Chapter 1:

*LUNA'S POV:

"Eddie? Where the hell are you?" I asked, carefully walking through the dark hallway.

There's always a time when your mind plays tricks on you. Noises are heard and sights are seen but nothing is there. Hands are sweating, heart's racing, goosebumps lacing the skin. Guess who's currently experiencing it? Me.

Quickly looking back as I thought I heard a small shuffle, nothing appeared to be there. I called out for Eddie once more, hoping for an answer. "C'mon, please?"

"Looking for someone?" a deep voice whispered in my ear, grabbing my hips from behind.

I screamed, the person spinning me around and flicking the light switch on, that just happened to be right next to us. Well. . .shit.

"Did I scare you?" Eddie asked chuckling.

"What do you think? You know how paranoid I am after a horror movie, especially when you shut everything off and run around!" I exclaim crossing my arms.

"I don't make it difficult. This is your house, you should know where the light switches are to turn them back on. And come on, you know you love it." he said, looking down at me and pulling me closer to him. "I'm preparing you Audy. What if an actual killer comes into your house? What if he did exactly what I just did? You'd be dead right now."

"So next time you want me to drop-kick you or something? To protect myself?" I asked, laughing.

"You can't drop-kick anyone, bookworm."

"Maybe I can!"

"Even if you could, don't do that to me."

"Why not? Practice makes perfect."

"Well, we could practice something else," he smirked, backing me against the wall.

"Yeah, we could practice your manners."

"God I love you."

"I love you, too."

"I love you more."

"Now, we could argue about who loves who more, or you could kiss me," I said, smiling up at him.

He laughed, pressing his soft lips down against mine. Damn he was a good kisser; they were always so sweet and gentle. He took one of his hands off of my waist and flicked the light switch back off, making the hallway dark again. "I like it spooky."

"Please don't ever say that word again."

"Spooky,"

"You sound like a dork."

"We all know you're the dork in this relationship."

"Excuse m-" he cut me off by putting his lips against mine again. We just stood there in the dark hallway kissing for a while. We stopped when we heard my parents come in.

"We're home- whoa, it's pitch black in here." my dad said, reaching for the lamp. "You two watching a scary movie again?"

"If you could even call it that." Eddie groaned, waking out from the hallway we were in.

"Are you staying the night, hun?" my mom asked.

"If it's ok, yes, I'd like to," he answered.

"It's fine with us. I'm heading upstairs, so goodnight."

"Goodnight," we replied.

"Eddie, are you ever gonna go home?" my dad asked, smacking Eddie's back. "I swear you're in my house more than I'm in my house."

"Eh, eventually," he answered. "Now that I don't have to worry about high school, I have all the time in the world."

"Yeah, okay. I'm going upstairs, too. Don't stay up too late, you two, and remember──we're in the house, too." my dad glared, giving me a kiss on the forehead.

"We're not gonna do anything! Goodnight, Dad!"

"Uh-huh, night, sweetheart."

"Goodnight, Dad," Eddie said.

"Don't push it, Munson." my dad laughed, walking upstairs. "I can still kick you out. I've done it before."

"C'mon, I think another movie's on," Eddie said, pulling me to the living room.

"Another scary movie? It's 1 am." I said.

"You aren't scared are you?"

"No," I said crossing my arms. "Okay, yeah, maybe, with that shit you just pulled."

He smiled. "You know I'll always protect you."

"Or leave me for dead."

He didn't respond, but pressed play and started another film. It seemed to end as quickly as it started, but my heart was still racing from the scene before.

"You alive?" he asked, nudging me.

"Barely,"

"Want to go to bed or do you want to stay down here a bit longer?"

"I want to go to bed. . .but. . .it's so far away."

"I might have a solution to that," he said, turning off the tv. Eddie scooped me up and threw me over his shoulder and started walking upstairs and into my bedroom.

"This wasn't exactly my idea, but alright," I said, laughing.

"This was definitely your intentions," he said, smacking my ass. When we got upstairs, he claimed to be tired and yawned. "I don't think I can hold you anymore."

He dropped me abruptly, making me bounce onto the bed below. "Thanks."

"No problem, babe," he replied crawling under the blankets with me and lying on his back. I cuddled up next to him, putting my head on his chest and my arm around his torso. I loved falling asleep to his heartbeat.

"I love you," he said, rubbing my back.

"I love you, too," I answered, closing my eyes, those words roaming my thoughts.

