Eddie sometimes can't believe his life. It's changed so drastically in the last year. This time last year he was sitting in his tiny bedroom of his uncle's trailer daydreaming. Eddie has always had a very active imagination but in his wildest dreams he wouldn't have guessed his life would be this good. Not only did he finally graduate and move away from the hellhole that is known to the rest of the general population as Hawkins, Indiana. His band, Corroded Coffin, was signed to a record label and they are currently working on their first album and that's not even the best part! He is dating and living with the girl of his dreams, the girl he's been pining over since middle school, the most beautiful girl in the world, Chrissy Cunningham. They have been together for almost a year now. Each morning he wakes up he has to remind himself that he isn't dreaming. This is his life. And it's a damn good one.
Eddie awakens to the sound of Chrissy singing. God blessed that woman with many talents but singing is definitely not one of them. As bad as she sounds, Eddie loves it. Her being tone deaf is cute to him. In high school, she always seemed so perfect all the time. After all, she was the queen of Hawkins High. Everyone knew she was the girl next door, beautiful, sweet, kind to everyone, and could dance like an angel. But she is so much more than that. When they started dating, he got to know her, the real Chrissy Cunningham.
He learned she has got a bit of sass to her. She is the girl next door, but she wants more for herself. She wants a life full of adventure. She is beautiful, but she doesn't always believe it. She is sweet unless you cross her, then she can be vengeful. She can dance like an angel but (to his delight) she can dance like a devil too. When they moved in together, he learned even more about her. She is a decent cook, but she uses too much salt sometimes. She loves to sing, but can't sing to save her life. Each little thing he learns about her, every little imperfection he discovers, he loves.
He is constantly inspired by her. She makes him want to be better. She believes in him and has taught him to believe in himself. With her by his side, he feels he can do anything. She has become his muse. The song he first wrote about her, Late Night Talking, is the band's first single for the album. It aired on the radio just last week. He will never forget riding in his beat up van with her on their way home and hearing it play on the local rock station. Chrissy squealed and he cried. It was one of the best days in his life.
Eddie gets out of bed, goes to the bathroom, brushes his teeth, then sets out to follow the sound of Chrissy's voice. In the hall, he can smell bacon. He finds her in the kitchen cooking breakfast. The boombox is on the counter playing that God awful song she's been obsessed with lately. She is singing off key at the top of her lungs. Eddie can't help but lean against the doorway, cross his arms and watch her with an amused smile on his face.
"And we can build this dream together!
Standing strong forever!
Nothing's gonna stop us now.
And if this world runs out of lovers, we'll still have each other!
Nothing's gonna stop us NOW!" The note Chrissy hits at the end is so sharp, it actually hurts Eddie's ears a little.
Eddie claps his hands and whistles, startling her. She jumps and looks in his direction. "Eddie! You scared me!"
Eddie loves watching the blush spread across her face when she takes in the sight of him leaning against the doorway with a wide grin.
"Uh… how long have you been standing there?" She asks self-consciously.
"Long enough milady." He crosses the room and wraps her in his arms. "Can I ask you something?"
She smiles up at him as she hums a yes and snakes her arms around his neck. "How much longer are you gonna make me listen to this atrocious music?"
Chrissy's mouth opens in shock. "It is not atrocious. My singing might be but the music is not."
He chuckles. "Milady, your singing is like no other, and I could listen to it all day. But if I have to listen to this tape and particularly that song much more then I'll be forced to confiscate it and smash it to pieces for assaulting my eardrums."
Chrissy narrows her eyes at him. "You wouldn't dare."
He knows that she knows that he's full of shit and it's an empty threat but it's fun to mess with her anyway. He gives her a devilish look. "Watch me."
He reaches a hand towards the boombox. She calls his bluff and arches an eyebrow at him, challenging him to make good on the threat. He hits the square button making the tape stop. He ejects it and holds the offensive tape out to her. "You're right I wouldn't."
She grins at him victoriously and snatches it out of his hand. "Thought so." She jokes as she turns away to find the case.
They sit down at their tiny kitchen table and have breakfast together. They chat about their plans for the day. Chrissy is in college pursuing a degree in photography and videography while Eddie and the band are putting in serious studio time to work on the album. Also their one year anniversary is in two weeks. They haven't talked about it yet but Eddie wants to make it memorable. This is the longest either of them have ever been with someone. He wants to make it special.
"Hey so… what are you doing next Saturday?" He starts, trying to sound casual.
She gives him a pointed look because she knows where he is going with this. But she rights her face and plays dumb. She taps her finger to her cheek, pretending to ponder if she has any plans. "Um I don't know. Oh that's right I got a hot date that night."
"Oh you do, do you?" He quips. "With who?"
She waves her hand. "Just some rockstar."
"Well you're going to have to tell Mr. Famous Rockstar, you're going to have to cancel your date." Eddie plays along easily.
Chrissy's eyebrows raise. "Why that?"
"Because, milady, I'm taking you out for our anniversary. Mr. Famous Rockstar can wait." Eddie says as he takes her hand from across the table.
Chrissy smiles sweetly at him. "That's so sweet of you, milord. And for the record, you're the rockstar."
She gives a quick wink as stands and starts collecting her plate and silverware from the table to put into the sink. Eddie chuckles, "I know."
After depositing the dishes, she moves to the table again. She leans down in front of him and looks him right in the eye as she picks up his plate. "And I never said you were famous."
Eddie clutches his chest. "Ouch. You wound me, milady."
She laughs looking back at him over her shoulder. "The truth hurts, Mr. Almost Famous Rockstar."
At the new name, Eddie smiles again. He gets up and meets her at the sink. "That's better." He leans down and kisses her cheek from behind. "And I got the dishes."
She turns around and kisses him deeply. After a long moment, she leans back. "So what are we going to do for our anniversary?"
He smiles down at her. "You'll see."