"Robin I think I have a massive problem" Steve started as he restocked the shelves.

It had been a week since their last movie night and for some reason Steve couldn't get Eddie's words out of his mind. It was stupid really, that one sentence got him messed up for an entire week. More importantly two words, big boy. Those two words drove him absolutely insane. It made him want to do stupid things that had never crossed his mind until he met Eddie.

Everything he knew about himself was thrown off balance by that dumb metal head with the perfect hair and those gorgeous brown eyes and that smile and those stupid dimples. God those dimples would be the death of him. Eddie was the most beautiful man Steve had ever seen and that thought scared him.

He and Eddie spoke everyday. With Eddie popping into the store or when Steve went to pick the kids up after DD on Friday's but their conversations weren't long enough for Steve's liking. He wanted more. He wanted to speak to Eddie about anything and everything and he wanted to do it alone. Not while they were surrounded by the kids or the rest of the party. He wanted it to be just them. That was another thought that terrified him.

"calm down, dingus." Robin grabbed hold of his shoulders to stop him from pacing, "what has gotten into you? You've been on edge all week."

He sighed, walking to the counter with Robin trailing behind him. He didn't even know how to approach the subject, how to tell her what he really felt, what he really was, who he really was.

"I think I have a crush on someone." he started easy, not giving names or anything else for now. Although he knew Robin wouldn't leave it at that, she'd push until she knew everything, a trait he loved and hated about her.

Robin raised an eyebrow at him, her face lit up like a kid in a candy store. He could see the flurry questions bubbling under skin. "who is it? What's her name? Do I know her?" he sighed, "you do know them."

"Oh my god is it Vickie? Is that why you got all pouty when Eddie spoke to her last week? Because I saw it you know. I saw the look on your face, you were jealous." she rambled, looking slightly hurt at the thought that Steve might have a crush on the girl she was crushing on.

He shook his head, "I wasn't jealous."

Robin frowned, "so it is Vickie?" she scowled at him, "really Steve, the one girl I find and like who might actually like me back is the girl you get a crush on? That's messed up and don't give me that I wasn't jealous bullshit because you were. You had that look on your face, the same look you had when we first started hanging out with Nancy and Jonathan. You were jealous and you're being a jerk right now."

This time it was Steve who grabbed hold of Robin's shoulders, stopping her in her tracks. She was visibly worked up, her cheeks red and her eyes wide and glossy. The look of betrayal stung Steve more than he ever thought it would. He knew she believed whatever crap her brain was feeding her right now.

"Robin slow down. Its not Vickie... I Uhm... I wasn't jealous. I was angry at Eddie..." He trailed off, trying to think of any reason he had to be angry at him. "I thought he was putting moves on Vickie and I didn't want you getting hurt because of it. He wasn't though."

Robin let out a heavy breath, a look of relief washing over her face "I'm sorry I assumed that."

He shrugged, "I am a little pissed that you thought I would do that to you, but I'll let it slide this time." she took hold of his hand, "you're right, I'm sorry. You might be a dingus, but you're not a jackass." they shared a laugh at that.

She spoke again after a few minutes, "so who's the girl?" Steve's brow furrowed at that, he had no idea what she was talking about "what girl?"

Robin rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, "the one you have a crush on, dingus."

He shrugged, suddenly wanting to change the subject, he wasn't ready to admit it out loud just yet. "oh that. It's not that important, just a stupid little crush... But I don't think it'll work out, she's not really into jocks." yep that was perfect. Great cover up. She'll definitely believe him.

"you're not a jock though." she didn't believe him.

"I was one."

Waiting outside Hawkins high school was something he found himself doing a lot recently. Ever since the upside down he became a babysitter of sorts so picking the kids up from DD became part of his weekly routine. He leaned up against the hood of his car, watching as all the Hellfire club members rushed out of the building.

Eddie's band members made their way to his van while Henderson and the rest made their way towards Steve. Oddly enough Munson was following the kids toward Steve's car, a mischievous smirk on his lips. Steve felt his entire body tense in anticipation of what their interaction could lead to. Maybe Eddie would call him big boy again, that would be a dream.

"hey Steve" Dustin said making a beeline for the passenger seat while the rest uttered their greetings and shuffled into the back seat. "hey kids" he responded before turning back to Eddie who was now standing in front of him, leaning closer than necessary. That was something else Eddie did, it took some time getting used to it but he liked it now.

"hey Harrington" he drawled out "we're having a movie night at the Byers place tonight, you coming?"

Steve frowned. Movie nights were somewhat of a tradition for them now but it had always been at Eddie's trailer because smoking and drinking was easier to do there. It would be easy at his place too since his parents were never home but Nancy wasn't all that comfortable being there after what happened to Barb and he didn't blame her one bit. He couldn't swim in his pool since then, didn't even go near it when he was home alone which was all the time.

"Why isn't it at yours?" Eddie raised his hands and flourished it in the direction of his car, his movements exaggerated, "well you see Stevie, somehow all of your kids needed to be watched over tonight. Their parents have plans which all suspiciously lined up to the same night. So I'm sure you can figure the rest out in that pretty little head of yours."

He knew he should have listened to everything Eddie said but his mind was caught on Stevie, Pretty little head of yours. Eddie called him pretty. Well that wasn't the exact meaning on his words but it's how he would take it. He would take whatever crumbs of affection Eddie gave him. So yes, Eddie thought he was pretty. He thought his Stevie was pretty and that made Steve blush even more than he was before.

