Things "Best Friends" Do

{7} Clubhouse Revelation

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A/N: hope you guys are enjoying the story, if you are PLEASE promote on stories on insta or wherever thank you!!
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The smell of bacon rising up from the kitchen makes Eddie's stomach growl, he's never liked those types of greasy foods, but being as hungry as he is, Eddie doesn't much care. He dreads going downstairs, he's still a little high from last night and he remembers the disagreeable kiss. In saying that, Eddie did like it, but he's also an astronomical germaphobe, and kissing anyone- especially a guy- sort of grosses Eddie out. Eddie has no idea what's going on with his feelings. Last night when all the Losers were playing Truth or Dare and Eddie dared Richie to kiss Will, made Eddie wish he was in Will's position. Of course, later that night he was... but Eddie is still very very confused. He sighs, turning off the water and pushing the thoughts to the back of his mind. He wants to be with Richie but he doesn't know if he can. Or if Richie even wants to. Eddie rubs the towel over his hair to dry it and he pulls on his clothes. A new pair of skinny jeans he recently bought, and his ten-millionth polo shirt. He places his dirty clothes into his backpack and hoists it onto his shoulders, combing his hair as he walks down the steps. Eddie sets his bag at the foot of the stairs with a thump and Mike looks up from his bacon and eggs, "Good morning Eddie."
"Morning..." Eddie says groggily. He clears his throat, "Where's Beverly?" Richie, Mike, Stan, Will and El are seated around the dining room table, Bill is still making more bacon and eggs and Ben is putting toast in the toaster oven; a plate of them already piled up next to it.
"Bathroom." Ben answers, he looks up from his toast-making, "Can you get the butter out of the fridge so I can lather these bad boys?"
Eddie laughs, "Sure Ben." He opens the abnormally-large fridge and searches for the butter. "Uh, I can't see it."
"It's in the back on the top shelf." Bill laughs, "My mom put it back there because there's no room in the sides."
Eddie huffs, "Well I can't reach it."
Richie rolls his eyes and gets up from the table, "My lord Eds, when are you gonna grow?"
"I'm not that short!" Eddie growls, feeling his cheeks get slightly red.
"Oh whatever you're like a whole head smaller than me."
"Okay well fine, you get the butter then!" Eddie scoots around Richie who bumps him with his hip. "Richie!" Eddie yells, "I swear to God you're gonna regret that-"
"It's way too early for this..." Stan mumbles, getting a nod of agreement from the rest of the Losers. Eddie jumps up, grabs Richie's glasses and darts away.
"Hey, no fair I can't even see!" Richie squints, "Eddie seriously I can't even tell who's who." Eddie laughs, "You shouldn't have called me short... four eyes!"
"Real mature guys..." Mike laughs.
Ben waddles to the fridge, "All I wanted was the butter!" He grabs it and turns to Bill, "Is that too much to ask?"
"Apparently." Bill flips the sizzling bacon and watches Eddie and Richie continue to tease each other. Now, Eddie is against the island in the kitchen, Ben had to move the toast to keep it from getting squashed, and Richie is pressed against him- reaching for the glasses in Eddie's hands.
"Good morning guys what's for..." Beverly shuts the door to the bathroom and cocks her head, "Uh." She looks to Ben who shrugs and motioned for her to sit down. Beverly shrugs and sits, biting into a piece of bacon.
Eddie's eyes have been concentrated on the glasses and keeping them out of reach from Richie's starving hands, but now that Richie has finally grabbed them with a yell of triumph, Eddie faces forward. He sees that Richie's body is pressed against his, and their faces are dangerously close. Don't make a scene... just... act how you usually act... Eddie thinks, his face heating up. Richie slides on his glasses, his eyes becoming larger than normal again. Once he does this Eddie shoves Richie off of himself, "Get off of me dickwad!"
Richie rolls his eyes and crosses his arms, "Whatever Eds," Richie bows to the Losers that are sitting at the table, "Did you enjoy the show?"
