Chapter Text
The bell above the door to the Family Video Store jingled, catching Steve’s attention from where he leaned over the register counter, flipping through a magazine. His eyes flicked up, an unamused scowl twitching his lips as his eyes rested on Eddie Munson.
“Robin’s home sick, Munson,” He supplied dully, turning his attention back to the magazine. Eddie had been coming in more and more recently, mostly to hang out with Robin, but Steve swore he was also doing it just to annoy him.
“Right, because I’m only allowed in here under her supervision,” Eddie said humorously, and another glance up at him revealed that irritating smirk paired with those deep brown eyes that always seemed to bore holes right through you. Steve gave a small shake of his head, once again busying himself with the magazine. “Oh, c’mon Harrington,” Eddie scoffed, leisurely walking around the store, fingertips grazing the tapes as he walked by. “We helped save the world together, and you still act like you barely know me.” Steve didn’t need to look up this time to see the ever-present smirk, instead he let out a huff.
“I do barely know you.” Another glance up, Eddie no longer looking at Steve but inspecting some of the horror movies. “I’ve seen more of you these past months than I did when we were saving the world. And ya know, at first I thought it was just because you and Robin are friends, but now I’m convinced it’s because you like bothering me.”
“And?” Eddie turned to catch Steve’s eyes, an infuriating smile twitching his lips. “What if I do? If you don’t want me coming around, maybe you shouldn’t be so fun to bother.” Eddie gave a quick raise of his eyebrows, before turning back to the tapes. “Besides. It’s not like you’re ever busy.”
“You are frequently in here when we’re busy. And that doesn’t stop you from pretending like you need to ask me a million questions while I’m trying to help actual paying customers. Speaking of which,” Steve fixed him with a look. “If you don’t plan on being one, why don’t you go bother Dustin instead. I’m sure he’d appreciate it a lot more than me.”
“Hey,” Eddie turned to Steve and put a hand over his heart, face and tone feigning offense. “I am browsing this fine establishment. How am I to know if any of your wares will catch my eye?” Steve stared flatly back at him, Eddie’s smile widening briefly. “Besides, Dustin and the rest of the little gremlins are busy. He’s got some broadcast date with Suzie, Lucas and Max are doing whatever soon-to-be-sophomores call a date, and the Wheeler kid– well, I’m sure you know the Wheeler kids are in California helping the Byers move back.” Eddie waggled his eyebrows at Steve, who groaned and rolled his eyes.
“Will you let that go? I told you, me and Nance just got a little caught up in the whole…” Steve flapped a hand around dismissively. “Saving the world. She’s still very much in love with Jonathan, hence why she’s in California right now.”
Eddie shrugged. “Whatever you say, man,” he didn’t sound convinced.
“So, your only friends besides Robin are… a bunch of sophomores? Aren’t you like, twenty dude?”
“Look who’s talking, Harrington, who last time I checked also only had kids as friends. Besides Robin, of course,” Eddie glanced him up and down. “And Ms. California-Boyfriend.” Steve made a face, unable to come up with a retort as it was, much to his chagrin, a fair point. “Plus, I do have other friends.”
“Right, right. The band,” Steve said disinterestedly, flipping the page of his magazine and trying to get distracted enough in whatever pointless celebrity gossip was in it to ignore Eddie. “Go bother them, then.” Two leather-clad forearms folded onto the counter in front of him, and looking up revealed Eddie leaning on the counter, chin in hand as he regarded Steve.
“Ya know, Stevie,” Steve grimaced at the nickname. “Robin is quite fond of both of us, and it would behoove us–” Steve mouthed the word ‘behoove’ with furrowed brows, but Eddie continued. “To get along. Neither of us are going anywhere.” Eddie looked around the Family Video Store, muttering more to himself than Steve “Clearly.” Steve watched as an unknown thought seemed to occupy Eddie’s mind, before just as quickly as it came it snapped away, the goofy demeanor back in firm place as his eyes fell onto Steve again. “Besides. We saved each other’s lives more than once, afterall.” With that, he knocked twice on the counter and pushed himself off, meandering his way to the door. “See ya, Harrington.” And with a lazy wave over his shoulder, the bell dinged once more as Eddie exited the video store. Steve’s eyes lingered where the boy had just stood for a moment before snapping out of whatever stupor he had fallen into.
