Steve had told Robin about his dream while driving her into school that morning.
She told him that it was more than likely the fact that what had happened in the woods with Max had been weighing down on his mind. That it didn't mean anything, and that Eddie sounded incredibly sweet. Steve had almost wanted to tell her his plans before work, but sensed she was a little on edge as she started trying to do her makeup, which was unusual for her as they headed down the road. Instead of going on and on about his problems, he smirked and playfully teased her, since he knew she was nervous about seeing her newest crush Vickey at the prep rally. Once he dropped her off, he eyed the crowded parking-lot, and briefly his eyes drifted up to the upper parking-lot remembering the very first time he laid eyes on Billy two years ago, climbing out of his car, and looking like he absolutely owned the place. Sighing, his eyes scanned school, and briefly wondered where Eddie usually was in the mornings? Not seeing him, he figured as much then for just a fraction of a second thought he saw the back of Max as she was heading inside. He knew now wouldn't be the time to try and approach her, and privately made a promise to himself that he would try to see her first thing tomorrow. Driving down the road, knowing he roughly had two hours to kill before his shift at the video store started, he thought about what he had been secretly planning for the last few days. He knew it was probably very stupid, and for all he knew Eddie would either laugh in his face, or get freaked out.
No. He had to stay telling himself that. Eddie wasn't like that at all.
Much like Eddie, it really came down to getting to know the person. Eddie was sweet, gentle, funny, and very kind. In fact, he really did believe if Eddie and him hadn't crossed paths when they did, Steve might have very much been on his way to a complete nervous breakdown. The two had made plans. Sure, they seemed a little far fetched and crazy, but he kept telling himself he didn't want to have any regrets, and waste any time like he did with Billy. He lost Billy because he didn't see how lucky they really were, and that summer morning when he originally came to him, desperate, and ready to blackmail poor Mrs. Wheeler, he should have simply said screw work, and find him. Talk to him, let him know how loved he was, and keep him close. That's how he lost him. He wasn't about to make the same mistakes with Eddie. No, he wasn't going to take a single second for granted. He drove towards downtown, lightly drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. Turning up the radio, he actually felt in a pretty great mood, and couldn't honestly wait to see Eddie again tonight.
Later...
Steve made sure to go to Treeport since nobody knew him there. He turned into the jewelry store, and walked in all the while with one of Eddie's metal rings in his pocket. He had snagged it last time he was at his trailer, seeing it on Eddie's messy cluttered covered desk. Having seen him wearing that ring before, he knew for certain that it fit, but knew it wasn't one of his favorites and didn't always wear it, and more than likely wouldn't notice that it was missing for a few days. Steve had closely examined it this morning, seeing that it appeared to be a wolf. Finally finding his nerve, he decided enough was enough with waiting, and made up his mind this morning on what he had been thinking about doing. When he entered, a friendly middle aged woman stood behind the glass display counters. Steve walked in smiling.
"Morning."
The woman smiled.
"Good morning. How can I help you?"
Steve produced the ring, and put it down on the counter. He had to hold back from laughing at the puzzled expression from the woman as she carefully picked up the ring, and looked at it.
"So, I'm here for my brother's birthday. I know these rings are just metal, but my parents thought it would be a good idea to get him sized for a real ring. We're on a budget so I don't think gold might be an option..."
The woman smiled, looking at the ring, and using the sizer, and figure out the size.
"Silver maybe? Is that his style?"
Steve thought of Eddie's metal rings and smirked.
"Yeah. I think he would like silver."
"Just a plain silver band?"
"Yeah, that's what my parents said."
"Okay, well let me show you what we have..."
Later...
Steve stood behind the counter smirking at work, and kept digging into his pocket to produce the small velvet black box, opening it, and looking at the silver ring he had been planning on proposing to Eddie with. Giddy with excitement, the morning seemed to fly by as he kept looking at it, thinking about his plan, and knew more than ever that he was going to do it this weekend no matter what. He played around with details in his mind, smiling when suddenly the phone rang. It was Dustin, calling in a panic to ask if he would be Lucas' replacement for Hellfire Club tonight? Steve nearly burst out laughing, still looking down at the ring.
"Sorry pal, I'm Robin's ride and I'm going to the game."
"Ugh! Come on Steve! Please! Eddie is really on our ass to find somebody!"
