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Steve put his hands on his hips as he gasped for breath. His new gym shirt was covered in sweat, and his balls were sticking uncomfortably in his shorts.
Around he could see that everyone else was in worse states than he was.
“Hey, coach!” he called out. “Can we get a water break?”
The coach looked around the gym and sighed. “Fine. But you bring the cups and the cooler out yourself.”
“A third?” Lucas asked, nearly falling off his chair. “That’s more than we would need for the whole year? Why be so generous?”
“Because some day I will come to you and ask you for a favor and I want you readily agree in the moment,” Dustin said, his tail swishing back and forth.
Erica and Lucas stared at him a moment before they nodded together.
Steve burst out laughing. “Vincent Alma Harlow is the straightest, white Mormon golden boy you have ever seen. Like six nuggets and Winnebago with a white picket fence levels of straight.”
Eddie let out a sound that was very much a squawk though he would absolutely deny it.
“Wait, hold on,” Steve said and called out. “Hey, Vince you still awake?!” There was a muffled voice and the Eddie could hear someone shuffle in. “Would you please tell your favorite musician that you have positively no designs on my virtue at all?”
There was a bright laugh before a warm baritone voice said, “Before get to why I’m on this call at all, I just want to tell you how big a fan I am of your band and what an honor it is to be talking to you. I have no designs on Steve’s or any man’s virtue and frankly even if I did what hope would have against the biggest rockstar of this or any decade?”
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“Wha’cha looking for?” Eddie asked, eyeing the neat stacks.
“The whole reason I got this box the second I turned eighteen,” he mumbled. “If it’s not here then this isn’t about Tommy and Carol at all, it’s about...” he got to the bottom of the box and sighed. He picked up a small manila envelope. He bent the fastenings and opened it. “Shit.”
Eddie stood up to look over Steve’s shoulder. There were pictures of two people Eddie had never thought he would see together like that, in all sorts of compromising positions.
“That looks bad,” he muttered. “But what does it mean that it’s still here?”
It was like he was being assailed with everyone’s emotions all at once. He took deep breaths to get his heart rate down.
Once he was calm he looked at what had happened logically. That wasn’t a thing. No one could feel everyone’s emotions. His dad told him that what Steve was good at was understanding other people’s feelings and knowing how to navigate them to his advantage.
He was just overwhelmed when he realized that one wrong move and he could have gotten his ass beat. That’s all.
Yeah. That was it. He was just freaking out about those two seniors. It was like he was really feeling that teacher’s lust for the gaggle of cheerleaders that had passed just then. That would be gross.
Dustin examined his claws, nonchalantly. “I have a proposition for you. I aim to rid this county of the ogre but do so, I will need a lot of game to do it.”
Lucas raised a skeptical eyebrow. “How do you intend to do that?”
“And what do we get out of it?” Erica huffed, crossing her arms to mirror her brother’s pose.
“The how is none of your concern, but as for the compensation?” Dustin drawled, “You will keep a third of all you catch.”
Steve didn’t even have to ask what about. He knew. “Not until after the release of the album. I wasn’t trying to hide it from them. But how do you tell new people who didn’t grow up in Hawkins that your own mother who was a pillar of the community hated you so much she didn’t even mention you in her will? Let alone the rest of it? You know?”
Eddie pressed his lips together and then sighed. “Yeah, I know. But they’re not mad you kept it from them?”
“No,” Steve said firmly. “They were really great about it. Vince especially. He’s been my roommate since I moved out here and was really, really forgiving.”
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Steve chewed his lip for a moment and then opened the lip to the box. Inside was files upon files of police reports.
“Holy shit,” Eddie hissed. “Darlin’, just having this is illegal. And unless you can prove that you didn’t put it in there, then you are absolutely going to jail.”
Steve didn’t say anything. He just picked up each folder and set it to the side, meticulously stacking everything on the table Eddie was working on.
“Wha’cha looking for?” Eddie asked, eyeing the neat stacks.
Hey, all! We are rushing to the end of this lovely story and in this one we have a whole chapter dedicated to the Oscars!
Enjoy!