+ + +
“I don’t understand why it’s so important that I come with you to some stupid party.” Steve groaned as he walked next to Robin. The party was miraculously within walking distance from Robin’s house, so Steve was leaving his car parked in her driveway, determined to at least not be stuck as designated driver. Especially since he didn’t even wanna go to this thing in the first place. “You said Munson was going, so you don’t even need me there anyway.”
“You realize how weird it is that I am convincing you, Steve Harrington, the value of partying and being social.” Robin lolled her head to one side, giving Steve an almost reprimansive look.
“Exactly. I’ve done enough partying to justify staying in for the rest of my life. So can I go home now?” Robin sighed, a surprisingly serious demeanor washing over her as she turned her attention forward, puzzling Steve. He furrowed his brows at her.
“Honestly, Steve, have you, though?” She looked back at Steve. “Since Will went missing and you got caught up in all that… shit? You definitely haven’t partied since I’ve known you.”
“Yeah, well. Partying doesn’t seem so important in light of other things.” Steve spoke quietly, focusing more on his shoes.
“My point exactly. I mean… Vecna’s been dead for a while. It’s time to loosen up just a little.” Robin clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You can take a break from being a babysitter.”
Steve let out a long exhale, shaking his head a bit. “I dunno, Robin. You couldn’t believe it was back after Starcourt, meanwhile I’ve been consistently surprised it’s been coming back since we killed the first round of demogorgons. I don’t think I know how to loosen up anymore.”
“You being on edge isn’t going to make it any less likely to come back, Steve,” Robin grabbed his sleeve and tugged him to a gentle stop. “It’s just gonna leave you more burnt out in the event it does come back. Keep your mind open to the possibility so you don’t overlook signs, sure, but going to one party isn’t going to determine whether or not some interdimensional demon tries to destroy Hawkins.”
Steve gave Robin a long, debating look. He knew she was right, but that didn’t make it any easier. He worried his bottom lip beneath his teeth, looking down the road where he could see people gathering around a house.
“Fine,” he said finally, resuming the walk once more, Robin in quick tow, a smile stretched onto her face. “But I’m leaving early and making Munson drive you home if it’s lame.”
“Deal, Harrington.”
As they reached the end of the driveway, synthy pop music warbled out from inside the multi-storied house, people milling about or filing in and out. It was already in full swing, the two arriving later due to having to convince Steve.
They were immediately met with a wall of muggy heat, the combined temperature of people dancing and drinking leaving the air thick and humid compared to the light chill on the summer night outside. Steve led them past the room where the music was loudest, filled with people dancing, and straight to the kitchen, brushing past other partygoers as they went. He’d never been to this house before, but it was easy enough to find all the alcohol, bottles and cans piled high on the large island in the middle of the kitchen.
Steve grabbed two solo cups, passing one to Robin as he began mixing them two drinks. He didn’t know much about drink making besides pouring alcohol in the bottom and enough soda or punch to make it tolerable, but Robin didn’t yack immediately upon sipping it, so he called it a win. Robin led them to the dance room, filing to the side where there was seating.
He and Robin took a seat on one of the couches, Steve starting on his drink. “See? Not so bad.” Robin commented, Steve shrugging. A party was a party. He wasn’t miserable, but he certainly didn’t have the same enthusiasm he used to about the things. Now just to get drunk enough to make Eddie Munson tolerable.
And, almost as if on cue, a figure walked up next to Steve. He looked up at Eddie, raising his eyebrows in the faintest motion of acknowledgement as he took a long sip of his drink.
