The next morning, Eddie woke up to find Steve lying on his stomach with his right arm draped over Eddie's shoulder, still asleep. "Steve," he groaned, not able to get up. Steve just layed there unresponsive, sleeping too deeply to hear Eddie's whining.
Eddie reached over and shook Steve, finally getting him to gain consciousness. Steve lifted his head which was buried in the pillow, looking over at Eddie. He hastily removed his arm from Eddie's body, apologizing. "All good bro." Eddie stood up and stretched, peering down at Steve who was rubbing his eyes, his chest poking out of the covers.
Steve sat up, exposing entire torso to the cool morning air. "I have the morning shift again at the store, but this time I'm working with Keith," Steve got out of bed, ruffling his hair to make it look less like he just woke up. "Try not to miss me too much." Eddie grinned.
Steve scowled at him. "We'll need to hurry up if you want to be able to get your keys before I have to go work." Steve put on a white t-shirt and grabbed his work vest as Eddie got his denim vest. They both slipped on their shoes and made their way downstairs
The entire first floor was illuminated by sunlight flowing in through the windows. "What do you want for breakfast?" Steve asked, leaning against the kitchen counter and staring at Eddie.
"I don't really mind anything, as long as it's food."
"Okay, well I'm gonna make us some eggs and toast." Steve grabbed four eggs from the fridge and put a pan on his stove, cooking both of them, as well as putting two pieces of bread in the toaster.
Eddie sat down at the table near the kitchen and watched Steve as he made their breakfast. "Wow, I never could've guessed that you could cook," he teased.
Steve looked over at Eddie with a blank stare. "Like you could either."
Steve cleared the table, washing the dishes as Eddie walked over to the downstairs bathroom to freshen up. He messed with his hair for a few minutes, trying to make it look like less of a frizzy mess. After minimal success, he sighed and walked out of the bathroom to find Steve drying off his hands. "You ready?" Steve said, grabbing his keys from the counter and walking over to the door as Eddie nodded in response.
They both walked outside, making their way to Steve's car. The two boys got in and Steve started the car, speedily pulling out of the driveway and heading to the movie theater. They had their windows down, allowing the cool breeze to flow through the car. Eddie leaned his elbow on the car where his window would've been, unconsciously twirling his curls with his pinky finger and staring at the road past the windshield.
Steve glanced over and noticed Eddie was staring off into the distance. He reached over to the radio and turned it up. Boys Don't Cry began to play, prompting Eddie to glance over at him. A grin slowly appeared on his face as he began to tap his fingers on the dashboard. He started to hum along to the song, making Steve let out a chuckle as he continued to drive them to the movie theater.
A few minutes later Steve pulled into the parking lot of the movie theater and put his car in park. He yanked his keys out of the ignition, swiftly exiting the car to meet Eddie in front of the movie theater. They both made their way over to the ticket seller. "How can I help you today, sir?"
"I think I left my keys here last night, do you know who I could talk to about that?"
"Yes, we have a lost and found inside, just ask one of the workers behind the counter."
Steve thanked the worker as they walked inside, swiftly making their way over to the counter where they saw a girl who looked to be a few years older than them.
Eddie trailed behind Steve, allowing him to take the lead. "Scuse me, do you think you could help us out?" He leaned his forearms against the counter, looking up at the girl as he spoke. "My friend over here left his keys in the theater last night by accident. What color were they?" Steve looked over at Eddie.
"Uh, they were black and had a silver guitar keychain on them."
"Okay, let me check if we have them." The girl walked over to the register and searched in a small drawer for his keys. She walked back over to Eddie, holding them out for him to see.
"Was it these, by chance?"
"Yep, that's the one."
She smiled. "Glad to help."
Eddie grabbed his keys from her and Steve got up from the counter, walking next to him as they headed for the door. "You got lucky, huh?" Steve looked at Eddie, running his fingers through his hair to get out any tangles. "Yeah, they must've fallen out of my pocket whenever I fell asleep in the theater." He shoved his keys in his pocket and walked outside.
"Listen, today's Robin's birthday and I don't want her to go home and do nothing, so when you're working with her could you try to figure out what she wants to do? We can take her out tonight and make sure that she has a good time." Steve instructed, starting the engine and pulled out of the movie theater parking lot.
"How could I have forgotten? Robin's like one of my closest friends," Eddie said, peering over at Steve.
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah, whatever."
Steve continued through Hawkins, arriving at Eddie's apartment.
