I had been my cocky self and I'd slipped up. After everything we went through, Mike got caught. So, in an attempt to help him, I threw stones at this huge fucking clown-spider-thing and shouted "Hey fuck face! Wanna play truth or dare? Here's the truth! You're a sloppy bitch! Yeah that's right! Yippy Ki-yay motherfu-"
Then suddenly everything was light. I couldn't see anything and I couldn't move, it was just so bright. I could just about feel myself being lifted off of the ground but it was like it wasn't registering.
I couldn't see.
After what seemed like an eternity I felt myself falling and when I opened my eyes I saw Eddie staring back at me. It was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen after waking up from such horror and I stared at him as though I was seeing him for the first time.
"Holy shit! Rich! Hey rich wake up! I think I got it, man! I think I killed it, I did it! I think I killed it for real!" He was frantic and I could see the panic in his eyes, trying to convince himself that it was over. I saw movement behind him and, without thinking, I grabbed his shoulders and pulled him towards me, holding him tightly against my body, just as a spear-like leg shot through the air. It grazed Eddie's back and he shrieked in pain, his cry hurting my ears as he was so close.
"Are you okay?" I looked into his eyes which were now closer to mine than they'd ever been.
He nodded but his face was crinkled in pain.
We both scrambled to our feet and I helped him to a small cave in the walls nearby.
I sat him down and crouched in front of him, "let me see, let me see your back."
"Its fine, I'll be fine. You saved my fucking life, man, like literally saved my life."
"I saved your life? What about you? You saved my life! Who knows what would have happened if I'd stayed in the lights!"
I felt more alive than I'd ever felt and it was a very overwhelming feeling. I didn't even think about it but I moved forward and pressed my lips against his, adrenaline from the fight making me feel like anything was possible.
When I realised what was happening I moved away and fell backwards so I was sitting opposite him. All he did was stare back at me.
"I'm so sorry, Eddie... I don't know what came over me..."
He shook his head, "it's okay, Rich, everything's so messed up, let just go back and help the others, okay?"
I nodded and tried to ignore my burning cheeks as we headed straight back out towards Pennywise.
"Eddie, wait," I snagged his arm and he looked back at me.
"What if we die out there?"
"You told me to be brave," he blinked back at me and I ran a hand through my hair nervously.
"What I mean is... I dont want you to die out there without knowing that I've always cared a lot about you... and I know I can be a jerk sometimes but I never meant it, you meant the most to me out of everyone..."
"I know, Richie," he assured me, "I never thought you were really trying to be mean to me."
A huge leg crashed into the stones at the mouth of the small cave and we both flinched, Eddie falling onto his side next to me. The fear made me even more eager to talk.
"I just have to let you know how I feel, if either of us die out there, I just wanted you to know-"
"You don't have to say it," he looked as though he knew exactly what I was about to say and I extended a hand to help him up. He gripped it and I hauled him to his feet.
"I'm scared," I looked into his eyes, "I'm really fucking scared."
He hugged me tightly and I buried my face into his shoulder. I couldn't bear the thought of losing him now after all the wasted years. I needed him in my life, I think deep down I'd always needed him in my life but I didn't remember.
"Lets kill this fucker," he said sternly as he let go of my shoulders and held my face in his palms, "you and me; we can do anything, right?" His dark eyes were soft and I trusted him completely. I nodded a little and he closed his eyes and rested his forehead against mine. I could feel his hands trembling as mine were.
"Just be careful, Eds."
He moved away a little and smiled, "remember who you're talking to, I'm the King of careful."
"Does that make me the Queen of recklessness?"
He smirked, "I'm keeping my mouth shut."
"Makes a change."
We both laughed shakily and I took a deep breath, "fuck we're really about to do this..."
"Yep," he gave a nervous smile, "You ready?"
"As I'll ever be..."
We gave each other one last reassuring smile before darting out of the cave and towards our friends.
