I don’t want him to know how excited I am for this, because I worked very hard to make it seem like I was being peer pressured by my friends. I would never tell him that I was dreaming about dancing with him under the streamers of soft white lights, the same ones that currently decorate the gym as we walk in. He might think that was way too sappy.

He’s got his arm wrapped around my waist and I imagine he’s trying very hard not to roll his eyes. I know this isn’t usually his thing, I think to myself, but I can’t help it. Doesn’t every girl dream of dancing, looking like a princess, with her Prince Charming?

I grab his hand that’s wrapped around me, feeling the familiar chunky silver rings on his fingers.

My friends know how excited I am for prom. Over the last couple of weeks, I found myself guiltily indulging myself in talks of dresses and dancing. I didn’t tell my beloved, clumsy, metalhead boyfriend how excited I was, though.

“Come on, maybe it will be fun!” I said, trying to feign my own enthusiasm, throwing some false sarcasm in. He had scoffed in response.

“Hey, come on, you get to graduate this year, and we should go out with a bang!” When I said this, I saw a small smirk play on the side of his lips. He pretends that it’s not a big deal, but I know it is. Finally free from high school, I think as I look at him and smile. He can finally be released into the world in his full, goofy glory.

On second thought, maybe they’re not ready for him, I laugh as I think to myself.

Eddie Munson, the town drug dealer, the leader of a Dungeons and Dragons group, guitar extraordinaire, and twice now high school senior, was finally graduating. I mean, that’s all that everyone else knew about him, but I had come to find that he was so much more underneath that tough exterior.

I like to think I had something to do with getting him here. After all, in between the goofing around that he liked to do, I got him working on some homework here and there and improving his grades enough to graduate. I mean, he always tells me that it’s all me that got him there. I brush it off, but secretly I burn with pride inside whenever he says it.

Everything that they think about him can’t be true then. Sure, people say bad things about him, but since he’s been with me, there have been changes.

Eddie is who he is. I wouldn’t dream of changing that. However, I have succeeded in pushing him outside his comfort zone. Before me, he wouldn’t dream of going to prom.

“They don’t play Metallica and Iron Maiden at prom,” he said.

I shook my head and said, “No, probably not. But I think we should still go.”

He was quiet for a minute. Then, he finally said, “All right, I’ll do it. Just for you, though. You might have to drag me in.”

When he said that, I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him. He sighed and kissed me back, appearing completely defeated.

“I love you,” I told him. “We’ll get through it together, I promise.”

He nods and says, “Obviously I love you. I’m going to prom with you. I wouldn’t do it for anyone else.”

I kissed him again, feeling the excitement in my gut bubbling at the images of us on the dance floor together. I won’t admit it to him, but nothing thrilled me more.

Now, here we are, walking down the hallways of Hawkins High School. It has been decked out in dozens of shiny garlands, there is a long black carpet rolled down the hallway, and there are hundreds of black and white balloons all over the place. The lockers along the walls are almost invisible underneath all the streamers.

Honestly, I’m a little impressed. I expected the cheesy factor to be through the roof for the dance, but somehow, Hawkins High really came through. They decided to do a very formal black, white, and silver color palette for prom 1986.

I look up at Eddie, expecting a smirk. Instead, he looks slightly uncomfortable. I squeeze his hand to reassure him, and he meets my eyes. Then, he gives me a small smile.

When we get into the gym, I’m inundated by more decorations. This time, there are some gold garlands mixed in with the silver and black and white. The tables on the side have white tablecloths with small vases that have a few red roses in them. The amount of string lights everywhere is incredible: the normally hazy, yellow light of the gymnasium is turned off, so it’s just the silvery glow from the string lights. There is a huge disco ball hanging from the ceiling, and little circles of light are dancing all over the walls and the floors.

I look around and I find my friends at a table, and I lead Eddie over to join them. We all make small talk, mostly about how the decorations are much better than expected. Eddie is quieter than normal, and I give his hand another reassuring squeeze. He stands right beside me, clutching my hand tight.

