#waiter!eddie
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Eddie from Chili’s Pt 2
Waiter!Eddie x Shy!Reader
Part 1 Part 3
Summary: You go back to the restaurant to make your move on the cute waiter.
Warnings: fem!reader, no use of Y/n, fluff, reader is oozing anxiety, flirting, a couple allusions to spicy things, a kiss
A/N: As usual, you guys are amazing, and I always look forward to seeing your comments and hearing your thoughts on my silly little writings 💖
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
You sat perched on the barstool, eyes wandering towards the familiar doors that led to the kitchen. The tables in his section were full so you sit at the bar.
There, you waited for the bartender to show up, staring down at your nails as you wait and began to wonder why the hell you didn’t paint them. You hear footsteps approach, shoes scuffing on the carpet behind the counter as the bartender— the brother— stepped up with a familiar smile, “Hi, there! What can I get for you?”
“Uh, can I get a Tito’s and lemonade?” You ask, thinking of the first drink you remember your friends loving.
He nodded, “For sure!” and grabbed a glass to fill with ice, and then asked to check your ID. “Awesome— Texas lemonade coming right up.” He nodded and handed it back to you, his attitude much more outgoing than Eddie’s had been, though both men were perfectly personable.
He set to work making your drink silently, nothing but the swish and rattle of the drink being poured over ice and the idle chatter of the dining room to be heard.
Your eyes scanned the room, checking all the moving bodies for that familiar head of hair, wondering if he was even here, for all you knew he could’ve quit by now.
“—Looking for someone?” The bartender asked. His name tag read Dakota.
You swallow and shake your head before looking down, “Oh! No, not at all.”
Dakota chuckled, “You sure? Your eyes are practically peeled.” He sat your drink in front of you and smiled.
“Thank you.” Is all you say before taking a tentative sip and trying not to wince at the tartness.
“Well, if you need anything, let us know.” He said before slipping away and into the kitchen.
You groan to yourself before resting your head on your fist and stirring the drink with the skinny straw you never use.
Absolutely pathetic. You sit and berate yourself for a minute, concluding that you’d drink half the glass before asking for some water to drive home.
“Long time, no see!”
Your head popped up to find Eddie behind the bar, walking towards you. Looking at you. Speaking to you.
You were at another loss for words, your mouth gaping and closing involuntarily as you searched for something to say. Eddie’s smile grew as you struggled and he leaned over the counter behind the bar. “I was hoping I’d see you again.” He muttered with twinkling eyes.
Your eyes flicker up to his, your heart warming and chest unclenching, “Oh?” You suddenly play coy, “Why is that?” you say, and take a drink.
Eddie’s eyes brightened at that, “Well, you’re the most polite customer I’ve had in months!” His eyes ran down your being. He snickered at your blush, leaning closer on his elbows as his brother left the kitchen with a platter in hand— working Eddie’s tables. “Not to mention the cutest.” He winked with that smug smile.
You give a breathy chuckle before you take another swig, earning a genuine laugh from him as you set down the half empty glass.
“Are you nervous?” He asked quietly, pressing back up on his hands, somehow even closer and not close enough. He oozed confidence and cool, like he did this all the time. Like he was so used to girls practically swooning for him, unable to speak.
You could only nod in response.
“Well, why’s that?” He shrugged, eyes trailing down your face as he appraised you.
You swallow and hope it wasn’t too loud, “I’m here to meet someone.” You cringe inside of yourself, what the fuck? This isn’t the plan??
“Oh.” His smug grin falls along with the twinkle in his eye. You hate how it makes you feel inside to see him disappointed.
“A friend.” You shrug. His eyes perk at that.
“Just a friend? —I mean, like, i-is your mom coming too?” He faltered, your smile rising as his cheeks reddened and he cleared his throat nervously before looking away.
“Mhm. Just a friend. Though my mom will be thrilled to hear Eddie from Chili’s asked about her.” You smile at the sound of his laugh.
“So you do remember me?” He asks with a smile of relief.
You nod shyly at your glass, stirring the water with the other useless straw. “Kinda hard not to.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He leans on his hands, hoping you’ll keep talking.
You sigh and roll your eyes before meeting his gaze, “You’re a … a really good waiter.” You settle.
Eddie chuckles heartily, something you wanted to hear over and over and over again. “Thank you, I try my best. My goal is ultimate customer satisfaction.” He widens his eyes for emphasis and takes note on your hitched breath. “So is there anything else I can get for you?”
“Oh! Uh…”
He watches you as he picks up a menu and sets it down in front of you. “I could just bring you some chicken fingers while you wait.” You look back up at him under your eyelashes, “Four of them, right?” He asked with a hidden smile as your cheeks burned.
“No, no it’s okay, I’m not hungry.” You shake you head. Eddie cocks his to the side in question but takes the menu back without a word.
“Well, uh,” he began as another patron sat down at the bar on the other side, “—I’ll be right back!” He said, happy for an excuse to leave and stay close.
You let out a sigh of relief as he walked up to the older man, easily striking up a conversation as he took his order and went about pouring something dark into a short glass.
Your phone chimes as a message comes in from your best friend, asking for a progress report. Before you can type a coherent response, you manage to send a thumbs up paired with a melting face as Eddie walks back over to you.
“Is there anything I can get started for your friend?” He asks. You put your phone face down on the bar, meeting his eye as the perfect excuse comes to mind, “No, actually, she isn’t coming.”
Eddie tsks though it’s apparent he isn’t bummed to keep you to himself for the rest of your stay. “Well, ain’t that a shame.”
You nod down at the counter top again before the words came spilling out of you unwillingly, “—Actually she wasn’t ever coming. I lied.” You feel like you’re going to throw up. Like actually. Your stomach knots itself, ready for the cute boy in front of you to look at you in disgust and have you escorted out for harassment or something.
“Oh?” Is all he asked, leaning on his forearms, getting closer to you.
You nod shamefully.
“So you did come for me?” He clarified.
You close your eyes as the blush worked up your cheeks, giving into your smile as you nod, again, but smaller. “That’s what you care about? Not that I lied?”
Eddie’s own smile grew, “Well, you’re a shy little thing, I don’t blame you.” He winked at your burning cheeks as he leaned closer, lowering his voice and letting you peek at the man behind the cool facade, “But, if you would’ve asked for my number, or left yours on the receipt like I wanted you to,” he chided, “I would’ve called, y’know. Or answered.” He shrugged.
You manage to look at him— really, look at him. The unease in your body began to uncoil as you observed how he looked at you; not like a meal, but with intrigue.
“And what if I asked for it now?”
“I don’t think you’d call me.” He shook his head with a knowing smile.
You scoff and ask, “Why not?”
He gave you a pointed look and let his neck go limp a little as if to say ‘really?’
“Okay, wrong question—well, if you wanted my number, why didn’t you ask for it?” You ask as you twist your glass idly on the coaster, trying not to look as curious as you felt.
“Pfft, yeah, and freak you out? Be the weird skeezy waiter— at a Chili’s, no less? Uh-uh. I’m above that.” He shook his head assuringly. You chuckle and look down at the cubes floating in your glass.
“I’ve never had to try to get a number here before,” He began, his eyes on the wood you’d been so focused on for the duration of your visit, “— kinda just happens for me, so… I was counting on that receipt having a name and number on it but…” he tsked and shook his head pointedly at you, “—Nope! Nada. Just a fat tip from your mom—which I totally appreciate, by the way.”
Your cheeks redden, “So…do you want me to ask for your number…?” You ask in confusion.
“Actually, I think I should ask for yours.” He said, idly wiping at the counter, “Since you’re scared.” He teased.
Your mouth gaped, “I’ll have you know I can be very courageous.”
He snickered down at the counter before looking back up at you, “Courageous enough to join me on my break in about ten minutes?” He nodded back into the kitchen.
You exhale, “Am I.. allowed?”
“—Yes, you’re allowed.” He scoffed and pushed your drink forward. “C’mon, Chicken Fingers, drink your liquid courage, and I’ll show you where I go hide about 10 times a day.”
“Ch-Chicken fingers??” You question, leaning forward with wide eyes and an incredulous smile struggling to be shoved away by the corners of your mouth and failing miserably.
Eddie beamed as you chuckled, a blush of his own warming his cheeks, “Well, I don’t know your name, so,” he shrugged, “It was either that or Quiet Quinn.” He managed with a plain face.
You narrow your eyes at the man until he breaks into laughter, the sound charming enough to make you smile along with him before you told him your name and he smiled again and reached out his hand for yours, clasping it firmly, “Nice to meet you, I’m Eddie.”
“I know.” You chuckle as you shake his hand.
