Late Nights... ✨- Reddie (ON HOLD)

Chapter Two

Eddie arrives home to Sonia Kaspbrack, his mother, passed out in the Laz-y-boy with the news station blaring. He turns down the TV to an acceptable volume, tip toeing around as to not wake his mother. He climbs the stairs to his room, slowly and precisely, as he knows where every floorboard creaks.

He arrives in his bedroom, shutting the door and locking it softly, and climbs on his bed, laying on his back to stare at the ceiling.

A million thoughts race through his head, and every single one is about Richard Tozier.

Was Richie Tozier gay? Did he notice me nuzzling into his hand? Did he feel my cheeks redden, the closer he got to me? How can one human being be so perfect, so beautiful? Do I like Richard Tozier?
and the number one thought on his mind;
Am I gay for Richie "Trashmouth" Tozier?

Suddenly, he hears a small rock hit his window.
                                      •••
Richie stands outside Eddie Kaspbracks house, bouncing back and forth on the balls of his feet, trying to keep warm on an early October evening.
Richie prepares another stone, launching it towards the window he hopes is Eddies. Bill wasn't specific as to which room was his, but he could see the small pictures in Eddies room and had assumed it was his.

Just as another rock left Richies hand, a small brunette boy opened the window, the pebble colliding with the boys forehead.

In a small yelling whisper, Eddie said, "FUCK. Richard Tozier? Is that you down there, and did you just stone me??"

Richies face automatically heated up, but he hoped Eddie would just think that it was from the cold.

"SHIT. Ed's, are you okay? I'm coming up." Richie replied back in a whisper.

Before Eddie could protest, Richie shimmied up the guttering, it groaned against what little weight he had, but still he prevailed.

He made it to Eddies window, crawling through and grabbing the boys face with both hands.

Richie tilted his face, this way and that, his eyes full of worry.

"Rich, I'm fine, I'm fine, it's nothing," Eddie replied, blushing at the little space between the two boys,

"What are you doing here?"

Richie straightened up, his shoulders tensed. Why was he there? Oh, I don't know, just to confess my love for you, and stone you to death, Richie thought to himself.

"I just wanted to make sure your nose was alright. My shoulder hasn't been the same since." He said, as he winked and flashed a smile.

Eddie realized Richies hand was still on his face, cupping and stroking his cheek softly. Eddie couldn't help but fall in love with the thought of someone giving him attention. His own mother wasn't even awake when he got home from school most days to ask him how it went. Even when she was home, she'd yell and throw things, claiming her son was a disappointment, or a disgrace.

Richie noticed Eddies face when he too realized his hand had stayed on Eddies face. He put his other hand around the small boys waist, his thumb rubbing the protruding hip bone. Richies face became red with heat. Is this too much? I can stop if you want. As if Eddie could read Richies mind.  Richie shook his head and dropped his hands onto his thighs, rubbing his legs as a sort of coping mechanism.

Eddie smiles as Richie made his way around his room, looking, examining all the different medications, his inhaler. He noticed the way his hands picked up the aspirator, gently, as if it were made of glass and it could shatter at any moment.

The two boys sat and talked for what felt like hours. Laughing and joking as they sat on Eddies bed, just barely touching shoulders.

And that's when they heard the footsteps coming up the stairs.