Chapter Text
“Harrington.” Eddie greeted, bumping into the locker next to Steve’s and then leaning against it to make it seem like, maybe, he did that on purpose. He hoped Steve thought he did that on purpose. He was already bound to hate him for even attempting to befriend him, so he should at least look like he knows what he’s doing.
“Uh… Munson, right?”
“Yes.” Eddie replied.
“What’s… up?” Steve asked, slowly, squinting at him. That was fair. Honestly, better than fair. Eddie seriously thought he’d already be mad by now.
“The ceiling.” Eddie smirked. Stupid. That was stupid. “Uh- I mean-” Eddie coughed, straightening up. “Um.” But only physically. He was still an absolute idiot. Steve was still squinting at him. Eddie wondered if that hurt. His face was still covered in bruises, they were kinda yellow-y having healed a bit, but probably still hurt. Eddie swallowed. He had had a plan before walking over here, right? What was it? Why couldn’t he remember?
“Are you okay?” Steve asked.
“Yeah.” Eddie nodded. “Yup.” He took a deep breath. “Walk with me?”
“Okay?” Steve replied, still squinting at him. He grabbed a book from his locker before closing it. They both stood there for a second before Steve’s expression changed, he sacrificed the squint to raise his eyebrows at Eddie. “Where?”
“Oh. Right. Yeah.” Eddie nodded, coughed, and then turned toward his class and started walking. Silently of course. He was so bad at this. This wasn’t even the plan. What had been the plan? He still can’t remember. But it certainly wasn’t this! He should have known he’d get all weird about it. Steve wasn’t a freak. Steve was intimidating, actually. He never stood a chance. Steve was going to eat him alive.
“How do you ever convince people to join your club?”
“They’re a lot easier to talk to.” Eddie blurted out.
“Right. So, why are you talking to me then?” Fuck. Fuck. Why did he say that? He’s so fucking stupid. Nancy is definitely not going to keep paying him. Fuck.
“No- No! I just- I meant you’re scary. No. Fuck. That’s not-” He was so fucking stupid. Why was he still talking!? Just stop talking! Wait… “Are you laughing?”
“I’m sorry.” Steve replied, smiling. “I just- That's funny. Sorry.”
“Uh… good?” Eddie stupidly said. What was that even supposed to mean? Steve raised an eyebrow at him.
“You’re sure you're not this awkward while… re… rem… recruiting members?”
“I’m not. But they’re, y’know, weird. It’s easier. You’re…”
“Scary?”
“Sorry. I meant intimidating. No- No I didn’t. That’s worse. Fuck. Um.” Eddie swallowed. “I meant… cool?”
“You think I’m cool?”
“Yes?”
“Right.” Steve nodded. Then he leaned over, bumping his shoulder into Eddie’s. “How far away are we from your friends?” He whispered.
“What?”
“This is a dare, right?” Steve kept whispering, walking directly beside him. Their shoulders bumped again. “Talk to me for however long? Make me laugh? Something else.”
“It’s- it’s not a dare.” Eddie finally managed to choke out.
“Really?” Steve finally stepped back out of Eddie’s space, smiling and raising an eyebrow at him. “You sure? ‘Cause it’s cool, I’ll entertain whatever it is, I’ve got nothing better to do.”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay.” Steve nodded. “So what is it?”
“Um…” Eddie stopped walking. He was in front of his class. “This is… my class.” He pointed at the open door. Steve nodded. “Join me for lunch?” Eddie asked. Steve’s brows shot up.
“Is not mentioning that it’s a dare part of the dare?” He asked.
“No. ‘Cause it’s not a dare. Just, trust me, alright?”
“Oh. It’s a prank.”
“No- No. Harrington, seriously, I just- I think you’re cool.”
“Sure.” Steve smiled, tightly. Eddie was so bad at this. “See you at lunch then.” Steve winked and walked off. Was he so bad at this? What? Eddie blinked. Why did he wink? Did he still think it was a prank but was listening anyway? Jesus, maybe he really did need a friend.
“Oh, fuck.” Eddie cursed himself before stepping into his classroom. “Oh my god.” He whispered, stopping in the middle of the room. He told Steve Harrington to sit at his lunch table. That was SO not the plan. Holy shit. Fuck. His real friends were going to lose their shit.
“Something the matter, Munson?” Someone asked, kicking his ankle. “Smoke too much before class?”
