𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 | 𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕕𝕚𝕖

chapter five: i want you back

It was quiet.

Eddie Kaspbrak slept soundly in the backseat of Richie's car, breathing softly.

Then Richie turned on the radio.

Eddie woke up to the sound of the Jackson 5 with a jolt at the volume.

"When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around!" Richie sang obnoxiously, fully dressed in his 'rebel' attire.

Eddie rolled his eyes. Is this what he was going to put up with every morning? Perhaps it was worth it though.

"Those pretty faces always made you stand out in the crowd!" He continued to sing, then pointed at Eddie.

The small boy's face looked upset, but it was obvious that he was holding back a smile.

Eddie mumbled with a grumpy face, "but someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took."

"Now it's much too late for me to take a second look!" Richie screeched in his horrible singing voice, bring Eddie to almost laugh his guts out.

This was strange. They looked at each other with lovesick eyes.

What would their families think of this?

If only Richie and Eddie knew that in the future, it was less likely you'd be killed for being different.

"Morning, sleepy-head."

"Morning, Rich." Eddie yawned, stretching his arms out. "I should go get dressed," he grabbed his clothes that he needed and prepared himself to go to the changing rooms of the trailer park.

Richie reached out and grabbed Eddie's wrist softly, "you can just get changed in here, you know."

Eddie rolled his eyes yet again and left the car anyway.

"God, what's wrong with me?" Richie asked himself.

★

"I can't believe they haven't found us yet," Eddie said when the car began to move again.

"I can believe it," Richie's hands were firm on the steering wheel, unwilling to risk an accident. "My parents probably don't care enough to call the cops." He shrugged, showing no emotion.

"I thought they were nice though?" Eddie said in a questioning tone, opening a bag of potato chips with a 'pop'.

"They are." Richie brushed his hair out of his face, "I know I'm kind of a disappointment though."

"A disappointment? All I do at home is sit around and listen to The Beach Boys. I'm not sure if you're the disappointment here." Eddie laughed, somehow gaining a laugh from Richie in the process.

Richie changed the topic, "let's get some breakfast before people start looking for us, yeah?"

"Sounds blastin'."

"Let's check out this scene," Richie said, pointing at the upcoming diner with faded lights flickering on the rooftop. 'Bowers' Shindig'.

Eddie grimaced but nodded, trusting Richie.

★

"What can I get you, fellas?" A tall blonde named Victor served them.

"Waffles and black coffee for me." Richie ordered for himself, "how 'bout you, Eds?"