After we hang out along the sides for a while, drinking sparkly red punch, the DJ plays “Open Arms” by Journey. I look at Eddie, he looks at me, and he rolls his eyes with a smile on his face. He takes my hand and leads me gently to the dance floor, then bends down low. I giggle as he raises my hand to his lips, kisses it, and says, “Madame, will you join me for this dance?”

I roll my eyes back at him. “You don’t have to milk it that much, darling. Just being here with you works for me.”

He chuckles, pulling me close to him. We start dancing, and we’re both laughing as we do so. He swings me around gently and pulls me back into his chest.

“Wow, I’m impressed,” I tell him. “I didn’t know you knew how to dance.”

He chuckles. “I don’t. I’m just doing what they always do in the movies.”

I kiss him and say, “Works for me.”

While the song plays, I find myself just gazing into his face. He smiles back at me, pressing his forehead against mine. Sighing, I close my eyes and get lost in the moment. There’s a whoosh of excited butterflies in my stomach, and it feels like they might lift me off the ground. This is it, I remind myself. I just wish we were alone now.

Being wrapped in his arms, my cheek brushing against the smooth leather of his jacket, I feel like everything so far has led right up to this moment, here with Eddie, and it was a perfect fit. I was never one to put much stock in fate, but something was definitely at work when we came together. Quite simply, this boy had swooped in and taken me for the ride of my life.

I remember us standing in my living room in front of the fireplace, begrudgingly standing for prom photos, and feeling a rush of so many strong emotions for Eddie. When I first went down the stairs, he gazed at me with a big smile on his face, really playing it up to make me laugh. I loved seeing his big, brown eyes melt when he looked at me. I could only hope that my blushing cheeks didn’t ruin my look. “Wow, babe,” he whispered in my ear as he pulled me into his arms, “You look incredible.”

Eddie had put together black dress slacks, a black button-up shirt, and his signature leather jacket on top of it. He was wearing black dress shoes, his favorite chunky silver rings on his fingers, and his hair was its usual, bushy self. There wasn’t much that could be done about his unruly curls. He was wearing a red tie that he borrowed from his uncle that I straightened slightly when I fell into his arms. I loved that he managed to dress up a little while still looking like himself.

I know that when I see the pictures, I won’t be able to contain my laughter at the photos of us trying to pose. We started out slightly uncomfortable from the camera in our faces and my parents gushing, but all I had to do was look in his eyes and smile at him. He smiled back at me, wrapping his arms around my waist. His humor was unparalleled: in his typical fashion, he insisted on a picture of me riding him piggyback, and even one with both of our tongues sticking out.

I loved what I saw when I got lost in his brown eyes: there was a glow that made me weak in the knees. That was why I could so easily brush the stereotypes that everyone had about Eddie aside, because they didn’t see what I saw when I looked at him. If they only could, they would know.

While dress shopping, I had been committed to finding something that I knew he would like. Since he was a guitar-playing metalhead, I hoped to find something black. Thank the prom gods, because that day I was lucky to find a long, black dress adorned with sparkling stones all over it. The top was like a strapless corset, covered with sparkly, silver stones, and the bottom of the dress was slightly flared, but didn’t look poofy. Somehow, it looked simple but decadent.

I did my hair in smooth curls with a single braid wrapped loosely around my crown. I wasn’t gifted at doing hair, but I was happy with the result when I saw it in the mirror. Somehow, the dress had fit me perfectly when I tried it on, and that’s how I knew it was the right one.

“Are you sure you want that one?” my friends had asked as they browsed other gowns, all colorful and frilly.

“No doubt in my mind,” I said, only thinking of Eddie.

After a while, I’m pulled out of my thoughts as Eddie places a kiss on my forehead. I find myself wishing we could just stay like this forever.

As the night goes on, we dance a few more times together, him exaggerating so many moves in his usual, goofy way. We chat with my friends, talking about all the fun things going on this summer. There’s an aura of excitement all around because everyone is excited to graduate, to start their summer jobs, and to get ready to move away for college. Eddie holds my hand almost the whole night, participating sporadically in conversation.