“Ooh, I’ve never had a stalker before— how flattering.” He almost purred as he kept your hand in his, running his thumb over the back of your hand as he laid it on the counter and made no move to let it go.
You scoff and roll your eyes, letting him keep your hand, “My moms been hounding me about coming back for the last month.” You roll your eyes and take a sip.
“Oh, you’ve been talking about me with your mom?” He asks.
You wanna spit out the drink but instead your eyes widen and you tip it back farther until you finish it with a hardy gulp and set it down. “I’ll be taking the check now.” You say shamefully, closing your eyes.
You open them when you hear his laughter again, watching as he releases your hand and takes your cup, “That won’t be necessary, sweetheart.” He says it, even though he now knows your name, and begins to wash the glass.
You watch him quietly, the way the water splatters on his forearms and how his rings look when they’re glittering under the added shine and clanking against the glass he cleaned. “So what do you do?” He asked as he collected the old man’s glass without as much as a glance to him.
You jump slightly after being so dialed into his movements you have to quickly piece together your response, “Oh! Well, I’m in school for graphic design. And I work at a chiropractor's office scheduling people and whatnot.”
You study how he clutches the towel in his hand and turns the knobs of the sink before turning to dry the glass. “A secretary slash designer,” he mused as he polished the glass in his hands, “So you’re creative and good with computers, I’ll jot that down.” He smiled as he looked back up at you.
“What about you?” You ask as he puts away the glass and prints a ticket to hand to the gentleman waiting patiently. Eddie slides it over and watches at the man digs out cash and some change. You watch as he smiles and thanks the old man before sliding the cash off the table and scraping the coins into his hand and counting it before shoving it in the register.
Almost forgetting you asked a question, you watch as he washes his hands again and begins to replenish the supply of lime wedges—something you suppose is his brother's job. Maybe they switched jobs a lot because Eddie moved about the bar with an ease that felt practiced.
“Well, when I’m not being the world's best waiter, I work at a body shop installing glass on cars, sometimes some side jobs pulling dents if I can get ‘em.” He shrugged as he sliced them into perfect wedges.
You nod, “Do you like it?”
“Makes good money! Lets me do the stuff I’d rather be doing.” He chuckles to himself. You cock your head slightly before he finished putting the rest of it away and turning to the computer as he dried his hands again.
You watch him press a few buttons on the screen before it printed your ticket and he threw it away in the trash below and sent you one of those dazzling winks of his.
He leans forward on his elbows again, “Ready, Chicken Fingers?” He asks before glancing to his brother, busy taking an order at one of his corner tables.
You roll your eyes and glower with a poorly repressed smile as you give him a timid nod and hop off the seat.
Eddie walks around the counter, waiting for you at the kitchen doors. He takes your hand and guides you, opening the door and keeping you close, your hand fitting perfectly in his. He kept a firm hold on you as he dodged people in black and white, more people than you thought could fit back here.
“Hey, Eddie!” A line cook greeted him.
Eddie shot the guy a charming smile and wave with his free hand without stopping, “How’s it going, Hal?” He called before facing forward again, headed for the black door at the back.
The man answered Eddie but he didn’t care to continue the conversation, he just wanted out of there— wanted you out of there.
He opened the door to the back, where the dumpster resided with walls surrounding it— keeping divers from picking through their trash, you suppose.
Eddie lets go of your hand to reach for his carton of cigarettes, “You smoke?” He asked as he pulled one out.
You shake your head, “Sorry, no.”
Eddie pauses before idly flicking his lighter twice, “Don’t be! You mind if I…“ he gestures to the stick and bic in his hands.
“No! No, go for it. I don’t mind it, just never tried it.” You assure as he burned the end of the cigarette til it glowed. His cheeks hollowed as he sucked and nodded.
“Don’t ever do it!” He warned, mumbling around the filter before pulling it away, “You’re too pretty to smell like an ashtray.” Smoke slithered out of his mouth around his teeth as he spoke and stepped forward, blowing the rest of it to the side and waving it away from you and taking another pull and keeping his eyes on yours.
He was so close you had to look up at him, your bottom lip hiding between your teeth for a moment before releasing it. “Doesn’t stop you.” You quip almost proudly.
Eddie looked impressed, “Ooh! That was smooth, pretty girl.” He blew his smoke up into the sky, exposing the adams apple jutting out of his thick neck, oh so perfectly.
You wanted so badly to know what it felt like against your lips…
Caressed under your loving hand…
His face tilted back down to yours, a brilliant smile stretching across his face bit by bit. “You think I’m pretty?” He asked. You nod, a vacant smile on your lips, “Or is it the alcohol talking?” His brows pinched in the middle as he leaned down closer to you, as if to examine you for drunkenness.
You roll your eyes and cross your arms, “It was one drink! Besides— I thought you were pretty ever since I first saw you.”
“You been thinking about how pretty I am?” He asked in false curiosity.
That bashful smile crossed your face again before you nodded, “I already told you that.” You look down again and notice how he takes another small step forward.
“I’ve been thinking about you too.” He smiled, the scent of his citrus cologne was muddled with the ribbons of cigarette smoke he blew into the air around you. The warm and spicy scent practically swarmed you the second he got closer, and you never wanted to smell anything else again.
“Why?” You shake your head.
“Cause I have that same Nirvana shirt you wore.” He shrugged one shoulder and your heart sank. “Like it better on you though.” He added.
You peek back up at him, brows raised in question as your eyes flicker from his eyes to his lips. “How do I know this isn’t something you just ‘do’?” You ask, crossing your arms and looking away from his stupid, handsome face.
“What, talk to pretty girls? I do all the time, it’s part of my job.” He took a toke, talking about the pretty girls he served like art on a wall he’s seen a dozen times. “But I can honestly say I haven’t brought any of them to my secret hiding spot.” He shrugged easily, no sign of defense lining his tone. “—Not to mention had any of them swallow their tongue at the sight of me and still come back! Maybe you are courageous, Chicken Fingers.”
You roll your eyes and push his chest playfully, sending him backwards a couple steps. He chuckled as he recovered and you crossed your arms with another smile you didn’t realize you wore, “So now what?” You look around the area, stray garbage littering the wet ground and the scent of the meat cooking on the grill wafting out of vent on top of the building.
“Depends.” Eddie takes another puff on the dwindling menthol.
You tilt your head, cocking it to the side and shift your weight to your hip, narrowing your eyes the slightest bit and appraising him, “On?” You scoff with a playful smile.
“On… if you wanna go on a date with me.” He rocked on his heels and threw the butt on the ground, almost hiding under his curly bangs.
You smiled and nodded, “…and if I say yes?” You can’t help but glance to his lips again as he smiled, shuffling forward, only inches away from your face.
“If you say yes… I can guarantee you’ll have the time of your life.” He analyzed your face, searching for the same hesitation that riddled your being the last time he saw you.
He didn’t find a trace of it. You kept your eyes on him, not shying away from his gaze.
“Then I say… we should go out sometime.” You smile shyly.
Eddie’s mouth hangs open in pleasant surprise, his eyes twinkled in excitement. “Ohh, you are smooth! How could I say no to that?” As if you’d asked him out in the first place.
If he were to get any closer your chests would be touching, he’d have to straddle his feet on either side of yours—getting that close he’d have you against the wall of the restaurant.
And you wanted him to, so badly.
He leaned down to your ear, “You gonna show me the time of my life?” He asked lowly.
You inhale deeply, trying not to shudder at the way his breath grazed your neck and ear, and nod, “I’ll give it my best.” You said almost breathily.
Eddie chuckles softly as he leaned back to appraise you, tracing your collar with his finger before curling it into the ends of your hair and twirling a strand for a moment, savoring the texture.
His gaze turned more serious as his other hand came up to your other shoulder for a warm and affectionate squeeze before he tsked, “I gotta get back in there, pretty girl.” He said glumly.
You nod understandingly, “Yeah, I should head out too.”
He nodded again at you and his eyes dipped down to your lips again, lingering like he had at your table a month ago. “I, uh, I can walk you to your car.” He nodded towards the gate in the wall, an almost shut padlock through the metal rings to keep it closed.
“Yes, please.” You say softly.
Eddie’s hands leave your shoulders, with a smirk, “So polite—y’know you say please more than anyone I’ve ever met.” He chuckles, taking your hand to lead the way around to the customer parking, only releasing it once to open the gate for you and shut it back.
The walk was quiet, and you relished the feeling of his hand in yours again. You refrained from holding onto his arm with both hands, wanting his hand in both of yours as you arrived at your car.
“This is it.” You say, coming to a stop in front of the hood. He nods at you, still keeping your hand in his.
