HOW DO I TELL A BOY I WANT TO KISS HIM? | reddie

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the dingy brick building he stood before taunted him. Called him small and week. Made him want to cower away.
Anxiety and millions of other emotions swirled in his stomach and made his feet feel millions of pounds.
He stood there in a daze, until he was hit. The force made him stumble and he was ready to turn around and fight. Except he didn't see any lowlife looking to get off. He was met with chubby cheeks and brown hair when he turned.
"Oh- I'm sorry." The chubby boy apologized to him trying to gather himself. The impact seemed to send his Walkman tumblIng.
"It's-its fine." Richie has said by now but the shorter just spilled out more apologies while richie handed him a missing battery.
"I'm-"
"Really. It's okay. I'm richie tozier " he offered his hand
"I'm Ben hanscom," he replied, stuffing his fallen things into his hoodie pocket to quickly meet richies hand. "You're bills cousin huh?"
It then seemed to click for richie. There were six people in the photos and Ben matched with one.
"Yeah. Oim ol' billiums couss frohm calay " he bowed and fixed his glasses.
"Welcome to Derry! I was the new kid until..well..you know. And I'm sure we'll be good friends! Or hang out a lot at least."
Richie nodded. He didn't hate the idea of that.
"Yeah. Well..nice chatting Benjamin. I gotta go find the office. "

