not my forte || reddie

Nineteen

Bill drove Stella with the top down.
Richie hid his guilt behind a blinding toothy smile, Bill forgave him and was now able to drive his car again. But a small voice in Richies head still shook him with shame whenever it got too quiet and it was just Richie and the Voices.

Eddie threw his hands in the air holding onto nothing as he hollered out the lyrics to the song blasting over the speakers. Richie took the opportunity to tickle the underside of Eddies sides, his arms immediately flying down to fight against Richie.
"Stop! Stop Richie!" Eddie whined laughing and wheezing at the same time at Richies unrelenting attempts to make him laugh. Richie let up when Eddie began wheezing hard and left a quick kiss on his cheek. "Sorry couldn't resist." Richie mused in his ear then Bill was pulling up to Stan's house laying his hand on the horn.

Bill craned his head to the side looking at Eddie over his shades. He gestured to the back and Eddies jaw dropped, "You are not!" Eddie argued and Bill simply nodded and faced forward. Eddie stared for a moment hurt painting his face. He rolled his eyes and jumped out of the front seat tumbling into the back with Richie who was more than happy to have Eddie in the back with him.
"You're an ass!" Eddie huffed but was quickly shut up curling happily into Richies warm side his frown melting into a content grin.

They sat in silence for a beat then Stan's front door swung open the boy rushing out in a hurry shouting something inside before closing the door. He seemed to sigh heavily before pulling on a tight lipped smile approaching the car.
"Hey guys," Stan announced himself and casually slipped into the front seat Eddie had previously been occupying.
Bill smiles in greeting then peeled out of the driveway having to get to the barrens to meet everyone else before it got too dark.

Eddie snuggled further into Richies side. "What took you so long Stan?" He asked nonchalantly just speaking to spark a conversation.
Stanley however stiffened and cleared his throat. "Nothing important." He replied all too quickly sparking interest in Eddie.
He decided not to push any further but kept it in the back of his mind. Eddie began to bounce in his seat as the next song filtered through the radio, Richie recognized it as 'American Pie,' Richie was never one for it, the lyrics held the tune of a broken man.

"You like this?" Richie snorted turning to cock a brow at Eddie who softly crooned along to the song his eyes sewn shut and face preened upwards like he was singing to the heavens.
'They'd listen to you Eddie Kaspbrak, the angels would pause to smile down on your shining face,' Richie thought leaning down and swiping a kiss on the tip of his button nose. Eddie cleared his throat hastily and opened his mouth to sing, "Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry,"  He sang cracking one eye open to look up at Richies smiling face. Eddies own broke out in a shy grin and quickly ducked his head down.
"And them good 'ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye!" Richie shouted over the speakers encouraging Eddie to keep singing.

Eddie opened his mouth to start up again when suddenly the car stopped.
Richie squinted and looked up, they were parked outside the barrens. He whooped and hopped out of the car clumsily finding his footing somehow and slid down the side of the hill tumbling toward the creek. "Cmon me boys! Keep up!" Richie hollered eyeing the area carefully he stared at the rippling stream for a moment the soft hum of insects buzzing and the water gurgling sent him at peace. Richie sighed breathing in the earthy smell around him but was quickly torn out of his thoughts when a pair of arms linked their way around him.

"Hey Richie Rich!" Beverlys sing song voice rung out. She rested her head of fire curls on his shoulder having to reach up on her tippy toes to meet him.
Richie ruffled her hair and spun around lifting her up in the air and swinging her around making Beverly giggle.
Richie rested Bev safely on the forest floor and they grinned back at each other, that was when Ben intervened.