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Richie was dense, he knew that. If anything, it was one of his most concerning flaws. Not realizing that he had a boyfriend? Not one of his finest moments.
The seven of them were lounging around in the clubhouse on a particularly muggy day in June. Nevertheless, Richie and Eddie were cuddled together in the hammock, not caring about the raising temperature in the cramped space underground.
“Eddie, my love, please get your foot out of my face” Richie sighed out, sounding exasperated. The plea fell on deaf ears as Eddie ignored him pretending to read his comic and moved his foot that was hanging off the edge of the hammock and put it on the other side of Richie's face. His freckles becoming more pronounced with the deep red blush that was blooming on his cheeks from the nickname.
“Wow, real classy Eds” Richie exclaimed grabbing one of his feet and pushing it off the hammock “Get your smelly Dorito feet away from me” Eddie gawks at him ready to argue, when Beverly cuts them off.
“Trashmouth what are you doing this weekend” Beverly shouts to interrupt the beginnings of their bickering. A small smile on her face looking at the two of them.
Richie’s face lit up at the question and his eyes locked with Eddie’s a crooked grin on his face, his glasses falling down his nose. “I’m taking our dear little Spaghetti here out on a date, his treat of course” Richie said dramatically, holding his hand to his heart.
Eddie throws the comic he was holding at Richie's face “Shut up, you dick” Eddie spat his face scrunched up. Richie laughs boisterously, throwing his head back and grabbing Eddies calf when he calms down a soft smile when he looks at him. “Okay, okay, I catch your drift Spaghetti Man I’ll pay” Richie wheezes throwing his hands up in surrender.
Eddie looks down at his leg where Richie is holding, face burning again. His brown hair falls over his eyes, he ignores Richie’s bait to resume their bickering and turns his head towards the wall putting his arm across his eyes. Richie watches the events “Eddie?” Richie questions quietly “Eds? Are you okay? What's wrong?” His grip subconsciously tightens with his worry. Eddie whimpers but doesn’t answer. Turning his head farther into the hammock. Richie leans closer, the hammock wobbling as he moves up. Riches hands land on Eddies thighs and his knees between Eddies legs. “Eddie, do you need your inhaler? What happened?” Eddie nods his head. Richie takes his hand off his thigh and moves to Eddies waist to his fanny pack and grabs his inhaler bringing it up to Eddies lips.
Eddie takes a few recovering breaths “Can we go to the quarry it’s getting too fucking hot in here” he wheezes. The group murmurs their agreements and begin clambering their way to the ladder, the appeal of the cool water getting them excited. Richie climbs out of the hammock and holds out his hand to help Eddie out. The brunette takes his hand hesitantly and climbs out. They keep their hands locked as they make their way to the ladder.
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The group decided to stop at a convivence store to get some Cokes. Richie and Eddie wandering off to the candy aisle.
“Buy this for me” Eddie demands with a smile holding up a bag of M&M’s and waving them around Richie's face.
“Okay fine, but you have to give me a kiss” Richie jokes grabbing the bag from his hands making kissy noises at him. Eddie smacks his shoulder but laughs anyway as they make their way towards the register.
Before they reach the end of the aisle a girl stops Richie by grabbing the end of his sleeve. Behind her two other girls are huddled together giving her thumbs up, watching her confront the taller boy.
The girl stands at about the same height as Eddie, her long blonde hair is put in a high ponytail. She looks nervous and she looks back at her friends for confidence before speaking. “Hey, uhm I thought you were cute, and I was wondering could I have your number” She looks back at her friends again and they are giggling excitedly. She turns to Richie waiting for an answer
He looks at Eddie, surprise written on his face. Eddie steps forward hearing the conversation and grabs onto Richie's upper arm, a forced smile on his face. “Sorry, he’s not interested” Eddie replies for him curtly. The taller boy looks down at him confused. “I’m not?” He asks.
“He’s taken” Eddie dropped the fake smile and glared at the girl. She puts her hands up, an embarrassed looked on her face. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you two were together” She looks at Eddie when she speaks refusing to look up and the other.
“Oh, you’re fine, everyone thinks that! We’re just friends though” Richie chuckles and throws his arm around Eddie. The brunette looks up at Richie and pulls out of his grip. “That’s not fucking funny dickhead” His face is red with anger; she sees this and walks back to her friends not wanting to witness an argument.
