It:Throughout The Years (Reddie, Hanbrough, Beneverly, Statty)

Chapter Nine

1

Age 15

Richie struggled to move on from Eddie. He desperately wanted to forget Eddie and their kiss but at the same time he didn't want to forget. He wanted to find Eddie and tell him he liked him back. He'd wait for Eddie.

Eddie missed Richie like crazy, every time someone made a joke that sounded like something Richie would say, Eddie would sigh and feel the pain that lurked inside his chest that tightened whenever he thought of Richie.

Eddie made good friends with Claire and her foster sisters. Eddie didn't know it but Claire had a huge crush on Eddie, not that she would admit it anyways. Eddie was just so loveable, I mean who could not love him (if they are sane).

Richie started distancing himself from the losers. Hanging with them just made him miss Eddie even more and when he'd miss Eddie he'd go into the bathroom and cry out his eyes. It's how he coped with losing the love of his life without even knowing it, and he knew Eddie liked him back. There were worse ways he could cope and he knew that. So he just distanced himself from everyone and cried alot.

The losers tried to help Richie but he didn't want to take help from other people, he just wanted Eddie back.

Richie was starting to have another crying episode so he asked if he could go to the bathroom.

Meanwhile Eddie was crying in the corner of the school library for the same reason.

Claire walked over and Eddie wiped away his tears quickly and pretended he wasn't crying in the first place.

"Woah," Claire said, "were you crying?"

"No," Eddie defensively said.

"Yeah, okay then," she said, "you know if you need someone, there's always me to talk to but I understand hiding your feelings, it's what I do anyways."

"I'd tell you but I don't think you'd understand or be okay with it. Things would change between us," Eddie said.

"Try me," Claire said.

"I can't," Eddie said.

"What if I tell you something first?" she asked.

"Uh, sure," Eddie said.

"I like you," Claire said.

"What!?" Eddie exclaimed.

"Yeah, I like you," Claire said. She pulled her knees to her chest ready for rejection like normal.

"Oh," Eddie said. Now he definitely couldn't tell her he was gay, he didn't want to hurt her, "I'm sorry Claire but your more like a sister to me, I never thought of you like that."

"I understand," she said but tears fell out anyways.

"Hey, Claire," Eddie said, "that doesn't mean we have to stop being close."

"Can I ask why not me?" she said.

"I don't know if I could tell you," he said.

"Try me," Claire said.

"I think I'm-" Eddie said but Alex cut him off.

"Hey guys," she said sitting down.

"Hey," Claire said.

"Hey," Eddie said.

"Sorry did I interrupt something?" Alex asked.

Eddie was about to say yes when Claire said, "No you're good."

And the conversation turned towards Alex.

Richie however was just walking back to class when one of the schools bullies stopped in the hallway.