Drops of Heaven

09

Eddie was sitting at his desk, working on an assignment when Richie finally got home from work. It was boring when Richie was away since Eddie worked in the mornings at a clothing store before he went to school and then he had to sit at the apartment for hours because Richie, Bill, and Stan all had work.

Thankfully, today being Saturday, Eddie had the day off of work. He had the date with Daniel coming up that night, and he was nervous but Eddie was confident that it would be fine.

He sometimes hung out with Mike, Bev, and Ben, but they were all at work as well so they didn't have time to spend with Eddie.

"Put on your clothes, Edward!" Richie called as he burst in the room and opened the closet.

Eddie looked down at his sweatpants and sweatshirt. "I'm wearing clothes."

"Other clothes. We're going out!" Richie exclaimed, taking off his ugly Hawaiian shirt and putting on a short-sleeved navy button-up shirt.

"Richie, I have a date tonight." Eddie grumbled. "In five hours."

Richie huffed and grabbed a blanket, not telling Eddie why he needed it. "That's why I'm taking you out right now, Eds. I don't want that fucker to mess up your first date. What better way than by going on a date with your best friend who will make sure it's a blast?!"

Eddie's heart lurched a little bit. His dream deep down was that Richie would actually ask him out and not just do it to be nice. He really appreciated Richie trying to make sure he'd have a great official first date with someone he loved and trusted, but it still sucked that it would never be real.

"Fine, fine," Eddie said, getting up and changing into actual clothes. "Where are you taking me? Lunch and a movie? Something basic?"

Richie scowled. "I'm better than a ginger."

"I'll tell Bev you said so."

"Do you want her to murder me?!" Richie exclaimed, putting his hand over his heart.

Eddie shrugged as he got changed, noticing Richie blush and look away. "If this date sucks I'll have her team up with Daniel. Two gingers versus one Trashmouth... you're dead meat."

"What would you do without me?!" Richie asked as they walked toward the front door.

"Have my own room and all of the closet space."

Richie rolled his eyes and grabbed Eddie's hand, surprising Eddie. "What? I'm treating this like your first date! Just go with it, Eds."

Eddie felt his face burn red, but he liked the feeling of Richie's hand against his own. It was soft and a little bigger than his own, but it brought the familiar comfort that Eddie sought and always received from Richie.

"Doesn't the date usually consist of the instigator telling their date where we're going?" Eddie asked with a smirk as Richie guided him out the doors and onto the street.

"Not in this case," Richie said, smiling as he watched Eddie try to figure out what their date was going to be. "It'll be better than your date tonight."

Eddie scoffed. "If you wanted to take me out so bad you could've asked me out before," he blurted before he realized what he said and his face flushed red. "Haha, just kidding! Total joke! Derry was way too homophobic for that and we're just friends who are going on a date for fun..."

"Yeah, for sure," Richie said, forcing an awkward smile as he tried to agree with Eddie and not feel jealous and angry that he didn't suck it up and go for his best friend before some random guy did. "If it's too awkward because we're, you know, best friends, we can just hang out? I just wanted to make sure your first date is the best, and obviously I'm pretty fucking awesome, so-"