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Freshman year was turning into... something. It wasn't bad per se, but it still kind of sucked. High school wasn't shaping up to be much better than middle school. But Hellfire was cool, and Eddie was really cool. Dustin had joined the honor society right away if Dustin wanted to be a Nobel Prize winner by age 30
His mom had been spending more and more time at the hospital. He ended up at Steve’s house a lot for dinner. One weekend he had gone to the hospital to volunteer to sit with the patients in long-term care, he needed volunteer hours for the Honor Society. His mom took him to this one room in a dark corner of the end of the hospital. It kind of freaked him out, after everything. There wasn’t much in this town that didn’t freak him out. The Upside Down was everywhere, it infected everything. He hated being here, but he needed the hours.
There was just one guy in this room, all alone. It was so quiet. When his mom saw the food outside the door she hissed.
“Are you kidding me? I thought we were nurses here, but maybe some of my colleagues should go get checked out at the NICU because apparently, they’re all BABIES!” She shouted towards the nurses’ station and handed him the tray and opened the door.
There was a man lying there, he was covered in like purple spots. Dustin wasn’t stupid. He knew what that was. Those were Kaposi’s Sarcomas. He had AIDS. This man was dying.
“Hey, Doug this is my son. He’s here with the honor society, he’s hanging out with patients. So if you need anything, you can get him to sneak you M&M’s from the vending machine and I’ll pretend not to notice.” His mom had told Doug, putting the food out on the rolling tray thing next to the bed.
“Hi! I’m Dustin Henderson!” Dustin walked up to him and stuck out his hand for a handshake.
Doug eyed it, seemingly in shock. But eventually, he took it. Shaking it with both hands, tight. “I didn’t think the school would let you around someone like me. Never mind for extra credit.”
“Fuck the school,” Dustin said, sagely.
“Dusty! Language!” His mother admonished. Doug shot him a smile though.
Eventually, his mom had to go to other patients. Dustin sat with Doug till visiting hours were over though.
His mom was a secretary at the Hawkins Post, and his dad was an accountant. Doug was only 21, he had gone to Hawkins High School (which would have put him in Eddie’s original grade) and then he went to the University of Chicago for dance. His favorite musical was A Chorus Line and Dustin’s was Sweeney Todd . They both like Starlight Express , The Wiz , and Fiddler on the Roof . Doug got to play the guy who did the bottle dance, and Dustin thought that was the coolest thing ever.
He got sick a few months ago, just after he finished his first year in school. Not too long after the Byers moved. His parents had let him stay with them for the first few weeks, but he got sicker really quickly. They never visited him at the hospital. That made Dustin really mad, he knew how scary it was for Will when he was in the hospital surrounded by his family and friends. He didn’t understand how his mom wasn’t there.
“What about your friends?” Dustin asked him.
“A couple friends from high school visit when they can, most of them are in college. Mostly it's just your mom if I’m honest. Most of the other nurses won’t even come in to give me my dinner.” Doug put down a pair of kings.
“Well. You have me now, I’m your friend now, and I’m going to visit you.” Dustin said resolutely. He did not say that lightly, being a friend was a big deal, Dustin understood that better than most.
“Just what I need, a 12-year-old for a friend.” Doug laughed, but there was no malice in it. Dustin could see through him, he was being sarcastic but that didn’t make it untrue.
“Hey, I’m fourteen! Besides my two best friends are your age!”
“Sure they are kid,” Doug said, putting down some cards and ruffling his hair.
They played War and some other games, but it was really really quiet. It made Dustin’s skin crawl.
“Why do you keep it so quiet in here?”
“My dad said he would drop off my tapes and tape player when he visited. But, he never came. He told me he doesn’t want to see me. I put the T.V. on sometimes, but there’s nothing on really. It all gets old after awhile.”
That made Dustin even angrier, that was total bullshit!
“Where do they live? I’ll get them for you.”
“Kid, I’m not going to ask you to do that.”
