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Eddie wasn’t used to feeling love. At least not in a romantic way. He didn’t even know what love was exactly, to be honest, even less how to show it.
So when you first came along, he didn’t really know how to act. He immediately had a feeling bubbling up in his chest, a strong feeling, something he didn’t know he could feel.
He had never had a crush. Or at least not a proper one. Imagining he’ll marry his friend at daycare obviously didn’t count, children that age basically thought all love is just two people really enjoying each other’s company and that’s it, they couldn’t tell platonic love and romantic love apart.
Eddie knew they were different feelings, but he still wasn’t sure how to love, how to show love. If it was even love what he felt for you. Everyone around him said he’s clearly head over heels for you, but he didn’t know if he could just trust on his feelings — he felt like his father had corrupted the thought of romantic love for him, feeling like love destroyed him. After Eddie’s mother died, his father didn’t even try to be there for his son, rather plunging into crimes and destroying everything in his way. If love did that to his father, what would it do to him?
He sat at the roof of his uncles trailer with his guitar beside him, when he heard the soft clank of the ladder as someone climbed up, and your head soon poked into view. Eddie’s heart immediately jumped in joy, and he couldn’t help smiling at you.
“There you are,” you laughed. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
He shrugged. “It’s peaceful here.”
“I agree,” you mumbled and moved to sit beside him. “I used to do it too, visiting friends when I was younger. When world felt heavy, it was the best feeling to sit on the roof of their trailer, just looking at the clouds and dreaming about what my future could be. I still do it pretty often, though not on top of trailers anymore.”
He shifted slightly. “What do you dream your future to be like, then?”
You seemed to tense up slightly, biting your lip as you turned your face away from him. “Well, uh… it’s silly. Something stupid and naive.”
A memory from a few weeks ago flashed in Eddie’s head the moment he saw your reaction to his question.
Dustin rolled his eyes. “Well, for your information, they’re in love with you too.”
“And how do you know that?” Eddie huffed.
Dustin laughed. “People in love and such idiots. Everyone but you can see the way they look at you like you were the most gorgeous man around Hawkins, and they don’t care who finds their affection weird.”
Was Dustin right? Eddie closed his eyes for a moment. Ask them.
You shifted away from him. “Uh, yeah. I should go.”
He grabbed your hand just before you reached towards the ladder. “Don’t.”
You blinked, looking at your joined hands, then at him. “What are you—”
He shut you up by gently pulling you back next to him. “Dustin says you’re in love with me.”
Your eyes widened, before you turned away again. “Uh. I, uh. I told Dustin he can’t— I mean— no, of course not. And like, even if I were, I know you, uh, you would never see me that way.”
“Why do you think I wouldn’t?”
You shifted again, as if you were uncomfortable in your own skin right now. “You’re… you. And I’m… someone the likes of you would never like that way. As friends maybe but not more than that.”
He was quiet for a moment, before he sighed. “The thing is… Dustin told me you’re in love with me because he thinks I’m in love with you. But I don’t even know what love is exactly, but I would like someone to show me.”
Your eyes snapped up to him the moment he said that, and he offered you an awkward smile. “Someone like you.”
You let out a small breath, before a smile crept into your face, quickly forming into a grin. “I’d love to show you.”
Nearby, Dustin crouched behind the a, quietly fist bumping the air the moment he heard you say that — mission definitely accomplished.