Angel's End / reddie ghost au

Nineteen - Cold water

Eddie had never been to the barrens when it was dark before. Neither had Richie by the look of it, he stumbled around like a headless chicken, trying to find the way towards the peak Derry children always enjoy to jump off into the water.

The barrens was about a 2 minute walk from the main road that the two boys had raced own and it was shrouded by tall, ancient poplar trees and shrubs. The foliage blocked most of the silver light from the street lamps on the road, so the boys had to try their best to navigate there way through in the dark.

Walking through the tangled conifers and brambles was easier this way. Eddie could simply plow on through the nettles without fear of getting stung.

"Wow," Richie muttered from slightly ahead of Eddie.

"What- what is i-...," Eddie asked, getting cut off by the view ahead of him.
"Wow," he muttered in agreement.

The two boys stood on the edge of a small sandstone cliff, below them and stretching out across the landscape was the lake. It's water looking like a pool of pure white moonlight, silvery and sparkling. The forest eating up the banks of the lake seemed to sigh and dance in the small breeze. Their silhouetted canopy's concealing the boys and this moonlight paradise from the rest of the world.

"I- I used to come out here when I... you know, needed some alone time," Richie whispered, the sparkles of all the stars from the night sky in his eyes.

Eddie felt breathless. Richie looked so prefect with the autumn breeze ruffling his hair and the small smile on his plush pink lips.

Eddie wanted to savour every moment.
He felt brave, he felt reckless.

"Do you wanna jump?" Eddie whispered,

"Huh?"

"Do you want to jump?... it's something I used to do when I wanted some alone time. I used to jump so that the adrenaline would kick in.. so that I could feel alive, when inside, I felt the opposite."

Richie smiled, "Umm sure... it's just.. I'm not the biggest fan of heights Ed's."

Eddie giggles slightly, "What are you scared of Rich? Dying?"

Richie shrugged, "Guess not,"
The lanky boy looked over the edge slightly. Below was a long drop into the silver water.

He sighed, "Okay but... can you please hold my hand?"

Eddie grinned, it was cute seeing Richie nervous to ask such a normal question.

"Of course idiot," Eddie smiled, linking his hand with Richie's. Their hands fitting together perfectly like two puzzle pieces, "You ready?...,"

3

2

1

Both boys leapt over the edge. Richie closed his eyes and grasped Eddie's hand tighter as gravity pulled them down, their stomachs dropping like they were on a rollercoaster.

The cool air pushed against their falling body's but then they were soon enveloped in the icy water of the lake.

Their heads became submerged in the water and they had to swim up a little to catch their breaths. They did so out of habit, in reality they could've stayed under as long as they liked.

Richie had kept hold of Eddie's hand the whole time. Eddie saw as his head bobbed up, smiling his beautiful smile.

"That was fucking awesome!" Richie screamed over the lapping sound of the water.

Eddie grinned. He felt so alive!
He paddled forwards slightly, engulfing Richie in a wet hug. Both of their legs treading water beneath the surface.

Holy fuck.
Eddie was going to miss this wonderful boy so much. The next time the moon would come up Eddie would be alone. It was only a matter of hours.

Eddie wasn't sure if he could go through with it. He wanted Richie to stay with him so bad it practically hurt him.

"Chee..?," Eddie whispered, still engulfed by Richie's warm hug, "What's going to happen later,"

Richie sighed, "We are going to find Connor... he'll be out with his friends, every year they go to the same bar to get pissed... I'm going to embarrass him in front of his friends, make him feel the way he made me feel all those years ago... And then, I'll be done... I will move on to heaven, and I will wait for you."

Eddie frowned, he didn't feel satisfied with the answer, "Rich... what if you get bored of waiting for me?"

Richie pulled away from the hug, his hands remaining on Eddie's shoulders, he looked into the small boys chocolate eyes promisingly, "I promise I will wait. I love you Ed's. I will wait for all eternity if I have to."

Eddie smiled his eyes feeling teary. He found it so hard to believe Richie, and the lanky boy could see it. Richie had become good at reading Eddie.

Richie felt a tear slip from his own eyes. He just wanted to reassure the small boy. He hated that he was making him feel this way. He wanted Eddie to trust him so badly.

"Rich, why are you crying?" Eddie whispered, "You've been waiting for this day for years."

Richie let out a small, fragile sob, "Eds... I am crying because after all this time I have realised about all the suffering you have gone through, and I can't believe you made it out alive... I- I can't take it, I can't bare the fact that this world fucked you up so bad you can't believe someone loves you."

Eddie felt shocked. Richie had hit the nail on the head, Eddie felt so guilty that he wanted to keep Richie for himself, "I can't believe someone like you can love me, because... I- I don't deserve it, Chee."

Richie shook his head, he couldn't comprehend the thought of Eddie not reserving love or happiness, "Let's make one thing clear Eddie Kaspbrak: the one person that doesn't deserve being happy here is me. And with you I fucking hit the jackpot... so don't you dare think for one second that you don't deserve me, because you're a fucking miracle and I thank the universe everyday, not only for having you in my life, but for letting you keep going with the shit you had to face all alone."

Eddie started trembling, the tears falling unstoppabley.

"Eddie I promise you are not alone. And you never will be... I love you so fucking much and I promise I will wait for you. I fucking promise you!"

Hearing this, Eddie knew what had to come next was going to be one of the hardest things he'd ever experienced.

In a couple of hours he'd have to say goodbye to this boy.

Eddie leaned forwards and placed a delicate kiss on Richie's lips.

It was his way of saying thank you.

10 hours till Richie leaves...