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“I told you they’d have it!” Eddie grabbed Gareth’s shoulders, shaking him vigorously before rushing over to the display.
“Killing Is My Business…” Eddie picked the album up and dramatically gave it a noisy kiss. “...And Business Is Good!” He held it up to his nose and inhaled deeply, breathing in that new album cover smell.
Gareth jutted his chin up, folding his arms across his chest. “Ay, don’t get too comfy, you still gotta pay—“ He leaned forward, squinting to read the price tag. “—like 8 bucks for it.”
“Not to worry, Gare,” Eddie reached into his front pocket and pulled out a crumpled 20-dollar bill, holding it up between his index and middle finger. He’d just done a pretty good deal this morning, meaning he had some extra cash to burn. “This baby’s allll mine.”
Eddie took the vinyl and walked it to the checkout, sliding it across the counter. “Ring this up for me, will ya’ Danny?” He grinned, reading the name tag pinned to the cashier’s shirt.
The man blinked and subtly rolled his eyes before punching a bunch of numbers into the cash register. “7.98,” he deadpanned.
Eddie slapped the bill down, sliding it forward as well. “Make sure to bag it up nice and pretty, alright?” Danny did the exact opposite, haphazardly stuffing the receipt and album into a Sam Goody bag.
Eddie bounced on his toes, practically bursting at the seams as he took the bag, turning around to face Gareth and holding it up triumphantly. “Sold to the man in gray!”
The cashier handed him his change and Eddie gave him a small head bow in return. “Thank you, kind sire.” Danny gave him the fakest smile he’d ever seen as a response and he took it as a sign to leave.
Eddie peeked into the bag, moving the plastic out of the way so he could look at the cover design. A skull with metal bolted over its eyes and iron-clad teeth stared back at him, the words "Megadeth" printed across the top in a blood-red gothic font.
“Megadeth’s first official album.” Eddie sighed and shook his head while walking out of the record store. “God, this feels like a dream.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet, for you.” Gareth nudged him and lowered his voice a little, so as to not invite eavesdropping. “We all know you have a thing for Dave Mustaine.”
Eddie smirked and raised his eyebrows, matching Gareth’s volume. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Eddie glanced around the mall, taking in the view. The place had just opened up a few weeks ago and man, was it fancy. A little vibrant for his taste, but he could tell where the tax dollars went. It was also pretty convenient, in the sense that he could grab a record, a book, and some chow, all in one trip.
Eddie's stomach grumbled as a result of thinking about food and he and Gareth turned to look at one another. "Wanna grab a bite to eat?" Gareth offered and Eddie grinned. "Gareth, you read my mind."
They stopped by Hot Dog On A Stick and sat on the plant lot in the middle of the food court, since a lot of the seats were already taken.
"Why call it a "hot dog on a stick" when it's just a fuckin' corndog?" Gareth asked, inspecting his "hot dog". Eddie shrugged and took a bite of his own, leaning his elbows onto his thighs. "’M not complaining." He mumbled, mouth full.
"Makes no fuckin’ sense, hot dogs have buns, not batter–" Gareth continued to air his grievances and Eddie eventually stopped listening, instead focusing on the ice cream parlor in front of them.
It was a cute little shop, the nautical theme showing itself in all aspects, from the name ‘Scoops Ahoy' down to the ridiculous uniforms the employees were wearing.
A girl was working out front and Eddie perked up slightly, immediately recognizing her. She was from school, in his band class. Buckley, if he remembered correctly. He didn’t recall her first name.
The door behind her opened and Eddie’s eyes narrowed, before growing as wide as saucers. “Gareth. Gareth, shut up a second.” Eddie hit his shoulder a couple times, interrupting his rant.
Gareth jerked away, giving Eddie a confused look. “Ow, the hell, man?”
“Scoops Ahoy, 12 o’ clock.” Eddie muttered, eyes still trained in front of him. Gareth’s brow furrowed and he turned to look in the direction Eddie was staring.
A guy stepped out, taking his sailor’s hat off to rake his fingers through his hair before putting it back on again. He stopped to talk to Buckley, putting his hands on his hips and resting his weight on one foot.
Gareth’s eyes also went wide, his jaw falling to the floor. “No.” He leaned forward, squinting. “Is that Harrington?”
And indeed it was. Steve Harrington, “The Hair”, “King of Hawkins High”, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
And yet there he was, slinging ice cream and looking like he just got told to swab the poop deck.
Eddie stuck his tongue in his cheek. “I’d recognize that mop anywhere. Aren’t his parents like, rich or something? What’s he doing working a 9 to 5?”
“Maybe Mommy and Daddy cut him off after graduation?” Gareth chuckled.
“Yeah…” Eddie said, standing up slowly. He reached down and grabbed his bag, marching towards the parlor.
“Eddie. What are you doi– Eddie.” Gareth hissed through his teeth, standing up and speed-walking to catch up with him.
Eddie slid into the booth near the entrance, propping the flavor menu up on the table and ducking behind it. Gareth followed suit, plopping down next to him.
“Are you crazy?” Gareth whispered loudly, peeking over the menu.
“On occasion.” Eddie jested. “Listen. Harrington is right here, looking about as stupid and vulnerable as a deer in headlights. You really wanna pass up a chance to fuck with him?”
Gareth thought about it for a moment and his eyes widened, a devious grin spreading across his face. “You’re a genius, man.”