As we dance, I giggle every time he makes a misstep. He plays the role well, despite him not having dancing experience. His effort is so endearing and makes me love him so much more. I love the way the lights twinkle all around as we glide across the floor. I might be the only one wearing a black gown, and Eddie is wearing a leather jacket instead of a suit jacket, but I know neither of us care. He might be Eddie the Freak to everyone else, but to me, he’s the perfect, rugged, guitar-playing nerd with the biggest heart.

After the final slow song, everybody starts gathering up and getting ready to leave. Most of them are going off to some party, but I’m happy at the thought of just going back to Eddie’s trailer. He kept teasing me about a surprise that was waiting for me there.

After saying goodbye to my friends in the parking lot, he helps me into the passenger seat of his van.

“Thanks babe. I know you must have hated it, but I had a lot of fun,” I say as he starts the van.

He shrugs, smiling at me. “Nah, it wasn’t so bad. You in that dress was my favorite part.”

My heart races a little as he says this. “I’m glad it wasn’t too painful. Now, it’s just the two of us.”

He raises his brow suggestively and says, “Finally! I’ve wanted to be alone with you all night.”

I give him a playful smack on the shoulder. “Behave yourself.”

“How can I, with you looking like that?”

I shake my head, blushing.

As we drive down the road to his trailer, I see the porch light is on. There’s a folding table on the ground by the door, with a boombox on it, two champagne flutes, and a bottle of champagne. Eddie smiles and parks the van. I get out and rush to the table, a huge smile covering my face.

Hope you guys had fun, a note next to the champagne bottle reads. Be good, but not too good. Love, Uncle Wayne.

I cover my face with my hands, laughing and blushing like crazy. “Oh my god, what?! That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!” I exclaim.

Eddie, laughing, comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me, kissing my neck. “Now we can have our own prom, just you and me.”

He goes to the table and starts unscrewing the top of the champagne bottle, aiming it away from us. It pops loudly, foam pouring out of the top. Eddie holds it like he’s playing a guitar, sticking his tongue out. As usual, I can’t contain my laughter at this.

He pours champagne into the glasses and hands me one. He holds it up to propose a toast. With the light on above the front door, it looks like he’s glowing and the champagne looks like pure gold.

“To us,” he says, smiling at me.

“To my beloved Eddie Munson, Hawkins High graduate, and to 1986. It’s your year, babe.”

He looks at the ground, smiling and shaking his head. It looks like he might cry. I wrap my arm around him and kiss him. He wraps his arms around me and kisses me back. I could do this forever.

We clink our glasses together and take a sip. The bubbles in my stomach from the champagne make me feel lighter than air. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if we both floated away.

He sets his glass down and presses play on the boombox, and “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” by Willie Nelson plays from the speakers. He then takes the glass from me, sets it on the table, and takes my hands, pulling me close to him.

In the little patch of dirt by the front door of his trailer, Eddie pulls me into a slow dance. I press my face into the crook of his neck, inhaling his lovely scent and drinking in the moment. He presses one hand against my lower back and is holding my other hand in his, and we sway gently to the music. He smells like smoke, a hint of cologne, and his jacket smells like weathered leather. I love the way his hand feels on my back, and how his breath feels on the skin between my shoulder and neck.

He leans in close so his mouth is right next to my ear, and he sings along quietly:

“If you had not have fallen, then I would not have found you, my angel flying too close to the ground.”

My heart leaps out of my chest and I press into him deeper, feeling happy tears well in my eyes.

As we dance together, the whole world seems to disappear. I get lost in the simple beauty of the moment, intoxicated by the champagne and the warm summer air. The song on the boombox mixes with the sounds of summer: the crickets chirping, the buzz from the light fixture on the side of the trailer, other residents of the park enjoying the weather outside, talking and laughing, and the crunch of asphalt under car tires driving through the park. 

