| It's Always Been You | Reddie Fanfic |

3

TW - SWEARING AND HOMOPHOBIC SLURS

Eddie and Richie moved from game to game, rarely playing with anyone else. By the time they left, it was nearly 3pm. They all decided to ride over to the quarry to hangout for a bit.

"I told you, Eds, my loogie goes farther. Farther wins!" Richie yelled, watching the others throw their mouths forward and send clumps of saliva into the water.

"NO! Rich, it's fat, juicy, and colorful. Right guys?!" The small boy looked around at the others. Everyone just shrugged.

A few minutes later, everyone had jumped, except for Bev and Richie. "You like him, don't you?" Bev smiled.

"Wh- who?" Richie blushed, looking down at the small, shouting boy floating in the water below.

"Don't be stupid Rich, I know." Bev put her hand on Richie's shoulder. "I know what that carving meant. It wasn't some girl, I know."

Richie looked at his feet. "Don't say anything..."

"Never. Are you going to tell him? Because you should, things can happen." Beverly sighed, slowly pulling Richie in for a hug. Their soft skin touched, and Richie wrapped his arms around her back. His shoulders began shaking.

"Bev, I can't. I'll get killed. He won't want to speak to me again." Richie let a few tears slip by. "I know he wouldn't want me. I'm damaged."

Beverly shook her head slowly. "Rich, you should talk to him." Beverly kept a small secret to herself. She knew Pennywise was going to come back. She saw it. The deadlights didn't just tell her how they would feel, it showed her some things. She knew what would happen 27 years later, and she was scared to say.

"Bev, no. He's not gay, or probably not." Richie kept scuffing his foot on the ground, kicking up dust while the others yelled from below.

"The least you could do is try. Plus, he never seems to have a crush on any girls." The boy averted her gaze. "Look, we can meet later and talk about this." Richie nodded, and they both flung off of the cliff, making a huge, painful splash in the water.

-

When the losers were biking back, Bev hung back with Richie, who was obviously pretty down since their last conversation.

"Hey, meet me tomorrow outside my apartment. We can talk then." The redheaded girl quietly said to Richie. Her words were met with a slight nod.

-later that night-

"Shutup Richie" The small boy jumped on top of Richie, trying to grab his inhaler. "I need that!"

"Gaaazzzeeeebbbooossss" Richie mocked, laughing, while Eddie climbed on him.

Richie's couch wasn't exactly comfy, so laying on it wasn't fun. Both boys didn't seem to mind either way.

"You little asshole!" Eddie snatched his inhaler from Richie's grip, and tried to move off of his chest, but ended up slipping on the leather and falling further onto the boy.

"Ow." Richie laughed. The small boy scoffed, got up, and walked into Richie's kitchen. "Where are you going?"

"We need dinner, dumbass." Eddie retorted.

"I don't think I like being in this abusive relationship with you. It's hurting my feelings." Richie chuckled, putting his hands in the air. He stumbled backwards after Eddie body slammed him. "Hh, I'll make dinner."

"You're going to poison me." Eddie crossed his arms. "Can you even cook?"

Richie pulled out a couple pans, "Usually your mom cooks for me, but she's not here right now." He forced out a sigh.