" 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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1:00 AM
It took the boys about fifteen minutes to get to Eddie's place, but they weren't really concerned with the time. They were more roped up in each other. Eddie couldn't help but marvel at the raven haired boy kind enough to walk him home at such an hour. And, Richie?
What about him? He was starstruck. Starstruck that Eddie Kaspbrak, of all people, was listening to his annoying rambling on and on, and on. He was ecstatic that the guy he's spent years secretly crushing on was finally able to be with him.
But, unfortunately for them, being together wasn't going to be so easy. Even if now they were both aware of their feelings.
"You know," Richie began. "We won't be normal."
They grew closer and closer to Eddie's home, leaving Eddie in very uneasy state. He really didn't want to leave Richie. He wasn't ready yet. He really didn't want to leave Richie alone, either.
"What do you mean?" Eddie questioned, as if he didn't already know the answer. Gay people didn't really belong anywhere in Derry. In fact, there were barely any gay people around. Even if there were any people who Eddie could relate to, they wouldn't come out and admit it to anyone. It wasn't something Eddie liked thinking about, but it was reality.
Reality hits people hard sometimes.
"You know..." Richie deadpanned. "People suck here, and if this — us. — is something you really want, then we gotta get use to the fact that people aren't gonna be too... accepting."
"Woah. Did Richie Tozier just say something that actually made a lick of sense?" Eddie asked, secretly trying to avoid the statement.
Richie grinned and shrugged it off. "Yeah, what can I say, Eds? I'm full of surprises...not as many as you, but I'm getting there."
Eddie chuckled. "Well, if what I did was even close to a surprise then you're more of an idiot than I thought."
"It was. It really was, Eddie." As they reached Eddie's house, the feeling in his stomach turned into a tight knot, possibly trying to let Eddie know that he needed to give Richie some type of closure on what he had just said.
They both stopped in front of his house. "Well," Richie began. "Guess this is your stop, hon."
Eddie stood directly in front of Richie, holding out his hands for Richie to take. He placed both of his hands on Eddie's and waited rather impatiently for the boy to speak.
"Before I go, I...I do understand what you mean, and I do really want us to work, Rich. I really, really do." He says, squeezing Richie's hands gently.
The boys stared at each other for a second before Richie broke their gaze to put his two cents in. "Yeah, I want...I want us to work too, Eds—Eddie."
That was the second quick correction of night, which let Eddie know that Richie really was being serious now.
He hold Eddie's hands in his, gently caressing the tips of his fingers. "It took me way too long to realize that you mean a lot to me, Eddie. As much as I joke with you and pick on you...just—Don't ever forget that." Before departing, Richie placed a soft and gentle kiss on Eddie's right temple.
The feeling of Richie's fingers on his were quite reminiscent. Eddie watched as Richie made his way down the sidewalk, pressing his lips together in a thin line. He bit his lip as he pushed any negative comments his conscience had to make in the very back of his mind.
"Richie—hold on!" Eddie called out as he rushed to catch up with him.
Richie turned around, confused at first, but he soon smiled as Eddie grew closer and closer. The self-proclaimed track star — in Richie's eyes — quickly threw his arms around Richie's neck, embracing him. His legs hung in the air for a second before Richie slowly bent down as his arms instinctively wrapped around Eddie.
They both slowly pulled away and Eddie smiled softly. "S-Sorry." Eddie stammered.
"N-No, you're good, Eds. I...liked that a lot." Richie assured. "I guess it's my turn to do something now, huh?"
"What are you talking about?" Eddie asked.
Richie just shrugged, however, instead bending down just enough to reach Eddie's lips. He pressed a short, yet oh so sweet, kiss on his lips.
"I'm talking about that, cutie." He ruffled Eddie's hair up a bit before spinning around and beginning his walk home. "Later, Eddie! I will talk to you tomorrow!"
He said this in the worst Australian accent Eddie has ever heard come out of his mouth. He cringed at the awful accent and at the fact that he was speaking at a volume that could possibly wake up his entire street.
Eddie placed his finger on his lips. "Shh! Shut up, trash-mouth!" He whisper-yelled, trying to sound annoyed.
But, alas, Eddie had fallen victim to Richie's charm.
