It's a Saturday night and Eddie doesn't usually go out on Saturdays. Not just because he's an almost forty year old man and has no desire to go and make a fool of himself, but because he never used to when he was in his 20s. He'd be too scared to do something he'd regret, like make out with a man. But Eddie realised now that he doesn't need alcohol to do that.
He looks at himself in the mirror in his and Myra's room. He's wearing a green polo shirt, blue jeans and a dark blue jacket. He sprays some cologne on and rubs a hand across his chin, freshly shaven. He prefers to be clean shaven. He doesn't know why.
Eddie nods, guessing that's as good as he's going to look, and he goes downstairs, grabbing his converse as he walks into the living room. Myra's watching TV so he sits on the other couch, putting his shoes on.
"Don't be out too late." Myra states as Eddie tie his shoe laces up. He glances at her and nods." And don't drink too much."
"I won't." He says with a lot more force than he intended. He's glad to have a night off and away from Myra. He kisses her forehead and then grabs his keys." See you later."
"Aren't you forgetting something?" She asks as he goes to open the front door to leave. He glances at her.
"I love you." He says.
"I love you too, have fun." Myra says. Eddie forces a smile and he leaves his house with a sigh of relief. Sharon is waiting in her car, agreeing to drive them both there.
Eddie fiddles with his wedding ring as they drive through New York. He's nervous. He's so nervous. He knows he's going to do something stupid. Maybe he'll confess his secret to Sharon. Maybe not.
They reach the theatre and park the car. Sharon smiles at Eddie as they get out and go wait in line. They haven't hung out outside of work before.
"Never seen Eddie Kaspbrak dressing casually before. You give off the vibes of a guy who constantly dresses smart." Sharon states with a chuckle. Eddie smiles nervously and continues to fiddle with his ring." Are you okay, Eds? You seem nervous."
"I'm fine...and it's Eddie, Sharon, you know that." Eddie corrects. He hates the nickname Eds. But not when his mystery boy says it. Whoever that is. Wherever he is.
"Right. Sorry." Sharon apologises. Eddie smiles.
It doesn't take long until they're in the foyer of the theatre. The two get a drink each and joke around slightly, Eddie easing up a little bit. They got another drink and made their way to their balcony seats, Eddie glad they weren't anywhere near the stage. He knows he'd be in Richie's view if he was near the stage and for some reason, Eddie didn't want Richie to see him. Even if Richie didn't know him. He didn't want to see this 39 year old man blush.
"Please welcome to the stage...Richie Tozier!"
Eddie's heart was in his throat as Richie walked onto stage with a goofy grin, suavely grabbing the mic off of the microphone stand. Eddie's eyes landed on Richie's hand gripping the stand and he felt like he were going to pass out.
"Hello, hi. Welcome. How're we going tonight? Are we good?!" Richie says into the mic and Eddie leans anxiously forward in his seat. Sharon looks at him out of the corner of her eye and smirks, crossing her arms." So, this is one of my first proper shows back after my whole rehab thing five years ago. Your boy went a little off the rails. But it's fine, my dad dragged me back to reality. My car crash...yeah I got into a car crash...my car crash wasn't funny when it happened but now it's fucking hilarious! One second I was completely fine, the next, I hit a tree."
The jokes aren't landing well and Eddie cringes slightly. Richie's material has changed a lot in the last few years. But familiarity and comfort still envelope him like a hug from someone you haven't seen in years.
The show starts off rocky, but Richie recovers and soon the audience- Eddie and Sharon included- are laughing and applauding hysterically. Eddie wheezes slightly whilst his laughs. Sharon's getting all of the laughs Eddie is insecure about tonight. Eddie watches Richie intently, a content smile on his face and eyes filled with love. Sharon smiles even wider as she turns back to look at the stage where Richie is telling a porn joke. Eddie let's out a high pitched giggle and Sharon suppresses a laugh.
The show is soon over and there's a standing ovation. Eddie cheers loudly and Richie waves to the audience as he walks off stage with a wide grin on his face. Eddie and Sharon both put their jackets on, smiling happily at one another.
"Thank you so much, Sharon." Eddie says as they begin to walk back down to the foyer.
"I have one more surprise for you, Mr Kaspbrak." She says and he looks at her, raising an eyebrow in confusion. She grabs his arm as they leave the theatre, dragging him to the stage door." You're meeting him."
"I-Should we?" Eddie asks. Sharon grins and gives an enthusiastic nod of encouragement. Eddie reluctantly goes along with it, resulting back to fiddling with his wedding ring.
-
Richie sighs as he gets to his dressing room, wiping the sweat from his forehead with an flannel. Steve congratulates him for saving the set and Richie chuckles slightly before grabbing his belongings and walking down to the stage door. He signs out and opens the door, Steve taking his stuff for him so he can sign things for fans.
A lot of his fan base are teenagers, which he thinks is strange but he goes with it anyway. He sighs stuff and takes photos and chats and laughs. Until he reaches one man and his friend. The mans stood nervously, fiddling with the ring in his finger, mumbling something to his friend. His friend elbows him in the chest and he looks up, his big brown eyes connecting with Richie's blue ones. The two stare at one another and the mans friend coughs awkwardly.
"Eddie?" Richie asks, suddenly flashes of memory going through his mind. The mystery guy from his past now has a face. He can remember everything. Every little detail. From the way his nose crinkled when he laughed to the way his eyebrows knit together when mad.
"Yeah." The man says, recognition flashing in his brown eyes. The eyes that make Richie melt." Quit staring at me, asswipe"
"Holy shit, you haven't changed." Richie chuckles nervously and Eddie laughs a little." It's been, what, 21 years?"
"Since I left Derry." Eddie says, nodding. His friend stares at them, a little confused." How did I- how did we forget?"
"No idea." Richie says and he truly can't think of why he couldn't remember Eddie or any of their friends." I've missed you, dude, like...a lot."
"I missed you too." Eddie says with a warm smile. Richie grins and Eddie's friend coughs again. He turns to her." Richie and I were best friends. Like when we were kids."
"Met in first grade." Richie adds." But we forgot one another until just now."
"Sharon...Eddie's work friend." She says. She's only a little taller than Eddie with bright blonde hair blazing green eyes. Richie shakes her hand.
"Aww, Eddie spaghetti has friends." Richie teases and Eddie sighs. Sharon laughs at the nickname.
"Don't call me that." He says and Richie grins. He goes to say something, but they're interrupted by a jealous looking Steve.
"Richie, you got others to see!"
"Sure thing, Stevie." Richie says. Steve rolls his eyes at the nickname and Richie grins before turning back to Eddie. He pulls out his pen and grabs Eddie's ticket, writing on it." Theres my number. We should catch up sometime."
"Yeah...definitely." Eddie says with a bright smile.
"It's nice to see you, Eduardo." Richie says.
"You too, Trashmouth."
YOU ARE READING
27 years| Reddie
FanfictionA chance encounter sets two fools on a path they never thought they'd be on. Richie Tozier is figuring things out, his sexuality and his comedy Eddie Kaspbrak is trying to hold it together, his disaster marriage and keeping the lid on his sexualit...
