Trouble in Paradise

The group was all here, and ready for their assignments. Eddie got an afternoon shift, so he was about halfway done when Billy knocked over that poor server’s tray. A few new faces were among them, and they were all crammed into the small break room. That was when a man walked into the room. He was balding and had wire-framed glasses on. Once he spoke, Steve clocked the voice.

“I’m Murray Bauman. My pronouns are he/him, and I will be who you report to for any problems. Now onto your jobs. Harrington, Buckley,” he hollered, tossing aprons and trays at them. “Servers. Emerson, room service,” he motioned to a silver cart behind the curly-haired man. “Byers and Argyle?”

“That’s me, man,” the long-haired man raised his hand. 

“Which Byers?” Will butted in.

“Jonathan and Argyle,” he held up hairnets. “Cooks…Whe-Nancy Wheeler,” another hairnet. “Pastry chef. Cunningham,” he pointed to a corner. “Dishwasher…Antonov, you will be behind the bar. Remember, the stronger the drinks, the faster they get out of your hair. Hopper, Will Byers, Mike Wheeler, and Sinclair follow me for your assignments.”

“Sir, am I no longer in the kitchen,” the tall teen already had a chef’s coat and hairnet on. 

“Seems Miss Mayfield has other plans for you this year.”

And with that, the others were off to learn their fates. The group looked around at one another for a minute. That was very abrupt, and what, there’s no training? They’re just supposed to know exactly what to do? 

“Well, that was…” Jonathan trailed off, but everyone nodded in agreement.

Bauman never told them what to wear, so most of them were not in kitchen apparel. This was the weirdest job ever. It doesn’t even matter that none of them have had actual jobs before. It just seemed off. 

A squeaky noise sang through the hallway, getting louder and louder by the second. A moment later Steve was greeted by the most beautiful face. 

“Stevie!” Eddie exclaimed as rushed over for a small hug, knowing better than to kiss your boyfriend at work. “Hey, guys,” he looked around the room. “Random dude,” he nodded to the older man who had found his locker, revealing his work uniform down to the shoes.

“Hello,” the man said, his voice giving away his native tongue. “The lockers. There’s one for each of us.”

With that, he nodded and made his way out of the room. Everyone rushed to find their stuff and then headed out to change and start their shift. 

“After-hours swim tonight?” the tanned man asked as he started for the door.

“We’re not members. We can’t just use the-”

“Come on, Babe. Aren’t you the one trying to get me to live a little,” Steve asked.

“Meet you up there at 11:00,” Eddie stuck his tongue out at the other man who blew a kiss back at him.

🌈

As first days tend to go, it was pretty eventful but not eventful at the same time. It was definitely a learning curve, trying to learn the regular menu and the drink menu with little to no time. Thankfully, the dinner rush wasn’t too busy. 

According to the other bartender, most of the guests will be strolling in in about a week. So, Steve and Robin had a little time to get acquainted with everything. 

Besides the whole Billy’s parents own the place and Mr. Bauman being an asshat, the day went on like most. That was until they were all instructed to hang their clothes on the outside of their lockers, so they could be cleaned. What kind of place cleans their employees’ uniforms?

Steve slipped back into his yellow and white striped polo, but this time he paired it with navy blue trunks. 

“Going for a swim?” Her voice startled him. He wasn’t aware there was someone else in the room with him. 

“Geez, Rob. Give a man a heart attack,” he feigned chest pains and was rewarded with an eye roll. “Eddie and I are going for a swim.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?”

“It’s fine! It’ll be fun. Besides we haven’t gotten a chance to go out this week, so it’s like a mini date…” he trailed off looking at his phone. “That I’m going to be late for if I don’t get a move on. See you tomorrow?”

“Bye, Dingus. Give Eddie my love,” she hollered as she searched her purse for her phone. 

🌈

The night air felt different from 32 stories up. Despite the season, it was a little nippy. It almost made Eddie regret not bringing a jacket. To keep his mind off the chilly breeze, he looked across the lake. It was truly a sight to behold. The moon and stars reflected off the surface, causing the ripples to change colors as the water moved. It was mesmerizing.

“What you looking at, Handsome?”

