Six Feet Under : Reddie

Part 3

No. No, no, no.

Bullshit.

There was no way in hell it was remotely possible for Eddie to like Richie in such a fashion.

Being homosexual, is like being ill, very ill. At least, that's what Sonia had always said, and she was always right. She was, after all, his mother.

After talking to himself for some time, he pushed the warring thoughts aside, adjusting his focus to something more pressing, such as the new school year.

As he thought, he remembered years ago, seeming so long, yet so near. The sewers, the spider. It.

It all seemed so insane, taking place at eleven years of age, not even twelve. What could rival such insanity, was the loss of his virginity. All of them, the Losers' Club. Under the strangest of circumstances. And all to Beverly Marsh, and her to them.

No one knew that, not a word was spoken of these events after they had taken place. Nothing was needed to be said. About the only thing that changed, was the constant growing bond between Ben and
Beverly.

The memories alone still shocked Eddie to the core, he had always visioned, or perhaps hoped, that he would lose that part of himself to someone he loved. Not that he didn't love Beverly of course! Just, a different love. For there was a difference between friend, and lover.

"S-s-so wuh-wuh-what's the plan f-for later tuh-today?" Bill asked suddenly, shaking Eddie from his previous thoughts and concerns.

They had met again at the end of the day toward the back of the school, almost like avoiding any runins with Henry Bowers, or worse.

Worse? No, it was not of It that they referred. Worse was a title belonging to Patrick Hockstetter. For reasons perhaps only Beverly knew, for she had seen it, she was there in the old junkyard when it happened.

Back before even she herself could comprehend.

But, alas, there was no such issue with Patrick and Victor Criss, dead and Henry locked away.

"Well, we could head down to the Barrens." Ben suggested, it was theor spot, and it always had been. Their place. Place to unwind, a place to have fun and relax.

"Ay! Tha' soun's good laddie! Jus' like ole times, jus' us and ye rock n' roll!" Richie spoke with his Irish Cop Voice, which was eerily switching from sounding like Richie Tozier, to Mr. Nells himself.

"Shut up, Rich." Beverly sighed, lighting two cigarettes, passing the later to Richie.

"The Barrens sound good." Eddie chimed, ignoring the previous conversation.

"Leh-Leh-Let's go th-then." Bill stated, pulling Silver from the bike rack.

Richie sighed aloud, climbing into the back of Silver, riding double with Bill as they had done since they were ten. Hopefully, it wouldn't change. Both of them found it normal, to ride alone when together would be a rarity in itself.

As they began to ride, Bill and Richie doing their best to steady the constantly unbalanced Silver before gaining some speed.

"Hi-ho Silver, AWWAAAYYY!" Big Bill yelled into the air, the Losers' following close behind as they all rode to the Barrens.

∆°∆°∆

I groaned aloud, sitting up from the white, creaking bed, looking out toward the sun.

I smiled lightly, looking over to my sleeping husband. Married. For over sixty years. An old man, I have become, but yet, my spirit seems never to waver, which almost came as a shock to even me. After the battles, the close encounters, bullies, and everything between.

But, alas, I was happy. And, really, I would not have changed a thing. Truthfully, I missed it though. Youth. Our friends. But what could I do? All of our paths end at different times, either slow and obvious, or ragged and unknown.

I slipped back down into the warm, dun soaked covers, my own shallow breathing mixing with his. Peace, was what he had found. And we found it together.

∆°∆°∆

As the bike came to a slow, Richie and Bill dismounted, Richie coughing up a line of curses.

"You're going to kill me someday, Bill." He said, pushing the glasses up his slightly freckled nose.

"Ah-Always s-so druh-druh-dramatic." He replied, setting his bike down against a rock.

"Oh my God, can we just get down there?" Eddie snapped impatiently, tapping his foot against the dirt and gravel road.

"Yeah, let's go." Stan began walking to the water, the club soon following in suit.

Once they got to the waters edge, Stan took a breath, looking over the group when his eyes eventually met Bill's, to whom he gave a small nod, receiving one in return.

"Guh-guh-guys?" Bill Denbrough spoke, drawing their attention.

"What's up Big Bill?" Mike asked, speaking the words on everyone's tongue.

"I hah-have something to teh-tell you."

"We." Stanley interrupted, beginning to play with his hands in a nervous fashion.

A smirk began to grow on Richie's face, as he looked at the pair expectingly.

"What is it?" Bev looked at the two, waiting for whatever bit of news they had to share, though, she was a bit nervous, because they looked so. She knew it couldn't be anything with It, but the meer idea plagued her mind.

"We've beh-been dating f-for the pa-ast month and a ha-half." He said, to which Stan nodded, looking over the group for reactions anxiously.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Richie asked, tossing his cigarette butt, "Good for you Stan The Man, Big Bill!" He said, clapping his hands on their backs, his face alight with a smile.

It wasn't long before Mike, Eddie, Ben, and Bev were surrounding the two with hugs, congratulations, and questions.

Richie sat back and smiled softly, none of their friends reacted in a bad way. And that was a rare for a town like Derry. But in reality, they had a damn good group of friends, whom have went through hell and back together, and eventually will again.

Maybe it was time to stop hiding.

Maybe it was a time to trust.

Maybe it would be okay in the end.