***

"Hey," a husky morning voice said, "time to wake up." My eyes fluttered open and I saw a half-asleep Eddie in front of me. "Your mom made bacon and eggs. I can smell it."

"You'd leave this for bacon and eggs?" I asked, looking at him.

"No, that's why you're gonna get your ass outta bed and come eat with me," he said, closing his arms around my body and pulling me up off of the bed with him.

"Eddie," I whined, still tired, "carry me."

"I carried you last night."

"Carry me again."

"I'll drag you, how about that?"

"My stairs are wooden."

"I know."

"Thanks," I said, smacking him.

"You're welcome." he chuckled, messing up my already knotted hair. We went downstairs and he was right──bacon and eggs.

"Good morning," Mom chirped, "breakfast is on the stove."

"How much do we leave for Dad?" I asked, taking some scrambled eggs.

"He took overtime today. You two eat the rest," she replied.

"Are you headed to work later?" I asked. "I know you were eyeing overtime, too."

"I might, yeah. The both of us will probably be home around seven. Were you two doing something else today?"

"Yea, but Eddie won't tell me." I pouted. Mom giggled as Eddie shrugged at my comment.

Mom went upstairs after telling the two of us to have fun and to not do anything illegal. Eddie, not thinking about the plan for today, walked here yesterday instead of bringing his car. He would need to go home and get everything situated while I got ready here. I kissed him as he walked out the door and headed upstairs. It wasn't going to be a super long wait, but I had plenty of time for a rather simple and quick routine: shower, dry off, dry hair, dress up, makeup. My blush brush took one last tap on my cheek when the front door opened.

"Hey, sunshine. You look rather beautiful." Eddie commented as I descended down the stairs. His delightful (and freshly changed) self was standing cheekily at the bottom with a small handful of daisies.

"You're rather dashing yourself, mister," I replied as I accepted the flowers.

"So are you ready to go?"

"That depends," I teased, filling a vase with water, "where are we going?"

"You'll see," he said, taking my hand and leading me to his car.

"How far away is it?"

"If I told you, you'd probably figure it out."

"You know I'm terrible at guessing."

"You are but it's not as hard to guess it."

I whined, "Please?"

"Nope," he said, "ain't gonna happen, babe."

"But-"

"Nope," he said louder.

"Eddie-"

"Ah, ah, ah," he yelled, turning the radio up.

"Did you just turn the music up on me?" I asked.

"What? I can't hear you! This is such a good song." he yelled, causing laughter to erupt in the car.

After about an hour, the destination was revealed as the vehicle came to a halt in the beach parking lot. Noting that I didn't bring a swimsuit, Eddie shook his head and explained that swimming wasn't the activity. Opening the hatch, he pulled out a picnic basket. Slightly amused at the thought of him making a picnic basket, he saw the smirk on my face and gave credit to his aunt. We started walking along one of the rubble pathways that leads to an unoccupied boardwalk. I pulled out the small snacks Susan packed as he struggled to set out the blanket due to the ocean breeze. He yelled at me for laughing at his misfortune and threatened to take away the special treat he brought. I argued saying I had all the basket contents, but the treat was apparently hidden from sight. When everything was settled, the potato chip bag was unrolled from it's clip and the true delicacy was revealed.

"Chocolate kisses," he said, pulling the bag out and shaking it.

"Gimme," I said, holding my hands out like a child.

"Nah, we can wait a little later."

"Eddie," I whined, "I want it now."

"Kinky,"

"You bastard!" I laughed, smacking his arm.

"You can have some if you come sit next to me," he said, patting the spot next to him.

"What is this? Kindergarten?"

"I swear I will chuck this bag into the Atlantic Ocean if you don't sit by me."

Complying with his wish and the fact that I was a whore for chocolate, I agreed and crawled over to where he was sitting. I leaned up against him, followed his gaze out into the distance as he watched ocean waves.

I sighed, "It's so beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you." Eddie cooed.

I snorted, "Never heard that one before."

"Ah, yes but you see, each time we look at the ocean, it's always different no matter what. So, what you've called beautiful before, isn't the same as what you called beautiful last time. Therefore, you're more beautiful than the last time I said that."

"What the hell?" I laughed, "That was deep."

"Thought you loved smart guys?" he asked.

"Obviously not considering I've been dating you for three years."

"Ah, how-you little-"

"I love you!"

"Well, I love you, too."