His voice was low and husky like it was when they were in the middle of some after-school activities. It sent a chill down his tank top-clad back. 

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Eddie asked, motioning to the view.

“The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

The metalhead could feel eyes on him, so he pulled his eyes toward the other man who was already staring at him. The realization of his words caused him to blush.

“I’m being serious,” Eddie chuckled, pushing his boyfriend’s shoulder. 

“I was too,” he caught the other man’s chin between his thumb and index finger. Pulling it to face him, he leaned in offering a soft, chaste kiss.

“I missed you today,” the metalhead sighed. “How was your first day?”

“I don’t want to talk about that right now.”

“No?”

“Nope.”

“Then wh-” Eddie was cut off when the brunette jumped to his feet, stripping off his shirt and jumping into the water. 

“You’re crazy!” the metalhead yelled, following suit.

“Crazy in love with you,” Steve said, pulling him close as soon as he popped up from the blue water.

Their noses brushed gently, and they stayed there like that for a little while, exchanging air and taking in one another’s presence. It’s unknown who moved first, but it doesn’t matter because they were kissing. Eddie wrapped his legs around the other man who deepened the kiss.

This moment felt just as exciting as their first time together. Most people don’t have a good time losing their virginity, but not them. It started in a similar way, the pair making out in a pool. 

“C-can we,” they kiss. “Move this,” another kiss. “Upstairs?”

Steve pulled back with wide eyes, “Really?”

“O-only if y-uh-you wanna.”

Without another word, Steve led the metalhead out of the pool. They kissed some more as they dried one another off. Moving without breaking apart was a hard feat, but they were so graceful. Or so they thought. Steve slammed his back into the sliding glass door. The thunk to the back of his head sent him flying forward to headbutt his boyfriend. 

“Fuck,” both yelped. 

“You okay?” Eddie asked. 

“Yeah, you?” 

“Peachy,” the metalhead smiled, pulling him in for another kiss with one hand as the other slid the door open. 

His lips moved down to the long column of his neck. Steve leaned back a little to give him more space to work with, but Eddie’s grip on him was not as good as he expected. He fell on his ass in the kitchen. A loud laugh escaped his lips, but it was quickly swallowed by a pale man with deep brown eyes. 

“Think you can get up, Sweetheart?” 

Nodding, they hoist each other to their feet, running out of the kitchen. At the bottom of the stairs, Eddie twirled the man around only to end up back in his arms. They stood there making out for a while, but it ended abruptly as Steve went to climb the stairs. The moment was something out of a slapstick comedy show. His foot slid out from underneath him, and he landed on his back, pulling the metalhead down with him who was able to stop his fall, grabbing onto a step.

“Maybe, we should stay down here,” Eddie joked.

“Good idea. The couch?”

“Come on, Big Boy,” he winked, pulling him to his feet.

They made love on the cream-colored sofa that night, and it was amazing how even the silly moments were sexy. It was a night neither would ever forget. 

🌈

Billy seethed as he watched to footage. He needed Eddie gone and fast. There was no way that freak was going to ruin his summer plans. Steve was his, and if he could get the tanned man away from that obnoxious creature, then he could make him see that they were meant to be together. They could share laughs and lollipops on the beach like they used to. 

The black and grey screen gave the brunette everything he needed. Surely, Bauman would fire the man.

“Murray, need you to check out the rooftop pool. The water was a little too blue.”

“Too blue? What does that even mean,” the man’s voice almost whined through the receiver.

“Just do it,” he yelled before hanging up the call.

🌈

“Using the member facilities for your little after-hours activities is strictly prohibited,” the older man yelled. 

Pulling out a little notepad, he scribbled down a few words before looking back down at the boys who were still in the pool. 

“That’s strike one. Get three, and you’re out. You hear me, Munson?”

“Wait, Mr. Bauman…y-you can’t blame him. This was my idea. I’ll take full responsibility,” Steve explained as he rushed out of the pool. Eddie was quick on his heels. 

“Don’t let it happen again,” Murray said with a stern tone.

Both of them nodded, shivering in the cool night air. 

“Out of here,” he threw his hand up before walking into the building.