Several days later...

Steve had swung by the high school to pick Robin up before their shift at the video store. Oddly enough, there wasn't a basketball game tonight, so Robin didn't have to perform. She did need to stay after and turn in an extra credit project, so Steve had roughly twenty minutes to kill. He had parked in the rear parking-lot for visitors, sandwiched between the middle and high school. Climbing out, his sneakers crunching against the gravel, he had an extra pep in his step, as he made his way down the hill, and towards the wooded area behind the gym. Eddie had picked this spot as a meet-up for them without anybody seeing them. Almost everyone knew Steve, and as much as it embarrassed him to be that loser that was still swinging by his old high school, working at a crummy video store, and still living with his parents, this last week he actually felt the best he had felt in months. He knew he was spiraling into a dark abyss of depression. After losing Billy, he never truly felt more alone in his entire life. Sure he had Robin, but he felt isolated. All he did was work, or fix Billy's car up. The days seemed to be crawling by, and he knew it was only getting worse and worse... Until Eddie. He couldn't be more of an opposite to Steve, but somehow in these past few days he never felt happier. He didn't know if it was the sneaking around, or the fact that there was somebody in his life that he connected with, but...he found himself actually feeling as if for the past nine months he had been trapped beneath icy water. Ever since things started with Eddie, he now felt as if he was broken through the surface, and was actually breathing fresh air for the first time in what seemed like forever. His mother even seemed to notice that he was in a better mood.

Earlier today at breakfast, she couldn't help smiling as he wolfed down his food, having almost three helpings, tapping his foot beneath the table as the radio on the counter played music. She smiled, noticing he had even taken extra time on styling his hair, and asked why he was in such a good mood? Steve, trying to play it off, shrugged, before his mother smiled, and sipped her coffee.

"New girl in your life?"

Steve thought back on Eddie's dark eyes, plump lips, and smile that drove him absolutely wild. Feeling color fill his cheeks, he shrugged as he picked at the last of his pancakes.

"Yeah sorta...I guess."

"Well, if she's making you this happy, I certainly hope I'll be able to meet her someday."

Steve had to hold back a laugh, wanting so badly to tell her that actually, she already met Eddie, and found him absolutely charming. He had spent most of the night on the phone with Eddie, both watching TV together over the phone, and filling each other in on these past few days, even though they had seen each other every single day. Steve filled him in on stupid stories about the video store, and the usual funny stories about Mrs. McGregor who was quite the character, and nearly fainted when she accidently discovered the back adult section in the video store. Eddie as always made Steve feel as though his stories actually were pretty funny, by how interested he seemed, and how hard he laughed over it. Eddie would tell him about school, and the two would end up talking about absolutely nothing.

Steve found himself laying in bed, one arm behind his head, as he casually asked Eddie what he was wearing? He heard Eddie give a snort of a laugh, before saying...

"What am I wearing? A leather red cocktail dress, and pumps."

Steve cracked up with Eddie, before Eddie answered truthfully...

"Actually, just wearing my Van Halen T-shirt, and a pair of boxers."

"Mmmm!"

Steve licked his lips, still looking up at the ceiling, before he sighed.

"Sure wish you were lying here right beside me."

"Yeah me too...so what are you wearing?"

"Boxers."

"Anything else?"

Steve felt his mouth turn into a sly smile, before he stretched out, and grinned.

"Nope, that's it."

"Not even socks huh mister?"

"Nope."

"Man, you sure know how to turn a guy on Harrington."

Both started cracking up, as Steve smiled, sighing to himself and actually honestly wishing Eddie was in fact here. Looking at his locked bedroom door, he chewed on his bottom lip, remembering those times Billy had snuck over to his place, as his parents slept completely unaware on the other side of the house. He knew he could easily just leave and head to the trailer-park, but the actual idea of Eddie laying in his bed made him feel oddly safe, and more than a little turned on. He played with the cord around his fingers, before smirking.

