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eddie graduating from high school and becoming friends with steve in the process. he wants to leave hawkins but there's nothing for him to chase yet. he's still young and he doesn't really know what he wants to do and he's not even sure there's anything he can do. all he knows is music and storytelling. he's not sure how to get by on that so he decides to stay for another spring. steve is always with him. they're more alike than he would've ever thought. steve is also adrift. steve understands. spring ends. eddie decides to stay for another summer too.
somehow steve helps him get a job. they get together every night and talk about their day. they go swimming. well eddie goes swimming. steve dips his feet into the water and watches him splash around. he looks so sad sometimes. eddie doesn't ask. he doesn't think steve is ready to tell him why the water makes him so tense when he used to cut through it like a pro back in high school. steve will talk when he's ready. eddie will be here to listen. summer ends. eddie decides to stay and watch the leaves go yellow and orange.
the fall is eddie's favorite time of year. there's always a comfortable chill outside and all the colors of the season make him feel at ease. steve is more quiet these days. he goes especially silent as they approach halloween. eddie splurges on a bag of candy and they sit in his trailer and watch scary movies. steve opens up about nancy. about how the word bullshit will never not make him flinch. eddie holds him through the night. he kisses his forehead. it's the first time steve just melts into him. fall ends. eddie stays because he doesn't think he'd get very far while the weather is cold.
they spend most of the winter months indoors. they smoke and drink because that's all there is to do. they share their first kiss next to steve's ridiculously large christmas tree. eddie will always remember the shade of red on steve's cheeks when he pulled away. the way his eyes sparkled like christmas lights. the coldness of his nose as it brushed against his face. they keep each other warm for the rest of the season. winter ends. eddie stays and puts flowers in steve's hair as they begin to blossom.
they have a good thing going. eddie has caught himself trying to say 'i love you' it scares him. he feels like he's gotten too comfortable. too complacent. steve is adrift too but not like him. he's not eager to leave hawkins. not like eddie is. they're alike but also so different still. eddie cannot stay in hawkins. not when people still sneer at him and cower away from him like he's a devil. eddie loves steve. he's sure steve loves him back. that love is not enough. spring ends. eddie is gone before the days get hot and the freckles on steve's face begin to show.