Steve smirked thinking about how cute Eddie got when it came to his game. He had roughly tried to explain the rules one evening while Steve and him listened to music in his room, and Steve truly couldn't wrap his mind around how many rules, and steps there came to the game. Eddie had been patient, and promised him by the end of the summer, he would have him become a full blown D&D nerd. Steve had laughed this off, but in all honesty he was actually curious to see Eddie play this game, and see what all of the fuss was about? Still, he knew if he went to Hellfire, the others might sense the tension. He really didn't care anymore about who knew, but now that he was actually holding the ring he planned to ask Eddie to marry him with, he didn't want anything to mess up the dream that was slowly possibly becoming a reality for them. He knew between being Robin's ride, and promising her he would sit close in case she needed support while standing the entire game right next to the love of her life, he was just going to pass. If Mike, or Dustin sensed something was going on between the two, fine. In all honesty he couldn't wait to tell Dustin. But Eddie's other friends weren't so sure. They still had roughly two more months, and he wanted to make sure everything was going according to plan by the time Eddie hopefully graduated. He didn't want anything getting in the way.
"Sorry Dust can't. Tell your hero Eddie Munson he better start rounding up more members for his little club."
Steve said with a smile. Dustin was ready to start arguing with him, when Steve saw a few customers walk in, the bell above the door ringing. Steve then realized he had the ring still in his hand, and scrambled to shove it back into his side jean pocket. He almost dropped the phone, before he quickly muttered.
"Sorry, got customers, gotta call you back."
He slammed the phone down as Dustin began to say something. Steve stood up straight, flashing his charming smile.
"Hey guys, welcome to Family Video!"
That night...
Steve had parked in the already filling up upper parking lot. It was dark out, and he helped Robin as she grabbed her instrument case, and hat that went with her uniform. She saw a group of friends, and told Steve she would see him inside. She already knew he was planning on seeing Eddie real quick before the game. Walking, his sneakers crunched against the gravel, before he made his way behind the gym down near the storage sheds. He walked further and further away from the voices of people, before he looked around, only a few street lights casting a dim glow in the darkness.
"Eddie?"
He softly whispered, his eyes scanning the dumpsters, and shadows that seemed to be everywhere. Just then a lone pebble came flying over, skipping across, before hitting his shirt. Raising an eyebrow and looking, he saw Eddie smiling, standing in the shadows behind the larger of the three storage sheds. Feeling that same wonderful nervous flutter of butterflies, he smiled and hurried over, looking around, making sure nobody had seen him. The second he came over to Eddie, he felt his hands on him, pulling him in close for a wet sloppy kiss. Steve closed his eyes, softly moaning, as he completely devoured Eddie's mouth, lips smacking and sucking, before finally he pulled back, spittle running between their mouths, out of breath, and faces flushed.
"Hi there."
"Why hello Mr. Harrington. Ready to go watch a bunch of assholes shoot balls into laundry baskets?"
Steve smirked as he played with Eddie's hair.
"Hey careful there. I used to be one of those assholes."
Eddie grinned looking into his eyes, before Steve made a face.
"Heard you're pretty pissed, Sinclair bailed out for the game tonight. Dustin called me asking if I would be the replacement."
Eddie chuckled.
"I knew that little shit would. Told you he worships you. Can't say I blame him."
They kissed again, the entire time both smiling.
"So? When does your game start?"
Eddie lifted his wrist and checked his watch.
"In just a few, gotta head into the drama room. We hold it backstage. Can't wait to see who Dustin and Mike got. Not that it really matters. With my campaign, those sheep are toast."
Steve gently kissed Eddie again.
"I bet."
Eddie then looked as if he just remembered something.
"Shit. I totally forgot. I have a little business transaction I need to do tonight after Hellfire. I need to swing by my trailer, and drive the person back."
"Be careful please. Don't want you getting busted selling pot to some asshole around here."
"Oh, well that's the interesting part. This isn't my typical customer...in fact I'll wait until I swing by your place later to tell you all about it. Trust me, I'm even shocked."
Steve raised an eyebrow.
"You gonna be okay?"
Eddie smiled, and brushed back Steve's hair behind his ears.
"Awww, ain't that sweet. He's worried about his boyfriend getting busted."
Steve rolled his eyes, before Eddie shook his head.
"Don't worry, this person I can trust. In fact...I think this is they're first time buying. Should be interesting."
"Okay, just swing by whenever you're done. I'll be waiting."
Eddie smiled and kissed Steve again.
"I bet you will be."
Steve smiled, before Eddie closely looked at him.
"I love you."
Steve chuckled.
"I love you too. Now go kick those jerks' asses. Make a dragon or something eat them."
Eddie broke up laughing, before he leaned in, deeply kissing Steve one last time, before smiling. Steve couldn't believe he had fallen for somebody he had just really been seeing for the past few weeks. Yet here he was, looking at the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
"See you tonight."