"Oh shut up Rich." Stan says, "Can we have a nice breakfast now?"
"Yes!" Eddie laughs, "I'm so hungry."
"Me too," Richie walks back to the table, "Where's Big Bill?"
"Right h-here, I made more b-b-bacon and eggs." Bill sets down the plate piled up with more food and proceeds to sit down.
Will grabs another piece of bacon, "So... what are you guys going to do today?"
Mike shrugs, "I think I have to go to the farm soon," He looks at the clock set up in the kitchen, "In like an hour."
Bill frowns, "You have to?"
"Yeah." Mike says glumly, "My grandpa wants me to work with the horses, maybe you could come over- any of you are welcome."
"That'd be fun!" Bill smiles, "I'll come."
"Yeah me too, I wanna see the horses!" Ben says.
Mike looks to Eddie, "What about y'all?"
Eddie's eyes grow big and he swallows his eggs, "I'd love to hang, but... yeah imma pass on the horses. Do you know the probability of getting killed or kicked by one of those things are?!"
Mike laughs, "Eddie I promise my horses are really sweet."
"I'm not gonna chance it!"
"Pussy." Richie smirks.
Eddie just rolls his eyes and continues eating.
"Well I'm going to the clubhouse," Stan says, "Will and El you're welcome to come with me, but if you have to go home I understand."
Will presses his lips together, "We'd love to but my mom gets worried when we're gone for a while."
"Sounds strict." Richie says in between bites.
"No," El smiles, "It's just that Joyce cares about her kid." Eleven didn't mean it in a mean way, she was trying to make a joke. But the awkwardness rises in the air and the table gets quiet. Richie searches for a joke he can make in this situation, upon finding none he interrupts the silence.
"Anyways..." Richie says, "Let's play a game. I'm bored."
El looks at Will with a questioning glance and Will grimaces.
"Yeah, sounds good." Eddie agrees, "How about T or D?"
"Sure." Ben says.
Great! Richie thinks, Is this the only fucking game anyone knows how to play?!
Beverly grabs everyone's plates and puts them in the sink, "I'm all for Truth or Dare!"
Richie scoots his chair forward and puts his feet on Eddie's lap who is sitting across the table from him. Eddie glares but leaves the feet resting there.
"I'll go first." Mike declares, "Will: T or D?"
"Um. Dare."
Mike looks around the room, "I dare you to lick the floor and then lick Eddie's fork."
"I didn't agree to this!" Eddie wines, "You're gonna make me gag ohmygod..."
Will licks the floor quickly, laughing as he does so, "Sorry Eddie... a dare's a dare." He licks Eddie's fork for a good five seconds then sets it back on his plate.
Eddie pushes the plate away from him, "Ew ew ew ew ew!" He shivers and brushes himself off, "Ewww that makes me feel so gross..."
Mike laughs, "I think you're fine Eddie."
"Easy for you to say farm boy..."
"Okay I-I'll go." Bill says, "Stan: truth or d-dare."
"Uh, truth."
"What is the g-grossest th-thing you've ever d-done?"
"The grossest thing I've ever done is splashing around the sewers with you idiots!" Stan laughs.
"Ohmygod the sewers thats disgusting!" Eleven chuckles.
"Well, we found some cool stuff down there that's for sure." Richie says.
Beverly presses her fingers to her temple, muttering under her breath.
"Richie..." Ben sighs.
"What?" Richie puts his hands in the air, "What'd I do?"
"Whatever- okay St-stan your t-turn." Bill says, reminding the group they're still playing Truth or Dare.
"Okay uhhh, Richie." Stan taps his chin in mock concentration, "You always talk about how you're not a virgin blah blah blah, so who did you fuck?"
Richie points at Eddie, "His mom obviously!"
"Okay, that doesn't count as a question." Beverly says.
"Yeah it does!" Richie squeaks. Please not that question please!
Stan crosses his arms, "It doesn't because you didn't give an actual answer: So, here's the actual question. Who do you like?"
