Chapter Text
Bev was just trying to have her lunch. Her Aunt had made her grilled cheese and after the day she’d had, triple chemistry was a stinker, she wanted nothing more than to eat in peace. But Richie, as usual, had other plans. He was pestering her. Frantically.
“Bev, seriously! Who is he?” Richie badgered; Bev simply rolled her eyes. Honestly? She hadn’t been listening. She turned to him, eyebrows raised in question, you could see the boredom in her bright eyes.
“Who?” She questioned; voice laced with uninterest.
“That little cutie over there flapping his hands at Big Bill!”. His dark eyes were curious, hungry to know of the little hazel-haired boy. Beverly swiftly glanced to the pair, eyes widening in recognition.
“That’s Eddie Kaspbrak. And he’s not ‘flapping his hands’ he’s speaking sign.” Richie’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion at her revelation.
With his chin leant in his palm, he eyed the pair before turning to his red-headed friend. “Why’s he speaking sign? Is he deaf? Is Bill?!” Richie was confused, Bill was his friend, well they’d spoken a few times. Bill wasn’t deaf.
“No, Rich, neither of them are deaf, Eddie’s mute so he communicates using sign language.” Bev watched as Richie’s face contorted in understanding, soon the enamoured expression returned to his features as he gazed in the direction of the boy he now knew as Eddie. “You got a little crush there, Rich?” She knew it was a silly question, the last time she saw Richie looking at someone like this it was Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic.
“What? No! Why would you say that?” Richie just rolled his eyes upon seeing the all-knowing stare Bev was giving him. “Alright, fine! Maybe I have a little crush on him.” he sighed in defeat, shooting Bev a glare at the excited giggle that left her lips.
Bev was suddenly dragging a very confused Richie across the lunch hall to the table occupied by the two boys. Richie threw harsh whispers at Bev, just begging her to let go. She didn’t.
“Hey, Bill! You boys don’t mind if we sit with you, right? That okay Eddie?” Bev abruptly plonked herself down, pulling Richie with her. Eddie smiled and nodded; Bill quick to satisfy the red-headed girl.
“Y-Yeah! Of course!” Bill exclaimed, thanking the lord that his stutter weny almost unnoticeable. He watched as Bev’s blue eyes grew brighter as her signature smile stretched across her face. The girl took a seat, practically dragging Richie down with her, who stumbled and all but crashed into the chair opposite Eddie. The red on his face grew and he smiled sheepishly, mumbling a barely there ‘sorry’ to the boys. It didn’t help that Bill and Bev were laughing so hard they had tears streaming down their fair cheeks. Amid the laughter, and embarrassment on Richie’s part, a small giggle grabbed his attention. His head flew up to be met with the little hazel eyed boy trying to stifle his laughter with his hand. He was looking up at Richie, eyes practically glowing with amusement. Richie’s upset quickly dissipated as he watched the younger boy. He released a small chuckle, suddenly no longer upset, angry or embarrassed.
“Glad you find my embarrassment so amusing, Eds.” He teased the young boy, grabbing Bev’s attention with his sudden bravery. Eddie quickly turned to Bill, signing something to him. Bill nods and pats Eddie’s shoulder.
“He says he thinks you’re funny, incredibly clumsy, but funny nonetheless.” Bill translates.
“Well, gee, Eds!” the raven-haired boy started, “If you think I’m so funny let me take you out on Friday.” Confidence dripped off his words, surprising himself and Bev. Regardless, he maintained eye contact, only looking away when Eddie’s surprised expression disappeared as he whipped his head round to Bill and began signing to him. Bev kicked Richie under the table, attempting to get his attention. It worked. He turned and glared at her, sending her a look that read ‘what the fuck was that for?’. She said nothing, only pulling out her phone and typing rapidly. He rolled his eyes and grabbed his phone, awaiting the oncoming message.
beaverly 😮💨
B- okay what the fuck?!?
R- what??????????
B you just fucking asked him out asshat???
where the fUCK did this confidence come from???
what happened to bev stop! don’t drag me
over to them!
i love him bevvy!
R- i don’t fucking know bev!!!
it just fucking happened!!!
its like the words just fell out of my
fucking mouth
i had NO control over what words escaped!!
B- WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN
YOU DON’T KNOW???
Bev doesn’t get an answer. This is because a certain boy has recaptured Richie’s attention and his phone stays locked and face-down on the table. Eddie has a little cute smile adorning his features, eyes locked on Richie’s as Bill vocalises his response.
“He said sure, want to catch a movie?” Richie’s eyes never move from Eddie’s.
“I’ll pick you up at 7.” He affirms, a smirk gracing his lips. Eddie smiles brighter, if humanly possible, and unlocks his phone and opens his contacts before sliding it over to Richie. He watches as Richie types in his number, but soon rolls his eyes when he sees that Richie has made his contact’s name ‘richie daddy ugh😩🥵’. Richie just laughs obnoxiously, shit-eating grin making it hard for Eddie to contain his smile. Their moment is interrupted.
“Richie! Bev! What the fuck?”
“Stanny!! Guess what!!” Richie shouts, beckoning the boy over to the table. Stan stomps over and sits next to him.
“What?” he grumbles, sighing as Richie wraps his arms around his waist, leaning his head on his shoulder, pushing his nose into his neck.
“I’m going on a date tomorrow!” Richie practically beams. Stan chokes on his apple juice. He turns his head to face Richie, noses brushing as he does.
“A date?! What the fuck? With fucking who?” Richie merely grabs Stan’s face and twists it to point towards Eddie, who waves, a small smile on his face.
“Well, who’d have thought. Eddie, you seriously want to go out with this guy? Is he threatening to murder your family?” Simultaneously, Eddie giggles as Richie scoffs. Eddie looks down at his hands in his lap, softly shaking his head.