Steve, thinking about the ring waiting back at home, knew tomorrow night would be the night. He honestly couldn't wait any longer, and nearly dropped down on one knee just now. Kissing Eddie quickly, he said his goodbyes, before turning around to walk around the shed. Eddie playfully goosed him, making both crack up laughing, before Steve headed in the direction towards the gym. Never truly feeling more in love in his entire life.
Later that night..
The game had been a great one, and the Tigers had won the championship thanks to Lucas. Steve had truly felt beyond proud, and went crazy in the stands with all of the other fans, all the while every once and awhile glancing down and lipping words to Robin, who looked half on cloud nine being right next to Vicky, half completely terrified. He hadn't seen Eddie, nor his van when Robin and him piled into his car. Robin gushed the entire time on the ride back, and told him how close she was to nearly slipping up. Steve was tempted to tell Robin about the ring, but knew they had work early tomorrow, and there he could pick her brain about how he really wanted to do this to make it special for Eddie. After dropping her off, he drove down the dark backroads listening to the radio and smiling...when suddenly his eyes drifted up to the rearview mirror.
Billy sat there, covered in blood just like all of the other times. He looked angry, and glared back at Steve, who's eyes widened in terror.
"You really think you can be happy princess? You really think you can replace me that fast?!"
Steve was so busy looking in the rearview mirror, he hadn't noticed that he had been drifting into the other lane, and it wasn't until he heard the shrill sound of a horn, that he ripped his eyes away, and jumped as headlights lit up his vision. Quickly, he yanked the wheel back to the right, heard the tires scream, before going back to his own lane, barely missing the other passing car that honked back at him. When he looked back in the rearview mirror, he saw nothing. Heart pounding, he even glanced over his shoulder to look into his dark backseat to make sure nothing was hiding there. Still clearly shaken, he gasped for breath, both thrown off by what he had just seen, and nearly getting into a head on accident. Unable to calm himself down, anxious tears filled his eyes, as he continued driving, shaking his head, wishing more than ever that his boyfriend was with him.
Unknown to Steve, almost at that exact moment Eddie was going through something even more terrifying than what he had just witnessed.
Later...
Steve really didn't know what a panic attack was, but he was right in the middle of a full blown whopper of a big one. He had paced around, and even did two stiff burning shots from his dad's whiskey bottle at the bar in the den, but nothing seemed to calm his nerves. All he could keep thinking about was Billy's angered face, glaring at him in the rearview mirror. He wanted Eddie more than ever. Eyeing the clock, he knew he still had a while before he was due to come over, and didn't want to call the trailer and worry him in case he had that customer he had been talking about over. Pacing back and forth, nervously chewing on his nails he then remembered last night after waking up from his nightmare, Eddie had offered him a downer, since they were in his bag. Sprinting up the stairs, skipping two at a time, he went quickly into his room, ignoring the St. Christopher's necklace, and leaned down and unzipped Eddie's bag. There were a few T-shirts, another pair of jeans, boxers, and that worn battered copy of the Hobbit he had been talking about. Frustrated that he couldn't find it, he sighed, before remembering there was a front zippered pocket at the front of the bag. Unzipping it quickly, he fished into the bag, before pulling out a small plastic bag.
There were several black, yellow, and red pills inside. Steve remembered Eddie telling him once that the black capsules were called 'Black Beauties' and were downers to take the edge off. Knowing he needed one more than ever, he untwisted the bag, and decided just to take one since he didn't have Eddie here with him, to let him know how many would be safe to take at once. Fishing into the bag, he pulled out the black pill, and dropped the other bag back into Eddie's bag, zipping it back up. He then went downstairs and took it with water, before eying the clock, and deciding to go into the livingroom to wait for Eddie. He hadn't even turned any of the lights on, besides the landing one. He entered the dark living room when instantly he felt sorta swimmy headed. Taking a second, he steadied himself by holding onto his dad's easychair, before slowly making his way over to the sofa.
"Maybe those two shots weren't a great idea..."
He muttered, eyeing the clock one more time, before laying back on the sofa. He decided he would take a quick little cat nap before Eddie came over. After that, he would tell him everything, and as always Eddie would make everything better. He always did.
"Just a quick nap..."
He muttered, his eyes feeling extremely heavy. Tilting his head back, he dropped almost into an instant sleep, hating that he was such a lightweight with stuff that most likely didn't even affect Eddie in the slightest. His mind summoned Eddie's dark sparking eyes, and a small smile formed on Steve's face, knowing that as soon as he came over he would make everything better...