"Alright, make sure you're ready to get picked up at 3:45, your shift with Robin starts at 4."
Eddie got out of the car. "Of course I'll be ready for my chauffeur." He smiled, walked away as Steve sighed, pulling out of the complex and leaving for work.
•••
Steve pulled up to Eddie's apartment right at 3:45, honking to signal that he was there. Eddie quickly came down the stairs with his work vest on, wearing a long sleeve white t-shirt with blue sleeves underneath it. He strolled over to the car and they left for the movie store.
"So you'll meet us at the movie store at 10 and then we can go wherever Robin says?" Eddie ruffled his hair with his right hand and let it go, allowing his curls to freely fall right above his eyes.
Steve looked in his direction and quickly made eye contact before he focused back on the road. "Yeah, also ask if she wants to bring any other friends with her so that I can pick them up beforehand." Eddie nodded, looking out of the window as they pulled into the movie store parking lot.
"Alright, here you are." Steve gestured goodbye as Eddie exited the car.
He opened the door underneath the "family movie" sign, and Robin excitedly greeted him as he walked in.
"Happy Birthday, Robin!" He exclaimed, running up to her and hugging her.
"Thanks so much Eddie," She smiled, closing her eyes and rocking them back and forth.
Eddie went and clocked in while Robin stood behind the register.
"So, what would you like to do for your birthday," Eddie questioned, leaning against the counter.
Robin's eyes lit up with excitement. "Can we go to Chili's?"
"Uh sure, why?"
"So we can get drunk, obviously," she proclaimed.
Eddie chuckled. "You're only 19, Rob. They won't just serve you alcohol because it's your birthday."
"Look what I have," she countered in a sing-songy voice, holding up a fake ID to Eddie. He grabbed it, examining the white plastic card, which read 'Robin Buckley, DOB: July 4th, 1965'.
"Wow Robin, I didn't take you for the type that would have something like this."
"Oh, that reminds me, Nancy also has one like that. Can she pleaseee come with us?" Robin pleaded.
"Yeah, of course, it's your birthday. So it'll be you, Nancy, Steve, and I."
"Ooh, like a double date?" She snickered.
"C'mon, you know that he's straight." Eddie rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hand.
"You never know." Robin said, smiling.
"Oh, I do know. He's the most oblivious person I've ever met. He thought that it was weird that I asked to go with him to the movies. However, he did call me the next morning and ask me to go with him but that's beside the point."
"He called you and asked you the next morning?" Robin spoke, as she picked up some VHS tapes from a box behind the counter, walking over to the 'Adventure' movies section and placing them on the shelf. "Yeah, he said that he had a change of heart. But that's beside the point. When we were at the movies, I fell asleep on him by accident and then he fell asleep on me too. Not a single mention of it from him, as if it's completely normal that two guy friends just sleep on each other at the movies."
Robin looked up from the movies that she was placing. "You slept on each other? Maybe he is gay!"
"No no no, there's no way. Steve Harrington is the straightest man I have ever met in my entire life."
"Wait, what did you guys do after the movies?" Robin questioned, walking back over to the counter having shelved the last of the new shipment.
Eddie scratched his head, following her. "Well, I accidentally left my keys at the theater so I went to his house and I spent the night there."
And where did you sleep?" Robin lowered her voice, smirking.
"Uhhh..on his bed? It was big enough for both of us and he didn't want me on the couch downstairs."
"Holy shit," Robin whispered, a crazy smile on her face. "I think he might like you."
Eddie dragged his fingers down his face. "I told you, he likes women. Plus, just because I slept over at his house doesn't mean that he likes me," he asserted, leaning his head against the wall.
" In his bed. " Robin bluntly stated, giving a blank stare to Eddie. "Don't worry, I'll use the power of my inner lesbian soul to find out if he goes for the other team." She wiggled her eyebrows, making Eddie shudder.
"Why do you have to help with my nonexistent love life, can't you focus on your own? Aren't there any girls you like?" He groaned.
"I meddle in life because it's fun," Robin replied, leaning against the counter and facing Eddie. "And yes, there's someone that I like but she's straight. And she may have dated Steve like 3 years ago."
"You like Nancy?!" Eddie gasped, leaning forward. "I guess tonight will be your chance."
"She would never like me. Or any other woman, for that matter," Robin pleaded, adjusting her dark blonde hair.
"I guess we'll see tonight."
"I guess we'll see." Robin had a wide smile on her face.