Perfection

Chapter 2: Richie

Eddie was special to him. Eddie was his world. Eddie was everything. He loved Eddie to the greatest lengths he could. Weather the lengths were the moon, the sun, or the star furthest away from earth, he would go there for Eddie. But it wasn't a reciprocal feeling. Eddie didn't love him back. At least he didn't think he did.

Richie didn't propose that year. The year of 9th grade, Richie didn't propose to Eddie. And he regretted it. It was a blur. The day has passed, and he can't do it on another day, because it's not the same. Richie had the Ring Pop, green as always, in his obnoxiously patterned button up that he's had since the 7th grade. He hadn't grow in size since then, just his height, which shot up like a rocket.

He layed on his bed, feet dramatically swung over his bed frame, wondering why he decided not to propose to Eddie that day. Then he remembered. He didn't decide not to. Someone stole the candy during lunch. When he had it on the table. Literally ready to give it to Eddie so they could go outside and skip 4th hour together, just to talk and eat the Ring Pop. Some fucker stole his best friends ring. As this dawned on Richie, he went straight to find Eddie.

He jumped out of his bed, which he hadn't even slept on for 2 days, because he liked the way Eddie made it for him when he left after sleeping over. He ruined the way it was made so impeccably, and ran downstairs into his kitchen. Richies mom was lounging around in the living room, beer in hand, and didn't even realize her only son was breaking all the glass in the kitchen, tearing it down to find the box of Ring Pops. There was one green one left. Richie grabs the candy and shoves it into his jean pocket. He rushes out the door without a second glance from his mom, and hops on his bike.

He heads to Eddies house first, and Sonia Kaspbrak comes to the door first. Richie's request to see Eddie was denied, and she told Richie that Eddie was at the park with Beverly, who came to get him about an hour ago. He didn't even say thank you, just jumped back onto his bike to find Eddie. She never liked him anyways.

When he gets to the park, Eddie is there, with Bevs arm wrapped around him, he can't hear what Eddie is saying, but he can tell that Bev is reassuring the small boy. Richie assumes that Eddie is venting, due to Beverly's cigarette, because "Where there's drama, there's smokes." Richie wants to cry, with all the possibilities running through his head of what Eddie is venting about.

He can't see either of their faces, only the back of his two friends heads. Beverly was letting her hair grow out a bit, so she had tried braiding it and failed to do so. Eddies hair was perfect as always. It looked soft, but it was.. perfect. Eddie was perfect. Richie was a mess. The mess and the literal angel. What did he do to deserve Eddie?

Richie pulls himself together, and walks over to Eddie and Bev. He sits on Eddies right side, and wraps an arm around his perfectly sculpted shoulder. He asks Bev about smoking without him, and she makes up an excuse to leave. She whispers something to Eddie on the way out of the park, and Richie moves to sit facing the small boy, Richies legs on either side of him. He leans into Eddies ear, and just stays there for about ten seconds. Just.. to be with Eddie. Breathing him in. Taking in everything. He wanted to kiss him. It would be so simple. He could just lean up and kiss Eddie Kaspbrak.

Instead, he whispers "What's on your mind Spaghetti Man?" in Eddies ear and then pulls away from him. Eddie collapsed into Richies chest.

Eddie isn't crying, but he looks like he's about to. It pains Richie to see his best friend like that. The boy he'd been in love with forever. The boy he wished he could call his boyfriend. But he can't.

So instead of pushing Eddie for information, he pushes Eddie off and remembers the Ring Pop. The reason he came. He pulls out the plastic package and gives it to Eddie. Eddie smiles so big his face hurts. Now he is crying. He doesn't even have to say anything, he just pulls Eddie into his chest again and kisses the top of his perfect little quiff.