head and speeds up, hopping in front of an eighteen–wheeler. At least they're out of view and it's doubtful the cop got a good look at her license plate. The next exit is another small town, but that'll do. They will just have to get back to Hawkins the long way.
A sign for Brickston quickly passes them by. One-half mile and they can get the hell out of dodge. The ramp comes up fast and he jerks the wheel, making a sharp turn onto it. That gets a squeal and a little tug on his hair for not giving a heads-up.
"We should be good now. You can relax." Eddie turns off a dirt road into a ratty-looking gas station, pulling up to a pump. There's less than a quarter tank left and it's gonna take a bit to get home. Shutting the car off, he scans the area around them and groans.
'Damn. We're deep in the sticks. This is real redneck country.'
"I don't think I've been here before." Sitting up, the captain looks out of the window curiously. There's not much to see. Just dirt, tall grass, and a few run-down places. No residential areas anywhere in sight. "Oh, no!" she gasps and holds her hands up, staring down in shock.
"What?! What's wrong?"
"I didn't listen to your warning! The windows were down and everything!" Chrissy cries out, covering her face. Not answering when he repeats the question a couple more times. Did an earring fly out or something? His sunglasses get tossed onto the dashboard to make this easier. He leans over to check the floor, trying to figure out what she lost as her shoulders start shaking.
'Shit. It must've been really important. Not like we can look along the highway, either. Sucks, but whatever's gone is gone. Gotta try to make her feel better somehow.'
"I… I forgot to hold on to my tits. They're gone! What am I going to do?!" Dainty hands frantically pat the front of the light blue jacket. He sits up and follows the movements, dark eyes landing on her chest. It finally clicks like a gas stove turning on and a small flame ignites under the Hellfire leader's skin, burning his face and ears.
"Goddammit, Chrissy!" He lunges over the armrest to get to the giggling cheerleader, pinching her cheeks and screwing up that windswept hair. Unbelievable. She played him for a fool. Fell for that crying bullshit hook, line, and sinker. And she's laughing her ass off about it. "You little liar! What was that crap about not saying mean things, huh? Or does that only apply to me?"
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry! Uncle!"
"Hey, leave him outta this." So, that's how it is? This chick… Dropping back into the driver's seat, Eddie huffs while adjusting his bandana. It goes quiet. He tilts his head to the side, watching her trying to fix the mess he made in the mirror. She's got that look again. Something is bothering her and it's not hard to read between the lines. "There's nothing wrong with 'em, you know."
Chrissy pauses in the middle of untangling a knot. Just staring in the tiny mirror on the visor. So that's the problem? She's self-conscious about her chest and made a joke out of it to fish around for his opinion. That's a first but it makes sense that someone struggling with an eating disorder would have body image issues.
"And if you couldn't tell yet… I'm an ass man." She whips her head towards him with a startled expression. Yeah, he said that. With a big ol' smirk, too. The princess is gonna have to deal with it. "But if you wanna keep insisting they're missing, I'm down to look for 'em. Gotta pretty good hunch where to start, too."
They stare at each other for a good minute before cracking up. Slowly releasing the pressure. A blush spreads across her face from that crappy attempt at flirting. The laugh and huge smile it draws out make it all worth it. Warmth pools in his chest from gazing at her and reaffirms the obvious.
Eddie's totally smitten.
"I'm surprised you wanted something like that."
"What can I say? Gotta sweet tooth today." He snorts, holding the door open for her. She smiles and strolls out, gripping the small to-go cup of hot chocolate from inside. Looks like he wasn't the only one that wanted more sugary shit.
After the long trek back to Hawkins, they headed downtown to explore their own backyard together. Actually, Eddie was in the mood for some sweet cream pie and the bakery on Dawson has bangin' goodies. Not that it happens often. More like once in a blue moon when the munchies drag his ass there to satisfy a particular craving. It's just one of those days where it feels right to treat himself and they're already in the area.
