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

33

A week later, their plane touched down in Boston. Steve, Eddie, and Robin (juniors with good academic records were allowed to come on the trip too) stumbled out of the airport with the rest of the group, bleary eyed and exhausted from waking up at the crack of dawn to start their travels. It would be a short trip, just two nights, so they had a busy two days ahead of them. All three of them had signed up for the same tour, Boston University, as that was where Steve and Eddie would be headed the following fall. Robin was mostly just along for the ride, although she did secretly plan to follow her two closest friends when she graduated a year later. The first afternoon the chaperones herded them all around the main tourist spots in Boston. Steve and Eddie were falling in love with the city. They pointed out endless restaurants and bars they had to visit when they came back permanently. Steve could see their entire lives forming here.

The following day was even more exciting, as they got to see their future college campus. Eddie took a separate tour for the art school, and Steve and Robin stayed with the generic tour. Everything was beautiful. The brick buildings, the cascading trees, the students milling about in the cold afternoon. Steve felt so excited he could barely contain himself. After the school sanctioned events were finally over, the group was allowed to explore the city by themselves with a strict curfew issued. The trio set out for dinner, wanting to eat and then try to find a bar they could sneak Robin into.

As they ate their meal they couldn't stop talking about the tour.

"Dude, the art school had this huge sculpture out front. It was so sick. I think I want to take a sculpting class." Eddie was describing his separate portion of the day. Steve nodded, totally captivated by Eddie's passion.

"You should. And then you can sculpt me."

Eddie laughed. "Absolutely. It'll be the first art in our place."

"Good, you can put the sculpture of me right next to it. I assume I'll be the second piece of art." Robin added. Eddie nodded sarcastically.

"For sure, Robs. No doubt."

They all burst out laughing.

"I still have no idea what I want to major in," Steve mused aloud, bringing a hand under his chin.

"You have plenty of time, Stevie." Eddie reassured him. "Just try a little bit of everything. Something will stick."

"I'm not worried about it. Just being here feels right. I know it'll work out." Steve shrugged. "What about you, Robin? Any ideas? You joining us here when it's your time?"

"Maybe. It'll probably be a relief when you guys are gone. You're so gross to be around." Robin lied. Steve bumped her shoulder.

"Well I know I'll miss you. Eddie's not gonna watch Fast Times with me and pause on the boobs." Steve joked. Eddie pretended to gag.

"Shut up." Robin snapped, lips twitching.

"This place does have great vibes." Eddie declared, as if that settled the whole matter. "Plus, it'll make our rent cheaper when you come live with us." Eddie said to Robin.

"Don't count on that! You expect me to live with two dudes?" Now it was Robin's turn to gag. "Two gay dudes? I'll literally never meet a girl."

"Excuse me," Steve said, pointing at Robin, "I'm bisexual." A little thrill went through Steve. He had never said that out loud. Eddie rubbed his leg under the table affectionately.

"Wait, I thought you said you were Eddie-sexual?" Eddie said. Steve looked at Eddie, eyes wide.

"That was not meant to be public information, dickhead." Steve growled. Eddie roared with laughter and dramatically wiped fake tears from his eyes.

"Robin doesn't count," Eddie said, waving a hand. Robin had simply decided to fully cover her ears like a child.

Still chuckling at Steve's angry expression, Eddie forced his expression to turn serious. "I'm sorry, Steve. Forgive me?" He pouted.

Steve scoffed. "Like I'm supposed to have any power over that face?"

Robin put her head in her hands and spoke, her voice muffled. "You guys are so awful. I'm leaving now." She threw cash down on the table and stood up. Steve and Eddie laughed and joined her. They wandered outside in search of another destination, determined to make their last night in Boston a memorable one together.

Eddie had spotted something promising earlier in the day that he wanted to surprise Steve with as they walked through the streets of downtown.

"Hey, let's check out down there," Eddie said, pointing down a dingy looking alley. Steve squinted in the direction Eddie pointed.

"There? Really?"

Robin looked uneasy. Eddie scoffed.

"Come on. Don't you guys trust me?" Eddie stepped out ahead of them to cross the street, full of confidence and nonchalance. Steve and Robin looked at each other and shrugged.

"Getting mugged in the big city. Cool way to die." Robin muttered.

"After everything we've been through, that would actually be a super lame way to die, Robs."

"Fair point."

"What are you two muttering about back there?" Eddie said over his shoulder.

"Nothing!" Steve and Robin said simultaneously, then laughed with each other and followed Eddie down the sketchy alley. Eddie was craning his neck trying to see what he thought he had spotted earlier. He smiled wide, suddenly satisfied. He bit his lip to try and contain his smile and turned back to Steve and Robin.

"Check it out," Eddie said, pointing at the door they had stopped in front of. It was a plain black door with a small sign above it engraved with what Steve assumed was the name of the bar. In the top left corner of the door there was a small rectangular sticker featuring a rainbow of lines. Steve shook his head and looked at Eddie, confused.

"What am I looking at here?" Steve asked. Robin smacked her forehead, grinning despite herself.

"Eddie, he's new to this, okay?" Robin said, patting Steve's arm. Eddie laughed and reached forward to intertwine his fingers with Steve's.

"It's a gay bar, Stevie. We can be together in here."