#karoake

You had all promised that for her birthday Robin could have whatever she wanted, and with the shitty week at school she had had, you knew that this Friday night had to be all out.

The idea had sprung on you when you had caught Steve jamming out to 'Billie Jean' in the back room during his break. You and Robin peeked your head round the corner when Steve still hadn't returned to the front desk. You both watched as he was very confidently singing, "billie jean is not my lover" and did a little fancy footwork on a "woo!" Robin wishing she could somehow record the sight with her eyes. You hands clamped over your mouth to not interrupt the absolute amazing performance that was in front of your eyes.

If the stack of tapes Steve had been haphazardly stacking hadn't crashed onto his face from the shelf, you might have managed to keep it together. Robin was the one whose laughter erupted the whole store. Steve had twisted his body around to see the both of you absolutely crying with laughter at the entire scenario. The tapes all across the floor, the organizing system long lost. One hand on Steve's hip looking at both of you disapprovingly and the other gently checking his hair to make sure that it was still styled.

It was only as the bell dinged that all three of you snapped out of it all and headed back into work mode. Unfortunately for Steve, you and Robin stealing glances at each other throughout the rest of your shift.

Robin's finished earlier than yours so it was just you and Steve closing up shop. As you were locking up, turning to Steve, "Do you know of any place that has a karaoke machine?" a twinkle in your eye. You already knew the answer but seeing the look on Steve's face go from confused to complete horror was too good to pass up.

"No" Steve said instantly and shook his head rigorously, "I know you caught me today, which by the way, don't watch people without their knowledge it's rude" You rolled your eyes at his lecturing. "And I know... of a place that has karaoke and alcohol" At your raised eyebrows he quickly added, "that's not my house."

"You know that Robin would love you" you grin as you headed over to your car. Unlocking it you opened the door and gently leaned against it. You know I would too you wanted to say but Steve didn't need any extra ego boosting. You're eyes looking up at mother Steve big and wide. He sighed so you turned up the charm. "Pretty, pretty please?" batting your eyelashes, giving Steve your best puppy dog eyes.

"Ugh, fine. And she already loves me, thank you" Steve grumbled looking away from you as you punched the air, delighted with your victory. "But you owe me" He pointed at you.

"Thanks Stevie, glad you're gonna arrange everything, byeee" You sang as you got in your car and drove out of the car park. Steve continued to grumble as he got into his car and drove back home. Having forgotten your birthday he was sorta already in your debt but he would never admit it. And he would die a horrible death if he forgot, or didn't do anything for Robin's. So you hadn't really twisted his arm.

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"Are you coming tonight?" you asked tentatively, stepping closer to him, closing the space between the two of you. He had been busy with school since he was actually trying to graduate this year so you hadn't had a chance to go on a proper outing together. Eddie still hadn't properly hung out with them yet, and you knew that you were throwing him in the deep end with it being Robin's birthday but you really wanted him to come along.

"I've got hellfire until 6, but if you're still there I'll join for a bit." You knew he didn't really want to go tonight, he would much rather curl up with you on the sofa and rent a silly scary film. But he was trying, and you commended him for that. His usual cheeky grin returning to his face as he watched your face light up with excitement. You wiggled in happiness and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and you did not miss the way that his hands were about to go around your waist.

But then he remembered where he was. The English corridor was not the place to give his new girlfriend, [OMG you were his girlfriend!], a proper show of affection. He was trying to be good and not get any more detentions. He didn't feel the need to tell you of his reputation regarding PDA with those who were before you. "You really want me there, sweetheart?" He marveled in the way that you refused to look him in the eye and keep the wide grin off your face.

Instead of answering, you just checked your watch, "Oh shit, I gotta go and get ready, I'll see you at 8!" you dashed off. Eddie watched as you ran down the corridor and practically bulldozed Robin Buckley with a hug chanting happy birthday wishes. His eyebrows furrowed slightly when Steve had to separate the two of you by picking you up, saying something to make you calm down. All three of you headed towards the exit, with you turning back to wave at him.

It was early days, demonstrating your relationship in school, you both were in new territory. The guy you had dated before had very much been a short term thing and never liked to be seen with you in public. The people that Eddie had been with before, there were usually friends with benefits or one night stands. So being in a real relationship was very new and scary to him. But he knew he had to try because you wouldn't have it any other way. The new girl in school. From the big city. And yet, you slotted in so well, that it was like you had been here all your life. You had bonded with Robin Buckley on the first day of school and then of course with Steve Harrington, and then it developed from there.

