The Concert

The dinner

Saturday morning, I woke to Eddie running his fingers up and down my bare back, he lay next to me in bed "Good morning" I smiled and stretched, "Good morning" I said as I lay my head back down, "what time is it?" he looked at his watch "0745" he said and gently brushed my hair from my face, "want to go for breakfast?" I looked at him curiously "You want to go for breakfast?" Eddie laughed, "why are you so surprised?", "Because you're not usually awake at this time, and I'm pretty sure the only time I've seen you eat breakfast, has been when either I or Wayne have brought some to you". He smiled "well..." he kissed me on the head as he manoeuvred over me, "today I am awake and I'm asking if you'd like to go for breakfast... although the view from right here is stunning!" He said pulling on his jeans, he grabbed my polaroid and took a picture, which made me roll over to face him. Looking at him standing there wearing just his jeans, his big smile and dark eyes, framed by his long hair, I felt warm and so happy. He smiled at me and shook the small picture in his hand "gorgeous!" he said as he placed it on the bedside table and sat on the bed. "You know you can't look at me like that..." he said as he lay down next to me and kissed me. "Like what?" I asked, he put his hand to my face "like you are now" he sighed softly, "because every time I see you look at me like that, I feel like I'm falling for you a bit more...which means I'm in serious trouble" he smirked, I couldn't help but smile, I moved to straddle him and kissed him, "Ditto" I whispered, looking down into his eyes. He smiled and sat up to meet my lips. Needless to say, we didn't go for breakfast!

I was just locking my door when Steve's car pulled up, "Hey, you look nice" he said as he stepped out his car, "thanks! I didn't know you were picking me up?" He walked around and opened his passenger side door. I picked up the bouquet of flowers I had placed down to lock the door and started to walk over to the car, and saw that Eddie was leaning against his trailer, I smiled at him, and he smiled back, "Eddie" Steve said, "Steve" Eddie replied. The tension was uncomfortable, "You had better be a gentleman, Steve!" Eddie called as Steve shut the car door. I didn't hear Steve respond, he got into the car and we drove away.

"Do you like lasagne?" Steve asked as we drove along, "Yes, I do" I replied. You're not a vegetarian or anything like that?" I smiled, "no", "oh that's good. Although it probably would have been better to check before now, huh?" He was unusually on edge, I found it a little amusing "are you ok?" I asked. He looked at me and nodded, I didn't believe him. When we pulled up outside his house he sat for a minute. Finally, he turned to me "My dad can be a little...intense" I thought of how my own father is and how Neil Hargrove used to be, I understood now that he was concerned about how tonight would go. I smiled "It will be fine!" he looked at me not too convinced "Come on, let's not keep them waiting" I said.

As we entered the house, I greeted Mr and Mrs Harrington, thanked them or the invitation to dinner and passed Mrs Harrington the flowers. "Thank you very much dear, that's very sweet of you!" she said as she took them and went to the kitchen. Mr Harrington, proceeded to seat us at the table and sat down himself. "Would you like help with anything Mrs Harrington?" I asked as she brought things through from the kitchen, she beamed and assured me everything was taken care of and sat down. "I hear that you work at the hospital?" Mr Harrington asked as we started to eat, I nodded, "Yes, I do some shift work, I still haven't decided what field I want to specialise in yet, so I'm trying to get as much experience across departments as I can". He nodded and seemed more than content with my response. "That's good, medicine is a solid career choice!" he said and then shot Steve a look. "I hear that you're putting on a show?" Mrs Harrington asked. I smiled "Yes, it's a charity concert, I would like to get the community together to remember everyone that was lost during the accident at Starcourt, and to raise some funds for the families". Mrs Harrington smiled and looked to Mr Harrington, who had intently been listening, "That's a very admirable and thoughtful thing to do!" Mr Harrington said and shot Steve another look. "If the rehearsals are anything to go off of, the show is going to be phenomenal" Steve said. "It's a shame you aren't involved Steven, it's about time you applied yourself to something of worth!" Mr Harrington sniped. Mrs Harrington shot a look across the table at her husband and then at Steve "I'm sure it will absolutely wonderful" she said trying to diffuse the tension. "Do you hear much from your father?" Mr Harrington asked, I nodded "He checks in with me each week, he likes to make sure that I'm keep up my end of the bargain we made and keeping myself out of trouble" I smiled. Mrs Harrington looked at me intriguingly "what deal was made?" she asked. "In my dad's line of work, we have had to move around a lot, I decided that when his next posting came up, I didn't want to leave. Hawkins has become my home, my school is here, my friends" I looked to Steve. "So, my dad and I made a deal, that I could stay here if I work hard, get good grades and started to work at the hospital. He helps with the rent and training costs, and I get to stay and live independently". Mr Harrington swirled his wine "that's quite impressive. He must have quite a lot of faith and trust in you to keep your word?" I wasn't sure if it was a question or a statement. "It's refreshing to know that not everyone thinks that they're in for an easy ride and that to be successful you must work for a living! Maybe you could take a leaf out of Freya's book Steve!" Mrs Harrington placed her hand on Mr Harrington's hand "Please don't" Mr Harrington pulled his hand away "Ha!" Steve exhaled in frustration "we get it dad, I'm a huge disappointment!" Mr Harrington glared at him "Well at least you're up to parr on that one!" I couldn't believe those words came out of his mouth, towards his son, and in front of someone he had just met. Mrs Harrington started to apologise, "I'm so sorry dear, Mr Harrington and Steve don't see eye to eye sometimes. You don't want to hear about this" she said shooting a look to her husband. Steve started to tap his foot up and down under the table. I could tell he didn't know what to say and that he was mortified. I had dealt with overbearing arsehole fathers before. And for all his money and social standing, Mr Harrington was no different. I placed my hand on Steve's knee under the table in a bid to calm him, "Actually Mrs Harrington, we have some exciting news" I said, as if none of the previous five minutes had happened. Mr Harrington blurted out "oh my god, he hasn't gotten you pregnant, has he?" and he homed in on Steve, who started choking on his water. I patted Steve's back, unphased by Mr Harrington's rather bizarre assumption "No, no, thankfully nothing like that" I smiled. He breathed a sigh of relief, "Steve has agreed to be a part of the concert" I said. "Thank God for that!" Mr Harrington said and he drank his wine. Steve looked to me, "I have?" he said quietly, then he saw how elated his mother was "I have!" he said louder. "How wonderful!" his mother said, "what are you doing?" Steve looked to me for help. "It's a surprise!" I said quickly, "but I do so love his singing voice!" I finished. "Steve, singing?! Mr Harrington questioned. I had, had enough of this man's attitude, "Yes! In fact, we need to go and rehearse, because we want it to be perfect for the night! Thank you for the invitation to dinner. It was lovely" I tried to seem genuine, "I do hope you can find it within you to donate to it, or at the very least attend". At that point I stood, and Steve followed my lead. Mr and Mrs Harrington stood and shook my hand, and I made a swift exit, with Steve close behind me.