Promise of an incredible summer is buzzing throughout the air, and I start imagining it all in my head: watching Eddie playing his guitar, a cigarette poking out of his mouth, sitting on top of the hill and looking at the stars and sharing a blunt, waking up to the sun blazing through the windows, going to the drive-in movie theater, cuddling up close and sharing beer.

“This is so much better than the prom,” I whisper to him.

I hear him chuckle. “Could have saved us both the trouble and we could have just done this instead.”

I press into him more closely. “Hmm, you might be right.”

I feel him press his lips to my collarbone. Then, he leans in close to my ear and says, “You know I’d do anything for you.”

I gasp a little, glad my face is hiding in his neck. “I know,” I whisper back.

We sway gently to the music for a while, not talking. I discover that he made a tape with nothing but slow songs on it for us to dance to. The next song is “Heaven” by Warrant, and I smile at him and kiss him when it comes on.

“If we died and went to heaven and it was like this, I’d be okay with that,” I say.

He laughs, nods, and says, “I’d be okay with that too. If only heaven would take me.”

I turn my face up to look at him and rest my hand on his cheek. “Eddie, you’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met. If heaven won’t take you, then I wouldn’t want to go there anyway. Heaven is with you.”

A big smile breaks his face. He wraps one hand around the back of my neck, buried in my hair, and kisses me deeply. I wrap myself completely around him, once again feeling myself fall under his hypnotic spell.

After a while, I hardly notice the music playing. I forget that we’re in a trailer park, dancing and drinking champagne and making out by his front door. He has the effect on me where he makes me forget anything and everything else besides him.

We dance for a while longer, sipping champagne and laughing and getting progressively clumsier. He tries to twirl me around but loses grip of my hand, so I go flying. As I land on the ground, laughing hysterically, he helps me up and brushes the dirt off my dress.

“God, I’m sorry,” he says through laughter, aggressively wiping my dress with his hands.

“Oh stop,” I say through my giggles, taking his hands in mine. We’re both trying to catch our breath from dancing and laughing, so for a few moments we just stand together, wrapped in each other’s arms, swaying softly.

The tape in the boombox runs out, and the champagne bottle is empty. Our glasses are drained, our heads are fuzzy, and a feeling of elation is coursing through the two of us. We start kissing again, and then Eddie swoops me up into his arms and carries me into the trailer. I laugh as he carries me through the living room into his bedroom, somehow navigating the small space despite the fullness of my dress. He plops me onto his bed and starts undoing the zipper on the back of the dress.

“Hang on, would ya?” I say through giggles, pushing him aside so I can take my shoes off. To show him how much he was rubbing off on me, I was wearing Converse hi-tops underneath my dress, in lieu of heels.

After I throw my shoes and socks to the ground, he resumes kissing me hungrily, saying, “God you’re perfect” in between kisses.

I laugh, pulling his jacket off him and throwing it. This becomes a kind of game as he kicks my shoes away from the bed. We’re laughing as we undress each other. He does slide my dress off with care, trying not to ruin it. To play with him a little, I very slowly undo the buttons on his shirt. He stops kissing me, looks down at the buttons, and says, “I thought you mentioned wanting to rip this off me earlier?”

I meet his eyes, smiling, and say, “It’s a nice shirt. I don’t want to ruin it.”

Just then, he sits up, shakes his hair out of his face, and grasps his shirt tightly in his fists. Then, with force, he pulls it open, busting all the buttons open. I can’t contain my laughter as he shrugs out of the shirt, now completely ruined, across the room. He does an absurd Tarzan-like impersonation, beating his fists on his now bare chest.

“Hey,” I say, pretending to pout, but failing since I can’t stop laughing. “I wanted to do that.”

He shakes his head, laughing, and rolls his eyes at me.

“What am I going to do with you?” he asks.

“Love me forever, I hope,” I say, wrapping my arms around him.

He smiles, kisses me, then leans in close to my ear.

“Already done, sweetheart,” he whispers quietly.