Eddie shook his head, violently, snapping himself out of his trance. He needed to focus on class. He was going to pass this year. He took a deep breath and continued toward his usual desk. Steve probably wasn’t even being serious. He wouldn’t sit with them. He cared too much about his reputation. It was fine.
Why couldn’t he have just followed the plan? Or remembered the plan. He was just supposed to ask if Steve knew anything about fixing cars. It was so fucking simple. Why couldn’t he be simple. Fuck. Just fuck. His friends really were going to kill him. No. No. Breathe. Harrington probably won’t even show. It’s fine. He’s fine. Everything was fine. Still, it would’ve been more fine if he had stuck to the god damn plan.
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Steve entered the cafeteria already looking around for some kind of trap. He knew it was a prank of some sort, but honestly he was hoping Munson’s friends were just gonna laugh in his face for daring to actually sit with them and to not end up covered in slime or something cliche like that. Not that there really was any way to hang a bucket of slime in the cafeteria anyway. He just didn’t want to get his hair ruined, okay? He totally understood why Munson hated him, and his drop in popularity probably made it look like he could be teased now, he understood it, and it was fine, he kinda deserved it. He just also liked his hair. Sue him.
When he had properly assured himself there were no physical traps he sat down at the table. Immediately all their eyes were on him. Munson even looked shocked, like he hadn’t literally told him to sit with them. Steve just smiled. None of them even blinked. Wasn’t this about where they were supposed to start laughing? Steve waved at them. Nothing. Not even a blink.
“Hi.” Steve greeted. Munson shook his head, flinging his hair all over the place.
“Holy shit.” He muttered, once he’d stopped thrashing his head around, like he had expected Steve to just disappear.
“Um, what is happening?” One of Munson’s friends asked. He had short, curly, light brown hair. Steve kinda wished he knew all their names but he only knew Munson’s because he had a habit of pissing people off and standing on tables. The others were just more… chill?
“I… invited him to sit with us.” Eddie answered. A chorus of complaints from his friends followed.
“Why?”
“What the fuck, Eddie!?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Uh… I- I don’t know. It kinda slipped out?” Eddie replied.
“How the fuck does that ‘kinda slip out’!?”
“Why were you even talking to him?”
“I- I just- I had-”
“I can leave.” Steve interrupted. “I mean, I thought this was a joke and was just gonna let you all have your laugh, but clearly nobody’s having fun, so…” Steve started to stand up, but the same curly haired kid who started all the questions grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. Steve wasn’t really trying to fight him off, he probably could have gotten away if he wanted to, he just was still kinda interested in finding out what the hell was happening himself.
“If you thought it was a joke, why on earth would you sit here?” The kid demanded.
“I can handle a little teasing.” Steve laughed.
“How much of a dick do you think I am?” Munson asked.
“I… don’t?”
“You thought I was only talking to you because of a dare and then when I asked you to sit here you assumed it was a prank. And then you actually sat here still thinking it’s a prank.”
“That doesn’t make you a dick.” Steve argued. “It’s like a payback thing. It’s all good.”
“Dude.” One of Eddie’s friends replied. He also had curly hair but shorter and darker. Why did they all have curly hair? And he was chubbier. That was mean. Steve was being mean. Something about teaching an old dog new tricks.
“You’re not doing that a lot, are you? Letting people treat you like shit just because… payback?” The first curly haired kid asked. “And is it just… Did you let Hargrove beat you up.”
“No! No. I lost that fight… naturally?” Steve answered. Munson winced at that. “I mean, I was doing pretty well until he smashed a plate on my head.” Steve argued, because he was. He’s not completely pathetic.
“What? He hit you with a plate?” The other- God, hair should not be a factor he’s going off of. What color were all their eyes? Nope, both the kids he was trying to tell apart have blue eyes. Damn. He’d call them ‘leather jacket’ and ‘flannel’ but the black guy is also wearing a leather jacket and he can’t just call him ‘the black guy’. “Harrington? Hello?”
“Maybe he sat here because the concussion is messing with his reasoning skills.” Leather Jacket Two replied. He can’t do that. He should ask their names.
“No.” Steve replied.
“Jesus Christ.” Munson muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I think that means you’re staying.” Flannel patted him on the back a couple times.
“Okay.” Steve nodded. “If I’m staying I should probably ask what your names are.” He added. Flannel laughed.
“I’m Gareth.” He answered.
