College sucks but that's where I saw you

Chapter 1

That was the first night Richie saw him again since they were seven when Eddie moved away. Now he was so different yet the same. The first semester at UCLA had just started and with the fall setting in in the boys dorms fire alarm was pulled at three am. Like everyone else Richie stood out in the cold waiting for the all clear when he looked to his left and saw him. Eddie was standing there in those short red athletic shorts he used to wear now recycled into pajamas, a t- shirt, and the most adorable big grey cardigan that he was drowning in. It was so big. He was shivering in his shorts. Then Richie noticed standing next to him Bill denbrough and Mike hanlon who left Derry not too long after Eddie. Richie shakes Stan's arm who was in conversation with Ben.
"Guys guys guys look"
They turn and look where Richie's pointing and they see people walking back in.
Eddie Mike and Bill no longer in sight.
"Oh we're going back inside."
Richie turns to see they are gone.
"No that's not- never mind"
It's not like I'll ever see him again
He thought to himself sighing as they slink back into their dorms Ben with his roommate and Richie with stan.
"Hey Stan"
Richie said in bed staring at the ceiling.
"What Rich go to bed"
"Do you remember Mike and Bill and....Eddie?"
"Um yeah why?"
Richie heard Stan roll over.
"I swear I saw them tonight"
Stan sighs.
"Richie it's probably like last time you thought you saw them but it was in your head."
"But I felt like they were really there this time"
Richie turned and faced Stan who was looking at him.
"We know how much you miss them, especially Eddie and of course I miss Bill, but Richie we have no idea where they all went and the chance of all of us here it's small."
Richie nods.
"I know.. thanks stanny"
Stan turns back around and they both fall asleep.

