Promise || A Reddie Fanfiction

Nothing Like a Dream- Chapter 7

Richie put his car in park and took the keys out of the ignition. He smiled and glanced down at his watch- 8:11 PM. No one's going to care if I'm late. As he opened his door and stepped out into the night, the cold air hit his face instantly. It hadn't snowed for hours, but the temperatures were still well below freezing- a typical winter in Maine. He could see his own breath in the air as he walked over to the edge of the kissing bridge, drawing his pocket knife as he knelt by the edge.

As he brushed the snow off, Richie admired the way the two letters looked side by side. R + E. He traced over them a few times before he was satisfied, slowly wearing away at the aged wood. This was the first time he'd returned to this spot since he first carved their initials. As the years passed, it was a memory he had tried with great difficulty to push down. Now, it was something he was eager to remember. Seeing it after all this time only gave him courage- it solidified the fact that this was right. Most importantly, that his feelings for Eddie weren't wrong.

Tears welled in his eyes as he stared at his handiwork. It's never going to be too late for us.

***

Eddie paced the floor of Bill's kitchen as Mike and Stanley stared amusedly.

"It's almost nine o' clock. Nine! You don't think he's ditching us again, do you?" Eddie spoke so fast they could barely understand him. "Oh, shit! Stan, do you think he's okay? The roads have been so slick, he could've hit a patch of black ice and-"

"Eddie! Calm down, would you? He's fine, I promise. I can call him, if it makes you feel any better." Mike had decided to jump in before Eddie's mind spiraled.

Stan chuckled. "Eds, he should be here any minute."

Before Eddie could say anything else, they heard the front door open, someone stepping inside. Eddie's feet were suddenly glued in place. His eyes widened, and his palms suddenly began to sweat.

Mike looked back at him as he headed into the living room. With the way Eddie had been acting lately regarding Richie, it was easy to pick up on what exactly was going on- nothing about the way Eddie reacted to hearing his name was subtle. Seeing how nervous he was, he felt a strong obligation to impart some wisdom on his friend. He stepped back and leaned on the counter. The sounds of Richie being greeted by the rest of the Losers was audible from the kitchen.

"Hey, Eds? Wait a second."

"What is it, Mike?"

"There's this quote I've been thinking about lately... by Victor Hugo. I read it in a book once, and it stuck with me ever since. I know you want to get out there though, so I'll make it quick. It's something like, 'There's nothing like a dream to create the future'. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if there's something you've been wanting, it doesn't have to just be a dream. You can make it happen, if it's what you really want... You can make it your future."

They smiled softly at each other, and Eddie noticed he could no longer hear his heartbeat in his ears. His anxiety was replaced with excitement, and the kitchen was quiet.

"Thanks, Mike."

"Totally not related to anything in particular, though," Mike said with a wink. "We should get out there."

They walked to the living room together, Mike content and Eddie eager. Richie had his back turned, laughing and talking with Beverly as they approached. As she glanced over his shoulder at Eddie, he turned to look as well. The two locked eyes and smiled shyly.

"All right," Bill said as he walked to the VCR, VHS tape in hand. "Stan was the one who picked tonight's movie, so d-don't look at me!"

"What is it?" Ben replied, leaning forward.

Stan spoke up from the couch. "The Princess Bride," He said with a smirk. "You know, the story about two lovers overcoming all kinds of trials and tribulations to be together?" He glanced up at Richie and faintly raised his eyebrows. Mike smiled and shook his head from across the room.

Beverly groaned. "Fine... but next time we're watching Die Hard. Or the Terminator. You're so cliche, Stan."

He smiled and shrugged in response. "Love knows no bounds, Bev."

They all settled in together, Bill flicking off the lights. Richie took a seat in his usual chair and took a moment to look around the room as the movie began. This was the first time they had all been together in months- Just like the good ol' days, he thought to himself. Ben's arm around Beverly, Stan next to Bill. Mike on the floor in front of the couch, and Eddie on the far side of the room. As everyone focused on the dazzling romance between Princess Buttercup and Westley, both Eddie and Richie were distracted by a different type of love- the off screen kind.

Eddie's eyes swept to Richie, who was already staring. Eddie quickly looked away, blushing. He still couldn't believe what his heart had been telling him- that Richie felt the same. More than anything, he didn't want to get his hopes up for something that may never happen. Suddenly, Mike's quote came to mind. There's nothing like a dream to create the future...

***

By the time the movie had finished, it was nearly eleven o' clock. It was again snowing lightly, a winter wonderland outside. One by one the Losers slowly began to part ways for the night.

"Straight out of a Bob Ross painting, isn't it?" Stanley mused as he stood on Bill's porch with Richie and Eddie, the three of them bundled in their scarves and coats. String lights on nearly every house glittered, and an endless amount of stars hung in the sky overhead.

"Rich, I think you'd better walk Eddie to his car. Wouldn't want him to fall with all this ice. I'll see you guys next week," Stan said as he made his way down the lawn.

Suddenly feeling more courageous than usual, Eddie agreed. "Yeah, the last thing we need is for me to break my arm again. Could you imagine what my Mom would say? We'd better get going."

Richie hurried after him, determined not to miss this opportunity.

As they made their way down the sidewalk, Richie slipped his hands in his pockets and unsuccessfully tried to think of anything to say. Eddie Kaspbrak was the only one who could make Richie positively speechless, and he knew it.

"That movie was really something, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, it was. Who would be crazy enough to go through all that just to be with one person? Could you even imagine?" Eddie replied.

Richie smiled. "I don't think it's so crazy."

As they began to cross the road, Richie's foot slipped on the ice, causing him to nearly fall. Eddie smiled, and quickly grabbed him by the back of his coat.

"You were supposed to stop me from falling!"

They laughed together as Richie stumbled to his feet.

Just go for it! When are you going to get another chance to make the first move? Eddie went back and forth with himself, feeling like he was out of courage for the night. Suddenly, he felt the familiar (though not familiar enough) feeling of Richie's fingers interlocking with his.

"So I don't fall again," Richie said, looking straight ahead. Eddie couldn't contain his smile.

The two finished their walk to Eddie's car in silence, their minds too preoccupied with the way their hands felt pressed together to make conversation.

As he reached his door, Eddie turned to face Richie, neither wanting to let go. Richie stared down at him, marveling at Eddie's pink nose and cheeks, the way his eyes glimmered like the holiday lights around them. All he could think of in that moment was how badly he wanted their love story to mirror the movie's ending. A happily ever after.

"I think I'd better head home... You know my Mom won't go to bed until I get back."

Richie sighed, knowing the moment was bound to end sooner or later. "It was nice seeing you again, Eds," He said, letting go of Eddie's hand. He slowly began making his way back to his own car, carefully avoiding the ice.

"You too, Rich," Eddie called after him.

Richie looked back for a moment. "Maybe we could do it again sometime. Just the two of us."

Eddie smiled, his mouth turning up at one corner once again.