“Eddie! You came.” Robin stood up to hug her friend, who returned it gladly, both of them careful not to spill their drinks. “Good. Maybe you can get Steve to loosen up.”
Eddie scoffed. “Not likely. I tend to have the opposite effect on him,” Eddie’s eyes fell to Steve. “Don’t I, Harrington.”
“You say that like it’s not your intention.” Steve said back flatly. Eddie smiled amusedly down at him, a teasing waggle of his eyebrows as he took a sip of his own drink. Steve took in his appearance, slightly different from usual. He ditched his leather jacket, but kept his usual denim vest, a tight band tee underneath. He still wore his usual chains and accessories, which Steve thought pointless functionally, but supposed it did make him look… decent. This wardrobe change showed off his unexpectedly sculpted arms, which had shocked Steve the first time he noticed; sometime during their time fighting Vecna. Eddie didn’t strike Steve as the kind of guy to care about working out, but evidently he did enough for his shirt to stretch tightly over his biceps and chest. Probably the kind of guy to buy shirts a size smaller. Steve thought bitterly as he drank more.
“I don’t think this grouch is gonna dance with me,” Robin commented, turning to Eddie. “Do me the honors?” Eddie smiled deeply, eyes beaming with that mischievous undertone Steve noticed was nearly ever-present.
“No, I’d be honored.” Eddie took her hand and led her to the dance floor, Steve watching over the brim of his cup as the two danced to the synthy beat that pounded through the speakers. He wasn’t really surprised Eddie could dance, considering he was a musician, but he was surprised he was good at dancing to things that weren’t heavy metal, or whatever it was he listened to. His long hair bounced around his face, which switched between goofy contortions to make Robin laugh, and a genuine smile when he would accomplish his goal of doing so. He even knew the words of the song, singing along gleefully with Robin as they bounced around on the dancefloor.
One song died down, being replaced by one Steve actually recognized, though he wouldn’t readily admit just how well. Lay All Your Love On Me by ABBA began pouring through the speaker, Steve absent-mindedly tapping his foot to the beat as he sipped and continued to watch the two dance. Eddie’s eyes drifted over to him then, Steve feeling the urge to look like he wasn’t watching them for some reason, promptly glancing around the room to attempt to convey that. But Eddie clearly had the goal of pestering Steve in mind, as he shot him a coyish look.
He danced the few steps needed to close the gap between him and where Steve sat, not giving Steve time to react as Eddie grabbed his free hand with his and tugged him off the couch.
“Munson, what are you doing? Let go of me,” Steve protested as he allowed himself to be yanked forward, as not to spill his drink. Robin smiled as he (forcibly) joined them on the dance floor.
“Giving Mr. Serious an excuse to dance,” Eddie beamed, still swaying in time to the music. He started singing the lyrics pointedly at Steve, Robin joining his attempt to get Steve to dance. Steve rolled his eyes with a sigh, but began swaying in a noncommittal way that could, technically, be considered dancing. This seemed to satisfy the two in front of him as they finally turned their attention from him, Eddie doing so with an encouraging wink that made Steve pause. He blinked a few times, not sure if he imagined the flip in his stomach, or simply misinterpreted the cause of it. Steve peered into his drink, nearly empty. He must have poured more than he thought.
As the song ended, Vickie, who Robin had a hopeless crush on when they were still in high school, came up and tapped her on the shoulder. Steve watched as excitement and fear flooded his best friend’s face, hiding his amusement in his drink, which he finished.
“Robin! I didn’t think you were gonna be here.” Vickie smiled, Robin sort of just staring at her for a moment. Steve not-so-covertly gave her a shove on the shoulder, kickstarting her to blutter out a few sounds before eventually finding a sentence.
“Oh, yeah, parties weren’t really my thing in high school. Thought I’d try some out before I… die.” She cleared her throat, Steve and Eddie sharing a confused look at her odd choice of words. Vickie didn’t seem to find it too weird, however, laughing a bit.