Richie's heart speeds up as he thinks of who to say, Beverly? No. Greta? Maybe... no that's weird. Should he just tell the truth and be done with it? Hell fucking no. "Uh..."
Eddie raises his eyebrows and pokes Richie's foot, "Hello? Earth to Captain Tozier."
"I don't like anyone." Riche concludes, thinking he's avoided it he leans back in his chair and smiles, "I don't."
"Th-that's impossible R-Richie T-Tozier doesn't l-like anyone?" Bill rolls his eyes, "You're l-lying."
"Nu-uh." Richie says.
"Richie you're obviously lying just tell us." Mike says, "It's not a big deal."
Richie gulps, "Well-"
"Dude just say it, we won't judge you." Stan laughs, "It's just a truth or dare game."
Beverly looks at the rest of the Loser's club then at the visibly-nervous Richie, "Guys don't you think we should-"
"Rich, just say it." Will smiles, "We won't care."
"Yeah Rich c'mon." Ben nudges him.
Richie gets up, and in the process kicks Eddie's stomach.
"Ow!" Eddie scowls, "Richie?!"
"S-Sorry." Richie jogs up the stairs and shuts himself in the bathroom breathing hard. Everyone talking at the same time is so overwhelming, Richie runs his hands through his unruly hair and tears slip down his cheeks. Richie can't breathe. His palms are sweaty and shaking. Richie knows he's having a panic attack so he tries to focus on something; he can hear his friends arguing downstairs, he tries to block it out; focus on the number of tiles on the floor or the sound the shower curtain makes when you lean on it. But the voices reach the closed bathroom Richie is cowering in anyways.
Beverly's voice: "Guys, I tried to tell you but you didn't listen!"
"Tried to tell us what?" - Ben's voice.
"That he obviously didn't want to say! Now look what you did."
Bill's muffled voice: "Sh-should we go t-talk to him."
"I think someone should." Beverly.
"Who?" Mike this time.
Silence, then a small, "Me?!" Eddie's voice obviously, Richie would know it anywhere.
Richie groans and feels like throwing up. This is all Stan's fault, if he hadn't of asked that question, this would've been a normal morning.
"Yes now go!"
Richie makes out hesitant steps going up the stairs and the other Loser's telling Eddie to hurry up. Richie can hear Eddie's asmatic breathing outside the door and a soft knock follows.
"Rich..." Eddie toes the door, "Can I come in? I-I need to talk to you."
Richie sighs, "Go away."
"Richie I'm serious let me in."
Richie slumps against the wall, "What have I got to lose?" He mumbles, he gets up and unlocks the door.
The door swings open and Eddie steps in, closing and locking it.
Eddie sits next to Richie who has his head between his knees and his back against the wall.
"Richie?"
Silence.
"Richie look at me."
Richie slowly lifts his head up and rubs his eyes.
"Were you crying?" Eddie faltered and sits up.
Richie's voice wavers, "No... I'm still a little high from last night."
"Okay." Eddie nods, knowing he's lying but not wanting to make him more upset. "Listen, I don't know what made you come up here but we were just playing a game. I can tell there's something bothering you, I'm your best friend you can tell me."
"I..." Richie sniffs and looks at his friend, "I really don't... like anyone. But, the thing is, with all of them talking at the same time and asking me to tell them it was... overwhelming I couldn't think. It was like someone had downloaded millions of words into my brain at the same time."
Eddie scoots closer and looks Richie in the eyes, "You don't... you don't like anyone?"
"Um... no I don't." Richie breaks the gaze and shifts uncomfortably.
Eddie gulps, okay... just ask if he rememberers last night... or.. something? God what am I doing- "I... remember." Eddie whispers.
"What?" Richie's mouth goes dry. "You remember what?"
Oh no. Eddie's eyes widen and he looks away, maybe Richie doesn't remember and I just made myself look like a fool. How am I supposed to explain that...
"Last night?" Eddie questioned, slightly trembling.
Richie turns toward Eddie, "You remember the..." Richie trails off, not wanting to say it unless he's one hundred percent certain.
