[sunshine] // reddie (temporarily discontinued)

twelve

Richard Tozier had never moved so fast in his entire life.

Not during gym class for eighty percent of his grade. Not from Henry Bowers every Saturday morning. Not up the stairs to avoid being seen when he first gets home from school. Not out of Mouse's window when their cousin dropped by. Not ever.

Stan.

He had to tell Stan.

Sliding between the groups of chattering kids was always easy. Most people side stepped and let him through. You would too if a tall, noodle man came storming down the hallway in your direction.

"Staniel!" Richie called upon seeing his friend.

Stanley turned to him with his sunbeam smile and tilted his head. When realizing it was his beat friend, his face dropped and he stared at him with a sarcastic expression. "What happened this time? Sunshine breath in your direction today?"

Richie rolled his eyes. Sunshine had been the nickname that he gave Eddie to keep Stan from finding out that he had a crush on a boy. Stan was well aware that nobody in this school was named Sunshine, but he gave up on guessing when they got into high school.

"I talked to... Her." He had to constantly remind himself to refer to Eddie as a girl every time he brought him up.

Stan raised his eyebrows in mock impression. "Wow. Good for you. Was it a real conversation or were you daydreaming in class again?"

"Oh it was real, Birdman. On my part at least."

"Meaning?"

"I said 'happy birthday' and ran away."

Stan figured he should whip up an apologetic smile. He did not do that.

"Richard Elizabeth Tozier, I swear to the Heavens, if you are not joking I will personally fist fight you in this hall way."

Richie looked away, his face hot with embarrassment. It wasn't until Stan got like this- both care and filter free- that Richie remembered that he used to be in love with the boy. Although, he does suppose that you never really get rid of love. It's like energy; cannot be created or destroyed, only changed. And it had. It changed a long time ago.

All he thought about was Sunshine now.

"Quiet, Staniel. I don't want the ladies to start thinking that Trashmouth is off the menu." He grinned.

Stan rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "God help them if they ever thought you were."

Richie threw his hand dramatically over his heart. "Stan the man, you wound me."

"Beep, beep."

Richie would have come up with another comeback, but someone tapped his shoulder and cut him off. He turned on his heel and found himself hovering just about none other than Sunshine himself.

Eddie Kaspbrack.

He bit his tongue to refrian from saying it out loud.

"Hi, can we, um, talk?" Eddie glanced at Stan with a smile. "Alone for a second."

Stan raised his eyebrows. The boy was familiar and he was sure he knew him.

"Y-yeah." Richie whispered. "I'll be right back, Stanley."

"Okay."

Stan retrieved his books from his locker and went on his way. Meanwhile, Edward Kaspbrack had already dragged Richie halfway down the hall by his wrist.

"Was it you?" Eddie whispered, pointing to his locker.

"Was it me?" Richie repeated, trying his best to lie through his teeth. "I don't know what you're even talking about."