Chapter Text
A note slid across Eddie’s desk. A note from Richie, because even though it had been two weeks since Eddie had found out that Richie was his cubicle neighbor (and since Eddie had told Richie they were cubicle neighbors), they still sent notes back and forth to each other like they were in middle school or some shit.
merry crisis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eddie rolled his eyes.
Merry Chrysler
He sent the note back over, a smile still playing at his lips. It was the last day before Richie went home for break. Eddie was going to wait until Sunday, so he only had to spend a few days with his mother before Richie would be coming to rescue him.
He really couldn’t wait to spend two weeks at Ben’s. He couldn’t imagine a better way to spend break than with the Losers.
And the note was back on his desk.
miss u eds :/
Eddie wished those three words didn’t make his cheeks heat up, but they did because he fucking adored Richie.
Not my name Trashmouth, get back to work
Eddie glanced at the clock. Not much time left on his shift. He hoped Richie got off the same time as him- and the rest of the Losers. He hoped that Richie and the rest of the Losers all got off at the same time. Maybe they could go to the diner before break started.
The note slid back on his desk. Eddie opened it to find Richie had scribbled a ton of frowny faces.
Cute, cute cute
Eddie sent the note back to Richie knowing damn well Richie would find offense that Eddie had stolen his phrase.
what are u tryin to do here eds? stealing my clocking out message and now my catchphrase? this is biphobia at it’s finest
Eddie laughed out loud at the message. It was unfathomable at this point to try and wonder why it had taken him so long to realize that it was Richie on the other side of the cubicle.
Sad .
Eddie started to close out of the programs on his computers, then he logged out of his computer and shut it down. The note slid back onto his desk.
xoxo spaghetti man! diner time?
Eddie slipped the note into his pocket and headed for reception. Bill, Bev, Stan, and Mike were already there.
“Spaghetti!”
Eddie turned to see Richie and Ben.
“I was promised food?” Eddie asked.
“Does my spaghetti want some spaghetti?” Richie teased.
“Fuck off,”
“As much as I love these intricate rituals, can we fucking eat?” Stan asked.
Eddie felt himself turn bright red.
“Aw Staniel, is someone feeling neglected?”
“Rich-” there was a small smile climbing over Stan’s face.
“You are in fact my favorite Stan,” Richie added, throwing his arms around Stan and placing a wet kiss to Stan’s cheek.
“You’re disgusting,” Stan muttered, shoving Richie away.
Richie just beamed at him and the group made their way to the parking lot. They ate dinner at their diner and stole fries from each other. Then it was time to head back to the dorm and even sooner it was time for Richie to head back home for winter break.
“It’s going to be alright Spaghetti man,” Richie said, his hand on Eddie’s shoulder.
“I know,” Eddie said petulantly.
“I’m only going to be there for three days,” he added for his own benefit.
“Three days, you got this,” Richie said.
“It’ll be Christmas night before you know it,”
“Thanks Rich,” Eddie said with a small smile.
Eddie followed him to the other side of the car, not quite ready to say goodbye just yet.
“See you Wednesday night,” Richie said.
“Wednesday,” Eddie confirmed.
Richie cupped his face with one hand, his thumb brushed against Eddie’s cheek. All Eddie had to do was pull Richie down and kiss him, it would be so easy- but then Richie’s hand was off his face and he was opening the car door.
“Wednesday,” Richie said again, a massive smile on his face.
“See you soon, ‘Chee. Xoxo or whatever bullshit,”
Richie laughed at that, his voice loud and his cheeks red.
“Cute, cute, cute, Eds,” he said as he ruffled Eddie’s hair.
Eddie swatted at his hands and watched Richie get into his car and take off. Eddie stood there until he couldn’t see Richie’s car, and then he headed inside his dorm.
Eddie headed home on Sunday and counted down the hours until Richie came to get him. Sonia Kaspbrak asked all the usual bullshit questions, when was he going to settle down with a girl, have kids, as if she didn’t know he was still in college and had absolutely no time (or interest) in doing either of those.
He tried to tell her that he would be leaving after Christmas to spend time with his friends, but Sonia lost her mind and started crying about Eddie not loving her. Eddie didn’t know how to respond to that one, so he didn’t.
He didn’t bother unpacking any of his things, he knew he was going to need to make a quick getaway.
20 minutes out!!! Be ready Spaghetti!!!!!!!
Richie’s text came nearly an hour after Sonia went to bed. Eddie carefully carried his things downstairs and set them outside on the porch. Once he was finished with that he crept back inside and left Sonia a note and taped it to the fridge. He headed back outside, closed the door behind him, and sat on the porch steps. If Richie’s text had been correct, then there was only a few more minutes to go before he would be at Eddie’s house.
Eddie couldn’t wait to see Richie. He couldn’t wait to see Richie’s smile, to hear Richie’s voice, to be the recipient of all of Richie’s casual touches and stupid spaghetti jokes. Maybe… maybe Eddie should just tell him, like he had told Richie that they were cubicle neighbors, just admit his feelings. How scary could it be?
A car slid to a stop in front of Eddie’s house. In the dark he could make out the color of the car and knew instantly it was Richie. Eddie pushed himself to his feet, grabbed his bags, and made his way to the car.
“Get in Loser! We’re going camping!” Richie hissed out the window as Eddie approached his car.
Eddie rolled his eyes and he pulled the back door open to shove his bags into the back seat. He glanced back at the house as he shut the door, praying that his mom wouldn’t wake up. He knew there was nothing she could say to stop him, but he really didn’t need Richie seeing how awful Sonia Kaspbrak could be first hand. Eddie slipped into the passenger seat and shut the car door.
“We’re not camping,” he said as he buckled in.
“I couldn’t think of a different word,” Richie said with a shrug.
Eddie plugged the aux cord into his phone and flicked through his music as Richie navigated the streets of Derry. Eddie couldn’t fucking wait to get out of Derry for the next two weeks.
“How’d your mom react?” Richie asked.
“I’m sneaking out in the middle of the night, how do you think it went?” Eddie asked, settling on a more mellow playlist for the drive to Ben’s cabin.
“Touche,” Richie said.
“Thanks for picking me up,”
“Anything for you Eds,”
Eddie was thankful that it was dark so Richie couldn’t see the blush on his cheeks.
“That’s not my name,” he said as he nudged Richie’s arm.
“Don’t distract the driver, Eds!” Richie said with a grin.
Eddie rolled his eyes.
“How long till we get to the cabin?”
“Hour and a half,” Richie said, his eyes flicking to the directions on his phone.
“Everyone else already there?”
“I think so,”
Eddie watched the Now leaving Derry sign whiz past them and smiled softly. It would be an hour and a half of darkness till they reached the cabin, but he had Richie to bother, and wasn’t that just the dream?