eddie, let me help. | steddie

Stubborn - Three

         "Henderson, do you uhm - have Munson's number?" I asked him, while he was busy looking for a movie to watch with Max and Lucas. "Yeah. Do you have any sexy sci-fi movies?" He shuffled through the alien section.

         "You are not watching alien boobies, nice try," I said.

         "Isn't it your job to help the customer?"

         "Yes, but I don't get paid enough to do my job." I rolled my eyes. "And can you give me Eddie's number?"

        "And why do you need it, Steve?" He looked at me weirdly.

       "So I can talk to him. As a friend. Plus, he's kind of mad at me right now, and I don't know if he wants to see me." I was about to get on my hands and knees for this phone number.

       "Okay. I'll give you Eddie's number if you show me where the sexy alien movies are." Dustin compromised while Max rolled her eyes.

       "Alrighty. Follow me."

      As soon as I got home from work, I ran to the telephone and put in the number Henderson gave me. Please pick it up. Please pick it up.

      "Who is this?" A raspy voice asked from the other line.

      "Hey, Eddie, it's Steve. Can we talk?" I felt so bad for leaving him yesterday. I mean, he did want me to leave, but he had like - no idea what of what was happening to him. He needed someone with him. And it's not like he had his uncle there anymore. Eddie told me he hadn't seen him since he got back.

       "Who gave you my number?" He questioned. He seemed like he was hesitant to talk to me.

       "Dustin. If you don't want to talk to me - that's fine. Just-" He didn't let me finish.

       "Look, Harrington, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lashed out at you like I did. I'm just... I don't know, scared? With this whole Vecna thing."

       "No, no, I shouldn't have left. Can I come over?" I pleaded. "You know, if something happened to you, I'd wanna be there."

       The line was quiet for a second. "Fine." He hung up. Really? That's it?

 
        I got to his house around ten, since Munson lived so far away from me. I barely had time to knock on the door before it swung open and revealed a sick-looking Eddie. "Come in." He told me, voice as raspy as ever.

      I did as he said, and we walked into his room; I threw myself onto his mattress.

     "Are you okay? You seem a little sick." I asked. "Yeah, fine. Just a headache."

     I wasn't buying it. I put my hand on his forehead. It wasn't hot this time, and it was just - freezing? That's not normal, is it?

     "Yes, I'm fucking sure, Harrington." He half-yelled at me. I didn't say anything back. "I'm sorry! I don't know why I said that."

      I raised an eyebrow. What is going on with him? "It's fine. But you're sick, and cold as hell. You should try taking a hot bath and seeing how you feel afterward." I said.

      "Okay, Doctor Harrington, I'll take your dumb advice," Eddie stated. "Right. You get some fresh clothes, and I'll go run you a bath."

       I didn't want the water to be burning hot, but it needed to be hot enough to get his temperature up. I felt the water after a few minutes of trying to get it just right.

      This should be okay. I turned the faucet off and left the bathroom. "Munson! Go ahead and get in!"

       I heard a mumbled okay and then some loud falling noises coming from the bedroom. I chuckled.