Finding out Chrissy never tried it wasn't too surprising. Her mom monitored everything and enforced a strict diet. So lame… But no one's going to do that if he can help it. She took a few bites and that was good enough for him. Eating some is better than none.
'Still a couple of hours left.'
Honestly, he's not crazy about hanging around this side of town, but whatever. It's always full of yuppies, hipsters, and the local yokels going about their day. They're so different, yet have a similar issue.
A goddamn staring problem.
'The hell you lookin' at?'
His eyes narrow on two guys in their thirties passing them on the sidewalk. Giving both high school seniors the 'look'. That keeps happening. Some people observe them curiously or scrunch up their noses if they bother at all. Hawkins is a small town. Most folks at least know of each other.
It's annoying. They could be gawking for a million reasons. The bruise on his face on top of everything else probably sets off their 'trouble incoming' alarms. Some might be worried the princess is getting in with the wrong crowd from a few concerned expressions. Hell, the pair are just odd together. To the squares, they might as well be seeing a demon skulking down their streets with an angel floating alongside him. He'd probably stop to take a gander, too.
Still, there's always fun to be had. When she's not looking and someone's staring at them, he'll throw up the devil's horns or roll his eyes back. Occasionally flip them off. Anything to startle them and get a good laugh.
"I don't remember this being here…" Chrissy stops in front of the old Radio Shack. The store closed last year. What a shame. They had some pretty sturdy cables and extension cords for cheap. But now there's a huge board on the window with a couple of sheets tacked to it. Some town announcements, and two missing person posters full of details and a number to call with any information.
'Danny's still missing.'
They didn't know each other well. Just in passing. The dude's uncle is one of the old heads Wayne hangs out with at the bar. Used to, anyway. After Danny went missing, the Gibsons have spent the last month handing out flyers, asking questions, and stapling posters everywhere. Some people wave it off as the family not accepting their adult son's a runaway.
"...That man looks familiar." A finger taps against the other poster as she leans in, staring at the image closely. It's a picture of a guy in his late fifties. Seems more like one taken from a business card. He's in a suit and tie, with his hair neatly combed. "Where have I seen him before?"
"Well, this town is small as shit. Maybe you walked by him once or something."
"No… Nevermind. I can't remember, anyway." The captain sighs and gives the poster one last glance before moving on. She goes back to drinking the hot chocolate, but he can tell from the way her brow is furrowed that she's still puzzling over it. Trying to figure out the connection and place the face in the timeline.
"Can I get some?" That works to distract her from the issue. Those big blue doe eyes stare up at him as warmth spreads across her cheeks and she hands the cup over. Good. No reason to get bummed out over something that can't be helped. After taking a sip, he gives it back and she wraps her pretty lips around the straw he just drank from.
'I don't deserve this.'
Eddie chews on the corner of his mouth while watching the little cheerleader. She's so beautiful... Sometimes it hurts to look at her, but he can't help himself. And the time they spend together is special to him. It's totally different from chilling with the guys or other people. Sure, she fries his nerves to a crisp a lot, though that's kinda exciting. There's no good way to accurately describe it. All that's for sure is that he doesn't want whatever this is to end.
'I wanna kiss her again.'
Walking down the street with no destination in mind, he keeps stealing glances at Chrissy, debating on making some kind of move. Even if it's just holding her hand. It doesn't have to go beyond that.
"Ah! Oh my God!" She suddenly takes off like a bat out of hell. Running straight up to a large window of a shop with mannequins on display. Arching a brow, he follows along and eyes the petite figure looking around excitedly. Across the top of the place is the name Marie's in fancy–schmancy lettering.
'Must be some pricey clothing store.'
"The spring collection's out! Oh, that dress is so pretty…" Right in the front is a knee-length white dress with a floral pattern. It's true. The outfit is pretty and would look great on her. "So is that blouse. Those sandals are cute, too."