“I’m going to do it one way or another. I’m really good at breaking and entering, like really good. Just make it easier on both of us and tell me so I don’t have to go look.” Dustin was not bluffing. He was absolutely going to make sure Doug got some music in here.
“What do you mean that you’re really good at breaking and entering?” Doug gave him a stunned face. He forgot that wasn’t a thing most kids his age did.
“That’s not important. What’s the address?” Doug gave him a look, and he wrote down his address on a piece of paper.
All Dustin needed was a plan now.
It was a Monday night, he had it all planned out. Steve was over for dinner because he was always at dinner with them on Monday nights. Dinner was a kind term for it, since it was actually at 4:00, because of his mom’s shift. But it was dinner food, and the food was good so it worked for everyone. It had only been two days, but he wanted to get this done as soon as possible. He didn’t want Doug to be in that quiet room longer than he had to be.
Steve brought He-Man & She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword from Family Video, and Dustin was kind of upset because he did really want to see that. But he had more important things to worry about. He had told his mom his plan the day before, and she really liked it. She hugged him tight and told him she was proud of him. She told him it was best he not keep her in the loop, but told him to do whatever he needed to do.
So, once she was off to work and Steve was making him do his homework, he was waiting. He knew to expect it at any moment.
Ding Dong
“I’ll go get it,” Steve said, getting up.
“No! I’ve got it!” Dustin said bolting towards the door. He had a plan. Steve wasn’t going to like the plan, and he was unclear if Eddie would, but he could convince them. He had to convince them.
“Hey, Dustin, what’s all this about? You’re being like extra weird today.” Eddie asked as he walked into the kitchen.
“That’s rich coming from you Munson.” Steve let out a little huff as he dried the dishes. He turned to look at them, throwing the towel over his shoulder. He always looked like a mom when he did that. It made Dustin giggle. “He does have a point though. What’s up?”
“I need your help.” Dustin blurted out, his plan of where to start getting lost.
“What do you need?” Eddie sat down, sitting in rapt attention.
Steve’s eyes widened, he was still standing behind Eddie. He started pointing at the ground and mouthed Is it the Upside Down
Dustin shook his head, and Steve’s shoulders relaxed.
“I need to commit a crime, and I need your help.” Eddie’s jaw dropped, he seemed frozen.
“No! The last time I helped you with one of your schemes I got shot full of Russian drugs!” Steve was pointing the towel at him like he did when he wouldn’t drive them to the tunnels. But Dustin knew he would cave. Eddie’s head shot towards Steve, stunned.
“No! It’s not like that at all! I swear! It’s just some breaking and entering! You wouldn’t even need to get out of your car!” Dustin assured him, he used the calming voice for when he spooked Steve.
“I guess that’s not that bad,” Steve sighed. He sat down next to Eddie at the table and started rubbing his temples. “Where is it? I’m not helping you break into any more government buildings, though. That always bites me in the ass, what’s the plan?”
Eddie was still in shock, he was confused as to why these people were talking about Russian drugs and breaking and entering like it was just another Tuesday afternoon.
“Eddie, are you in?” Dustin did not see any of the gears turning in his head, and was getting impatient.
“Before I agree to join whatever conspiracy you have roped me into, I’d like to know why I’m here and what exactly you want me to risk a felony for?”
“I need help picking some locks. I’m getting really good at door locks, but I’d like to be sure. This is really important. And you don’t care about skipping school-”
“Wait you want to skip school for this? I’m not comfortable helping you cut class, your mom would kill me.” Steve interrupted, and Eddie just could not take that.
“B and E, and being the getaway driver is fine by you but you draw the line at skipping school without mom’s permission?” Eddie asked, absolutely stunned. He could hardly wrap his head around the fact that Steve Harrington was sitting with him in Dustin’s house. The fact they were committing conspiracy was absolutely above his paygrade. But the priorities that this guy had? Eddie felt like he was going to pass out, this had to be the strangest dream he had ever had.
