- What Fate Gives Us - A reddie au -

- Gaze -

Chapter song:
(Pleaser - Wallows)

Eddie and his mother Sonya had moved to Derry exactly a week ago today, boxes still piled up by the door, the walls still quite bare as they worked their way through their belongings.
They used to live in the bright and brilliant California, but his mother had gotten tired of the people, and insisted it was much quieter and safer in Maine. It was also close to his aunty, who had wanted the pair to move down there ever since Eddie's father passed away six years ago.
Turns out she finally caved.
Eddie sighs wearily as he places books onto the shelf of his new bedroom, looking to his closed door briefly before turning back to the box of books.
He clears his mind and lifts a hand, an old worn book called Anne of Green Gables (one of his personal favourites) floating out of the brown box and up into the air steadily, and with a lazy swish of his finger it drifts over and slots itself neatly on the shelf.

Oh yeah, did he mention he was telekinetic?

He'd never told anyone about his powers, too scared of what they'd do and say. He wasn't stupid, he'd read the comics, seen how the public reacted to vigilantes, not that he really was one. Different meant bad in the society he lived in, it meant dangerous and in need of control, and the last thing he wanted as he started a new school in a few days was to be hunted down by the government and caged like an animal.

He didn't have many friends back in Cali, it was just easier that way, less questions, and he didn't put anyone at risk with what he was capable of.

Or maybe that's just what he told himself to soften the blow. Whatever.

He eventually finishes filling his shelf and looks around at the bland walls in silence. Boring. He then hears distant laughter echoing in the distance from out his open window, followed by the dinging of bells and happy chatter. He wanders over to the window curiously and leans on the sill. The owners of the bright sounds show themselves as they ride past his house. There's six of them, one girl, five boys.
They're being lead by a boy on a huge silver bike that looks incredibly hard to push down the pavement, he has straight auburn brown hair and had a confident feel to him, he was very pretty.
Then there was a beautiful girl with bright red hair, like fire.
After that a darker boy with a smile so bright and happy you feel warm just seeing it.
Next is a thickly built boy, like he was chubby as a little kid, walkman around his neck and Rosie cheeks, he looked kind.
A boy with sandy tight ringlet hair second last, he looked neat and tidy, almost mature, but his loud laughter gave him away.

Lastly there was a grinning boy with wild curly raven hair and thick glasses, he's yelling out profanities and jokes, riding his own bike completely chaotic, swerving and dipping between the other members as he speaks loudly. He was devilishly handsome behind the dorkyness, and Eddie found himself blushing lightly as he watched them pass. He was intriguing for some reason, and Eddie couldn't really figure out why.

Once they'd passed and the loud sounds of their messy parade faded, Eddie felt a small pit of sadness in his stomach that he wasn't a part of something like that. That he might never be.
He moped for most of that afternoon, and then watched them pass again as they came back at sunset. They had shaggy hair and wet patches on their clothes. Swimming maybe?
He was so entranced by them for some reason, like when he watched them he could experience how good they felt from a distance, how happy.

The next two days pass pretty quick, and Eddie finds himself bored out of his mind.
He checks his watch, 1:23pm.
He's pretty sure he's the only kid in the country who actually wants school to start.

"Eddie Bear! Mommy's going out to aunty Helen's, I'll be back by nightfall, there's pasta in the fridge!"
His Mother calls from downstairs and a pang of excitement hits him, this means freedom.