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A pleasant fuzz in your head had you swimming, not thinking about anything and yet thinking about everything. Eyes zoned out and in your own world where everything is soft and peachy colored. Hearing a song just for you playing in your head, a perfect crescendo, a sweet balm.
Pureness.
A loud snap!
And you fall.
“Hey!” Nancy snaps her fingers, “You with us space cadet?” She smiles, knowing how you can get sometimes, especially when Argyle smokes you out. One time you were so out of it, when you came back to yourself a guy playing guitar at a party was smiling goofily at you. It was so awkward because he thought you were looking at him, trying to flirt. It was even more awkward when you squeaked out something and left to find any of your three friends.
Jonathan's smooth voice saying your name with the slightest concern.
Oh, that’s right.
Except you four are in a café, having an iced drink to escape the July heat. Argyle laughs and pats your back, “And we haven’t even smoked yet.” You laugh with him, cheeks heated with embarrassment. You just get like that sometimes; you can’t help it.
“Alright, let’s giver a break.” You look to Nancy like the angel she is, knowing you, growing up with you. Your ride or die. She winks at you.
Jonathan puts his elbows on the black stone table, coming closer and asking you, “So does it sound like fun, it’s inside and has a/c.” He says like he’s trying to convince you. Oh, they were making plans while you were in la la land.
Argyle gives him a cheesy smile, “You’re just afraid of frying at the lake.”
A huff. “Of course I am man, we aren’t all blessed with beautiful golden brown skin.”
“Awwww dude, I love you my little white Victorian child.”
Jonathan snickers, “What?”
You glance at Nancy as they banter, “So what’s he talking about?” Rolling her eyes and taking a drink, “The escape room they put in at the strip last month.”
Escpa ...”What the fuck is an escape room?” Drinking your own drink, it sounds...like from a horror movie. Like from Saw or some shit.
That’s when the boys come back to the conversation, Jonathan selling it more, “We get put in a room and we have to escape it, like we look for puzzle and riddles. It has themes and it’ll kill time. A-fucking-C.” He drives the end home.
You shrug, “Sure, why not.” You happen to like puzzles and were surprisingly good at them. A victorious yes comes from Jonathan, Argyle whines, “But the beach babes.”
Your turn to pat his back, “Sorry man but Johnny boy here is right, he would burn like a crisp.” Jonathan looks pleased, Argyle pouts and is about to say something but before he can-
Nancy perks, “Alright kids! The place open in about 20 minutes so we’ll need to leave soon.” She finishes up her drink, “Argyle we can go swimming tomorrow, and we’ll even bring this magical thing called sun block.” She eyes her boyfriend; Jonathan smirks and looks away with a small blush.
Nancy the planner, finishing your own drink, “Aye aye captain!” You’re first to salute, and the other two boys do as well, Jonathan saying “Fuck.” Because he was last, Argyle punches his shoulder softly, “Get good man.”
Nancy’s, “Oh lord.”
The other man just grumbles as you all leave, back into the heat.
~~~
Eddie wakes up with a groan, turning off his beeping alarm on his phone with a little bit more force than necessary. His head was pounding and oh how he regrets everything he drank last night, it was just supposed to be a couple of drinks with the guys but Jeff dropped the bomb that he and Barb are getting married so of course him and the guys celebrated...a bit too much.
He flops back on the bed, he laughs a little because not only is he hungover, but today is the day he is supposed to help out Steve. At the escape room. Interacting with people. And he feels like shiiiiiiiiit.
He forgets sometimes he’s not 20 anymore, and this is a prime reminder as he stretches and pops his naked back. Reaching for some aspirin, he takes some with the water by his bed, a line of water escaping and running down his chin, over his chest.
He wipes it away and he takes in some deep breaths. “Welp.” He gets up for the day, hoping the medicine will kick in soon, at least he’s not nauseous. Clad in only black boxers he scratches his stomach as he searches for something to eat.
“Perfect.” Finding some leftovers from the other night, heating it up in the microwave. A trill from his cell phone goes off, “Harrington I’m up, I swear I won’t be late.” Knowing his friend, and well...himself.
