"Eddie, get up. Some guy's here to see you. Damn near broke the door down knockin." My Uncle's voice boomed through my ear drums as he knelt next to my head, waking me. "Guy?" I slurred, confused and half asleep. He stood up and spoke to someone behind him, "Takes him a while to wake up sometimes." Before he walked out of my room. I propped myself up with one elbow and scratched sleep out of my eyes with the other hand, blinking when I thought I saw Steve Harrington in my room. "Your eyes don't deceive you, it's me." Steve's snarky tone cut through my sleepiness. I jolted out of bed, surprised that he would even come near my trailer. Across the room Steve did his best to look anywhere but at me; I realised I was standing there in just boxers and definitely had morning wood. I grabbed the blanket and flung it round myself, sitting back on the bed. "What brings you here Harrington. Is Dustin okay?" I asked worriedly, surely the only reason he would come here is if something was wrong with Dustin. Steve shoved his hands into his pockets, looking at the floor. "I need to talk to you about Rain." He said clearly and slowly. "Gimme a sec," I interrupted him to throw on a sweater and jeans from the floor. I stood to face Steve across the room, "Continue." I said with my arms folded against my chest. "They told me about your date, now we need to talk." Steve was carefully minding his tone, his voice was low. I nodded my head slowly, surprised Rain had told Steve anything. "Did they tell you about how they accused me of having another date the next day?" I asked and Steve nodded. "And did you tell Rain that's more your style than mine." I snarked, looking Steve up and down. My morning wood had finally subsided, replaced by a strange mix of emotions like hurt and disappointment. Steve's sigh was heavy, he shrugged and took a few steps towards me, stopping at the corner of my bed. "That's also what I wanted to talk about. I don't have long, I gotta get to work." He spoke quietly, "Rain reacted that way and said those things because of the emotional trauma they suffered from Billy. He hardwired it into them to not trust anyone ever again and to expect the worst." Steve's voice rose with emotion as he spoke.
I dropped my head suddenly understanding where he was coming from. At the time it hadn't even entered my head that Rain's odd behaviour must've been a reflex from being treated like shit for so long. Now I felt like a dick; I hadn't spoken to them since Friday night. My mouth was dry and I couldn't form the words to ask Steve to help me make it right. I didn't have to though - Steve carried on talking, "Don't do anything. They'll know I spoke to you. Rain is gonna ask you out - I don't know when but they will. That's your chance." My head snapped up, what? Rain was going to ask me out? I felt my pulse pick up pace. "I drove to the lake last night, to think about it all and I just have to ask you one thing Eddie. Beg you really," Steve stared straight at me when he spoke. "Shoot, Harrington" I responded and Steve slumped his shoulders looking embarrassed and sad, "Don't tell Rain anything about..y'know..what we did. For your sake and mine. They'd never forgive either of us for keeping that a secret from them. Please don't tell them what went down." Steve was twisting his hands together nervously, and couldn't stand still. "If I remember correctly I'm the one who went down." My default in awkward situations was humour. Steve apparently didn't find this funny at all because he charged at me and stopped just short of an inch away, pointing his finger in my face. "Don't. Say. Anything." Spit from Steve's mouth landed on my chin. "I won't...I don't kiss and tell." I winked at him, dying to get more of a reaction because this was the most Steve had ever spoken to me about what we did together. Steve knew I was baiting him and walked to the door, "Listen - I am sorry for how I behaved, it wasn't cool of me to lead you on like that and then go on a date with some chick and just ignore you," Steve muttered over his shoulder before walking out of the trailer. I threw myself back on the bed, brain buzzing with thoughts of Rain and memories of Steve.
Sunday: Tonight was the first Hellfire Club meet with Will Byers joining us - Mike and the gang had gushed about Will the Wise non-stop since I brought them into Hellfire, and I was looking forward to meeting this DnD legend. Will didn't disappoint; he was meticulous, calculating, and courageous. Watching him with Mike also pulled on my heartstrings. I wasn't blind y'know. The second I sat down next to Will Byers my gaydar went wild. Every now and then from the corner of my eye I would catch Will and Mike playing footsie under the table, or them briefly making eye contact and smiling. Their behaviour and my weird interaction with Steve this morning flooded me with memories of that night in the October of my senior year - the one I had to repeat. I'd crashed a party held by people from my actual grade before they went off to college. Steve was there, surrounded by people but looking desperately lonely as he drank. I'd had a couple myself and only crashed the party because I was walking by the house close to the lake and heard AC/DC floating from one of the windows. It wasn't the full song - just a bit of the chorus played with some shitty pop song behind it.