A New Chapter

Chapter 6

Previously-

"Sure Ed's." And with that the two walked to Eddie's in silence, saying only a goodbye when Eddie reached his front door.

Fuck. I need to call Bev. Richie thought, dashing back to his house.

Chapter 6-

"Hey Bev, that you?" Richie gasped, still out of breath from running back home.

"Hey Rich, what's up? Why do you sound so out of breath?"

"Too busy fucki---wait there's no time for that. I have a problem."

"What have you done?"

"Nothing - well....Me and Ed's didn't speak much but he said he might be able to come over later to talk things out."

"Okay, that's a good thing though?"

"No it's not!Ugh why did i invite him round?" Richie shouted, a little louder than intended. "Sorry Bev."

"It's fine. But, i don't see what the big issue here is?" Bev knew alright, she could tell Richie liked Eddie. She knew the two were close and already made the assumption when Richie told her he was gay.

"It is a big issue Bev."

"Because you like Eddie." Bev knew even Richie wouldn't blurt this one out. "I'm right aren't i?"

"How did-"

"I'm good with these sorts of things Rich. Besides your one of my best friends, you really thought i wouldn't notice?"

"Well, what do i do? I can't not tell him or lie to him. If he found out later it would make things even worse..."

"Tell him then. Really Rich, you can't keep bottling this all up." Bev sighed as her front door began to open. "Shit, my dad's here. I''m sorry Rich but i gotta go. You need to be honest with him, it's what he would want and you know it." With that Beverly hung up, leaving Richie on the other end of the line still panicking over the whole scenario.

Right be honest with him...coz that's fucking easy. Richie thought, kicking the wall and stomping up stairs to his room.

Meanwhile-

"Mummy please let me stay at Richie's tonight." Eddie pleaded, he knew he couldn't say Bill's house again as it would be too suspicious. "His parents are at work late and he still feel's ill from the fight. Please."

"Eddie-Bear, i know he helped you but he's still a bad influence." Sonia protested. "I'm not having you spending more time with him outside of school." With that she handed Eddie his medication across the kitchen table. "Now take these and drop it!"

"Fine." Eddie uttered, swallowing his medicine and dashing upstairs. "It's like a prison in here." With that he slammed his bedroom door shut and left his mother downstairs.

I need to see him. Eddie thought, he began pacing back and fourth in his room wondering how he could go over to Richie's undetected. The window...fuck it, i'm sneaking out. As Eddie climbed out of his bedroom window and picked up his bike he began making his way to Richie's, still not knowing how things would pan out.

It was Eddie's knock on his front door that jolted Richie awake after having a quick power nap. Shit, my parents home already? Opening the door however, he was greeted by someone he was not expecting.

"Sorry i didn't call first, my mum wouldn't let me leave so i snuck out." Eddie gasped, grabbing his inhaler and pumping it into his mouth.

"It's okay, come on in Ed's." Richie gestured, still nervous he began making his way upstairs to his room with Eddie following behind. "Won't your mum find out your gone and come looking for you?"

"At some point probably. But, she will be downstairs most of the night and she usually falls asleep on the couch, so i should be okay." Eddie sighed, walking into Richie's room. "This is disgusting Rich." Glancing around his room seeing all of his old clothes and comic books scattered around the floor.

"What?" Richie smiled, realising what Eddie meant but trying to play it cool. "Just coz i'm not a clean freak like you Eddie Spaghetti." Jumping onto his bed and spreading his legs out.

"I'm not a clean freak and don't call me that!" Eddie pouted, sitting opposite Richie with his arms and legs folded. "So...."

"So....You gunna set me up with your mum or what?" Richie chuckled, trying to relieve the tension that was beginning to build up.

"Richie, come on. You can talk to me." Eddie sighed. "If you are going to keep making jokes and avoiding the conversation we had earlier then i'm just going to go back home. That's your warning."

"Clearly noted." Richie smiled, but it soon faded when he realised how serious Eddie was being, which only made his heart pound faster and his palms sweat. "Okay okay....There is a reason why i didn't tell you in particular."

"Rich why the fuck wouldn't you want to tell me?" Eddie snapped back, beginning to feel more hurt than earlier. "I thought we wer---"

"It's because i like you, you idiot." Richie spat out. Quicker and more abrupt than he intended, he glanced up at Eddie who was now beginning to gasp for air and grab his inhaler. "See, this is why i didn't want to tell you Ed's." Covering his eyes, Richie began to tear up. He wanted to run out and leave Eddie, but he knew it would only make things worse. After a couple of minutes of silence he began to whimper, curling his knees up into his chest.

"Richie. I haven't even said anything yet." Eddie uttered.

"You didn't need to. I know you use your inhaler when you panic." Richie muffled, still holding his hands over his eyes. "You hate me don't you. You think i'm disgusting."

"NO! You fucking idiot, what sort of person do you think i am?" Eddie snapped back, annoyed at these accusations Richie was beginning to make about him. "You seriously think i'm like Bowe---"

"NO! I DIDN'T MEAN THAT. IT'S JUST--I DIDN'T WANT TO CONFESS TO YOU BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO LOOSE YOU!" Richie blurted, tears now visibly streaming down his cheeks as he stared at Eddie. "Sorry."

"Rich. You don't need to be sorry." Eddie embraced him into a hug, he hated seeing his friends like this. Especially Richie, as it was a rare thing to see him in this state. "To be honest, i don't know how i feel. I'm really close to you Rich, but i've never been with anyone before so i don't know how i should feel."

"I know, neither have i Ed's. But, to me everything seems so easy when i'm with you." Richie smiled, tightening his hug. "I just couldn't imagine not being around you."

Leaning away from their embrace Eddie stared at Richie, who began wiping his tears off his cheek. He really didn't know how he felt about it all, it all seemed so sudden. Yes they were close friends and he too couldn't imagine his life without Richie (as well as the rest of the Losers club) but did he like him in that way?

"Eddie, can i try something? Please don't hate me for it."

"For fuck sake Richie, i will never ha-"

Cutting him off, Richie pulled Eddie into a soft kiss. Both lips pressing against one another, Eddie's eyes stayed wide open. Yet, he didn't want to pull away, instead letting go he lowered his head into Richie's chest.

"Sorry Ed's. I just wanted to know how it felt is all." Richie uttered, words shaky again. "Sorr-"

But, without hesitation Eddie cut him off to kiss him again.

"Well Ed's, you sure know how to surprise someone!" Richie smiled, resting his hands on the boys shoulders. "So, what did you think?"

"I think." Eddie pondered. "I think my life would suck without you Rich. I think i like you too."