Again

Chapter 12

"Ah, yeah, everything's great. Nothing to worry about. Don't take this the wrong way, Steve, but could you, um, just go wait in your house?" Eddie replies, his voice volume and the direction from which it originates changes repeatedly. Steve narrows his eyes at the motorhome's door, shrugs and heads into his house. He sits down in front of the TV and switches it on. Some music video is part way through, and Steve notices most of the kids, including the band, are dressed similarly to Morgan. He guesses this must be Sum41. They weren't Steve's kind of thing, but it did remind him of some music Eddie asked him to listen to once after watching Repo man. Which Eddie had said Steve would like because Emilio Estevez was in it. Steve turns off the TV and tries to remember the songs. Finally, he admits defeat and walks over to his old record box he'd brought down here for Zee. Steve finds the Repo Man soundtrack and looks through the tracks on the back. He slides his hand into the sleeve to pick up the vinyl disk with his fingertips and feels a bit of paper in there. He captures it between his fingers and takes it out to read.

For Steve, taking his first baby steps into musical taste.

E x

That's right, Eddie got him this as a gift because Steve had mentioned that one of the movie's songs wasn't too bad. He puts the piece of paper and disc back inside and picks up the one behind it, the Fame soundtrack. Now that was an alcohol-fuelled night. Eddie had told Steve to bring some of his music over one weekend whilst Wayne was out of town. He said it was only fair that they didn't always listen to his music, even though often they ultimately did. Eddie was easily irked by that kind of thing, like he didn't want to waste his time listening to music he didn't like. Steve, on the other hand, could readily just phase it out. He picks up the Fame vinyl in his hands. He remembers drunkenly convincing Eddie of the meaning behind the title track and how it was so powerful. Then embarrassingly jumping up onto the couch to perform it. He shakes his head at the antics. Eddie must have seen King Steve's crown fall from a great height that night. Then he remembers what Zee said to him about the records and takes a look inside. Another note.

A performance for the ages. (1986 one-man show) - Edward Munson Broadway Critic - 4.9/5 (marked down because the star high kicked my beer across the room)

Steve holds his hand to his mouth with a laugh of surprise. He wonders how many more there might be, and he hopes to God that none of them displayed any of the obscene side of Eddie's humour, but before he can reach for The Breakfast Club, there is a knock at the door. Steve rushes to answer. Then a step from the door composes himself, brushing down his clothes and neatening his hair before opening it.

The door opens, and the first thing that hits Steve is the fragrance. It smells expensive, not the general soap or body spray scent he's used to on this new Eddie, which was honestly still wonderful on him, but his heady, leathery bombardment made something inside him squirm with delight, putting him in a haze. Next, the visual input. A bouquet of mixed flowers is being thrust towards him like a sword, and behind it is a beaming Eddie dressed in a button-down and slacks, all black, and on his back a guitar. Steve doesn't know what to do, so he accepts the flowers with a thank you and steps aside to let Eddie indoors.

"No, no, uh, stay right there in the doorway, yeah?" Eddie says, hand out in front of him, looking Steve up and down like he is directing a movie scene. Steve obliges with a smile laced with confusion. Eddie spins the guitar strap around, so the guitar is now in his hands, and he strums it a few times in a flamenco-style rhythm before he sings and plucks on the strings.

"Steve Harrington,

Even though you have already eaten,

Would you let me take you out for..." He looks up at Steve wide-eyed and nods up at him encouragingly.