“Well, yeah. Claudia’s nice I wouldn’t want to break her trust like that.” Steve shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world. It absolutely was not.
“Guys, we can’t get distracted. We need to get my friend’s music collection and speakers from his house!”
“Why does that involve a felony?” Steve asked, getting up to put on the coffee maker. Eddie shot him a look in gratitude. They were both going to need it.
“He’s in the hospital. His dad said he would bring it, but he refuses to see him now.” Dustin said it so sadly, like every word pained him. It made Eddie’s soul hurt. And if he could read between the lines, well, this was a crime he had no qualms about committing. He knew what disease made you lose people like that. He was metal as hell, anarchist through and through, power to the people, and all that shit. Power to the people, because he didn’t know if that was going to be him. “Steve, he’s in the hospital. Same wing as the summer. It’s so quiet in there. And he loves music and dance. Imagine if Will didn’t have any friends or family to visit him, and no mixtapes, no nothing. Just all alone-”
“Dustin, I already said yes. I’ll help you, I just wanna know the plan buddy.” Steve ruffled Dustin’s hair, and Dustin was grinning ear to ear
“Great, so I have his address. Tomorrow let’s go to his house grab the tapes and the stereo. If we go at like 11:00 no one should be home, both of his parents work. We’ll take Steve’s car since it’s less conspicuous. Eddie lose the jacket and chains maybe so we blend in a little better. Get in, get out, take it all to the hospital.”
“Sounds perfect. It shouldn’t take more than ten minutes, and a stereo and some tapes isn’t too bad. We’ll show those Watergate guys how it's done,” Eddie clapped his hands together, he was still shocked at how well this child could plan a job like this. “What’s the address?”
Dustin handed him a playing card, and his blood ran cold. He knew this address. He knew this address quite well.
“Dustin, are you sure this address is right?” Eddie’s voice was barely over a whisper.
“Yeah he wrote it down for me, I’m sure.” Dustin scoffed, and Steve was going to punch this child. Steve could do the math, that Dustin wasn’t doing. He wasn’t stupid. He knew what this guy was sick with. He knew how that spread. He knew what the stalls in the boy’s bathroom by Mrs. O’Donal’s room said, and the ones in the locker room, and the bathroom by the gym, and under the bleachers. He didn’t necessarily believe it then, but now, now he did.
“Eddie-” Steve put his hand on Eddie’s shoulder. Eddie brushed it off.
“Well, this plan isn’t going to work. I know this house, I know Doug’s speakers. It’s this crazy big setup, like bolted down to the shelves. The tapes we can get, no problem. But you have to figure out something else for the stereo, even if it was possible to get the thing out of there, we’d get caught lugging the thing out.” Eddie threw the card back to Dustin.
“FUCK!” Dustin shouted and slammed the table. It startled Steve, who was staring at Eddie. Dustin started pacing around the room. “What are we going to do? I promised him! I don’t have enough money to get him one or I would. Maybe we can try and shoplift one-”
“Dustin, why don’t you call Mr. Clarke? Didn’t you have all that kind of stuff in AV Club? I could have sworn I saw like four boomboxes when I picked you and Lucas up last month.” Steve crossed his arms, and Dustin ran up to him in a hug, and kissed the top of his head.
“You, Steve Harrington are genius!” He ran over to the wall and called Mr. Clarke.
“Hello, Scott Clarke speaking-”
“Mr. Clarke, it’s Dustin. I need a favor tomorrow. It’s an emergency.”
“Uh, sure, what do you need?”
“Can you meet me at the hospital tomorrow at noon with a boombox?”
“Um, what’s going on?”
“My friend is sick. He used to be a dancer, or maybe he still is. I don’t know, the tenses are confusing. Anyway, he likes to dance. He needs music. We’re the AV club, maybe it can be a charitable outreach thing. Helping people through technology in like a bunch of different ways.” Dustin rambled, trying to think of something.
