#twenty different ways to sunday … and eddie ABSOLUTELY KNOWS what he’s doing and just reaches out to squeeze steve’s forearm … the arm that

[mirkwoodsprinceofdoingtoomuch]

Steve spinning that nail bat is actually something that can be so personal. And sexy.

[reddie-fangirl24]

Burn Reddie

NOTE: This is based on an experience that I had at one of my jobs. I enjoyed writing about the experience of this story. I hope you enjoy. Trigger Warning: Nose Bleeds

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Eddie knew that he shouldn’t have come into work today. This week had been difficult enough as it was with all the tests, the performance he had to intern for backstage, and trying to finish his senior thesis before the final due date which was in a few weeks. And his mother’s health was starting to worry him.

It was ironic how his mother paid all his attention to his own health, but she refused to look after herself. Graduation wasn’t until next May. Eddie feared that he was going to have to remain living with her. He wanted to get away. He had to. But, his mother needed him.

“Does this place sell eye make-up?”

Eddie was so exhausted that he could hardly keep himself awake in his duty at the counter. Of all days where he had to be on the register. Surprisingly, Sunday’s were the busiest of days. Just a couple of more hours until he could go home and do nothing for the first night in a long time. 

“Uh, no.” Eddie had no idea how to answer that question. Why did the customer look so familiar? The young man looked to be around his age. His curly black hair practically swallowed the upper half of his face. He was very lean, showing off his cheekbones. Thick glasses rested on his nose. 

“Then you really don’t know how to put on eye make-up! Burn!” He pointed right in his face, laughing.

Eddie hated some of the customers who ate here. Most of them only came in to mock him and the other employees. Why were they so different? Eddie just wished they could be in his place right now. He had no idea how he was even able to stand.

“Can I take your order?” Eddie forced a smile.

“Yeah, a burger and Pepsi, please?”

At least he was polite. “Your order will be ready soon.”

“Thanks. By the way,” he leaned in closer, and looked him in the eyes. His eyes were so blue. “You should get some rest.”

Eddie felt his heart melt. That was the nicest thing anybody had said to him all week. “T-Thanks.”

“So, my drink?” The customer pointed to the vending machine behind him. A bunch of impatient customers were waiting in line. How did they double in size so quickly?

Dragging his feet over to the vending machine, Eddie swung the door open and took out a Pepsi. As if this day could not get any worse, the door smacked him right in the nose. Jeez, who was against him this week?

Walking back to the counter, the customers who he rang up’s face went wide, immediately ripping a napkin out. Eddie had no idea what was going on until he felt a warm liquid run down his nose. 

“Shit!” He slammed the bottle on the counter, and grabbed the napkin, shoving it right under his nose. 

“Are you okay?” He asked him, reaching across the counter to touch his shoulder. Immediately Eddie felt safe, despite his throat closing up. Digging around his pockets for his inhaler, Eddie started hyperventilating noticing the customers whispering to each other. Some who were at the back of the line left.

“Um... that’s $8.82...” Eddie tried to carry on, his voice cracking in fear.

“Is there someone who I can get to help you?” He asked him. Another customer was already notifying someone else in charge of the situation. Everybody was looking at him.

Feeling his legs turn to jello, Eddie felt a pair of hands wrap around hid shoulders, guiding him to sit down in a chair that was nearby. That customer with the kind eyes pinched his nose. Eddie made the mistake to look at the bloody tissue that was thrown into the trash. 

“It’s okay! You’re going to be okay. I get nosebleeds a lot,” he told him. “I got one on stage once!”

Eddie’s mind was sp jumbled that he couldn’t think straight. “Who’s going to take the orders? I have to...”

“Never mind them! Focus on you! Or look at me! Just look at me!” He told him. Eddie did just that. His heart still thumped, but he felt calm. “You’re okay, uh, oh you’re name’s Eddie, huh?” The customer asked indicating to his name tag. Glancing down, blood dripped onto his name tag.

“Think positive thoughts, Eddie.” Now, he was holding his hand as Eddie struggled to breathe. Why was he being so nice to him when they never met before? What was his mother going to think about all this? Now she was never going to let him leave the house again. Or better yet, she’d cover him in bubble wrap. 

“Th-Thank you,” Eddie whimpered, giving the young man’s hand a tight squeeze. His own face was covered in tears.

He smiled so sweetly again. But then he looked up at the approaching figures, his smile fading.

It was Eddie’s boss. He quickly asked him what had happened before taking over at the register. The supervisor in charge walked Eddie back to the office and sat him in a chair. Everything from that point was a blank. 

Finally, Eddie’s nose stopped bleeding. He wiped his hands good and clean, fearing the bacteria that could have infested on them. The supervisor stayed with him the entire him, relaxing him. Nose bleeds were not to Eddie’s liking. Nor his mother. The first time he ever had one, he was a child, just three. If it weren’t for his mother's hysterical reactions Eddie would have taken better to them. 

He was lucky to be wearing black, otherwise, he’d be walking around as he came out of a fight. Maybe people would laugh if he told them that the vending machine door won. Feeling absolutely miserable, this was the first time Eddie had sat down all week. Somehow he didn’t break his nose. He was not at any risk of having to go to the hospital. It was possible that his nose would bruise. 

Taking a puff, Eddie sat in suspense, waiting for his boss to return. This morning he wanted to call out of work. But he didn’t. He didn’t want to make anyone mad. His scene was probably going to get him fired. 

Eddie sniffled, crying, quietly. The supervisor was in the other room. He couldn’t go home until his boss returned. All he wanted to do was crawl into a hole. But, he didn’t want it filled in. No, dirt was disgusting.

Finally, his boss returned. He was surprised that Eddie was crying. Normally, he kept his emotions together so well. “You okay, Eddie?”

No. “Yes.”

They filled out an accident report and then it was decided that Eddie could go home early. The only matter that really made Eddie feel better was that he could just sit in his bed and do nothing for the night. He needed that.

“Did you know that customer who helped you?” His boss asked him, giving him another tissue.

Eddie shook his head with whatever energy he had. “No.”

“When all the customers were gone, he came up to me and asked if you’d be okay. He also asked if I was still going to pay you for this shift.”

Eddie’s heart burst, struggling for his inhaler again.

“Don’t worry, I am, Eddie,” he assured him. He shouldn’t have joked like that. Then he reached into his pocket. “Oh, he also left this for you in your tip jar.”

A twenty-dollar bill. Oh, he felt like he didn’t deserve it. Too tired to fight, Eddie hoped that he would see this young man again someday. He didn’t even know his name.