To Hell and Back Again

Chapter Twenty

Eddie woke up in bed alone, Steve was nowhere to be seen. He sat up and groaned as he rubbed his head. It felt like his brain was melting and leaking out his ears. He stood up and walked over to the closet to get clothes on. Struggling to put the jeans on and read at the same time, he spotted a note on the dresser as he put a new pair of jeans on.
Meet me at Skull Rock, Vampire Boy. Be there or be square.
A little heart was drawn under Steve's signature and a small white flower was sitting next to the note. Eddie smiled and grabbed the note, folding it and sticking it in his pocket. He grabbed a shirt out of the closet and put it on. Eddie practically skipped down the stairs in excitement after reading the note. Vampire Boy? Eddie thought to himself as I smile creeped out of his lips. He walked into the kitchen to grab a piece of toast for the bike ride to Skull Rock. Eddie put the piece of toast in his mouth then sprinted to the door and closed it behind him.

Eddie got off his bike, letting it fall to the ground with a clink noise. He walked up to the massive rock and looked around. He spotted Steve's car not too far away from the rock. He walked over and looked at the car, a note was tapped to the hood.
Head into the woods. There's a trail for you to follow. Don't get lost, Munson. I'm waiting for you.
Eddie smiled at the note and folded it up to stick in his pocket. He walked around Steve's car and into the woods. There was a trail of white flowers, the same as the one on the dresser, leading into the woods. They were obviously picked and placed in the trail but the stems were stuck into the ground to look like they were growing that way. Eddie followed the trail then saw another note taped onto a tree a couple feet ahead of him.
Walk west towards the shore. I'll be waiting for you there.
Eddie rolled his eyes and started to go what he could only assume was west by the trail of flowers leading him in that direction. He turned around and quickly ran back to the tree, ripping the note off and putting it in his pocket. He saw Steve standing on the shore of the lake. There was a makeshift picnic basket, it was just a backpack, and a large blanket. Candles were spread all over the beach although it was 10am and there was no point for candles. Steve turned to look at Eddie who was staring at the setup confused. Steve smiled and approached Eddie. "Hi, baby." He leaned in and kissed Eddie. Eddie smiled at affectionate Steve, suddenly spontaneous Steve.
"What's all this for?" Eddie smiled leaning into Steve's kisses.
"I just wanted a date. A simple date..." He took Eddie's hand and kissed the top of them. Eddie felt himself getting red.
"Well I-" Both their heads turned as they heard a loud booming crash from the trees behind them. Steve spotted Dustin standing behind a tree wide eyed. He put his hand on Eddie's face and made him look forward. Steve's eyes scanned the trees as Eddie talked about his journey here. Steve's eyes landed on Robin who was not too far away from Dustin, also behind a tree. She had her head peaking out of a pile of brush. Steve furrowed his eyebrows then looked back at Eddie. "W-what is it?" Eddie went to turn around and Steve grabbed his lower back and dipped him down like they were salsa dancing. Eddie hung from Steve's arm and smiled up at him. "Harrington, what is going on?" Eddie held tightly onto Steve's hand to insure he wouldn't drop him into the grass.
"Just a simple date. That's all I ask for." He said loud enough so the two hidden in the woods would hear him. He pulled Eddie up and kissed him gently. Dustin made a sour face and looked over at Robin who's eyes were fixed on Dustin already. She was mouthing angrily in his direction which he could only assume was because he almost blew their cover. Steve took Eddie's hand and lead him over to the blanket he had laid out on the shore. It was far enough from the water that they could sit and not get wet but it was close enough that they could smell the fresh water. Steve pulled open the backpack and grabbed out a beer for Eddie. Eddie smiled and looked around the small secluded area they were in.
"You're not gonna kill me right?" He asked realizing that they were unseeable from skull rock. Steve smiled and shook his head.
"Why would I put this much effort into killing you?" He smiled and cracked open his beer and took a drink.
"I don't know... I just didn't expect you to-"
"Ed. Shut up." He put a hand on Eddie's thigh as they sat towards the water. Eddie pulled his legs up to his chest and took a drink. "Maybe... I just want to get drunk with you while sitting and watching the water." He admired all the small details on Eddie's face. The creases under his eyes when he smiled, the soft freckles that were slightly there on his skin. His eyes met Eddie's. Oh how Steve loved Eddie's eyes, the soft brown color that was almost black. They were complemented by a thick layer of eyelashes. Steve especially loved how when Eddie would reach up and take a piece of his hair and fiddle with it in his fingers, like he was doing now.
"Yeah... maybe." Eddie smiled and leaned his head onto Steve's shoulder. He reached into his pocket and fiddled with the small silver ring he had gotten from Wayne a couple weeks ago. He pulled it out of his pocket and held it by his side, playing with it in his hand.
"Oh shit." Robin whispered watching Eddie's hand by his side. Steve reached into the backpack and grabbed a small box and slid it into his pocket. He watched Eddie take a deep breath and breath in the watery air.
"Hey, Ed." Steve elbowed Eddie's shoulder so Eddie would look at him. Steve leaned in and kissed Eddie. "I'm sorry about everything. I'm sorry about how I've been the last couple weeks. It's been a lot, you know? The whole my boyfriend is dead thing."
"Steve, it's okay. And I'm not dead anymore so that's a plus side." He smiled and moved over so their hips were touching.
