The Beautifully Tragic: A Steddie Romance

Steve wakes up again, and sits up slowly, his head pounding. He was dreading today, but he knew he had to be there for Eddie. He had been asked to speak at Eddie's memorial service and he was going to do it. Eddie deserved that much. Steve stumbled to the bathroom to shower and get ready. After the memorial service was over, he would probably get so drunk he won't feel any pain at all. Steve knows he's going to have to pull it together eventually, but right now the pain is just too raw. Healing is going to be a hard lengthy process. Steve had never fallen for anyone the way he had with Eddie. Not even Nancy. There was just something special about Eddie. Steve finishes his shower and steps out to dress in the one suit he had. He knew Eddie would tease him about the suit if he was there. (Flashback) Steve walks out of the bathroom, in time to hear a knock on his door. Steve opens the door to find Eddie in jeans and a black button up shirt. Eddie looks at Steve and his eyebrows go up. "What is it?" Steve asks. "You look nice, but dressed like you're going to a funeral. Go out on something more comfortable." Steve nods and goes to his room to change. (End of flashback) Steve finishes dressing and gets into his car, drives to the rec center. Steve gets out of the car and heads inside. Everyone is waiting for him. He goes to the front to the podium and stands there. He clears his throat before speaking. "I know a lot of you didn't really know Eddie like I did. He was a sweet person with a good sense of humor. He would never hurt or be mean to anyone. He was, no is the love of my life. There will never be anyone else like him. When the sun sets, no candle can ever replace it's light. Eddie was the sun in several of our lives. The ones who took time to actually know him. I..." Steve's voice cuts off as he is overcome with emotion. He makes a small strangled sobbing sound and rushes out of the building. He gets in his car and sits there with his head against the steering wheel.

Eddie POV:

Eddie walks down the street, headed for Steve's house. He had to be careful, since it was during the day. He didn't want any of the Hawkins lynch mob to see him walking around. He knew that wouldn't go well. He just wanted to hold Steve in his arms again. He wondered if Steve still had his vest. He hoped so. He really loved that best. He turns on the road to Steve's house and looks to make sure there's no one outside. He didn't see any cars in the driveway of either neighbor's houses. Hopefully they were all at work and school. He goes around back, and starts climbing up the side of Steve's house. Climbing up is surprisingly easy, but he tries not to think about that too much. He opens the window, which luckily wasn't locked and climbs in. He decides the first thing he needs to do is take a shower. He strips off his dirty clothes and heads to the bathroom. He turns on the warm water and moans s little as the water hits his skin. It had been too long since he had gotten to have a shower. He would never take one for granted again. He wonders where Steve is and when he will get home. He missed him very much and couldn't wait to see him. He stands there letting the hot water run over his body, hands braced against the wall, in no hurry to rush out of the shower. The sound of the water kept him from hearing the front door open, and the sound of someone walking up the stairs. Steve stops just outside his bedroom door, hearing the shower running. He picks up his barbed wire baseball bat and quietly opens the door. He walks to the bathroom door and throws it open.

End of chapter three