Every day since he turned eighteen Eddie had written the lyrics to his favorite songs on his arm. He was too scared to send out his own lyrics, so instead he wrote the words from songs that spoke to him the most. He never missed a day. Even though he was starting to lose hope. Eddie knew that some people went their whole lives without getting a response but after two years it was getting easier to believe there was no "perfect someone" for him.
A part of Eddie believed his soulmate could see his messages months before he got the first response. The words he wrote on his left arm every day were getting ignored. Eddie couldn't shake that feeling until he got his first response.
His soulmate was an artist. One who drew pictures every day. His soulmate could even name the titles of the songs Eddie wrote to him. The moment his soulmate responded for the first time Eddie felt lighter.
Everything was perfect. Eddie refused to admit that he still felt like he was missing something important. He didn't mention that sometimes he could almost feel another marker sitting above his arm but never writing anything.
The van door slammed shut as Eddie marched his way to the school. He felt Gareth grab his arm right before he slammed into Billy Hargrove.
"Careful," Hargrove growled at him as he walked.
Eddie had never been high enough in the social hierarchy for Hargrove to truly care about him. Every once in a while he was tormented but he was nothing more than a dealer. He was useful to the new king of Hawkins, as all the fucking sheep called Hargrove, but not important. The king saw him as nothing more than a peasant that he allowed to sit in his courtyard.
As ridiculous as he found it, Eddie had to admit that he earned the title. Hargrove tore the crown off of Harrington's head and effectively took away his status. By the end of the year Harrington had fallen to Eddie's level.
There had been moments where Eddie considered bringing Harrington into his fold. Sometimes Eddie would see him eating alone or when he quit the basketball team. Eddie got close to inviting him when Wheeler broke up with him at a Halloween party. He was close to bringing him to the lunch table so many times, but he knew Harrington held his status dear to his heart.
Eddie had noticed over the years that Hagan was the bully, Harrington just stood and let it happen. He'd even seen Harrington flinch a few times when Hagan started using slurs. Underneath all of the polo shirts and jerseys, Eddie knew a redeemable human was hidden inside Harrington.
"What an ass," Gareth muttered while pulling Eddie toward the school.
Eddie turned toward his friend, "At least he doesn't have his idiot underlings trailing behind him."
"Where are Patrick and Thompson? Normally they can't breathe without permission from Hargrove."
"Sir, may we please take a shit, please sir, please," Eddie said, in a bad British accent, dancing around.
Gareth laughed. They watched as Hargrove collected followers on his way into the building.
"Y'know Eddie, now that I think about it when you're DMing you might become Hargrove."
"It's not my fault I need to keep control of you heathens. If I were nice we would still be in the dragon cave."
"Yeah but you didn't have to kill me off," Gareth muttered.
Eddie knew he was still mad about that. He told them it was a cursed staff and they picked it up anyway. It was not his fault there were casualties.
As they walked they could hear Dustin yelling in the distance. He was telling them to wait while simultaneously saying bye to Harrington. As the kid ran over Eddie could see Lucas walking behind him. Eddie watched as Hargrove high fived Dustin and stopped Lucas.
Those kids had some magic ability to turn the biggest assholes into their best friends. Eddie had no idea how two of the kings would fall into the same group of nerdy kids. The first time Eddie could accept. Harrington wanted to change for Wheeler. He was trying to be a better boyfriend, but Hargrove was too much of a coincidence. Gareth was convinced they were in a secret cult. Jeff thought that Will was actually a wizard that took his power from dickheads. After watching Hargrove and Harrington change so drastically Eddie was prepared to believe both theories.
You think you'll pass this year?
Eddie read what his soulmate wrote on his calf with a grimace.
"What?" Gareth asked him.
"My soulmate wants to know if I'm getting a fancy piece of paper this year."
Gareth didn't respond, Eddie didn't expect him to. Eddie knew Gareth well enough to know he was already thinking of ways to get Eddie to graduate this year. Get out together, instead of abandoning Eddie in the school. Eddie didn't tell Gareth that if he didn't graduate this year he was done. There was no way Eddie was doing it again. Dustin would take care of Hellfire when he left. Eddie had only done it again this year to make Wayne happy.
Eddie pulled out a maker.
If you told me your name you could help me study.
Over the past few weeks Eddie and his soulmate had started to get to know each other. So far he had learned that they were both men, they liked the same music, and they both lived in Hawkins. Even though they could meet right now Eddie's soulmate wouldn't tell him his name. He knew that his soulmate didn't want to get caught with a guy but he didn't want to spend the rest of his life writing to someone he could talk to.
I wouldn't tell anyone.
That's not what I'm worried about.
Eddie capped his marker. One day Eddie would find out who he was. They would meet in person and the weird empty feeling Eddie sometimes felt would go away.