Hold Me (Reddie)

Tag, You're It

It began snowing before Eddie had arrived at the Barrens. He hadn't expected it to snow, but he never minded the snow. If anything it made him happy. He waited on a big rock for ten minutes before he heard the sound of quiet chatter and footsteps. He instinctively turned behind himself and saw all of the losers (except Ben, of course) walking towards him with big smiles. Even Bill and Bev, who were now holding hands. Mike was leading the group, carrying on some long conversation with Stan that seemed to be about childhood toys. Eddie didn't even question it. Stan was always one to hold unique conversations. And in the back of the group, carrying a big black bag over his shoulders, was the admirable Richie that Eddie had been waiting for. He seemed to be all by himself in the back of the group, all alone. Maybe even, as shocking as it may sound, he could have been quiet.

But Eddie didn't care too much about whether or not Richie was being quiet. In fact he didn't care about that at all. He cared more about running up to his friend on the snow covered hill, taking the bag and unloading the ice skates. It had been a while since Eddie had gone skating, almost two years, but he could never forget the old losers going out every winter storm. It was before Mike, before Bev, before Ben...even before Stan, believe it or not. Bill, Eddie, and Richie would all go out to the Barrens of Derry and skate for hours, like time was no constant. But of course, things change, and soon skating wasn't the cool new thing. But Eddie had always enjoyed it, especially since it was so dangerous.

"I only brought five pairs," a Richie said softly. "But Stan has his own."Stan reached into his own bag, a lot smaller, and began putting his skates on. Eddie found the size seven and put them on, while Richie wore his own. Mike, Bill, and Bev all compared foot size, and Mike just had to wear Richie's dad's skates. It made Eddie laugh, which then made Eddie feel stupid.

"Aw look, he's blushing," Bev laughed, pointing at Eddie. "Isn't he adorable when he blushes?"

"He's always adorable," Richie chimed, pinching his friend's cheek like he used to. He hadn't done that since the summer, Eddie knew for a fact. Because every time it happened Eddie felt like the whole world was staring at him.

"Don't do that, Richie! You know I hate it when you do that, so stop it!" Eddie started yelling.

"I know you hate it," Richie laughed even louder. "That is true. But I like messing with you. Because you are adorable, and you better believe that." Eddie didn't want to be adorable. He didn't want to be ugly either, but he'd rather not be adorable. Then again, if one person was to find him cute, having Richie be the one wasn't the worst thing possible. Maybe Richie really did think he was adorable. That made Eddie smile to himself, even if it was dumb. "Let's get on the ice already though, before it gets dark!"

"Rich it's one p.m.," Stan said.

"Oh."

The club got on the ice only a couple minutes later when everyone had their skates on. Eddie was clearly the most excited. Bev was nervous, she had never skated before in her entire life. It was obvious because she kept stumbling, but Bill was holding her upright each time it happened. Eddie skated around, peaceful, trying to clear his thoughts. Stan the Man was wobbling around, unamused and confused, using an annoyed Mike as something to hold onto. And Richie was, well, being Richie, and Eddie tried his absolute best to ignore the kid. He is so beautiful when he laughs.

Eddie stopped skating as soon as the words struck his mind. What was wrong with him? Seriously? And before he could even think too hard on the situation, Richie stopped right in front of something.

"Eds, I need to show you something," Richie muttered. And so Eddie just stood there, whilst his friends skated around him, and his crush took out a letter from his back pocket. The letter he wrote. Still in the envelope. "I was thinking I should open it in front of you. I never get letters." It didn't take long for everyone's interest to be peaked. They all stopped what they were doing and skated towards the center, watching in awe as Richie tore open the envelope and read the words to himself. He read them, then smiled, then made a confused face, then looked up at Stan. "That's adorable Stanley," Richie said in an old granny voice.

"What does it say?" Stan inquired. The smile on Richie's face ceased. He thought it was a joke. He thought it was just a funny joke. Eddie didn't know what to say. He just reminded himself to breathe, if he even remembered how to.

"We are some losers. I am one, I'll admit it. But you're perfect. At least in my stupid eyes." Richie read carefully, his voice uneasy. He seemed scared. Had Eddie scared him? "This isn't any of your handwritings, I can tell. What the fuck is this?"

"It's a love note," Beverly said, taking the letter and reading it over herself. "Do you know of any secret admirers?"

"If he did they wouldn't be secret," Mike joked. Eddie let out a very awkward laughter. Richie looked at him, and for a moment Eddie thought he had been caught. But why would Richie ever suspect Eddie in the first place? Richie was blind in a way. Eddie had always admired him, even before he knew what being queer was. Before he learned about the bad things that would happen because of it. Before all that, when they were just little kids in elementary school coloring in their books with crayons.

"Whatever," Richie sighed, throwing the note on the ground. Eddie felt his heart collapse to the bottom of his chest. "Hey Eds, you're it!"

And it didn't take long for Eddie to forget about all that and start chasing after his friend on the ice. And then they were all just a bunch of kids, skating around in the Barrens, completely unaware of anything but the friendship between them.