“Yeah, me too actually. Well, I mean, we were both in band.” Vickie breathed a laugh. “You get it.”
“Would you look at that, Munson,” Steve turned to Eddie, who raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m all out of alcohol. We should go fix that.” He clapped a hand on Eddie’s shoulder, ignoring Robin’s scared, pleading look. Sometimes you gotta throw a kid in the pool to teach ‘em how to swim. Steve thought smugly, reveling just a little bit in his friend’s panic.
“You’re absolutely right, Harrington. Vickie, good seeing you,” Eddie gave a little half-bow to Vickie, the two boys immediately walking away and ignoring their friend’s sounds of protest.
“Surprised you know how to be a wingman,” he commented as they made their way back into the kitchen. Eddie also began making himself another drink.
“Please,” Steve gave a snort. “I didn’t even date that much in high school. I don’t know why I have the reputation I do.”
“You don’t know why–” Eddie shook his head, dismissing his obvious contradiction to Steve’s words. “Nevermind that. Don’t act like it was by choice. I’m like, ninety-nine percent certain if you hadn’t been fighting monsters and Russians for most of your high school career, you would not be the little church boy you’re claiming yourself as.”
“And what about you, huh?” Steve said after sipping his new mixture, which he had made a tad too strong. “Bet you had the freaky chicks hangin’ off you.” A look Steve couldn’t quite place flashed over Eddie’s eyes. Almost a mixture of amusement and confusion and… analyzing? As if he were trying to figure something out about Steve just by looking at him.
“My experience in the ways of the heart are limited, Harrington. I’m surprised that wasn’t… glaringly obvious.” He had the intense stare in his eyes he always had, like he’s giving you a hundred percent of his attention even while you talk about something mundane. If there was one thing about Munson, Steve thought, it was that he always made you feel interesting. “I was head of the D&D club, for fuck’s sake.”
Steve shrugged. “Yeah, but that doesn’t really matter.” He leaned back against the counter behind him, crossing one arm and gesturing vaguely with his drink as his eyes fell absently on the other people talking in the kitchen. “You have a van, you smoke weed, you’re attractive, and a guitar player in a band–”
“Rewind, did you, Steve Harrington, just call me attractive?” Eddie’s smirk was more infuriating than ever, Steve’s face falling as he felt his face erupt into flames. He rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
“Oh, don’t make it a thing. You annoy the shit out of me but I’m not oblivious to what people find attractive. And obviously you know you’re good looking… so shut up.” He muttered that last part into his cup before taking a long sip.
The smirk on Eddie’s face had stretched into a smug grin. “Well, I actually didn’t know. But thank you for voicing your opinion of me,” he teased, earning a death glare from Steve. Eddie seemed to look around the kitchen, eyes falling on an open backdoor that led to a backyard, where more people could be seen hanging around. “I’m gonna smoke a cig, wanna join?”
“I don't have any on me.” Steve supplied, Eddie rolling his eyes.
“Okay, let me rephrase. I’m asking if you’d rather stand awkwardly alone here, or awkwardly next to me while I smoke, and give you one if you’re nice.”
“I’m not standing awkwardly,” Steve grumbled defensively. Eddie raised his eyebrows expectantly. “Fine. After you, Munson.”
Eddie led the way outside, and immediately Steve welcomed the cool breeze that pricked up the hairs on his arms and chilled the mugginess from inside right off. There were less people out here, most of whom were smoking, and by the smell it was a mixture of cigarette smokers and weed smokers. The music could still be heard from inside, but muffled, allowing for conversation to flow easier. Eddie leaned against the house, holding out his cup to Steve.
“Be a dear and hold that for a sec.” As Steve obliged Eddie took out a carton of Marlboro reds, plucking one from the middle and perching it between his lips. He raised an eyebrow at Steve. “Want one?”
