While you were away

Devil Town

Small authors note: Um... Hi guys. This is of course the first chapter of my story and I am still getting used to this. I will probably go back and edit it if I need to but for now, I hope you enjoy it.:)

A locker shut loudly, missing Eddie Kaspracks face by mere inches. He instinctively recoiled in a flinch. All of his schoolbooks slid from his hands and scattered into the tornado of his peers, who were all to eager to get out of school to care.

Eddie almost joined his books on the floor when he desperately tried to duck from an expected upcoming punch from Henry or one of his friends. After a couple seconds too long though, his doubt started to cloud over his fear. The fear had fully vanished when he heard the painfully annoying voice of a painfully annoying friend. He lifted his gaze up quickly with embarrassment, knowing that Richie saw his whole "avoid Henry" clown dance.

"Oh sorry about that Eddie Spaghetti!" Rich apologized, not even trying to hide the fact that he was laughing. Or the laughter tears that came with it, magnified through his inch thick glasses. He started to help collect Eddies fallen books."I didn't uh mean to spoooookkk youuuuu"

"Yeah I can tell you're sorry by the way you're laughing. Really just drowning in your remorse aren't you?" Eddie replied in a quick strike, having to speak a little loud over the crowded school hallway. The other students starting carelessly kicking the books at this point rather than avoiding them.

"Definitely." Richie fake pouted, and pinched Eddies cheek "I would do anything for you Edddiiiiiie!"

Responsively Eddie swatted at Richie's hand and proceeded to move swiftly to the other side of the still very crowded hallway. As he carefully slid his books back into his bag and started treading ahead, he knew Richie was trailing behind. The sound of out of place scuffing sneakers, followed another unrecognizable noise forced Eddie to turn to look.

Sure enough, a Richie Tozier sprawled across the floor with Patrick Hockstetter hovering over him and muttering what sounded like "Faggot."

Eddie reached to help Rich up and vaguely noticed blood coming from his nose and tried not to think about all of the germs that can spread through blood. While he was pushing that thought away he realized that Richie had begun to go after his tormentor.

A group began to form around them and some whispers laced with chuckles arose, at the sight of Richie's bloodied face. Eddie could tell by the look on his friends face that his mouth was about to open and-

The grouped giggles halted as Richie started to spit something about how Patrick better watch out for nearby towns, because he might crush them with his giant feet. Before he could get through the insult though, Eddie pushed him out of the crowd and hissed "He isn't worth it Rich. He'll pummel us both and if I end up in the hospital again my mom will drive me insane."

Richie was reluctant to not being able to get his last word in but eventually complied for the sake of Eddies sanity, and they exited the school to walk home together. They had been walking home together since they became friends, which was in the fourth or fifth grade.

Eddie always looked forward to walking with Rich. Even though he has recently noticed that a lot of people did think that they were gay but Eddie consistently finds himself pondering the fact that he doesn't really think he has had feelings for much of anyone before. So he doesn't let the consistent slurs and whatnot bother him at all. Another time, another place to think of that.

Besides, the walks with Richie and sometimes his other friends Bill and Stan, were really his only break. Talking to a friend and not having to worry about the germs on the door handles or the next pop quiz was refreshing. Hanging out with any of the Losers felt like a nice drink of ice water, and he wasn't ready to give it up on the account of people who didn't even bother to get to know him before slapping a label on him. Which is something Eddie prided himself on often, because the amount of people he has seen in the halls with a group of friends who bullied them was sad to him. Especially because most of them eventually started to transform into bullies themselves. Besides, it was bold and Eddie wasn't exactly known for being that. So it made him feel good.