soft ✃ reddie

7:03pm

(warning; homophobic slurs)
;

it was nearing sunset in the small town called derry, and most of the residents knew it meant to go home. close their shops, lock their doors, and keep to themselves for the rest of the night.

the only places open past 7pm were the pharmacy and the gas station.

of course it was on that faithful night,
richie toizer and eddie kapsbrak would officially meet for the first time.

"looks like we have a new fag in town boys !" the words came like venom from henry bowers lips, burning holes in the brown haired boy.

eddie was new to town, a small 16 year old boy walking to the pharmacy for a refill on his medication his mother insisted he takes.

he was terrified of the obviously larger boys that stood in front of him, trying to walk past the three and head on his way not wanting to cause trouble.

"did i say you could leave, little gay boy?" he snickered and grabbed the boys frail arm , throwing him to the ground

"pl-please just leave me alone.. i'm not l-looking for any trouble.." he stumbled over his words, terrified of what they would do. and even more terrifying: how many germs are on this floor..

again, henry laughed at the pathetic attempts of the boy. "you wish it was that easy." he raised a fist in the air, and begins to swing at the small boy.

just as eddie flinches, expecting some kind of impact, there is nothing. just a rough voice coming from behind him, "HEY!" the voice yells, "GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HIM!"

the small group of boys runs, as the voice sounds like an older mans and of course they don't want to be caught beating a kid up.

as the figure comes closer, he realizes it's not an adult, but someone that could be around eddies age.

the boy has dark curly hair, the thickest glasses you'll ever see, and a guns and roses shirt.

"hey, you okay man?" he speaks, voice softer now, "sorry if i scared you when i yelled .." the boy chuckles "had to put on my deep-loud-scary-man voice if i wanted to scare those assholes away." he smiled at the small boy.

eddie couldn't help but be a little scared still, flinching again as the boy in front of him reaches to touch his arm. "don't worry.. m'not gonna hurt you." he paused for a minute, "the names richie. why haven't i seen you around before?"

eddie looked down, avoiding eye contact with richie, "i just moved here.. i-im eddie"

richie smiled yet again, "well it's nice to meet you eddie." he held out his hand out for the boy to shake and eddie slowly grabbed it and they shook.

"i've probably gotta g-get going now.. my m-moms definitely worrying bout me.." he pulled away from the large hand he was shaking and turned back on his way to the pharmacy.

"oh.. well be safe eds. don't want a cutie like you getting hurt again."

eddies cheeks flushed and he smiled.

at the pharmacy he got in and out as quick as he could. stepping into the house and running upstairs to have dreams full of the boy named richie; who saved him from henry bowers.