Young and Yearning (IT Imagines and Oneshots).

Bevchie; Prom

A/N: This is a friendship fic. Do not attack me.

Prom was just around the corner, and Richie Tozier couldn't have been dreading it anymore. He knew for the life of him that he could never truly go with his love interest, and the only person in his eyes. Lucky, his wing woman Beverly Marsh stood by his side the whole way.

"Come on, Tozier. You gotta woo the kid," She urged him the night before the dreaded day. Richie shook his head, breathing out deeply. His fists couldn't have been clenched into tighter fists if he had tried.

"You shittin' me, Marsh? No chance," He replied quickly, "What about you, then?"

Bev laughed and shook her head.

"Dudes suck," She chuckled. Richie frowned at her. Her legs were spread awfully wide for a straight girl, but he let it pass.

"Even if we did go, what would we wear?" Richie pondered as Bev lay back on his bed - her feet kicking in the air carelessly.

"I could find us something, nobody would judge," She shrugged, kicking her shoes off into the corner of the room.

"Shitting me again, then? It's Derry, for God's sake," Richie spat, "Either that or my fucking love interest, can't catch a break.." He wasn't lying. Whether it was his closeted secret or his fashion sense - Derry was shit.

"The love interest wasn't Derry, Rich," Beverly replied, suddenly gentle, "It's Bowers, for fucks sake."

Richie shrugged, walking over to the mirror on the opposite side of his bedroom. What he saw in his reflection, was - in his words, pitiful.

"It's not even a love interest, Bevvy," Richie spoke solemnly from the mirror he was staring into, "I don't know what it is, but it isn't interest.. It's something - more?"

Bev chose not to reply to this. Her words would always tread carefully around Richie's, and this was one of those moments when the silence was savoured.

"Rich," She finally said, standing from her seat and collecting her shoes from the corner, "I'm just going to go, okay?"

Richie turned from the mirror and nodded at her. She gave him a small smile, before pecking him on the cheek and heading towards the bedroom door.

"And Bevvy?"

"Yeah?" She asked, turning from the doorknob she was about to turn.

"Be careful, okay?"

She smiled and nodded, heading out of the door. Richie's gut was filled with dread. The amount of absolute shit he would get for being who he was in the town was immeasurable. He was merely trash mouth, in what world would that make Eddie fall in love with him?

On the other side of town, Eddie was having a similar discussion with Ben.

"Ben, he probably doesn't even like boys.." Eddie groaned as he lay on Ben's carpeted floor and stared up at the ceiling, "He's going to the freakin' prom with Bevvy, after all."

"Eddie.." Ben smiled, "It's a cover. Beverly told me. And - have you seen the way Richie looks at you?"

"No..?"

"You're his whole world," Ben explained, "The adjustment of the glasses, the jokes but the gentle touches. Eddie, open your mind a bit.."

Eddie sighed and did his best attempt at nodding, given the fact that he was lying flat on the floor.

"So - are you going to ask him to prom?" Ben asked sweetly, peering down at Eddie from the spot he was situated in on his bed. He watched as Eddie shook his head. Ben sighed deeply, knowing the fate of the two boys if nothing happened at this damn dance.

Slowly, the prom drew nearer and nearer - and not a word was spoken about it between any of the couples. Beverly and Richie were hanging out on a daily basis, Bev avoiding her father while Richie avoided, well.. Eddie.

"Rich, you bitch," Beverly droned, holding each syllable upon the tip of her tongue, "I have our prom costumes.."

Richie breathed in deeply, not giving any less of a fuck - but making an effort his best friend.

"Model them, won't you Bevvie," He asked seductively, sending her a sarcastic wink. Bev guffawed and rushed into the large wardrobe in Richie's room. She walked out after a while wearing an aqua blue, floral dress. It fell to the beginning of her calf's, and the strappy back looked gentle and fragile.

"And let me guess.." Richie pondered, "Mine matches?"

"Guess you'll just have to find out," She winked snidely. Richie opened his mouth to reply, but when no words came he sucked in air and walked into the closet. Ah, irony. He came out wearing an aqua blue tuxedo with a dark blue bow tie. Flowers decorated the lower part of the tuxedo jacket and Richie had to admit it, Beverly did an outstanding job.

"What do you think?" Bev asked excitedly, jumping up and down and clapping her hands repeatedly. Richie looked himself up and down in the mirror.

"Doesn't matter what I think," He pointed out. Bev smiled brightly, and nodded her head.

"Ed'll love it, Rich," She assured him, pulling out the crumples from behind him before wrapping her pale arms around his neck.

"And Ben'll love your's." Richie agreed. Ben'd love Beverly anyway, but he was literally going to drop dead onto the floor at the sight of her currently. Beverly giggled, covering her red face with the palms of her hands.

"Now go get changed before we break something!" Richie encouraged her, gently pushing her back into the wardrobe. Richie had to admit, he was a little excited for prom now. His new looks had given him some newfound confidence, but that would be put to test on the best - or worst, night of the year.

The night had arrived. Wentworth dropped both Richie and Beverly at the school hall - and bid them a gleeful goodbye. Richie felt uncomfortably conscious of his body, but Beverly occasionally squeezed his hand in the most comforting manor possible.

The night progressed, and still no sign of Eddie. Despite Richie's poor eyesight, he would've easily spotted the boy - the only boy in his eyes. Eventually, Richie began to give in, taking a seat on the bleachers that were stuck inside of the hall. He wouldn't cry, he had that much pride. But he did lower his head into his hands, in a desperate attempt to shield himself from the shitty disco music playing.

Through his closed eyelids, Richie  could still see the flashing rave lights of the hall. So painfully epilepsy inducing.

Suddenly, the lights were shielded from Richie's eyes as a figure stood over him. He removed his head from his hands, confused - only to see Eddie standing above him. He wore a velvet black suit, with a bright white bow tie. His hair was slick back to an extent, one curl still dangling in front of his dew drop eyes. He held out a hand in front of Richie, and suddenly the music didn't seem too bad.

The dancing didn't seem too bad. Even as a slow song played, his body didn't feel too bad. Richie felt comfortable, ever so comfortable - in Eddie's hold. Somehow Richie had mastered the art of leading a slow dance, something that impressed Eddie.

The prom was not too damn bad. Oh, and the afterwards was better. There was a lot of.. kissing. Richie and Eddie call it making up for lost time, to this day.