“I’m Jeff.” Leather Jacket Two, now Jeff, added.
“I’m Grant.” Leather Jacket One, now Grant, replied.
“Thanks. So… why am I here?”
“Hm?” Eddie hummed.
“You know, since it’s not a joke, what is this?”
“Uh… A guy can’t just want to make a new friend?”
“With me?”
“Harrington’s not a sheep Eddie.” Jeff replied.
“What?” Steve asked.
“Where’s your food?” Gareth pointed at the empty table space in front of Steve.
“I… didn’t think I’d be sticking around long?”
“Go get some food.” Gareth waved him off. Steve nodded, and got up.
“Alright.” He agreed before walking away.
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“Eddie, seriously, what is this?” Jeff asked, as soon as Steve was out of ear shot, or hopefully out of earshot anyway. Eddie couldn’t tell them about the money though, they might also want in on it. He doesn’t make enough to share.
“He’s been sadder since, you know.”
“Seriously? Harrington is not a sheep. He- He’s-”
“He’s standing in the lunch line looking like a kicked puppy probably still trying to figure it out if this is actually some kind of elaborate prank.” Gareth interrupted, starting over at Steve in the lunch line. He did kinda look like a kicked puppy.
“No. Well… no.” Jeff shook his head. “You don’t get it, man, you’re just a sophomore. He was… he was really bad before you got here.”
“Was he, though?” Grant asked. “I mean, we all say that, but, really, what’s the worst thing any of us know he did?
“He… he fought Jonathan Byers.”
“After the guy took stalker photos of his girlfriend undressing. Don’t tell half the story.” Eddie argued.
“Also aren’t they friends now?” Gareth asked. “I mean, they're awkward and all, but I have seen them talk in the hallways a lot.”
“Okay, fine. Um… he… he let- Actually he scolded Hagen for tripping me in the hallway.” Jeff looked thoughtful.
“How the hell did he get a reputation of being an asshole if he wasn’t an asshole?” Gareth asked.
“Tommy’s an asshole. His old best friend. And you are the company you keep.” Eddie answered. “Look, I’m not trying to argue that he didn’t used to cause harm, I’m just saying that he’s sad and lonely now. Also, Gareth, you’re wrong, Steve and Byers aren’t friends, Byers was just friends with Wheeler who used to be around Steve a bunch but isn’t anymore, obviously, not that Byers and Wheeler are together, probably involving some cheating. Also the worst thing I can remember him doing or saying to me is ‘fix your nails Munson’ which really isn’t that bad.”
“Okay. Okay. Fine. I’ll play nice with Harrington.” Jeff replied. “For now. If he pulls anything though I’ll… shave all his hair off or something.”
“Can it be the or something?” Steve asked as he sat back down. So much for being nice. Jeff shoved his try away from himself and dropped his head into the table. At least he felt bad about it.
“Hey! You can’t do that. You always get mad at me when I do that.” Gareth protested.
“Are you okay?” Steve asked.
“How much of that did you hear?” Jeff grumbled back, not lifting his head back up.
“Not a lot. Just that you’ll shave all my hair off.”
“If you start acting like a douche to us.” Jeff emphasized, lifting his head back up to face Steve. “I just- I’m not a hundred percent sure you’re a good dude now.”
“Okay.” Steve nodded. “That’s fair.” Steve started pushing his green beans around on his tray.
“No, not fair. It’s actually ridiculous because the worst thing you did that any of us can think of is make fun of Eddie for wearing nail polish.” Gareth argued.
“I didn’t do that? But even if I did that’s definitely not the worst thi-”
“You did do that.” Eddie argued. “You used to glare at my nails all the time, and you told me to ‘fix’ them in Mr. Kaminki’s class last year.”
“Fix them, yeah.” Steve agreed.
“Yeah.” Eddie replied. “Exactly.”
“No. I told you to fix them because they were literally always chipped. Like, have you ever even heard of a top coat? I wasn’t making fun of you for wearing nail polish, just for doing it badly.”
“What?” Eddie scoffed as the other three burst into laughter. Eddie remembered flipping Steve off for that particular comment and Steve was just telling him to paint his nails better? What?
“The whole point is so your nails look pretty, but yours are always ruined.”
“Them being chipped is part of the vibe.” Eddie argued. Steve screwed his face up in disgust. “It’s metal. They’re supposed to be chipped.”
“That’s stupid.”
