Angel's End / reddie ghost au

Sixteen - Bittersweet

1 week till Halloween...

Without joy every sweet thing is bitter. Cake is guilt, wind is cold, rain is depressing. With joy they are uplifting; cake is rich, wind is refreshing, rain is cleansing. Every small thing in life is a moment able to nourish the soul if we let joy in. Live with awe, humbleness, present in each moment and the gifts of life will fill you to the brim, so much that your joy will overflow and make better the lives of all around you.

Hope beaded Eddie's skin like dew on spring grass. He could feel it radiating in to soothe his blood. The blood that once felt it flowed cold. It formed such perfect spheres, each one like a tiny world of its own. Eddie was optimistic and it felt like the first time he'd ever felt that way. He had friends. He had a beautiful boy that liked him back. He had made his peace with Bill and Beverly.
Everything was good. And Richie was right. Eddie deserved this.

Eddie deserves this happiness.

However, like a thistle amongst a bed of flowers, something felt out of place.

Halloween was drawing closer... and Richie was confident that this would be the year he'd finally get his own back on Connor Bowers. That this'd be the year he'd finally pass onto a better place. His next stage of life.

This felt like a ticking time bomb at the back of Eddie's mind. It was only a matter of time before Richie would leave Eddie. But Eddie couldn't feel sad about this, this is what Richie had been trying to do for years. He had to show his support even though inside, it was killing him.

Eddie was trying his best to savour every moment with Richie, trying to take in every moment, to try not to waste anytime.

He didn't want him to go.

Eddie had to figure out what his own unfinished business was. He couldn't bare the thought of being left behind.

"Penny for your thoughts," Richie asked, leaning his head back against the wall.

Eddie looked down and smiled, not wanting to burden Richie with this worries, "Oh nothing. Just thinking about Joe."

Richie raised an eyebrow, "Who's Joe?"

Eddie smirked mischievously, barley believing someone like Richie had fallen into his trap, "Joe mama!"

Richie crossed his arms as Eddie started giggling, "Are you fucking kidding me Ed's?"

Eddie's shoulders bobbed up and down as he laughed.

"Ed's What the heck!! I'm the one that's meant to make dumbass jokes like that!" Richie said pouncing on Eddie, slapping him lightly on the arm.

"Ow!" Eddie screeched over dramatically, falling onto his back.

"Oh shut up that didn't hurt!" Richie cackled, following Eddie down onto the floor, "Your a bloody drama queen you are Eddie Spaghetti,"

"Actually it's 'Your majesty Eddie Spaghetti'" Eddie corrected smiling cheekily.

They both smiled, silence creeping in. Catching their breath from their chaotic laughing.

"Hey Rich...," Eddie spoke up, "You- urm - you said you wanted me to repay you... for you know... getting the board to work."

Richie turned to him smiling, "Oh yeah..."

Richie hadn't really forgotten, he'd just been waiting for the right time.

"I wanted you to repay me by... carrying on from where we got interrupted by those losers."

Eddie's cheeks lighted up, butterflies blossoming in his stomach. Did Richie want to- you know... kiss him? Surely not. Eddie was probably getting confused. Instead all Eddie managed to say was, "Rich they're not losers."

Richie smiled, licking his lips slightly, "Being a loser isn't a bad thing Ed's... being a loser is being unique and- and not afraid to be different... being a loser means you have nothing to loose."

Eddie leaned in slightly, looking into Richie's honey, mahogany eyes, "You just made that up on the spot, didn't you?"

Richie learned in too, "What?! No way Ed's... I'm a loser... and so are you."

Eddie stared into his eyes. That wasn't true. Eddie did have something to loose. Richie....

"Don't. call. me. Ed's,"

...And Eddie never wanted to loose Richie.

Bravely, Eddie leaned forwards, filling the tiny gap between them. Pressing his pink lips to Richie's.

Hesitantly he pulled back. Wanting to feel the lush, exciting feel of Richie's mouth on his for a little longer. He looked up at Richie, giving him a look that asked: was that okay?

Richie smiled hazily, his doe eyes drifting back down to Eddie's lips, making Eddie feel dazed and breathless.

This time Richie leaned in. More passionately.

Richie's fingers gently ran up and down Eddie's spine, coaxing shivers out of the smaller boy. With his cheeks still blushing hotly, Eddie glanced back up into his captivating amber eyes. Richie leaned down, resting his forehead against Eddie's. Eddie watched breathlessly as the lanky boy's eyes studied Eddie's with silent intensity. Richie's warm breath ghosted across his face. Eddie shut his eyes in anticipation. He stifled a surprised gasp as Richie's soft lips captured his once again, causing Eddies tiny body to flush with heat. The heat seemed to travel through his veins, warming him. Just as he felt a rush of euphoric bliss envelop him, making his heart sing with pure joy, Richie drew away. Eddie instantly missed the lovely heat curling within him.

Eddie's breathing felt heavy, lust overtaking him. He'd never felt anything like this before.

He just looked at the angelic boy before him. Everything about him seemed perfect. His imperfections were perfect. He loved his black unruly hair that no comb could tame. He loved his freckles that looked like sprinkles on tempting vanilla icing. He loved his defined nose and cheekbones that male models would be jealous of. And those eyes of his... Richie's eyes shone like new growth on the boughs of the trees, free of moss, bright, youthful. His gaze was cool waters on flames, soft rain on petals, the sky lightening after a storm.
This boy was perfect... and all Eddie could think about was how close he was to loosing this boy.

Eddie wanted to see those beautiful, ethereal eyes even closer.
Slowly, Eddie reached out and delicately grabbed Richie's glasses. He carefully slipped them off Richie's face. His hands moved slowly giving Richie a chance to stop him if he wanted, but Richie didn't mind.
The lanky boy just savoured the sweet sensation of Eddie's soft fingers momentarily brushing his cheeks.

Eddie moved back, admiring Richie's face. He felt breathless, blown away.
"You're so... pretty," Eddie whispered.

Butterflies swarmed inside Richie's stomach. His cheeks blushed red at Eddie's words, "Pretty?... what about handsome? Or manly?"

Eddie smiled softly, gently moving his hand back towards Richie's face. This time he softly pushed a soft black curl out of Richie's eyes.
"No. You Richie Tozier, are pretty. You don't need to be handsome or manly. You are already breathtaking."

Richie smiled. Without his glasses Eddie looked like a blur of colour and strange abstract shapes, "Well Eddie you are a very pretty blob,"

Eddie tilted his head, "What?"

Richie fumbled his hands out in front of him, his slender hands clumsily falling into Eddie's lap. Eddie guided the lanky boy's hands to his glasses where Richie then slipped them back on his face.
"That's better," he grinned, "What I meant to say is, Ed's... you are gorgeous."

Eddie smiled.

1 week. 1 week till Halloween.

How long would that smile last now?