A Crack In The Glass (steddie with some Rickie)

23

A/n: thanks you guys for 2k!! This is the most reads I've gotten in a while so thanks y'all!! Love you all, keep your eyes out for new steddie content on the first of August.

The night went on, Jonathan and Will showed up a bit later. And as the night got later, that meant the slow dance songs were to come on. El Had been in the bathroom throwing up, she’d gotten sick at some point. So that left mike to stand by the punch bowl like all the other losers without dates.

He rested against the wall, he’d talked to everyone he knew at the dance, and everyone all was too busy with their dates to really care. Will was in the crowd, just standing awkwardly and alone.

‘Every breath you take’ by the police began to play as Mike sughed. He watched as guys pulled in their dates and almost in sync, put their hands on their waists.

Will finally made eye contact with Mike, making him blink a couple times.

Mike thought back to the snowball, as he looked away with tears in his eyes. He questioned what it would've been like if he’d accepted that dance, even jokingly. Somehow, maybe, just maybe, it would've changed the fact that the Byers moved. Maybe, it would've done something different for them. Maybe they’d still be in the same DnD party.

And maybe, Mike would love him the same way will loved mike. Or maybe, he would just express love better, in general. Mike left the room, pushing through bodies pressed together. He just

Ran.

Is this how Eddie felt?

VUlnerable, weak,

Stupid?

He didnt feel stupid because of will byers, he felt stupid that he just left so abruptly.

There was just so much in such little time running through his mind, nothing was enough for him to process.

Will did not follow through. He didn't bother. He just went and sat on some empty bleachers.

Steve seemed just about  upset, Eddie could tell from his silence as he stared at the crowd who were all indulged in themselves. Eddie could see Steve's hands shaking and a scowl grown on his face.

“Dances are overrated.” Eddie said, in hopes to make steve feel better. Steve excused himself, turning in his heel speed-walking out of the dance.

“Steve, hey! Hey.” Eddie shouted, following Steve into the school bathroom. Steve slid down the wall, eyes misty for the second time that night. This time was not of joy, it was of fear, frustration and anger. Some had already fallen down his face, leaving shiny streams of salty tears down his cheeks and a red-tipped nose. “Are you ok?”

“J-just needed some fresh air.” Steve said, voice weak and wobbly as he glanced up at his caring boyfriend. Eddie softly knelt in front of him, lifting his head and looking Steve in the eyes.

“Hey, what's wrong?” Steve sniffled as another tear fell. “I thought you were having fun?”

“Why can't we be happy like all of them are?” Steve whines, looking up at eddie. eddie sat down next to him, resting an arm on his knee. “I just want to be able to hug you, kiss you, dance with you, I wanna be able to do everything that all straight couples can!” Steve said, leaning over and resting his head on Eddie's shoulder. “I don't want to be ostracized for loving someone..”

“Who said we can’t do all that?” Eddie asked comfortingly, wrapping an arm around Steve's shoulder. Steve grabbed his hand and sniffled again.

“Societal norms and ms. kelly..” Steve replies.

“No, she said she didn't want to see it. Steve, we don't have to tell the entire world we are dating so we can say we love each other.” eddie corrects. “No one has to know we love each other for it to be true.”

Eddie stood quickly, offering out a hand. Steve slowly took it, Eddie pulled him to his feet with ease, as the sound of ‘Take My Breath Away’ by Berlin echoed out of the gym turned into a dance hall for the night and into the bathroom, bouncing off the white tiles. 

Eddie rested one of his hands in steves with the other on his shoulder, steve's hand on his waist. “You want me to be honest, I was never taught how to slow dance, so if I step on your feet I'm terribly sorry.” Eddie said, and Steve laughed. He leaned close to eddie.

“To be honest, neither was I, “ he replied. Eddie chuckled softly, as they slowly swayed in the solitary bathroom. It wasn't how Eddie had thought they'd be spending this dance, but nevertheless it's how it was; this was still so much better then what Eddie had wanted.

“I think this is better than dancing in a hot gym with a bunch of horny straight couples.” Steve said, locking eyes with eddie. He laughed.

“Makes sense.” Steve shut his eyes and just let himself be danced into oblivion with the only thing that mattered in that moment. Them.

It wasn't selfish or greedy of Steve to think of no one but him for once. This time, it was allowed. In fact, it's what was wanted. Because for once it felt like it was only them. Only them at the top of the world, no one to tell them what they can and can't do. Just. them.

Fin.