“Well, thank you for coming back.” He smiled at your sheepish grin and stroked the back of your hand, “I look forward to seeing you again.” He added.
“You too.” You say cordially before squeezing his hand and turning to go before you can throw up everywhere.
“Wait a minute!” He tugged you back to face him, “I still need your phone number.” He pulled out his phone and promptly unlocked it, opening his messages and starting a new thread for you to put your number in. “Unless you wanna come back, again.” He smiled, charming the socks off you yet again.
You take it from him and type your number, noticing his use of a cute emoji next to your misspelled name. You chuckle to yourself and fix it for him, reading it all back to yourself twice before calling it good and hand it back to him, watching as he smiles at the screen.
“Fuck, strike one, huh?” He blushes and looks up from the screen as his thumbs hovered over the keyboard.
You chuckle and dismiss it with a wave, “Nothing that hasn’t happened before. Now is it Eddie with two E’s or three?” You question playfully and watch as he bites the inside of his cheek and sigh.
“It’s actually three E’s, an I, and one D— in that order.” He types a message before locking it and putting it back in his pocket.
You’re giving him a real laugh, and an eye squinting, cheek aching, smile that has him smiling right back at you as the chime of your phone in your pocket goes off and you just can’t stop smiling at him, your cheeks burning but loving every second.
You see the way he looks at you, like he wants to say something, maybe— looking kinda bummed, even. You flutter your eyelashes at him before tilting your head, “Is there anything else I can get for you?” You say just above a whisper, your heart pounding so hard you don’t know if you’re trembling or not.
Eddie’s smile quirks up higher on one side as that twinkle reappears in his pupils, licking his lips with a knowing in his eye that said he knew what he wanted, he just couldn’t say it. He just stared at your lips for a moment longer before shaking his head dejectedly.
“Are you sure?” You ask again, shamelessly looking at his lips before meeting his eyes again.
He parted his lips before he leaned in slightly he hears his name called across the lot, “Get back in here, man, Damon’s gonna be here any minute!” His brother hollered from the door.
“Just a second!” He turned away to call back, his hand still in yours. You decide the moment he turns back to you, you’re gonna go for it— you’re gonna kiss him.
“Sorry, he’s worried about our manager coming—“ You watch intently as he turns back to you, taking his other hand in yours before pushing up on your toes to press a lingering kiss to the corner of his mouth, tingles surging up through your body.
You pull away as he freezes, alarmed. Your eyes widened, “Oh my god, is that not what you wanted me to do? I’m so sorry, I—“
He interrupts you by cradling your face in his hands, your face suddenly so warm in his touch. His hands were so soft and the rings were barely cool to the touch as he pressed them to your face in his gentle hold.
“—No! No, I mean, yes! Yeah, that’s what I wanted, just…“ his thumb brushes your bottom lip and your chest heaves as he pulls you in close and presses his lips squarely on yours, kissing you deep and slow before releasing your lips with a pop and lingering close to your face as the haze he cast out wrapped you up in warmth and content.
“—Oughta hold me over til I see you next. And you better text me, okay? Don't make me wait a month.” He warned.
You smile and nod as he releases your face.
“I work here every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday— noon til closing, in case you miss me too much.” He winked before pressing another kiss to your mouth and running across the lot as his brother stuck his head out the door to yell at him again.
You watch him until he’s back inside, breathless before sighing to yourself as you dig out your keys and hop in your car. When the engine turns over and your playlist connects to Bluetooth, you unlock your phone to find a message waiting for you from an unknown number.
You smile and tap on it, ready to add him to your contacts as ‘Eddie 🖤’, when you read the message you can’t help but let your head fall back and bring your knees to your chest as a Lizzie McAlpine song plays.
Eddie 🖤:
You blush, your heart swelling with the growing hope he’s as dorky and sweet on the side as he is handsome and gritty on the outside.
Another message came in just as you were about to type a response:
This is Eeeid, by the way. 😘
-
PART 3
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Chapter One: A Breakup, a Missing Person, and a Business Trip
Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader
Summary: Eddie Munson left you behind to chase his dreams before suddenly disappearing. When he shows up 5 years later, will he be able to work his way back into your heart?
Warnings: Breakups, Betrayal, Arguments, Eddie is immature, Missing person, Mention of cops, Annoying flirty coworker, Reader is wearing a dress and heels, Brief mention of anaphylactic shock (doesn't really happen it's just mentioned), Brief mention of a heart attack (doesn't really happen it's just mentioned) Food/Eating, Alcohol, Reader and Eddie are in early 20s in ‘86, are in mid 20’s in ‘91. This series is 18+, Minors DNI
Word Count: 3.8k
Series Masterlist
July 1986
When you were finally able to form a sentence again you took the chance to ask the question at the forefront of your mind.
“How long?”
“Hm?” He hummed like he hadn’t heard you at all.
Suddenly, shoving clothes into a trashbag was the most interesting thing in the world to him. You knew he was avoiding you; avoiding the damage he was doing.
“How long have you known you were leaving?” You bit out. Any patience you had for him was long gone.
“Uh, well, a couple of weeks,” he said, still refusing to make eye contact.
“When you say ‘a couple of weeks’ you mean-”
“A month. I’ve known for a month.” Finally, he lifted his head to look at you. He stepped away from the half full trash bag and ran a hand through his hair, bangs sticking to his forehead from the exertion of his speed packing.
It had been a month since Eddie had met a woman at The Hideout who claimed to be a big shot music producer. She had made big promises for him and the band, telling them that if they follow her out to California then she can make their wildest dreams come true. Of course, this had happened on the one Tuesday you weren’t there.
Of course Eddie would choose her and her promises over you.
“You’ve known you were leaving for a month and you just didn’t say anything to me? Did the last three years mean nothing to you?” You yelled, rage taking over any ounce of control that you had.
You had never yelled at Eddie before. You can’t even remember a time when you two had ever argued in the past three years you had been together.
Patience had always been your virtue. You were patient when he took three years to graduate. You were patient when he would sell drugs for Rick instead of getting a real job. You were patient when he would be late for dates because Hellfire or band practice ran over. You were patient all of the times you dragged him home drunk and belligerent from The Hideout.
You were patient with all things that were Eddie Munson. All you had done for the past three years was give and give during your relationship and he never considered doing the same for you. And maybe that was your own mistake for allowing it.
Eddie winced at your raised voice, something he had never heard before.
“This isn’t how this was supposed to go,” he muttered, mostly to himself.
“Oh really? Then what was your grand plan? You dump me and run off into the sunset and just expect me to be okay with it?” You didn’t yell this time, but your voice was still harsh.
“You’re not listening. I am not just dumping you. This is a great opportunity for the band, for us.” He took a step towards you, you took a step back. He looked at the distance between the two of you and let out a deep sigh. “When I make it big and start bringing some money in then I’ll come back for you. We just need to be apart for a little bit but I promise I’ll come back for you. Go to that big fancy college and just wait for me. I promise it will be worth it.”
You couldn’t even process the stupidity of what he was saying to you.
Sometimes it amazed you how both you and Eddie were twenty years old, but the maturity levels differed greatly between the two of you. Eddie was a dreamer, you were more practical.
There was nothing wrong with him dreaming but where it went wrong was how he jumped head first into things without thinking.
You and Eddie had started dating during your only senior year, his first, and after you graduated you stayed in Hawkins to go to community college. Now that you had your associate's degree, you were going to a nicer university to receive your bachelors.
The university wasn’t far. Initially the plan was for Eddie to get a real job and move with you while you finished school. It wasn’t your idea but his, and he had seemed excited. So what changed?
You were so angry. All of the love you two had shared over the past three years was for nothing. All of the times he would tell you how much he loved you and how he planned to marry you one day when he got himself together had been a big fat lie.
You had never felt so betrayed.
“Grow up, Eddie. You expect me to sit around and wait for you while you live the rockstar lifestyle for a few years and get it out of your system.” You snapped.
“That’s not true,” he denied. “I’ll call you, depending on how busy I am with the tour. We don’t have to be strangers. I’m just asking you to wait for me.”
You stared at him blankly for a moment, taking him in for what was probably going to be the last time.
A horn honked outside, breaking you from your trance.
“Don’t bother calling me. I don’t want to see or hear from you ever again,” you said as you stepped around him and headed for his bedroom door.
“You don’t mean that. I thought out of everyone you would be the most understanding.” He called out behind you with a hint of bitterness in his voice.
He didn’t chase after you or take it all back as you walked out of the trailer. Part of you still expected for him to laugh and say it was all a joke. But, of course, that never happened.
