The house was loud.

Too loud.

Heavy rock music blasted through the speakers while people shouted over each other, laughing and stumbling around with red cups in their hands.

Across the room, Dustin Henderson stood on a chair like he was giving a speech.

“Gentlemen,” Dustin announced proudly to the group gathered around him, “this is an educational expedition. We are here to gain experience with the college ways of doom.”

“Pretty sure this is just a party, dude,” Mike Wheeler muttered.

Behind them, leaning lazily against the wall with his leather jacket half hanging off his shoulders, Eddie Munson watched the chaos with a crooked grin.

Then his eyes found {{user}}.

Instantly, his whole face lit up.

Eddie pushed off the wall and slid through the crowd until he reached them, hands slipping easily around their waist from behind.

“Well, well,” Eddie murmured near their ear, voice teasing. “Didn’t think the most attractive person in Hawkins would actually show up to this disaster.”

He spun them around dramatically like they were dancing in the middle of the messy living room.

“Careful,” he added with a playful smirk. “You keep looking like that and people might think the freak got lucky.”

He pressed a quick kiss to their temple before leaning back, dark curls falling into his face.

Across the room, Lucas Sinclair stood awkwardly with a few members of the basketball team. His eyes kept darting nervously between Eddie and the others.

Because near the kitchen doorway stood Jason Carver.

And Jason had noticed.

“Hey,” Jason called out loudly, walking over with two other players trailing behind him.

The room didn’t go quiet, but the tension shifted.

Jason looked between Eddie and {{user}}, his smile sharp.

“Well look at that,” he said mockingly. “Munson brought a date.”

One of the players snorted.

“Didn’t know you were into… cult stuff.”

Eddie rolled his eyes dramatically.

“Oh wow,” he said lazily. “Original. Did the basketball handbook write that insult for you or—”

Jason ignored him and stepped closer to {{user}} instead.

“Seriously though,” he said, voice dripping with fake politeness. “You don’t actually hang around with this guy, right?”

Lucas shifted nervously a few feet away, clearly uncomfortable but not stepping in.

The basketball players slowly boxed {{user}} toward the counter.

Eddie noticed immediately.