Chapter Text
His alarm clock woke him up from a dreamless night. With a heavy hand, Eddie unsuccessfully tries to turn off the device. A groan comes out of his pursed lips as his hand falls on his face. His eyes open. He watches the ceiling of his little room for a few moments, before getting up from the bed he had lived in for two months now. Outside, the sun is already burning the windows, and the heat is choking the little air around him. Leaving New York for San Francisco could have been a good idea, if the change had not been made in the middle of summer. If it had been up to him, he would have left New-York right away, and his damn ex-wife too. He would have left his job, his apartment, his friends, would have left everything to protect his daughter. His princess, the love of his life. He sighs, the image of the child suddenly in mind. She won't wake up for at least an hour. Another hour where she can live peacefully in a world of love and sweetness, glitter and marmots, her new obsession. The very idea of the little girl, surrounded by stuffed animals, her blanket at the foot of the bed, makes his melt a little more under his white sheets. He could do anything for his daughter. He had already done so much for her.
He had let Myra choose everything for more than ten years, accepting her concern, her possessiveness, her mania without fail. He had seen doctors, taken his medication, stopped himself from going out. Cut himself off from all social life to the delight of his wife. She wanted the best for him, after all. She only wanted his well being. But suddenly Harper had arrived, and with it a new sensation. The need to protect her. Gradually, he watched in horror as Myra smothered the child, locking her in a vicious cycle of worry and control. No friends my darling, they only want to hurt you. No birthdays either, you could burn yourself, or worse. No going out to the park, you're crazy, you could fall! And in his mind, Eddie was fuming. He saw the little girl wasting away, moving unhappy through a life in a cage. He tried to raise his voice several times. To be heard. But his ex-wife heard nothing. So he left, Harper under his arm. He let Myra cry, cry in the perfect little house suddenly empty. His daughter in his arms, her face tucked into his neck, finally peaceful, finally reassured.
In the kitchen, under an impeccable cloth, the remains of a chocolate cake are waiting to be eaten by the little girl. A last minute surprise to reassure the panicked child at the idea of discovering a new school, a new environment, new students. Eddie sighs again. His coffee is flowing from the machine as he looks at the street in front of the little house. Already, several silhouettes are agitated. Some go to work in the dim morning light, others walk their dogs. Still others seem to just wander, happy. A smile feeds his face as he recovers his smoking mug. He settles in the living room, enjoys the silence. Heat. Peace.
He has time to take a shower, shave and prepare a nice meal for breakfast when finally small steps come to be heard in the corridor of the first floor. Eddie feels a smile grow on his face, even brighter than the sun rising in the sky.
« Hello? Is there a ghost in my house? »
A laugh escapes from the top of the stairs.
« Look ghost, I’m really scared you know? What should I do so you won’t haunt me? »
The laughter continues, quieter. He imagines Harper crouching, hand in front of her mouth to keep the noise down.
« Maybe I can give you my daughter’s chocolate cake, so you don’t eat me - NO PAPA! »
Suddenly Harper appears, rolling down the stairs with her little feet to run into the living room, grabbing her father's leg.
« Please papa don’t give my cake away! »
Her sad little look is stronger than Eddie can bear it. He grabs the girl and carries her against his heart, not without placing a tender kiss on her rosy cheek.
« Don’t worry Harper, I believe you scared the ghost! He’s not here anymore so you can have all the cake you want. »
She laughs and then buries her face in the man’s shoulder.
« I love you papa. - I love you too sweetheart. »
_______________
His fingers nervously tighten the steering wheel. Behind, Harper shakes her head to the beat of the music. He can see her worried look in the mirror and his heart squeezes. He knows how scared the child can be. He too is scared. What if she comes across a bad teacher? What if her classmates reject her? What if the food in the canteen makes her sick? Scenarios all crazier than the next are chaining to his confused mind. He only sees at the last moment the headlights of the car in front of him and brakes. The car stops suddenly and a curse comes out of his mouth faster than he would have liked. He hears Harper inhale and put her hands in front of her eyes.
« Papa! Bad words are for bad people - Sorry sweetie, it’s just- »
He has no time to continue his sentence as the guy behind the wheel of the front car comes out and gives him a finger. Eddie, in his usual anger, returns politeness to him. The other seems to grumble in his unshaven beard and gets back into his vehicle to continue his journey. The single father nervously overtakes his new friend and presses the accelerator, leaving with a loud engine noise as he raises his finger again to the stranger.
It doesn't take long to get to Harper’s new school. The man parks, gets out of the car, and opens his daughter's door, an encouraging smile on his lips. Harper, frowning, is staring at him with her big black eyes, serious as always.
« Are you sure I need to go to school? I can go to work with you, I can come and fill out files with you and put sticky notes between the sheets. »
Eddie lets out a laugh as his eyes fill with tenderness for the little being in front of him.
« I know you love sticky notes but the school needs your talents love. - Really? - Yeah, I mean, what are they going to do if some ghosts attack, if you're not there? »
She seems to take time to think about the matter before grabbing her little bag and getting out of the car.
« I guess they need me… »
Eddie squats, putting his hands on the cheeks of the little girl, plunging his gaze into hers. God, she looks like him. His greatest pride.
« Did you take your pens? And your notebook? - Yes papa, it’s all in my bag. - Good, and what about the cookies I gave you? We don’t want you to faint do we? - Yes papa, I took them, I will eat them during break. - And what about your inhaler? - In my pencil case! »
He smiles, runs his hand through the child's straight hair.
