Eddie's birthday was a day away, I have always been the type that's nervous to give gifts that someone doesn't end up liking, they have to smile through it when in reality.. they hate it.
I think I did good, I hope I did good. There'd be nothing more embarrassing than gifting my boyfriend (I think that's what he is - still unclear) something that he doesn't like at all.
Now it was just getting through the rest of the school day and my shift with Steve at Scoops Ahoy after school.
And boy.. did school ever drag on and on.
"You're late," Steve's voice rings, clearly annoyed as I rush behind the counter "My car has been acting up," I apologize with out actually apologizing, kind of wondering if my parents did something to it.
"I can pick you up next shift," Steve offers as he gets everything ready and cleaned from whoever had last shift, I weigh my head to the side with a small smile "That'd be great," I say, putting on my gloves.
"I learned this cool trick, check it out." Steve's face lit up like a child's, digging the scooper into the ice cream and twirling it around.. pressing the handle release too early as it comes flying at my shirt.
"You have got to be kidding me," I look down at my work uniform that was just freshly washed, now having cherry ice cream sliding down it. Steve's eyes dart side to side as his teeth clench together "Oops?" He tries to play innocent.
Quickly grabbing a napkin, he hovers over the melting ice cream on my shirt "I'm so sorry," he whispers again, realizing the error of his ways as he starts to dab at my shirt
"Well would you look at the happy couple," Eddie waltzes in with his arms stretched out, Steve rolls his eyes as I bow my head. He hands me the napkin so I can finish cleaning up myself.
"Harrington," Eddie nods towards Steve, "Alison," he nods towards me, I watch as his lips twitch, trying his best not to smile as everyone knows (besides my parents, apparently) that I hate being called Alison.
"Edward," I bat my lashes, biting my lip so hard I was worried it may bleed.. I could feel the smile creeping up, on the verge of laughing as Eddie shoots me a glare.
Having to cover my mouth to keep from bursting out into a roar of laughter "What do you want?" Steve sighs, pretending to fiddle with the cash register.
"Isn't there a little line you guys have to say?" Eddie points from me to Steve as we both groan. Eddie now grinning from ear to ear, enjoying this a little too much
"Welcome to Scoops Ahoy, where.." Steve stops, his dirty blonde brows furrowing.. giving Eddie a nasty look "you know what, no. No. I'm not playing this game," He waves Eddie off
I look over at Steve then quickly look away as I see the look of exasperation on his face, laughing into my hand and trying to turn it into a cough.
"This isn't funny, I'm a paying customer.." Eddie taunts, like he was trying to get me to break. Eddie slides money onto the counter "What do you want?" Still trying to keep myself from laughing as I ask,
"Oh no, Harrington got this.." Eddie's eyes shift from me to Steve as Steve's face fills with dread "Don't ya big boy?" Eddie grins, getting on Steve's last nerve.
Eddie crosses his arms over his chest as Steve scoops out some vanilla ice cream and puts it in a cone, handing it to Eddie with a look of pure hatred.
"Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" Eddie quips, taking the cone as Steve turns his back to him. Making a strangling motion that Eddie can't see, I look over at Eddie as his smile softens and he winks at me.
I shake my head, biting down on my lip in disbelief and feeling the laughter creep up again.
"I hate him," Steve says through clenched teeth, "Don't let him get to you," I say softly as Steve begins to mock what Eddie had said in a high pitched voice.
I couldn't do it anymore, I burst into a roar of uncontrollable laughter. Luckily Steve thought the situation was so ridiculous that he started laughing as well.
After our shift ended and we close up for the night, I make my way to the parking lot. Steve had forgot something so he had to run back and get it, not like we were currently carpooling anyways.
"Hey sweetheart," I hear Eddie's voice as I exit through the back doors "You've stuck around all night?" My brows raise in surprise, he's sitting on the hood of my car like he owns it.
"After seeing you in that outfit," he licks his lips as his eyes trail from my head to my toes "Couldn't bring myself to leave," he smiles.
As I reach him, I rest my arms over his shoulders.. placing the fastest kiss in the history of ever on his lips "You have to go, Steve's going to be out any minute." I whisper,
Eddie let's out a dramatic sigh as he hops off my car.. maybe that was why it was having issues. "Fine," His lips melt into mine once more, "See you tomorrow princess." His tone is so seductive that I have to stop myself from jumping his bones right there.