Garrett, Jeff, and Grant sat on the porch and eyed you warily as you walked past. The looks on their faces told you that they already knew what had just went down.
They were Eddie’s friends first, so it doesn’t surprise you that they had chosen him over you.
But, damn, did it still hurt.
You didn’t let them see you cry as you pulled away from the trailer. You saved your tears for when you got home and threw yourself into a bedroom that was covered in memories of you and Eddie’s time together.
You promised yourself as you sobbed into your pillow that night, that you would never ever let someone break you again.
December 1986
Your socked feet danced over the shaggy rug that laid beside your twin side bed.
You didn’t plan on living in a dorm room for the remaining two years of your degree, especially since you had transferred from a community college and were so used to the freedom that came with that.
You picked up another piece of clothing from the pile beside you and folded it messily before shoving it into the open duffel bag at your feet.
The idea of going back to Hawkins, even for a few weeks, was not exciting to you. Your parents had practically begged you on the phone to come home. Your father was even daring enough to threaten a possible heart attack if you didn’t come home to visit.
It wasn’t their fault you didn’t want to return. Hawkins was an unhealed wound in your heart, the edges tender and throbbing. You feared that just crossing over the town lines would cause the edges to rip apart and bleed ferociously into your chest.
You didn’t think you’d be able to handle that, but for the sake of the holidays, you had no choice.
College had been great so far and a good distraction from your troubles. The parties that your roommate, Lissa, dragged you out to during the weekends helped to numb the pain. Lissa had taken you under her wing once you moved in and after a night with a bottle of wine, she got the pleasure of hearing the whole story of why your heart was so broken.
Ever since then, she had been on a one woman mission to cheer you up.
You tossed another piece of clothing into the duffel bag, happy that Lissa had already left to go home so she couldn’t get onto you for moping.
The door to the room was left open. Something about the heating system in this place made the rooms stuffy during the winter. You could hear the happy chatter of people walking past the entrance as they left to go home for the break, relieved that finals were over.
A ring from one of the phones outside of the room caught your attention for a second. That was another thing that you missed from living at home, having your own phone. Here they had the community phones in the hallway outside the rooms that everyone had to share.
The ringing cut off quickly, most likely from the person who was waiting for the call.
You balled up a pair of socks and tossed them into the bag. At this rate, you’d be finished packing by the time winter break was over. You threw your body back with a groan so your upper half laid flat on the bed and your legs hung off at an odd angle.
You heard a throat clear awkwardly from the doorway. Your head snapped up in surprise to see one of the girls a few doors down standing there.
“Uh, there’s someone on the phone for you,” she said.
You couldn’t even be embarrassed that she witnessed your little meltdown over packing.
“Oh? Did they say who it was?” You asked. You didn’t expect your mom and dad to call you since you were already supposed to be on the road by now. Lissa wouldn’t have a reason to call either.
“Some guy. I think he said his name was Munson.”
You sat up with a jolt. “Munson?” You asked but she had already left the doorway.
You scrambled off the bed and hurried out into the hallway to see the phone sitting off the hook and waiting for you to answer.
Eddie had never called you after he left for California. The memory of telling him not to call was still fresh. But part of you hoped he wouldn’t have listened and that he would have called anyway, even if it was just to tell you how amazing his life was now.
The petty part of you wished he regretted it and that he was coming home to make things right.
You cleared your throat and wiped your sweaty hands against your sweatshirt before you picked up the phone, praying that he hadn’t hung up yet.
“Hello?” Your voice came out breathy and weak. You wished you had pulled yourself together some more so you would sound stronger and more sure of yourself. Prove to him that college had made you forget about him.
“Hey, uh, it’s Wayne.” You pulled the phone away from your ear to look down at it for a second, hoping that it would somehow explain to you why Wayne Munson was calling you.
You and Wayne had been close when you and Eddie were together. But the last time you saw him was before the break up. You had no hard feelings for Wayne. If anything, the break up made you miss him too.
“Oh. Hey, Wayne,” you said, trying to keep the disappointment and confusion from your voice.
“I’m sorry to bother you. I know you’re probably busy studying and stuff,” he started off. You fought the urge to tell him you were not busy studying at all. Wayne had been so happy for you when you told him you got accepted into this university. He was even excited for you just for starting out at a community college. “But have you heard from Eddie at all?”
The world screeched to a halt.
“Eddie? No? Why?” This time, there was no hiding the confusion.
“He didn’t come home. I don’t know if you heard that the rest of the boys in that band came home a couple of months ago with their tails between their legs. They said something about a scam and things not working out. But Eddie didn’t come back with them like he was supposed to. He ran off instead of going with them and no one has heard from him. He told me when he left he would call but he hasn’t. It’s getting close to the holidays and he has never missed Christmas and it’s making me worried.”
Wayne never was one to show much emotion, but the worry was palpable through the phone. He had every reason to be worried..
Eddie leaving you behind made sense, but Eddie leaving Wayne and not bothering to check on him was absurd. He wouldn’t just do that, right?
“Have you called the cops?” You asked immediately.
Wayne let out a humorless laugh. “Yep. Called them before I thought to check with you. Hawkins police never cared much for Eddie, as you already know. They said they can’t do anything since he didn’t go missing here. I called the police in the town he was last in and they told me that he’s an adult and he has the right to not call.”
You thought for a second, every horrible possibility racing through your mind. What if he was kidnapped or was in some sort of awful accident? What if he was out there somewhere and needed your help?
“Do you think he’s okay? Should I go out there and look for him?”
“No. Don’t do that. The last thing we need is you going out there and ending up missing yourself,” he said with a stern tone. You knew it came from a place of concern and not anger.
As much as you hated it, you knew Wayne was right. You didn’t know much about California. Wayne knew where he was last seen but odds were he wasn’t there anymore.
You leaned your head against the wall in front of you in defeat.
“What can I do, Wayne?” You begged. You and Eddie had been broken up for months but it didn’t feel right to just hang up and pretend this conversation never happened.
“Just wait and see if he calls. That’s all either of us can do for now. I’m sure he’ll come around.”
You sighed in response, not sure what else to say.
“I tried to talk him out of leaving, you know?” Wayne said after a few beats of silence. “Told him he was dumb to leave you behind. But that boy doesn’t listen when he gets an idea in his head-”
“I have to go,” you announced quickly, cutting Wayne off from whatever else he was about to say.
You couldn’t listen to it. Didn’t want to relive the heartbreak.
“Oh, right. Sorry. Take care of yourself, kid. Will you just give me a call if you hear from him?”
“Sure,” you said before another thought crossed your mind. The image of Wayne Munson spending Christmas alone in that cold trailer caused you to speak without thinking about it. “I’m actually coming back to Hawkins tonight for winter break. Did you want to meet up for lunch sometime or maybe even meet up for Christmas if he doesn’t call?”
“Sure, kid. I’d love that.”
Even though making sure Wayne was taken care of would help relieve some of your guilt, you couldn’t help but think back to when you told Eddie you didn’t want to see or hear from him ever again.
Seems like you would get your wish.
August 1991
August in California was blistering hot.
From the second you stepped off of the airplane, you were ready to get right back on and head home to Indiana to lock yourself into your air conditioned apartment in Indianapolis. At least there you would have your cat, Junie. Plus, if you went home now, Lissa wouldn’t have to feed and take care of Junie for you even though she was allergic. Honestly, you could make the excuse to get out of this trip by saying you had to save your friend from anaphylactic shock.
But if you did that then your boss would have your head.
And in order to get this promotion you really needed your head.
You had started working for this publishing company straight after college three years ago. You adored working in the business of books and were honestly lucky to get the position that you already had.
But if sucking up to your boss and attending this stupid business trip in sweltering California would help you climb the metaphorical ladder, then you would do it.
You fanned yourself as you waited in the hotel lobby for the rest of your group. The crisp white furniture and marble floors made you feel out of place. Never in a million years would you stay in a place like this on your own dime. You wondered how much it would cost for them to mop you off the floor once you melted right out of your heels.
You were immediately regretting the black wrap dress you had chosen as you felt a bead of sweat roll down the back of your neck. You wished they would have given you just one night to relax before the day full of meetings and seminars the next day.
Fancy hotels like this were supposed to have top notch A/C, right? The constant turning of the revolving door from sharp dressed business men probably canceled the promise of cool air out.
You fanned yourself again with another wave of your hand. Was it the heat getting to you or was it the blazing reminder of the last person you knew that came to this state just to never be seen again?
You shook your head, pushing the thought away from you. If you went too deep down that rabbit hole then you would never find your way back out. Unfortunately, you knew that from experience.
Even just standing in this hotel lobby made you uneasy. Although he didn’t disappear from this area, you were still on constant alert.