He was jealous of how close you were with Steve after only knowing that group for just under a year. Still, you had chosen Eddie as your partner, not Steve, so clearly he was doing something right.

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Entering The Hideout without his band, was very much a new experience. But entering the bar when it was just a handful of teenagers, happy birthday decorations all over the place and a karaoke machine on stage - now that was a first time experience. As he walked in, internally cursing himself for getting carried away with Hellfire making him half an hour later than he promised, he was so taken aback by the performance on stage he missed you walking towards him.

On stage there was Steve Harrington, a very drunk Steve Harrington, singing ABBA... Eddie knew he was sober but it didn't feel like it with what he was seeing. Steve was, microphone in one hand, hips swaying and pointing at Robin who was in the middle of the room behind a wall of presents. She looked like she was stuck between laughing her ass off and being scared for her life.

"Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight!" Steve shimmied on each 'gimme', running his hands through his hair and winking at Robin, who looked like she wanted to die. By no means, was he a singer but the performance Eddie was kind of impressed by. He wondered how drunk he was.

He dragged his eyes away from the stage to see you right before him waving your hand in front of his face. He remained silent as he scanned your body, trying very hard to keep his face straight and excitement levels down. You were wearing an Iron Maiden t-shirt with a black leather skirt and fishnet tights. Paired with black docs, a black velvet choker and fishnet gloves. Smokey eye, red and black with black eyeliner and a dark vampire red lip tint. Eddie felt like he was going to die.

He felt like he was going to die even more so when you hugged him tightly, giggling madly. You slipped your hand into his and dragged him over to the birthday girl's table. Your ears temporarily having a break while Steve on stage was doing a dance break. He noticed Nancy Wheeler behind the wall of presents face in her hands and her boyfriend Jonathan shouting for Steve, "Do a spin!" "Give us a shimmy!" "Go Stevie go!" There was a lot going on and Eddie felt like he didn't have time to ask all the questions.

"I told you he would come!" you yelled at Robin, Steve back on the mic and sounding like a dying cat. You leaned over to grab your drink and Eddie had to focus his eyes very hard on Robin's face as he gave her a small wave and not look anywhere else. "Whose on after Stevie?" Ah so they all called him Stevie, interesting Eddie thought to himself.

"I don't think Nancy can beat him, even after her rendition of that Cyndi Lauper song." Nancy lifted her head, looking at Robin sternly.

"Hey look" Robin held up her hands in protest, "you sang that to Jonathan, I'm getting serenaded here!" She gestured to the man on stage who was badly dad-dancing to the last chorus of the song. His hair a floppy mess and sweat visible on his face. He really had gone all out. "You haven't demonstrated your undying love for me through song yet" she booped you on the nose and grinned evilly.

You downed your drink, whatever it was, in one gulp, slamming it down, "Challenge accepted!" Striding over with confidence you climbed on stage, from the front. Your skirt hiking up as you stepped up, Steve lending a hand to pull you up. Eddie turning immediately to the bar when he had realized he had been caught looking by Robin, getting himself something strong. "This one is for you!" you shouted while pointing at Robin, then you shooed Steve off stage. "Though, it will be tough after such an incredible performance" you laughed as Steve playfully bowed as he made his way to the bar.

Eddie helped himself to a strong rum and coke whilst the bartender was outside having a cigarette. Steve pulled up a stool and sat there bouncing, expecting one too. Eyebrow raised, Eddie slid over his glass, and began doing another one. He let out a small smirk as he heard you curse into the microphone that they 'didn't have this song what the fuck'.

"Oh god, here we go" He muttered under his breath, sharing a look with Steve. The music blaring way too loud. The 80's synth and bass merging together. You were going to sing a popular pop song, Eddie figured that there probably wasn't many alternative songs on this karaoke box. He watched as Steve chuckled at Nancy going from embarrassed to standing up and giving the most uncoordinated little boogie, with Jonathan helping her stand.

"Does she love singing?" He found himself asking Steve, trying to stand straight and make himself match Steve's height. Thankfully Steve was too drunk to notice or didn't act like he had noticed. He watched as he took his time with his drink, he was surprised but of course Steve Harrington could even hold his drink perfectly. His eyes returned to you on stage, taking off your leather jacket and placing it by one of the speakers. He moved to sit down on the bar stool next to Steve, to get a better look at the stage... yeah definitely the stage.

