𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐬

TWENTY-THREE: every step.

    

    RHYS WASN'T REALLY a particular angry person, no. Not ever. So when Eddie had told him he might still be in love with his ex, everything felt like it came crashing down. Sure it's barely been a week since reconnecting with Eddie, and less that 48 hours since they hooked up and planned their dates, but Rhys has been holding onto this notion for so long that the fact it's ripped from his grips, he couldn't help but feel like shit.

But he just gave a small smile and nodded. "Yeah, no, I knew I was right, Edster, but like always, you deny it." He says and Eddie just stared at him cautiously. "So... you're not mad?" He asked and Rhys shrugs. "Should I be?" He asked and Eddie sighed. "I--I kind of expected you to be." He said quietly.

"Oh... well, honestly I'm mostly disappointed. Same way I felt when I heard you had someone already when we first met. I remember how embarrassed you got when Silas teased you about it." He said, chuckling as Eddie looked at Rhys right away. "I'm sorry." He says and Rhys just stood up straight, sighing as he taps his fingers onto the counter.

"Whatever you plan to do about it, I don't care I guess... but, you know, whenever you're... I don't know, free or it doesn't work out, you have my number. Right?" Rhys asked and Eddie just stared at him. "Oh... right. Yeah."

When Rhys got home, Nora was cooking in the kitchen, "what are you doing here?" He asked and the brunette glanced over at him. "Cooking for Avery and Silas... they called me to say they're high as shit and want me to cook for them." She says as he just kicked off his shoes and found the couple laying on a mattress together in the livingroom. "Hey!" Silas said, a grin on his face and he just crawls in between them, laying his head on a stuffed teddy bear laying between the pair.

"What happened, Dirty Harry? Why the sad face?" Avery's hand lands on the top of his head and he grimaced. "Stop calling me that, it's so gross especially after you search up the Urban Dictionary version of it." He says and Silas quietly picks up his phone, curiously staring at it as he unlocks it. "Okay, okay, sorry... but seriously, what's wrong?"

"Eddie sort of dumped me for his ex... which is fine, I really don't care and James did go through something very traumatic recently so it explains why Eddie realized, you know, seeing someone you love in danger like that--" "wait, what? Why... what... how..." Avery stammered and Rhys just shrugs softly.

"It's whatever..."

"Wait! Ew! Why does Dirty Harry mean that?"

The next day, Eddie now stood outside Steve Harrington's home, practically jumping and feeling jittery before knocking on the door. "I'll go get it..." James said as he got up and trudged down the hallway. Then the door swung open. "Hey." Eddie says, breathless and staring up at the taller. "Hi... what's up, Eds?" James said and he just looked away.

"I'm sorry, is now a good time?" He then asked and James nods quickly. "Yeah, I just... finished eating and I need to head home soon anyway to shower and change." He says and Eddie glanced down to see James was still in the same clothes. "Yeah... right." He looked away quickly, gulping slightly. "Eds, you don't... look that well, is everything okay?" James asked and Eddie quickly looked up.

"I... I love you. I just had to say that... and if you and Steve are a thing, then that's great and I'm happy for you both. But the friends thing is not working out for me. I... I think it's better we remain as only acquaintances... co-workers. I--I can't be near you, an--anymore." Eddie stammered and James just stood there staring so the Munson nods softly.

"That's all I had to say..." He said quietly before leaving and James was quick to move, closing the door behind him. "Wait, Eddie!" He ran towards him and the shorter turned, stopping. James raised his hands to either sides of Eddie's face, connecting their lips. "I love you too." James mumbled against his lips, deepening their kiss as Eddie's arms go around his neck, pulling him much closer.

It was somehow the first time that James had felt normal... for a while. It lasted maybe a week and a half, their sneaking around and stuff that they keep from their friends, then the anxious feeling was back again, the way James' skin would itch. The way he felt like his body wasn't his. That he wanted to leave everytime someone's eyes were on him, that he felt judged by every single person.

He's felt like this before... everything. But it felt as though what happened amplified it. On Tuesday morning, he and the others had gone over to the police station where they both gave their statements as to what happened... shitty Hawkins PD suggested a restraining order. Eddie had gotten mad at that, wanted to see those three behind bars but James was content with a restraining order.

They all gone out for breakfast at Benny's afterwards then headed to work. There, James felt that feeling for the first time. He ignored it, because of the fact Eddie sat beside him in the booth, holding his hand. He continued to ignore that feeling for the next week but it's almost as if it amplified even more over time. "Jamie?" Eddie asked quietly as they were laying in the taller's bed together after a long shift, slowly sitting up. "Mm?" He turns to Eddie.

"Are you okay?" The Munson raised a hand against the side of the Hopper's face gently, the green eyed man just staring back blankly. "James?" Eddie leaned closer and James snapped out of it. "Mm? Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay." He whispered back and sat up too, his arm going around Eddie's waist.

Eddie moved to sit properly, facing him as he sighed. "Can I ask you something you have to answer with complete honesty?" He says and James paused before nodding. "Yeah. Of course." He whispers.

"Are... have you processed it... okay-ish?" Eddie asked and James just furrows his brows. "Processed what?" He asked and the Munson glanced away. "The... assault." He says quietly and James tensed which Eddie noticed right away. "I'm guessing that you haven't..." He says quietly, moving to lay back down and James follows his actions. "What's there to process? I'm a 21 year old man who let his guard down and... I--I was being nice and Billy mistook it as something else--" "It wasn't your age. It wasn't because of you being nice. It's because Billy Hargrove is a sick fuck." The shorter says, moving to lay on his side.

The taller follows his actions, facing his lover in his bed. "I don't think I have... processed it." He whispers, gulping softly. "The meetings are not going well?" Eddie asked quietly. The police they went to see had offered the support group meetings to James, that they'd help, but so far, James just feels worse. "No. They're good, they're perfect... it's just me." He said and Eddie frowns at the Hopper.

"What do you mean?" He asked quietly and James shrugs, glancing away. "It feels... off. I mean, sometimes even when you touch me, I feel like my skin is crawling. And I sometimes think it's Billy. Or Tommy. Or Carol, even though I know it's you. Is that stupid? I'm sorry if hurts your feelings..." James asked a bit too quickly and Eddie just frowns.

"It doesn't hurt my feelings... it's understandable." He whispered and then slowly propped himself up. "How about we decide on me asking whenever I wanna hug you? Even just a simple touch." He offers and James just glanced away. "Oh... yeah, sure." He whispers and Eddie just smiles softly. "Can I hug you right now?" He asked his lover.

"Of course, Eds..." And whenever they hug, it's a tight embrace with Eddie snug in James' neck as James is caressing his long brown hair gently. "I'm working on it." The Hopper murmured. "I know you are. And I'm proud of you, every step you take." Eddie whispers back, kissing James' neck softly.

 

 

authors note
i'm sorry about this chapter ya'll, i really am, but i'm just curing my jeddie heart bc i love the both of them sm 🫶🏼