“No. That’s- Why the fuck do you even care?”
“Because they could look nicer.” Steve replied as Gareth started hitting the table in his fit of laughter. “You just-” Steve reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out clear nail polish or ‘top coat’ or whatever and placed it on the table. “This is all you need to fix the chipping but you’re too goddamn lazy.”
“Oh my god.” Jeff forced out through his own laughter.
“Why do you have that?” Eddie asked, because his entire world view was crumbling. He really thought Steve just hated nail polish on guys.
“It was to fix Nance’s nails and I just… keep forgetting to take it out.”
“Jesus Christ.” Eddie dropped his head onto the table.
“I actually have the same shade of pink she usually uses too.” Steve grabbed that out of his pocket and placed it on the table as well. Eddie looked up at it and just whined. What the hell was happening? His whole world had just gotten flipped upside down by Steve fucking Harrington.
“You know what, we should put that to use.” Gareth announced. “It’s not hers anymore.” He picked up the bottle. Steve made a hurt face for a fraction of a second before he forced on a smile. Eddie really had no idea if this was going to be therapeutic or not. Gareth unscrewed the cap, brought the brush to his hand, and promptly painted practically his entire fingertip. Steve grimaced.
“Ca- Can I..?” He pointed at Gareth’s hand.
“I’ve never put nail polish on before.” He admitted, passing the brush to Steve. Steve took it, and Gareth’s left hand, and started painting the other nails. To Eddie’s great dismay he was good at it.
“I feel like my whole life is a lie.” Eddie muttered, watching Steve The King Harrington paint Gareth’s nails a soft pink. Nothing made sense anymore. “When did you learn how to do that?”
“Middle school.” Steve answered. “So I could do Carols. You should let me fix yours sometime.”
“I… like mine. It’s metal.”
“No, it’s just bad.”
“You’re bad.” Eddie shot back, instinctively. Steve flinched. Thankfully he was dipping the brush back in the polish and Eddie didn’t just indirectly ruin Gareth’s nails. “Sorry. I just meant… I don’t know what I meant.”
“It’s cool.” Steve shrugged, before returning to painting Gareth’s nails. Eddie watched in awe as Steve painted them perfectly.
What was his life? Is he sure Steve wasn’t abducted and replaced by aliens? Is Steve even real? Was Eddie dreaming? If not he must’ve gone completely mental. He was going to wind up in Penthurst all because of Steve mother fucking Harrington. What a life.
The bell rang just as Steve finished screwing the cap back on the nail polish. Life was so unfair. He had no right to have time on his side too. He did not get to be that perfect. It was not okay. Eddie dropped his head onto the table. Maybe Steve really was an alien. Or Eddie really was dreaming. Of course he would dream that everything went well, Steve didn’t punch him, and Steve was actually somehow nice. It made perfect sense.
“Are you okay?” Steve asked.
“Yup. Just…trying to rationalize everything.”
“What?”
“He’s not rationalizing anything.” Jeff answered in Eddie’s place. “He’s probably making up stories about some new kind of parasite that makes its host nicer.”
“Oh, I should’ve thought of that!” Eddie yelled, lifting his head back up. “That’s so cool.”
“Okay?” Steve let out a breathy chuckle. “Well, um, I’ll… see you guys later?”
“Yeah, you’ll see us later. Bye Harrington.” Jeff waved.
“Okay.” Steve smiled and nodded, before turning to walk off.
“Bye Steve!” Gareth shouted after him.
“Bye!” Steve called back, smiling and waving at Gareth.
“I think he’s already starting to grow on me and I’m really upset about it.” Jeff admitted. Eddie laughed.
“Honestly, same.” Eddie agreed.
“You invited him.”
“Yeah, I was upset about that too. I said it slipped out. I was originally just supposed to say hi, maybe talk about cars or something.”
“What?” Grant laughed. “What the hell do you know about cars?”
“I can do some repairs.”
“Repairs? You were going to talk to Steve Harrington about mechanic stuff? I thought you meant, like, car types. What the hell would Steve know about repairing cars?”
“I don’t know what the guy likes, okay? I was just trying to establish a friendly ground to stand on. I didn’t mean to drive right in, but he’s so- so- I don’t even know!”
“Sounds about right.” Gareth nodded. “We should all really get to class though before we wind up with a Saturday detention and can’t have band practice.”
“Alright, alright, let’s go.”