Kisses | Reddie

seventeen ☆ it was always you

by: Chelliebelle2468 on ao3 (all credit goes to them, I absolutely love their writing)

~~~~~

Eddie could only admit it to himself. He was a coward. Sure, he had the capacity to be more than brave when the time called for it. Hell, if the horrendous experience they all had 4 years ago in the sewers wasn't proof enough, he didn't know what was.

They had all stepped up to the plate, and although Eddie was small and more "fragile" than the rest, he had put in more than enough of his fair share of swings and attacks when they damned that thing back to hell where it belonged. Then why was he so afraid to admit such a huge part of him out loud?

He had just turned 17, and all of the losers were as tightly woven as they ever were, all seniors now at Derry High.

They all seemed to know and be comfortable with who they were.

Beverly and Ben have been dating since sophomore year, going strong and sappy, and certainly a shoe-in to be voted "cutest couple" in the yearbook superlatives this year.

Stan is seeing a nice Jewish girl who attends his father's synagogue for a couple months now, and though he doesn't speak much about her, he seems fairly happy wit her so far.

Mike is too busy for a romantic relationship, between school, helping his family on the farm, and a part-time job, no one blames him for not having the energy to hop into the dating scene.

Bill is happily single, and goes on dates with girls fairly often, but doesn't make anything more serious out of them, and seems content to keep things that way.

Richie on the other hand, was different.

Towards the tail-end of freshman year, Richie came out to the losers as bisexual. He stated it as casually and simply as if he were discussing the weather or a school assignment.

All 6 were supportive of course, but had a few questions for him, of which Richie was incredibly comfortable answering.

"When did you know, Rich?" Bev piped up first. Richie didn't skip a beat before replying.

"Part of me has always known. But when puberty rolled around, well, mother nature has a big way of letting you know what you're into... and when I say big, I do mean BIG-"

Richie and his suggestive hand gestures were cut short when Stan thumped a pillow in his face, with an accompanying:

"Beep beep, dumbass."

Everyone cycled through some more questions, like "are you going to come out to anyone else?"  and "have you ever kissed a boy before?"

The only one who sat stark silent was Eddie.

His jaw was clamped shut so hard, he teeth began to ache. He pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his burning face on his knees. Was it hot in here? Does anyone else feel perilously close to passing out?

No, just Eddie?

Richie went on to explain that he was going to live his life authentically, and if he got shit about it from people at school? Fuck it, he already got tons of bullshit from his parents and Bowers and his gang, he is more than used to it.

Eddie felt himself flush all the way up to his ears when Richie spoke again.

He said he never kissed a boy OR a girl, and how he wants to kiss someone he can see himself being with, falling in love with.

Eddie released a breath he didn't know he was holding, feeling embarrassingly relieved.

He was also a little surprised at Richie's oddly romantic statement, which made Eddie's stomach twist in pleasure, despite himself.