It wasn’t bullying. Not at all. If anything it was reverse bullying. Steve Harrington and his group of dickhead jock buddies had made Eddie and his friends' lives a living hell ever since he stepped foot in Hawkins High.
Well…kind of. It was mostly Tommy Hagen who was the ass. Steve was always just kinda…there.
A few years back, he’d accidentally bumped into Tommy after school, dropping all his stuff on the floor.
In response, he ever so courteously decided that stepping on Eddie’s Tiamat miniature was an appropriate reaction. “Awh, was that important?” He snickered, warranting laughs from his peers. “Watch where you walk next time, freak. Or I’ll break more than your stupid toy.”
A wing and two of her heads snapped off and he had to super glue them back on in time for the campaign that night.
He remembered Steve just…standing there. Didn’t even move an inch. They made eye contact and for the briefest moment, Eddie thought he saw an inkling of pity. But nope, he joined right in with them, laughing as they kicked his sketchbook and campaign planner across the floor.
Steve was just like the rest of them, he’d be a fool to think otherwise.
Eddie realized he was making a fist and he unclenched his hand, his nails leaving indents in his palms.
Buckley went through the door to the back, leaving Steve out all by his lonesome to refill the rainbow sprinkles.
“Ok, now's our chance.” Gareth whispered. “What’re you thinking we do? We can’t just be assholes, that’d be stooping to his level.”
Eddie hadn’t really thought that far ahead. “Hmm…” he hummed, touching his lip with his tongue. “I think I’ve got something.”
Eddie stood up, making his way over to the counter. Harrington was a flirt, everybody knew that. It was a fact of life at this point.
But surprise surprise, so was Eddie. Hypothetically. In theory.
He had never actually flirted with another guy before, not seriously at least.
Not that this was serious, it very much was not.
But it was the perfect opportunity. He could brush up on his pickup lines and get Harrington all hot and bothered, all in one fell swoop.
He had his plan, now all he needed to do was execute it.
Eddie slid his torso onto the counter, arms folded and propped up on the surface. He dinged the call bell three times, rehearsing what he was going to say in his head. “Hey there, Captain. There must be some sort of mistake because I don’t see you on the menu.”
Eddie took a deep breath when Steve turned to look at him. He opened his mouth, face twisting into a smug grin, and—
“Ahoy there! I’m Steve Harrington, I’ll be your captain. What can I get for ya’?”
“…Uh-”
Eddie’s words died right on the tip of his tongue and he froze.
This—was not Steve Harrington. There was no way. Steve Harrington wasn’t—nice. Nor was he this…charming.
The Harrington Charm was a powerful spell that many a girl had fallen victim to. But Eddie had always been immune.
Because Steve Harrington was an asshole. He wasn’t nice, he couldn’t be. It went against everything in the Munson Doctrine.
But now that he was this close, there were some things about him that could be considered “nice.” His stupid hair was nice. His voice was nice. The little moles that speckled his face and neck were nice.
“Hello?” Steve waved a hand near Eddie’s face and he blinked.
“What?” He’d completely forgotten what he was going to say.
“I asked what you wanted.” Steve repeated, flashing him a nervous smile. Even his smile was nice. Not the half-smirk he’d see in the hallways but a real one. Kinder. Warmer.
Cuter.
Eddie’s stomach did a weird twist and he took a step back.
“Uh—can I get back to you?” He spat out.
Steve nodded slowly. “Yeah go ahead, take your time.” Another smile and another spasm in Eddie’s chest.
Eddie walked back to the booth, hands jammed deep into his pockets.
He sat down and Gareth gaped at him, brows knitting together. “What was that?!” He whisper-shouted.
“I don’t know I—” Eddie pushed his hand into his eyes. “I fucked up. Now he thinks we’re ordering.”
Gareth looked up, like he was thinking. “I mean—“ He shrugged. “I’ve been looking at the menu this whole time and now I kinda want a cone.”
Eddie sighed, rubbing his face. “What flavor?”
“The swirl, please. And don’t sweat it, we can try it again another time.”
Eddie stood up again, taking his change out of the record bag and ignoring the way his heart thudded harder and harder with each step towards the counter.
“Ready to set sail?” Steve piped up, a cringe immediately flashing across his face.
“Uh, yeah.“ Eddie croaked out. “One chocolate-vanilla and one Rocky Road. Both two-scoop cones—please.”
“You got it.” Steve reached over and grabbed a cone, taking the scooper out of his pocket.
Steve made both cones, placing them on the cone stands. “That’ll be 3.50.”
Eddie handed him the cash, dropping a few coins into the tip jar.
Steve's mouth curved into a smile. “Thanks, man.” He put the cash in the register and handed Eddie the cones. “Here you go, enjoy.”
“You too.” Eddie blurted. Fuck, fuck, shit.
Steve gave him a weird look, but nodded and went through the door to the back.
Eddie stroad back towards Gareth, but instead picked up his bag, looping it around his pinky and went straight to the exit. “We’re leaving.”
Gareth scrambled out of the booth, trailing after him. “Well,” He took the cone out of Eddie’s hand, giving it a lick. “That could‘ve gone better.”
“Yeah.” Eddie took a bite out of his ice cream, attempting to cool his surprisingly warm cheeks. “Could’ve.”
He thought back to the interaction and his face soured. Harrington -1, Munson -0.
He bit down hard on the inside of his lip. Next time, He thought.
There’s always next time.