Chapter Text
1978
Eddie was used to be alone. When he lived with his parents he wasn’t allow to have friends, and after a lot of crying and physical abuse the boy accepted that he couldn’t be like the other kids, with birthday parties with a lot of kids playing with him, or with classmates that would walk with him to home.
But now it could be different, because now he lives with his cool uncle, that has a big trailer and a large yard that Eddie could find another kids to play with. For lack of practice, he didn’t know how to approach someone, so he’s only seeing kids playing catch from distance.
He was with some toys when a fancy car stopped near his house, and from it a boy, about his age or a little younger than him, got out. He's with some notebooks and a backpack, and for some reason he looked excited. Eddie wouldn’t be that excited if was to do homework (that reminds him that next week he’d start at Hawkins Middle School).
The kid looked for some seconds for the kids playing and then back to the car. “Dad, can I play a little with George after we finish homework?” the kid even pouted, and Eddie knew that strategy; he’s already using with his uncle, so he could go to bed after 9 pm.
“Only if you finish before six, Steve, because that’s our deal.” a deep voice said inside the car, and the kid shouted, more happy than ever.
“Thanks, dad.” and the Steve kid ran to the George’s trailer.
Eddie knew George, his family welcomed him when he arrived, and he was nice when Eddie helped him to find his ball.
-
The radio was on, and Eddie was listening Runnin’ with the Devil, by Van Halen. He discovered rock was his jam, but for now he tried to not listen in front of his uncle, because he couldn’t like it.
He was playing his imaginary guitar when he heard a knock on the door. It couldn’t be his uncle, it’s too early for him to be home. And when he opened the door he saw George and his friend Steve, George holding a soccer ball.
“Eddie, we need one more so we can play. You wanna join us?” George asked with a smile.
The boy’s throat was dry, and he’s shaking on the inside. Ok, he didn’t know shit how to play soccer, but he wouldn’t let the chance slide.
“Yeah, let’s go.” he said, and passed at the door.
“That’s my friend from school, Steve. Steve, that’s Eddie.” George introduced them.
“You’re new? I never saw you here.” Steve said, when Eddie started to walk along with them.
“Yeah. First week here.”
“So the teams are me, Steve, Eddie and Bill on the goal, and the other is Charlie, Nick, Will and Mike on the goal.” George spoke, the kids getting close as soon they are teamed up.
“How’s your left?” Steve asked to Eddie, when everyone was in positions.
Eddie only could suppose his asking his kick with the left leg. “I can pass the ball.”
“Cool.”
-
A week later Eddie was at school. The kids were nicer than his last school, and so far he knew some classmates’ names, which for him was more than okay for a first day. He's only missing his normal clothing; he liked more darker clothes, since he wanted to look like the rockstars he saw on tv, but his uncle asked him to try to use more colorful tones, at least from now.
He accepted that, but he swore when he’s thirteen he’d be a boy with his own laws.
At the break the cafeteria was crowded with kids running and screaming, and with luck he got to the lunch line without pumping at anyone, and he looked at the food. Looked better than his uncle’s pasta, and for that he was thankful. He was about to ask to the lunch lady what to put for him and he felt someone poking his shoulder.
Turning around he saw George’s friend from last week, Steve. He's wearing a more formal clothing (probably because school), but he had a genuine smile for him.
“You’re studying here too! Eddie, right?” Steve said, getting on line next to Eddie.
“Since I got born.” Eddie thought it’d be funny.
And Steve laughed hard, some kids giving weird looks to Steve, but he didn’t seem to mind. That made Eddie laugh too.
“You’re funny.” and he moved forward his plate when the lunch lady asked for meat balls.
Avoiding the compliment – Eddie never knew how to behave after – the boy asked “Where’s George?”
“We’re not at the same lunch break.”
Steve sat in a table with some friends, and Eddie thought that was the end of the conversation, so he looked around, thinking where he could sit without being scolded.
“Hey, sit here.” Steve invited, with a smile.
“Really?” Eddie’s voice sounded more needy than he intended to, and he blushed, making Steve laugh again.
“It’s not a big deal, man. Sit here. So it’s your first day?”
Eddie sat in front of Steve, nodding, and talking about his History class and how boring the teacher was, and they started to chat.
-
Steve said he had another homework to do with George, but actually he went to Eddie’s because he had cool toys his dad never allowed him to have.
“My dad said it’s ‘like girl dools’.” his eyes were shining when he walked at Eddie’s bedroom.
“It’s not dools! It's action figures!” Eddie protested, grabbing two of them and giving to Steve, so he could show better.
“He’s old, so...” and they shared a laugh.
It's funny how Steve met Eddie for just one month and he felt like they’re best friends. They saw each other during classes, back chatting about their teachers and the classes, they ate lunch together and when his parents couldn’t get him at school Steve walked with Eddie to his house, Steve walking a bit after.
Steve had friends, of course, but for some reason anything with Eddie was more fun and interesting. Everything was an adventure and he’s more than ready to do whatever Eddie has on mind. That's how much of a friend they were.
Eddie, in other hand, was so sure Steve’s his best friend to his whole life. Everytime he sees Steve he couldn’t contain the happiness; he never had someone to talk about the stupid things that crosses his mind, or about the music he likes (even that Steve was more of a glam rock boy), or about stuff he didn’t have courage to talk about to his uncle.
Steve already knew the reason Eddie came to Hawkins, and heard some moments about the hell Eddie was put throught in such a young age, and every time Steve hugged him and said he’s glad Eddie was now away from his parents and he’s safe at Hawkins. Eddie cried once, but didn’t let Steve see that.