“You look hot.”
Vance’s voice called out as he approached. The double meaning didn’t go over your head as you continuously fanned yourself with your hand.
“Yeah, well. It’s hot in here,” you said to Vance as he approached.
Vance looked as prim and proper as he usually did with his slicked back blonde hair, collared shirt, and shiny shoes. He had started at the publishing company around the same time as you and was quickly determined to be around you at all times since you were both the newest hires.
Most of the time you didn’t mind it. He was harmless, a little annoying sometimes like a mosquito, but mostly harmless.
Lissa had heard your stories about Vances flirting and insisted you at least went on one date with him just to try it out. You didn’t think it was the best idea, especially since you worked together.
You also didn’t do serious relationships and didn’t want to give him false hope.
You could see the swarm of your coworkers and your boss cross the lobby towards you.
“Should we go ahead in there?” Vance asked, holding out his elbow for you to hold.
You rolled your eyes, before grabbing onto his arm and walking into the hotel restaurant together.
Vance and you grabbed the seats right beside each other at the very end of the table.
You had immediately breathed a sigh of relief when the crisp, cool air of the restaurant greeted you, cooling your fevered skin.
The restaurant, just like the hotel it resided in, was very fancy with pristine white table cloths and flawless place settings that had too many forks than you could name.
You learned over the years at your job that the best thing to do was to pretend you knew what you were doing and usually no one asked any questions. Or, at the very least, follow Vance’s lead because he came from a household that had fancy meals on the regular.
Everyone seemed mostly relaxed as they sat at the table and started to chat. No one would be able to fully let loose with their boss at the end of the table, watching like a hawk.
Red wine was ordered and tables glasses were filled as you all looked over the very intricate menu. Half of these words you wouldn’t be able to pronounce.
Vance tapped your shoulder to get your attention.
“Do you think I should get the caviar as a starter?” He asked so seriously that you didn’t even question if he was kidding or not.
“Do you really want to eat fish eggs?” You questioned him with a raised brow as you skimmed over the menu. “Why doesn’t this place have mozzarella sticks?”
“Because it’s supposed to be fine dining and not your local pizza joint,” he jabbed back. He pointed to an item on the menu. “Get the bruschetta. It has cheese on it.”
“Thank you,” you hummed as you looked over the menu again.
You fought back eye roll as Vance placed his hand on your arm instead of responding. You resisted the urge to push him off.
During you and Vance’s talking about the menu, you didn’t see your waiter approach or hear him introduce himself.
You were in your own little world until you actually heard him speak to you. He had the voice you had only heard in your dreams and old home videos that Wayne would pull out when he was feeling sentimental during the holidays.
“Are you ready to order?”
Your head turned slowly to face him, scared that you would be disappointed by what you were about to see. When his wide eyes mimicked yours in surprise you couldn’t stop yourself from speaking.
“Eddie?”
#eddie munson au#eddie munson x reader#eddie munson x y/n#eddie munson#eddie munson fanfic#eddie munson series#eddie munson imagine#eddie stranger things#eddie munson angst#eddie munson x you#waiter!eddie munson
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tagged by the lovely @thewolvesof1998 🩷
i know i said i would focus on thg au but... i started a new fic today! 🫣
here's a moodboard
and here's a snippet:
And then he sees Eddie's face— the constipated look he does when he wants so badly to get out of a conversation but doesn't really know how and he's trying not to be rude. And Buck is so gone on the guy that even that face makes his heart beating like a trapped bird inside his chest.
They have a deal, the two of them. A deal that goes back years ago, when Buck started working at the same station as Eddie's and they got a bomb out of an ambulance. They've promised to have each other's backs.
Back then, it had meant to protect each other in the field. To carry each other through fires or to make sure their harnesses are firm and secured; to save a seat in the firetruck or to pull each other from danger when necessary.
With time and with a lot of moments shared between them, their promise had grown. It slowly evolved into something so much bigger than any of them could've predicted when they first met.
It turned into keeping Eddie's favorite beer in his fridge or to drive him to pick up Chris from school after a busy, tiring shift. Or to pick up Eddie's sisters from the airport when they came to visit.
Their promise, reassurance, vow, oath of having each other's backs, turned into late night conversations and outings to the zoo, going to PTA meetings and to school events.
It had meant to hold each other's hands— like when Eddie never dropped his while a fire truck was on top of Buck's leg and he was screaming in agonizing, all consuming pain. Or when he stayed every night at the hospital, next to Buck's bed and sleeping in an uncomfortable plastic chair.
And, as of a few weeks ago, having each other's backs means Eddie having his awkward blind dates that Tía Pepa sets him up in, in Bobby and Buck's restaurant. It means Buck having to watch the love of his life go on date, after date, after date, after date.
It means going and saving Eddie when the date turns out badly and he does that constipated, weird face.
Eddie is still going mostly to appease Tía Pepa, as far as Buck knows. He hasn't mentioned liking anyone or wanting to genuinely, truly date.
But Buck has this tightening in his chest everytime he sees Eddie walk in with a date on his arm. He lives in terror of one day not having Eddie beg him with his eyes to save him, to find an excuse to end the date in some way. He lives in fear of Eddie someday actually liking someone and falling in love.
He'd like to figure out how to make a move himself before that happens but it's been years and he can't ever quite find the right words. (Sometimes, in his darkest and most insecure moments, he doubts he ever will.)
tagging np: @hoodie-buck @monsterrae1 @buddierights @rainbow-nerdss @elvensorceress @buckaroosheart @watchyourbuck @eddiebabygirldiaz @exhuastedpigeon @wildlife4life @diazevan @fortheloveofbuddie @spaceprincessem @athenagranted @daffi-990 @hippolotamus @the-likesofus @spotsandsocks @underwater-ninja-13 @steadfastsaturnsrings @jesuisici33 @malewifediaz @housewifebuck @911-on-abc @honestlydarkprincess @bigfootsmom @devirnis @dijkstraspath @diazsdimples @prettyboybuckley @rogerzsteven @heartshapedvows @maygrantgf @jeeyuns @tizniz and anyone else who wants to do it <33
#waiter buck au#evan buckley#eddie diaz#buck x eddie#buddie#buddie fic#buddie wip#my wips#my writing#911 fic#911 wip#911 abc#911 on abc
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𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘚𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵
𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆
After spending all of Saturday trying to communicate with Eddie and listening to Mike, Lucas and Will berate him to go over and ask, apologize, beg, whatever it takes to get Eddie to come back to Hellfire.
And after the older kids, Gareth, Jeff, and Frank tell him it’s their mess and they need to clean it up by themselves, Dustin finally decides the best he can do is go to Eddie’s and tell him the truth, face to face.
It might take some begging, maybe a little blackmail, or a promise of his mother’s baked goods, but he’s sure Eddie will forgive him, especially if Steve talks on his behalf.
He is sure of it when he rides his bike up to Eddie’s and Wayne’s place, he’s slightly less sure when he knocks for a good while and no one comes to the door. He’s terrified when Eddie finally opens the door looking mean and like he just got out of bed.
“Do you have any idea what time it is?!” He growls at Dustin, rubbing his eye sleepily.
Dustin blinks, “It’s almost noon, man,” he states, and then lifts his hand in surrender when Eddie glares at him, “Hey! Hey now. I came to apologize, okay?”
Eddie crosses his arms and lifts an eyebrow, waiting. The menacing pose is slightly less effective due to the fact that Eddie is only wearing a pair of pink boxers and his hair is a complete disaster.
His stony look does remind Dustin how afraid he used to be of him, and how much he looked up to him. And he still does, he’s just not afraid of him anymore because he knows Eddie would never do anything bad to him.
And he fucked that up, didn’t he? He’s the one who did something bad. He’s the one who broke his trust and went behind his back. Disrespected him. After everything they’ve been through.
The thought makes his eyes water and he wants to say all these things out loud but he’s afraid he’s going to cry if he talks too much, he only manages to get a single broken,
“Sorry” out before Eddie crouches to his height, grabbing his shoulders.
“Woah, hey. It’s okay Dust. I forgive you, dude. It’s not that big of a deal,” he tells him, panicking over a single tear.
But something catches Dustin’s eye when Eddie leans forward and it’s Steve, standing behind him with a smirk on his face, wearing only boxers and a shirt.
Eddie’s shirt.
“It worked!” he yells, making Eddie stumble at the sudden outburst.
Eddie looks confused for a second before he hears Steve laughing behind him and then he chuckles.
“Nah, nuh-uh. You do not get to take the credit for getting us together, sir!” he tells Dustin, but he doesn't pay attention to that. He’ll fight about it later but right now he’s just happy because,
“But it worked, right!?”