He hears the smile as Steve talks, “Yea no, I knew you would be, but that was before the texts.” Eddie groans, and puts it on speaker, “What texts?” He pulls them up, Steve snickers and just waits.
Embarrassment and amusement run through him. Oh gooooood .
E:Steve!
E: Steeeevieeee!
S:Eddie it’s 1:42am, what the hell do you want man?
S:Ok sorry that was harsh...you ok?
E: Hims getting married! Boys all grown up!
S:Who is getting married? Are you drunk?
E:No!! Noooo I’m not, just like. Jeff! He’s getting married and I'm the last one in the band who doesn’t someone and im 31! Steve! Marry me ok? If we don’t find anyone in two years ok?
S:You fucking drunk dork, where are you? Do you need a ride?
E:Home, just got here. I’m so proud but sad Steve. What do I do?
S:Eddie get some sleep, we’ll take in the morning. You still remember your opening for me, right?
E: Of course, but will you?
S:Will I what?
E:Marry me?
S:Omfg, Eddie set your alarms and I’ll think about it, ok?
E:See you tomorrow my potential fiancé
Steve just sends a kiss emoji.
Eddie smiles at the end, “Aww Harrington, a kiss? Baby.” He can practically feel Steve roll his eyes from a mile away, “I’m totally not marrying you by the way.”
Eddie scoffs, “And here I am, up on time. After a night of drinking mind you, about to help your ass out, and you don’t have the decency to marry me? The fucking nerve big boy.” He stuffs his mouth with food.
“Ok one, you’re not going to be alone your whole life, your ex was just a horrible person.” Eddie agrees, “And two I love you but I would have to smother you with a pillow if I had to hear your snoring every night.”
“Love you too baby.” Eddie puts the bowl in the sink for later, Steve sighs, “You good for real though?”
“Yea, I was just drunk, sorry for the texts.” The embarrassment comes back in waves, Steve laughs softly into the phone, “Hey, we’ve all been there, see you in 20 eh?”
“See you then man!” Eddie hangs up and gets dressed and brushes his teeth.
He makes it to the escape room in 18 minutes thank you, actually waiting for Steve. He sticks to the small shadow the building provides and is wearing his sunglasses, drinking his coffee. It’s tough wearing all black in the summer.
Steve shows up as Eddie wipes some sweat off his brow, “About time pretty boy!”
Steve gets the right key in his hand, “Ya ya don’t cream yourself.”
“Oh Stevie, too late.” Steve stops for a second with a look and they both laugh hard, “Jesus Eddie, come on.” He opens the door to the sweet cool air. He shows Eddie around, going over the rules and the cameras. Telling him Robin will be in at 3.
~~~
You don’t know anything; you don’t know anything except his lips moving. You might have heard something about helping an alien escape from Roswell, but that’s all in the past.
You’re in your place, the place you go to, except all you can do is take in his brown waves that go to his shoulders, the soft stubble across his face. Chocolate eyes with a cute nose and plush lips, the lips that are moving. The lips that are talking but you don’t hear.
Taking in his jewelry, the rings and his nose piercing, single thin silver necklace that disappears into his shirt.
His shirt.
Black with cut off arms, his arms which you see the muscles work as he uses his hands to explain things.
Black cargo shorts with strong legs, ending in black combat boots.
Holy fucking shit.
You never seen someone so fucking hot and beautiful at the same time, he was the devil. A fallen angel.
And oh god he’s looking at you with a little concern, but there was something else there as well you can’t identify.
Your name snaps you out of it, and you take a deep breath, “What? Sorry!” You tear your eyes off the guy and look at Nancy with pinched eyebrows knowing you did it again.
Her eyes were swimming, knowingly. “Eddie asked if you got all that.”
You internally scramble, you come up with nothing but know you heard something about an- “Alien! Yes, all good.” Argyle snickers softly, the guy- Eddie smiles bigger at you, “Right, last thing, if you need a break for any reason just hit the red button in there and I’ll let you out immediately.”
As he finishes up he catches you before you go into the room, “Have a fun time...” You thought he was going to finish but then you realize and say your name... maybe a little too loud, “Thanks, uh E-eddie.” Jesus Christ, no guy has made you this tongue tied.
