omg thank you all for the overwhelming response to part 1 of secret-dolly-parton-fan eddie munson! hereās a part two as a little treat
[part 1]Ā [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5]Ā [part 6 + complete on ao3]
part 2: here you come again
Ever since he discovered the Off-Road a few weeks ago, Eddieās been going there almost every week but he hadnāt joined the open-mic night since that first night. He didnāt really feel the need to, because despite his own belief, he has actually managed to move on from his idiotic crush on Steve.
Well, almost.
Eddie had sworn off his crush once Steve announced that he and Emily were going on their third date. Steve was smiling from ear to ear when he said it too, though that usual sparkle in his eyes had remained absent. Eddie didnāt think too much of it, too busy wallowing in self-pity and cursing himself for setting himself up for heartbreak once again.Ā
So, he moved on. Went to Indianapolis once or twice, found guys with striped polos and bright smiles who tried their best to take his mind off Steve (which, due to their eerily resemblance, didnāt really work out). Focused on helping Will with his new campaign for Hellfire, teaching him the DM tricks he had learned over the years. Played with his band until his fingers almost started to bleed from strumming the guitar strings a little too hard.Ā
And it worked. Everythingās all fine and dandy, Steveās barely on his mind anymore (except for all the times that he is) and Eddieās just over him. One hundred percent. Done. No more Steve Harrington for him, thank you very much.Ā
āEmily and I broke things off.ā
Eddie almost drops the two bottles of beer heās holding, stops dead in his tracks in the middle of the spacious kitchen of the Harrington home.
āSorry, what?ā Eddie asks because there is no way in hell he heard that right.
āMe and Emily.ā Steve repeats, snatching one of the beer bottles out of Eddieās hand and taking a long swig, his Adamās apple bopping up and down. His mouth is glistening when he sets the bottle down and Eddieās eyes zero in on them and - dear lord, get ahold of yourself, Munson. āWe broke up. Turns out she wasnāt the one after all.ā
āOh shit. Sorry about that, man.ā Eddie says, trying to keep his voice under control because he should not be jumping for joy that Steve and Emily broke up. No matter how much he wants to. He should also not be fishing for more details, but curiosity gets the best of him and the next thing he knows he asking, āWhyād you guys break up anyway? I thought you said you were crazy for her.ā
āI mean, I was. Sorta, but not really, I think. Donāt get me wrong, I liked her and she really is a lovely person, ridiculously pretty too butā¦ she and I just want different things.ā Steve shrugs. āShe always wants to go out, be somewhere, see something, go on wild adventures every weekend and shit. And I donāt knowā¦ I mean I like that, but I also want to sit back and do nothing for a bit yāknow? Just simple, easy, like what weāre doing tonight.ā
Steve bumps their shoulders together and Eddie tries his very best to ignore how Steve feels so warm, even for that short moment. He tries even harder not too read too much into Steveās words, which means heās definitely not thinking that Steve would rather spend time with him than with the supposed girl of his dreams.Ā
Except when, a couple of beers later, Eddie finds himself a little too tipsy to stop himself from once again, falling for Steve like a ton of bricks.Ā
But itās not his fault that Steveās eyes turn this magical color hazel underneath the warm lights of the living room chandelier. Or that his cheeks are this beautiful shade of pink from the alcohol in his system. Or that Steveās laugh after Eddie tells the worldās lamest joke, is probably one of his favorite sounds in the world.
Oh, this is bad. This is really fucking bad.
Steve slouches against him when his laughter dies down, resting his head on Eddieās shoulder, all relaxed and warm. āI wish it was always this easy.ā
āWhat?ā Eddie asks. Heās surprised at how level his voice is considering Steveās plastered against him like a vine that climbs up alongside a wall.Ā
āI donāt know. Life, dating, anything really.ā Steve sighs. āNothing feels as easy as when Iām with you.ā
Eddie feels his throat tighten at Steveās confession. Not because he doesnāt feel the same. Itās the opposite, really. Everything really does feel a little easier when Steveās around.Ā
Everything, except this annoying crush that keeps coming back like a goddamn boomerang
āYouāre drunk.ā Eddie tries to laugh it off, hoping that itāll make the heavy feeling in his stomach go away.
āI mean it, yāknow.ā Steve mutters. He rubs his cheek against Eddieās shoulder and moves in just a little closer. Sighing happily once he finds a comfortable position. āYou smell nice.ā
Eddie knows for a fact he does not, itās probably leftover weed smell, but his face still heats up at the compliment. āLetās justā¦ letās just watch the movie okay?ā
āHmm, okay.ā Steve hums, his eyes drooping already and Eddie just knows heās gonna fall asleep within minutes.Ā
-xxx-
Steveās words keep echoing through his mind the next few days and Eddieās feeling more restless than usual - if thatās even possible - and on Wednesday night, he drives off to the Off-Road again.Ā
The drive itself calms him down just a little but as soon as he sits down at Patās bar, the feeling of dread washes over him once again. Not even the soft June Carter song thatās playing in the background is able to cheer him up right now.