Steve comes closer and leans against the doorframe, “It worked,” he says, his voice rough and low. Probably from sleeping too much, Dustin figures.
Dustin starts laughing delightedly and hugs Eddie, catching him by surprise. Eddie starts laughing too and then he ruffles his hair.
“Damnit, I can’t stay mad at you,” he grumbles.
Steve smiles and kisses Eddie’s cheek, ruffling Dustin’s hair too.
“C’mon, let’s go get breakfast. I want waffles,” he says and moves inside to get changed.
Eddie lets go of Dustin and tells him, “You are still grounded, young man. You’re not coming.”
“What?” Dustin snorts, “You can’t ground me.”
And Eddie raises a brow before moving inside, “No Hellfire for two weeks, and you get to tell the rest it’s because. You. Are. Grounded. Now shoo, I’m going to take my boyfriend for breakfast,” he says and closes the door on his face.
𝗳𝗶𝗻 💕
part 1: ❤️
part 2: 🧡
part 3: 💛
part 4: 💚
part 5: 💙
part 6: 💜
part 7: 💗
☕🥐💕
#steddie#stranger things#eddie munson#steve harrington#dustin henderson#we did it guys! we posted once a day for a week and we got ther#dont forget to tip your waiter!#i wrote something
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you know they would jump back like 10 feet from each other if someone found them while they were being gay
#keveddy#kevin#eddy#ed edd n eddy#ed edd eddy fanart#eene#eene eddy#kevinxeddy#waiter! waiter! more#toxic yaoi#please#ed edd n eddy fanart
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we continue with the fantastic adventures of ✨eddy waiter✨
he thinks he can remember all the types of coffee people order, plEASE, he doesn't need to use the commander. but when he gets to the bar and starts listing them to his partner… that's when things change.
hope the customers don't mind repeating his orders!!! (eddy please keep it together)
#ed edd n eddy#ed edd n eddy fanart#eene#eene fanart#eene eddy#eene eddy waiter#cartoon network#do it for her#(the payroll)
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Look imma be honest, Steddie x Reader isn’t really my thing (I’m a one-man kinda woman) but why haven’t I seen a single fic with the AU where Eddie’s a linecook also have Steve there as a waiter??
#eddie munson x reader#It seems like the obvious thing because Joe actually WAS a waiter before acting#steve harrington x reader#steddie x reader
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eddie is a waiter at a diner steve is a regular at. his way of flirting with mystery pretty boy, he'll find out his name one day!!, is by bending the straws of the smoothies steve orders into hearts.
#flash forward 5 years later to their wedding and all the drinks have heart-shaped straws in them#this is based on a true story!!#i was on vacation last May and my straw was in a heart shape#and not my mom's or anyone else's#i checked#anyway the waiter was soooo in love with me#he laughed at me when i couldn't find the table and then helped me get to it#and we talked about candles#he's across the ocean now but i will always remember him#also had really good cheesecake that night#anyway here are the actual tags#steve harrington#eddie munson#steddie#st#mine
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hi.
#pointless tomfoolery#eene oc#ed edd n eddy oc#tiny baby#tiny fluffy baby#nazz is definitely the one to tell the waiter if her order is wrong#don't talk to me or my weird big sister ever again
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Put the Lights Out and Cry by blipblot
(17/17 I 85,549 I Teen I Steddie)
With Starcourt burnt to the ground and Family Video not returning his calls, Steve decides to take up serving at Dellah's Diner. The job would be almost perfect if not for the metalhead line cook determined to make his life a living hell every chance he gets.
(this is cute as hell. I am always here for pining and jealousy. hands down. But the OC are *chefskiss* AND Dustin's POV is perfect and funny and should be experienced)
#stranger things#steddie#steddei fic rec#stranger things fic rec#cook!eddie#waiter!steve#steve harrington#eddie munson#enemies to lovers
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ROUND 1 POLL 107 SIDE A
About the NPCs:
The waiter works at the restaurant on Chancer Lane.
Eddie Torre is a professional film editor. He works closely with Maverick D. Rector.
Otherwise known as: ハーパー・チャンプル (Japanese); Phil M. Cutter (German); Eddie Torg (Spanish); Édouard Beauraccord (French); Eddie Tor (Dutch)
#professor layton#pl#waiter lmj#eddie torre#layton's mystery journey#round 1#side a#(and that's a wrap for side a!)
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Okay I'm so addicted to this storyline of waiterEddie! but you must TRY!
I’m definitely writing a oneshot about the whole experience, but of course giving myself a way better ending (I should’ve joined him on his break) 🥲🫠😂
I hope to take my friend to lunch there to play show and tell, at the very least, but on the off chance that Cole from Chilis recognizes me, I will have to shoot my shot— if not for me, but for all of y’all that have been encouraging me and hyping me up to believe I can pull this gorgeous man 😩💖
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Chapter Two: Spilled Wine, a Mosquito, and an Almost Reunion
A/N: Next chapter will be longer because that’s when we get some answers.
Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader
Summary: Eddie Munson left you behind to chase his dreams before suddenly disappearing. When he shows up 5 years later, will he be able to work his way back into your heart?
Warnings: Alcohol, Food/Eating, Flirty Annoying Coworker, Unwanted Touching, Mention of death (No one dies just mentioned), Cussing, Reader is mentioned to be wearing a dress and heels, 18+ only, minors DNI
Word count: 4.4k
Series Masterlist
Over the years, there had been times when you thought you had seen Eddie Munson.
Whether it was the bagger at the grocery store who’s brown hair looked too familiar for a second. Or a stranger in a crowd who at a passing glance looked similar enough to get your heart pumping in surprise, just for it to plummet in disappointment when you got a better look.
Each incident left you freshly wounded and questioning your sanity.
There had been a point, probably a year after Eddie left, when it really set in that he probably wasn’t ever coming back.
You felt like you had become a ghost hunter. Chasing any shadow or disembodied voice. Looking for any clue that Eddie was still out there somewhere.
You never voiced your theory to Wayne that Eddie wasn’t out there anymore. You were too afraid to crush him anymore than Eddie already had.
It’s funny how when you love someone, they can hurt you so much even when they aren’t around.
You were convinced that Eddie had died out here in California, under the heat and glamor. He had become just another person lured out here with the promise of bright lights and fame just to end up lost and forgotten. He was like those lost sailors you would read about in fantasy books, led to their death by a beautiful siren.
It wasn’t an unbelievable theory, it was the one that most made sense. The thought of Eddie’s demise was an elephant in the room. Something so obvious to you like a flashing neon sign in the darkness of night. The thought danced over your heads during you and Wayne’s monthly dinners like rain clouds. Both of you were aware of the potential storm that those words would bring, but neither of you moved to take cover.
Your hands moved forward to blindly set the menu down as you stared at him in shock. The world was spinning. Had it always spun this fast?
Vance’s eyes pierced into the side of your face, you could feel the burning intensity but he didn’t matter right now.
Things like this didn’t just happen.
Eddie stared at you in shocked silence, his pen and notebook still posed to take your order. His wide brown eyes, that you had looked into so many times before, frozen on you as his breathing picked up.
“Eddie?” You repeated when he didn’t answer you.
Your eyes caught on the golden name tag glistening on his chest that said ‘Edward’.
“Shoot!” Vance exclaimed as you knocked over the glass full of red wine, staining the white marble floor like a crime scene in a cheap movie with poor special effects.
The shatter of the glass broke Eddie out of his trance as he tore his eyes away from yours and zoned in on the spill instead. He made no move to protect himself from the broken glass when it fell. A nearby server rushed over with a cloth and broom to clean it up apologizing profusely to you even though you had been the one to knock it over.
Eddie’s eyes flicked back to yours, as if he was checking to see if you were still there.
Over the dim intimate lighting of the restaurant he looked so beautiful. His hair was pulled back into a low bun on the back of his head with all of the fly aways smoothed away in a professional manner. He wore a white long sleeve button down shirt that was tucked into a pair of black slacks. The weirdest part of this, was not only seeing Eddie, but seeing him dressed like this.
His face was mostly the same as you remembered. There were only slightly more lines around his eyes than the last time you had seen him. His jaw was a touch more defined and sharper.
Eddie had aged, just like you. A possibility that you thought he would never get to have.
Something shifted in his gaze. You watched as the steel shutters came down, effectively blocking his emotions.
“Are you ready to order?” He asked again, you couldn’t tell if your ears were failing you but his bored and distant tone sounded forced. Like those words were painful to come out of a mouth that once spun you fantastic stories. He stepped slightly to the side as the other servers finished cleaning your mess and brought you a fresh glass.