Instead, he was so knocked out, he snoored completely dead to the world as Eddie less than twenty minutes later hammered on the door completely desperate, and rang the bell a few times. He didn't see any lights on, or that Steve's car was in the closed garage tonight instead of the driveway. Figuring he maybe had stopped by someplace with Robin, Eddie nearly on the verge of tears, and completely terrified by what he had just witnessed, knew he needed to leave and leave quickly. As much as he wanted Steve, he couldn't get him dragged into him. He ran back down the driveway, and jumped into his van, speeding away into the night as Steve slept completely unaware on the sofa inside.
The next morning...
The next morning Steve felt terrible. As if he had been hungover or something. He felt very groggy, as his eyelids slowly fluttered open by the early morning sunlight drifting in. His mouth felt dry, and his head soupy, as he slowly sat up, remembering again this is why he didn't do drugs. He caught his reflection in the mirror across the room over his father's stereo, and couldn't believe how awful his hair looked. That's when he remembered Eddie. He snapped his eyes shut, hating himself that he probably had slept through Eddie trying to come by last night. Why hadn't he not told him about the spare key under the mat on the front steps? Hating himself, he got up, still feeling groggy as he shuffled to the kitchen, and saw he had less than twenty minutes to get Robin, and head to work. He was tempted to call in, but knew Keith wouldn't be working at all today, so it was just then until eight. Feeling awful, he reached for the phone and dialed Eddie's number.
He waited and listened to it ring...and ring...and ring.
Finally the answering machine clicked on. Eddie nor his uncle had recovered any message, but just the robot woman's voice on the other line telling him to leave a message after the beep. Sighing, he rubbed his face, before the beep came.
"Eddie hey. I'm so fucking sorry if you tried to come by last night. I must have fallen asleep. I owe you big time. I'll try to convince Robin to close up early so I can go see you. Alright, sorry again. Bye."
He hung up, really hoping Eddie wasn't mad at him...even though he had never seen him angry before. Not once. Sighing, he looked around his empty kitchen, before deciding to run upstairs and take a quick shower to try and sober up.
A few hours later...
Steve and Robin stood behind the counter. They currently didn't have any customers since it had been a pretty unusual slow morning for a Saturday. Robin had chirped his ear off gushing about Vickey. Steve decided to leave out the vision of Billy from the night before since it had honestly been weighing on his mind again, and truly had been bothering him. He told Robin once they started stocking the shelves how he had fallen asleep last night, and was afraid that Eddie might think he blew him off.
"You didn't hear him knocking, or the doorbell?"
"No...I guess I must have been really out of it."
"Maybe you're getting sick."
Steve shrugged, not wanting to tell her about the downer.
"Yeah maybe..."
Robin reassured him that Eddie didn't seem the type to get mad at him over something so stuupid, and that she was surprised he didn't try to break in and scare him. Steve chuckled to himself, knowing that did seem like something Eddie would do, before Robin asked if Steve planned on seeing Max today or tomorrow?
"Umm...probably tomorrow. I...have something sorta planned for tonight."
Robin smiled as they made their way behind the counter together.
"Ooooo! Something romantic planned for Mr. Munson?"
Steve smiled, feeling his cheeks burning, before he reached into his pocket, and took out the black velvet box he had grabbed before heading to work from his dresser. He slowly opened it, as her eyes widened.
"Yeah...I guess you could say that."
Robin's eyes widened, before she let out a scream of excitement. Steve, smiling, and blushing allowed her to jump up and down around him. Once she calmed down, and making sure there were no customers inside, she pulled at his vest.
"Holy shit! Are you planning on doing it tonight?"
Steve smiled as Robin admired the ring, looking it over carefully.
"Yeah. I had been thinking about waiting until he graduates...but I can't wait any longer. I know it sounds so stupid...but I really love him."
Robin looked as if she was ready to swoon, before Steve rolled his eyes and took the box back, closing it, and putting it back in his pocket.
"Hopefully he doesn't break up with me because of last night though. That would really suck."
Robin made a face, waving her hand at him while reaching to turn on the TV to put a movie on as background noise.
"Oh please, it would take more than that to scare or piss off Eddie Munson. Man do we have a lot to talk about. I need details on what you're planning!"
Steve smirked, when suddenly he froze. A news reporter for channel 5 stood in front of Eddie's trailer on TV.
There was yellow crime scene tape around it. Steve blinked, thinking he was seeing things, but recognized that old ratty couch that Eddie's uncle had in front of the trailer. The reporter spoke about a brutal murder. Suddenly all of the color left Steve's face, as he stood there completely numb. Robin turned, looking just as shocked.
"Hey? Isn't that Eddie's..."
Before she could finish, Steve felt hot sour tasting vomit start to bubble up as he turned, and grabbed into the trash bin. Leaning over it, he violently threw up as the reporter kept repeating the same lines about a brutal murder.