"Yeah the..." Eddie sighs, "We both know... don't we?"
Richie nods, "It was just... I mean we were drunk and... I was just fooling around I mean I don't actually...." He shuts his eyes tight and tears build up, "Who am I kidding?" He wept into his hands.
"Richie?" Eddie's heart pounds and he reaches out. His small hands take hold of Richie's wrists and pull them away from his wet face, "What do you mean?"
"I... I" Richie hesitates his mouth opening and closing. Eddie waits. "I like you!" Richie blurts, his hand covering his mouth as he does so. Eddie lets go of Richie's wrists and Richie recoils, snatching his glasses from the floor and standing up.
Eddie grabs Richie's pant leg, "Richie don't go." Eddie scrambles to his feet, "I..." His eyes search Richie's face for any sort of facial expression that would say, 'haha just kidding I totally got you!' But doesn't find any.
Richie's heart beats fast, he feels Eddie's hesitation, and that alone makes him want to run and never stop. He's on the verge of another panic attack and hopes Eddie can tell so he'll just make a damn decision already!
"I-I l-like-." When those words come out of Eddie's shaking mouth Richie's heart jumps for joy and he lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Richie doesn't hesitate, he grabs Eddie's hand and pulls Eddie towards him: not even letting him finish his sentence. Richie kisses Eddie desperately, his hands in his hair. Richie can taste the apple juice on Eddie's lips that he had earlier been drinking and then all of a sudden his tongue is in Eddie's mouth. Richie's wanted this - a sober - kiss for a long time, and now that he has it he's going to make the best of it. Eddie's eyes are still open from the shock and he quickly closes them, putting his hands on Richie's neck, clinging to him like he's the only solid thing left in this dizzy swaying world. Richie pushes Eddie against the wall, dropping his glasses to the floor, loving the way their bodies fit together like a puzzle piece. He kisses Eddie's neck and soft lawline making him moan softly. Richie runs his hand under Eddie's shirt and he bites his lip, the rush of this amazing feeling coming to him. This feeling neither could explain it was like... like catching a smile in a bottle or a warm soft firework exploding each time they touched and kissed each other. They pull away and both take shaky, trembling breaths. For once Richie isn't afraid and he doesn't care, he wants to shout to the world that he and Eddie fucking Kasbrak kissed.
"I've... always wanted to do that." Richie's voice is deep and husky, he pulls Eddie closer and kisses him again: more intimate this time. Eddie's lips feel like butterflies wings, fluttering against Richie's own.
Eddie softly pushes Richie away, his face flushed and his lips wanting more, "I-"
All of a sudden someone knocks at the door. The pair quickly untangle themselves, breathing hard and rubbing their mouths. Eddie straightens his shirt and Richie unlocks the door, peeking his head out to see Beverly standing there.
"Um. I heard a bang? Is everything okay." Beverly asks, Ben and Bill appearing behind her.
"Yeah!" Richie squeaks, he clears his throat, "Everything is totally fine." How long were they standing there before knocking??
Stan pops up behind them, "Hey Richie, I'm sorry for asking that question I didn't know you would get mad I'm sorry. Are you... okay? You look like you've been crying..."
Richie sniffs, "I'm fine." Are you though? As long as they don't know...
Beverly opens the door more, "Well will you come out? Did Eddie help you?"
Richie's face turned as red as Bev's hair, "Yeah he-he helped, um yeah we'll come out."
"Where's your glasses?" Ben asks.
"Uhhh..." Richie looks behind him, "On the floor."
Richie grabs Eddies arm, snatching his glasses off the floor as he goes, and stomps out of the bathroom and down the stairs to see Mike, Will and El cleaning up the kitchen. He drops Eddie's arm.
"Oh- hey guys." Mike says, "Are you okay Richie? I was waiting to say bye to y'all before I left."
"Oh, thanks Mikey, yeah I'm all good." Richie smiles, pushing up his glasses. Richie hears the rest of his friends behind him coming down the stairs. They all say goodbye to Mike. Bill and Ben leaving with him as well. After they've left everyone else finishes cleaning up the kitchen and Bill's room. After they were done, Will and El pack up and announce that they have to go.
