"I just can't seem to find a stable job, and I'm this close to getting kicked out of my apartment if I make another late rent payment" Eddie said to Robin as he paced back and forth in front of the video store counter.
Robin leaned against the counter, looking up at Eddie. "Well where have you applied?" questioned Robin.
"I've applied to the grocery store, fast food places, clothing stores, everywhere!" he exclaimed, waving his arms around and slouching on the counter in defeat. Robin ran her hands through her hair, trying to think.
"Well, you might not have heard back from anyone because not that many places need more workers."
"Yeah, but somewhere has to be hiring. Can't you think of anywhere that needs workers?" Eddie whined, adjusting his jacket.
"We could use more employees." Steve interjected as he looked up from his computer which he was typing at.
"I mean, we need 2 people per shift, but there's only 3 of us here so one of us ends up working double shifts. But if you joined, we wouldn't have to do that anymore."
Steve shoved his hand in his pocket and carefully looked at Eddie.
Eddie and Robin both looked over at him as Robin exclaimed "That's a great idea!"
She eagerly ran to the back to grab an application and handed it to Eddie with a pen.
"I don't know, that means that I would have to see you much more than I could bear" Eddie sarcastically remarked.
"Oh shut up." Robin replied as she pushed it further to him. "The only problem is, I live across town from here and I don't have a car" Eddie said, looking over at Steve.
"You live on Edison Drive and 10th, right?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, how did you know?" Eddie replied, with a puzzled look on his face.
"Just saw you around that area a few times. But anyways, I could drive you, as long as you paid for gas." Steve said jokingly.
"Really? That would be awesome!" Eddie responded, with a wide smile appearing on his face.
"Yeah, it's totally cool because I pass by your place on my way here anyways."
"So you'll do it?" Robin pleaded, turning to Eddie with a hopeful look on her face.
"I guess, it beats getting kicked out of my apartment and having to move back in with my uncle." Eddie said, grabbing the application and clicking open the blue pen as Robin's smile widened as if she was jumping up and down with glee on the inside.
As he began to fill it out, Robin walked over to the landline phone hanging on the wall next to Steve and started dialing a number.
"I have an idea that will make sure that you get hired." Robin said, putting the beige phone up to her ear and listening to the calling tone.
"Who are you calling?" Steve asked.
Just at that moment, the person on the other line picked up.
"Hi Keith, I was wondering if we could hire Eddie to work here for a while. He's been having trouble finding a job and we could really use another employee here."
"What would I get out of this?" Keith asked, with a suspicious tone to his voice.
"Well, you wouldn't have to work any double shifts anymore which would free up your mornings." Robin said, trying to convince him since she knew how stubborn Keith could be.
"As long as one of you trains him and I don't have to work with him, you guys can hire him right now for all I care."
"Okay, thank you thank you thank you!"
Robin hung up the phone with an even wider smile than before.
"Well, what did he say?" Steve asked, both of them looking at Robin waiting for a response.
"He said that we can hire you right away!" Robin exclaimed running to the other side of the counter and hugging Eddie a little bit too tight out of excitement.
"Robin, put me down." Eddie said through a strained voice.
"He said that you can start tomorrow as long as one of us trains him."
"Oh, well I can come in for the morning shift." Eddie responded, relieved that he was finally able to get a job.
Steve looked over at Eddie as he said, "That's when I work tomorrow, so I guess I'll be training you."
"Awesome, see you tomorrow Harrington."
Eddie walked out of the front door of the video store onto the gray concrete, pulling his jacket closer to his chest as he felt the cool autumn wind, which sent shivers down his spine.
I guess this year won't be so bad after all Eddie thought as he walked down the desolate streets of Hawkins.
Eddie slowly rolled out of bed as he heard three knocks on his front door. He looked at his alarm clock, which read 7am.
"Hello?" Eddie yawned as he opened the door, standing in nothing but plaid pajama pants to see Steve staring at him.
"Hey bro, I'm here to pick you up. Did you just wake up?"
"Yeah, shit sorry I stayed up pretty late last night. Do you want to come in while I get ready?" Eddie apologized, scratching his head.
"No problem, just don't take forever because we can't be late." Steve said, crossing the threshold into Eddie's apartment.
It was pretty small, with a kitchen, bed, closet and bathroom, but had enough room for the two of them.
Steve looked around at the gray walls and single window at the back near the bed, through which sunlight was flowing into.
He made his way to the bed and sat down on the dark red comforter as he watched Eddie walk over to his closet and pull out a pair of blue jeans and a black shirt, awkwardly looking away as Eddie got dressed.
Steve glanced back at Eddie as he slid his shirt over his head and stood up, chuckling, "It must be nice to live alone, you probably have girls over a lot."
"Well, not exactly.." Eddie said, looking in the other direction as he finished adjusting his shirt.
"You've been having girl problems, huh?" Steve remarked.
"I guess that's one way of putting it."
Eddie quickly slipped on his shoes as Steve handed him his work vest and they both made their way out of the front door. Eddie stopped to turn around and lock the dark green door, and they both continued down the old concrete stairwell out to the parking lot where Steve's burgundy BMW was parked.
They both hopped into the car, and Eddie rolled down the window as Steve inserted his keys and started the engine. "What kind of music do you listen to?" Steve questioned, fumbling with the cassette player. "I don't know, I listen to a lot of metal bands like Iron Maiden and Metallica."