Richie woke up late and he had a 9:30 in an hour. But if he didn't get coffee, especially after being woken up at three am, he would drop dead. He quickly threw on way too many layers and didn't even bother with his hair. He just got his shoe on as he closed the door and began running down the hall. He ran to the main building to the cafeteria. He stood impatiently in the line bouncing on his toes. He grabs his drink then begins running when he suddenly bumps into someone and proceeds to spill his coffee all over them.
"What the hell"
"Shit im so sorry, I'm sorry"
The smaller boy begins to use a napkin to clean himself and Richie finally looks at him. His jaw drops and his eyes widen at the boy looking down at his shirt.
"E-Ed's?"
The boy freezes, he looks up slowly, his cheeks flushed.
"Richie?..... oh my god.... Oh My God!"
Eddie drops the napkins and hugs around Richie's neck who was leaning down.
Richie immediately wraps his arms around Eddie and squeezes way too hard but Eddie is squeezing just as much. Richie leans back and holds Eddie by his arms.
"Let me look at you"
Richie says and Eddie smiles as they both scan each other's faces. Eddie shuffles them to a bench out of the middle of the path. They sat down still holding each other's arms not wanting to let go. Eddie's face was the same but a little more rough around the edges besides his squishy cheeks, his hair was curly now and he had way more freckles dusted across his whole face concentrated on his cheeks and nose.
"I-I thought I'd never see you again Rich."
"Me either"
They both don't know what to say, just stare and be happy. Richie smiles then remembers the time.
"Shit I'm late for a lecture where will you be in an hour and a half"
Richie says quickly and Eddie tries to think fast, moving his eyes back and forth.
"Uhh library in the back right corner second cove table"
Richie nods a standing up begrudgingly letting go of Eddie.
"See you in an hour thirty ok"
Edie nods aggressively.
Richie smiles so wide.
Richie runs to his lecture on the history of rock and roll. It was supposed to be an easy a but was really one of his hardest classes. He can't sit still the whole class writing his notes way too fast for him to read later.
When the professor dismissed them he grabbed his backpack and threw it over his shoulder running down the stairs to his prof.
"Hey Mr.M your email is open for questions on the assignment right?"
"Tozier you know it is, you always flood my inbox and it's Mr. MaCentee please use my actual name"
"You got it M dog see you in two Wednesday's"
The prof. rolls his eyes and Richie full on sprints out of the building and into the library.
He goes to the corner to see Eddie by himself, a laptop open while he is reading and it makes him smile. He didn't think he'd ever see Eddie again. Eddie looks up and smiles standing. Richie puts his bag down and hugs Eddie who squeezes him back. They both sit down.
"This is crazy, I'm so happy my Spaghetti is back."
Richie says, still smiling.
"Suddenly I wish we didn't bump into each other."
Richie laughs and it makes Eddie smile.
"Same ole Ed's"
Richie takes his hand. Eddie smiles.
"I feel like if I let go you'll leave again"
Richie says semi in a joking tone. Eddie squeezes his hand.
"Yeah, I came here in hopes of seeing you all again. This is all we used to talk about moving to La together. I met the others in a roommates Facebook group, you must have had a roommate already..... THE OTHERS, Bill and Mike are here too!"
"OH MY GOD, Stan Bev and ben are here too we all were rooming with people we already knew"
"Stan Bev and Ben are here!? We all need to get together soon."
Richie nods leaning back in his chair still reaching to hold Eddie's hand.
"Wait let me get a picture so Stan doesn't think I'm crazy when I tell him we talked"
Eddie's face turns confused and he leans forward putting his other hand on top of their clasped ones.
"Why would he think your crazy"
Richie freezes typing on his phone and puts it down with a sigh leaning back again. Eddie unclasps their hands and starts playing with Richie's fingers.
"Well when you left I saw you everywhere at school and even at the barrens once, it only got worse when Bill and Mike left too. I swore I saw you the other night during the fire alarm but Stan didn't believe me because of how often I said stuff like that."
Eddie nodded letting go of Richie's hand and leaning back into his chair as well.
"Yeah... believe it or not I made zero friends at my other school unless you count the drunk stoners I just hung out with. I guess people didn't understand the bi boy with the 'fiery' personality like you guys did. Even though I hated Derry I would have gone back in a second to see you and the others again."
Eddie said sadly looking down at his hands in his lap trying to keep the joking tone but failing. Richie leaned forward on the table.
"I'm sorry you had to go through high school alone, I'm so happy we found each other again"
Eddie wipes his face and looks up smiling fondly.
"How about I invite you and the others to Bill's friends frat party tonight? It'll give me more people to talk to once Bill gets wasted and goes off with a girl and when Mike leaves with his girlfriend when she arrives."
Richie laughs loud and someone behind them tells him to shush.
"Of course Bill has frat boy friends"
"Yeah he wants to join next year"
Eddie says giggling.
"Do you have any more classes today Riche?"
Eddie says closing his laptop and placing it into his backpack.
"No I do not, what'd you have in mind Spaghetti?"
They both stand up and throw their bags over their shoulders. Eddie rolls his eyes.
"We could go grab Lunch somewhere, I know a great little sandwich spot not too far to walk, or we could grab some electric scooters."
Eddie says as they walk out of the library onto the street.
"Oh fuck yes I've always wanted to use the scooters"
Richie says skipping ahead towards some scooters Eddie laughs and jogs to catch up. They both get on Eddie leading them as they laugh and maneuver recklessly around other people, Richie nearly eating asphalt multiple times while Eddie easily glides down the street. Eddie stops outside of a small little deli Richie stopping next to him.
"Man you must use these a lot, is it cuz your tiny legs"
Richie says jokingly Eddie blushes. He pushes past towards the door hitting him trying to be mad but knowing it's the truth. Richie laughs, grabbing the door and walking in after Eddie.
"Eddie!"
The old man behind the counter says
"Mr. Sanchez hi!"
"Your usual today"
Eddie walks and leans on the ordering counter.
"Yes sir, but I have a friend with me today maybe give him some time"
Richie stands shocked at Eddie. He's a lot more outgoing Than he used to be around others, that's for sure.
"Of course any friend of eddies is a friend of mine, hello young man what's your name?"
Mr. Sanchez holds out his hand for Richie to shake.
"Richie, um I'll have whatever your special today is"
Richie says smiling.
"Good choice, it won't disappoint."
They stand leaning on the table watching him make the sandwiches.
"So how'd you two meet?"
Richie asks.
"Eddie got lost when he first moved here and I found him when he yelled about his phone dying. I helped him out but he kept coming back and we had good conversation. I was his first friend out here and he even worked for me for a bit but he got too busy and I couldn't keep an employee on."
Richie laughs and Eddie rolls his eyes.
"I've told you I'd work for free, I would hate to see this place close"
Richie smiles at Eddie.
"No, I could never do that and you know that. Richie you need to convince this boy to focus more on himself sometimes, you know he came in when he was super sick because 'Friday's are busy' when they really aren't."
Richie laughs.
"Wow you really haven't changed since we were kids Ed's"
"Shut the fuck up"
Eddie says sliding off the table he was sitting on and walking to the counter where the cash register is.
"How much for the two?"
Eddie asks.
"On the house Eddie in commemoration Of meeting your new friend"
"He's not really new but thanks mr.s"
"Of course now get out your scaring my customers away"
He says jokingly while making a shooting motion. Richie smiles at their interaction as Eddie grabs two cokes out of the fridge and places a ten in the tip jar. They walk out with their wrapped up sandwiches and Eddie hands him one of the sodas.
"There's a park with picnic benches we could go to eat."
"That sounds good"
They smile at each other as Eddie leads the way.