Hypotheticals

18-Pretty boy

It has been a week, since that rainy night in Steve's bed. It has been a very frustrating week, too. All they want to do is spend time with each other. Getting alone time was a rare occurance. Eddie finally felt good enough to go home and face his uncle, after a day or two. It went better than he thought. His uncle just spent less time talking to him. Not that his uncle and he had many conversations in the first place. 

To make up for 'lost' time, they would help each other find things in the storage closet, often. Eddie would call for Steve to remind him where to find the new box of thriller movies. Steve would bring the key to the storage room, and accidentally knock the door closed. Sometimes, they made out. Sometimes they just sat quiet, keeping each other company. 

They walk close to each other. If Steve is at the counter, Eddie might accidentally brush shoulers with him. Or maybe when they sat beside each other, their knees touch for longer than normal. Sometims Eddie will make jokes of Steve and push his chest or his shoulder. What just looks like banter, banter between friends, is much deeper and intimate underneath. 

Steve even started eating lunch with Eddie in the back of his van on the days he wasn't working in the morning. 

---

Eddie is curently sprawled out on Steve's bedroom floor, dying of boredom. He groans and flips his English textbook closed. moves down to the floor from his desk chair, facing Eddie. Eddie was tackling his English assignment that was due the next day. "Eddie c'mon, you need to get this done. I don't see why you only started yesterday." Steve shakes his head and Eddie smiles sheepishly. 

"I thought I had more time. Simple mistake, honestly." Steve grins, and takes the textbook. He flips it back open to the page Eddie had given up on. Eddie was tasked with writing a paper on topic from a short list provided, whatever that meant. Steve had been thinking of ways Eddie could write it, different layouts, introductions, etc. He starts reading the assignment requirements, according to the book. Of the topics, (What do you think we succeed in life, do you think we have reasons to live why or why not, do you believe we are destined with fate or chance) Eddie had chosen 'do you think we have reasons to live? why or why not?' without even reading the prompt. 

Eddie pays no attention to the words exiting his mouth. He watches the man speak. The way his brow furrows at a word or sentence that makes no sense. The way his eyes drift quickly across the page. Pretty boy, Eddie thought. 

"Eddie? Did you hear a word I just said?" A smile tugs at the corner of Steve's mouth. Eddie shakes his head, no, confidentally. Steve points to the paragraph he just read. And reads it again. He still doesn't get it. Steve grabs his notebook and a pen. 

"Here, I'll just-" He begins scribbling on the page. He writes out a few sentences. "You can start with something like this." He flips the book to face Eddie. It was a strong introduction to begin his paper. Eddie takes it and kisses Steve's forehead. He pries the pen from Steve's hand, and copies the introduction down. He continues writing, every few sentences he checks with Steve to make sure they are good and they fit. 

"Are we something?" Steve shifts on the spot, waiting for an answer. He fiddles with the hem of his shirt. Eddie doesn't look up to give a reply. "Huh?" He says, concentrating on the paper below him. Steve exhales. "Like, we spend all this time together, you know, but are we something? Does this mean we're something? Would you even want to be something, with me?" 

Eddie locks eyes with Steve. He looks nervous. "Steve, are you trying to ask me to be your boyfriend?" He grins. Steve stops to consider and contemplates the claim. Was he? "Eddie I think I'm trying to ask you to be my boyfriend." Steve's expression matches Eddie grin from earlier. Eddie, however, is now beaming. He surges forwards and tackles Steve to the ground with a hug. He kisses Steve all over his face in excitement. He puts his face close to Steve's ear. 

"I will gladly be your boyfriend, stupid." The two sit there, in each other's arms, on the floor. They sneak in a kiss here and there. Steve feels the flames licking at his insides, Eddie feels his body fight against the knots. The two are happy, right here and right now. Eddie thinks to himself that if he dies tomorrow, at least he got to be here with Steve. 

They hear the front door open, and the jingle of keys hitting a table. Steve shoots up. Eddie does the same, although slower. Steve gets up and heads to the door. Eddie expects him to kick him out, and he's just waiting for the right moment. Just deep down he thinks. Steve shouts out, greeting his parents. 

"Hey, ma, dad! I've got a- friend over, it's Eddie!" From the floor Eddie hears the sweet voice of his mother. his shoulders relax, as he recognizes that Steve is not going to kick him out. He locks the door and walks back over. He looks at Eddie, and Eddie looks at him. 

Wow, Steve thinks. He smiles, grateful. 

Pretty boy, Eddie thinks. he feels his heart ringing its self out. 

pretty boy. 

A/N i spent today planning the next like, 7 chapters, production might get a bit slow this week :/