The Sound

Part 6 - Eddie

Alan and I were breaking the stage down and Alan was grinning at me like a Cheshire cat. I rolled my eyes, ready for what he was about to say.

"What, Alan?" I asked. He shrugged, his smile growing.

"Oh, nothing. I just noticed how well you and Jules were getting along. How nice you were being," he teased. I tried not to smile – I had almost ruined the groundwork that Nice Eddie had laid a couple of times.

Steve was an unwelcome surprise, but I didn't need to be that rude. I had to keep reminding myself that he didn't know how I felt about Jules. I hadn't even behaved like I had an interest in her – how was he supposed to know how jealous I was?

But then Jules had covered for me, something that surprised me. She did it so effortlessly, like we were friends, and this was second nature to her. I hoped that she now knew that I didn't hate her. I was proud of how much I had made her laugh, finally building a rapport with her. Maybe once we started breaking the chairs down together, I could finally tell her about my favorite bands.

I looked up at Alan and noticed his face – it was suddenly concerned, brows furrowed together. I followed his gaze and felt my stomach drop when my eyes landed on what he was staring at.

I watched Jules laugh while handing Steve a piece of paper – I could only assume it was her number. Steve walked off, and I watched him trot over to Robin, obviously bragging about what he just got from Jules. And why wouldn't he?

I wanted to be angry, but I knew better. If Steve knew I had even an inkling of a crush on Jules, he would have backed off immediately. And I was the dipshit who had made the girl I was head over heels for think that I hated her. I looked back at my feet, trying to swallow the angry bile in my throat.

"Eddie," Alan's voice was low. I looked at him, trying to mask my hurt. He looked at me directly in the eyes. "Don't get mean again. I'm going to need you to follow my lead. And if you fuck this up, I'll never keep a secret of yours again."

I furrowed my brows as Alan walked over to Robin and Steve, the last people left in the store from the concert. He raised his hands before sighing dramatically.

"Hey, guys – I'm going to need to kick you out. I've got to get Jules and Eddie to finish cleaning this up, and they've got to stock three new aisles before tomorrow morning," Alan acted frustrated. Jules groaned.

"Alan, seriously? Why didn't you tell us that sooner?"

"Sorry, I've been overwhelmed because of how short staffed we are. Don't blame me – blame Marcie," Alan turned back to me shrugging. I finally understood what he was doing.

"Fucking Marcie," Jules spat. I tried my hardest not to smile as I realized that Alan was intentionally creating additional reasons for Jules and me to work together. Alan started to shoo my friends out the door.

"Later, Munson – hope you fix your shitty attitude!" Robin called over her shoulder. Steve waved at me, and I tried to smile at him. He grinned at Jules.

"Later, Jules – talk to you soon," he was cool and casual, just like he always was. She smiled brightly and nodded. My heart clenched at the thought of them together and I stared at my feet so she wouldn't notice. Alan closed the door behind them, and Jules crossed over to me, placing her hands on her hips.

"So, where do each of us need to start? One aisle each?" she asked. Alan shrugged.

"Sorry, Jules – I have to get over to the liquor store with our inventory details, so they give us that discount next month," he explained. My heart swelled when I realized this meant true one on one time with Jules. Often after the concerts and cleaning up together, she would escape to Alan's office. I now understood it was because she wanted a reprieve from the asshole who she thought hated her. Alan grabbed the notebook that Jules had worked out of and held it up. "Jules, can you lock up?"