Hold Me (Reddie)

I Am Never Leaving

"But you might just walk away again, won't you?" Eddie asked. He was trying to be realistic for once. He didn't want to convince himself that Richie would stay. He didn't want to get his hopes up and then be disappointed. He knew that they couldn't keep doing this without consequences.

"Not even if you want me to," Richie whispered, and leaned his neck down for a quiet kiss. Eddie kissed back softly, his eyes closed, and his mind relaxed. He found Richie's hands in his. He felt the butterflies, like little bugs squirming around in his belly and up to his heart, filling him with warmth and peace. He couldn't help but smile. Richie noticed the smile and the kiss ended. "Did you enjoy that?"

"Yes," Eddie said. "Of course. Shouldn't you be heading home now?" He didn't want to say goodbye, but he had to be reasonable.

"No, my mom's going out tonight and my dad's at work. You know, like every night?" He laughed a tiny bit, but there was obvious pain behind it. That was knew. Eddie wasn't dumb. He knew Richie's parents weren't in the picture much, and he knew that his mother was a drunk. But he never knew it bothered Richie. He never knew that.

"Why don't you hold me?" Eddie burst, smiling. Richie's eyes widened, but he reluctantly nodded. They laid down together on Eddie's bed, both their heads on his pillow. Richie's arm was held tightly around his chest, holding him for dear life. It felt good. Eddie felt refreshed and warm in his arms. Peaceful and protected. He loved the feeling, he loved every second of it. He wanted to remain in that position for all of eternity. They didn't have eternity, of course. All they had was tonight. Eddie smiled. "Just hold me," he repeated.

————

Richie wasn't holding him by the time he woke up. Richie wasn't gone though, so it definitely wasn't bad. Rich was turned over facing the window, his face buried deep into the pillow. Eddie couldn't help but giggle at the sight. He grabbed his hand, through the covers, and squeezed it very tight. "Wake up, Ricardo, I think it's time you head home."

There was a groan from the pillow. "Good morning to you, too."

Eddie wasn't playing around. Richie needed to leave before his mother found out that the two had slept in the same bed. He had finally convinced her that it was all fake...if she found out again, there would be no escape. "You need to get out of here."

"Wanna go explore?" Richie asked. His voice was muffled, for he was still suffocating himself with the pillow. "In the fucking Barrens."

"Sure," Eddie agreed. "But I need to get dressed." He looked into his closet for something nice to wear. He found some old slacks and a tee shirt, tucked under his blue winter jacket he always had to sport. It was cold outside, obviously, and cold air made it a lot easier for germs to spread between people. Everyone knew that, duh. He pulled his hair back into a winter cap and put some boots on. Richie was in the same outfit from the day prior, some band tee shirt and khakis. He didn't wear a winter jacket, just a casual windbreaker. It was probably easier that way, he probably never got hot. "I'm scared, Rich. I don't want to fall out the window."

"It's two feet down," Richie teased, unhitching the window and slipping out with ease. He snickered afterwards, laughing casually at his unamused friend inside. "Here, let me help you down, coward." Eddie didn't know how to do it so he just stuck his legs out first and slid through on his bottom, while Richie caught him in a hug and then set him down on the ground. "Nice job."

"Thanks for the catch," Eddie said. They walked towards his driveway where both their bikes were laid across the cement. Richie picked his up and started giggling. Eddie didn't know why, but it really didn't matter because he joined in giggling too. And after a minute they stopped and took off for the Barrens, the bitter winter wind biting their cheeks. Eddie looked over at Richie as they passed the snow covered baseball field. Richie looked like he was in pain from the cold.

"You doing alright there, Rich?" He asked. He almost had to yell just so he could hear him. The wind was howling.

"It's fucking cold," Richie retorted. "It's really, really fucking cold. Who's idea was it to come bike around out here when it's this fucking cold? I think my nipples froze off!"

"It was your idea!" They snaked down a separate path that lead right to the Barrens, where they dropped their bikes. Richie did something as they walked alone beside the frozen river. He grabbed Eddie's hand. When Eddie looked at him, about to say something about it, Richie shook his head and looked away. He unhooked his hand from Eddie.

"I'm sorry, Eds."

"Don't be, just take my hand. It'll be okay. We won't die." Richie gave him a look that read something along the lines of what the fuck of course we won't die. Eddie worried he was scaring Richie. Both of them were new to this. They were thirteen for crying out loud, it's not like they've had experience in this. Eddie wished there were other queer people in town that he knew of, kids, who he could talk to and try to understand. Whether he was Richie's boyfriend or not it didn't matter. He liked him, so that was that. Richie finally grabbed his hand again and they continued onward, on their adventure of this land they knew almost as well as they knew each other. Eddie then heard a sound, like twigs snapping behind him. They both turned. At first, he didn't see anything, but then he saw a pair of black sneakers and pale jeans behind a tree.

"Shit," Richie muttered. They walked slowly over to behind the tree, and saw who the legs belonged to. The shoes they had seen belonged to someone they knew. She was kneeling in the snow, kissing Bill. She was Beverly. They were both there, and they didn't even notice Richie staring at them.

"Get a room, Bill, some of us are trying to enjoy it out here!" Richie yelled. Beverly immediately stopped kissing and turned around. Both lovers looked at Richie and Eddie wide eyed, and Bev even began to blush. Her lipstick had left Bill's lips a little pinker than normal.

"Are you f-fucking ki-kidding me?" Bill whined. "Did you two make up?" Eddie had forgotten about the fight in that moment. Too bad he was reminded.

"We made up while you made out. Do you seriously have to be here all week?"

Bev flipped him off.

"Hey, calm down, I just wanted my friend back. It's not you, it's him."

"Is he breaking up with me?" Bev asked.

"Yes. He is. Let's go Bill. We've got adventures to go on." Richie seemed determined to have a good time. Like always.

"Can't she c-come? Sh-sh-sh-sh-she's not hurting anyone!"

"Fine." Richie seemed annoyed, but they continued onward, their hands still locked.