"Say, if you want...totally okay if you can't or don't want to...but my parents are dead to the world and their bedroom is on the other side of the house. If you park the van down that tiny little dead end road right before my house, and come around back...there's a ladder I used to use that's up against the storage shed to get into my bedroom...I mean if you want..."

He knew he was rambling like an idiot, but was relieved to hear Eddie lightly chuckle on the other end of the line.

"Sure, give me...like ten minutes."

Steve's eyes widened in excitement as he smiled and softly licked his lips. He held back some nervous laughter, before he looked at his windows.

"Yeah, just try and not make too much noise. It's hard to wake my parents up after they toss back a few evening drinks, and nightly valium. Like I said their room is across the house, just call up to me when you get here and be careful with the ladder."

"Man I feel like I'm some knight in shining armor coming to rescue the beautiful princess up in a high tower."

Princess...that's what Billy used to call him.

Steve's smile somewhat faded for just a second, thinking back on the time Billy snuck in, and how he noticed the bruises on him. Pushing those painful memories away, he listened as Eddie told him he would be by soon, and hung up. Hanging up the phone, Steve took a deep breath, before he went straight to his bathroom and messed with his hair for a while. Tossing some dirty laundry off the floor and into the hamper, before nervously pacing, unable to believe how excited he was to see Eddie. He couldn't believe it, but ever since that night at the lake, he could honestly say for the first time since last summer...he felt as if he was alive again.

Later...

Steve held back from cracking up as he helped pull Eddie in through the window. Eddie had a small black plastic bag, most likely from the small gas station on the outside of town. Eddie was in what resembled red and black flannel PJ bottoms, his faded Van Halen T-shirt, and leather jacket. Steve tried holding back from losing it completely as Eddie appeared outside of his window like a metal version of Peter Pan. His hair wild and crazy, but his dark eyes lighting up the second Steve saw him as he waved. Opening the window, and letting in the chilly March night air, he helped pull him in, tucking his arms underneath Eddie's, before Eddie tried to slide in on his stomach, almost diving head first into Steve's bed. Both got the giggles, before Steve pulled him onto the bed, both with their arms wrapped around each other and trying not to laugh loudly. Steve could smell the faint mixture of Eddie's cologne, and pot. Both laid back, before looking into each other's eyes. Steve smiled, staring at Eddie, who was still grinning ear to ear.

They locked eyes, before Steve took a deep breath and stared at him.

"I know this is fast, but..after Billy I never thought I could feel this way about anyone again. I...think I might be falling in love with you Eddie."

He braced himself for Eddie to laugh in his face, or pull back getting freaked out. Instead, the kindest, warmest smile was there for Steve to look at, before Eddie closely examined his face, brushing back some fallen bangs, before leaning in closer. Gently, he kissed his lips, before pulling back less than an inch away. He grinned at Steve.

"Well I know for certain that I'm completely head over fucking heels in love with you."

Steve smiled back at him.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Who would have thought that Eddie 'the freak' Munson and Steve 'the hair' Harrington would both be like a couple of stupid school girls."

"Hey...I don't exactly plan on working at Family Video the rest of my life. I'm not close with my parents...and besides those little shits and Robin, I really don't have friends here. I wanna...go someplace that isn't so small and small minded. Maybe the West Coast?"

"The West Coast?"

"Yeah, I know you mentioned it. Get the Camaro running, pack up the little we got. I have savings...we could head out to the West Coast, and get jobs...maybe try and save up. Get a place near the beach. You could play gigs at different clubs...I mean I know it sounds stupid..."

Eddie gently cupped Steve's face causing him to stop mid sentence. Eddie smiled and nodded.

"Let's do it."

"What?"

"Screw it. We're young. If we're going to do something stupid we might as well do it when we're young. I'm determined to finally fucking graduate. As long as I don't blow my finals, I'm gonna get my diploma, tell this stupid town to go fuck itself, and guess what? My handsome boyfriend and his hot as Hell sports car will be waiting to pick me up in the parking-lot. Last thing we'll do is make out in front of everyone at the graduation ceremony, sound the horn, flip everyone off, and speed down the road and never look back."