Chapters: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 |Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 |
~
Eddie was preparing his speech to the media about what an honor it was just to be nominated for the Best Actor award, because he sure as hell wasn’t going to win and he knew Steve was doing the same. There were three genres shunned by the Oscars: fantasy, comedy, and horror.
They might get cinematographer or even editing, but they sure as hell wasn’t going to win any of the top awards. They were nominated for all but Best Actress. In addition to Steve’s Best Supporting Actor; Brenda Roberts was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, Dustin was nominated for Best Adaption of a Screenplay, Robin for Best Director, and of course Best Feature Film.
But hell, winning one of the eight awards “Dancing in the Dark” was nominated for was asking for a miracle at this point. A lot, and Eddie did mean a lot of industry pundits were betting against them from winning anything.
So because he was absolutely going to lose, he decided to go avant-garde for his outfit tonight. A shimmering silver mesh peasant shirt unlaced, under a black motorcycle jacket and tucked into silk tuxedo pants. He wore matching silver shoes and lots and lots of bangles and baubles around his neck and wrists.
Eddie stepped out on to the red carpet and smiled prettily for the cameras. This really was his least favorite part of being an actor. Just looking pretty for the people. Most days he felt like a performing monkey made to do whatever.
He waved at the fans, squinting to avoid the hot Los Angeles sun and was grateful when he was finally inside and shown his seat. Their group was seated roughly together, with Robin, Steve, and their editor on one row, and Eddie, Brenda, and Dustin on another. And of course seated right behind Robin and Steve was Jonathan and his plus one: Nancy Wheeler.
Because they were able to get ahead of her story, her own editor killed before she even submitted the first draft. So she was currently trying to suck up to Jonathan to see where the leak came from. So Jonathan, who knew full well who it was, decided to bring her to the Oscars to show her that you didn’t have to be gay to play gay.
Eddie personally thought he was stupid and thinking with his dick instead of his brain, but he wisely said nothing as the comedian got up to do their spiel about gold statues and poor people.
The lesser awards were first. Best Editing and Best Cinematographer.
“Jonathan Byers, ‘Dancing in the Dark’!” cried the two middling, male actors into the microphone.
Everyone clapped him on the back as he squeezed past them, Robin standing to give him a hug.
He got up to the stage and let out a breath. “Oh god. This is an honor. I want to thank my mom, the ever indomitable Joyce Byers for believing in me. My brother Will for cheering me on, and of course Robin Buckley for giving me a chance to film this amazing movie and thanks to all the cast and crew who made this possible!” He raised the award and then shambled off the stage to waiting wings.
Then it happened again for Best Editing. Their editor went up there and gave a really sweet and impassioned speech about how privileged she was to have been apart of something so amazing, so great.
But then they had an hour wait until it was Steve’s turn for Best Supporting Actor. They listened to the pretty speeches, the bad jokes, and the music starting far too soon for a lot of people.
“...Billy Hargrove ‘Light of an Alaskan Dawn’ and Steve Harrington ‘Dancing in the Dark’,” the female presenter said into the microphone. She opened the envelope and grinned into the camera. “And the award goes to, Steve Harrington, ‘Dancing in the Dark’!”
Steve sat there in complete shock. There was no way. Robin had to push him to his feet and toward the stage. Their whole section was on their feet, clapping and cheering him on.
He stumbled up the stairs and took the statue from the pretty presenter on the side. He walked up to the microphone and the actress excitedly congratulated him on his win.
“When my best friend in the whole world told it was time to get back into acting in front of a camera I told her she was crazy,” Steve began. “But if you know Robin Buckley, crazy is her mantra for life. She handed me a script and said that I was the only one she had in mind for Sean. Her faith in me was absolute even if I had to prove myself over and over to everyone else. But I made it. This is for all the child actors that got chewed up and spat out by their parents, their agents, and the industry. This is for you!”
He held up the statue and was quietly lead away to the press corp for questions.
“Steve!” the first person yelled. “First congrats on winning for Sean! How does it feel right now?”
“I’m feeling like on the top of the world right now,” he replied a little breathless.