Steve looked at the cigarettes in Eddie’s hand, contemplating. “Yeah. Thanks.” Eddie held the cigarette up, filter end first, toward Steve. His hands still full holding their drinks, he took it between his lips, quirking his eyebrows up in a gesture of thanks. Eddie lit Steve’s cigarette first before getting his own, then tucked the lighter and carton away in his pocket.
“I’m surprised you’re here, honestly.” Steve said idly through the corner of his mouth, passing off Eddie’s drink and pulling the cig away from his lips. He blew out a puff of smoke. “Didn’t peg you as someone who had a good time singing pop songs in a room full of drunken strangers.”
“Why? Because I was a nerd in high school?” Eddie quipped, letting out a puff of his own. Steve seemed to debate this.
“Well, yeah, actually,” he said honestly.
“Nerds party too, as our dearest Robin has proven.” He took a long pull from the cigarette, a plume billowing out into the air in front of them.
“Oh, no. I thought you partied. I just thought they were… different parties. Ya know, trailer parks and grunge music instead of graduated cheerleaders and ABBA,” Steve clarified.
“Those are, admittedly, most of the parties I’ve been to. But not because I didn’t think these would be fun. Your kind just never invited me to these.” Eddie raised his eyebrows pointedly at Steve.
“My kind,” Steve repeated with a light hearted roll of his eyes. “Guess it doesn’t matter so much now that we’re graduated? Considering you got an invite to this one.”
“Apparently so,” Eddie punctuated this with another puff of smoke. “What about you?” Steve furrowed his brows.
“What about me?” said with an exhale of smoke.
“This scene is the kind of place I expected you to be thriving. Natural habitat,” Eddie smirked. “So, why so gloomy?” Steve inspected Eddie, trying to discern if he was actually asking or just trying to annoy Steve. But Eddie’s eyes were earnest as he waited for a reply, smoking through more of his cigarette. Steve sighed, looking out upon the backyard and watching the groups of people laughing and conversing amongst themselves. He smoked more before answering.
“Partying has sort of… lost its charm, I guess. All things considered,” Steve took a long sip of his drink, hyper aware of Eddie’s endless eyes bored into the side of his face. For some reason it made him squirm. He’d never found Eddie intimidating before, and even now that wasn’t the right word, but over their time killing Vecna Steve learned he’s the kind of guy who really sees what’s going on. He pays attention. And Steve wasn’t used to someone paying so close attention to him. Not in any real way.
“I guess I can understand that.” Eddie said, surprisingly serious for once. “Suppose for me, being a recluse lost its charm.” There was a small pause, Eddie no longer looking at Steve but somewhere in the distance ahead, before he added “There were… a lot of times I thought I was going to die. Times I thought most of us were going to die. Guess I realized life’s not really worth it without people, and I didn’t want mine to end before I got some people in it that I cared about. Really cared about. Not just high school bandmates, or whatever. As great as they are, besides our shared interest we don’t have much tying us together, ya know?”
Steve did know. He knew plenty of people, sure. Teammates, other “popular” students from school that he associated with because… well, because he felt like it was the thing to do. But it wasn’t until Nancy, Robin, and the kids that he really cared about people and whether or not they stayed in his life. That he wanted to do things for people, and not because of what he got out of it.
“Yeah. I know.” They smoked in silence for a moment, Steve watching Eddie from the corner of his eye, and he had to admit to himself that over the group’s time killing Vecna, he’d come to consider Eddie someone he, at the very least, detested the idea of him dying. In fact, one of the scariest moments throughout the entire ordeal was when he thought they’d lost Eddie. Vecna had him in his grasp, tentacles strangling him as Eddie hovered high above the ground. Steve had sworn Eddie had been right next to him, and then the next second he was hoisted in the air, clawing feebially at the vines as his face contorted, choked noises scraping to escape his mouth.
Steve hadn’t known he was running until he was at Vecna, chopping the tentacles off in one swift motion, Eddie’s body dropping to the ground. Vecna had tried to get Steve in that moment of course, but Robin, Nancy, and Lucas had successfully fought him off enough for Steve to pull Eddie behind some cover.
