Steve got to Eddie's house way too early the next day. He circled around the trailer park three times before finally parking in front of Eddie's place. There was a car that wasn't there the other day.

Maybe his uncle's? I thought he said they worked on cars in the back…

Steve waited five minutes… ten minutes… fifteen minutes. He had decided to count to one hundred in his head and if Eddie still wasn't out by then, he was going to the door. He would kick the damn thing down if he had to. There was definitely something wrong. Sure enough, when Steve was at seventy-three, the front door finally opened. Eddie slowly walked out in a long sleeve white shirt, black pants, and his leather jacket and combat boots. His hair was wavy as ever. There was also a large purple bruise surrounding his left eye.

Steve jerked up in his seat and narrowed his eyes before throwing his car door open and taking several long strides to quickly meet Eddie halfway. He didn't even spare a thought for anyone who may see them as he grabbed Eddie's shoulder with one hand and gently cupped his face with the other.

"Eddie! What happened?! What the fuck is going on? Wh—" Steve stopped short because Eddie had flinched back, moving away from Steve and breaking the contact between them. His eyes were bloodshot and he let out an awkward giggle. "Are you stoned?" Steve accused.

Eddie shrugged. "Let's just go to school, man." He shouldered past Steve and got into the car. Steve looked back at the trailer, utterly bewildered. A curtain flicked into place in one of the windows and Steve's hands curled into fists at his sides.

Okay. Something happened with his uncle.

Steve drove them to school and opened his mouth to start asking questions when he parked but Eddie was passed out. Steve gently cupped Eddie's face again and softly spoke.

"Hey, babe. Come on, we're at school now." Eddie's eyes fluttered open and for just an instant, his eyes were full of emotion. But he pulled away again and got out of the car without another word, walking up to the school without waiting for Steve.

He's in there somewhere. Just be patient and give him whatever space he needs.

Steve slowly walked up to the school, watching Eddie enter but not following. Instead stopping where Robin was standing against a pole, also looking after Eddie's figure.

"Okay, so maybe I was wrong," Robin admitted. "What's going on? Did he have a black eye?"

Steve nodded. "He barely said two words to me. And he's high as a kite. Something happened after I left on Friday."

Robin's brow furrowed in thought. She silently led them into school. Dustin approached them rapidly, poking Steve hard in the chest.

"What did you do to Eddie, Harrington?" Dustin hissed, low enough that only Robin could hear.

"Not sure you want the answer to that," Robin muttered under her breath.

"Really, Robin?" Steve said, exasperated.

"What's wrong with him? Who gave him that shiner?" Dustin probed again, ignoring Robin's comment entirely.

"I have no idea, man." Steve said, running a hand through his hair. "We… hung out Friday, and he ignored my calls all weekend, and this morning I picked him up and he's super stoned and isn't speaking to me and has a fucking black eye. I have no idea. I'm—I don't know," Steve's voice cracked and he put his head in his locker so they wouldn't see the glint of moisture in his eyes.

"Maybe his uncle beat him up," Robin speculated.

"No way," Dustin retorted, "he's a really nice guy. He would never do th— wait. Unless. You don't think he could have somehow—" Dustin's voice dropped to barely a whisper, "found out about you two?"

Steve yanked his head out of the locker and looked at Dustin. "I don't really know how that's possible. But it would explain the way he's acting. Would his uncle react that way? I've never met him."

"I mean, I wouldn't think so, but it's hard to say. It's not exactly a… normal situation, you know?" Dustin paused and then added, "He really is like Eddie's dad, though. Really cares about him. I just can't see him hitting Eddie." Dustin shook his head.

"Did he say anything to you?" Steve asked.

"Just to cancel the campaign for the week. Told me to tell you."

Steve's heart fell to the floor.

"Okay. Thanks, Dustin."

Steve unabashedly stared at the back of Eddie's head for the entirety of class. He knew Eddie would be able to feel Steve's eyes boring into the back of his white shirt. Steve could just barely make out the black ink on his skin in a few places. Halfway through class Eddie put his head down on his desk and seemed to fall asleep. Steve scoffed loudly, hoping Eddie heard him.

