for hairsprayed

[thefreak]

[ Finally, senior year at last. Eddie never thought he would get this far after all the shit he had to put up with growing up, but he finally felt like he had some semblance of normality in his life. At least, as normal as one could hope for when their father was responsible for teaching him the ins and outs of grand theft auto and drug dealing.

He had told himself he was going to quit the drug dealing at least, but he felt bad for Wayne, living in the trash pile that he did, giving up a normal bed for a pullout all for the sake of Eddie. It was the least he could do, cover some of the costs of keeping him around.

What a strange year it was, though. First the Byers kid goes missing, then he heard mumblings of Barb, too? And something to do with Nancy Wheeler and Steve Harrington of all people. Which, weird, he didn't think he would hear that name again.

He is just coming out of Melvald's with a fresh pack of cigarettes and a new lighter when speak of the devil, who should he see near the cinema but the very person who he had just been ruminating about. He keeps his distance since he isn't sure if he was even spotted just yet, but stays back against the wall, loitering signs be damned, as he lights up a cigarette and simply observes.

If his eyes don't deceive him, it looks like the guy is rubbing something off the marquee, and is sporting a fresh shiner, both of which seem very un-Steve like things to do. Which leads him to believe he must have fallen asleep at some point, because clearly he is dreaming, there just simply is no logical explanation for what he is witnessing. ]

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[thefreak]

( Eddie arches his eyebrow up when Steve insists he's not a loser. That's a statement that sounds surprising coming from Steve, but maybe it's evidence that Steve is undergoing a metamorphosis of his own. Despite their differences, and despite how much Steve had hurt him all those years ago by abandoning their friendship for whatever reasons he might have had, Eddie still feels a sense of longing for something -- or someone -- that might not even exist in its purest form anymore.

He wonders, though, whether Hawkins would even let this happen. How many people would get in the way to make sure the world keeps going on in the specially crafted way that keeps the status quo the way it is? Maybe that's Eddie being dramatic, but he can't imagine the rest of their peers being particularly nonplussed if they started hanging out together, even after the fall from social grace that Steve is apparently undergoing. )

And I'm not the sweet, wholesome boy with shitty parents that you knew before. Still the shitty parents, but traded in the Boy Scout badges for dimebags.

( He shrugs, looking more nonchalant than he maybe felt about this situation, but he has always tried to play it close to the vest. )

But yes, I'd like to be friends again. Like I said, I missed you, Stevie.

[hairsprayed]

[ Certain people would definitely want to keep the status quo of Steve being the popular jock and Eddie being nowhere near him—mainly, Steve's parents. The thing is that Steve hasn't wanted to be under his parents' collective thumb for a few years now and while he's tried to rebel his way out from under it in a few ways, being a classic man by sleeping around and fighting for social dominance hasn't really gotten him far. It took several punches to the face to make him realize it, but the friends that Steve's earned this way don't seem to genuinely care for him. He'd thought that maybe Nancy did, but clearly he hasn't been able to read people very well lately.

Snorting at the comment about the dime bags, Steve doesn't try to play dumb about it being a shock. Eddie had built a quiet reputation for himself as the go-to guy for "party favors," and even if Steve never bought from him directly, he's certainly enjoyed some of his wares thanks to Tommy. The nickname pulls more of a reaction from him, head snapping up and making him woozy as he looks over at Eddie. He doesn't feel like he's allowed to say it, shouldn't be acting like a victim when he'd dug this grave for himself those years ago, but it's not a lie to echo back— ] I missed you, Eds.

So. [ He clears his throat and looks back out the windshield into the woods around them, reaching out to wrap his hands around the top of the steering wheel and grip it just for something to do with his hands. ] Now what?

[thefreak]

( This day has felt like a whirlwind. Before he had run into Steve, he had just been going about his day, business as usual. And it's not like he hadn't run into Steve before, but something about today had been set up perfectly in such a way that neither boy could ignore each other any longer. It's something Eddie is finding himself grateful for now, merely by the way that familiar nickname rolls off Steve's tongue.

But now that they've managed to admit that they missed each other, that doesn't change just how much they have since they were friends. There is still a lot for both of them to make up for, and Eddie knows it's not going to take a car ride and hanging out while smoking to bridge that gap. )

That depends entirely on you. I was just going to go back to my place to smoke before I ran into you, if you want to join. Or we could do something else...or we could leave it at that, part ways and see how tomorrow goes.