"Yeah man, she sings in the car on the way to school. She turns off my Madonna for her silly rock bands." Steve scoffed as he drank more. Eddie coughed trying to hold in a laugh. Of course Steve listens to Madonna, Eddie thought. And to admit it with such confidence? Admirable. His eyebrows then furrowing when he just realized that she went to school everyday with Steve. Steve looked over at him, then slapped him on the back, "Hey don't worry dude, she's crazy about you. Won't shut up about you. It's kinda annoying."

Eddie looked down, allowing his hair to fall in front of his face to hide the redness forming on his face. "Well in my van, she can listen to all the silly rock bands." His eyes not meeting Steve's but the gentle slap on his back, he knew Steve understood what he was saying.

"Don't you want me baby!" You practically screeched down the mic. Singing gone out the window to instead opt for belting out the chorus to your best friend. "Don't you want me? Oh!"

Robin almost falling off her chair because she was laughing so hard. Nancy barely keeping her chair up, and Jonathan supporting all three. Physically for Nancy and Robin, and for you by wooing and shouting words of encouragement.

Steve smiled while looking down at his drink, the last remaining gulp of alcohol and mixer swirling around in the glass. Without looking at Eddie he said, "I know you Munson, I know your reputation at school." Eddie inhaled sharply. Was he getting the talk with Steve Harrington? "I know that this is your first proper thing" Steve downed the last of his drink and placed it on the bar behind him. "If you hurt her, or cheat on her, or do anything that isn't cool-" he stood up and stretched before turning to look at Eddie dead in the eyes, "I'll fucking kill you, understood?" Eddie just nodded. Which seemed to be enough for Steve who headed back over to the gang.

Eddie didn't really now what he was doing agreeing to be a dating kinda guy with you, but he knew that he had to try. He couldn't simply let you go, in that regard he had always had his way with the people that he chose to get with. Eddie didn't know what he was doing in truth, but he knew from films what he was supposed to do. So he was massively winging it. And he hoped that his confident air hid it well from most people. Clearly it didn't work on Steve but as long as it fooled you, he counted himself lucky.

He watched as you finished your song. Shooting a middle finger at Steve when he exclaimed that he had clearly done a better performance. You wobbled a bit as you headed to the front of the stage again, to get down. Eddie downed the rest of his drink, wincing slightly as he had made it slightly too strong for his liking, and strode to the front of the stage. You paused, mid-crouch, looking at him confused. He hand gently brushing over your ankle. Normally, he would be asking if you wanted to go home with him and share body warmth but he knew how much tonight meant to you and your friends. Which is why he said, "Stay on stage, we're doing a duet."

Your eyes widened and twinkled with delight. "Robbie you're getting another one!" You tried to help pull Eddie up on stage, both of you disregarding the clear stairs to the left for getting on the stage. You wobbled as the weight of him took you off guard, only to have him steady you by holding your frame firmly.

"But Johnny and I wanted to do another duet!" Steve whined, arm around Jonathan, and his arm around Nancy. It was so funny seeing her tipsy, her prim and poised personality gone and was replace by a silly, blunt and daredevil lady.

"Oh my god, get your own boyfriend!" Nancy grasped a hold of Jonathan tightly, causing him to domino effect into Steve. All of them ending up on the floor.

"I, for one, don't wanna hear another song of you two screeching like a parrot down the mic. Besides, I wanna hear Eddie sing with his new girlfriend!" Robin winked, causing you to give her the middle finger but with a strong smile.

You looked at Eddie as you flicked through the list of songs. "What song's do you know?" You whispered. You knew he didn't know most of the pop songs just by looking at his face when you looked at a handful of them. None of them were rock n roll. "Can you do this one?" Your finger paused on one song. It was old but you loved singing it in the car with Robin, one of your first memories after moving to Hawkins High.

"Yeah, my uncle likes this song." He said, and that's all you needed to know that this would be a fun karaoke. In truth, Eddie didn't really sing. He really just did a Mark Knophler and spoke into the mic when he did his Corroded Coffin gigs.

When the song started, Steve on the floor rolled his eyes dramatically and started snapping his fingers. The amount of times you and Robin had put this on in his car, he knew the whole thing by heart. Robin immediately struggled to her feet ready to boogie. Nancy just lifted her head to look at Jonathan who was snapping off rhythm with Steve.