”Munson? Eddie, look at me,” Steve lightly patted Eddie’s cheek, tugging the long haired boy’s attention to him as he crouched over his slouched form. Fear was the only thing in his wide, brown eyes, and it was jarring to see a guy who carried himself with such confidence look so small. ”You’re okay, hey–” Steve put his hands on Eddie’s shoulders, forcing him to hold his gaze as panicked, scratchy breaths poured out of the boy below him. “You’re fine. You’re here.”
Eddie hadn’t said anything right away. Just tugged Steve down into a crushing hug, hands fisting in Steve’s clothes. And Steve had hugged him back just as tightly. He had thanked him properly later, when it was all said and done and it was just the two of them awake in the Wheeler’s basement.
“Jeez, you really do think I’m attractive,” Eddie’s words dragged Steve back to the moment, and he realized he had been staring at Eddie for a considerable time now, a smirk on his face and cigarette discarded in a nearby ashtray on the porch railing. Heat flooded Steve’s face for the second time that night as he snapped his eyes away, a scowl crossing his face in an attempt to hide his embarrassment.
“Shut up. I was just lost in thought,” he muttered as he took a long drink. He’d drunk enough now for his head to feel fuzzy and body warm, but not enough to numb his self consciousness entirely.
“Yeah, lost in thoughts about how hot I am,” Eddie teased, a satisfied grin crossing his face as Steve shot him a look.
“God, you’re insufferable,” Steve sighed out smoke.
“Oh, c’mon. You secretly love it,” Eddie bumped his shoulder against Steve, then looked into Steve’s nearly empty cup, then his own. “Here, finish mine. I should start sobering up to drive.” Steve threw back the rest of his drink before stacking Eddie’s cup in his, and taking a sip.
“Trying to get me drunk, Munson?” Steve arched a brow at the accused, who was watching him with an odd smile.
“Think you’re doing a good enough job of that yourself, Harrington,” Eddie retorted smoothly, and the silence that followed lingered just a bit thicker than usual as they regarded each other, Steve finding himself momentarily distracted by the look in the other’s eyes. A feeling Steve couldn’t pinpoint flooded him, as if he were suddenly a million times drunker, and then confusion. For a second, he even considered his drink being spiked, but he’d pourn his own drinks and knew Eddie wouldn’t do that. Plus, he watched Eddie mix the drink he was now drinking. He cleared his throat and shook his head again, breaking the abnormally long eye contact they had been holding and putting the rest of the cigarette out in the ashtray.
The two of them joined Robin and Vickie again, Steve getting considerably drunker throughout the rest of the party than he had intended, but by the end of it he was thoroughly enjoying himself. So much so he didn’t think twice about how close he was sitting to Eddie on the couch, or the fact that Eddie’s arm was slung over the back of it and all he’d have to do is tip his head back to be– for all intents and purposes– in his arms.
“You’re seriously telling me that you think Mike Myers would beat Freddy Krueger in a fight?” Eddie looked at Steve in disbelief, Steve laughing.
“That guy is tenacious, man. Give me one reason why he wouldn’t,” Steve challenged, looking hazily at Eddie through lidded eyes. He smiled wider at the way Eddie was watching him intently, big brown eyes only focused on him as an amused smile hung on his lips. Steve didn’t realize until this moment how close they really were, knees brushing and heads tilted toward one another so they could be heard over the music. He blamed the buzzing inside him on the copious amount of booze that he’d consumed.
“I can give you, like, a million,” Eddie chuckled, as if the argument was too easy. “For one, Mike Myers is just some dude. Freddy lives in your fuckin’ nightmares. All he’d have to do is wait for Myers to sleep and he’d have no chance! Plus, you can’t hurt Freddy unless you drag him into the real world, which is incredibly hard to do.”