“Well, I already had a doctor’s appointment at 11:00 at the hospital. Just tell me what room, and I’ll be there. Boombox in tow.”
Dustin rattled off the room number.
“Well, this is shaping up to be an excellent felony.” Eddie smiled when Dustin got back to the table. Steve noticed the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. And yeah, he got that.
“Wanna stay and watch He-Man with me and Steve?” Dustin asked.
“I better get going, I don’t want to intrude.” Eddie got up, but Steve grabbed his wrist. He hadn’t really thought of what he was supposed to say, he was just working on instinct.
“Stay, I already have the coffee on the pot, and I told Claudia I would make her cookies. I need someone to taste test the dough, since Dustin is a wimp and afraid of salmonella.” Steve looked him in the eyes, hoping it conveyed what he was thinking. I know. I know how you know this guy. I know why you’re scared. Don’t be alone .
“Well, I guess if we’ve got to get up bright and early to get the goods, might as well stay over.”
Dustin ended up falling asleep on the couch like ten minutes into He-Man. Steve was mixing in chocolate chips.
“You know, Claudia is a nurse. She’s pretty cool. She does HIV testing off the books, free, no insurance. After we give this guy his music, she could take care of it for you.” Steve said carefully. He didn’t want to spook Eddie, but it was important information.
“And how do you know this, your majesty?” Eddie asked with a laugh and a bow, trying to brush it off and distract. Get him to focus on King Steve and all that bullshit. And Steve might have, but not right now.
“Well, she gave one to me. No questions asked. Gave me a cookie and everything too.” Steve said with a smile, taking a spoon out and taking a bite of the dough.
“Oh.” Eddie said. Steve couldn’t really figure out what his face was doing. “Yeah, um. I think I might.”
Steve smiled, and pat him on the back. The cookies went in the oven with the sounds of She Ra filling the room.
“I’m gonna wake up Dustin, get him up to bed. I call dibs on the couch tonight.” Eddie touched his nose with a laugh.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Take Dustin’s bed, he’s out cold till tomorrow.” Steve was not letting this fucker sleep on the couch after a bombshell like that, he wasn’t a monster.
“I can’t-”
“Eddie, take the bed. You need some good rest, you’re the one picking the locks tomorrow. I’m just the getaway driver.” Steve clapped him on the shoulder and headed towards the couches in the living room.
The next morning Steve woke up bright and early making pancakes for everyone. This was the first time he was planning on committing a crime, and if past experiences were anything to go by, one unexpected regret is not eating beforehand. Everything about getting trapped in the Russian base sucked, but he would have really appreciated a sandwich or something. It’s really hard to run for your life on an empty stomach.
So once he finished the pancakes and realized he still had some time he packed the cookies in a few different tupperwares. Whoever was sick could use a good homemade chocolate chip cookie. He still had a few hours before anyone else would be awake.
To fill the time he actually made four turkey sandwiches, he found the cooler in the pantry. He could keep them in the car for everyone, so in case they did get kidnapped, they would have something to eat.
It was about then that Dustin and Eddie woke up and went into the kitchen. Dustin smiled and ran to get a plate. He started chewing really fast and with his mouth open, and it made Steve roll his eyes.
“Close your mouth when you chew, your mom raised you better than that.” He said swatting Dustin with the dish towel. “And a thank you would be nice!”
“Thank you!” Dustin said, still with his mouth open.
“What did I just say! Munson, sit down and start eating before everything gets cold.”
Eddie was in shock at the scene before him, King Steve was yelling at some snotty freshmen to close his mouth while he was chewing, and this was like, normal for them.
“What’s all this for?” He asked.
“Well it’s a big day. I figured it would be a bad idea to do everything on an empty stomach. And then I realized I still had time so I made sandwiches in case we get hungry later.” Steve shrugged.
“Harrington, this is a B&E not a picnic.” Eddie laughed.
