You were ready to die. Or, that's what you felt like at least. You had tried to ignore it when it started; that little tingly feeling in the pit of your stomach whenever he looked your way. You tried to ignore how your heart beat a little bit faster when he offhandedly complimented you. But now, you were sure you couldn't deny it any longer.
You had a crush on the one and only Richie Tozier.
You had been friends with Richie since second grade, when a boy hit you in the head with a rock, so you decked him in the face. Richie thought you were super tough, and the coolest girl he had ever met. You stuck with each other ever since. Never in a million years did you think your feelings for Richie would be anything but platonic.
Now that you had acknowledged your feelings, everything changed. You could no longer ignore every little thing he did to you, and it was becoming unbearable to hang out with him, even in a group setting. You knew you had to tell him, otherwise you might actually go insane.
You planned it all out, you were going to tell him tomorrow so you would do it before you chickened out. You were just gonna go up to him and tell him. If he rejected you, then that is what happens, and if he reciprocated the feelings, then it would be a win for you.
--
The next day you woke up with dread settled in the pit of your stomach. You were meant to hang out with just Richie today, alone, to help him with some English homework. Apparently, he was close to failing the class and you didn't want to leave him behind in the middle school. So, you were going to help him with his homework, and then confess to him.
You quickly got dressed in a simple t-shirt and shorts, before getting on your bike and heading over to the park, where you were supposed to meet Richie. By the time you got there, Richie had already claimed a picnic table under a big, shady oak tree. His papers were strewn across the table, and he was tapping the edge of the table with his pencils as if he was playing the drums.
You walked your bike up to the table, discarding it against the three, before plonking down on the bench opposite Richie.
"Oh, hey (y/n)! Ready to be my actual savior and help me in english?" Richie greeted, sweeping his arms dramatically over the table full of paper. You laughed, trying to conceal the blush already creeping up on your cheeks.
For the next hour, you explained the book Richie's class was reading to him, and helped him analyze the meaning of it. By the end of the assignment, you were sure he was going to get an A. You knew the two of you would be heading home soon, so you had to do your thing now.
"H-hey, Richie, I have to tell you something," you said as the two of you stood up, ready to get on your bikes and leave. Richie paused, turning to you with a confused expression on his face.
"What is it?" he asked, leaning against his bike.
"Okay, this might come out weird, but here goes nothing. I like you. Yeah that's that. I like you, like you. As more than a friend," you rushed out. Richie stared at you blankly for a moment, and you wanted to just melt into the floor out of embarrassment.
"Wait, you like me? For my personality?" Richie asked, looking rather dumbfounded.
"I know, I was surprised too," you responded, rolling your eyes.
"But, you're for real?" He asked, and you nodded slowly. Suddenly, Richie rushed forward and practically tackled you in a kiss, backing you up until you were against the tree, the two of you closer than you thought possible. You felt the cliche fireworks in your stomach that you didn't expect from your first kiss.
"Wow," you whispered after Richie pulled away, both of you wearing matching grins.
"So I take it you'll be my girlfriend, then?"