Steve laughed looking into Eddie's eyes.

"You put some thought into this huh?"

"Absolutely. Trust me, I keep waiting for you to realize what a complete loser I am...but maybe I can convince you to come to the West Coast and party with me for a while before it dawns on you how much better you could do."

Steve smirked but shook his head.

"I'm the lucky one. You're not a loser Eddie...you're the best thing that's happened to me...in a very long time. Trust me, this whole thing came as a surprise to me too...but I'm not mad about it. Not mad at all..."

Eddie smiled, leaning forward and deeply kissing Steve. Instantly he responded, firmly holding his head through his thick wild hair, and moaning softly through the kiss, before both pulled away, flushed, and out of breath. Steve lightly laughed and pressed his forehead against Eddie's.

"You're gonna become a rock star, and I'll be your secret lover, waiting in the wings and drinking all the free beer I can handle."

"Secret lover? Please, you'll be my husband."

Steve couldn't help but feel the strangest giddy bubbling feeling wash over him as he smiled, eyes lighting up.

"Husband?! Not a boyfriend...a husband?"

"Yeah, it won't be legal but I have a friend who lived out there with his grandparents and people like us...we're much more accepted. He said his neighbors were two guys who met in the military and after they retired, they opened some stupid pet grooming business and are married."

"Wow...I could only imagine being that open..."

"I mean, this is the 80's. There's going to be assholes everywhere...but they're actual places that don't judge as hard, or think you're worshiping the Devil just because you're different. I could see it now, us owning first this shitty little apartment, mattress on the floor, a few blocks away from the beach. We would be able to listen to our records as late as we wanted, and you would help me soundproof the living room so I could practice without bothering the neighbors. We would be near the clubs where there's people like us...where it's safe, and every morning we had off we would ride down to the beach, eat Elephant ears, drink screwdrivers, and watch the sunrise."

Steve smiled, almost able to see it playing out in his mind. The same little fantasy he had in his head with Billy, making plans, and making this near perfect world where they could be together, and nothing could hurt them...

He was about to ask Eddie if he knew how to surf? When he smiled, reaching down his other hand and lacing it with Eddie's which was glad with his giant metal rings. He leaned in and sweetly kissed him again.

"I'll work three different jobs if it means you can try and make a go of it at the clubs. You're really talented Eddie. I'm serious. You could be famous...don't you think...being out might ruin your chances at that?"

"Then fuck fame? I just like performing. I'll perform at any club that will take me, and work some shitty jobs too...we'll save up, get a small beach house nearby, fix it up, and maybe try and make a go of that music store? We both love music, and we'll have all kinds, and work with only super chill people. It will be right off the beach, and we'll listen to music all day, and even maybe hold open mic nights. I could totally see us doing that and being really happy."

"That sounds amazing...of course we might need to convince Robin to help us out in the kids department. Not that I think she would ever say yes. She might actually run and scream in the opposite direction."

"Kids huh? Did I make you cross over to the dark side?"

"With you? Of course. We'll have a big family...five or six little ones when we're in our 30's. Once you release a few albums, and our music store branches out into a chain of popular stores all down the coast. We'll take turns and be stay at home dads, and give our kids the coolest childhoods."

"Six kids huh? How many of each?"

"Three girls, three boys duh!"

Eddie cracked up, tickling Steve who laughed and kissed him again. Eddie stretched, and gave a lazy yet happy smile.

"That sounds amazing. Buckley might need some convincing, but I could see it. Man, I would love a big family like that...I could see us like the fucking The Partridge Family. All lined up going out to the beach."

"Those kids will have the best hair ever."

"That's a dead given. You got any names already picked out? I only got one."

Steve smiled, feeling himself falling harder and harder in love with him. Steve thought for a second and smiled.

"Um, I always liked Alex for a boy's name. Ruby maybe for a girl?"