Faker. Just doesn't want Mr. Smith to call on him.

Unsurprisingly, as soon as the bell rang Eddie was out of the room, moving too quickly for Steve or Robin to catch him. They both watched him trek down the hall, walking straight past the makeout closet.

"Well I guess you don't need a lookout today," Robin said. Steve rolled his eyes.

"I don't know how to even approach him." Steve admitted, grabbing Robin's arm so she swung around to face him. "What would you do?"

Robin didn't respond right away.

"You need a distraction. There's supposed to be a party on Friday. Come with me?" She asked, giving Steve a sympathetic smile. Steve gaped.

"Friday?! You think he'll be like this all week?"

Robin sighed. "Give him time, Steve. He's hurting about something. If he trusts you as much as I think he does, you'll probably be the first person he comes to when he's ready to talk about it." She said wisely, "—I know that's not fair to you," she added as Steve opened his mouth to retort, "but sometimes we have to put our own feelings on the back burner when someone we love is in pain."

"I never said I love him," Steve mumbled.

"You didn't have to."

It turned out Robin was right. Steve had to endure five days of torture and was supplying an endless stream of complaints to Robin as they walked to the cafeteria for lunch on Friday.

"—and I swear, if he doesn't talk to me at all again this weekend, I'm showing up at his fucking doorstep and giving his uncle a piece of my mi—"

Robin put a hand out in front of Steve, stopping him in his tracks. She was staring ahead looking into the lunch room. Steve followed her gaze and his mouth dropped open. Eddie was standing on top of one of the tables antagonizing the table of jocks across the room.

"Oh my god." Robin said. Dustin was sitting at the table Eddie was standing on with a hand covering his eyes. He looked up and saw Steve had entered. Dustin immediately started widening his eyes and jerking his head in Eddie's direction. He mouthed "DO SOMETHING PLEASE".

"What, me?!" Steve whispered to himself.

"He's your boyfriend." Robin said, moving her hand to push Steve further into the room now.

"Oh my fucking god, Munson." Steve grumbled under his breath before hiking his backpack further up his shoulder and marching into the room. He could feel eyes on him as he rapidly approached the outcast causing a huge scene.

Okay. How would Eddie approach this?

The boy in question was fully gesticulating, eyes narrowed and nostrils flared.

"AND WHAT EVEN IS FOOTBALL? WHAT'S THE FUCKING POINT OF IT ALL—"

"Munson. Hey! HEY MUNSON," Steve roared. Eddie whipped around and locked eyes with Steve. He stayed silent, but they were both blushing. This was the most conversation they had had in days.

Steve cleared his throat and spoke at a normal volume, hoping that the entire cafeteria wouldn't eavesdrop.

Wishful thinking. You could hear a pin drop in here.

"Can I have a word? Like, over there?" Steve pointed in some random direction. Eddie stared at him, nodded once, and hopped down from the table. He walked in the direction Steve pointed. Steve bent down to grab Eddie's bag that was laying on the table and walked after him.

"Hey Dustin! How did that math test go?" Robin asked loudly and plopped down next to Dustin, attempting to start normal lunch conversations up again. People started talking sporadically, and eventually the usual hum of conversation had picked back up. Granted they were probably all talking about Steve and Eddie now.

Steve's heart started racing as he turned the corner out of the cafeteria and saw Eddie leaning against the wall, head tilted up and eyes closed.

"You left this," Steve said softly, holding out Eddie's bag.

"Thanks." Eddie said, grabbing the bag gently.

"Dude, I— I feel like I'm going crazy." Steve admitted. He could feel tears welling up in his eyes again and wiped them away angrily. Eddie's heart shattered into a million pieces, but he still couldn't bring himself to open up.

"Not here, okay? I just—I can't." Eddie used the same words Steve had used months ago, after their first kiss. And just like Eddie in that moment, Steve jerked back as if he'd been slapped. Then he turned around and walked away.

I can't handle this anymore. Robin said there's a party tonight. I'm going to get fucking wasted.