A Second Chance (Steddie)

Chapter 8

Steve

God.

Those doe eyes.

They're going to be the death of me.

There is so much emotion hidden within them, and I feel like I'm sinking deeper and deeper the more I look into them...

But I'm not drowning.

For the first time in my life...

I feel like I can breathe.

"...Thank you..." Is all that manages to come out of my mouth.

Eddie is looking at me with big eyes, and the most beautiful - I mean - sincerest smile I've ever seen from him.

Not a smirk, not teasing, not being his usual chaotic smile...

Just a sincere smile.

"Steve, you don't need to thank me for anything," Eddie assures me as he continues to look at me.

I pull my head from his head to look down at him, confusion overtakes his gaze and he tilts his head slightly.

I can't help the light laugh that escapes my mouth.

"But I do, Eddie..."

Eddie's face softens and he sits there, patiently waiting for me to speak.

"You're...the first person to ever really say that to me...Not Nancy...not my parents..." I start to mumble to myself.

The memories hurt too much.

All those countless nights of crying, hoping, and wishing for my parents to come home and hold me in their embrace.

Them telling me that they love me and that they will take care of me.

The pointless memories with Nancy when she just saw our relationship as bulls*t...

I just wanted to have someone love me...

Really love me...

But I can never seem to get it...

Maybe I never will...

"Hey, Steve - Don't think about those terrible people! They don't deserve you in the slightest! You deserve the whole world - no scratch that! - the entire universe!" Eddie exclaims as he grabs my hands in his.

I didn't notice how small Eddie's hands were versus mine. Well - in general - I was bigger and taller than Eddie, but something about his hands around mine...it just felt -

"What are you talking about, Munson? Why do I deserve that?"

"Because you changed, Harrington! You turned a new leaf, and you became a better person! You used to hate me, but now - you give a damn about my meaningless existence -"

"EDDIE! Don't say!-"

"Steve SHUT UP, and let me talk!"

I quickly close my mouth.