You gaped at him with your mouth open still. You could feel Vance nudge your shoulder but you ignored him. Both of your eyes locked on Eddie with no possibility of words being formed any time soon.
“She would like Bruschetta as a starter and a Ceasar Salad for her main,” Vance spoke up beside you.
You didn’t even process the fact that Vance had ordered for you as you watched Eddie go around the table taking orders and politely answering questions. Your eyes followed and tracked his every movement.
“What is going on with you?” Vance asked as you watched Eddie walk away without looking back at you.
You pushed up from the table, your chair rocking slightly with how quickly you stood.
Vance reached out to grab your arm in question but you waved him off as you stomped across the restaurant and followed Eddie into the hallway he disappeared down.
You caught him as he was about to enter a door that read ‘Employees Only’.
“Hey!” You yelled to stop him as you stomped towards him as fast as your heels would allow. Your dress swished around your thighs, making your movement look more dramatic.
You watched as his shoulders raised and fell as he took a deep breath before he turned to face you.
“Please tell me it’s really you,” you said in an almost whisper, too afraid that if you yelled again he would turn to dust and blow away in the wind, leaving you questioning if this was still real life.
His chin lifted in a slight wordless nod. His body still turned slightly towards the door with his hand pressed against it like he was going to walk away any second. He was wound up prepared to run away from you.
He didn’t leave though as the seconds ticked by. You watched as his eyes took in your face. His gaze bounced around between each feature before trailing down your body and then back up, like he was taking you in too. You suddenly felt self conscious under his stare.
“Eddie. I don’t understand. I can’t believe you’re here,” you started softly before the anger came in, making your next words come out harder. “Where the hell have you been?”
He flinched at your tone, but you didn’t care. You wanted to grab him and shake his shoulders to try to put some sense into him. You wanted to scream at him and tell him how stupid he was. You wanted to tell him everything that he’s missed in the past five years. You wanted to tell him about Wayne and the hurt that Eddie had caused by being so selfish.
You wanted to tell him how much you missed him and how you haven’t been the same since he left. You wanted to tell him how he ripped your heart out and made it so you could never trust anyone else.
You wanted to tell him that he had ruined you for everyone else.
Instead of saying all of that, you just took another stumbling step towards him.
“Can I help you?” A server asked from behind you, most likely thinking you were a disgruntled customer cornering Eddie. If only they knew.
Before you could answer, Eddie spoke up, “Restrooms are that way, Ma’am.” He pointed towards the opposite side of the restaurant before turning away from you again and walking through the door.
You stared at the door for a moment, not believing what just happened before the employee behind you cleared their throat. You scurried past them and walked to the table in a numb daze. Your ass landed in the cloth covered chair ungracefully, your mind racing too much to control your descent.
Did you step off that airplane earlier and land in an alternate dimension or were you just dreaming? You pinched yourself on your thigh under the table, the sharp pain confirming that, unfortunately, you were awake. Jury was still out on the alternate dimension theory, though.
“I was just about to come looking for you. Did you know that guy or something?” Vance asked. You knew he was beside you, but he sounded like could have been miles away. Vance tapped impatiently at your arm when you didn’t immediately answer.
“I-No. He just looked familiar,” you spoke, finally.
Feeling brave, you glanced down the table to see your boss enraptured in a conversation with one of your coworkers. Hopefully, she didn’t notice your little freak out.
The red wine burned slightly as you chugged the whole glass in one swallow. Your coworker, Jenny, raised an eyebrow across from you and lifted her glass in solidarity before taking a sip.
“Work trips are the best, right?” She said with a wink.
“They really are,” Vance nodded along, not picking up on her sarcasm.
Suddenly, a hand was beside you refilling your glass of wine. Your eyes met Eddie’s as he looked down at you. All too quickly, he backed away from the table and disappeared again.
Seems like he has a habit of that now.
“He’s cute,” Jenny announced to you. “You should totally go for it.”
“Go for what?” You asked as somehow the second glass of wine found its way down your throat.
“The server. Someone might as well have fun while we’re here,” she fake whispered, shielding her mouth with her hand so your boss wouldn’t be able to see.
Vance tensed and scoffed beside you.
“I mean did you see the way he looked at you? Damn,” she sighed dreamily.
“Didn’t take that as your type,” Vance commented.
Little did he know.
You whipped your head around, ready to defend Eddie and your type when a dish was set in front of you. Eddie and another server were making their way around the table with hot plates of food.
“Would you like some more wine?” The server that was not Eddie asked you.
“No. We have that conference at ten in the morning, remember?” Vance answered for you before slinging an arm around your shoulder.
“Oh, give her a break. The conference is literally here at the hotel. It’s not like she’ll have to drive to get there,” Jenny said loudly.
As annoying as it was that Vance answered for you, he was right. One more glass and you might not be able to peel yourself out of bed tomorrow.
You declined the wine politely. Vance didn’t move his arm away, instead he squeezed you a little tighter. Looking up, you could see Eddie’s eyes on where Vance’s arm was wrapped around you while he worked.
By the tense look in his eye and the tick in his jaw, you thought that maybe Eddie looked pissed for some reason. Something that he had no right to be. If anyone was going to be pissed here, it was you.
The rest of dinner was awkward to say the least.
Between Vance buzzing in your ear like a mosquito, Jenny drinking entirely too much wine to the point that another coworker had to lift her out of her chair and Eddie just treating you like you were a regular customer, you were ready to get to your room and crawl under the sheets.
There was no point in denying the spark of joy it would bring when you saw Eddie noticing how close you and Vance were sitting or how Vance would lean in too close to whisper in your ear. You didn’t necessarily want to give Vance the wrong impression, but you had told him many times before you weren’t interested. If he didn’t want to listen then that was his own fault.
You found yourself at the end of the table after the bill had been paid, waiting for Eddie to say something, anything to you.
At this point you wondered if he remembered you. Really remembered who you were to him. But in the end were you really anything if he could take off so easily?
Disappointment cracked at your ribs when you realized he wasn’t going to say anything to you. You lingerd, even as the rest of your group wandered out of the restaurant with promises to see eachother bright and early for the conference.
“Are you doing okay tonight? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Your boss commented from behind you. You hadn’t even realized she had stayed back waiting for you.
You decided to admit defeat when Eddie didn’t return to the restaurant dining room after he had disappeared down the hallway where the kitchen was located. You just wished this time you’d be able to really say goodbye.
“No ghosts here,” you replied in your best attempt to sound lighthearted.
“Come on. Lets get some sleep before tomorrow,” your boss said with a wave of her hand.
After one last check around the dining room left you disappointed again, you gathered your pride and left the restaurant without Eddie.
It was getting later into the night and you couldn’t bring yourself to sleep.
The hotel bed, which was almost too comfortable, did nothing to lull you into a slumber. Instead, you tossed and turned back and forth.
Your brain had finally caught up with the situation and wouldn’t allow you an ounce of peace.
You wished you wouldn’t have left the restaurant. You wished you would have stayed until he had no choice but to face you. You wished that five years ago you wouldn’t have let Eddie leave.
You sat up on the side of the bed, pushing the silky sheets and blankets to the side.
What would be the right thing to do here? Should you call Wayne and let him know that you saw Eddie tonight? Should you tell him that his nephew that he had been heartbroken over was alive and well? He had the right to know, of course. But you had to think of the repercussions of what this news would do to him. Wayne wasn’t fragile but you had to be careful not to stress him out too much.
You could always call Lissa, she had always been the one to talk you down when you got too in your head about Eddie. She had been with you for it all, and even had been the one to recommend therapy to you when things got really bad.
Knowing Lissa though, if you called her tonight and told her what happened then she would pack your cat up and grab a flight tonight just to show up here, chase Eddie down, and give him a piece of her mind. Although you appreciated her dedication to being your best friend, that probably wouldn’t be the best thing in this situation.
You would just have to talk her out of it. Right now you just needed your best friend.
Your hand reached for the phone on the side table and dialed the familiar numbers. You cursed yourself for a moment when you realized the time in Indiana. You were about to hang up and go back to tossing and turning but she answered anyway.
“Hello?” She sounded chipper. You sent a moment to thank whoever that you hadn’t woken her up.
“Hey. It’s me.”
“You okay? How’s California? Been to the beach yet? Any cute surfer girls there that you can pass along my way?” She spat out her questions in rapid succession.
“I’m fine. California's fine. No I haven’t been to the beach,” you answered.
“You’re lying,” she said with a gasp.
