𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐄, 𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐄 / 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔

ᴏᴄʜᴏ

There's an unexpected rise in temperature come Saturday, and when Eddie is showered and dressed and ready for the day, he starts to wonder if it's worth bothering with the fair at all. It's Halloween themed with costumes heavily encouraged, but he's had no time to think about any kind of costume. The best he can come up with at the last minute is an old black, hooded robe hiding in the back of his closet, and a pair of combat boots from his sophomore year that still fit him; he sets them out on his bed, considering them briefly before he decides he can pull off dressing as a wizard.

Eddie looks at the clock on his dresser and feels his insides squirm; it's almost ten, when Richie is supposed to pick him up, and he's so damn nervous he can't stop pacing his room while constantly shooting glances out the window. The craziness of yesterday is still fresh in his mind, and it took a great deal of effort for Eddie to be able to fall asleep last night without worrying himself into a full night of nightmares. Everything Sam said, everything Sam has done so far is constantly running through Eddie's mind, and all he wants is a fun day with his friends where he can forget about Sam and his grades and his mom and everything in his life that's stressing him out.

He catches sight of Richie's car pulling up and he grabs his backpack, stuffed full of his makeshift costume and shoes, and rushes out of his room and down the stairs. His mom tries to tell him to stop but he doesn't, he just calls back to her that he'll be home late and slams the front door without saying goodbye.

In the car he keeps stealing quick looks at Richie, listening closely as he goes on about a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert that's coming up nearby, and how much he wants to go but the tickets are sold out and it's expensive, anyway. His enthusiasm is infectious and Eddie starts smiling, wanting to somehow make it happen for Richie, just to watch him have fun and dance and get everything he deserves for being as great a friend as he is.

The plan is to meet at Bev's house and so they head there. Mike's truck is already out front, and when they get inside they find Stan there, too. Bev snatches Eddie's backpack from him when they gather in the kitchen for some awesome sandwiches made by Bev's awesome aunt, and she pulls the robe out, looking it over with a raised brow. "So, are you gonna be the grim reaper, or...?"

Eddie accepts a glass of tea from Bev's aunt with a thank you and shrugs, taking a sip before he says, "A wizard."

Mike laughs and leans against the counter beside him. "You should be Darth Vader so Stan can be Luke Skywalker."

Richie looks at Stan, who is taking a perfectly-sized bite of his sandwich, and says "Wait, are you not dressing up? Where the fuck's your costume? You can't flake on us."

Bev's aunt, who has the same red hair and freckled face as her niece, sends a playful glare in Richie's direction and says, "Hey, kid, watch your fucking mouth."

"Sorry."

Stan swallows his mouthful and smirks, digging a chain out from beneath the collar of his dark blue, buttoned shirt and holding it out for all to see. It's a crucifix. "My costume is a Christian."

Bev takes Eddie's costume and drags him to her room, and makes him sit on the bed while she rummages through her dresser. He waits patiently as she tosses a few things on the comforter, then plops down across from him, grinning as she unscrews the lid off a jar of some kind of shimmery powder.

Eddie almost tells her no when she dips the tip of her finger in the jar and holds it out close to his eye, but she assures him that it's not going looklike makeup, and he trusts her, so he allows it. She pats the silvery powder on the outer corners of his eyes and explains that it will make him look more "wizardy and mysterious", whatever that means.