The Boy Next Door - Steddie

5

Steve held it together for a week and that was a good record. Eddie would occasionally sit with him at lunch a long with Nancy and Robin. The conversations were simple for the most part nothing out of the ordinary. Steve still felt a weird sensation in his stomach when Eddie was around, at first he thought it was because he didn't know him at the time but that wasn't the case anymore.

Eddie started to hang out with different groups of people and everyone really enjoyed his presence. They would obsess over his fashion even though it was a daring choice in Hawkins to wear. Steve wasn't surprised that he was a social butterfly it suited him nicely.

The main reason Steve was trying to keep it together was because throughout the entire week Eddie was talking to Chrissy Cunningham every second of the day.

"I don't get it, how did they become so close already." Steve said with his face scrunched as he looked at the pair laughing at a different table.

"Maybe they like each other?" Nancy titled her head in thought. She imagined them together and they would look cute. Steve huffed at the thought.

"Isn't she dating Jason?" Robin asked while leaning over so only Nancy could hear. Nancy shrugged since she didn't know what their relationship was at this point. They were always off and on every few months. "Well if they're not then good for her. He's a asshole."

"He might be but she haven't broke up with him. So technically she's still taken." Steve mumbled under his breath not really carrying about how rude it sounds. Robin gave him a slap on the shoulder. "What? I'm just saying I wouldn't want a friend to go through that."

"Ok I get your point and honestly for all we know their just friends. Let's not assume anything." Robin said putting an end to the topic. She was right, assuming anything wasn't a good thing to do especially when it's someone you're getting to know.

Eddie made his way back to the table after a few minutes. Everyone was silent and he started to feel like it was because of something he's done.

"What's wrong with you guys? I was only gone for a few minutes." Eddie joked. Steve couldn't tell if Eddie purposely hid any emotion that wasn't happy or was that just him.

"We were just talking about school, which reminds me that since it's Friday. We should have a sleepover." Nancy smiled at all them and was filled with excitement. Their faces looked at her with confusion and she sighed deeply. "Come on guys it would be fun and we could learn more about each other."

"As much as I love that idea I can't do it this weekend, my parents are forcing me to spend quality time with them." Robin said with disgust. She's never really had a good relationship with her parents and she refuse to tell anyone exactly why.

"Yeah I cant either. I have some plans with Chrissy and her friends later." Eddie said casually as he leaned back in his chair.

"I'm going to be practicing for the basketball game coming up." Steve added. He could see Eddie lean up in his chair from the corner of his eye.

"I didn't know you were an athlete, Harrington." Eddie had that smirk on his face and crossed his arms. It was obvious that this peaked his interest very much. Steve only nodded in response since his words was not able to come out. "That explains a lot." Eddie mumbled as he eyed Steve subtlety.

"Maybe next time I guess." Nancy softly smiled. Steve knew that Nancy was trying her best and one day he'd show her that she's doing an amazing job. Some part of him still have love for her in his heart, he was only hurting himself at the end of the day.

-

Steve stayed in his room for the rest of the day after school. His parents asked if something bad happened at school because he always sit in the living room with them when he gets home. Being alone was all he wanted right now and he hated being alone.

He stared at the ceiling for hours trying to find answer to everything he didn't understand this week. The same questions he had was left out in the open with no solution Steve could come up with.

From his bed he could hear music blasting from next door. Steve swore that he would never look into Eddie's room again since they were close now. He glanced over at the window just for a quick second.

Steve's eyes widened when he saw group of girls dancing in front of Eddie's window, one of them were Chrissy. She looked completely different than she did in school her hair was no longer in a ponytail. He recognized most of the girls were on the cheerleading team and they were passing something around to each other.

Steve saw Eddie whisper something into Chrissy's ear before handing her an item that Steve couldn't identify at this distance. They stood there for a minute before sitting down on Eddie's bed. Steve couldn't see anything else from this angle they were out of his sight.

"What could they possibly be doing in there?" Steve had images flash in his mind that were not pleasant in the slightest. He closed his curtains to avoid seeing anything else for the rest of the evening.

Steve knew that he was being foolish and he didn't know why cared so much. Of course Eddie was going to talk to other people, majority would be girls. Steve laid in his bed staring back up at the ceiling.

His questions were still unanswered.

-

Bare with me it gets better I promise!! Thank y'all for reading 🥰