The sheer joy radiating from her is contagious and it makes him grin. Of course she's into this kinda stuff. Outside of cheerleading, this chick usually dresses real nice. Lots of bright colors, soft-looking fabrics, and flowy pieces that are probably expensive. The total opposite of his style. That's just who Chrissy is and he wouldn't want that to change.
'I can't buy shit in there… Couldn't take her shopping even if I wanted to.'
Noticing a few of the tags hanging off the mannequins, Eddie scoffs and turns away. Ridiculous. It doesn't cost that much to make a goddamn shirt. People are paying for the label and 'cause it's from some wannabe ritzy boutique. Hawkins isn't much, so there aren't a bunch of places like this around. And not everyone wants to drive out of town just to buy overpriced clothes. The folks who run these shops know that and understand someone will shell out cash for their products. Preps are a perfect example of that.
Seeing the big smile on her face and how those blue eyes light up while glossing over the different outfits leaves him feeling off. Like a ball of hot lead got jammed into his stomach. She obviously really wants that dress and could get it herself no problem. He'd have to really hustle to make enough. It'd probably take a couple weeks of saving up anything extra.
'Douchebag could walk right in with her and pay for everything in the display window without worrying about gas. The Hair, too.'
Reaching into his back pocket, he pulls out a cigarette pack, needing a smoke to smooth out the jagged edges. How stupid. She's here with him. Not any of them. Thinking that doesn't make the shitty feeling disappear though. Whatever. There's other stuff he can do to make her happy that won't cost anything.
'She should be with someone who can—'
"Sorry!" Chrissy skips back over to him and bounces on her heels, giving him an apologetic look. "Didn't mean to make you wait. I just couldn't help myself."
"You got nothing to be sorry for." He bops the tip of her nose and dodges the hand trying to swat him like a bug, laughing while the cigarette dangles from the corner of his mouth. "Gotta do better than that if you wanna hit me." This chick is actually surprisingly fast. That small stature caused him to underestimate her like a dumbass.
"I don't. You'd know it if I really did."
That taunting smirk she gives him before spinning away and walking off makes him want to spank that little ass so badly. His face scrunches up as he stares at her back, trying to reel in the self-indulgent side that's eager to play around. Nope. She's sore from him being more heavy-handed than intended earlier. He also pushed his luck enough for one day. Being too greedy could backfire.
"Dammit…" Eddie mutters irritably, looking over at the store window again. This is dumb. Shaking it off, he dashes down the sidewalk to catch up with her. Acting like a moron won't change anything. It's not a secret he's poor. She already knows and apparently doesn't care.
"Why do you look so grumpy?" Chrissy tilts her head back to zero in on him when they turn the corner. Does he? Whoops. That wasn't supposed to show.
"What do you mean? This is my normal face. I just make it look less pissy when you're around. Don't wanna scare you off." The Hellfire leader gives her a toothy grin, not wanting to ruin the mood over some dopey crap. That'd be a shame after how cheery she's been.
"Sure it is."
Dark eyes drift downward after something brushes up against his jacket. A hand glides along the leather sleeve and over the chains used to keep the cuff together until reaching the intended destination. It slips into his own so naturally now and their fingers readily intertwine, like they've done this a million times before.
Glancing at her from the side, she's staring at the front of a small craft shop they're passing by. He notices the color in her cheeks and it's probably not just from the nippy March air. Yeah, none of that other stuff matters anymore. It's better to live in the moment and enjoy what's right in front of him while it lasts.
Evening came far too quickly. The hours flew by so fast. Charlotte's going to be expecting her and Natalie to show up soon. Not that she isn't looking forward to girls' night. They haven't had one of those in a while. It's just that spending most of the day with Eddie has been wonderful. Part of her is reluctant to leave, but that can't be helped. Both of them have plans. Her with friends and him at The Hideout.
"I had fun," Chrissy says softly as they stop next to the Corvette. Clasping her hands together, she gazes up at him affectionately. This man… It's hard to remember the last time she allowed herself to let go like that and just have fun without a care.
