soft ✃ reddie

4:00 pm

as soon as eddie had turned the corner into to the small quarry, he saw the familiar curly hair he'd come to love so much. he watched him dangle his legs over the edge of the cliff, staring at the water.

"hey rich! sorry we're late, we stopped to get eddie." stan smiled as the boy perked up when he heard his name.

eddie sat next to the tall boy, and felt richie tug him into a tight hug.

"i missed you ed's."

the words made eddie cheek heat up, they felt warmer than an oven. "missed you too ,rich.." he replied

he quickly let go of the embrace and cupped eddies cheeks, inspecting his face.
"did bowers touch you while i was gone? did his idiot friends touch you either? so help me god, if he so much as glances in your direction i'll-" eddie pulled his face away from richies comforting hands, hiding the pink tinting his cheeks like they always did.

"m'fine richie.. im not a baby y'know.."
he mumbled, fumbling with the hem of his shorts.

"damn right! you're my baby! my little eds and i don't want him hurting you." richie chuckled and took the small boys hand in his, looking into his glassy eyes.

"c'mon love birds, we're hanging out here, not making out." stanley rolled his eyes at the two boys in front of him.

"shhhh! they're in love! let them be." beverly whisper yelled, flicking the side of stanley's head. he winced as he mumbled a string of curses under his breath. bill giggled at the sight, earning a glare from stan.

!

"o-oh! gosh i almost forgot," eddie pulled the bag off his back, handing the stack of papers to richie. "teacher told me to bring you your summer work." eddie laughed as richie pretended to shoot himself while he took the paper from the boy's hands.

the group had been sitting, hanging out at the quarry for so long the sun was beginning to set.

"hey, you guys w-wanna see if my mom will let you guys come and sp-spend the night at m-my place?

all of the others had answered yes, but eddie had to stop and think for a minute.

he thought about what his mother would say, staying out so late, staying with a bunch of kids she'd never met before.

then eddie thought about what beverly had said.

just live a little.

so he nodded his head in agreement.

he laid his head on richies shoulder and they conversed a little longer.
he felt thin fingers trace hearts, and stars on his back as they talked. he tried not to blush, but failed like always.

but he felt happy, and most importantly

he felt safe.