The ride back to your place was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Steve kept glancing over at you when he thought you weren't looking - one hand on the wheel, the other still buzzing from where your fingers had laced through his. Every time your knees brushed in the car, something warm settled in your chest.

You lived a few blocks from school, tucked at the end of a sleepy cul-de-sac. Your parents were out of town - some anniversary weekend trip to the lake - and your porch light flickered a little as Steve walked you to the door.

You unlocked it slowly, like if you move too fast, the magic would break.

"Want something to drink?" you asked, flicking on the kitchen light. The bulb hummed above you, and Steve shrugged off his jacket, slinging it over one of the dining chairs.

"Sure. Water. Or whatever. I'm easy." He leaned against the counter, watching you grab two glasses. "Nice place," he added, eyes lingering on the family photos and crocheted potholders like they were artifacts.

You smiled. "Thanks. Feels different with no one home."

"Better different?" he asked.

You looked over your shoulder. "Yeah. Better."

He followed you upstairs, slow and unsure, like he wasn't totally convinced you wanted him to. But when you turned back and reached for his hand, he melted into your side again like it was the most natural thing in the world.

You didn't realize how quiet it was until you stepped into your room - the kind of quiet that makes everything feel a little heavier. A little more real.

Steve stood just inside the door, eyes scanning the space like it gave him clues about who you were. The floral comforter, the stack of cassette tapes on your nightstand, the glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling, the way your denim jacket was slung over the desk chair. There were little traces of you everywhere.

"I like it," he said softly, lips quirking. "It's... cozy."

You smiled, shy. "It's kinda cheesy."

He shrugged, taking a slow step closer. "It's you. And I like you."

You didn't respond - not with words. Just leaned in and kissed him again, slower than before. His hands came up to cup your face like he was holding something precious, and you stepped backward toward the bed, breath catching as the backs of your knees hit the mattress.

You sat first. He followed.

Another kiss. Another pause. And then his fingers were pushing the strap of your dress off your shoulder, his eyes flicking to yours for permission.

You nodded.

He tugged the zipper down with care, easing the fabric over your body. It slipped off your shoulders, pooling at your waist, and then you were left in your bra and underwear. Steve stared like he'd never seen anything so stunning in his life.

"Holy shit," he breathed, voice barely there. "You're...god. You're unreal."

You flushed, smiling in spite of yourself. "You too, Harrington."

You tugged at the front of his maroon jacket. He shrugged it off, followed quickly by his tie and button-down. Your fingers skimmed the smooth skin of his chest, the subtle line of hair down his stomach. You felt him shiver.

"You okay?" you asked.

Steve let out a breathy laugh. "More than okay. Just... really trying not to mess this up."

"You won't."

He kissed you again - deeper, hungrier now. His hands explored slowly: the curve of your waist, when his fingers brushed along your side, and he groaned against your mouth.

You reached behind yourself to unclasp your bra, letting the straps slide down. Steve pulled back just enough to look, eyes going wide with awe. His mouth parted, but no words came out. Instead, he bent down and kissed you - the swell of your breast, the slope beneath your collarbone, the softness of your stomach. Each kiss was slow, reverent, like he was learning you with his mouth.

You gasped when he reached your panties, fingers hooking in the waistband. "Can I?"

"Yeah," you breathed. "Please."

He eased them down your legs, tossing them aside. You were completely bare now, chest rising and falling fast as Steve took you in.

“Jesus,” he muttered, voice shaking. “You’re so beautiful.”

You reached for him, tugging him down into a kiss that left you both breathless. When his hips pressed against yours, you felt him — hard, straining against his slacks — and it sent heat flashing through your whole body.

“Steve,” you whispered, fingers fumbling with his belt. “I want this. I want you.”

He looked at you like he was still afraid you’d change your mind.

“Are you sure?”

You kissed him again, slower. “Yes. I’ve never been more sure.”

