A Reddie Fanfic: More than Friends

Part 18 Richie

Richie stopped walking closer as he saw Eddie. All the memories of the boy came rushing back, first loving happy memories, then sad memories of Eddie moving away and then very very angry memories of the younger boy completely ghosting him. Richie filled with furry thinking about how Eddie left him hanging but then again Richie had promised to love the stupid kid forever. 

But I'm not even gay?? Why would I promise him that? I must have meant to love him as a friend forever...

Oh god none of that was true. He thought back to when he hooked up with that random guy when he drunk and then other incidents where that had happened. All with guys. Richie had never even been with a gi—A memory then came back of a spoiled blonde girl named Lola Richie had dated, well not actually. Richie had just dated her to get his mind of someone else. A boy... Richie had to face it. He was as gay as the earth was round. 

"Hey Eds," Richie said as Eddie looked like he was taking a big shit as he stared deep into Richie's soul.

Eddie managed to wave at Richie but still said nothing until he went to greet others. All Richie wanted to know was why he abandoned Richie and hated him so much. Wow that boy was beautiful. Not a boy anymore, Richie had to remind himself as he couldn't help but be memorized with how handsome the once so tiny and vulnerable kid had become.

"Oh my fucking god! It's my favorite author! Dang I'm friends with someone who had a successful career?! Go kid me!" Richie joked when he saw Bill Denbrough.

He didn't want to show it but he really was star struck seeing someone so famous. 

"You're pretty famous yourself Mr.Trashmouth Tozier."

Richie laughed at that. He was in no means as famous as his old friend. And in he wasn't even a good sort of famous. Sure he made good money with his shows but all his publicity came from the stupid things he did when he was drunk. The world payed to seem him stumble on to talk shows red eyed and honest. His fans wanted to see him flip off Jimmy Fallon or curse at Ellen DeGeneres. If he could go back he wouldn't have started drinking and he'd have stayed at school. Maybe then he could have had a successful job like a banker or business person. But nope he chose to go down in flames as a shitty comedian.

The whole group was just making awkward conversation not at all acting like the amazing friends they once were. The only ones from the Losers club (Richie had just remembered they called themselves that) who had not yet arrived was their summoner Mike, the noodle head Stanley and then the fatty Ben.

"So are we gonna go in?" The only girl Beverly asked.

Bill nodded and led them all inside. Richie looked at all the familiar faces and realized he didn't recognize one of them. He saw Eddie, Bill, Beverly, he knew that Mike was black (not to be racist but well he knew this person wasn't Mike) and Stanley had very curly hair so he doubted this could be him. The only other person it could be was Ben but well he wasn't this hot. 

Just before they sat down at their table Richie couldn't help but ask the stranger, "Did you use to be fat?" 

The question earned Richie a few weird glances from his old friends and Beverly even slapped his arm but he could also tell they were wondering the same thing.

The man looked embarrassed but he at last answered, "Ya I was, but then I started eating healthier and working out."

Beverly was still angrily glaring at Richie and said, "Well good for you Ben, you look amazing."

Once Mike arrived the dinner started to go by in blur so much so that they had completely forgot that the group had been apart for 27 years. 

"Wait so is Stan not coming?" Eddie finally asked.

Beverly stared into her bowl of rice. Richie somehow knew that she knew something the rest of them did not know.

"Ya I'm missing Stan my Man!! I need my noodle head!!" Richie exclaimed trying to lighten the mood.

The topic of Stanley quickly wore off when Bill asked if anyone was married. Bill told them he was happily married to his wife of 11 years Aurora. Ben and Mike both admitted they had not yet found the love of their life and Bev just said it was complicated.

"I'm married," Richie lied.

"No way is this trashmouth married!!" Eddie exclaimed.

Richie smirked before continuing to say, "Ya me and your mom..."

All the friends cut him off with laughter.

"Fuck you dude!! You've not changed one bit!! Well for your guys information I'm married to a.." Richie caught the tiny pause, "beautiful woman named Myra."

"Wowww never thought you'd love anyone but your mother!" Richie joked. 

He found lots of pleasure seeing Eddie get angry. The way his cheeks turned flaming red reminded Richie of their childhood together when he would tease the small boy. His love for Eddie seemed to be growing stronger every second longer he spent with him. But all of it had to stay secret. 

Time jump to next day

Richie had been sent out to find his token to help preform the Ritual of Chud to finally kill the fucking clown that was tormenting his and his friends life. Ever since Richie heard the news of Stanley, he had been fueled with anger and hatred for that clown.

"Sometimes the happiest people hurt the most," Stanley would always say.

Little did Richie know that Stan was the one who was truly hurting. 

Thinking of what Stanley had done brought back these horrible memories of Eddie in the hospital with his wrists all bandaged up. He then remembered what had made the adorable boy do something so horrible. It was all Richie's fault, all because he had wanted to suppress his feelings just as he was doing now.

Richie stood in the middle of Derry Park and looked at the giant statue that had once turned into a monster and chased after him. 

"Last day of the festival, closing performance is tonight. Hope to see you there handsome!"

At first the encounter was normal but as the man finished his sentence, which seemed to taunt him about Richie's sexuality, the man's face clearly looked like a zombie. The man handed Richie a pamphlet which Richie looked at and immediately dropped as he saw it was an invitation to his very own funeral. 

"What the fuck clown!" Richie shouted which then led to Pennywise the dancing clown floating down from the statue holding an upside down triangle of red balloons.

"I know your secret Richie!!" The clown chanted in a sing songy voice.

Of course the fucking killer clown knew his secret. Why wouldn't a demonic monster who ate children know that he was gay.

"I know your secret your dirty little secret! I know your secret! YOUR DIRTY! LITTLE! SECRET!!" The clown floated closer and closer and at the same time Richie beard the cheerleaders start chanting, "You'll float too! You'll float too!"

Richie closed his eyes repeating that it wasn't real. When all the sounds stopped be opened his eyes thinking it was it gone.

But then....

"BOO!" 

The clown screamed chasing as Richie as he tried to dart away. Pennywise soon got close enough to Richie to take a bite but then it all disappeared... The park was back to normal and a few people were looking at Richie as if he were crazy since to them he probably looked like a maniac screaming at a statue. 

As Richie angrily walked back to the motel he whispered to himself, "I need to get out here.."