“And what do you say to all the haters who said you’d never make it here after being outed as gay as a teenager?” the second person asked.
Steve looked over and smirked. It was Veronica Stiles. “Absolutely nothing to say. They don’t deserve the breath it would take to say something that would probably be above their intelligence level.”
“Follow up question if I may,” she said sweetly. “Do you think your movie will sweep the Oscars tonight?”
“Only if there is any justice in this world,” he said solemnly and then he was being asked other questions about his next movies and what he thought about the streaming verse theater debate before he was finally allowed to go back to his seat.
Just in time to see Eddie win Best Actor. Eddie sat there for a moment in absolute shock, tears streaming down his face.
Steve pulled him to his feet and gave him a hug, whispering, “You deserve this.”
Eddie nodded and made his way up to the stage. He took the award and then stole the envelope from Barb Holland who had won Best Actress last year. He looked at it for a moment and then handed it back.
“Sorry, I just had to check,” Eddie huffed into the microphone. “People have read out the wrong name before and I wanted to make sure it was mine on there.”
The audience laughed.
“So the first thing I want to do is say,” he continued, “Christine Cunningham I am absolutely coming for you, you told me not to prepare an acceptance speech and now I have to BLEEP wing it.” He giggled. “Oops, sorry! I hope you were able to bleep that out in time. But I want to thank Robin Buckley for giving me this chance, Steve for putting up with my shit behavior. Sorry, darlin’! To my uncle Wayne who believed in me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
He paused and the music started to play. “And I’m gay.”
The music cut off abruptly and the audience went dead silent.
“I know that had I been out prior to winning this award,” he said holding up the trophy, “it would have gone to Billy Hargrove. Not because he was the better actor, but because he was the straight one. So I told myself that if I won tonight, I would make history. So this is for all those gay actors who never won because who they love and for all the gay actors still in the closet so they can continue to work and get accolades. I’m here, I’m queer and I am not going away.”
He nodded and then walked off the stage, brushing past everyone on stage.
Steve and Robin looked at each other stunned. Neither of them had known he was going to do that. Steve just hoped that at least Chrissy did, because otherwise she was going to kill Eddie and that would be a waste of a man, honestly.
~
Chrissy was waiting for him in the wings with a huge hug. “You did so well, darling!” She kissed his cheeks. “Now, I’ve already told the press that they would be getting your formal statement and you’ll do a proper press junket tomorrow, so no questions about your sexuality.”
Eddie nodded and went to the Variety couch and sat down.
He looked around but he found that they were all too stunned to speak. Then he caught the eye of one of the interviewers.
“Veronica,” he said with a grin. “I know you’ve got a question or two for little ole me.” He winked at her and suddenly the tension in the room vanished as the room burst out in laughter.
“Hell yeah I do,” she replied with an even bigger grin. “You are two awards away from taking the night for ‘Dancing in the Dark’, you didn’t think you winning was possible, so what do you think your movie’s chances are to sweep the rest of the awards?”
Eddie cackled in delight. “I’ve never been a betting man as my daddy always was a gambler, but to hell with it, I’ll take those odds. I say we’re going all the way. We’re nabbing Director and Picture tonight, so you doubters can suck it!”
“What’s next for you?” another reporter asked.
“I am taking some well deserved time off,” he murmured. “And then I’ve got a vampire romance coming up with the absolutely divine Samantha Stone. She’ll be the vampire and I’ll be her thrall. It’s a nice twist on the classic tale.”
They moved onto other topics, but even Eddie could see they were all chomping at the bit to ask about him coming out as gay like he did.
Because it wasn’t just about coming out, though that was a pretty big deal. It was how and when he came out that shocked everyone.
And whoo boy did he mean everyone. He saw the looks on Steve and Robin’s faces. They were happy for him, but they never expected that. And if he was being honest with himself, he liked that. The fact that no one knew.
As he was walking off the media couch he heard, “And the winner goes to...” it was announced over the comms in the back, “Robin Buckley, ‘Dancing in the Dark’!!”