Eddie noticed Steve's spaced out look as well as the blush that started covering his cheeks, "what ya thinking about Stevie? Not sure why me telling you that we've got to babysit has you all blushy" he stayed quiet for a moment before leaning forward so his lips were directly next to Steve's ears. "Is it the thought of us playing house? Would I be the mom or the dad, Stevie?"

Steve opened his mouth to say something about them being co-parents but quickly shut his mouth. He would not make himself more of a fool in front of Eddie, absolutely not.

Eddie sighed, "what's wrong? cat got your tongue Stevie?"

He shook his head, "uh no. I'll be there... 7 right?"

"affirmative. Now get those kids home and get changed and do all the other shit you do and then get your ass over to byers place. Also bring some snacks along, these gremlins are going to hog all the good stuff so we've got to come prepared. A united front" he explained while Steve nodded along, his eyes focused on Eddie's lips. He heard almost none of what Eddie said because all he could think about was what those lips would feel like against his own. Would they be as soft as they looked? Was he an experienced kisser? Did he do that special thing with his tongue that Steve did to some of the girls to drive them insane? Did he take charge or was he gentle?

He was going insane. He was sure that the upside down had finally gotten to him and now he was insane. There was no way he was actually thinking all this about Eddie Munson. There was absolutely no way it was real and even if it was it wouldn't lead anywhere because Eddie was straight.

Eddie cleared his throat after a few minutes of waiting for Steve to respond. He gave him a concerned look before trying to follow the trail of his eyes. His lips he realized. Steve was looking at his lips. King Steve was standing there seemingly frozen in place staring at his lips like he wanted to devour them and Eddie was sure that if he made the move to do it Eddie wouldn't have the will power to stop him.

They were startled out of their respective thoughts by the sound of Dustin and Mike yelling at them to hurry up. Steve looked over to the car and saw the scowls on both boys faces while Lucas spoke to someone on one of the walkies.

"I uhm. I have to go, but uh" Steve stuttered, his brain still frazzled from his thoughts "I'll see you later."

"Yeah. I'll see you then Stevie" Eddie let out before turning away and making his way to his van, he stopped halfway there and smirked at Steve, "don't miss me too much in the meantime, you can stare at me all you want later, pretty boy." and then he was off.

Steve let out a heavy breath, he needed to get himself in check before tonight because he wasn't sure he was going to make it out alive if Eddie kept flirting with him like this. He was driving him insane, making him think shit that he shouldn't be thinking. He knew that Eddie would never want to be with him, especially if he found out what Steve actually was.

Once he got into the car he instantly got bombarded with questions from all three boys. They were like his kids and while he definitely cared a great deal for them, he wasn't planning on telling them anything about his stupid crush on Eddie Munson.

"when I said I wanted you and Eddie to hang out more I did not mean that I wanted to sit in the car while watching you two stare and whisper stupid shit to each other." Dustin piped up and Steve simply chose not to respond because they were not staring at each other or whispering. Eddie was just informing him about their plans and he simply listened. Definitely nothing else.

"what do you two even have to talk about? You're so different" Mike spoke.

"We're not that different" that response earned him three scoffs, obviously the boys didn't agree with that. "You're worlds apart Steve. Eddie is our Dungeon Master, he plays guitar and is cool. You're Steve... You drive us around sometimes." Mike spoke.

"Ouch" he said, trying to mask the hurt in his voice. Was that all they thought of him? No Steve's our friend? No Steve is cool? Nothing? "just your driver huh."

Lucas slapped the back of Mike's head and sighed, "no Steve you're not just our driver. You're cool. You're always there when we need you and you come to all of my games so you're my favorite. Don't tell Eddie I said that though. Mike's an idiot, don't listen to him."

"Don't ever listen to Mike" Dustin spoke up, "although Eddie is cool. You're cool too. You're our cool mom."

"shut up. I'm not your mom" Steve said, a traitorous smile tugging at his lips, "but thank you. Both of you."

Mike sighed. "you're cool Steve, I didn't mean it like that. Plus you dated my sister, I'm supposed to hate you."

"Nancy and I broke up years ago, you're still hung up on that?" he asked genuinely.

A short bout of silence filled the car before Mike spoke again, it was clear that he was choosing his words carefully as to not offend Steve again "i guess yeah. You never spoke about it but she seemed pretty hurt because of it, and we don't get along but she's my sister so I was kinda pissed at you for breaking her heart. Just never got it off my chest."

Steve nodded in understanding, shooting him a tight lipped smile through the rear view mirror. "Nancy broke up with me. I told everyone the opposite though because I didn't want to look like a loser and I was a douche back then so it bruised my ego. It was complicated... But um. I never played her or anything like that, I loved her but she didn't feel the same way. There were some other things too but I'd rather not get into that with you lot."

"please spare us from whatever gross shit you were about to say" Dustin said a look of pure disgust on his face, "I do not need to image of you and Nancy Wheeler in my head."

"Didn't you have a crush on her?" Steve teased.

He flipped him off, "I was a stupid child who thought my friend's older sister was cool. It's not that deep."

Steve nodded, a playful smile on his lips "sure whatever you say, Dustybun."

Dustin punched him on his arm "you do not get to call me that."

Mike and Lucas burst into laughter before they started singing "Turn around... Look at what you see..."

Steve laughed and sang along while Dustin kept telling them to shut up which only resulted in the two boys in the back seat singing louder in-between bursts of laughter.

AN:

I think I forgot how stressful writing can be.

Anywho, this is my first Steddie fic and I'm nervous as shit about it.

So if you read it and liked it, leave a little review. It helps boost my shitty little confidence.

Having readers input matters so much to me.

To those who are reading, thank you.