“I’m not joking?” Richie furrows his eyebrows at him looking more serious than Eddies ever seen him. Eddie backs up and scans his face “You’re serious?” Eddie asks his voice cracking.
“Am I missing something? When did I start dating someone?” Richie asks humor dripping back into his voice, not sensing the tense atmosphere. Eddie looks around for his friends, tears gathering in his eyes, he doesn’t answer Richie, doesn’t even want to look at him. He sees Stan and rushes over to him.
“I'm going home” Eddie whispers to Stan, his tears flowing down his cheeks. He doesn’t wait for a response and books it out the door. The bell ringing signaling his departure. Stan looks around the store for his target and when he finds him, he stalks over to Richie his anger bubbling in his chest. “What did you do Trashmouth” Stan points a finger in his chest. Pushing him backwards slightly.
“I don’t think I know” Richie looks to Stan hoping for him to fill in the blanks. “I told some girl that me and Eddie were just friends and he got mad and left” Richie says with wide eyes. Stan balks at him, anger dissipating at his idiotic friend “No wonder he was pissed, he probably thinks you were breaking up with him” Stan lectures.
“What the fuck is going on, since when are me and Eds together?” Richie spits, the confusion turning into anger. “Look I know everyone knows I like him, but I don’t remember asking him to be my boyfriend so can you please tell me what I'm fucking missing here.” Richie rants. The rest of the group overhears him, and they guide him out of the store, not wanting to bother the owners.
“How did you not know you two were together? I mean look at the way you were basically mounting him earlier today!” Bev replies incredulously as they walk down the street. She looks at her friends waiting for them to back her up.
Bill notices and jumps in “Yeah, and Eddie was having a literal p-panic attack wuh-when you were touching him e-earlier" Bill stuttered out.
“That was an asthma attack” Richie defends his face splattered with red.
“Sure buddy” Ben reassures patting him on the back. Richie’s hands start to tremble, and he looks around the group “Holy shit, me and Eddie were really dating?” Richie exclaims.
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What the fuck, how could I have been so dumb. I've been in love with Eddie nearly all my life and I didn’t realize we were dating? I could’ve kissed him. Richie's face burns at the thought. His pedaling becoming faster.
What do I even say to him ‘Sorry I didn’t know we were boyfriends, but we could continue that if you want.’ A scoff passes his lips at the imaginary declaration. School is going to be brutal tomorrow; he doesn’t even know how he’s supposed to act around Eddie now. Whatever he’s been doing has led everyone to believe they were dating, so should I do the opposite? Does that make it worse? Maybe just talking to him is the best approach. That would be easier said than done, seeing as Eddie was the most stubborn son of bitch Richie has ever known, and talking about his feelings was not a strong point for Richie. Deflecting with jokes was his go to, making things less tense or awkward.
Lying in bed Richie’s thoughts rambled on before he eventually fell asleep, anxious for the upcoming day.
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Lunch had just started, and Richie has yet to see Eddie today. He doesn’t know if he showed or not, but if he had, he was doing a damn good job of avoiding the loudmouth boy. Richie slammed his tray at the table where the rest of the Losers sat at and said nothing as he began eating. A complete opposite to his usual entrance. The group looked at him wearily not used to this sullen version of him, they raised their heads to the cafeteria door in unison as Eddie walked in making a beeline towards their table.
Richie was still eating his lunch and didn’t notice his arrival until he sat at the seat farthest away from him. He looked up his eyes wide and tried to start a conversation with him. Eddie turned to Bev instead and started talking to her loudly, not allowing anyone to butt in.
Lunch persisted this way, every time Richie went to say something, Eddie was quicker, not allowing him to speak at all. The Losers noticed but didn’t know how to bring it up without getting on Eddie’s bad side as well, so they didn’t mention it.
The bell rings signaling the ending of lunch, Eddie rushes to his next class and leaves the group without a goodbye. Richie looked like a kicked puppy by the end of the school day, he hadn’t spoken a word to Eddie, and he hadn’t walked him to his classes like he usually did. The short boy was able to enter and exit his classes first, leaving no time for Richie to try and clear his mess up.