Ben has showed him where the office was before going to his own class. Richie looked around at the office entrance. There was already someone in there talking to the secretary. He stood behind him and felt his hands shake. He stuffed them in his jeans and shuffled his feet. Tracing shapes in the ugly carpet. The bell rang and a wave of anxiety shot through him. He looked up. They were still talking.
Richie will have to walk in late to a new class, say his name. And sit in the front.
Mentally he groaned. But physically he continued to look around. His eyes wandered to behind the desk there was another boy. He was writing down and taking calls. But he was way to young to work in the office. The office assistant?
The said boys focus was on the table he sat at, swerving his chair back and forth.
The boy talking to the secretary was excused with a pass to class.
Richie stepped forward and the secretary smiled. She had a name plate on her desk and pictures drawn poorly on the wall next to it addressed to her. Her name was Ms. tubbs. She looked young. About the same age as his math teacher back home, mrs. Wherre. She was 25.
"Hi! How can I help you today?" She chirped leaning forward.
"I'm...new here?" Richie met her eyes and looked away. She clapped and started to ramble about how 'they're so happy to have him here'. But when he spoke the office assistant had looked up.
Richie met his eyes and he felt star struck. He was truly the most attractive boy that he'd seen in person. Not ever cause damn, have you seen John travolta, or prince, or Freddie mercury?!
The boy smiled at him. But his lip and turned back to his work. With just that one small movement, it was game over. A stupid grin flooded his face and he fixed his glasses.
He turned back to richie with those hazel eyes, and Richie forgot John And prince and Freddie.
"Okay!" Ms. Tubbs pulled him from the depths of his mind where he was hanging a picture of this gorgeous boy. "Richard?"
"Richie."
the boy stifled a laugh and picked up a call.
"Okay so, you're a straight a student. So you're in AP calc, French2,  theatre, chemistry, and free period fifth. You can sign up to be a TA or study hall."
Richie thought about it. But before he could open his mouth the boy with hazel eyes blurted. "Study hall" he turned pink and fiddled with his pencil. "That'd be your best bet. Most teachers already have TA's."
Richie nodded. "Study hall."
The secretary wrote a small note and handed him his schedule, his locker number and combo, and a not for the study hall teacher.
"Now...if you can wait I'll call your first period teacher to excuse your absence and I'll show you arou-"
"I can do it!" The office assistant blurted.
Richie hid his small smile. Ms. Tubbs nodded and smiled.
"Thank you Mr. Kapsbrak." She handed him a pass and he gathered his things. Richie saw he was maybe a head shorter than himself and smiled.
Richie decided to wait in the hallway, trying to compose himself. This boy was beautiful. Gorgeous. His mind went blank when he joined Richie in the hallway. He had on a sweater with a collar peeking out at him. Richies eyes traced the boy. Jeans that fit, converse, the red sweater and collar, his brown hair slicked and pushed to the side. Hair cropped short. His small nose adorned with a small constellation of freckles. His hazel eyes peering up at him through a curtain of thick long eyelashes.
he looked down at his own outfit. An old queen shirt, loose jeans, an obnoxious button up unbuttoned and hanging loose around him. His thick black curly hair a mess around his head. His bottle lenses making his brown eyes bigger. Hornbill framing making his nose appear bigger. He had fr Coke's that will show in winter. The cold did that to him. Paled his skin, melting off the melanin he earned his summers in California.
"Let me see your schedule?" The shorter held out his hand.
Richie handed him his schedule and scratched the back of his neck.
"We have study hall and calc together." The boy smiled and handed back his schedule.
"Thanks darlin' the names Richie tozier. But you can call me anytime you want" Richie grinned leaning against the wall, missing and stumbling.
"I know. You're bill cousin. I've seen pictures. I'm eddie."
Richies face flashed different emotions and he realized the boy he told his cousin was cute is here in front of him.
"We share ol billium?"
"I guess." He laughed at the terrible accent.
Richie smiled small and when he heard eddie laugh at his joke he knew he wanted to make him smile and laugh every chance he gets.
"Where to first eddie spaghetti?" Richie asked.
Eddie smiled but rolled his eyes. "Don't call me eddie spaghetti." But he started to walk up the stairs.
Richie fumbled to keep up with the short boy.
"Okay your first period is chem." He showed him the door and Richie nodded. Eddie turned to him. "His name is Mr. McCosco. "
Richie took not and followed him down the hall.
"This is the bathrooms."
Richie nodded and they proceeded downstairs.
He showed Richie their calc class, his French class, study hall. Richie got more excited as he followed him to the auditorium. After lunch you go here."
"Why is it empty?" Richie asked busting into the theatre. It was dark and the stage was lit.
"Theatre is only fifth period. Other than that it's always empty." Eddie explained and sat in one of the seats. Richie sat next to him and watched as Eddie looked up at the ceiling.
"I was excited you know?" Eddie turned to him. Richie looked away quickly. He was caught staring
"Excited for what Eduardo?" Richie asked.
Eddie smiles and leaned over to him. He took Richies glasses and put them on.
"That you were coming. Bill and me are bestfriends..we've been close since kindergarten. So junior year we've grown close. I've seen all your pictures and heard all bills stories. He told me last night that me and you would be good friends..it's nice to not be the only gay person in town."
Richies face heated up and he sputtered, " bill told you?!"
Eddie nodded. "When I told him I liked boys he told me you were and that he's okay with it and that it's not as bad as when we were 13 and I liked a boy and got bullied. It's the ni-nu-nineties everyone's d-duh-doing stuff"
Richie snorted and laughed, Eddie laughed and threw his head back and Richie wished he could see eddie like this. Laughing with Richies glasses on. So he dug through his bag, searching. He had a cheap disposable camera with a flash. So while eddie laughed Richie did his best to get a picture.

Eddie walked to chem with richie before running off to his own class. Richie was awestruck at what he had just done with the boy he had found cute not even seventy two hours ago. Stan is in his chem though. So upon seeing that he decided to sneak up onto the boy doodling in his notebook.
"Stan the man!" Richie yelled as he grabbed the curly haired boys shoulder.
"Fucking Christ Richie-!" Stan jumper out of his skin and turned to the new boy.
"How you doin?" Richie asked in a terrible Brooklyn accent.
"I was great. Until a tall boy ruined it by making me piss myself." Stan quipped flicking the others forehead.
Richie laughed and feigned pain, "you wound me Stanley uris"
"Saw you with Eddie last period.." Stan looked up at him nervously. As if he'd say the wrong thing.
"Nothing happened..." Richie held up a hand. "Spaghetti man is too cute to corrupt with this di-"
"Good morning class!" The teacher smiled.