He nodded, hands trembling slightly as he stood to finish undressing. His pants and boxers hit the floor, and when he looked down at you — flushed, spread out across your flower-patterned sheets — something in him cracked wide open.

He bent down to his wallet, tugging it from the pocket of his pants and pulling out a condom. You watched him tear it open and roll it on, heart pounding in your ears.

Then he was above you again, one hand braced beside your head, the other cupping your cheek.

“We’ll go slow,” he murmured. “I’ll stop if you need me to, okay?”

You nodded. “Okay.”

You felt the pressure first — the slow, careful push of him slipping inside you. It burned a little, tight and unfamiliar, and you gasped quietly. Steve froze instantly.

“Too much?” he asked, panic laced in his voice.

“No,” you breathed, squeezing his hand. “Just… slow. Keep going.”

He moved inch by inch, giving you time to adjust. You clung to his shoulders, breath shaky, until he was fully seated inside you. And when you looked up — into those wide brown eyes — all the nerves dissolved.

“Okay?” he asked again.

You nodded, your voice barely a whisper. “Yeah. You can move.”

He rocked into you slowly — careful and sweet — his forehead resting against yours. You gasped softly with each movement, body gradually learning how to want this, how to open for him. You wrapped your legs around his waist, tilting your hips until the angle made something flutter low in your stomach.

Steve moaned, the sound low and needy. “Fuck… you feel so good. So good.”

His thrusts were slow, almost shy, but you could feel the tension building — in you, in him, in the way your bodies tangled and your hands gripped each other like lifelines. Every stroke was like a quiet confession.

“I’ve wanted this,” he murmured, lips brushing your ear. “Wanted you.”

You arched into him, mouth finding his, your moans swallowed between kisses. The air smelled like your shampoo, like his cologne, like heat and sweat and something unspoken finally spilling over.

When you came, it hit you like a tidal wave — your whole body tightening around him as your fingers dug into his back. He followed with a gasp and a groan, hips stuttering, burying his face in your neck as he came apart.

He stayed there, holding you, breath heavy against your skin.

Minutes passed. Maybe hours. The clock ticked somewhere in the room, but neither of you moved.

When he finally looked up, his hair was a mess, his smile dopey.

“You’re incredible,” he whispered.

You grinned, brushing his hair back. “You’re not too bad yourself.”

He rolled to the side, tugging you with him, keeping you wrapped in his arms beneath the tangle of your blankets.

And when you both drifted off, your head tucked beneath his chin, the soft rise and fall of his chest under your palm, you knew:

Of course I’m not an idiot my best friend is hot like insanely hot with his tattoos, long hair, and faint muscles that came from hauling around heavy band equipment of course my crush on him wont change the fact that he’s hot and he doesn’t even know it

He still thinks that girls see him as the “nerdy freak” he was labeled as but that could be the farthest from the truth whenever we are out I make it a point to seem like a couple

Wearing his jacket or holding onto his arm so girls can see its selfish but I wouldn’t survive seeing him happy with someone else another girl at that so I keep my thoughts and impulses to myself until now because he is holding me so tight and my face is crammed in his neck

Of course we’ve cuddled before during movies or when we were younger but never now we always have maintained some sort of distance the invisible line between best friends and more have never been crossed at least not that ive noticed

Im still in my thoughts unmoving when I feel him shift under me trying to stretch but can’t realizing the position we are in, it causes me to shift and he tightens his grip rubbing my back I’m thinking about how I wish this was normal and how we’d wake up he’d kiss me and go off to work but this isn’t normal and that won’t happen suddenly my thoughts are interruptted

“sweetheart you have no idea what you do to me you’re out cold and gripping onto me for dear life”

I contemplate faking waking up then he starts talking again “I love you and I love when we have these moments even if your not awake it makes me so happy knowing that you find me in your sleep, I’m sorry that I never stay I wouldn’t want you being weirded out by me”

He starts to play with my hair and gives me a couple of kisses on the head and my heart is pounding I feel him grabbing my hips and moving me when i hold onto him tight again not wanting him to leave

He softly removes me from him like it’s the most normal thing in the world and kisses me on the head “I love you sweetheart” I feel his weight start to move off the mattress and I grab his waist “no please stay” my eyes are still closed and I hear him sigh “I thought you were asleep”

“Please hold me again I love it” he gets back in bed and pulls me to him “how long have you been awake” the only thing I can hear over the silence is the fast beat of his heart I look up into his eyes and stare at him “longer than you” I trace his jawline and play with the ends of his hair “Ed’s?”

