Eddie Looked Around The School Cafeteria, Wondering How The Hell He Was Supposed To Believe His Soulmate

Eddie looked around the school cafeteria, wondering how the hell he was supposed to believe his soulmate was here.

Hawkins didn’t exactly have a surplus of queer men, at least not any who would be willing to actually kiss Eddie on the mouth.

When he turned 18, two freckles appeared on his neck. Everyone he’d known that got their soul mark already had gotten much more obvious marks in places they could hide. But of course Eddie got something that didn’t make any fucking sense.

He’d known he was gay for years, and he’d honestly thought he wouldn’t have a soulmate because of that.

Fate must not be as homophobic as he thought.

He’d been so focused on scanning the cafeteria that he didn’t notice when someone sat down next to him. Someone different.

When he looked down to take a bite of his sandwich, he was shocked to find Steve Harrington sitting to his left.

“Uh.”

Smooth, Eddie.

“I need to talk to you.”

Eddie just stared at him, then gestured for him to continue.

“In private.”

Eddie gulped.

Steve seemed stressed. Maybe he just wanted to buy drugs.

Eddie didn’t usually deal during school hours, but for The King, he could probably make an exception.

“Listen, uh. I can’t sell during lunch, too many eyes. But meet up with me during the next class…”

“No! No. Not. It’s not that.”

Eddie was beyond confused.

Not only was Steve talking to him in front of other people, it wasn’t about buying drugs?

Maybe he was high. That had to be it.

“So…can we…”

Eddie shook himself out of the weird comatose situation he was mentally in and nodded.

Steve stood and nodded his head outside. Eddie immediately knew where he was going to want to talk.

There was a spot under the bleachers that had become known as the soulmate spot. Ironically, only two pairs of soulmates had ever managed to make it there. It was a make out spot, and occasionally, Eddie’s place of business. How it came to be known as the soulmate spot was beyond him.

Even knowing that’s where they were going didn’t deter Eddie from following Steve wordlessly out of the cafeteria. It’s not like Steve was going to murder him, and he had it on good authority he could probably take him in a fight if necessary.

They walked in silence to the bleachers, going behind them and finding the small cutout that allowed access to the soulmate spot. It was the worst kept secret at Hawkins High, but Eddie had never actually seen anyone else there when he needed it.

As they settled into the small area, Eddie couldn’t help noticing that Steve was wearing a jacket. It was an unusually warm February day, so warm in fact, Eddie had gone without his usual winter leather jacket.

“I have a question.”

Eddie had never heard Steve speak so softly, and it was more than concerning.

“Okay?”

Steve was playing with his hands in his lap when Eddie glanced down and noticed it. The start of a scar on the back of his right hand. The same as Eddie’s.

Eddie had broken his arm in seven places when he was seven years old. Suffice to say seven was not his lucky number. He’d needed surgery to repair a part of his wrist and the scar ended up being nearly four inches long for reasons his parents hadn’t bothered to clarify with the surgeon.

Eddie looked at Steve’s neck.

Two freckles.

What the fuck.

“So. Don’t panic, okay? But I noticed that you have a scar on your right hand and my birthday was last week. So. I got a new scar in the same place.”

Eddie gawked. There was no other word for the way he was staring at Steve.

“I just wanted to compare them and see.”

“See what?”

“If we’re soulmates.”

Eddie laughed in disbelief. Steve flinched at how loud he was, but he couldn’t hold back if he tried.

“There is no possible fucking way I’m your soulmate.”

Eddie could see the two freckles on Steve’s neck that matched his own, but he was still in denial that Steve was anything other than straight and would possibly feel anything for Eddie beyond general tolerance.

Steve’s brows furrowed.

“Maybe someone else has a scar there. Did you check all the cheerleaders?”

Maybe that was harsh. Steve flinched like he’d thrown a physical punch, leaving Eddie feeling a bit guilty.

“Just. For my sake, could I check your arm? Please? If it doesn’t match, I’ll leave you alone.”

“And if it does?”

“Then I’ll ask you what mark has been hiding on you for a year.”

Eddie slowly started rolling the sleeve of his plaid button down, ignoring the way Steve was staring between his face and hands intently.

When he shoved his arm toward Steve for him to inspect, he closed his eyes.

Steve would be disgusted that he’s his soulmate. Steve wasn’t gay, probably hadn’t even thought that it was a possibility. Even if he were, there’s no way he’d be interested in Eddie.

He felt fingers tracing up the scar line, just ghosting over his skin. He shivered and looked up to see Steve staring in awe.

“Where’s yours?”

“Um. My neck. Freckles.”

“Wow. You get freckles and I get a whole scar. That doesn’t seem fair.”

“Of all the things going on here, that’s what doesn’t seem fair?”

Eddie finally made eye contact with him, biting his lip when he realized Steve was already staring at him.

“I guess it’s also not fair that we’re stuck in Hawkins instead of, like, San Francisco or New York.”

“What.”

Eddie wasn’t sure what was happening anymore. He was more lost than he’d ever been, and he had little to no hope of catching up.

“Those are the places where it’s a bit safer right?”

“Safer for what?”

“For us to be together.”

That’s it, Eddie was done. He was throwing in the towel.

“Together?”

Steve rolled his eyes, but squeezed Eddie’s hand where he was still holding it.

“If we’re soulmates, I’d assume that’s the next step?”

“Harrington, I hate to break this to you, but you’re not gay.”

“No I’m not.”

“Exactly! So, this whole conversation is…”

“I like both.”

“Both?”

“Yeah. Guys and girls. Both.”

“Huh.”

And then Eddie did the riskiest thing he’d ever done in his life.

He kissed Steve Harrington. Tongue and all.

And they sometimes say that soulmates have an instant connection, one so powerful you can’t question fate anymore. But Eddie had never really believed it; he’d had no reason to or any examples of it.

But now, with the way Steve was climbing into his lap, metaphorical sparks flying around them, he knew they had it.

And when Steve kissed his freckles before leaving, and when Eddie traced along the fake scar of his hand, they both knew this was the best thing they never could have expected.