𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 (richiexben)

t h r e e

Ben's POV (a day later):
~
I didn't last the rest of the movie. I walked out, only to notice Rich fled. Leaving me with no choice but to walk home. I got home late, almost past curfew. My mother was furious, she screamed at me for an hour, letting me know how I couldn't just go out for hours on end and not tell her where I am. It wasn't my fault, I didn't have a way to tell her where I was. But I wasn't even worried about what she had to say, I was only focused on what happened. Rich kissed me. He did, didn't he? There was no way of telling for sure unless I asked him, I thought it was all a dream. But then.. why would he kiss me in my dreams? Whatever, I could ask him today. I didn't want to make him uncomfortable though.. I had to ask him when he was alone. What if he says yes? Well--
"Hey Ben!" Beverly exclaimed, her red curls bouncing up and down and she walked closer.
"Oh hey Bev.." Things were always awkward with her, I kissed her before. To save her. From the clown. Nothing more. Everyone thinks I like her, that my poems are about her, that I'm obsessed with her. It's the case of "The fat kid falls in love with a beautiful girl". But it's more than that, I don't like Bev in that way. I only kissed her to save her. I saw it in movies, lots of movies.
"Are you alright?" She asked, looking concerned. Did I look okay? Was there something wrong with the way I looked?
"Uh.. yes. Have you seen Richie?"
"Yeah actually, he looks upset. I didn't know what was wrong with him. He's at the quarry right now. Why? Are you guys okay?" Perfect, he's alone.
"Thanks Bev, you're the best!" I needed to get there before he left or before I ran into anyone else.
"Wait! Ben! Are you sure you're okay?" Beverly yelled as I got farther away.
"Never been better!" I yelled back with a wink, and with that I was racing back to my house, ready to get my bike.

Richie's POV:
~
I've never felt worse. I'm moments away from losing all my friends aren't I? Ben is going to tell everyone that I'm... what's the word Henry used? A fag? That's it.. a fag. A worthless fag. I should change my name, cut my hair, and move to Germany at this point. Everyone in Derry will know, even my parents.. what will they say? Is there a cure? If so.. I need it about now. Ben Hanscom is a boy, and I kissed him. I kissed a boy. Me.. a boy.. I kissed another boy. Is the sickness worse? Can I die from it? Can Ben get infected? Will he die from it? I hope not, I hope I didn't kill him. I really hope he's okay.

Ben's POV:
~
"Rich!!!" I yelled, out of breath. My bike falling to the floor. "Rich!! Hey!" He stood up in shock, his legs wobbling.
"You shouldn't be here. If anyone sees us, they're going to think you're sick too.." Richie said, a sad sigh escaping his lips.
"Sick? What are you talking about? I'm not sick, are you?" I asked, puzzled.
"Don't worry about it, just go. I know you told them all anyway." He backed away, dragging his feet.
"What? No.. I would never do that to you. It's only us that know. But.. I guess this means it did happen then huh?"
"Yeah, it did. And I'm sorry, I really am. Please don't be mad.. I, I didn't know what I was doing-"
"It's okay Rich. I'm not mad." I walked up to him, he looked so sad. I wonder if he thought I hate him now..
"Really?" he whimpered
"Yep.. you know I kinda liked it. But I was just so scared. I didn't know what was happening and so many people were around us." I said. It was true, I liked when he kissed me. Was that wrong? I thought it was the same as when I kissed Beverly, it was just a kiss.
"You l-liked it?" He looked up at me, fiddling with his glasses.
"I mean.. yeah. I did." Truth is, I had liked him. And I wanted him to kiss me... but I thought it was wrong. And everyone already thought I loved Bev. I thought all my friends were great but Richie felt like more than a friend to me. I barely talked to him, to hide it. But I thought about him. So much. I wrote all my poems about him. But I guess everyone thought they were for Bev. I knew I could never write "he" in the poems.. so I just made it look like they were for Bev at a certain point. But I love Richie. I love him so much.. and I know I shouldn't but I do. He smiled,
"I think.. I think I like you Ben." he said, "B-but I don't know and.. well it's not right because you're a boy and I'm a boy and.. and.. and it doesn't work."
"Richie, if only you knew how much I like you.. I don't care if this wrong.. I like you a lot Rich."
"N-no, you don't get it, I love you.. like not as a friend.." Richie sighed, stepping back once more.
"Well.. I think I love you too." I said, grabbing his hand.
"No you don't Ben. You don't get it, you're not sick." I didn't know what to do.. how to convince him. So I pulled him in and kissed him. His hand dropped from my mine but he didn't push away. I placed both my hands on his face, grabbing his cheeks. His arms made their way around my waist, as he eventually realized what was happening. I let go.

Richie's POV:
~
Ben released the grip he had on my face, still looking into my eyes.
"What was that.." I asked, not knowing why Ben Hanscom just kissed me.
"I kissed you, because I like you. That's what you do when you like someone.. right?" he giggled.
"Y-yeah.. I guess so.." he likes me.. Ben sat down cross legged on the floor, I sat beside him.
"You know.. I really wanted to tell you sooner, and I'm sorry if I made you feel bad yesterday. I was pretty scared, and it wasn't expected." He said, and for the time, I believed him.
"So, when you kiss someone.. does that mean that you're dating?" I asked him, hoping he'd know the answer.
"I guess so," Ben laid back on the floor "I don't know it works but that makes sense" I lay beside him, staring at the sky.
"Yeah.." I inched closer toward him until eventually our shoulders touched.
"I never thought I'd have a boyfriend. I expected to date girls, you know? I guess I only thought that way because guys have girlfriends in movies.. not boyfriends."
"I always thought that if you were boy and liked boys, you had a disease... but you're not sick so.. I think it's just like.. a special thing," I told him, losing my gaze from the sky and looking over at the boy next to me.
"A disease?" He asked.
"Yeah, my mom said it was.. she said there was a cure but it costed money.."
"Oh. Well I don't think it's a disease, I don't think it's any different from a boy and a girl. As long as you're in love.. right?" His smile widened.
"Right."
THIRD PERSON POV:
~
And with that, the two laid in the sun for hours, talking things over. At last, Ben Hanscom got up, grabbing his lover's hand and picking the smaller boy up. He escorted Richie to his bike before waving goodbye and riding off, leaving Richie standing there, grinning wide like an idiot.