27 years| Reddie

I wanna know what love is

1994

Derry Diner wasn't a big place and it certainly didn't have a table big enough for seven Highschool seniors. Sat at table number seven, are the lucky seven. Benjamin Hanscom is pressed up against the window, a big green coat over him and a blue hat in his hands. Opposite him is Bill Denbrough, still wearing a flannel shirt despite it being a bitterly cold day in mid February. Sat on his lap is his girlfriend Beverly Marsh, her shoulder length auburn hair as vibrant as ever. The two are sharing a portion of fries and chatting nonsense with their friends. Beside the pining Ben is Mikey Hanlon, wearing a wide smile on his face as he eats his salad. Opposite Mike is Stanley Uris, rolling his eyes at a stupid joke made by Richard Tozier, who is sat beside Mike with Edward Kaspbrak perched on his lap. The two are also sharing a portion of fries.

Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran is playing on the juke box in the somewhat empty food place. Richie Tozier can feel himself bopping his head in time to the music, a small blush set on his face that he will blame on the cold weather when the actual cause is of the boy sat on his lap. He wants to reach out and play with his hair gently, or kiss him on the cheek, but they aren't in the clubhouse where their friends won't bat an eyelid or in the safety of Richie's room alone. They're in a public place and it only makes sense for Eddie to be sat on Richie's lap because there's no space on the table.

Being gay in Derry is a bad thing and Richie knows that. So he buries it deep down, along with the feelings for the eldest member of the losers club. Richie never intended to fall for the short, angry brunette hypochondriac, but here we are. He'd even wanted to ask him to prom, but he didn't want to risk being beaten up or insulted by a sea of slurs. He already dealt with them daily.

Rumours spread around schools at a rapid rate, like the plague spread rapidly around London. But a lot of those rumours aren't true. This isn't the case for Richie and that's even scarier. Trying to fight down urges, like a longing stare at another male, or secretly checking Eddie out, is difficult. If he lets any of his secret spill, it'd be over. He feared for his life. The rumour of Richie being gay had been going on since he was twelve.

"Okay and then at around nine, we'll go to the clearing near the Barrens, where Mike has been setting up our party." Beverly continues to explain, bringing Richie back to earth. He's subconsciously placed a hand on Eddie's hip, so he removes it discreetly, the blush spreading across his face like a bad rash.

"I have everything prepared in my truck. All the essentials." Mike adds. Mike is homeschooled and is unable to attend prom, so the losers all agreed to throw their own by the Barrens." And don't worry, Eddie, everything will be disinfected."

"Good because my mom would murder me if she found out I wasn't actually at prom." Eddie states and Richie admires his voice for a second. His voice had dropped when he'd turned fifteen and it was quite deep. Richie loves it. His own voice was still slightly squeaky and still breaking fully.

Eddie Kaspbrak had hit puberty at fourteen, apart from the growing side of it. He was only 5'6 at age 18. His hair is wavy but neatly side parted, his Adam's apple is prominent, his voice uncharacteristically deep for his petite figure, light freckles dot his face along with some acne, his jawline is sharp and his eyes are still doe-eyed brown.

Richie Tozier hadn't hit puberty until he was sixteen. He was already tall, now standing at 5'10 at age 17. His hair lies in long messy curls just to his jawline, which is sharp too but not as sharp as Eddie's. His voice is squeaky and cracking but he knows it'll be quite deep as his fathers voice is deep. His Adam's apple sticks out more than Eddie's and he has slightly more acne. He has some slight stubble growing, which is uncharacteristic for his baby-face. He hasn't quite grown fully into his baby fat like Eddie. His glasses are still too big for his face and makes his eyes look like two huge moons.