halloween ➵ bichie

some short time before halloween

It was a crisp autumn day and the Losers had finished yet another long day of school. As the crew was walking out, Richie poked Bill’s side, digging his finger upwards into his ribs lightly and Bill jumped, swatting Richie’s hand away. “Twenty–three days until halloween, Big Bill. You goin’ as yourself, or are you going as Eddie Spaghetti over here?” he joked, jabbing his thumb towards Eddie, who was walking a few places behind the taller boy.

“Your fuh-hace and muh-my ass, Tozier,” he responded, a grin on his face and he jabbed Richie back, “I’m not dressing up this year.”

“Awh, why not?” Bev chimed in, “we’re all going as characters from the movie ‘Love, Simon.’ I’m going as Abby–” she said, getting cut off by Ben

“and I’m going as Nick. Since, y’know, Abby and Nick are a couple. And so are me and B–” Ben started, slipping his arm around Bev’s waist, and this time getting cut off rather than doing the cutting off

“we know, you and Bev are a couple,” Stan said exasperatedly, giving off a sarcastic eye roll “you’ve only said it about a million times.”

“But Bill and Richie would make a great Simon and Bram, y’know.” Bev said casually, giving the boys a smirk as Bill’s eyes went wide and Richie gave Bill a sly smile.

“C’mon Big Bill, be the Blue to my Jacques, and we can send cheesy gay emails to each other and eat Halloween Oreos and ride the ferris wheel. It’ll be utopian” he begged, getting on his knees and giving bill puppy dog eyes

“fuh-huh-hine,” bill finally agreed, crossing his arms over his chest and walking alongside richie.

bev and ben eventually split off from the group and went back to ben’s house, as stan and mike went the opposite way, back to the hanlon’s farm. and after eddie went on his own way, back to his house, it left richie and bill, just like every other day. usually the two boys went back to each other’s houses to do homework– those days they actually did homework– or hang out. all of a sudden, as they were walking home, “ya know... it was my idea for the losers to be characters from love, simon,” richie piped up “bev agreed  and wanted her to be nick and abby, and then–” he took a deep breath in “i suggested we be simon and bram” he shrugged, feeling better that he got it off his chest, and he was smiling.

bill had been looking at richie as he talked, bill’s eyes roaming richie’s face as the fall, evening sunset light was casting shadows that made richie’s features stand out and made him look even more stunning than usual.

“it was only a joke, at least they thought it was... i think.” the smile began to fade on his face as he thought, thought about if they all knew that he had the biggest crush on bill denbrough. or that bev had told them when she wasn’t supposed to, and maybe they were mad at him for not telling them, but only bev.

bill opened his mouth to speak, but richie cut him off again, “but it wasn’t. i swear on my mother’s grave i wasn’t joking. and i know bev knew i wasn’t, but the others... they might be sure i was.” he finished, now looking at bill and giving him a small, almost apologetic smile. “i thought they would get it. get that... that i like you,” he mumbled, “but those Losers don’t get anything, do they? they’re just a bunch of ole dummies.” he joked, bringing some of that amusing humor back.

but the question richie had just asked had gone in one of bill’s ears and right out the other. his mind lingered on the “i like you” and it played over and over in his mind like a scratched CD, repeating itself until it had no meaning. but, it still made sense to him. richie tozier liked him. the boy bill had had a crush on since the fourth grade, the boy who had saved his life at the house on twenty–nine neibolt street, the boy who always made sure bill was okay and he was sleeping at night, making sure he ate and got the right things on time, like him back. bill had dreamed of this moment over and over again, thought of so many different ways that it could go perfectly right, or end in horrible fights and long nights crying.

after a few moments of silence, and bill lost in thought, he turned his head towards richie even more and smiled “i dih-didn’t thih-hink you feh-heh-he- SHIT,” he cursed, trying to get the word out “felt the suh-same w-way” he sighed happily, content with himself that he finally managed to get the word out, as the continued walking.

richie grinned and walked, swinging his hands slightly and every once in a while his hand would brush bill’s hand or his leg and it would make bill feel fuzzy and warm inside.

there had been times richie and bill had gotten close, close enough that most people would back away, but richie was fine with it, and so was bill. richie occasionally slept with bill, climbing through his window whenever bill needed him and bill always did the same for richie if the older boy ever needed it. and even if the other just couldn’t simply sleep, the other would be at his house with his arms around whichever one needed it and they would drift right off to sleep.

and that’s what happened that night. richie’s parents were fighting so richie went over to bill’s house and they hung out there for a while, and then fell asleep in bill’s bed,, a tangle of limbs under the sheets