With Steve he could be whatever he wanted, and it’s worth to be with Steve on his side.
In a way, both are the other’s safest place.
“And what they do, Eddie?” Steve started to squeeze repeatedly a button on the action figure’s back.
“Don’t do that, dingus!” Eddie shouted, holding Steve’s hand to still it.
Steve looked at the other boy with a frown. “What is ‘dingus’, Eddie?”
Eddie held a laughter. “It’s like ‘moroon’, dingus.” repeated Eddie.
“Dingus.” the younger boy spoke. “I’ll call you that from now on. Dingus, dingus, dingus.”
“Oh, no.” suffered Eddie, laughing in the end while Steve was cursing around his house.
-
The Harrington’s house was huge, way bigger than his trailer, and Eddie always showed a ‘wow’ face every time he entered there. Steve's parents didn’t mind about them being rich and he and his uncle being poor (“As long you’re a good kid, Edward” that’s what Steve’s dad said to him when they first met). The place he liked the most was the pool, when he and Steve liked to jump and splash water on each other.
It wasn’t every time he spendt the night at Steve’s, but a storm started suddenly, and Mr Harrington didn’t allow Eddie to go home at his bike. He called Eddie’s uncle to tell the kid’d sleep there and a ride home tomorrow.
Eddie and Steve were reading a comic in bed; Steve didn’t like comics at first, but Eddie knew how to put the other on board, and now he’s the one to ask Eddie when the new ones would arrive at the store. The older boy was doing voices for the characters, the deepest for the male and peachier for the female, and for a moment that distracted Steve for the downpour out there.
They were in the middle of the comic when a strong lightning followed by a loud thunder happened. Steve yelled and hid his face at the pillow, visibly shaking, and Eddie couldn’t contain himself and giggled with his friend’s reaction.
Steve showed up again, and he’s almost on tears, with the scare and for Eddie’s reaction, the other could feel.
“Oh, Stevie, sorry for laughing at you. I didn’t know you’re so afraid of thunders.” Eddie got closer and hugged Steve by the shoulder.
“I try not to.” and he looked at the door, Eddie doing the same, confused. And in a lower tone Steve added “Dad said I should grow a pair, because I’m too old to be scared with that.”
Eddie didn’t like this kind of comments, because nothing good could come up from that root.
“Hey, I will be with you when you get scared. To protect you.” Eddie squeezed Steve a little bit, making the boy smile.
“Promise?” Steve looked at him with big eyes, hanging in every word.
“Promise, dingus.” Eddie smiled widely, opening the comic again. “When we stopped?”
-
Eddie’s 12th birthday was an event for the boy. It was a beautiful Sunday, he was fully happy, surrounded by friends, with a very tasteful cake, and Steve gave him some AC/DC cassettes tapes. He couldn’t complain about life right now.
“Let’s hear these now!” announced Eddie, fascinated with his gift.
“Eddie, I think not all the guests like this kind of music.” Uncle Wayne said, kindly. The boy shrugged and accepted.
“How about we play with the boys, Eddie?” suggested Steve, already with ball in hands.
Uncle Wayne and Steve’s parents stayed at the trailer’s front, watching the kids playing poorly a game they just made up. It's basically the person who’s at the center of the circle had to try to get the ball from someone who’s on the edges, while the other were throwing the ball to another person at the circle.
The birthday boy was in the center, and so far he wasn’t getting easily the ball, the other boys throwing between them fast.
“That supposed to be my happy day.” whined Eddie.
“Don’t be such a loser, Eddie.” joked Steve.
The ball was going to him, and Eddie noticed and he threw himself at Steve, making both to fall on the grass. The other boys were laughing so hard with their fall, seeing one weirdly above the other, because it wasn’t a nice fall.
But Steve and Eddie were laughing as well. It was stupid and childish, but that’s them, so that’s okay.
Eddie moved up to get up, but he stopped a few seconds and watched Steve laughing carelessly to him, because that’s what he do all the time to him. A smile that Eddie sees almost everyday from the past eight months but it’s too good to see again, like the rainbow after rain or the fog at dawn.
He got up and gave a hand so his friend could get up too. “Are you okay, Stevie? You didn’t break, did you?” asked Eddie, joking.
“You’re not that fat.” and the boys laughed.
-
The ride back home was quiet. Steve knew that feeling, he already detects his parents’ behaviors: his dad was looking forward, more concentrated than he needs to, and his mom was rolling up her fingers.
He's in trouble.
Steve did his night routine, and went into bed, praying that whatever he did his parents could forgive him and not punish him. The wrong part? He didn’t know why he’s in trouble which made him more nervous.
When they got inside his room he saw his father with a very rigid face and his mother with sad eyes. Something was very wrong, Steve could feel it.
“What happened?” asked Steve, holding himself on the blanket.
“Steve, your mom and I discussed...And we thought you won't be friends with Eddie anymore.” Mr Harrington said.
“What? Why?” Steve shouted, his heart running a mile now.
“Watch your tone with me, boy.” the man reproached. “He’s not a good influence on you.”
“It’s because he’s poor? It's not his fault!” Steve could feel his eyes watering.
“It’s not about that, baby, it’s...” Steve’s mom tried to help, but she didn’t know what to say, sitting next to her boy and looking to her son to her husband.
Mr Harrington walked to the door and said “I’m not allowing this boy close to you, and that’s final.” and he put himself out of the room, followed by his wife.
Steve cried for hours, wetting his pillow and bed, until he felt sleep, out of energy.