"How about Toto?" Steve responded with a smile, pulling out a cassette labeled "Toto" and inserting it into the cassette player.
Eddie replied, "Sure" with a laugh.
Steve put the car into reverse and exited out of the parking lot, turning onto 10th street and making his way towards the movie store. 'Africa' began playing as Eddie stuck his head out of the window, letting the chilly wind flow through his curls as Steve continued down the road, quietly singing along to Africa.
Steve began to slow down as they approached the movie store, parking right in front of the store. He put up the parking break and removed the keys as Eddie unbuckled and stepped out of the car onto the sidewalk. He waited for Steve to join him and they both approached the transparent doors of the green Family Video storefront. Steve pulled out another key which he used to unlock the door with a click.
The two entered the store and Steve flipped on a light switch, turning on the ceiling lights as well as the red neon sign which read 'Family Video'.
"Okay, so the first thing you're gonna wanna do whenever you open is take inventory to see what we sold the day before and restock any new shipments we get. Everything we have is listed on this clipboard. You're gonna want to go to each section in the store and see what is missing from the clipboard."
"Sounds like a lot of fun." Eddie said sarcastically with a smile, taking the clipboard from Steve as he handed it to him.
Eddie made his way over to the Sci-Fi section to start his monotonous task while Steve shuffled behind the brown counter.
"I'll open the register and count the money while you're having fun with that." Steve responded as he unlocked the cash drawer, making eye contact with Eddie as he flashed a sarcastic smile.
They both did their tasks in silence, Steve separating bills and coins into piles and Eddie slowly making his way around the store, checking off movies.
After 15 minutes, they both looked up at the front of the store as they heard the jingle of customers walking in.
"Hey Eddie, come over here and watch how I handle these customers."
Eddie walked over with his clipboard and set it down on the counter, getting a whiff of Steve's cologne as he stood next to him. It was a little strong but strangely calming.
The customers were two girls who looked to be about 18, one with blonde hair and one with brown hair. They both approached the counter together.
"Good morning ladies, how can I help you today?" Steve asked, placing his hands on the counter and leaning on them.
"Do you guys have Top Gun in stock here?" The brunette asked, in a whiny tone. "Yeah, we've checked everywhere in town and no one has it." The other chimed in.
"Uhhh yeah we should, Eddie can you check in the action movies section?"
Eddie nodded and walked to the back right part of the store with a sign that said 'action movies'. Steve watched him as he scanned the shelf for Top Gun, going through rows of movies.
"Found it." Eddie said, handing the VHS tape to Steve.
Steve slid the movie over to the girls. "Alright, that'll be 5." He said, with a smile. One of them took out their wallet and handed Steve a 5 bill.
"Watch this." He whispered to Eddie, opening the drawer and placing the money inside of it. Once their receipt was printed, Steve grabbed a blue pen and scribbled something on the back.
"Here's your receipt," Steve said, making eye contact with the brunette. "And also, that's my phone number on the back in case you wanted to call me." He continued with a smile.
"Yeah right" She scoffed, taking the receipt and walking out of the store with her friend.
"Wow, you really have lots of skill with girls, don't you?" Eddie teased, with a satirical grin on his face.
"Yeah, and that skill is scaring them away." Steve replied with a defeated tone to his voice. He placed his head on his elbow, which he was leaning against the counter. Eddie slouched on the counter next to him and turned to make eye contact with Steve. "Don't worry, it gets better." Eddie remarked as his grin widened.
"Shut up!" Steve said, punching him in the arm.
"Hey, what was that for?" Eddie chuckled
"You know you deserved that."
"I was just telling the truth." Eddie muttered
"I'm about to punch you again, Eddie." Steve replied, standing up and breaking eye contact with Eddie.
Eddie stood up as well and asked "What do I have to learn next, Mr. Zen Master?"
"Don't call me that. As for what you can do next, you should handle the next customer that comes in to practice in case I'm not here to help you out. You know how to ring people up, right?"
"Yeah, you just scan the movie and enter in how much cash the customer gives, right?" Eddie said, glancing over at the register
"Yeah, and then the drawer opens and you can give them back any change they need, as well as their receipt. Also, don't be rude because we don't need any bad ratings here. Basically use your brain and don't do dumb shit."
"Okay, sounds easy enough." Eddie said, with a relieved tone.
"Okay, try to finish taking inventory before the next customer comes in so that you're ready for them." Steve advised, walking back behind the counter to the computer.
It was barely 10 minutes before another customer came in, prompting Eddie to run over to the counter.
It was a middle aged man who looked to be on his way to work, since he was carrying a briefcase.
"How can I help you, good sir?" Eddie implored.
"Yes, by chance do you have ghostbusters in stock?" The man asked, setting his briefcase on the ground.
"Ah, yes we do, I just took inventory on that." Eddie replied as he made his way over to the Sci-Fi section. He scanned the shelves once again, finding it on the first row he looked at.
Eddie brought it over to the counter and scanned it. "That'll be 5.50."
The man handed him a 10 bill, and Eddie typed '10.00' on the computer. The drawer opened, and he handed the man 4.50 in change along with his receipt. "Have a great day!" Eddie remarked with a wave.
After the man exited the store, Steve turned to him and said "Wow man, you're a natural."
Steve put his right arm around Eddie's shoulder and looked down at him. "You know, you working here is a lot better than I ever would've imagined."
"Yeah, I guess it is." Eddie replied, curiously