Eddie pulled me closer, my back against his chest as I sat between his legs. I gazed out at the ocean, watching the waves flip, crash, and foam. The clouds caught my attention as well as I began imagining the plethora of shapes they could be. Eddie agreed with my finding of a bunny-shaped cloud and then found a dragon next to it. There was a heart-shaped one followed by an alligator.

"That one way over there looks like a duck," Eddie said, pointing all the way to the left.

"Where? I don't see it." I asked, looking around. "Oh, it does!" I turned my head back towards Eddie only to see his hand in the air.

"What does this one look like?" he asked, smiling.

"It looks like a ring," I blushed, "for. . .me?"

"No, it's actually for my cat."

"You don't have a cat."

"I don't? Huh, well, I guess I have to give it to you." he chuckled, putting it in the palm of my hand. "It's a promise ring."

"It's gorgeous." I smiled, admiring it. The ring had little flowers──daisies to be specific──along the band with little yellow studs in the centers of each. It resembled a shrunken flower crown.

"A gorgeous ring for a gorgeous girl." he said, "I know you don't like those flashy diamond rings so I thought you'd like this one. Look on the inside."

On the inside was written 'I pick you'

"This is so beautiful!" I squealed, turning to hug him. I was almost in tears, to be honest.

"I was hoping you'd like it. I got one, too, but it has like leaves and vines instead of flowers. You know, more manly." he said, pulling out the necklace chain from his shirt. "Here, I know you don't like wearing rings so this is a chain to wear it like I am."

A thin silver necklace chain slipped through his fingers as it looped through the circular skeleton of the ring. Moving my hair to the side, Eddie was able to easily clamp the lock and adjust accordingly. His fingers then gently brushed against the skin of my neck, sending chills down my spine. He put his mouth up to my ear, running his bottom lip up along the edge. I hate it when he does that.

It drives me insane.

"It's a promise," he whispered, his hot breath tickling my skin. "I'll always protect you. . . I'll never hurt you. . . I'll always make you feel beautiful. . . I'll keep you happy. . . I'll notice the little things you do. . .and I will love you for as long as I can."

I had some tears in my eyes.

"Hey, c'mon, no crying," he said, rubbing my arm.

"You're the best boyfriend ever," I said, hugging him again.

He chuckled, "I know. I'm fantastic."

Looking at the piece of jewelry dangling from my neck, I determined that I'll probably never take it off. It was too gorgeous, and I mentioned again how very convenient it was to act as neckwear.

"Yeah, I thought you'd appreciate that part." he shrugged, "But, you might want to get used to it on your fingers, ya know? Maybe two more could be added to your collection."

I knew what he meant, smiling at the thought. I tilted my head back to meet my lips with his. It was such a sweet and tender kiss, which eventually reminded me of something else.

"Can I have the chocolate kisses now?"

***

Dark fell rather quickly, painting the sky with an ombré of black, blue, and pink. Stars freckled around the moon's eerie glow. Eddie knew we'd spend the entire day here, so he busted out some sparklers to mess around with. A challenging version of Pictionary was attempted and unsuccessful──drawing pictures with sparklers is agonizing let alone guessing what the other person was trying to draw. After putting our things back in the car, a lovely walk along the beach concluded the night. Walking hand-in-hand along the shore, we kicked the sand with our feet and absorbed the salty atmosphere. The ocean breeze was perfect, giving the hot summer air the cool chill it needed. The only difficult part was avoiding the crabs that were scurrying in and out of their burrowing holes. It was about halfway down the beach when we determined we weren't as agile as the crustaceans, so we headed back.

Eddie drove back to my home, enduring the light snores that probably escaped my sinuses from the nap I took. He felt like finishing the night off with another kind gesture, offering to carry me up to the bedroom. It's funny how normal this was to my parents nowadays. When he stood at the door holding their fatigued daughter, they just let him right in, not even questioning. Although, I'm sure my mom will ask a question or two about today when he goes back downstairs.

"Okay you little shit, bedtime," he whispered, placing me on my bed. "I hope you had a good day"

"I did. Thank you so much, Eddie." I said, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Anything for you darling. Goodnight, sweet dreams," he said, kissing my lips and walking out.

Clutching the promise ring between my fingers, I whispered into the unknown, "I'm glad I picked you."...................................................A/N: HELLLOOOO! I swear this gets better. I think. At least, I hope. This is probably going to end up being a long story, so prepare yourself! I hope you liked this sappy chapter. I mean, how fricken cute was that? Eddie you little romantic shit. I'm doing a lot of this to show you the true bond the two have. It's going to be important later on!

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xoxo