The Darkness Inside You (Steddie)

You Have The Right To Remain Silent

Eddie made it through the week at school with minimal interactions with Steve. Their one class together, they sat on opposite sides of the room; Steve in front near the door, Eddie in the back corner. Steve never even looked in Eddie's direction, and Eddie did his best to ignore Steve. Every once in a while, he caught himself staring, remembering their time together. It had been brief, but it had been fun, and Eddie had felt for Steve something he had never felt for another person. He wasn't sure what it was, except maybe love, like he'd told Wayne. But it was so new, he didn't get a chance to explore it and that killed him.

On Saturday, Eddie asked Billy Hargrove to go see a movie with him that night. Not a date, he was clear about that. Sure, they had messed around a couple of times in the past, but they weren't dating, they weren't together. They were just friends. Kind of like his relationship with Samantha. They were friends who slept together sometimes. And he hadn't seen Billy since he had been with Steve. Even if he and Steve had not been officially dating, he still saw him as his boyfriend in a way, so he didn't go out with or sleep with anyone else during that time.

Eddie wasn't looking for sex with Billy either. He just wanted someone to hang out with that wouldn't get personal with him. Eddie and Billy got high together and they talked about music and movies and girls. That's all. And that was all Eddie wanted tonight. He was lonely and didn't want to think about Steve. He just wanted to watch a movie, get high, and not think.

When Eddie got to The Hawk, Billy was waiting for him, leaned against the wall, smoking a cigarette and looking completely disinterested in the world around him. Typical for Billy. Eddie parked his van then lit a cigarette of his own and went over to meet Billy. They got in line to buy tickets and were chatting about music when Eddie saw Samantha. He smiled. He hadn't seen her in a while. They didn't have any classes together and since he'd been so caught up in Steve, he hadn't had a chance to call her. He was about to call her over when suddenly he froze.

Steve appeared at her side and she smiled up at him. Steve dipped his head and kissed her and a lump formed in Eddie's throat. Steve was with Samantha? It had only been a week. And from the way they were looking at each other, Eddie was sure this wasn't a first date. They were sleeping together. It was obvious. Eddie turned away from them and positioned Billy between them. He didn't want them to see him. Billy gave Eddie a look like he thought he was crazy for the sudden jostling as Eddie looked up into his eyes.

"I heard this movie is pretty lame," Eddie said. "What do you say we ditch this and just go smoke a few joints?"

"Man, we're already here," Billy said. "We're seeing the movie."

"Fuck, Billy." Eddie peeked over his shoulder. Steve and Samantha were headed towards the queue to get in line. "Fine. You see the movie. I'm out of here."

Eddie turned and headed in the opposite direction. Billy watched him go, shaking his head in disbelief. He took one last drag of his cigarette, then dropped it and ground it out under the toe of his boot.

"Fucking shithead," he mumbled and followed Eddie towards where they had parked. He caught up to Eddie just as he was about to get into his van. "What the fuck's wrong with you," he asked.

"I just don't want to see this movie."

"Then why did you ask me to come see it," Billy asked him. Eddie shrugged. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't tell Billy the truth. Billy suddenly smiled, that sexy, smug smile he got when he flirted. He looked around. The parking lot was pretty much deserted; everyone was in line at the box office. Not that anyone could really see them anyway, the way they were standing hidden behind the van door. Billy braced himself over Eddie on his hand against the side of the van and leaned in. He gently placed his hand on Eddie's hip and licked his lips. "You know, if you just wanted to get laid, all you had to do was ask me, Eddie."