the summers after [reddie]

1990

“Richie!” Eddie said as he walked over to the hammock, where Richie was sitting. “Your times up,”

“Really? I didn’t hear a timer or alarm go off,” Richie teased with a smug grin on his face. He didn’t look at Eddie, he just continued to read his X-Men comic.

“Jesus. You’re impossible, ya know that?” Eddie rolled his eyes.

“Aw, thanks, Eds!”

“Dont call me Eds. Now come on, your time’s up!”

Richie doesn’t say anything. He doesnt get up, either. He definitely knew what he was doing.

Eddie sighs and looks at Richie for a moment, crossing his arms, before thinking, fuck it, and climbing into the hammock with him.

He sits next to Richie instead of on the opposite end, hoping that it would bother Richie enough and he would move. Their bodies were pressed against each other and Eddie rested his cheek on Richie’s shoulder, trying not to think about the fact that he was practically on top of Richie.

Don’t think about it.

“You’re on my arm,” Richie said with an exaggerated sigh. He acted like he cared, but it didn’t really seem to bother him.

“Too bad,” Eddie mumbled, reading the comic over Richie’s shoulder. He tried his best to keep himself together and not freak out. But his heart rate was out of control and he could feel his face starting to heat up. Everything around him was a blur, he wasnt really focused on the words or picture on the page and he could hear the other losers talking, but not really what they were saying. But he didn’t let it show, and he didnt move. He was trying to prove a point.

“Okay– hang on–” Richie said after a few moments, shifting slightly, trying to wiggle his arm free from underneath Eddie.

“Sorry,” Eddie murmured as he sat up, almost getting out of the hammock.

“No- Eds, come back” Richie said and put his arm around Eddie’s shoulder, pulling him close again. “My arm was just falling asleep,”

“Oh,” Eddie said quietly and leaned into Richie’s shoulder again. His cheeks flushed a rosy pink color and he kept his face turned away from Richie’s, afraid that if he moved even slightly, their noses would touch, their faces would be so close together that they would breathe the same air.

“Guys, it's getting dark,” Stanley said.

“So?” Richie put down his comic. “What, you afraid of the dark, Stan The Man?”

“No,” Stanley scoffed. “I have to be home before dark. Before the street lights turn on,”

“Muh-muh-me too,” Bill said.

“Me three!” Beverly chimed in, raising her hand.

“We should just call it a night, then, I guess,” Mike said.

“Fine,” Richie let out a sigh. Then he looked over at Eddie. “Hey, can I stay at yours tonight?”

“Yeah,” Eddie said, and looked back at Richie for a split second before looking away. “My mom doesn’t usually mind as long as we keep quiet,”

“No problemo,” Richie grinned.

“We should go to the movies tomorrow!” Beverly suggested. “I think they’re showing Nightmare on Elm Street again,”

“Yes!” Richie beamed and raised his arm. “I love that movie!”

“It's so gross,” Stanley said and stuck out his tongue. “But it’s good,”

“Damn right it is!”

Eddie wasn’t a fan of the movie, or slasher movies in general, (especially not after last summer) but he usually went along with whatever the rest of the group did.

“Alright,” Beverly put her hands in her pockets. “So meet here at noon tomorrow. Movie tickets are usually two dollars, and bring your own snacks so we dont have to spend a fuck ton of money for snacks at the theater,”