I watch as he heads for his van, giving a small wave as he drives out of the parking lot.
"Guess you won't be needing me to pick you up next shift after all," Steve passes me, the look of hurt in his eyes enough to set a soul on fire. "No it's not.." I try to scramble for a reason why I'd be talking to Eddie.
He opens up his car door, standing behind it "Save it, Ali." The look of betrayal written all over his face as he shakes his head, getting into his car.
There was no way this was going to end good.
Once I get home, things seem to be normal.. quiet. So I know nothing has been said, yet. I had put my first and last in for a town house in Hawkins a week ago, I have a week until I get the keys.
I'll be out soon, but not soon enough.
"Honey, you have a visitor!" My mom calls from downstairs as I try to sneakily pack up some things, I head down the stairs.. heart dropping into my stomach and feeling like I'm going to pass out as I see Steve standing at the door,
He looks deep in thought, on edge. His fingers picking at the skin around his nail beds, his foot tapping impatiently "Actually, I came to talk to you," Steve avoids my gaze and speaks directly to my mother.
"Steve," I shake my head, eyes wide and jaw slowly dropping "Maybe we should talk outside first.." I try to suggest but he continues to avoid my gaze. "Me?" My mom laughs, confused "What about?" Her blonde brows knit together.
As I watch Steve's mouth hesitate to speak, I spit it out before he can "I've been seeing Eddie!"
Oh shit shit shit.
"Excuse me?" My mom gasps in horror, "What?" I hear my dads voice shout from the living room, evidently enraged. "Is this true?" My mother looks at Steve like he's a golden child while he gives a small nod.
"I'm eighteen.. I'm tired of this." I sigh, not having much more fight in me. "You're still under our roof!" My dads Face is red with rage "Not for long," I admit, getting it all out on the table.
"What are you talking about Alison?" My mom narrows her eyes at me "I've signed a lease.. it starts next week." My voice is small, scared.
"Not only are you seeing that maniac but you've already went so far out of your way to secure a place with out our say so?" The way my dads speaks is like pouring scolding hot water on someone.
"Yes," I say louder "I physically can't deal with you guys anymore, I can't live here anymore! It's draining me," I'm on the verge of tears from the amount of stress I've been under.
"It's that boy, he's getting to you." My mom sighs in disappointment "No, you two are getting to me." I bite back, heading back up the stairs to my room.
"Where are you going?" My father asks, bewildered as I come back downstairs with a bag full of stuff "I'm leaving. I'll come get the rest of my stuff next week," I grab my skateboard, "No. you're going up to your room right now!" My dad yells
I laugh, a crazy 'I'm so done with this' laugh "again, I'm eighteen. You can't stop me, neither can the police." I continue to laugh, impressed that my parents would still rather be assholes.
I shoot Steve a glare before pushing past him, "You know what since you think Steve is so great, why don't you take him in as your kid? Cause you just lost me." I yell to them,
"Ali.." Steve's voice is quiet behind me, trying to get me to stop "Fuck you, Harrington." I repeated words Eddie had said before, starting to get an inkling on why Eddie didn't like him.
I rode around for a half hour, maybe a little more. Trying to rid of the deep hatred, blood boiling anger I felt. Riding my board always helped calm my nerves but I knew what I needed even more than that right now..
As I ride into the trailer park, I notice the light on outside of Eddie's trailer. Nearly wiping out as I veer into the grass, deep in thought and not paying nearly enough attention.
Squinting, I see Eddie sitting on the couch on his trailers porch. "Ali?" Eddie asks confused, I ditch my board all together as Eddie rises to his feet, running up to him and crashing into him. Almost sending him toppling over.
"Jesus," he steadies himself as I wrap my arms around him "What's wrong? What happened?" He asks panicked, worried. "Was it Harrington? I swear to god I'll.." I could hear Eddie getting riled up
"Just hug me," I cry into his chest, his tensed shoulders drop, his touch softening as Eddie wraps his arms around me for dear life.
"Is Ali.." the trailer door opens, Eddie's uncle peaking his head out. "Oh," he breathes out "Your dad just called. I still can't stand that guy," he drawls, "Me either," Eddie and I say in sync.
"Look, it's not my business but you're welcome to stay here if need be." Wayne speaks delicately, I look over at him with tears in my eyes, Eddie and I still holding each other "Thank you," I whisper, managing a trembling smile.
