ic inbox.

[heatmetal]

[ his voicemail greeting is just a guitar riff ]

Comments

[heatmetal]

Just at the smoke shop on the corner. What's up?

[cheerleader]

I'm on my way back and wanted to see if maybe we could hang out and talk?

[heatmetal]

Sure.
Gimme ten.

[cheerleader]

Okay. Are you hungry or anything? I can order us a pizza.

[heatmetal]

The answer to that question is always yes.
I am but a bottomless black hole of hunger and thirst.

[cheerleader]

Does that mean you're the kind of guy that will eat a pizza with everything on it?

[heatmetal]

I'll even eat the little plastic table on top.

[cheerleader]

You know what? We should make a video of you actually trying to do that.

[heatmetal]

Hell yes. You've got a great mind for viral videos.

[cheerleader]

I really just think that "stoned metalhead chokes on pizza saver" needs to be made and seen by as many people as possible!

[heatmetal]

Choke? Please. Those puny plastic legs don't stand a chance against these pearly whites.
Do you want anything? Soda? Beer?

[cheerleader]

Could I get both? A Sprite for when we have pizza. And a fruity beer drink for after?

[like any teenage girl let loose in the wild, she's discovered a fondness for Smirnoff Ice. Which is in fact not a beer at all, but oh well. She's trying!]

[heatmetal]

You got it.
On my way back.

[cheerleader]

thanks eddie 😘

[She's waiting for him outside the building, so they can walk in and head up together. He's balancing some things and she's got a shopping back or two on her arms, but he still gets a hug anyway.]

OKAY NOW THAT THE BF THING HAS BEEN SORTED

[heatmetal]

[ He grins at the sight of her and she gets a one armed hug in turn, the arm staying around her shoulders as he turns to steer them back into the hotel. ]

So I also picked up some shit to bake cookies, but I've never baked anything that didn't have a little something special in it so this might turn into a disaster.

♥

[cheerleader]

You've never baked anything but edibles?

[She laughs, not really all that surprised. They get to the elevator and since his arms are both a little occupied she presses the buttons and handles getting them to their floor.]

It's your lucky day. You happen to be talking to an award winning baker.

[Okay, she only won a contest in Girl Scouts back when she was ten to try and earn a new badge. But he doesn't have to know that!]

[heatmetal]

Oh ho. Teach me all you know, baking master. I am but your humble disciple.

[ he can't say he'll miss needing to ride an elevator up to their space when billy finds them a proper house. ]

[cheerleader]

[The elevator here always has a moment when it reaches its destination where it rumbles a little, causing the lights to just barely flicker. To anyone else, it would be unnoticeable. To someone like Chrissy, it makes her breath catch and nearly sends her into a panic. At least this time, Eddie's right there, his arm is around her, and nothing bad is going to happen.

She still hurries them out of the elevator and into their space, moving ahead to open the door and hold it open so he can slip inside first.]

I promise to share all of my cookie baking wisdom with you, padawan.

[oh my god, she's using a star wars reference. she's so proud of herself.]

At least until the pizza gets here.

[heatmetal]

[ his grin broadens at the reference. ] Leading me away from the dark side, are we?

[ he saunters through, plunking his heavy load down onto the counter and - miracle of miracles - starts to put things in their proper places. the man can be trained. ]

So... is this a conversation that needs food to fill awkward silences? Or did you just wanna shoot the shit?

[cheerleader]

[Well, that gets her to take pause, cheeks turning red as she stands there awkwardly for a second.]

I mean, I have something I want to ask you. But it doesn't have to be awkward.

[she's still holding onto hope that it won't be entirely awkward, at least.]

[heatmetal]

Consider me an open book.

[ god he hopes it's not awkward. he's had enough awkward conversations for a lifetime. he stands up straight, resting one hand on his hip and the other on the counter. ]

[cheerleader]

[okay, she can do this. All she has to do is be brave.]

We... we're friends, right? I know I'm not your best friend or anything, but we're still friends, aren't we?

[heatmetal]

[ his expression softens a little. ]

Yeah, Chrissy. Of course.

[cheerleader]

[She nods, biting at the inside of her cheek.]

It's been hard being here sometimes. You guys are all so close. I know you all want me around, but I've been trying to figure out my place to fit. And —

[She pauses, exhaling slowly.]

I guess what I wanted to ask is, are you and Steve...together? Like more than just friends.

[heatmetal]

[ eddie freezes. the smile is momentarily plastered on, fake as can be. like he's expecting the floor to drop out from under him, or for the next words out chrissy's mouth to be... unkind, to say the least.

it takes a second to remind himself that's not who she is. or - who he thinks she is. but good people can believe shitty things, especially in small town indiana.

he takes a deep breath and nods. ]

... Yeah. Yeah. We're... we're together. Boyfriends.