āGeez Ed, you look madder than a wet henā Pat says as she puts down Eddieās drink on the bar. āTell olā Pat here whatās going on.ā
āFuckinā straight boys.ā Eddie mutters, leaning his head on his hands. Heās moping and he knows it, but he really doesnāt give two shits right now.
Pat blinks at him. āYou been fucking them or is this more like a fuck them straight boys situation? Iām only equipped for the latter one.ā
Somehow, Patās piercing green eyes stare right into his soul and before he knows it, Eddieās just spilling everything. āThereā¦ thereās this guy, yāknow. Heās my friend.ā
āLet me guess? Handsome?ā
āLike a fuckinā Greek God. Itās ridiculous.ā Eddie rolls his eyes. āBut itās more than that. Heās also justā¦ so nice. Seriously, he drives our friends around and let me host D&D campaigns at his house and he asks nothing in return. Great cook too, his brownies are to die for.ā
āSounds like a damn dreamboat. But heās straight?ā Pat sighs sympathetically.
āThe straightest man youāve ever seen.ā Eddie grumbles. āAnd itās fine, alright? I know itās never gonna happen between us. But he just broke up with the girl heās been seeing for the last month or so and then suddenly goes around tellinā me shit like how much he likes being with me. How easy it is when we're together. What the fuck am I supposed to do with that? Thatās justā¦ā
āReal fucking frustrating.ā Tish adds as she passes by with a tray of drinks in her hands.Ā
Eddie couldnāt have said it better himself. He takes a sip of his Coke, desperately wishing it was something stronger, and patiently waits before Pat speaks up again.
āI think you gotta put some distance between the two of you.ā Pat says solemnly. āNow hear me out because it aināt gonna be pretty, but sometimes you gotta take a step back to protect your own heart. And if you donāt wanna go that far, I suggest finding a healthy outlet to process your feelings because sulking like this aināt doing you any good, kiddo.ā
āAnd how do you suppose I do that?ā Eddie rolls his eyes. āDo I look like I got the money to go to some expensive shrink?ā
āDunno, maybe some musical therapy?ā Pat grins, her eyes darting back to the acoustic guitar on the wall. āYou said it worked so well for you last time.ā
Patās right. He did feel a lot better after playing Jolene the other night, it was like Dolly put all the things he was feeling right into a song. Maybe she could do the same for him now, because Eddie knows exactly what other song in her repertoire fits the situation.
He walks up to the podium once again, not even bothering to introduce himself this time because most of the patrons know him by now. Heās a little more unfamiliar with the chords this time around so it takes him a few tries before he finally gets it and the melody starts filling up the room.Ā
āHere you come again. Just when Iāve begun to get myself together. You waltz right in the door, just like youāve done before. And wrap my heart āround your little finger.ā
Itās like Dollyās been reading his thoughts these last few days because every single word just rings true in Eddieās mind. Well, except that part about Steveās little fingers because they are anything but little. Eddie knows, heās spent the better half of their friendship staring at them and daydreaming about things that should never see the light of day.Ā
āHere you come again. Just when Iām about to make it work without you. You look into my eyes and light those pretty eyes and pretty soon Iām wonderinā how I came to doubt you.ā
God, heās so frustrated now. Steve probably doesnāt even know what heās doing to Eddie and itās so fucking unfair. How the hell is he supposed to move on when Steve keeps saying shit like that? When Steve continues to be a, in Patās words, a damn dreamboat?
Eddie strums the guitar a little harder, his voice becoming a little rougher. Almost like heās spitting out the words
āAll you gotta do, is smile that smile, and there go all my defenses. Just leave it up to you and in a little while, youāre messing up my mind and filling up my senses.ā
The handful of people in the crowd are softly singing along, but itās not like Eddie actually has eyes for them. His mind is solely focused on keeping his voice level, rather than start screaming. Maybe Corroded Coffin should do a cover of this song, should be a fun surprise for those drunkards at the Hideout.
āHere you come again and here I goā¦ā Eddie finishes the song. He thanks the audience and slouches back into his seat at the bar, not feeling as good as he did the last time he performed here. It doesnāt feel as cathartic this time and instead thereās a hole inside his heart that no Dolly song can possibly fill.
āFeeling better honey?ā Tish asks sweetly as she puts another bottle of Coke on the bar for him.
Eddie nods, even though itās obviously a lie. Another wave of dread and restlessness washes over him. Because if he canāt turn to his motherās favorite artist for guidance anymore, then what the hell is he supposed to do to get over his stupid crush on Steve Harrington?
Tag list: @henderdads @solosnail @unclewaynemunson @legitcookie @gothbat99 (hmu if you wanna be added to the list for pt 3!)
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