« Pay attention to yourself, okay? And if you have a problem, don't hesitate to ask your teacher for help. And if someone bothers you, tell me. Oh, and if you start to get a headache, ask to see the nurse. And don't forget to deep breathe when you are anxious, and stretch your legs every hour. And if you have to go to the toilet- - You’re starting to sound like mom… »
Eddie sighs, concerns turning into pride. Harper is growing up so fast, it is hard for him to believe that she could have been a baby, a tiny little newborn laughing in his arms.
« Sorry. Have fun Harper, and don’t forget that I love you. - I love you too. »
She comes to kiss his smooth cheek, then runs inside, the bag bouncing on her little shoulders.
_______________
The day went in slow motion, drowned out by papers, calls and meetings. Looking at his watch every ten minutes, he wondered what his daughter could do, how she felt, if everything was fine. He even nearly called the school to make sure nothing bad happened before he recovered. When the time finally came, he greeted his colleagues distractedly and set off for school. Once parked, he got out of his vehicle and joined the mothers in front of the open gate. Several eyes fell on him and his tailor-made suit. Eyes that burned his skin, red rising to his face as the discomfort settled. Only father in front of the gates, of course he was going to attract attention. The idea of being accosted by an enamored mother causes him to shiver in his spine. He remembers the day when he announced to Beverly, his best friend, that he had been attracted to a man for the first time in his life. Before he got to San Francisco, before summer, before he even left Myra. A painful revelation for the man, but which he had finally accepted, his eyes fixed on a colleague with the most interesting curves. She smiled at him, took her hand without a word. In the living room, Ben and their children were chasing a laughing Harper. Beverly had promised to call him tonight to ask him about his daughter's first day.
A sudden cloud of children rushes outside and his hands become sweaty. His eyes watch the crowd but can't find Harper. He waits, waits, but nothing. He feels his heart beating louder and louder as the school gradually empty. The last mothers walk away, not without giving him one last look, but still no sign of Harper. His throat ties shut and, without really controlling it, his legs start to move. He walks through the door, taking a quick step, and comes face to face with a school secretary.
« Excuse me… I can’t find my daughter, she didn’t go out like the other kids… I’m… »
His words, faster than usual, get lost as his mind quickens. What if she was injured? What if she got lost in school? Or if we had locked her in the toilet, by mistake? Or ... Someone could have kidnapped her. He feels beads of sweat forming on his forehead as the secretary watches him with a benevolent eye.
« What’s your daughter's name? Maybe she’s just still in her class, packing her bag? - Yeah, hm, Harper, Harper Kaspbrak. - Oh, the new kid! She’s room 103, just after this corridor, on the left. - Thanks. »
He leaps out of the woman, unable to stay still for another minute. He is afraid he’ll go crazy if he can’t find her in this class. The corridor seems incredibly long, but finally he arrives at an open door. A sigh escapes his pale lips as he finds Harper there, laughing loudly at a man leaning over her. Eddie frowns, watching the figure chatting with his daughter.
« Excuse me… »
He doesn't finish his sentence as Harper lets out a scream of joy and runs into her father's arms who picks her up on the fly, thrust his face into the crook of her neck, relieved to find his child there. After a long hug, he finally spread a small, stern look.
« What were you doing, I was worried sick Harper! - Sorry papa, we were talking about making friends, Richie said he’ll helps me… »
A sorry little pout comes to dress Harper's face and suddenly all anger leaves Eddie who smiles at her. A noise in the room reminds him that they are not alone. While putting down his daughter, Eddie takes a look at the one who seems to be the teacher…. And comes face to face with the cross driver this morning. His eyes go wide as the man smiles at him. He is tall, stupidly tall. His face is covered by large glasses that highlight his laughing blue eyes. On his sweat, a man skateboarding seems to have been painted by a child. His curly hair frames his square face…. He is not beautiful, strictly speaking. He is charming, though. Eddie stands there, silently, staring at him stupidly before regaining his senses.
« You? Who allowed a road hog like you to become a teacher?? - Well, the same person that delivered you your license I guess. »
The man spoke confidently, a bantering smile on his face driving Eddie mad with frustration.
« You think you’re funny? - Always, it’s kinda my brand. »
Another smile, even deeper, that hits Eddie in the heart. Eddie frowning, grabbing his daughter's hand in a gesture.
« What were you doing with my daughter? School time is over, she shouldn't be alone here with a stranger. - I’m not a stranger, I’m her teacher. Richie, Richie Tozier, nice to meet you. »
Richie, not without leaving the smile on his face, takes a few steps towards the other man and reaches out to him. Eddie looks at him for a moment, scowling, until he feels Harper's finger squeezing his fist. A look at the begging child and he felt his shoulders sag, anger giving way to love. With a sigh, he turns his gaze back to the adult and takes his hand, squeezing it longer than he should, staring into the blue ocean of the man.
« Are you gonna keep my hand? I need it for tomorrow, we’re doing a painting workshop. »
Eddie feels his face suddenly turning red, blood rising to the end of his ears. He lets go of the other man and takes a step back.
« Let’s go Harper, it’s time to go home. »
The little girl waves her teacher, a big smile on her face.
« Bye Harp, and don’t forget you have to give the friendship time to grow. Like a cactus! »
The little girl laughs and Eddie draws her towards the corridor, his face still as colorful. His big steps lead him to the car, Harper trotting by his side. He helps her get into the back of the vehicle before dropping into the driver's seat. A sigh leaves his lungs and he feels like he hasn't breathed for years. His eyes are lost at the front and silence crushes his little body stuck in his shirt. After a moment, Harper breaks the silence, concern in her voice.
« Papa? Are you okay? »
Eddie comes to his senses, and glances at her in the rear view mirror.
« Yeah.. Yeah… Can you give me your inhaler? I forgot mine. »