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After their first time hanging out, the group feels an odd sense of connection to one another. When they were separated into two little cliques, they were just normal friends. With Eddie bringing them together, however, there's an inexplicable bond that wasn't there before.

Beverly suggests going to the mall, and the group agrees. Derry had gotten a mall just last year, and it's definitely the hotspot for teens in the town, as there aren't really many other places to hang out in. Thus, the mall is always crowded. Stan is hesitant, but Eddie manages to convince him to tag along.

Richie can see that there's a talent in Eddie. He's a healer, for sure. He calms people and makes them happy. Well, Richie knows that Eddie does all that for him, at the very least.

Richie is lost in his thoughts as he walks beside Eddie through the mall. Beverly and Ben are leading the way, with Richie and Eddie in second. Richie watches their passionate conversation, and he sees Beverly laugh and hit Ben's shoulder playfully. She reaches down to hold his hand and Ben smiles.

Richie is... envious? He's not sure what the feeling is. But he looks from the two in front of him over to Eddie and then back, and he's angry that he can't flirt like Beverly can. Yes, he's happy for her, but he's sad that he can't just have a normal relationship like they do. He had to go and catch feelings for a boy. A really cute, kind, funny, pretty boy...

Eddie nudges Richie's side with his elbow, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Should we get ice cream?" He asks with that bright smile he always has, pointing towards a small ice cream parlor.

"Uh, hell yeah." Richie grins. He yells at Ben and Beverly. "Hold on, lovebirds! We're stopping here."

The pair turn around and Beverly gasps in delight. "Ice cream, rad!"

"Oh, god." Bill sighs. "Try not to drive the employees too crazy, alright?"

"We're in for a wild ride. If you've never seen Richie hopped up on sugar before, it's... something." Stan shakes his head as the group enters the parlor.

"Should I regret suggesting this?" Eddie laughs.

"No, no. I'm not that bad." Richie assures him. Beverly gives him a look.

"Last time we let you eat this much sugar you stole Stan's clarinet from the band room and started playing it in class." She says, and Richie shrugs.

"I would do that normally." He grins.

The group picks out their flavors excitedly, and Stan insists that he order for the group ("Because I'm civilized, unlike you barbarians"). Richie gets chocolate- as per Eddie's suggestion- and Eddie gets bubblegum. Richie, remembering Eddie's favorite lollipop flavor, guesses he must really like bubblegum. He's not surprised; the sweet flavor fits his personality well.

They find a booth and cram everyone in. Eddie and Richie sit by each other with Ben and Beverly across from them, who are holding hands under the table. Mike and Stan sit next to Ben, and Bill sits by Richie.

Richie can't help watching Eddie eat. He does it the same way as the lollipop, with little kitten licks, occasionally licking a big stripe along the ice cream or catching the drips with his tongue before they fall. It's adorable to watch, but also suggestive in a way, and Richie's conflicted over it. As he is with most things that Eddie does.

It doesn't take long for the sugar high to kick in. The group is very talkative, laughing and joking more than they normally would. Richie's leg is bouncing up and down wildly, trying to burn off the excess energy he's just gained. He's very loud and giggly, and it makes Eddie smile to watch him.