Both: 18
Richie walks into a stupid end of the school year party. The only reason he came is to try to forget about Eddie and his boyfriend, Connor. Most of the kids are already drunk when Richie arrives.
Eddie stands awkwardly in a corner of the party. Connor dragged him here, despite Eddie saying he didn't want to go. Connor comes over to where Eddie is hiding and kisses him. Eddie mentally gags.
"Hey, babe. Having fun?" Connor asks.
"Yep! I'm having a lot of fun!" Eddie lies with a fake smile. Connor believes Eddie, he doesn't know Eddie well enough to tell the difference in his fake and genuine smiles. Connor walks away to rejoin his friends. Eddie spots Richie and walks towards his best friend. "Hey, Richie!" Eddie says, genuinely smiling this time.
"Hey" Richie responds before walking into the kitchen. Connor saw Eddie talking to Richie and he storms over. As soon as he's close enough, Connor slaps Eddie across the face.
"I thought I told you not to talk to him anymore" Connor says.
"He's my best friend. I'm not going to stop being his friend just because you said so" Eddie answers. His answer makes Connor more upset. Connor punches Eddie in the same place he just slapped him.
"You're cheating, aren't you?" Connor says, stepping closer to Eddie.
"No, he's just my friend" Eddie tries not to cry and shrinks back from Connor.
"If you loved me, you wouldn't be talking to him" Connor keeps stepping closer and closer.
"And if you loved me, you wouldn't abuse me" Eddie whispers.
Connor steps even closer, cornering Eddie. "What did you say?" Connor asks. A small crowd begins to form around the two boys
"Nothing" Eddie answers, looking for a way to escape, but finding none.
"What. Did. You. Say?" Connor repeats, he pushes Eddie up against the wall with his hands around Eddie's throat. The crowd starts chanting 'Fight!'. Richie hears the commotion and walks over to the circle.
"I said if you loved me, you wouldn't abuse me" Eddie answers. Richie hears this and realizes Eddie could be in trouble. He pushes his way through the crowd. Connor pushes Eddie's head into the wall so hard his head bounces off.
"Get off of him!" Richie screams. He jumps onto Connor's back and holds him in a head lock until Connor passes out. Richie reaches out to grab Eddie's hand.
"Don't touch me!" Eddie cries. Richie turns and addresses the crowd.
"Go! There's nothing to see! Move!" Richie yells. He turns back to Eddie. Eddie is shaking and covering his ears. "Let's go, Eds" Richie says quietly.
"I don't want to, Connor. Please just leave me alone" Eddie whispers. Richie's heart breaks.
"Eds, it's me, it's Richie. It's not Connor. Let's go home, Eddie." Richie says. He leads Eddie out of the party and then drives them both home. Richie hands Eddie some pajamas and walks out.
"Richie!" Eddie screams. Richie runs back into the room. "Can you s-stay with m-me?" Eddie asks.
"Of course. I'll stay with you, Eddie" Richie says.
"I-I need help. I'm t-too shaky" Eddie says. He hands the pajamas to Richie.
"Are you sure, Eds?" Richie asks. Eddie nods his head, so Richie slowly walks over. He takes off Eddie's shirt and pants. He then puts a sweatshirt and sweatpants on Eddie.
"Can you h-hold me?" Eddie asks.
"Come here" Richie sits on his bed allowing Eddie to come sit on his lap. Eddie curls up in Richie's lap and cries into his chest. "Can I rub your back?" Richie asks, Eddie nods. Richie finds himself hating Connor even more for turning happy, energetic, sassy Eddie into a quiet shell of old Eddie. "Do you want to talk about it, Eds?" Richie asks
"He was g-good when we started dating. Then h-he started to v-v-verbally and physically a-abuse me. He said I-I-I couldn't talk to y-you, that's why we were f-fighting" Eddie explains.
"I'm sorry, Eddie." Richie says
"Can w-we go to s-sleep?" Eddie asks.
"Do you want me to still hold you?" Richie asks.
"Yes, please. And can you s-sleep on the b-bed with me?" Eddie questions.
"Of course," Richie lays down, still holding Eddie. Eddie scoots even closer so that there is no space between him and Richie.
"Thank you, Chee," Eddie mumbles into Richie's chest. The boys then drift off into sleep.