“No problem sweetheart, I’ll be seeing ya.” He winks, and oh god you want his babies right goddamn now. Girl, calm the fuck down.
You beam, nodding at him before going in.
~~~
Eddie is surprised he got through the rules and spiel without fucking up, when he seen you walk in, he thought he died right on the spot. It was like a corny romance movie, light shining behind you, fan blowing and shit. And he noticed you stare, even making sure you were ok at one point. He was even brave and talked to you directly, being a little gun shy since his ex, it surprises even him. But you're so cute and dorky and nervous and he already
loves
likes you.
But Eddie’s face turns red, right off the bat as he puts the head phones on and watches your group.
You go on, “And did you see his lips?”
Argyle shows concern, “Uh dudette, you know-”
Jonathan interrupts, “Argyle it’s fine.”
“But-”
“His lips, oh my god I could kiss him all day and night. I want to write a stupid fucking poem just about his lips.”
Nancy laughs, “What else babe?” Argyle huffs at her, of course you don’t notice as you try and solve the first riddle, something with math so you let Jonathan take over, “When he called me sweetheart, my heart burst.”
“Awww, that’s cute.” Nancy unlocks a lock to a separate puzzle. You weren’t helping at all just leaning against a tube with an alien body in it, “His eyes are so cute, and his voice! Ughhh so deep and velvety.”
Argyle leans over to see the alien, “Gross, do you really think they dissected a real one?”
You answer with fire behind your eyes, “I know someone who I’d like to dissect me with his fin-”
Jonathan laughs strangely, “Ok that’s cool and all, are you going to help do this?” He points to a series of wires you have to do in order to get the code for a door it seems.
You shake him, “Did you see his smile, his dimples are to die for.” You go on, you can’t help it. This Eddie guy has perked your interest like no one has before, and you’ve only known him for two seconds.
“Ooooo is someone in love~?” Nancy coos while she gets the code, after doing the wires. You sigh and watch Argyle reach for a key in some goo. “We’re going to have 2.5 kids, one girl, one boy, and a dog. Live in the cool apartments downtown that have been there since 1823, have a favorite ghost named Henry. Whenever the kids act up, Henry scares them straight. The dog happens to love Henry, and supports the decision to scare our precious babies.”
“Oh my god.” Argyle smiles but wipes a hand across his face and accidentally gets some goo on his forehead, cool he says with a smile, liking the feeling. Nancy helps him clean up, “Let’s say he’s into you, how would one ask you out?” She says louder than normal.
“He wouldn’t even need to ask, he could just push me up the fucking wall Nance, stick his tong-”
Nancy goes even louder, “Ok! We get it!
You finally come out of dream land for a second and look around to try and help, it’s then you notice the camera, Oh it’s just probably part of the game, like “Security”.
Until you see another one, then another, “Uhhh-” You grab Jonathan's shirt, “There’s cameras in here, for like if we steal something?” You don’t want to panic just yet, maybe they are there in case something happens, not like they’re live...right?!
He pats your back, “So you didn’t hear what Eddie was saying huh?” He smirks knowingly.
You bristle, “No you shit, you know I was freaking in my little zone.” Please no!
Argyle, sweet Argyle who was trying to tell you, breaks the news, “Man I was trying to say there’s the cameras and they watch n’ listen in case we want a clue.”
No.
SWEET BABY JESUS NOOO.
You slowly turn to the camera, wish you could Thanos snap yourself, “I-I’m sorry, I promise I’m normal, and I hope you don’t think I’m like a freak or a pervert or something.” Face burning with embarrassment as your
asshole
loving friends die of laughter behind you.
The speaker comes in nicely, “Sweetheart, can we also have a cat? We need a big fat orange cat to keep tabs on Henry and watch him menacingly.”
You beam to the camera and get flirty, “Of course we can, also Henry will surely get lonely so you know-” You point to your friends, “We might need a sacrifice for him.”
All three protest as Eddie laughs, “Now darling, we have two kids, can’t start get into the business of killing. That should have happened before we got married and had kids.”
“Oh my god.” Argyle complains but is smiling. Yea you don’t escape the room, the other three working while you and Eddie flirt the whole time.
You have a date with him the next day, where he may or may have not at the end of pushed you up to a wall and kissed you.