Late Nights... ✨- Reddie (ON HOLD)

Chapter Twenty Three

The two arrived at Eddies, Richies thumb rubbing over Eddies knuckles, tracing every crack and line. They walked towards Eddies window, the two lingering and getting closer to each other.

"I- I don't want you to go." Eddie said, staring at the two boys' interlocked fingers.

"I don't want to go either, but your mom will have a cow if she sees me. I'll come by before your bedtime and tell you goodnight, I promise." Richie replied, kissing the smaller boys forehead, wrapping his arms around him. The two stayed that way for a few minutes until Eddie broke the silence.

"I better get in there or she'll kill us both." Eddie said, kissing Richies neck softly and then climbing through the window.

"See you later, Eds." Richie said, giving Eddie that big warm smile as they shut the window.
•••
Richie made his way to Beverlys first, knowing that her conversation would go a lot quicker and there wouldn't be much to explain. Her and Stan both understood Richie more than he understood himself. He thought about the friends he has as he arrived at Beverlys, picking up a singular rock and tossing it so it'd hit her bedroom window softly, just in case her dad was home. A full head of red curls appeared shortly after, opening the window so she could climb down and meet him.

"Richieee!" Beverly whispered, her smile growing as he wrapped his arms around her, picking her up as squeezing her.

"Hiya Beaverly." Richie said, breathing in her lavender shampoo. The two separated and Bev grabbed Richie by the shoulders, looking at him with a fire in her eyes, but a wide smile.

"I want all the details, mister. What the hell is going on with you and Eddie?" Beverly said, sitting him down on the fire escape steps as she took her place beside him.

Richie told her everything. From how they 'met', to their first sleep over. He left out the part of his nightmares, Richie felt that wasn't his place. He told Bev about how Eddies mom mistreats him. He could feel the tears spilling on his cheeks, but he didn't wipe them away. This was Beaverly. She didn't give a shit. When he was finally done telling everything about his love, she sat back on her elbows, processing the information. The two sat in silence until she broke it first.

"You really love this kid, huh?"

Richie turned to her and flashed an award winning smile.

You have no idea.
•••

After parting ways with Bev, promising he'd call her when he got home, he ran the three blocks to Stans. Upon arriving, he shimmied his way up to Stans already open window. He pulled himself through, laughing quietly as he heard Stan in his bathroom, humming as he brushed his teeth. Richie sat himself on Stanley's bed, picking up the snow globe on his bedside table. San Diego. Hm. His parents went without him and got him this as a reminder? How sweet. Richie sat the globe back down in its spot as Stanley came in, jumping back a step when he saw Richie.

"Damn it, Tozier. Gonna give me a fucking heart attack." Stan said, sitting next to Richie on the bed.

"Aw, my bad Stan the Man. I know I'm fine as hell and everything but it's not your heart I'm after." Richie said, chuckling and wrapping an arm around Stan.

"Yeah, you're after Eddies, we all know," He said, resting his head on Richies shoulder, "so are you guys officially boyfriends?"

"I think so. I don't know, part of me wants to believe that he likes me as much as I like him, but I'm still on the fence." Richie said, his cheeks blushing as he thought of Eddie.

Stanley sat up, turning to a startled Richie.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? That kid loves you, and you're the only one who can't see it? That's bullshit." Stan said, shaking his head at Richie as he walked over towards his desk, slamming himself down in the chair.

"You think he loves me?" Richie asked, looking to his best friend for answers.

"Of course, Richie. Who couldn't? You're sweet, caring, funny. And after today, the fight with Bowers? You could see it on his face, man. He loves you."

"I- I gotta go Stan. I'll come over tomorrow, okay?" Richie said, climbing halfway through the window.

"Go get 'em, Romeo."
                                         •••
Eddie was laying on his bedroom floor, his books and bedding surrounding him. His eyes red and swollen from crying, he looked around at the mess his mother had made. She had seen Richie outside when he walked him home, and had demanded that everything of Richies be taken away. The two hoodies Eddie had managed to take, and drawings of the boy. Suddenly, he heard a knock from the window. Eddie stood himself up, wrapping the blanket around him, and made his way to the window.

"Come on Eds, you gonna let me in or am I gonna have to- Eddie. What's wrong?" Richie said on the other side of the glass.

"C-Come in." Eddie said, lifting the window and then going to sit back in his spot on the floor.

"Eddie Spaghetti, what happened in here?" Richie said, gesturing to the mess that's usually tidied up.

Eddies eyes began to fill with tears as he told Richie everything. Richie wrapped his arm around the small boy, which made him cry harder, his ribs wracking every sob that escaped his mouth. By the time he was done, he'd been standing and pacing around his room.

"And like, why would it even MATTER to her if I was gay? She can't accept me for who I am, her only child? Like, what the hell is up with that shit?" Eddie said, kicking his books across the room. Richie stood and held Eddie by either side of the cheek. The two looked each other in the eye for what seemed like forever, Richie being the first to break the silence.

"If she cant accept you, she doesn't deserve your anger. You're seventeen. You'll be eighteen in six months. You can do this, Eds. Just a few more months, and then I'll get you out of this shithole. I promise." Richie wrapped his arms around the boy, kissing his forehead softly.

"I love you, Chee." Eddie said, also wrapping his arms around Richie, squeezing.

That's when they heard the door slamming open, exposing a very pissed off Sonia.