At the final bell Richie had had enough of the silent treatment and made it his mission to track down the asthmatic, and try to offer him a ride home, and a chance to talk to him.
Luckily, Richie was tall, tall enough to see over the sea of people blocking the hallway. He saw a flurry of dark green rush to the doors of the school, and Richie began to push his way through the crowd to get to his alleged boyfriend.
“Eds” Richie gasped out grabbing his wrist. Eddie turned around so fast it looked like it could give him whiplash. “Don’t touch me” Eddie spat as he pulled his arm away and twisted to walk away.
“Please” Richie pleaded following him “Let me give you a ride home, I need to talk to you” Eddie’s pace slowed and then he stopped. He turned to Richie the frustration still apparent and agreed. “Only because you have air conditioning and it’s hot as fuck today” Eddie said aggression still evident but not as bad as before.
They climb in Richie’s truck and pull out of the driveway, silence overwhelming. Richie cleared his throat and began the surely awkward conversation that was going to transpire. “So uh, when did we start dating” Richie questioned laced with curiosity. Eddie looked out the window and scoffed.
“You are so fucking stupid Trashmouth” Eddie snapped. He waited a beat but answered the question anyway “You’re the one who takes me on all those stupid dates, you drive me to school and back, and you touch me all the time. You don’t act like that with the others” Eddie looks at him pointedly, takes a breath and continues.
“You said it first, and then you made me look like an idiot in front of all our friends” Eddie finishes bitterly.
‘Oh my god I did say it first’ Richie remembers.
Spring was just beginning to set in, the air was still cold, they were sitting next to each other reading a new comic together and they were the first two in the clubhouse. Eddie scrunched his nose up at something Richie had said.
“Look at you spaghetti, so cute, cute, cute” Richie leaned over and ruffled his hair. Eddie blushed and leaned into his shoulder continuing to read.
“You know, you are practically my boyfriend Eds” Richie teased and rested his head on Eddie’s. “Yeah practically” Eddie whispered back, the comic forgotten. Bev and Bill entered the clubhouse, and the moment was lost, and they didn’t talk about it again.
“I remember that” Richie said relief filling his body at finally understanding what happened. “I’m sorry that I didn’t know Eds, really, I am. But I do love you and if you don’t think I’m a complete idiot and never want to see me after this, I would want to be your boyfriend again.” Richie expressed, he pulled the car into Eddies driveway and put it in park.
Richie reached his arm out and grazed Eddie’s cheek twisting his head to face him. “You thought I was boyfriend material before, just wait to see how bad I’ll be when I actually know I'm your boyfriend” Richie joked; a smile pulled on Eddies face a pink spreading on his face and he nodded.
“Okay so that nod means you’re my boyfriend, right? I don’t want any more confusion” Richie asked with a smile. “Yes, you idiot” Eddie laughed, opening his door. “I expect you to pick me up tomorrow, walking this morning was a nightmare” Eddie grinned.
“Wait Eds” Richie leaned over and grabbed his face, pressing their lips together. Eddie paused for a moment then pressed into him. Richie's lips were chapped but he enjoyed the kiss anyway. They pulled away with matching blushes, Richie grins at his boyfriend and cocked his head to look at him better “See you bright and early tomorrow morning sweetheart” Richie teased him, leaned back and sat in his seat.
Eddie covered his face with his hands, hiding his bright cheeks. “Oh my god” Eddie cried as Richie laughed at his reaction. “Okay I'm leaving bye” Eddie rushed out and ran to his house. He stopped at the door and looked back at the taller boy, he smiled brightly and waved before he walked inside and shut the door.
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The Losers were gathered in the clubhouse once again, their school week having ended. The hammock was occupied by the newly official boyfriends their sides pressed together; Richie's arm draped over Eddie’s shoulder hugging him close.
“Are you tired baby?” Richie whispered into Eddie’s ear. Eddie nodded and nuzzled his head into Richie’s chest. Sleep enveloping him quickly, the rest of the losers whispered among themselves not wanting to wake the sleeping boy.
“I thought you guys were bad before, I haven't seen you two separated since you got together” Bev whisper shouts. Richie smiles “Are you saying I'm irresistible Miss Marsh?” Richie whispers back.
Bev grins at Eddies sleeping form “Somehow someone thinks so.”