The music was still pounding in Steve's brain an hour later. He checked his phone. Still no message from Eddie.
"I just sat through the most torturous two hours of my life and the ass forgets to text. Guess normal ole me isn't good enough for the rock star" Steve mumbled to himself as his head met the table of the café he was sitting at.
The dinging of his phone made him look up. It was just Dustin wondering how London was and how he and Eddie were getting along. Not having the heart to tell Dustin the truth he just wrote back and said "it's late there kid get some sleep for school" and went back to moping.
He heard the chair across from him slide out from the table and looked up ready to give Eddie an earful but it wasn't Eddie.
"I'm waiting for someone," Steve said solemnly. The man didn't move. He just sat there as though Steve didn't exist.
Not wanting to start anything, Steve grabbed his coffee and phone and went to another empty table.
Ding. He looked down and saw the message was from Eddie. "Hey sorry, Stevie but Billy hurt his back moving equipment and so it took longer than expected. Jeff took Billy back to the hotel and my Lyft is almost there. Love you" it said ending with a microphone and a kiss face emoji.
Steve looked around and smiled when he saw a car stop at the drop-off zone. The backdoor opened and out stepped Eddie in his low baseball cap, glasses (the fake lenses reflecting the sunlight), and his amazing smile.
Being a rock star meant Eddie and the others constantly being incognito which was fine with all but Billy. He loved attention but thankfully Jeff gave him enough to keep him sated outside of Hawkins.
Thankfully Steve blended in well with the everyday person. Robin said he did it too well and needed to find a personality but it is a skill that came in handy when he and Eddie wanted to go out.
Steve got up and noticed the stranger was still sitting at the other table and was watching him. "Could it be a reporter?" Steve asked himself as he hurried over to his fiancé.
"What's the hurry, Stevie?" Eddie asked as steve pushed himself against Eddie's chest.
Steve looked up into Eddie's big brown eyes and whispered "the man sitting at that table across from the one I was at has been staring at me this whole time".
Eddie looked over and didn't see anyone. "Well Stevie it looks like your stalker left when he saw me" Eddie said as he wrapped his arms around Steve.
Steve looked over and noticed the table was empty. "Did you want to stay big boy?" Eddie asked stroking Steve's hair.
Sighing Steve shook his head no and took Eddie's hand, and they waited for an Uber to take them to the hotel.
When they arrived Billy was face timing with Max and the others. Steve groaned.
"I thought I told you to sleep Dustin not gather the group," Steve said hands firmly on his waist.
Dustin gave his big smile and said "it was all Robins's idea since she's babysitting us tonight".
Robin waved into the camera and said "well dingus, looks like you are doing well" making the others chuckle at her name for him. He didn't know what he hated worse, dingus or big boy.
"Robin take your job seriously. They need to be in bed sleeping so they aren't tired tomorrow" Steve said as he sat on the couch next to Billy.
"Hey Harrington chill, they don't have classes tomorrow. It's an in-service. Max was just letting me know about it. Though they all have homework to finish, don't you" Billy said and all the kids nodded at once promising to finish their homework.
After a few more updates Billy ended the call and placed a hand on Steve's knee. The ripple effect it had made Steve's whole body tingle making Billy smile.
Suddenly Eddie plopped down between them and giving Billy a death glare said "this is mine" wrapping his arms around Steve's leg.
Steve groaned. The way those two were always finding something to fight over was exhausting. Even if it was in fun and they were close friends it really made for repetitive boredom.
Steve yawned and suddenly found himself in Eddie's arms being carried to their bedroom. "Hey Eddie don't forget to walk your bitch later so it doesn't piss in the room," Billy said mockingly as he pulled Jeff over the back of the couch, pulling him in for a deep, sensual kiss while flipping off Eddie.
Eddie flipped Billy off and said "Jeff you might want to get checked you never know what the man whore might have" and shut the door to his room.
Jeff looked into Billy's deep blue eyes and said "you two are too adorable you know that".
"Not as adorable as you," Billy said and pulled Jeff in for another kiss.
Sitting Steve on the bed Eddie helped him get undressed and changed into comfortable PJs and then did the same. "Tonight it's rest big boy and tomorrow before we head back to Hawkins, we are having wild sex in every inch of this room along with every person in the room," Eddie said with a grimacing smile.
"Even Billy?" Steve asked cuddling up to Eddie who nodded and said "even the man whore. Now get some sleep, Stevie, you are going to need all your strength for the morning",
Steve closed his eyes and fell into the comfortable and deep sleep he always does when he's next to Eddie.
Back at the café
The closing waitress was cleaning the tables when she suddenly screamed. The manager ran over and his eyes widened. On the table was etched a skull with a snake winding in and out of it.
Before either could make any move there was a flash of light and both fell to the ground, dead.
The small etching flew into the sky and became full size with the snake actually moving.
"The war begins," a voice said with a cackling laugh as a figure silently dissipated into the night.