"I like it."

"You?"

"So far just a girl's name, from one of the fantasy stories I read as a kid. Elora Danan."

"Elora Danan. Wow...that's really pretty. Is that from those Hobbit books?"

Eddie gave him a look before laughing.

"Tell you what? I'll let you start styling my hair soon...if you let me start reading the Hobbit to you. Deal?"

Steve smiled, running his hands through Eddie's thick and healthy wild hair. He had remarked that a little product would go a long way with him. He loved his hair, but when Eddie noticed the several bottles, and cans of hair product Steve had on his dresser, he seemed pretty impressed, as well as curious. One of Steve's favorite things was to run his hands through his hair. He figured just a trim around the edges to clean it up, and a little product would really make him look great. He knew Eddie never cared about such things, but Steve was ready thinking about how he could convince him to maybe put blond streaks through his hair. Ever since whatever this was started, he couldn't seem to stop playing with his hair, and loving the feeling of it sweeping across him whenever Eddie went down on him. Laughing, he shrugged.

"The Hobbit? Sure."

Eddie looked thrilled, before he took a deep breath, and gently rolled on top of him. Straddling him, he His hands were already lifting up the plain white T-shirt Steve had thrown on before Eddie arrived, and started leaning down, licking, and nibbling against the sensitive skin of Steve's throat and neck. Steve laughed, as he began kissing Eddie, the entire time thinking about how the two just laid in bed, planning on actually leaving this town. Not daydreaming, but actually meaning it. They were planning their futures, and had even talked about starting a family one day. He smiled up at Eddie, before he cupped the side of his face.

"You think turkey baster if Robin agrees someday?"

Eddie grinned.

"I'm always up for a challenge, but I highly doubt you'll want to bone your best friend? Right?"

Steve made a face.

"I think she might kick my ass."

"My money is on her."

Both started laughing, before Eddie leaned down, and began kissing Steve harder and harder, his hands slowly inching towards the waistband of his boxers. Steve laid back, knowing he was going to have to control himself. Steve suddenly felt hot all over, when Eddie stopped, and sat up, sitting on Steve, still straddling him. Steve took a second, knowing very well his hardon was standing straight up, peeking through the flap in his boxers. Blinking, he looked up at Eddie.

"What is it?"

Eddie grinned, and reached over, and scooped something up off the floor. Once he had it in his hands, he held up the black plastic bag he had brought in earlier, that resembled the same bags that were given out at the gas station further down the road. Eddie smiled and handed it to him.

"Here, I wanted to give you a little something. It's stupid..."

Stev took the bag and raised an eyebrow, curious as he smiled.

"Get me something from the mini mart while getting a package of smokes for yourself mister?"

Eddie smiled.

"That's just the wrapping."

Steve smiled, and pulled out what was in the plastic bag, and instantly knew what it was. He shook it out, a little wrinkled from being rolled up in the bag, but instantly he held it up and couldn't stop smiling. He laid it out across his chest, where Eddie helped smooth it out.

It was a short sleeve Hellfire Club shirt. Steve knew that Dustin, Lucas, and Mike wore the same shirts as Eddie that had the name of the D&D club from school. Eddie blushed a little and shrugged.

"You can wear it to bed or something...I know it isn't your style, but maybe on the day we do actually leave here...we can match? I know guys usually give their letterman jackets or some shit to their girls...I figured this is the best I can do."

Steve smiled, staring down at it...actually touched.

"I love it Eddie..."

He then lifted his eyes, and locked them again with Eddie.

"Really. I do."

Eddie smiled, clearly making his night. Steve took a deep breath, and stared up at him.

"I love you so much Eddie."

"I love you too."

With that, Eddie began helping Steve get undressed, the Hellfire shirt tossed to the side with the rest of his clothing, as both tried their hardest to keep the volume down as they started to fool around. Both having absolutely no idea...that much like with Billy, a clock had started to tick away on the happiness Steve had left.