" No way ! N-No fucking way !" Eddie crosses his arms and turned away from the others. " Oh, come on, Eds," Richie persisted.
" It's the rules. You have to kiss me !"
____________________________________
After a game of spin t...
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10:13 am
Eddie awoke with a crick in his neck and his back aching like crazy. For a moment or two, he had actually forgotten where he was. Sitting up, he glanced around, eyes still halfway open, squinting. He rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes and threw the blanket off of him hazily.
He got up and walked around, ending up in the doorway of the kitchen, where he then practically jumped out of his skin seeing Richie standing there. His back faced Eddie as he stood over the counter. He seemed to be making something. Eddie didn't realize what it was until he spun around, revealing a coffee pot and a coffee mug in the hands. But, that's not why Eddie was so antsy. Richie wasn't wearing a shirt. That made Eddie a lot more nervous than before.
"Oh, shit. I didn't know you were awake." Richie spoke.
Eddie took a moment to gather himself but before he could say anything else, Richie set the coffee pot down and stepped closer to him.
"Everything alright?" He asked Eddie. His tone was soft yet still a bit demanding in a way.
Eddie took a second to regather himself after gathering himself before nodding, trying to keep his eyes and mind as straight as possible - which wasn't as easy as it sounded.
"Oh, uhm, me? Ye-Yeah- Yes! I'm...I'm fine." He stammered.
Richie pursed his lips and nodded.
"Are you sure?" He asked, to which Eddie nodded once again.
"I-I'm fine. Really." He said, trying to fake his reassurance just enough so that Richie would buy into it.
He did, lucky for Eddie. Or, at least, that's what Eddie believed. For all he knew Richie could have just stopped prying because it was getting awkward or something.
"Oh, uhm I made some coffee...you do drink coffee, don't you?" Richie asked.
Eddie took a second to respond, trying to hard to look Richie in the eyes rather than at his chest.
"Uhm, Yeah...I-I do. Thank you." Eddie walked over to the cabinets where he stretched to try and reach above him where the mugs were.
After his failed attempt, he cursed under his breath.
"Damn." He repeated.
"Here," Richie piped up before setting down his mug and beginning to approach Eddie, "Let me help you."
He snuck up behind Eddie and reached for a mug, grabbing the first one he saw. Eddie felt trapped but honestly, he wasn't really complaining. Eddie just stood there like some lump on a log before Richie handed him the mug he had grabbed.
"There ya' are." Richie said.
Eddie spun around and took the cup but he still stood there long after the cup was out of Richie's hands. He felt frozen. Trapped. He didn't know how to move without it being too awkward. They made eye contact for a moment, both wondering when the other would move - if the other would move.
Finally, Eddie spoke up, "I-Excuse me.."
"Shit, uh, sorry." Richie moved out of his way, allowing him to pass by.
It didn't make the situation any less awkward, however.
"I-It's fine." Eddie stammered as he hurried past Richie and over to the coffee. They both knew that things were going to be awkward between them for a while considering the stunt that Richie pulled last night.
After pouring himself a small cup of coffee, Eddie sat himself down at the table across from Richie. He thought that this would make things a little less tense but unfortunately for him, this did the exact opposite.
Richie slumped back in his chair as his eyes then flicked up at Eddie, who was sipping his coffee. Eddie noticed Richie staring so he stopped drinking and took a moment to stare at him back. No, this wasn't just a stare: this, was a glare.
Richie cracked a smile, "Can I help you?" He asked.
Eddie scoffs before looking back down at his cup, "Can I help you?" He muttered.
"Yeah, actually-"
"Oh, no. We are not doing that again."
Eddie knew that Richie always led stupid requests with "Yeah, actually..." But, this time was apparently different because he actually laughed.
"Call down, toots..." he said, leaning forward, resting both his arms on the table.
"I was just kidding with you." He added.
Eddie could feel the inside of his chest beginning to tighten. It was an odd yet memorable feeling to him. Odd because Richie was, somehow, the only person that could make him feel such a feeling. Memorable because Richie was the only person that could make him feel such a feeling. Eddie didn't want to believe so but he knew that he had to come to terms with it; he found Richie very attractive. Of course he did, everyone did but this was different. Yes, Richie is very good looking but it wasn't his appearance he found attractive. Yeah, he has an average looking body, a pretty sharp jawline, pale skin and plump lips but that wasn't the only thing that drew Eddie closer and closer to him each time they interacted.
It was his personality. Does he even have one? Eddie's thought that over multiple times and the answer was simple; yes and no. Richie has a personality, everyone does but his is so weird. Eddie's finally figured it out. He's noticed a pattern with him; he'll pick and pry at you until you reveal yourself in a vulnerable state. That's when he strikes. Not in a bad way, of course! He's oddly respectful of certain boundaries. But, with Eddie - or, in Eddie's opinion - he honestly felt that Richie acted differently towards him.
Now that he can't even begin to try and comprehend.
Eddie takes a sip of his coffee before he and Richie's eyes met once more.
My, Eddie thought, what a complex character you are, Richie Tozier.
Eddie felt he had been staring for too long. How long have I been staring at him? He asked himself before shaking his head and looking down at his mug. He gripped the sides extra hard as he realized how embarrassing that was for him.
What is wrong with me?
"You okay?" Richie asked.
Eddie shook his head, not daring to say a word as he didn't want to embarrass himself anymore than he already had.
"You sure?" Richie stands up and approached Eddie.
Richie bends forward, his face uncomfortably close to Eddie's. He knew he couldn't back up, he almost felt trapped. But, he didn't feel threatened as he knew Richie well enough to know that he wouldn't try anything. Not again.
Do you really know him though? The only reason you two ever talked was because of mutual friends. You don't even know him.
But, there's no way he would kiss him again. Right? Richie isn't that stupid.
Suddenly, Richie's hand rose from his side and he placed it on Eddie's chin, caressing it rather slowly. Eddie's heart was racing, he knew it was only a matter of time before something were to happen.
But, just as he started to brace himself, Richie's stroking movement suddenly sped up and then as quickly as it started, it stopped.
"Sorry," he mumbled, "You had something on your chin."
Eddie's heart rate slowed down, feeling rather relieved that Richie wasn't going to try anything after all.
"What? You look like you've just seen a ghost." He commented.
Eddie quickly gathered himself before simply stating, "I...just don't like to be touched." He said this rather shyly.
