I Can't, Eddie... (Steddie)

18

Steve got to Eddie's house way too early the next day. He circled around the trailer park three times before finally parking in front of Eddie's place. There was a car that wasn't there the other day.

Maybe his uncles? I thought he said they worked on cars in the back...

Steve waited five minutes... ten minutes... fifteen minutes. He had decided to count to one hundred in his head and if Eddie still wasn't out by then, he was going to the door. He would kick the damn thing down if he had to. There was definitely something wrong. Sure enough, when Steve was at seventy-three, the front door finally opened. Eddie slowly walked out in a long sleeve white shirt, black pants, and his leather jacket and combat boots. His hair was wavy as ever. There was also a large purple bruise surrounding his left eye.

Steve jerked up in his seat and narrowed his eyes before throwing his car door open and taking several long strides to quickly meet Eddie halfway. He didn't even spare a thought for anyone who may see them as he grabbed Eddie's shoulder with one hand and gently cupped his face with the other.

"Eddie! What happened?! What the fuck is going on?? Wh—" Steve stopped short because Eddie had flinched back, moving away from Steve and breaking the contact between them. His eyes were bloodshot and he let out an awkward giggle. "Are you stoned?" Steve accused.

Eddie shrugged. "Let's just go to school, man." He shouldered past Steve and got into the car. Steve looked back at the trailer, utterly bewildered. A curtain flicked into place in one of the windows and Steve's hands curled into fists at his sides.

Okay. Something happened with his uncle.

Steve drove them to school and opened his mouth to start asking questions when he parked but Eddie was passed out. Steve gently cupped Eddie's face again and softly spoke.

"Hey, babe. Come on, we're at school now." Eddie's eyes fluttered open and for just an instant, his eyes were full of emotion. But he pulled away again and got out of the car without another word, walking up to the school without waiting for Steve.

He's in there somewhere. Just be patient and give him whatever space he needs.

Steve slowly walked up to the school, watching Eddie enter but not following. Instead stopping where Robin was standing against a pole, also looking after Eddie's figure.

"Okay, so maybe I was wrong," Robin admitted. "What's going on? Did he have a black eye?"

Steve nodded. "He barely said two words to me. And he's high as a kite. Something happened after I left on Friday."

Robin's brow furrowed in thought. She silently led them into school. Dustin approached them rapidly, poking Steve hard in the chest.

"What did you do to Eddie, Harrington?" Dustin hissed, low enough that only Robin could hear.

"Not sure you want the answer to that," Robin muttered under her breath.

"Really, Robin?" Steve said, exasperated.

"What's wrong with him?? Who gave him that shiner?" Dustin probed again, ignoring Robin's comment entirely.

"I have no idea, man." Steve said, running a hand through his hair. "We... hung out Friday, and he ignored my calls all weekend, and this morning I picked him up and he's super stoned and isn't speaking to me and has a fucking black eye. I have no idea. I'm—I don't know," Steve's voice cracked and he put his head in his locker so they wouldn't see the glint of moisture in his eyes.

"Maybe his uncle beat him up," Robin speculated.

"No way," Dustin retorted, "he's a really nice guy. He would never do th— wait. Unless. You don't think he could have somehow—" Dustin's voice dropped to barely a whisper, "found out about you two?"