“But– but consider this…” Steve held up a pointer finger, leaning a fraction of an inch closer and twisting his torso to face Eddie more. “Mike has a scarier mask.” Eddie furrowed his brows at Steve before bursting out into laughter.
“Okay… putting aside the fact Freddy doesn’t need a mask to be scary… how does that mean Mike can kill him?” Steve looked away, considering Eddie’s words before laughing almost groggily to himself.
“I guess it doesn’t. You win, Munson,” Steve patted Eddie’s knee, leaving his hand to rest there without really taking much notice that he did so. “Let’s revisit this argument when I’m sober. Then I’ll get ya.” Eddie didn’t respond right away, looking at Steve as if he said something wildly confusing, which puzzled Steve because he didn’t think he had. Though it was getting harder to remember what they were talking about.
“Speaking of which, I think it’s time I get you kids home,” Eddie leaned around Steve to interject into Robin and Vickie’s conversation. “Hey, Vickie, you need a ride? I was gonna take Robin and Steve home.”
“Oh, yeah actually. I came here with someone, but I saw him go upstairs with some girl a while ago and haven’t seen him since,” she gave him a genuine smile. “Thanks, Eddie.”
“You still wanna spend the night at mine?” Robin asked, and even in Steve’s deeply inebriated state he saw the blush rush to Vickie’s face.
“Uh, y-yeah. If that’s still– I mean if you’re still cool with it?” Steve and Eddie shared a knowing look at this.
“Y-yeah! I’m cool with it!” Robin said eagerly, her face lighting up before she seemingly realized how she sounded and cleared her throat.
Steve leaned in close to Eddie, whispering “It’s like watching two science experiments learning to hold a conversation.” Eddie chuckled at this, playfully hitting Steve on the arm before standing up. He caught Steve off guard by pulling him up quickly by the wrists, letting go too fast for Steve to get his bearings and causing him to stumble forward into Eddie’s chest, his forearms the only thing in between them.
Eddie chuckled. “Easy there, Harrington. I know we’ve established you think I’m irresistible, but we’re in public.” His voice was low and resonated between them, their noses barely an inch apart, and it pulled a giggle from Steve, of all things.
“You wish, Munson,” he pushed himself off of Eddie with a roll of his eyes. He noticed Robin giving him an odd look, but whatever she was thinking she decided not to voice it as the four made their way through the house and to Eddie’s van on the street.
They dropped the girls off first, saying their goodbyes as they filed out of the back of the van, and leaned on each other as they walked up Robin’s driveway.
“They grow up so fast,” Eddie cooed, clasping his hands over his chest like a dramatic mother. Steve smiled as he watched to make sure his friends got in. Once they disappeared inside, Eddie began to pull out of the driveway and Steve began giving him directions to his house.
The drive wasn’t long, the cool night air filling the van from the open windows, a peaceful silence blanketing the boys besides one of Eddie’s cassettes playing on low volume.
“Your humble abode, Harrington,” Eddie gestured to the not-so-humble two-story house that Steve called home.
“Thanks for the ride, man. And for somehow making the party more tolerable,” Steve gave Eddie a teasing look. Eddie pulled a face of mock offense, but his face quickly crumbled into that familiar fun-loving smile.
“Try not to miss me too much,” he grinned, earning an eye roll from Steve, but this time a smile was unable to leave his own face.
“Yeah, yeah. I regret this night already,” Steve opened his door and hopped out, stopping briefly to put a hand on the driver side door, peering in the window slightly. “Night, Munson.” He gave the van two pats before making his way up his driveway, swaying slightly as he was still reasonably drunk. When he got his door opened he turned over his shoulder to see Eddie still in the driveway, presumably waiting until he got in as well. He gave a small wave before disappearing into his house, and making his way as quietly as he could to his room.
When he flopped back onto his bed he found himself replaying a lot of the night in his head, which consisted entirely of Eddie as they had been nearly glued to each other’s side the whole night. He drifted off to sleep with a faint smile on his face.