"Same. If you ever feel like getting chased around again, you know where to come." The huge smile that spreads across his face causes her chest to tighten. Like the one from the forest. Totally swoon-worthy. "How's your ass? My bad if I was a little rough."
'Ugh… It'll never be the same again.'
"No, don't worry about that. It's fine. I, um… I liked it." She confesses, trying not to lose what nerve is left. It turned out to be true. Asking him to do that earlier actually did help the cheerleader figure out a few things about herself. Honestly, that's freaking her out. When getting ready to come over, there were thoughts of what they can do together like taking the car for a spin. Having some kind of strange sexual awakening was not part of the plan.
'What if I'm into really bizarre stuff and haven't realized it yet? I never would've thought I'd enjoy getting spanked, yet here we are. That's a little scary. Who the hell am I? Darn him… This is all his fault. Now I'm all confused and frustrated. My world is getting turned upside down.'
"Yeah? Knew it. The sweet ones always end up being the biggest freaks." This guy seems proud of himself, standing tall with a cocky expression. Seeing the face she's making puts a damper on that. "I say that with love. It's a compliment. We're both huge freaks. You're just less conspicuous than me."
"Mm." Turning away, the driver's door is opened and she gingerly slides onto the seat, trying not to wince or anything with him watching. Her ass is sore. Nothing too bad, though. Cheer practice has left her in worse shape than this. Getting settled in, she rolls down the window and eyes the guy right outside it. "Oh, um… I was wondering something. Have you… ever done that before?"
"Spank someone?" Eddie stoops down to lean against the door, poking his head through the open window. He seems to know a lot about it. Mentioning stuff like trust and a traffic light system or whatever that was. Maybe it was stupid to put that out there, even if he asked the same question before they started. She's not sure if she actually wants to know the answer. It's making her feel a teeny tiny bit weird to think about him doing this with other girls.
"Ah-huh…"
'This is silly. Am I really getting jealous over that? He's not my boyfriend. Knock it off, dweeb.'
"Pshh! All the time." The Hellfire leader rears back, giving her a look of disbelief. As if doubting it alone was absurd. Her stomach twists into knots. "There's usually a line out front that stretches all the way to the main road with every chick in the park waiting for their daily fix. Told them I needed the day off so you wouldn't see them and blow a gasket. They were pretty pissed, but what can I do?" He shrugs his shoulders, flashing her a wolfish grin. "Cat's out of the bag now, so I guess that was pointless."
'What a punk! He's toying with me.'
"You know, my punishments are pretty infamous. They're the real deal. Hell, I've become something of an urban legend round these parts. Ask anyone. People started calling me 'The Dom'. There's even a rumor that spread a while ago that if someone says that name three times out loud, I'll pop out of nowhere to bend them over my knee and spank 'em."
"The Dom?" Her eyes go wide with wonder, playing along with this wacky little tale. "Like a mafia boss? Or is that a don?"
He gawks at her, finding himself temporarily speechless. Did that throw him off? His face is heating up. "...Sure. I guess you could say that…"
"So you're a spanking fiend. I should've known. My apologies, Mr. Dom. I didn't realize I was in the presence of such a legend. What an opportunity. I must be really special since you didn't make me wait in line with all the other women."
"Oh, well… It's not every day these hands get to touch royalty. Wasn't going to pass up the chance. Didn't need those chicks cramping my style, either."
"I see. That gives me an interesting idea. There's nothing like that 'round my parts'. I enjoyed it, so maybe other people in the hoity-toity section—as you call it—might too. I'd bet plenty of guys across town would love getting punished by me. Oh! I could do it in my cheerleading outfit!" She claps her hands together excitedly, drinking in the look of horror on his face. "Do you think I can charge for that? I'd probably make a ton of money."