“No, I really haven’t been to the beach. I-”
“No. Everything’s not fine. I know when something’s up and you wouldn’t be calling right now if everything was fine. So spill.” This is why you loved and hated Lissa sometimes. She always knew when to call you out on your bullshit.
“I know I’m going to sound crazy. I feel crazy. But Eddie’s here. In California.” Your voice wobbled slightly. It was the first time you had said it out loud since you saw him and it felt surreal.
You heard Lissa’s deep breath through the phone before she went silent for a bit. You waited, letting her process the information you had given her. She didn’t know Eddie like you did. She had only been gifted the stories you had given her through the years. But she did know how much he meant to you and how much he affected your life.
“Listen,” she said softly. “I know you were worried about going to California because of what happened and I know that thinking about him probably worked up some unresolved issues. If it’s getting to be too much then you should come home. Maybe we can even call your thera-”
“No. Lissa, listen to me. He was our waiter at dinner. I talked to him. It was actually him,” you said defensively, realizing how crazy you sounded.
You went into the story, telling Lissa how he showed up at the table and looked at you like he had seen a ghost. How you had followed him down the hallway and that he told you it was him and then he talked to you like you were just a customer. How he didn’t acknowledge you for the rest of the night but had no problem giving Vance dirty looks for touching you.
“Holy shit,” Lissa said finally after you finished telling her your story.
“I know,” you agreed.
“I’m coming down there,” she announced and then you could hear her shuffling around on her side of the phone.
“No! Don’t do that. I’m just going to make it through the conference tomorrow and then come home. He didn’t want to talk to me. It was like I was a stranger.” You felt the first sign of tears as your eyes started to burn and it got harder to speak. You had fought so hard to hold off the tears that had been threatening to break since dinner because you knew once you started you wouldn’t be able to stop them. “Just stay there with the cat. I’ll be home in a couple of days and then…I don’t know.”
You could hear Lissa set something down on the other end, most likely her suitcase and then the squeaking of bed springs as she sat down. “Can I give you some advice?” She asked.
When you didn’t answer she took that as confirmation to keep going. “I know this might sound a little cliche but if someone is continuously walking away from you then let them. You can’t force a person to want to be a part of your world. If he wanted to fix the mess he made in either you or Wayne’s lives then he would seek you out himself.You can look at this one of two ways, you can throw yourself into hunting him down and pouring salt into the wound or…”
“Or what?” You whispered.
“Or this might be the final thing you needed to let him go. If seeing him at that restaurant was all of the closure you were going to get then that’s going to have to be okay.”
“Shit,” you said with a humorless laugh as you wiped at your face. “Can I call you tomorrow?”
“Any time.”
After hanging up with Lissa you threw yourself back down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
She was right. There was no way that you could force Eddie to be a part of your life again. If he wanted to forget everything and everyone back at home in Hawkins then that was his choice. He was an adult, even though his decisions sucked sometimes. You knew it was the right thing, and you knew it was what was best for you, but that didn’t mean it was easy.
You would have to respect his choice though. It was his life to live. As long as he was happy.
The conference the next morning came too soon.
Not only were you exhausted, but you also had a headache and an empty stomach from not eating the salad that Vance had ordered for you. If you hadn’t been distracted by Eddie then you would have been more pissed about that.
Vance was entirely too excited to see you when you waited. Part of you wanted to snap at him for his enthusiastic greeting, but he did come bearing a hot cup of coffee as a gift so you decided to go easy on him.
Jenny was trying and failing to hide her hangover from your boss, but her not so pleasant shade of green and the sunglasses that she was wearing indoors was giving her away.
You could feel how swollen your eyes were everytime you blinked. The crying hadn’t stopped after you got off the phone with Lissa. After her words of wisdom, you could feel yourself come to terms with the situation, or at least try to.
The multiple hours long conference was mind numbingly painful. You think around the two hour mark you started losing information instead of retaining. At around the three hour mark you considered pulling the fire alarm and using it as a distraction to flee.
The coffee you had drank was long gone by the end of the event, only a few cold and bitter drops remained at the bottom of the soggy paper cups.
Your boss pulled you all together, dismissing you for the rest of the day with a reminder to meet in the lobby the next morning to catch your flight home. With that, you all dispersed to leave the conference room before your boss could change her mind.
Vance caught up to you, of course. No amount of speed walking on your account would have been fast enough. You kept your head down while you maneuvered through clusters of people, chairs, and tables. You were on a mission to get out of this room so you could crawl into your hotel bed and order room service with no plans of getting out until you had to leave for your flight in the morning.
“I was thinking, how about we go get lunch and maybe walk down by the beach for a bit? We can check out some of those shops and get some souvenirs? How about-” His talking ceased the second you made it out of the conference room.
The abrupt silence was enough for you to stop walking and look up from the floor and to see Vance staring at something with intensity. Following his line of sight you realized that he wasn’t staring at something but instead someone.
A certain someone with curly brown hair and big brown eyes that was awkwardly leaned up against the wall where the conference room hallway led into the hotel lobby. He had both hands in the pockets of his dark colored jeans in an image of perfect nonchalance, but you could tell by the way his shoulders tensed when he looked at you that he wasn’t as relaxed as he was trying to portray.
You both stared at each other for a bit, you with shock and Eddie with intensity. Vance cleared his throat and motioned at you to keep walking with him as he picked the conversation back up again like there had been no disruption. “Or maybe I can take you out to dinner tonight. Just me and you? I saw this nice place down the street that looked promising.”
You only took a few steps before Eddie pushed off the wall and walked towards you, stepping in front of you and Vance to stop you from leaving.
“Hey, can we talk for a second?” He asked with a hint of begging in his voice.
You chewed the inside of your lip. This shouldn’t be an internal debate after you had spent all yesterday evening chasing Eddie throughout a restaurant with your eyes practically begging him to talk to you.
“We really need to go,” Vance spoke up beside you.
“I wasn’t asking you,” Eddie snapped at him.
“It’s fine,” you said to Vance who at the moment looked the complete opposite of Eddie with his crisp iron shirt and loafers. “We can talk for a second.”
Eddie led you to the wall he was originally leaned against when you had walked out of the conference room. You were only a few steps away from Vance, who was waiting for you and not doing a very good job at pretending he wasn’t listening in to your conversation.
“I should make this quick before your boyfriend has a breakdown,” Eddie said with a smirk.
You didn’t bother correcting him. “You said you wanted to talk?”
“Right,” he said as he straightened his spine and cracked his knuckles. “Can we meet up tonight? Just me and you,” he asked as he cut Vance a sideways glare. “I think there’s a lot we need to talk about and I don’t want to do it here.”
“Where then?” You asked.
“Meet me in the hotel lobby tonight around nine? That way you have enough time for your date.”
You rolled your eyes at him. Five years without seeing each other and this is what he chose to focus on.
“Fine. Are you actually going to show up or are you just going to pull another disappearing act?” You questioned with a humorless laugh. It was a little immature to throw that at him but based on the wince on his face when you said it, he knew he wasn’t getting into your good graces easily.
“I promise I’ll meet you at the hotel lobby tonight at nine,” he pledged, holding a ringed hand up for extra effect.
“Fine. I’ll see you then,” you said with a sigh. Your mind was torn, part of you dancing with joy at the opportunity you thought you’d never have. The other part of you was quickly putting up a brick wall around your mind and heart, warning you of the impending doom that was approaching.
With your confirmation he backed away and left as quickly as he had appeared. You stood there, staring at his retreating form for a bit until he disappeared around the corner. By the way he was acting, you wondered if you were ready to hear what he had to say tonight or if he would just destroy you more than he already had.
#eddie munson au#eddie munson x reader#eddie munson x y/n#eddie munson#eddie munson fanfic#eddie munson series#eddie munson imagine#eddie stranger things#eddie munson angst#eddie munson x you#waiter!eddie munson
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ok consider this: an au where the fruity four work at a hotel
#nancy is the manager (obvi)#robin is a waiter#eddie is a bartender and occasional entertainment#steve is the concierge who deals with demanding clients because he can talk to posh people#or maybe steve is also a bartender idk#i just need people pleasing steve vs surly and weird eddie#who knows if i will write bc im trying to crank out chapter 2 of my literal phd dissertation and thats teh extent of my writing capacity rn#A talks to the void#stranger things au#stranger things fic idea
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Had to share what happened. I haven’t laughed like that in a while....
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have you guys tried the @withink this evening i think it’s just exquisite
#out.#the eddie munson flavor?#the steve AND robin layered throughout in perfect harmony?#thee perfect portions of such a diverse array of muses.... might as well be a feast... a buffet even......#all served up and set out by thee sweetest and most sexy waiter you've ever seen who makes you feel so at home? maybe so!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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