Awnings (Reddie Modern AU boyxboy)

Chapter Four: Couch

(QUICK NOTE: If you haven't seen, but plan on seeing the film "About Time" on Netflix, this chapter contains a major spoiler. So if you want to watch it, watch that first before reading this.)

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Richie thought that since he was the kid of an RL, Eddie's mom would grant him the perk that every other parent in the neighborhood would: instant trust.

He knew what she was like because Eddie told him, and he'd also met her a few times when picking up Eddie from his house before they ever went out.

It didn't matter that Richie was an RL kid to her, she didn't trust anyone but herself around Eddie.

That's why even though they went to Anti-Prom together, it still took a lot of convincing to let Eddie hang out afterwards. "Besides, he's right next door. We're only a yard away if he needs you," Richie had said.

This was the first year Richie had left the party before it ended. Usually he would wait until everyone was gone and helped his dad and Stan's family clean up the basement. This particular night however, Richie proclaimed another one of his pesky migraines and he and Eddie biked home. After teaming up against Mrs. Kaspbrak, they were finally sitting in Richie's basement watching a film, each boy right up against their armrest and leaving room for a third nonexistent person between them.

Richie really did feel like his head was cracking open at the moment, but it wasn't one of his classic headaches. It was a tempest of aching thoughts slamming through his brain. All he could see in his mind's eye was Eddie at Anti-Prom:

***

As they'd been finishing up their pizzas, two girls approached them. Richie knew them from Rabbi Uris's congregation that Richie attended each weekend. They were sisters, Jessica and Rebecca; Jessica was sixteen and Rebecca was eight. The two looked very similar, but in all the places Rebecca was adorable, Jessica was beautiful.

"Richie, Rebecca was hoping to dance with you," Jessica said. Rebecca looked shyly up at Richie.

He chuckled with a bright smile, "Thought you'd never ask, Rebecca," he said. He looked at Eddie, "Meet me out there after this song."

Richie took Rebecca's hand and led her to the dance floor where he put her feet on the tips of his shoes and danced with her in a fashion a lot more tame than he had been earlier.

Soon enough, Richie was also dancing with two toddlers that joined in and he was having a great time. He could also feel the eyes of parents on him - his own and others'. He didn't let that diminish his fun. Sure, can't accidentally trip your kid and make them cry, no pressure, but they all were giggling so much at Richie's funny dances and he loved making people laugh. It made him laugh too.

Until he looked up for a second. Besides a small wall of cameras by the kids' parents recording him dancing with their little humans, Richie's eyes flashed to Eddie, who was up and dancing with beautiful Jessica.

Eddie looked like he was having so much fun. His eyes were sparkling, hair flopping, shoulders rolling, and body swaying about hers to the beat of Usher's OMG.

He stumbled over himself a bit and the laughter of three little kids watching him brought him back to reality. They finished up the song and Richie told the kids, "Go dance with each other or your parents or something," so quietly and so distractedly that they hardly heard what he said as he stammered over towards Eddie.

As he approached, Jessica was hugging Eddie goodbye and was walking past Richie towards Rebecca. "Thanks for dancing with her, Richie. I really appreciate it. She really likes you," she said. She waved and smiled at him. Richie knew Jessica for a few years. She was really nice.