"Woah, woah, woah! Slow down there. Don't get ahead of yourself. Getting spanked once doesn't make you an expert, young padawan." His upper body is basically in the car now and he clamps his hands down on her shoulders, coming in close enough that there are only a few inches between their noses. "You're going to need a lot more lessons before even considering doing anything like that. It's serious business. Someone could get really hurt. Besides, my technique is super secret and difficult to learn properly. Could take years just to get the basics down."
"So, what? You don't like my plan?"
"Plan? I'm not exactly crazy about it, to be honest." Eddie lets out a ridiculously long sigh and looks away, staring at the passenger seat. "I, uh… I'd rather it just be with me. Hawkins is too shitty to deserve that luxury."
The cheer captain exhales sharply at that. "You would, huh? That's not really fair. Why should I if every girl in Forest Hills is going to line up out front once I leave for their daily dose of you?"
"Because we both know I'm totally full of crap. Even if a bunch of chicks lost their damn minds and started flocking outside, it doesn't matter. I don't want 'em." Chrissy stills when his gaze lands back on her while trying to process what he's saying. Despite knowing the whole lineup thing was a joke, it's quickly taking a more serious turn now. "And to answer your original question… No. You're my first victim."
"Really?" That's surprising. Normally, it wouldn't be a stretch to think he was messing around again. There's just something so earnest about the way he responded that makes her believe it's sincere.
"Yeah. I wouldn't bullshit you."
"I'll take that into consideration. It all sounds like a lot of work and I'm busy with cheerleading, so you might just get what you want." His face lights up at that and the butterflies inside start flapping their wings again, getting excited by the overt joy across this guy's features. Sucking in her lips, she glances at the time on the dashboard for a distraction. "I need to get going."
"Okay, okay." That joy turns into disappointment with a single sentence and he's letting everything show. Tapping his fingers against the window frame, he pauses and stares at her strangely. She shifts against the seat, not knowing what the deal is. "Hold up! You never gave me my reward for winning the race. Don't think I'll forget that easily. I busted my ass to get you that W."
Really? The captain giggles and shakes her head. Is that what he's going with to buy himself a few more minutes? Well, she did say he 'might get a little something' for winning. Despite not having much of a say in the race itself. But it was already happening and her competitive side kicked in. "What do you want?"
Eddie swallows hard, making his Adam's apple bob as he hesitates. The seconds keep passing by without a word and she looks at him expectantly, waiting for the answer. "...Can I kiss you again?"
"Oh, ah, yeah. Sure. Go for it." Hearing that come out so casually is astounding, pushing Chrissy to once again question what the hell's gotten into her today. Maybe getting a car gave her some spunk. Or being around this guy is slowly bringing out a side she wasn't aware of before. Perhaps all of the above.
"Heh." That was more than enough confirmation for him. The hands resting on the blue jacket move to cup her face as he leans in, pressing his lips to hers. So tender and warm and everything and some. She doesn't hesitate to return it in kind. Unlike the first time, there are no awkward nose bumps or need to figure out where the puzzle pieces go. They got it down now.
'I don't want it to end.'
Her eyes flutter shut as she hums softly against his mouth, getting swept away by him once again. Will it always be like this? That might become troublesome.
"Damn." He pulls back and sucks in a deep breath to replace what she stole. They look at each other for what feels like an eternity before Eddie reluctantly drags himself out of the driver's side and straightens up. "I guess I'll catch you later, then. Have fun at your seance."
"You too." The cheer captain smiles sadly and starts up the car, a little bummed out about having to leave. His hand taps on the roof before stepping back so she can pull away.
'I wonder what's going to happen after this… What are we even doing?'
Turning onto the road, Chrissy can't resist glancing in the rearview mirror a few times. He's still standing there with his arms crossed, watching her take off. A few seconds later and the guy's finally out of sight. Her chest feels weird. Like there's a gaping hole in it. She doesn't want to put much thought into that.
'Music. I need to listen to something.'
ABBA's 'Dancing Queen' lightens the mood. Her lips twist into a huge grin while she moves along to the music, already beginning to feel better. This mixtape is everything. A prized possession. The sign to Forest Hills flies by as she speeds up, ready to move on to the next part of her day.