He blinks a couple times and hums “can this be normal every morning please” he smiles and brings a hand to my face “what are you asking me sweets” I snuggle my face into his neck and smile “um waking up in your arms every morning and you telling me how much you love me”

“Depends would we still be best friends after” I shake my head and riskily kiss his neck softly “no I don’t wanna be just friends anymore I wanna love you more then that” he lets out a breathy laugh and rubs my back “are you still high?” I laugh and look at him “stone cold sober actually. why are you?”

“Stone cold sober actually” I prop up onto my elbows and put a piece of hair behind his ear “can I kiss you” but looks at me then flips me over kissing me softly but deeply “will you be my girl”

I wake up and immediately feel like shit. My body aches, head hurts, nose is absolutely stuffed and runny which makes no sense. I roll over and see 6:30 flash across my alarm clock. I have time to get ready and its hellfire tonight anyways so might as well tough it out through the day.

I slowly get up and move like a zombie to get ready. I put my hair in a bun and start really getting ready, As I’m picking out pants to wear with the “Mandatory attire’ as Eddie calls it i can hear him down the road

How do I know it’s him? No one else is gonna listen to slayer at the ass crack of dawn in the middle of winter. He turns the radio down and I can hear the door bell. The muffled voice of my mom is greeting Eddie and he’s being as charming as always when the door flys open, donut in hand one for me and one for him. “hey I got this for you from the kitchen… are you okay?” I take the food out of of his hand and smile “I’m fine but we should get going dont wanna ruin your perfect attendance”

He fake smiles and flips me off and I know it might be a good day, oh how wrong was I.

When we get to the front of the school I rush inside and Eddie looks confused running after me. I run into the girls bathroom and start throwing up what little food I had in my system. I hear a knock on the stall and turn around “Eddie your not supposed be in here” someone laughs and I open the stall confused “oh hey robin sorry i thought you were eddie’

“It’s okay he actually sent me in here to check on you though he said he “cannot pass the gates of women privacy” or whatever so he found me and sent me in” I smile weakly and she hands me water “thanks” I drink half of it and sigh ‘is he still out there?” She nods and shuffles around in her bag giving me gum “that should make you feel better for now do you want to go to the nurse?”

“No I have a test in O’Donnell and hellfire tonight I can manage” she hugs me and the bell rings “shoot I gotta go but promise you’ll at least get medicine”

“yeah I can do that” the late bell rings and we walk out of bathroom “hey are you okay? You totally scared me” I smile and nod “Yeah I’m fine but we gotta go we have a test remember?” He groans loudly and I laugh. We both walk to class and I try to keep my happy front up

*

Lunch finally rolls around and I just want to try to eat something. I feel someone grab my hand and instantly know it’s Eddie, we walk in silence till we enter the cafeteria “hey you sit down I’ll get you something

“What about you” I look up at him and he shrugs “I’ll just steal from mike and Dustin I’m sure whatever their moms packed is enough”. I smile and walk over to the table finding somewhere to sit, placing my head on it I don’t know how much time passes but I suddenly feel an arm around me then Gareth and Jeff arguing about who can sit where Eddie sits. “here you go my fine lady lunch is served and I stole cranberry juice for you from wheeler”