"Hit the road Jack! And don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more!" You sang. You're voice softer than before, much better suited to this tempo. You swayed your head from side to side with your hips between every 'no more'. Eddie was beaming. Who would have thought the girl wearing an Iron Maiden tee also knew of Ray Charles and loved this song in particular.

"What you say?!" He belted into his own mic. Getting on one knee and dramatically gesturing. He knew he was making an idiot of himself but he didn't care.

Robin bouncing along to the beat, her hair falling in front of her face. Steve, in a way only Steve could, flopping his messed up hair from side to side. Jonathan and Nancy in sync swaying from the waist up side to side, until eventually Steve joined in. Robin then climbed up on the table sending some of the presents to fall off onto the ground. She started dancing, really badly. But that just made you sing harder, with more power.

"Oh woman, oh woman. Don't treat me so mean" Eddie now on both of his knees in front of you, staring up into your eyes. "You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen" he winked, putting his hand over his heart as if he had been hit.

You playfully pushed him away so he 'fell' down and put on a pained face. He got up on his feet, "I guess if you say so" on the trumpet toot he bopped his head with a single head bang, causing his hair to fly everywhere and become even messier than it was before. "I'll have to pack my things and go!"

"That's right!" You winked shyly back at him before continuing onto the chorus again. Matching the same floppy style of dancing that Robin was doing on the table. Just bouncing around. Dancing around the stage with Eddie, you were laughing between your words, messing up some of the notes. He shimmied towards you, and you thought you were going to collapse with laughter but you held on.

"Don't you come back no more" you put your hand on his chest, gently pushing him away from you.

"Oh now baby please" his eyes glinting with mischief. He stopped walking backwards and now stood firm, so your hand was now pressed tightly against his chest.

"Don't you come back no more" You blushed at this gesture and tried to pull your hand away, but his other hand that was free placed itself on top, trapping it.

"Oh, don't treat me like that" No longer singing, more of a purr into the microphone.

If you were able to comprehend your surroundings, you would have heard Steve "Excuse me?" in his mother tone. Followed by Nancy shushing him loudly and Robin and Jonathan screaming and wooing in the background.

"Don't you come back no more" You smiled as you sang the last line, looking at Eddie with a wide smile. Your legs were wobbling, but it wasn't just because of the alcohol. Eddie dropped the mic and took your hand that had been previously trapped, taking down the stairs off the stage.

"I think I better go home" You said, dragging your eyes away from Eddie's. Looking at how drunk Nancy and Jonathan had gotten. The song had slightly sobered you up along with Eddie being... Eddie.

"I'll take you" Eddie said quickly. Steve gave him a maternal death glare. "Don't worry big boy, I'll get her home safe." He patted Steve on the head. An action in which, if Steve had been sober and not on the floor, Eddie wouldn't exist anymore.

"Thank you, for the absolute best birthday everrrrrr!" Robin slurred her words slightly. She burped as she hugged you tightly.

After a second glance towards Eddie after being released from the death grip hug Robbie had inflicted upon you. You both decided that Eddie was in a better shape to drive everyone home rather than get back into Steve's car. Eddie didn't say anything, since he secretly wanted to take you home by himself but it was still early days.

You almost kicked Steve into the back of Eddie's van when he said, "don't forget to use protection" to both you and Eddie causing Eddie to raise his eyebrow and stare back at Steve.

You shoved Steve into the back, making him fall on top of Jonathan, "Yes, thank you Stevie!" Your face bright red.

Helping Robin and Nancy into the van, being more careful with Nancy since she looked like she was about to throw up. Nancy seeing Steve on top of Jonathan blurting out, "Oh so you're a bottom with him? Mister Floppy hair?" Making you and Eddie look at each other before shutting the van door. Robin yelling at Nancy for saying that and the boys blabbering nonsense.

Eddie ran round to the passenger side, opened the door for you and kissed your hand, "The chariot awaits for you, my lady" keeping his eye contact with you the hold time, grinning widely when your face went even redder.

You continue blushing all the way home, after everyone else had been dropped off. Getting out the van and walking to your door, Eddie stood still lie he was going to ask you something but couldn't find the words.

You gently leaned forward and gave him a gentle but quick kiss on the lips, making him match the shade of red you were. "See you tomorrow at 3" You whispered into his ear.

"Tomorrow?" Eddie breathed. You were fairly sure that his mind had stopped working by the look of complete blankness on his face.

"You're picking me up for our first official date" You grinned and turned to go inside and shut the door behind you.

Eddie drove back with a huge grin on his face. Maybe this relationship could work out with you after all.