"I'm totally pissed about it! You know how long I spent getting ready?! That's the last time I take advice from that stupid column." Charlotte huffs as she angrily flips another page, kicking her legs back and forth in the air behind her. "My parents were gone, too. We would've had the house to ourselves for the entire night."
"I told you that would get him upset. He doesn't seem like the type who wants to play those kinds of games." If the shoe was on the other foot, John would be a dead man right now. Already six feet under. Chrissy warned her when the idea was floated around not to go through with it.
Recently, the brunette and her boyfriend have been having some issues. With practice, games, finals, prom, graduation, and a hundred other things coming up, most of their group is stressed or busy. From the sounds of it, Charlotte's busy and John is stressed. Like a few other people she knows, he's in danger of not graduating if his grades don't come up. So, they're not spending as much time together, which is causing a whole host of problems.
Instead of just talking about it like the captain suggested, she took advice from a gossip column that was meant for someone else in a similar, yet very different situation. Bad idea. They both said it was, but she thought it was smart to try making him jealous by flirting with Joey. What was that supposed to do? Show John she's still in demand and make him realize he could lose her if more effort isn't put into their relationship. The result? Date night got canceled at the last minute after she spent forever setting everything up.
The 'Goddess of Love' really does know a lot about men and relationships. She spends a ridiculous amount of time socializing, combing through magazines, reading novels, and doing 'research'. The problem is that she doesn't take her own advice and sabotages herself in the most absurd ways.
"Idiot." Natalie snorts and leans to the side to avoid a pillow launched straight at her head.
"Shut it! You've been no help. All you do is say everything's a waste of time." Sitting up, Charlotte twists on the carpet to face away from her. Not that Nat cares. "And I know, Chris. I broke the law and messed up big time. Crap… I'll just call him tomorrow and try to make up."
Chrissy grips the pillow in her lap tightly and gazes at the two ignoring each other. That won't last long. Maybe a few minutes before jumping into something different and forgetting all about it. The rest of the team won't be coming until later. That gives them plenty of time to hangout together.
Both were really shocked to see the Corvette when she finally got there. It was amazing. They took it for a spin around the neighborhood before coming back and getting changed into some lounge clothes. Now their little group is lying around on Charlotte's floor, just chatting and going through some magazines until the others start arriving.
'I hope this doesn't end up like practice yesterday when they get here. Amber's probably going to be brought up. Jason, too. I need to put my foot down and set some things straight if that happens. We have a game on Monday.'
"Hello?" A hand waves near her face, dragging the captain's attention back to the present. "Did you hear me? I asked what's going on with you and the… uh, Munson. Give us an update, girlie."
"The Munson? Or did you mean the freak?"
"Guys." Her lips pull back into a firm line. Haven't they been over this? She doesn't like anyone calling Eddie names, even if he says it himself. At least Charlotte's trying to change that. Others will likely need more time. It takes a beat for the question to sink in and she tenses, already feeling her skin warming up. A lot has changed since yesterday. Like, a lot. Part of her is still in disbelief about what went on earlier. "And, um… nothing really."
"What's with that blush, then? Doesn't seem like 'nothing really'. I bet you're holding out on us again." Leaning forward, Charlotte gives Chrissy a long look, trying to pick her apart. It's easier now. Unlike before, she's not putting in a ton of effort to control her expression around them.
'Should I talk about it? I always stayed quiet about everything with Jason, so they didn't really know what was going on. That might've helped me figure stuff out earlier on.'
Keeping secrets and not asking for help is part of the reason this all blew up in her face. Instead of getting anyone's advice, she just let things stew until they bubbled over and made a huge mess. A single person doesn't have all the answers and getting input from friends can clear stuff up.
"So, are you two just friends?" Surprisingly, that comes from Natalie. She pushes a small stack of magazines out of the way and scoots closer.
"...Not exactly. To be honest, I could really use some advice..."