“Well, no sense in being hungry on either”
And Eddie just had to nod along, like this wasn’t the weirdest fucking thing.
They had pretty perfect timing, getting to the house at exactly 11:00.Steve put in his favorite Madonna album.
“Are you playing Like a Virgin on the way to a burglary?” Eddie asked incredulously, from the back seat. He was still a little confused about how he got stuck in the back, never mind the fact he’s committing a felony with his high school enemy and listening to Madonna while they did it.
“Yes, and I will not hear a word against it, Munson.” Steve shut him up so simply, left no room for argument.
Steve parked on the street right outside. He opened up a map pretending to read it, and left the car running, ready to floor it as soon as they needed to just in case.
Overall, it went pretty smoothly. Dustin and Eddie snuck around back. Eddie picked the lock fairly quickly, and the door opened with no real issues.
“Come on, his room is this way,” Eddie said, guiding him through the house. When they got there, he closed the door behind Dustin, in case they needed a quick escape through the window. Eddie was quite familiar with that window, having jumped out it on a number of occasions. It didn’t look that different, even now. “Grab all the tapes on that shelf, I’m going to get the mixtapes.”
Dustin started filling the backpack to the brim. God, Doug had so many tapes. Eddie went into his closet (the irony was not lost on him) and opened the box that said he had jazz shoes in it. Eddie knew that it was not jazz shoes, he kept his jazz shoes in the bag under his bed. It was the mixtapes Eddie had given him, back when they were dating. It didn’t end badly, Doug graduated and Eddie didn’t. Doug wanted to make things work long distance, and Eddie knew he would drag Doug down. Eddie knew Doug was going places, Eddie hoped he would too. He hoped he’d be a rockstar. But Doug needed to focus on himself, he didn’t need trailer trash that got held back, holding him back.
After he dumped everything from the jazz shoe box into his backpack, he grabbed the ballet shoes and the tap shoes, wondering if maybe he had some other old flames. He was right, and he tossed it all in the bag. He wasn’t jealous, he was happy for Doug. He checked the rest of the shoes, just in case. The rest were actually just shoes.
Once he was done he grabbed a few pictures in frames and stuffed them in the bag. “C’mon kid let's go.”
They got out of the house perfectly smoothly, and they walked calmly and cooly and utterly inconspicuously. He checked his watch, in and out in less than twelve minutes, not bad.
They got back in the car, and Steve drove off at perfectly the speed limit.
When they got to the hospital, they saw Mr. Clarke outside on the bench. Dustin ran up to him and gave him a hug. “Thank you so much!”
“Of course! Always happy to help any curiosity adventure in the community,” He smiled brightly. “Always lovely to see you, Steve. And wow, if it isn’t Eddie Munson, you look so different! Your hair looks good though!”
They walked through the hospital, letting Dustin guide them through the hallways. It was weird, Mr. Clarke was always so nice. He really cared about the kids, it was kind of foreign to Eddie.
“What’s with the backpacks?” Mr. Clarke interrupted his zoning out.
“Don’t ask,” Steve said shooting him a look.
“Oh, it’s one of those curiosity adventures. Got it. Well, I know the drill, if anyone comes around asking I know nothing.” he nodded like it was nothing. This only added to Eddie’s confusion. Why was everyone Dustin knew so familiar with how to deal with felonies? Why was this such a regular occurrence? He was like fourteen and he was a total nerd.
Doug looked, he didn’t look good.
“Hey, Doug! I told you I’d get the tapes! I brought some friends, sorry for not telling you. I don’t get my license till next year so I needed Steve to drive. Eddie was really helpful, my lock picking isn’t-”
“Dustin what did I tell you? This stuff stays between us, remember?” Steve scolded, and Dustin looked properly ashamed. “Sorry. Anyway, Eddie and I got your tapes!”
That got Doug to look over at Eddie, eyes wide. Steve watched, as they had a moment. “Hey, Dustin, you, me, and Mr. Clarke should go get your mom. Doug needs an IV change according to his chart.”
