Promise || A Reddie Fanfiction

Don't Miss Your Chance- Chapter 2

     There was a long and uncomfortable silence. Stan, trying his best to be patient, couldn't help but tap his foot restlessly. What's eating at him? I feel like I don't even know the person sitting across from me. His eyes tried to search Richie's face, but his head had been lowered, his chin nearly against his own chest.

     Richie suddenly drew in a long, deep breath and sighed. He refused to tell the truth- the whole truth, anyway. And what exactly is the whole truth? He asked himself. Are you lying to Stan, or are you lying to yourself? It was as if his thoughts were playing tug of war... and he wasn't sure who he wanted to win. What do I say? What do I tell him? How the fuck do I confess something to Stan that I haven't even been able to admit to myself? Barely able to keep up with his own thoughts, Richie felt lost in his own mind.

"Richie," Stanley began, "please... Not for me, but for yourself. Everyone has been able to tell something is wrong, and we're all worried. I won't say anything to the others, but it's obvious you need to get this off your chest. You've got to talk-"

Richie pounded his fist on the steering wheel, causing Stan to jump.

     The sky reflected the way Richie was feeling. Blustering wind... the clouds a dark gray. Rain had begun to lightly fall against the windshield. At first only a few drops, which slowly became a gentle drizzle.

"Fucking hell!" He shook his head, defeated. "You know what, Stan?" Rich hesitated for a moment. Stanley felt frozen in his seat. Whatever he's about to say is going to change everything. I know it.

Richie closed his eyes as he began to speak. He didn't want to see Stan's reaction to what he was about to say. He held his breath, and decided he would lose his courage to speak at all if he didn't just blurt it out.

"I love Eddie. I'm in love with him. He's my best friend and I'm fucking in love with him. I'm gay, alright? How's that for a confession? I haven't been able to look at anyone else since the day I met him, and this dream has got me all fucked up because I know I never told him, and that I would never get another chance. Do you know what that's like? What it feels like to see him every fucking day and know that this is all it's ever going to be? To not be able to sleep because your mind refuses to let you forget that one day it's going to be too late?" He finally took a breath.

     Richie felt...relieved? Why am I relieved right now? This is going to ruin everything. Eddie is going to find out and none of this will have ever mattered. He's never going to speak to me again. Stan is going to start laughing any second now... he's-

"You should tell him."

"W-what?" Richie was stunned.

"Rich, I think you should tell him. Eddie loves you. I don't know if it's in the way that you love him, but you'll never know if you don't say anything. If he doesn't, then at least you won't be plagued with 'what ifs' the rest of your life." Stan was surprised at Richie's admission, but his support never wavered for a single moment. How could I have missed it? It all makes sense now. Stan thought back on every time he'd caught Richie stealing a glance at Eddie, the way he would fidget with his glasses when the two were together, Richie always being the first to stand up for Eddie when it came to Bowers... damn!

     Richie leaned over and hugged Stan as tight as he could. He cried tears of joy; he was grateful to have someone like him. His family certainly wasn't so supportive- His heart thumped in his chest as he remembered the day his Father caught him staring a little too long out the window. The neighbor outside, shirtless while mowing the lawn had caught his eye. His Father's words were forever burned into his brain. "I'll be damned if I'm going to have a fucking fairy for a son." He could recall all too clearly the feeling of his father's hand clamping down on the back of his neck... and then shuffling into school the following day with a busted lip and bruised face. Oh, the jokes he had to tell to get his friends off his back. You should see the other guy...

     That night he pulled up to Bill's house, Stan in the passenger seat. The moon was bright tonight, as it hung in a now especially stormy sky. It illuminated the street in front of them, glinting off of the water now covering every inch of the road. Rain battered the roof of his car, and in the distance they could hear thunder approaching.

     Richie was nervous. Perpetually nervous around Eddie, it seemed- but this time was different. This would be the first time he'd be face to face with the man he loved after admitting it to both himself and one of his best friends. How the fuck am I going to keep it together? He was still high on adrenaline after mustering up every ounce of courage he had in the car earlier. His hand shook as he put the car in park. He knew that as soon as he saw Eddie, he was going to have to actively try not to blurt anything out... he trusted Stan more than he trusted himself. Tonight isn't the night.

     Stanley had an intuition like no other- Richie liked to joke that he was a mind reader. He knew Rich was going to put it off.

"Richie?" He pretended not to notice his trembling hand on the gearshift.

"What is it, Stan?" Richie was impatient. After today, after all the nightmares, all he wanted was to see Eddie's face.

"Just... Make sure you don't miss your chance, okay?" Stanley knew what it was like; living with regret. It was on his mind each day, and if he could prevent Richie from feeling the same way, then he would do everything he could. Please, please don't miss your chance.

"I don't plan on it."

     They raced to the stoop of Bill's house, trying to shield themselves from the rain, but by the time they got to the door they were nearly soaked. As they let themselves in, they heard the radio blasting New Kids on the Block, and the sounds of rainfall faded as they closed the door behind them. Ben was definitely playing DJ tonight. They passed through the foyer and walked into the living room, where almost everyone had gathered. Beverly was having a playful argument with Ben, Mike flipping through TV stations. As they slipped off their shoes, Bill approached.

"What took you so long? How bad are the roads?"

Richie smiled. "Not bad, we only hit a couple pedestrians on our way over."

"V-very funny, Rich."

Richie glanced around the room disappointedly. Where is he? He should be here by now.

"Looking for Eddie?" Bill asked. Stan lowered his eyes and stepped past them, sitting with Mike on the couch. He suppressed a small smirk.

"Yeah, any idea where he's at?"

Bill began to say something as they heard a car pull into the driveway. "S-speak of the devil."

     Richie was excited to see him. Finally. They heard footsteps approach the door, and a faint conversation. The front door swung open, and Eddie stepped inside, placing his umbrella by the coat rack. As he stepped aside, Richie saw someone just behind him- A woman? Who the hell did Eddie bring over? It was supposed to be just the Losers here tonight!

Eddie's eyes met Richie's first. He smiled wide, which caused Rich to as well. He walked over and pulled Eddie into a quick hug- not long enough to raise any suspicions... but Bill took notice of the fact that Eddie was the only one of them Richie had seemed this excited to see. For the first time in a week, he felt like his mind was at ease. He was still smiling as Bill ushered everyone back into the living room. Eddie cleared his throat, took the hand of his guest, and made an announcement that stopped Richie's heart-

"Guys, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend!"