Stone and Eddie (a Pearl Jam-ish fanfiction)

Chapter nine

Stone Gossard

I wake up refreshed and excited for the show I'm playing tonight. And so, apparently, does Eddie, because it's the first thing (other than "I love you") that he mentions when he wakes up next to me.

"So you are coming?"

"Well yeah, of course. It's my favorite band and you're going to be there." When he says the last part he brushes my hair behind my ear.

I smile a small smile, but in reality I could grin ear to ear right now. "Cool. We should probably leave at seven because it starts at eight thirty. We need time to unpack and everything." He nods and tucks his hair behind his ear, exposing his high cheekbones.

"Okay. Then we have plenty of time."

"For what?" I ask. He steps forward and wraps his arms around my neck.

"This." Then he pulls me in for a deep kiss.

"Yeah", I say in between kisses. "I think we have time for this."

~*~

Two hours later I grab three of my electric guitars and pack them into my car, ready for the show. I'm buzzing with excitement already. "Hey Eddie! You ready to go?" I yell as I peek my head in the door. He steps out of his room and the light shining through the window casts beautiful shadows on his face. His hair flows over his shoulders, cascading down like a waterfall onto his flannel and Alice in Chains shirt. He's amazing in every way.

"I figured you'd be wearing one of your many Mother Love Bone shirts tonight", I comment when we get in my car.

"It's my rule when I go to a concert: don't wear the shirt of the band you're going to see."

"Why?"

"It makes you seem too eager", he explains simply. "You wanna keep your cool." I nod along slowly.

"You'd be great no matter what." And it's true. He's perfect and will never not be perfect.

"Aw, you're so sweet. Sometimes", he says sarcastically with a grin. I punch him lightly.

"You're one to talk", I say back and we laugh a little. Eventually we get there and pull into the back parking lot reserved for employees and bands. Andy and Jeff are already there and I think nothing of it, but Eddie looks like he's nearing death when he sees then.

Now it's his turn to meet his heroes and freak out.

Andy and Jeff wave at me when I pull up and I stroke Eddie's arm. "Hey, you're not gonna die, are you? Because I really don't want to miss this gig." He cracks a smile and I get out of the car along with him. I nearly drag him up to the guys and introduce him.

"Eddie, this is Andy, and this is Jeff. Andy and Jeff, this is my boyfriend, Eddie."

"Hi Stone's boyfriend Eddie. What's up?" Jeff says with his usual goofy grin.

"H-hi", Eddie stammers.

Andy whistles. "You sure did get one hot guy, Stone", he jokes, but I'm not sure Eddie quite catches on. He blushes like crazy and me and Jeff laugh to lighten up the mood.

"Hey Stone's boyfriend, you okay?" Jeff asks. I pray that Eddie will start feeling more comfortable with them soon.

"Yeah, I'm okay. More than okay. It's just that you guys are like, my heroes and I didn't think I'd ever get to meet you guys", Eddie says and it sounds like he lightens up a bit which relieves me. I leave them there to go grab my guitars and when I come back Andy is asking Eddie which song we should start with. I'm so thankful they're trying to make Eddie feel like he fits in.

"Uh, this is gonna sound stereotypical, I know, but..."

"'Crown of Thorns'?" Jeff guesses. Eddie nods and they crack up. "It's okay, were used to it", he says. That's what everyone always wants.

"Guys, should we start setting up?" I ask, trying to be the responsible one for once. They nod, and we walk in a line through the narrow door, Eddie trailing right behind me the entire time. I set two guitars down beside the stage (to put it charitably) and Eddie sets my other one down. I then remember the joints I have in my pocket and maybe it will loosen me and Eddie up a little bit. I pull them out and light up, handing one to him.

The entire band then comes back, ruining our quiet time for getting stoned. "Hey!" They all yell, causing a commotion. "Did you bring some for us?" I sigh and hand a few joints over to them and sit down on a bench behind me with Eddie. He grabs my hand and the rest of the band is obviously uncomfortable with our boyfriend-ness, but fuck them, they can leave if they want.

So they do leave. "I think we should finish setting up", Andy comments, and they all agree, trailing behind him, leaving just me and Eddie.

"I fucked up", Eddie says.

"What?! How can you say that? How did you fuck up?"

"They hate me", he says, referring to the band.

"Aw, no they don't. They like you just as much as they like me. They're just not used to me being all cutesy with a boyfriend. It'll just take time, but I can assure you that they love you." I squeeze his hand comfortingly and he gives me a little kiss. "I love you, you know that, right?" I say.

"Yeah, I know. And I love you too." He pecks me on the lips once more and I smile.

"You're adorable", I say and poke his nose. "Now come help us set up? You can even create the setlist." His eyes brighten up and I walk out holding his hand.

~*~

I strum the last chord of "Gentle Groove" and look down to see Eddie in the very front of the packed club, starting at me in awe. I smile and wave to him before we start the next song and catch a glimpse of him as we're playing, still looking up at me and grinning like crazy. I smile back but try not to get too distracted from my playing. It's kind of hard to do, though, when the hottest guy in the world is staring at you.

Eventually I play the last note in "Stardog Champion", and Eddie rushes up the stage to me after we say goodbye and start packing our things up. "You did amazing!" He shouts at me and I grin a huge grin.

"Really?" I ask, kind of surprised.

"Of course!" He yells again and places a big, sloppy kiss on my lips.

"Ugh", Jeff says, "save it for later." We giggle and I go back to helping them pack up. But when I look behind me I see Eddie still staring at me.

"What?" I ask, and he smiles devilishly.

"Your ass is cute", he responds, and I start blushing like crazy. "Aw, poor Stone. Did I embarrass you?" He teases me, and I flip him off. He pretends to be shocked and I start packing the last guitar in my case.

"Ready to go?" I ask him, and he nods.