"Well, you know what I mean." Steve looked down at Eddie who was slightly shorter than him. Steve intertwined his fingers with Eddie's and kissed the top of his hand. "Can I have this?" He said rubbing his finger over one of Eddie's rings. It was a small silver skull that was by itself on his ring finger.
"What? My skull ring? Why?" He watched as Steve pulled the ring off his finger and put it on his own. "That's one of my favorite rings," Eddie tried to snatch it back but Steve moved his hand away.
"Well too damn bad." Steve laughed shoved Eddie with his hip. "I guess you'll have to pick a new favorite ring." He leaned in and kissed Eddie. Eddie put his hands on the sides of Steve's face and kissed him back. "I love you, Ed." He whispered to Eddie in between kisses. Eddie smiled and pushed his body against Steve's.
"I love you too." He leaned into Steve and knocked him to the ground. "Shit!" He yelled as he felt on top of Steve. They both laughed as they laid on the ground. Steve's eyes shifted over to where Eddie was sitting and saw the small silver ring on the blanket. He smiled back up at Eddie and left a small kiss on his cheek. "Sorry, Lover boy." He said sitting up and grabbing Steve's hand to pull him back up.
"Okay... I actually brought you here to ask you something." Steve cleared his throat and reached into his pocket.
"Hold on. You have a leaf in your hair." Eddie reached up and pulled a small leaf out of the side of Steve's hair. He frowned and flicked the leaf away from the blanket. "Okay sorry. Continue." Eddie sat back and crossed his legs so he was facing Steve.
"Okay... Um Ed," Steve cleared his throat again. "I just wanted to ask you if you... well... you know not right away because we can't. I don't know how to say it..." Steve nervously laughed and looked at Robin and Dustin who were still hidden in the trees. Robin gestured with her hands as if to say get on with it, Dingus.
"Steve... it's okay." Eddie reached forward and put his hand on Steve's knee. Steve half smiled and stood up. He started jumping up and down and shaking his hands around. "What the hell are you doing?" Eddie watched Steve and let out a stifled laugh.
"I'm trying to get less nervous. Shut up and let me do my thing." Steve continued to jump up and down and shake his hands out. He stopped and took a deep breath then started talking to himself quietly. "Okay..." he turned to Eddie and got down on one knee just like him and Robin had practiced. Robin smiled and grabbed the camera she was hiding in her backpack making sure to capture the moment. Dustin whipped his head around and stared at Robin with wide eyes because Robin and Steve decided it was best to not tell him their plan. Steve reached forward and started tying his shoe lace to cover up what he was doing. "Ed, we haven't know each other for very long. But I knew from the moment you held that broken bottle up to neck at Reefer Ricks house that there was something between us. Whether it was hate or something more, I liked you Eddie. I couldn't tell anyone of course because I was supposed to be... Harrington." Steve shrugged and finished tying his shoe. He looked up at Eddie who was smiling ear to ear. A light blush covered his cheeks. "I was in love with you then... and I'm in love with you more than ever now. So Eddie Munson..." Steve reached into his pocket and pulled out the small box, "I got you your new favorite ring." Eddie's eyes shifted from Steve's gaze to the ring then to his fingers where he noticed Steve had taken the ring off his ring finger. "Will you marry me? Illegally of course." Eddie smiled and nodded not being able to say anything. Steve took Eddie's hand and slid the ring onto his finger to replace the other one. Eddie wrapped his arms around Steve's neck.
"I thought you said you weren't ready." Eddie pushed his face into Steve's neck.
"A lot has been happening recently and it just feels right. It feels right to know you'll be by my side for ever. You know just in case-" Steve was interrupted by Dustin ripping through the bushes. Both Eddie and Steve looked over to see Dustin with his jaw practically touching the ground.
"Are you kidding me?" Dustin squeaked as he gestured towards Eddie. "It's your turn!" Steve looked at Eddie confused as Eddie reached behind him and grabbed Wayne's ring off the blanket.
"I was going to ask you." Eddie held the ring out for Steve to take. "It was Wayne's." He beamed up at Steve who was shocked. He took the ring out of Eddie's hand and put it next to his promise ring on his finger.
"Eddie..." Steve laughed and put his hands on the side of Eddie's face. "Damn it!" He kissed Eddie then his eyes went to tears. Instead of saying anything he wrapped his arms around Eddie and hugged him.
"I got it all on tape!" Robin smiled walking out of the bushes.
"You had them follow us?" Eddie laughed as Steve soaked his shirt with tears. Steve looked up and wiped off his eyes. He nodded and laughed a little bit.
"Yeah and they should leave because I'm about to play Like A Virgin." Steve looked back at Eddie and big his lip slightly. He grabbed Eddie's shoulders and pushed him back onto the blanket.
"Gross." Dustin started walking back to Skull Rock where they hid their bikes. Robin quickly followed behind. Eddie looked up at Steve and smiled. He grabbed the sides of Steve's face then coughed slightly.
"Are you okay?" Steve questioned as he took Eddie's hands in his.
"Yeah I'm fi-" He coughed again as he turned on his side. He sat up on his elbow and coughed heavily to the side. He put a hand up to his mouth and pulled away realizing there was blood on his fingers. Steve's eyes got wide as Eddie continued coughing. His hand grabbed Steve's and squeezed.
"Ed?" Steve watched as Eddie wiped his mouth onto his sleeve. Black smears covered his sleeve. "Ed, what's happening?" Steve was horrified.

(I'm so sorry for what I'm about to do.)