Richie was at his locker, making a note to himself to get the film developed in the camera after school. He checked how many photos he had left. Seven. He stowed his books away in his locker and leaving an empty notebook a few pencils and his camera.
"Trashmouth "
Richie turned and grinned. "Billium, Beeverly, Stan the man, benny boy, spaghetti man!" He pinched eddies cheek and shut his locker. "Miss me already?"
"Shut up richie." Stan said. No mean in his voice.
"We wa-wa-wanted to invite you-" bill started.
"We wanted to take you to the country later to meet our friend mike. He's dying to meet you but can't come into town today." Beverly finished.
Richie looked to the side in thought.
"You don't have a choice." Eddie crosses his arms.
"We're taking you." Stan added
"This is puh-puh-p-peer pressure" bill laughed.
Richie held his hands up. "Geez okay! If you wanted me to go on a date with you Stanley you could have just said so."
Everyone laughed.
"Come on trashmouth lets go eat."
a short walk and they're under the far bleachers in the grass. Beverlys head in bills lap, dress flared out around her in the green. Stan day against the bleachers post looking into the tree for birds and drawing the ones he saw.
Eddie and Ben say against the tree by the bleachers. Richie later in the grass with his hands behind his head and using his backpack as a pillow.
"Okay. So you all know I'm gay and if you didn't know you do. Thoughts? opinions? Anybody wanting me to leave?" Richie asked shutting his eyes.
"Cool"
"Me too"
"More for me"
"I-i ca-can't get rid of y-yuh-you if I wanted-d"
" mazel tov"
Richie grinned and sat up. "Few. Now I'm safe."
"Why?"
"My sister said it was small-" Richie started
"Small town disease?"
"One mind?"
He nodded.
"Nah. It's not so bad any more. When we were thirteen yeah but-" Stan started.
"No one cares as long as you're not loud about bit."eddie shrugged.
Richie fought his eye and he bit his lip, smiled and turned away again.
God Richie is done for

Richie decided to wait until he filled the camera before he developed the film. He joined everyone at the bike rack.
"Richie can ride eddies bike and Eddie can sit on the handle bars." Stan said getting on his own
"What the fuck Stan? Why me? Why can't he?"
"Bev is in a dress and you're the smallest." Ben pointed out.
"If I fucking die I'm going to beat your ass Richard." Eddie hissed as he climbed onto his own handle bars wobbly.
"I got you Ed's."
"Don't call me that fuck head. We're going the way with the least down hill" eddie called as the miles went into motion.
Richie rode careful but fast. He'd done this with Juliet many times in San Francisco.
"How you doin spagedward?" Richie asked eddie as they rode. The group was talking but all Richie could think about is eddie.
"My name is eddie fuck nut. And I'm fine"
Richie followed them on the curve down a dirt road. Then a farm came into view. They left their bikes outside and went in the gate. They were greeted by four dogs that were very happy to see them all.
Then a boy cake running out and smiled waving. The farm door screen slammed as he was across the yard and close to where the group stood. He went to richie first and pulled him into a bone crushing hug.
"I'm glad to meet you. I was supposed to go help unpack yesterday but my papa needed me to help find a missing cow." He smiled standing back and looking him up and down. "You look a lot like bill."
Richie smiled "I'm richie and you're mike?"
Mike nodded.
"Nice ta meet ye suger " Richie winked
"Oh boy-" Mike laughed.

They spent until four doing that. Laughing and hanging out at mikes farmhouse. And Richie took two pictures. One of the group and him. And one of eddie in mikes tire swing.

His first day was better than he imagined. He put a cassette in his boom box and payed back. Staring at his ceiling in the dim light. Bev insisted on hanging Christmas lights. So the room was illuminated in rainbow, reddish tint.
he smiled up at the ceiling, one thing on his mind. A short boy who had used an inhaler during a game of tag that he kept in his backpack.
one thing.
Eddie Kaspbrak. The boy with hazel eyes, and freckles.
he drifted off to sleep