Steve and everyone else was literally jumping out of their chairs. That was seven out of the eight. Never has a horror movie won Best Picture since ‘Silence of the Lambs’ in 1991. There had only been a half dozen horror movies even nominated for the award.
Robin walked up the stairs and nearly fell on her face but was rescued by heartthrob and genuine nice guy, Nick Stone, twin and long time collaborator to actress Samantha Stone, who caught her before she could face plant on live television.
She giggled when she finally made it to the microphone to give her speech. “Wow. First I want to thank Nick for not letting me bleed all over this dress. It’s rented.”
The audience chuckled.
“Of course, I want to thank my father, Rick Buckley, without whom this movie wouldn’t have been possible,” she breathed, trying not cry. “My best friend, Steve Harrington who brought Sean to life with such richness. Eddie Munson whose selfless act in giving up his salary to help get my film over that last hurdle and finally to my tireless crew, this is for you!”
She raised the award and saw Eddie waiting in the wings for her. She paused as she waited through the torture of them listing off TEN movies nominated for Best Picture.
The two of them held hands as the final film was listed.
“And the Oscar goes to...”
“Whatever happens,” Eddie said, “seven out eight is damn impressive.”
“Oh my god,” the presenter cried in the microphone. “‘Dancing in the Dark’ Robin Buckley, Dustin Henderson, and Rick Buckley!”
Robin’s head snapped up. “There’s no way!”
Eddie just cackled and pushed her out on the stage, following her close behind. They were met on stage by Rick, Steve, Dustin, Jonathan, Brenda, and their editor, Miranda Fonda all went up on stage.
“Well, damn it,” Robin huffed. “I only wrote the one speech!”
That earned a laugh from all those in attendance. “So I’ll just say thank you to the Academy for allowing our little love letter to the genre to sweep the awards tonight. I know that comedy and horror are tough movies to judge and to have it feature to gay men, made it even harder. So thank you.”
She stepped back and her dad stepped forward. “Thank you to all those who worked tirelessly on this film the ones that would never get nominated. All the crew, PAs, and craft services that help keep a production running. You are heroes in your own right.”
He then let a couple others give speeches before they were led off stage.
They all did the press circuit and the final question was again from Veronica. “Who gets to take home the statue for Best Picture?”
Rick leaned forward and said into Robin’s mic, “Me. They all got one of their own, and I don’t!”
The ‘Dancing in the Dark’ crew laughed and so did Veronica. “I think that’s fair trade.”
Robin rolled her eyes and pushed her dad out of the way. “Yeah, yeah, I guess.”
They all went out to celebrate their once in a life time achievement at the Variety after party. Everyone coming up to them and congratulating them about their wins.
Steve sidled up to Eddie sometime in the middle party. “I think it was brave, what you did tonight.”
Eddie blushed and ducked his head. “I wanted to come out on my terms and I hated that I had to hide who I was to keep getting roles because I was having tea with Mr. Tumnus.”
Steve burst out laughing. “Yeah, I just wish I had gotten the same opportunity.”
“Yeah,” Eddie huffed, turning around and leaning against the bar. “But look at all the roles you’ve gotten since you’ve come back, though? Yeah, you’ve had two gay films, but the rest?”
Steve let out a shuddering breath. “I’ve been really lucky, haven’t I?”
“Hell yeah you have,” Eddie murmured. “I hope I’m as lucky as you are, honestly.”
Steve bumped their shoulders together. “You’re super talented, Eds. They’ll be knocking down your door.”
“That is if I don’t get the Best Actor Oscar curse,” Eddie replied with a snort.
“That’s not a thing, Eds!” Steve laughed, shoving Eddie’s shoulder playfully. “Just trust me, you’ll do fine.”
“All righty, Stevie boy,” Eddie huffed. “I’m putting all my trust in you. Don’t let me down.”
“Hey! Get out of the middle of the hallway,” another student cried as she passed by Steve.
He got to his feet and hurried to his first class. He sighed with relief as he saw it was his history class.
This he was good at. The bell rang and the teacher called everyone to order. She called out roll call and after that, Steve just focused on getting his heart rate down.
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