Window Boy || reddie

5

"Hello, Stanley."

"Richard." Stan greeted his friend in the same, mock-formal air that Richie's voice held. He looked down to where Richie was holding Eddie's hand. "I assume something happened? Are you two...?"

"Together? Yes." Richie answered. Eddie beamed. They both felt giddy speaking and hearing the words.

Stan made throwing-up sounds. Richie looked over at Eddie.

"He's just jealous." He said.

"As ever." Stan nodded. There was a pause, then Richie spoke.

"You're not open right now, are you?"

First, they collected Stan. The three walked together to Beverly's house and picked up her and Ben (who was her boyfriend, but they never talked about it). They stopped by the library, where Mike and Bill were chatting. Then, all seven friends headed down to the dock. Eddie let his hands hang by his sides on the way (though sometimes one of them was occupied by Richie's), not once tucking them behind his back.

Eddie had only met Stan and Beverly so far, and he'd seen Bill a few times at the shipyard, but he'd never been introduced. He was nervous- he had next to no social experience- but not too nervous; these were Richie's friends, and Richie was there with him, and anything relating to Richie was okay with Eddie.

Everyone went around and introduced themselves, sitting in a circle by the water. Richie seemed to have forgotten his "last names only" plan. He seemed to have forgotten a lot of things, like how to talk properly. But it wasn't his fault- there was a buzzing warmth consuming him as he held Eddie's hand. His mind felt dumb and so very gay, and the gears were having trouble turning. He'd never felt this way before. Richie was woefully unprepared for the mental trainwreck that new love was.

"So you won't say what your name is?" Mike asked, knees pulled up to his chest as he smiled at Eddie. Mike's smiles were the best- warm and gentle and kind.

"No." Eddie confirmed.

"It starts with an 'E.' That's all I know. And I wasn't supposed to know that." Richie added.

"But you're leaving tomorrow morning." Stan said, and the group went silent for a bit. Eddie felt guilt shoot through him, but then Richie spoke.

"Yeah, he'll tell me when he wants to. This might ruin my bad boy reputation, but-" Richie changed his voice to a sort of stage-whisper. "-I actually care about how he feels more than how much I want to know what his name is."

Eddie smiled, pushing Richie's shoulder. "You're so dumb."

"It's so weird to see you dating someone, Richie." Beverly sighed, legs kept close together due to her skirt. "I don't think I've ever seen you like someone like this, you know?"

"Oh, Tozier's soft!" Bill teased, laughing. The rest of the group giggled.

"Am not." Richie scoffed, but he couldn't help the blush spreading across his face.

Eddie didn't think Richie was soft. Richie was strong and tough. Not all of the bad boy stuff was a lie. But Richie could be sweet, too. And was being soft really such a bad thing? Eddie was soft as hell. It was why Richie liked him so much; and if Richie liked it, it couldn't be that terrible.

"Hey, you're all gonna take good care of him when I leave, right?" Richie asked, bringing Eddie back into reality.

"Of course." Ben assured him. "He can come hang out with me and Mike at the library."

"Mike and me." Stan corrected, and Ben laughed lightly, shaking his head.

"Once Richie's gone, you can tell everyone your name." Beverly grinned at Eddie, who smiled back. "And then when he gets back, he'll be the only one who doesn't know."