WHEEZY // an IT story

t e n

JUNE 8th, 1989

richie felt a twang in his chest. eddie.. liked him? and here he was, crying on the side of the street, because he's afraid of ruining their friendship?

eddie, on the other hand, felt like complete garbage. he couldn't contain his breathing, and his body felt out of control. he was about to get mocked by his best friend, his crush, of all things. soon, he would have no friends, and he'd get killed off or shipped away like every other gay kid in this town. eddie felt alone. and loneliness is cold. suddenly, richie's converse appeared next to eddie's trembling, curled up figure. eddie looked up to see richie giving him a sad smile. he braces himself for a kick in the ribs or something even worse.
instead, richie flopped down next to him, curling his legs under his arms.
"why would you think that you were ruining us?" richie asked. eddie shook his head.
"don't you think i'm weird? i like boys!" he asked, feeling a lump in his throat rise at the last part. richie shook his head in reply.
"you're still the same eddie, and i'm still the same richie," he said, smiling.
"yeah, but it's gonna be pretty hard to find a date around here," eddie laughed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"maybe you won't have to," richie whispered, grabbing eddie's hand. his eyes widened.
"so wait.. y-you're.." eddie could barely finish his sentence. richie laughed.
"i don't know if i'm full gay, but i'm definitely bisexual," richie laughed, feeling a huge weight lift off his shoulders. he finally was able to tell someone. someone who understood.
"so does that mean.." eddie still could not finish his words.
"you and me?" richie asked, and eddie nodded.
the two teens shared a long-awaited hug before parting ways.

as soon as eddie got home, he hopped up the stairs, not even caring that he might fall. he slammed his door and spun around in his room. finally, he flopped on his bed out of pure joy.
he likes me,
he thought to himself, over and over. and for the first time, eddie felt light.

richie didn't stop smiling all the way home. he was so happy, nothing could bring him down. he slid through the empty kitchen while the old cassette player played tape after tape.
he likes me,
he thought to himself, over and over. and for the first time, richie felt light.

and for a little while, the boys forgot about the horrors that faced them the next day.