Things "Best Friends" Do

{9} There's About to be a (Boy) Fight

          Richie stares out Eddie's window watching the morning leaves fall from the colorful fall trees. His socked feet are propped up on the head of Eddie's bed and he has an X-Men comic laid across his chest. Eddie is sitting with his back against the foot of the bed, sitting criss-cross, his inhaler held loosely in his hand. Despite the cold the night before, the day was pretty warm and Eddie has gotten up to open his window to let fresh air in. Now the soft wind was blowing against the curtains and the autumn light was casting red, orange and green shadows onto the two boys. Richie rolls over onto his stomach, crinkling the comic's pages as he does, and reaches out to an orangish light coming from the outside. It makes a zigzag pattern on his hand and he tells Eddie to come look at it.
"Woah. Neat." Eddie smiles and look up at Richie, "You know it's on your face too- looks cool." Eddie doesn't think he's seen Richie like this before with all his raw and innocent beauty. He's noticing that, since summer, he's gotten a bit taller and his cheekbones have become more prominent which make his faint freckles stand out. His unruly black hair surrounds his fair-skinned face like a picture frame and his eyes shine, indicating his healthiness.
Richie smiles, "It's in your hair and it makes it look like you peed in it. Just saying."
And there Richie goes, ruining the moment. "Seriously Rich... you're so weird."
Richie shrugs, "You like it."
Eddie rolls his eyes and goes back to reading his comic, Richie tugs on Eddie's flyaways.
"What do you want?" Eddie sighs and closes his comic again.
"Nothing I'm just bored lets do something."
"Alright fine, what do you want to do."
Richie pushes himself up with his elbows and goes over to the window, "Lets go to the quarry, it warmed up a lot since last night."
Eddie gets up, grabbing Richie's X-Men comic, smoothing it out giving Richie a dirty look.
"What?" Richie laughs, "So sorry sir." Richie says in a false British accent, "I may have accidentally lain on it."
"It's fine- just please stop doing the British guy..." Eddie places the two comic books on his shelf and puts his inhaler in his pocket reminding himself he needs to ask Bill to bring him his fanny pack on Monday.
"Alright alright," Richie sticks his tounge out at Eddie and tugs at his own shirt, "Lets go! We can stop at Bill's house and see if everyone wants to come."
Eddie is tugging on socks and shoes, "What do you think I'm doing Rich? Practicing how to tie laces?"
"Okay sorry! I'm an impatient person you know that Eds."
Eddie hops up and grabs a light jacket from his closet. "Yeah I know." He smiles and nudges Richie towards the window again, "You gotta go that way Rich." Eddie laughs as Richie gives him a dirty look.
Richie opens the window more and shimmies out, feet first. His dangling legs search for the pot Eddie placed there last night.
Eddie slips out of his room and softly closes the door, he's hoping to sneak past Sonia but he knows it likely won't happen. He can hear her in the kitchen, which is a problem because the kitchen opens up to the hallway Eddie's currently in. He tip toes over to the entrance of the kitchen and peaks his head in, his mom was facing the window washing dishes. Eddie hopes Richie is out of sight, surely he's not that dumb. The TV is still playing in the living room which is right across from the kitchen. Eddie looks in again, Okay... one... two... three! Eddie quietly dashes to the front door, pausing at it to make sure Sonia didn't hear. He can hear her feet shuffling closer to the hallway and he quickly but quietly turns the doorknob. Eddie can sense his mom right around the corner he slides out of his house and closes the door. The fleet-footed germaphobe leaps over the stair-railing and presses against the wall of the house slightly covered by plants.
Sonia opens the door, "Eddie is that you? You know you're not supposed to go outside when you're sick..." After a few minutes she gives up and stumbles back inside.
Eddie dashes from behind the plants and yells at Richie to go, his mom will be checking his room next and they can't be here when she realizes Eddie's gone.
Richie pedals furiously, laughing and whooping, his head to the sky.
"How'd you get out Eddie Bear." Richie smirks.
Eddie glares at him, "Seriously Rich never call me that again." Eddie quickly changes moods and smiles, "I went into spy mode that's what I did."
They turn their bikes right onto Bill's road, their bikes whirring along.
Richie laughs, "Spy mode?"
"Yeah. It happens frequently whenever I want -or need- to get away from my mom."
"Well at least she didn't see you."
"I'll get chewed out enough when I get home..." Eddie rolls his eyes and sighs.
Richie shrugs, "It do be like that sometimes."
Eddie looks over at his comrade, "What was that?"
Richie laughs, "I don't know I just felt like saying it."
"Well never say it again because it sounded dumb."
"That's the point stupid head."
"Oh okay smart-guy." Eddie parks his bike by Bill's garage.
Richie does the same and races Eddie to knock on the door. Of course Richie gets there first and raps his knuckles three times.
Bill opens the door, Mike stands behind him in jeans and a green t-shirt.
"Oh h-hey R-Richie, E-Eddie." Bill opens the door wider, "Wh-Whats up?"
Richie grins, "Get your swimwear on boys we're goin' to the quarry!"
"Who else is here?" Eddie asks.
"Just us and Stan." Mike says and as if he could sense Richie, Stan comes walking out of the bathroom rubbing his eyes.
He raises his eyebrows at Richie and Eddie, smirking, "Thought I could smell Stupid wafting through the door."
Richie clenches his teeth and looks away, red in the face.
"Whatcha guys doing here?" Stan asks.
"We were wanting to go to the quarry..." Richie shrugs.
"Right..." Mike shifts his eyes from Richie to Stan, "Can you ride to Will and Jane's house to ask if they want to come?"
"Sure no problem. I'll meet you guys there." Stan pulls on sandals despite the slight chill and pulls a jacket over his black shirt and shorts.
Stanley teasingly nudges Richie on his way out, chuckling and skipping towards his bike.
Eddie stares at his suddenly interesting feet and blushes.
"Let's go get Beverly and Ben?" Richie quickly suggests.
"Y-Yeah, L-lets go." Bill agrees. Richie grabs Eddie's arm and pulls him along to their bikes. Mike and Bill grab towels from the mud room, so when they get out Richie and Eddie are already on their bikes poised to go.
"Well c'mon! I'm not getting any younger here!" Richie laughs.
Mike pushes off the ground and maneuvers his bike so he's in between Richie and Bill, Eddie pedals on the far side of Richie.
"Well don't come crying to me when you don't get a towel Tozier!" Mike laughs.
Richie huffs, "I'll steal one from you and you know it!"