“We just got here, and we can press the call button, and-”
“C’mon buddy, just come with me,” Steve said grabbing him by the shoulders and guiding him out the room to give the two a private moment. Luckily Mr. Clarke followed them and closed the door behind him.
“Eddie-” Doug called, breathless. He was starting to tear up, it didn’t feel real. Eddie, his first love, his first kiss, his first everything, was here. Eddie ran up to him and they were both crying, holding each other. Suddenly, Doug realized he hadn’t heard from Eddie since he told his mom to call him. Eddie was crying into his shoulder, muttering something barely audible over Eddie’s own sobs. It had been so long, he missed Eddie so much, even just as a friend. He never heard back, after he told his mom to call Eddie. He figured Eddie was just mad at him, which Doug kind of understood even if it did break his heart. Now though, now he needed to no. He needed to know that Eddie was safe. “Are you negative? How’d your test go?”
“I had no idea, I swear if I knew I would have been here sooner. I haven’t taken a test yet, I’m going to ask Dustin’s mom later-”
“You better. Promise me. Promise me you’re gonna let me know. I’ve been so worried, I just– I figured you didn’t want to hear from me.” Doug was holding Eddie’s jacket tight, trying to make himself believe this was real.
“I never not want to hear from you, I thought you were still in Chicago. If I knew you were in Hawkins I would have called. If I knew you were here I would have parked my ass in that chair over there.” That made Doug’s blood run cold.
“My mom called you, she told me she told you when I came home. She told me you knew, I couldn’t- I couldn’t call. She said she called everyone.” Doug started crying more. It’s been months, it’s been months and Eddie had no idea.
“Nothing we can do about that now. I’m getting tested today. I can call everyone else, just give me their numbers and I’ll take care of it.”
It was at that moment that Claudia, Dustin, Steve, and his old science teacher walked in.
“How come I don’t hear music! I heard someone got a special delivery!” Claudia walked in bringing so much life and warmth back into the room. She walked over and gave him a big hug.
“You heard about this?” Doug’s jaw dropped. Did his nurse commit a felony for him?
“I heard absolutely nothing, except-” She picked up the closest tape to her. “A Night at the Opera!”
She plugged in the boombox and popped in the tape, and Death on Two Legs began to play.
“I’ve got other patients, but may I have this dance, Mr. Jones?” Claudia held her hand out to him, he took it. She helped him out of bed. He was so tired, but God did he miss dancing.
It was a silly two-step, nothing like he used to be capable of doing, but it made him feel alive. They weren’t on beat, and the style of dance didn’t match the song at all. But it was the best he’s felt in months. When the song ended, she helped him into a chair.
“Well, I should get going…” Claudia said, frowning.
“Actually, could I use the phone, Mrs. Henderson? I need to make a few calls.” Eddie asked, grabbing the paper Doug left on the table.
“Of course sweetie. And call me Claudia.” And they left.
While they were leaving Steve heard Eddie say “Actually, Mrs. Henderson can I ask you for another favor?”
Scott, Doug, Dustin and Steve were playing Gin Rummy. Eddie Munson had been gone for twenty minutes, so he decided it couldn’t hurt to check on him. He was also losing quite badly, so he could save himself some embarrassment. Eddie was standing next to the phone on the side wall, his head was hanging low, and he was crying.
“How are you holding up?”
Eddie looked up at his old teacher in confusion. “What?”
“Eddie, I get it. This is always hard. We’ve all seen a lover or two in a way they never should have been in. It doesn’t get any easier the fifth time, but the first time is certainly the worst. So. How are you holding up?”
