Curate, connect, and discover
Steve, who made a move on Eddie right after they first met and Eddie, having known Steve's reputation way longer than he knows Steve gets a little cold feet, gets scared he's going to be just a fun little adventure before Harrington goes on to marry a girl his parents approve of.
And even then, he knows he won't survive Steve Harrington if Steve decides he doesn't want Eddie anymore. Can't handle things between them being just casual, so when Steve makes a move, Eddie turns him down. Gently.
He doesn't say it's because he doesn't think Steve will stick to his newly discovered bisexuality. Doesn't explain to him that he thinks maybe being around Buckley and himself is making Steve a little confused.
Just says they are better off friends. And for a while, they stay friends. The best of friends.
Steve is sad, at first. He's always looking at Eddie with puppy eyes that are hard to resist, but eventually, he starts moving on.
He starts going on dates again. And Eddie doesn't feel so shitty anymore. Steve's going to find a nice girl to marry and they are going to be friends forever. All is right in the world.
Except.
Except Steve comes to weekly dinner one night with his arms wrapped around a guy. And the guy... he looks a hell lot like Eddie.
Long hair, though his is knotted on the top of his head. Eyeliner and black clothes
Chains and a big Metallica tattoo peeking out from his t-shirt. It's impossible not to notice the resemblance, but Steve pretends not to.
But Eddie can't unsee it. And as Steve's relationship evolves, so does Eddie's feeling that he has made a big, big mistake.
Or; Steve starts to date a metalhead and Eddie is miserable because he doesn't understand why not him.