not my forte || reddie

Nine

It was weird looking at his clothes in Eddies closet. Their taste in clothing were on the completely opposite spectrum of each other. Richie threw on one of his thick flannels snuggling up in the old jacket. It felt good wearing his own clothes again. It was like listening to an old song.
"You done checking yourself out?" Eddies voice erupted through the silence making Richie jump. He spun around his eyes taking in the sight before him.

He felt his face instantly heat up, seeing Eddie had also gotten into his clothes. Eddie wore one of his less tattered, non-cigarette burnt hoodies. Richie caught himself slipping and wiped a hand down his face sighing heavily. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm good." He said quickly rushing out of the bedroom before the walls caved in on his dumbass.

Eddie watched him leave with a weird look on his face, he glanced down at himself and caught on. He ran to catch up with Richie.
"We're walking so I hope you don't mind if I wear this." He explained making Richie laugh weakly.
"What a way to ask." Richie pulled the front door open allowing Eddie to leave first. Eddie stopped abruptly in the doorway looking up at Richie with wide eyes. "Sorry. Can I wear it?" He asked softly wringing the material in his hands.
Richie felt his heart melt at the simple request. He smiled and nodded.
"Of course. Just don't get attached I like that one." Richie chuckled nudging Eddie out the door so they could begin their long walk to the Denbrough home.

Richie snuggled deeper into his flannel shuddering against the wind.
"Yeah it's the only decent one." Eddie remarked his hood flipped up, encasing his slowly reddening face.
Richie laughed his hair whipping his cheeks from the slight wind
"Woah! Rude!" He cackled shoving Eddie to the side. Eddie just grinned and returned to his side, only a smidge closer. Richie still noticed the difference.

"You can't run from the truth." Richie felt a chord strike in him. He couldn't. Richie couldn't run from the truth and Eddie knew. He kept his eyes on the sidewalk, his hands going numb not from the chill but from fear. How would his friends see him if he told them how he really felt. What would they think if they saw the way he looked at Eddie when he wasn't looking. What his brain would conjure in the dark of night to suppress his loneliness. The image of Eddie holding him and whispering sweet nothings in his ear rang through his mind. Richie gave a wry laugh and turned his attention to the sky, the darkening clouds looming overhead like a warning.

"Crazy weather." He mumbled something, anything to get him out of his thoughts. Eddie hummed in agreement then yanked Richies hand in his darting across the street. Richie followed blindly not even realizing they'd reached Bill's house. Eddie climbed their porch steps and slung the door open without any prerequisites, strolling into the Denbrough house like it was his own.
"They're in the basement." Eddie whispered creeping to the basement door slowly pulling it open and crawling down.

Richie followed Eddie down the creaky old stairs being mindful of his step. He reached the bottom and scoped the room wistfully. Eddie leaped out shouting at the rest to see them jump. Stanley screamed making everyone else roar with laughter. Richie's jaw dropped seeing a flash of red. "Bev? Hey!" He shouted waving excitedly at the girl.

Beverly whirled around a brilliant smile breaking out on her face. "Richie!" She cried happily. They acted like they didn't see each other all the time at school. She ran up to him wrapping him in a tight hug.
Richie melted into her touch squeezing her back just as hard, he opened his eyes seeing a guy watching them awkwardly.
Richie nuzzled against her ear,
"Is that homecoming?" He whispers softly.

Beverly stiffens then nods quickly. She pulled away from the hug to look at his face, shooting him a cautious glance. Richie grinned widely and threw it to the wind breaking the hug and walking up to the kid. He clapped him on the shoulder then wrapped him in a hug, "That's my man! Take good 'ol care of Bevvy, she's a classic." Richie pulled back ruffling his hair.