Eddie just broke down into crying harder. Scott just hugged him tightly, rubbing his back. This was his student not too long ago. Now they were in a hospital, becuase his classmate (And first love, presumably) was dying. It filled Scott with rage. It was bad enough when he thought about himself and his friends, having to bury a lover at 40. He knew it was affecting the kids, but he hadn’t really seen it up close. That was his student in there. Doug Jones, a happy young kid with a bright future. He was going to be on Broadway. Hell, he even got out of Hawkins! But not anymore. He was practically sentenced to death because society didn’t give a shit about them. It reminded him of when they all thought Will Byers had died, and whatever poor soul was in that grave. It wasn’t deserved. It wasn’t just. It wasn’t fair.
“I didn’t know, not till today. I just, I’m getting tested tomorrow, but there’s just so much going on. Doug is sick, like really sick, and realistically he’s not gonna make it. And also I might be sick? And I’m scared I’m really scared, but I can’t be scared, because I need to be here for Doug-”
“Eddie, you’re allowed to be scared. No one is going to judge you for that, and if they do it’s because they’re a butthead. There’s no guide for this, they don’t make how-to guides for when your ex-boyfriend is dying from a plague, that no one’s doing anything about. You are already doing something. If I’m picking up the clues right, you commit a felony for him. You brought him his music, Eddie. You know how important music is to Doug. You’re a good kid, and you’ve got a good heart. Don’t be hard on yourself for not knowing what to do or being scared. Got it?” Eddie just nodded and hugged Mr. Clarke tight. Scott thought this would be a good time to bring this up.“I hope you’re being safe.” He whispered in his ear.
“ Don’t worry I know ‘you can't go wrong, if you shield your dong’ I don’t need the talk.” Eddie said with a laugh, praying to end that conversation.
“Eddie, I’m not just talking about condoms. I know what that bandana means. I’m not judging, really I’m not. You’re just, you’re still in high school, and sometimes there are going to be people who try to take advantage of that. Make sure you’re protecting your heart and your body. Okay?” Mr. Clarke pat him on the shoulder, and Eddie just nodded, kind of stunned.
They walked back to Doug’s room.
Dustin, Steve, and Doug were eating the sandwiches and arguing about the cookies.
“I’m telling you, you need to use rock salt when baking! It makes everything better!” Bruce was insisting.
“I don’t believe you, but I will come back next week with a batch of normal chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate chip cookies with rock salt in them, and we will see how it tastes then? Winner gets to pick the first card game.” Steve laughed.
They all argued about wether chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookies were better, for quite some time. Love of my Life came on, and that was Eddie and Doug’s song. They had danced to that so many times. As soon as the first notes started playing, Eddie held his hand out, “For old times sake?”
They swayed and danced around the room, smiling. Forgetting, for a moment, where and when they were.
Steve looked at them, and he felt something sink in his stomach. I like Eddie Munson. And he’s gay. But he’s already in love with someone. And I can’t be upset, because they’re actually awesome together. And that hurt like a bitch.
But it could be worse. And this room and the sounds of Queen, and a warmth in an otherwise cold and sad room brought happy tears to his eyes. Seeing Dustin, smiling so wide at someone he admired so much, dancing with a lover, actually happy for them, it made him realize some things. Maybe Dustin was cool with it. Maybe he could tell him, maybe soon. Not right now, but soon.
That night, when Eddie got home to the trailer, he ran into Uncle Wayne’s room and cried. He cried, and cried, and cried. And Wayne held him. When he told Wayne, Wayne cried. He held him tight.
“You’re my boy, you’re always going to be my boy. We’ll figure this out, whatever happens, we’ll figure this out together.” Wayne took off work the next day and took him to the hospital. Held his hand tight because Eddie hated needles. Wayne never understood how that boy had so many damn tattoos, but when it was time to get a few shots for high school, he needed Wayne to be there so he wouldn't freak. Not that Wayne minded. He will hold Eddie's hand as long as he needs to.
When Eddie got the results a few weeks later, they cried happy tears again. They held each other and cried happy tears again. He was with Eddie when he told Doug. Made sure to visit when he could, he might not be Eddie’s boy anymore, but the kid needed somebody. So he’d say hi when he could.