~My Bad Luck isn't so Bad When I'm with You~

~Eddie - Three Rules~

 Eddie is bad luck. He's sure of it. Everywhere he goes tragedy and misfortune seem to follow him. Because of this, he's so scared. Scared to have fun, scared to relax, scared to try new things, scared to leave his dinky, falling-to-pieces apartment. Scared to love. There always seems to be a catch. Whether it be he makes a new friend but then they get into a fight with one of their old friends, whether it's him getting a drink he likes and spilling it all over himself on the way home, or the brand new watch that Robin gave him shattering while he's working in the car shop. It even goes as far as his uncle getting in a car accident and almost dying. It's always something. Eddie has made three rules to protect himself.

1. Keep your distance.

Can't hurt anyone if you're not close.

2. Be conscious always.

Can't hurt yourself as badly if you're always careful.

Most importantly. Number 3.

3. Don't, under any circumstances ever, fall in love.

That brings us to Eddie's current predicament. He's in love. He's already broken rule 3. With who you ask? None other than THE Steve -the hair- Harrington. And now Eddie is screwed. Because he is so overly, intensely, obsessively, endearingly, head over heels in love with this boy he met during the year of 86. The spring that the group had fought an evil alternate dimension demon called Vecna. Eddie fell so fast. He fell within the first few minutes he was talking to Steve. Every second they spent, every battle, every word out of Steve's mouth, every time they caught each other's eyes, every time he heard Dustin -The little shit- talk about how badass Steve was, every time someone called Steve babysitter or mom, every time Steve tripped or tumbled, all of Steve's little mannerisms, every time Steve made a joke or laughed at someone else's, and Especially when Steve risked his life to drag Eddie out of the upside down.

Every. Single. Time.

So we begin 2 years after Vecna was defeated and they all live on their own. Eddie sits alone in his apartment, writing a new song about, -you guessed it- Steve Harrington. When he's interrupted by the shrill sound of the phone ringing. Riiiinnngg . . . Riiiinnngggg . . . Riii- "You've reached the Munson residents, how can I help you?" Eddie says when he picks up the phone.

"Hey uh- Hi Eds" Eddie's mind goes blank for a second before he turns pink. It's Steve! Steve called him and he's giddy about it.

"Oh! H- Hey Stevie, what's up?... How've you been?" He can't stop the grin that comes across his face as he finishes talking. He can hear Steve giggle on the other end of the line.

"I've been good!-" Eddie can practically hear Steve's smile in his words. It makes his heart flutter. "-I just was wondering if you were busy right now?" Eddie's heart leaps as he twirls his hair.

"Me? Busy? Ha- haha.. Funny Stevie..-" God he feels so awkward like he's a girl with a middle school crush. "-I'm completely free. Whatdya need?" Steve hesitates for a moment before speaking.

"Was wondering if I could maybe come over?" He sounds so hopeful when he asks. It almost guilts Eddie into letting him come over.

"You.. You really want to??" Eddie asks, incredulous. "My place really isn't that great- i.. I suppose if you don't mind sitting on my shitty couch and sleeping on my uncomfy bed?" Damnit! 'I'm supposed to be keeping my distance!' Eddie thinks to himself.

"Eddie you know I don't mind at all-" He sounds so sincere. Jesus Christ this boy is gonna be the death of Eddie. "-Besides, even if I did mind, this is really important.. I don't think I can ask over the phone." The end of Steve's sentence gets a little more serious, which Scares Eddie.

"O..oh- Then yeah c'mon over. Whatever you need man, okay?" Eddie reassures Steve that it's okay.

"Yeah-" He pauses. "-Okay yeah, I'll be over in 20?" Steve questions.

"Yeah, yeah that sounds good. See you soon Stevie"

"See you soon Eds."

The line goes dead and Eddie slams the phone down. "AAUUUGGHHH" He groans. "What am I gonna do? What on earth is so important that he can't talk to me over the phone? Does he wanna be done with me? Does he hate me? Does he need a favor? Is Vecna back? God, Harrington. You're gonna be the death of me." Eddie takes a breath and runs his hands through his hair. "I better at least straighten up-"

So he does. He tidies up the house and throws some nice clothes on. He's trying to figure out what to do with his hair when there's a ring at his door. He rushes to go open it and almost trips and falls on his way. He swings open the door and is met with a blushing and smiling Steve who's- ... Shorter now? Shit has Eddie really not seen him in that long?

"Geez Eds you've grown! Stop that now-" He smiles and giggles up at Eddie. Eddie can feel the blush go all the way from his ears to his cheeks and nose and even down his shoulders.

"Heh- Sorry, Harrington-" His grin is mischievous. "Guess you'll have to deal with bein' shorter than me." He can't help the flirty tone that leaves his mouth. Steve pouts and crosses his arms as Eddie moves to the side to let him in. Eddie closes the door behind them and they both head to the couch to sit down. Eddie can't stop thinking. 'Steve. Steve in my house. MY Stevie is in my house. He's so close. So so clo-' Eddie is broken from his train of thought when Steve clears his throat.

"So-" Steve starts. "-I wanted to ask you a really really important question. Somthing I've-" He hesitates. "-Somthing I've been trying to ask- wanted. -to ask you since you got out of the hospital." Eddie can't lie this is kind of scaring him.

"Mhm?" He looks at Steve as if to say 'Keep going'.

"What I'm trying to say, is- i..is- fuck. I kind of, like you. Like, really really like you. I- I think-" He looks up and makes eye contact with Eddie. "-I'm in love with you." Eddie's whole everything collapsed at that exact moment. He opens his mouth but no words come out. Before he can even attempt words Steve is speaking again. "I want you to go out with me.-" He flushes deeper and hurridly corrects himself. "- What.. What I mean is.. Will you go on a date with me?" Another small pause. "Please." He ads at the end. Eddie is too stunned to even speak. God the way Steve just asked..sounded so nervous, like there would even be a chance Eddie didn't like him back. Eddie is about to celebrate but his face drops, and so does Steve's.

"Stevie I-" He doesn't even know how to respond. More than anything he wants to say 'Yes! Yes, Stevie yes! A thousand times yes! I've loved you for so long. Wanted to date you for so long now!" Maybe pick him up and spin him around. Maybe even kiss him if he's feeling brave.

But he can't.

All he can say is. "Stevie I can't-" Eddie swears he watches Steves's heart break in real-time. He can see it in the way Steve's nervous smile fades into a frown. How the shimmer of hope in his eyes disappears.

"Can-" His eyes brim with tears as he hesitates. "-Can you tell me why?" Eddie feels his heart aching at Steve's question. It's a fair question. But how is he supposed to explain that he won't date him because he feels like a curse?

"I... I don't wanna hurt you." Eddie can feel his own eyes watering as he speaks. It's so frustrating. He wants more than anything to comfort Steve.

"Wait, wait Eds how would you hurt me?" He pleads. Eddie can hear the pain in his voice. "I trust yo-"

"I think you should go." Tears are slowly rolling down Eddie's cheeks as he crosses his arms and stands up. Steve's are falling more rapidly now as he looks up at where Eddie is standing. He seems almost shocked that he's practically telling him to leave. His eyes wide, trembling hands, mouth agape. Steve slowly stands up, breaking eye contact and keeping his eyes on the ground.

"Sorry-" Eddie can tell he gets choked up. "-I'm s..sorry." Before Eddie can ask Steve why he apologized he's already left the trailer and slammed the door shut.

"Well fuck." Eddie sighs and falls back onto the couch as he sobs. He pulls his knees up to his chest and buries his face in his knees.