"Any time. Just kick Eddie out of his room if he starts getting on your nerves," Wayne smiles himself, I can't help but laugh. "Very funny," Eddie retorts as Wayne goes back inside.
Eddie flops back on the couch, pulling me onto his lap as I bury my face in his neck. Trying stupidly hard to pull myself together but failing miserably.
It wasn't just the stuff with Eddie and the issues my parents had with it, it was my entire life. Eddie was just the nail in the coffin for them, that really drove them over the edge.
They've always hovered, been controlling, wanting this pristine fairy tale family that has been projected onto me since as long as I can remember.
But finally.. finafuckinglly.. I'm free.
"They know," I whisper into Eddie's neck, as I sit in his lap.. the tears starting to slow down "and no, Steve didn't tell them.. he was going to but I did before he could say anything." I play with the guitar pick necklace around his neck,
"That fucking guy," Eddie snarls, the mutual hatred between Steve and Eddie not letting up anytime soon. "It was a long time coming," I say, in reference to my parents finding out.
Eddie sweeps the hair away from my face "I can just stay at Dustin's or something," I say quietly as I look up at him. He looks so soft and gentle in this very moment "Are you kidding me?" He laughs "I don't want to intrude," or cause issues for anyone else…
"Yeah uh, not possible. I kind of dream of this.. all the time, so" He flashes me a small smile as I raise a brow "Me fleeing my parents?" I let out a hard laugh "No," Eddie says in a funny tone "You staying with me."
"You say that now until we start annoying each other," I point out, "Annoy me all day, every day." Eddie grins wildly, welcoming the idea as his amber eyes light up, pressing his lips against mine.
"Besides with my uncle working nights, he's gone most the time I'm home or.. we'd be home anyways," Eddie gives a small shrug, "you could take over the whole trailer if you wanted," he laughs as I shake my head, still fiddling with the chain on his necklace "Oh please," I roll my eyes.
Eddie and I hold hands as we go inside, I drop my bag off in his bedroom.. well I guess our bedroom, for the moment. Joining Wayne in the living room as he watches The Dukes of Hazzard.
Wayne seats in a chair that's designated as his. Eddie flops down on the couch, putting his feet up on the coffee table with one hand behind his head and the other around me as I sit beside him.
It was such a calm, quiet and relaxed atmosphere that I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. This was not what I grew up with at all, where was the yelling? The avoiding being in the same room? The hiding who you're dating, what you're doing..?
"Are you sure it's okay if I stay? I don't want to get Eddie in trouble," I finally spit out, feeling on edge as I'm so use to the toxicity of my own household. Eddie and Wayne let out a hard laugh as they share a glance.
"You know, I knew your farther when he was yours and Eddie's age. He wasn't much better, if anything he was a little worse," Wayne's voice drawled on as he leaned forward in his chair, my brows raising in surprise
"The one thing that your dad has never had, is a heart. Unlike Eddie here, though sometimes misguided.." Wayne trails off with a playful smirk "He's always been a hard ass," Wayne references my dad.
"You two are adults, you can make your own decisions. Hell, they might be the wrong decisions but they are yours to make." He says softly, his smile so genuine.. something I wasn't use to from adults.
"As long as you both aren't out there committing crimes or something.." he pauses with a chuckle, screeching at the back of his nearly bald head "Only on the weekends," Eddie points to his uncle, clearly joking.
Wayne waves him off with a laugh "Point is, you can stay here as long as you like or need." Wayne smiles again "If your parents have issue with it, they can take it up with me." He nods firmly, leaning back in his chair.
"Lord knows they've put you both through enough," he mutters, clearly enraged by my parents just as much as Eddie and I were.
"I told you," Eddie whispers into my ear, our fingers intertwining as I cuddle up beside him. "Yeah yeah," I laugh.
So this is what a home felt like. A normal, well rounded (for the most part) home. A family. Love. I really was missing some key things since childhood. My parents lacked.. a lot and I realize now my brother and I are the ones who truly suffered from it.
It would be hard to adjust to a place where you don't have to tip toe around, where you don't have to worry about saying the wrong thing or saying too much, or too little. Where one look could get you grounded for a week.
This is the home I always wanted though and at least temporarily, I get to have it with Eddie. What could be better than this?