"Yeah." El says, "Will's probably already on a missing poster right now."
"Oh be quiet El." Will laughs.
"Your mom sounds like Eddie's!" Richie remarks.
Eddie shoves Richie, "Dude shut up..."
"Well anyways." Will chuckles and waves, "See you guys on Monday."
"Ew don't even say that word..." Beverly waves bye as they walk out the door.
"So... clubhouse?" Stan quierres. Beverly, Richie and Eddie nod, grabbing their backpacks and heading out the door. Beverly locks it as the others hop on their bikes. The day is chilly but there's not as much wind as yesterday so no one makes a remark on Richie not having a coat or jacket.
"Who's turn is it for the hammock again?" Beverly asks.
"Mine!" Stan says, pumping his legs.
Richie rolls his eyes, "Yeah we know we already established this!"
"Shut up Richie." Says Stan.
"Yeah shut up." Eddie chimes in, his weeze already audible.
"Eddie, your an asmatic, be quiet."
"Hey, that's not my fault!"
"Children, children: stop your fighting you're both pretty!" Beverly snorts. Her curls bounce up and down and Richie realizes how gorgeous she is with her sort of heart shaped but prominent face and full lips. Her flame-like hair framing her face perfectly. Ben's a lucky man. Richie switches his gaze over to Stan who is pedaling right in front of him. His hair, just as curly as Beverly's, but a golden color, it seems to shine. Stan's face is long but not to where it's ugly, his jawline is pretty sharp and his luscious curls make it pop out even more. His eyes are a light brown that glistens when the light hits them. Richie thinks he's pretty cute and handsome, but nothing compares- nothing even comes close - to Eddie. His often-tamed and gelled chestnut-brown hair becomes undone in the bounce and fray of riding a bike. Richie smiles, looking Eddie up and down, his large, gentle, dark brown eyes that crinkle when he smiles his adorable dimpled smile. His fair, freckled skin that gleams in the sunlight that shouts, 'I'm healthy!' His wonderful voice that sometimes cracks and switches pitches when he gets frustrated or sad or scared. God Richie loves Eddie. He loves everything about Eddie and he wishes he could be with Eddie and just show him to everyone. But I can't. Richie thinks, Because... well because Bowers. I don't want anything to happen to Eddie.
"Hey Rich!" Eddie laughs, "Look!" Richie clears his mind and looks up at Eddie who's got both his hands over his head.
"Wow Eds super cool. I hope you crash!" Richie laughs, "Can you do this?" Richie puts both hands behind his back and starts to peddle with only one leg.
"Richie you're gonna crash!" Eddie yells, his hands back on his handles.
At that moment, Richie feels his front wheel turn and falter, his bike skids and he rolls into the road. He can feel minor scratches forming on his elbows and legs. Richie ends up on his back, struggling for breath on account of the wind getting knocked out of him. He opens his eyes to see Stan sporting a disgusted look, realizing his shirt got pushed up in the fall.
Stan's expression of disgust quickly turns to concern, "Richie... is that what Bower's did to you?"
"What- no!" Richie pushes himself up and quickly pulls down his shirt, "Well It's-"
"Richie, I so told you!" Eddie shouts already unzipping his fanny pack.
"I'm fine Dr. K! Just some lil scratches is all." Richie gives Stan a warning glare as Beverly jogs over asking what happened.
"Just being a dumbass, as usual." Stan remarks.
"Yeah yeah yeah whatever." Beverly helps Richie up and hands him his glasses, "Thanks... I'm fine!" Richie assures Eddie and dusts himself off, already getting back on his bike.
"C'mon guys or we won't have any time to actually be at the clubhouse." Beverly laughs.
"Yeah Eddie c'mon quit falling off your damn bike lets go!" Richie jokes.
Eddie just slaps Richie and gets on his bike, "Just don't do anything stupid until we get there."