[sunshine] // reddie (temporarily discontinued)

one

Eddie Kaspbrack tilted his head to meet the sun and practically glowed. His tawny skin seemed to absorb it, giving it an angelic halo of gold that protruded from every bend, crease, and shadow. The dark freckles that took shelter just below the outer layer used this as an excuse to show themselves. After a cold winter and a rainy spring, the "Angel kisses"- as his mother called them- were finally beginning to show.

Bill Denbrough tilted his head too... In the direction of murky lake water happily lapping at his ankles. They were building a dam and it seemed to be going pretty well. The water had begun to pool up and swallow Bill's ivory skin and even his denim jeans. He bent to roll them, pausing afterwards to dip his long fingers in the icy liquid.

"Is it working?" Eddie called, shuffling through his fannypack.

"I t-t-thin-nk so." Bill replied with a grin.

"Sweet!"

There was the soft sound of quick footsteps and Eddie's tiny frame pressed itself against Bill's back as he waded into the water as well. He didn't have to worry about wet jean cuffs- mainly due to the fact that his summer wardrobe consisted of mainly graphic tees and running shorts.

Bill glanced back at the shore and took a mental note of how neatly Eddie's shoes were placed, with each foots respective sock tucked inside. After Eddie had gotten a good footing, he slipped passed Bill to observe their handywork. Satsfied, he stepped back, motioning to it grandly.

"Now that, my dear Denbrough, is art." Eddie smiled.

Bill smiled as well, but he was focused on other things. And by things, a specific set of boys trampling down the hill are implied. Out of the set of boys, he trained his gaze on the taller of the two. Something about his slim frame and mess of hot toffee curls seemed oddly familiar.

"St-st-stanley." The name rolled off his tongue in a whisper.

Eddie hummed in question.

"Stan-nley!" Bill called.

The boys stopped where they were and turned to them with curious gazes. Bill wondered then if the Jewish boy really remembered him... After all they only shared one class.

Across the water there was a hum of confusion. A few seconds passed and the shorter boy's head snapped in their direction. From that distance, he looked like a shadow man- all dressed in dark colors. Black "curls" stuck out in every direction.

Though not saying anything, Eddie Kaspbrack knew exactly who it was.

Richard "Trashmouth" Tozier.

Before he could shove Bill out of the water and take off running, Tozier was stomping in their direction sending water everywhere. His lanky friend followed frivolously- the water barely moving around his feet.

Eddie was slowly becoming more frightened at the thought of this interaction. He reached for Bill's wrist and tugged. "I think we should go."

"W-w-what's wro-ong with St-t-tan?"

"Who? Nothing. It's Trashmouth I'm worried about!" Eddie whispered in a yelling tone.

"R-" Bill paused. "Rich? Yo-our sca-r-red of Toz-z-z-ier?"

Eddie made move to reply, but a slim hand found its way over his shoulder. "Yeah, Shortstack? You sc-c-cared of Tozier?" A voice cackled in his ear.

Now, there was no real reason that Eddie was scared of him. In fact, Richard Tozier would remain short and nonthreatening until their junior year of high school. His huge plastic framed glasses would continue to enlarge his eyes and his oversized Hawaiian shirts would continue to swallow him whole.

His limbs were too long and his smile was crooked. His shoes didn't fit right and his jeans were too big. The boy was a hot mess, if anyone were to put it nicely.

And yet, Eddie Kaspbrack basically evaporated into a ball of nerves whenever he saw him. Givin the person that he is- that his mother is- he chalked this up to fear. Fear of what? Not even he knew. It could just be that the tiny boy is intimidated by anyone taller than him... But he wasn't scared next to Bill. In fact, he felt the opposite. He felt safe, warm, protected when he was with Bill.

Bill.

Bill.

He was suddenly despret for Bill's comforting hand around his. He was beginning to feel the burn settle in the bottom of his lungs. Oh, Bill, he thought, why did you have to call them over? Am I not enough? But he knew that was stupid.

Richard's hot breath on the back of his neck made him shiver and remember that he had a problem to deal with.

"Uh, no. I'm not scared of you." Eddie squeeked and whirled to face him. Up close he noticed a small pattern of freckles againts the bridge of the boy's nose. Gold flecks against ice skin. Obsidian eyes swallowed his. Swallowed him.

Richard grined his crooked, crooked grin and laughed. Eddie, out of confusion, laughed as well.
Then Bill joined, and finally Stan who had just caught up with his accomplice.

All at once, the laughter ceased and they stared blankly at eachother.

"Good to know, Shortstack, because Stan the Man here-" he removed his hand from Eddie's shoulder and placed in around Stanley. "-knows Billy Boy and has proposed we hang out."

Bill nodded happily. "S-s-sou-unds  good to m-me!"

Ocean eyes snapped to Eddie, asking for his opinion. How could he say no to Bill? After all, that is his only friend.

Eddie sighed. "I guess you can hang out with us. We're building a dam."

Richard chuckled. "Well, Shortstack, I don't believe we have had the pleasure of meeting. Feel free to call me Richie, Rich, or Trashmouth." He stuck out the hand not wrapped around Stanley.

"I'm Eddie. Eddie Kaspbrack." He mentally prepared himself for the handshake, well aware of the germs lurking on the boy's skin.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Eddie Spaghetti." Richie smiled as he shook the tiny boy's hand.

Eddie snatched his hand away and shook his head. "That's not my name."

By now, Stan had pulled away to observe the dam with Bill, leaving the two alone. Richie leaned down so his mouth was next to Eddie's ear.

"It is now, Spaghetti, so you'd best get used to it."

Eddie half-heartedly pushed him away. "You're weird." He told him, shuffling through the bag around his waist for hand sanitizer.

"Says the one with a purse." Richie replied, flashing his crooked smile once again. Eddie took notice that he smiled a lot.

"Bite me." Eddie growled, rolling his eyes.

"Funny, that's what your mom was saying last night."

"God, that's disgusting!" Eddie whined.

Richie winked and padded off to see what the other boys were focused on. Eddie stayed put. Some part of him was angry with Bill. Why did he go and invite two strangers to hang out at their spot with them? But another part of him was all nervous and fluttery.

Richie Tozier was notorious for "fights"- if getting your face pummled by Henry Bowers is considered a fight- and Eddie Kaspbrack did not want to get into one of those with him. He didn't even roughhouse with Bill.

So that's what he blamed the nerves on, the fear of getting his face beat in by the infamous Trashmouth.

From his distance, he studied the boy. Dark strands of hair had been forced into place, but still didn't oblige. They stuck out wildly around his ears and face. His fashion sense, though horribly obscure, was fitting for his personality. He smiled down at array of sticks and Eddie grinned. Noticing it, however, he wiped it off his face.

See, while he blamed the nerves on fear... He didn't know what he was scared of. That could be because he knew what they really were. In fact, he's known what they were since he first saw him in the fifth grade.

Eddie Kaspbrack had a crush on Richie Tozier.