Lovestruck || TMFA-AU

3 - True Crime

Steve Harrington's day wasn't going very well as it was. He didn't want to waste any more of his time on this stupid play; he wouldn't get good grades, anyway! He was sat, slumped on an armchair in Edward's living room, staring at the ceiling as the others recited lines from the script.

"..Stay not to question, for the watch is coming; come, go, good Juliet- I dare no longer stay." Edward did not miss or stumble over any word, hadn't done as far as Steve could remember. He was holding this piece together. It was a surprise, really; anybody would have thought that the theatre geek in the room would've been the glue, but she was too busy fumbling with her words and giggling.

"I dare no longer stay?" Edward repeated, elbowing Heather as he did so. The girl seemed to snap out of a trance, blinking rapidly. "Oh- uh.." She traced a hand down her script, finding the line. "Go, get thee hence, for I will not away. What's h-"
"Don't you think we should try acting now?" Steve cut in, glancing around the group. "Instead of just reading. Seems like the point."
"Yes," Maria agreed, standing up only to lie on the carpet. "I believe I'm dead." Edward nodded, and turned to Heather. "Do you want to start from where we were?"

Steve was no expert, but in his experience Heather's reaction to that statement translated to 'fuck no'. His mind cast back to a conversation he'd had yesterday evening;

The Boys 😎😎

Eddie
STEVE

Evan
HEATHERS GOT
AN ADMIRER

Steve
what

Eddie
Romeo ykyk 👀👀

Steve
wait are we talking
about maria rn

Eddie
You dumbfuck ofc

Evan
WAIT WHAT

R U KIDDING?

He flipped his script open to check where Heather was; of course, where else but the oh-so-scary kiss. He rolled his eyes; it's easy enough to pretend. It's not like it's in the requirements that it has to be real, but something about Heather said she wouldn't let anything but perfection go- so that meant it had to be. Steve didn't get that. Not everything had to be perfect; just the best you can do, that's it. His train of thought was interrupted by Edward's voice.

"I'll take that as a yes, go on!" Heather was shaking her head, her face a shade of white; Eddie seemed not to care and thrust a script into her hand. "Go."
"Hey," Steve said in a low whisper, edging closer to the other boy. "I'm not totally sure that's a good-"
"She's just scared she'll like it, Steven," Eddie said; he sounded like her dad. "Let her be." This earned another eye roll from Steve.

"What's here? A- a cup, closed in my true love's hand? Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end; he drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after? I-" Steve raised an eyebrow as the girl paused, waiting for the inevitable refusal. He didn't know what Edward thought was going to happen, honestly.
Heather glanced at Steve, a somewhat pleading look in her eye, and he shook his head. Edward would kill him if he cut in again.
"I- I will.. kissthylips, haply some poison yet doth hang on them to make die with a restorative." The girl let out a sigh of relief, lasting until she caught Edward's eye. "You didn't finish." Her eyes widened. "I didn't?"

"No," Edward replied, and pointed to the script. "You missed the part that says kisses him, my friend." Heather shook her head, once more glancing at Steve. "If the dead man could speak," Maria said, still staring at the ceiling from the floor. "It is not necessary-"
"But it is, Romeo, it is!" Edward protested.