I take the food and start eating when I get super tired and just lean on eddies chest after a debate on what Eddie had planned for the campaign I hear “hey dude she’s asleep” I want to open my eyes and show them I’m in fact not asleep but cannot find the energy to do so when i feel Eddie shaking my shoulder then feel my head “Oh shit she’s burning up” I feel a cold sensation on the back of my neck and smile snuggling into Eddie further. “Hey sweetheart wake up we’re going to the office”

“What for?” he lifts me up and we start walking “I’m taking you home” I want to argue but I can’t I’m too tired and my bed doesn’t sound like a bad idea right now “hey we are gonna leave she isn’t feeling well” The office lady looks at me holding onto Eddie then him “she looks sick and will be excused but you will not’ I hear him scoff and scribble on some paper “I’m over eighteen I can do whatever I damn please and if I wanna take care of my girl I will, so we’re leaving” I must really be sick because I just hallucinated Eddie calling me his girl

Eddie opens the door and the air feels great against my hot skin. I try to talk but mumble instead and Eddie just picks me up “We’re almost there sweetheart okay hold tight the office called your mom and said I’m with you its okay” I hear the door open and he places me into the van I fully fall asleep and the last thing I feel is Eddie rubbing my leg.

I start to wake up and look around but it’s really dark in my room, just then Eddie walks in with soup, medicine, and more blankets “hey I didn’t know if you had a migraine so I kept it dark but you need to eat so I made you soup” I look at him while he sets everything down and smile “thank you Ed’s how long have I been out?”

“Only an hour but your mom called and said she’s stuck in Illinois because of weather so I’m staying here and taking care of you” I partly take in the information and reach for the soup but stop and lay back down “you need help sweetheart?” I I mumble and he starts to hand feed me the soup

My throat suddenly burns and I start having a coughing fit, Eddie rubs my back and holds my hair “hey you wanna lay back down?” I take a deep breath and cough again “yes” as I lay down I hear him getting up and shuffling away, so I grab his arm and grumble “no eds stay please” he sighs and crawls over me, getting under the blankets and wrapping his arms around me

“Sleep, I’m not going anywhere”

I smile and he rubs my stomach slowly pulling me back to slumber

~

When I wake back up again for the second time Eddie isn’t here and I feel like I got ten times worse “Eddie?” It comes out weak and horse, I feel like crying did he leave? Did he get bored? I feel a knot in my throat when the door opens “oh hey your awake are you okay sweetheart your eyes are watering” I smile and grab onto his arm “I’m okay now”

As soon as I say that I feel bile build up and rush past Eddie to the bathroom, he runs behind me and hold my hair back after throwing up the only food I ate today and dry heaving for five minutes it finally stops “Ed’s it hurts”

“I know it does baby do you want to take a bath relax your muscles a bit?” I nod and he starts running the water and I hand him the bubbles, when the bath is filled he grabs my bath towel and a new shirt “hey sweetheart are you okay from here?” I nod and when he’s about to walk away I grab him “um before I get in the bath could you stay by the door and when I say it’s okay could you come back in I don’t wanna be alone”

His neck flushes pink and he nods “um yeah when your decent just yell my name” I undress and look at the bun Eddie put in my hair smiling, I ease myself into the bath and sigh at how good it feels making sure there’s enough bubbles to cover me “Eddie? You can come it now” the door opens and he has his hand over his eyes “are you sure?” I laugh and shake my head

“Yes you goon now tell me about the upcoming campaign” while hearing his soothing voice as well as his imaginative story telling I start to feel sleepy everything is so nice right now “hey your falling asleep on me do you wanna lay down?” I nod and feel super weak “could you just turn around while I get situated”

“Of course” I dry off and put my clothes on then tap his shoulder “I feel weak could you help me to the bed” he picks me up effortlessly and starts waking to my room “are you getting worse? Do you need more medicine or a doctor” I shake my head and he sets me down “I just need you” he smiles and lays down next to me

“I think that’s the medicine talking” in my hazy state my mouth works faster then my common sense “no it’s me talking duh because I’m so in love with you and I feel safe around you” a faint kiss on my forehead is the last thing I hear as I again fall asleep