Summary: Richie is the best man at his friendâs wedding but he knows that he has to stop it or else regret it for the rest of his life.
A/N: âSpeak now or forever hold your peace.â Yeah, so freaking clichĂŠ, I feel like Iâm writing a romantic comedy, blah.
It really was a beautiful set up. The church was small, rather quaint compared to some of the others that they had considered. It had been decorated in a sea of blue and silver, the colors covering nearly every inch of the place. She had chosen daisies as her flowers, so the centerpieces and bouquets had been a mixture of tones of blue daises. The groomsmen were in traditional suites, their ties cobalt while the bridesmaids wore a floor length silver gown. It was as if plucked from a dream, a fluffy, happy, perfect dream that only a bride could come up with.
And Richie hated all of it.
He stood outside, sucking down his fourth cigarette in thirty minutes. His concentration was fleeting as he repeated his speech for the millionth time. Each words sounded like a load of shit coming from his mouth but he kept trying, each attempt worse than the last. An alarm sounded on his watch and he cursed, tossing his half smoked death stick to the ground before stomping on it with his dress shoes.
As he reentered the church the smell of daises wafted back to him, making him feel sick. He ignored the guests as they rolled in, greeting one another as if this wasnât the worst day of the trashmouths life. Like he wasnât dying inside. He neared his intended room, taking in a deep breath before entering, his heart nearly pounding right out of his chest.
âThere you are!â An excited voice cooed, Richie couldnât help but smirk as he turned towards his friend. âGod, I thought I lost the best man for a second.â Eddie joked, taking three long strides until he was right in front of Richie. âI need you to do my tie. Ma will kill me if it isnât done right.â
Richie gulped down the lump in his throat, nodding as his fumbled with the silk. He wasnât sure how, but his shaky hands finished the task quickly before he lost his mind at their closeness. Eddie frowned, sending the trashmouths stomach to the floor. âYou smell like an ash tray.â He mumbled, shaking his head. âI should be the one thatâs nervous not you. Itâs my wedding.â
There was a painful rip in Richieâs chest at the statement, he could practically feel his emotions seeping through the open wound. âI know.â He managed to reply, rubbing the back of his neck. âAbout that-â
âCan you believe Iâm getting married? And to a catholic girl? Pretty crazy right?â
Richie sighed, his stomach churning painfully. âYeah. Crazy.â
âThanks for being here. I know the others are groomsmen too, and Bev is a bridesmaid but I really needed you to help me get through this. I knew I could count on you.â He smiled up to Richie, making the trashmouths head spin. âYouâre my best friend Rich.â
Richie tried to bite back to the tears but a few escaped, rolling down his cheeks. Eddie noticed immediately, rubbing his arm for support. âWhat? Did I say something wrong?â
He sniffled, trying to compose himself. âNo. No itâs not you.â He choked, âItâs never you Eds.â
âThen what is it? Why are you crying?â
âIâm sorry.â Richie whimpered, whipping away the tears from his eyes. âIâm so fucking sorry to do this to you right now, but there isnât any way I could live with myself if I didnât.â Eddie shook his head, confusion covering every inch of his perfect face. The trashmouth managed a chuckle, it was pathetic and weak but it was something that could ground him to the situation at hand. âEddie, you canât marry Myra.âÂ
âW-What?â The small man replied, taking a step back from his friend. âWhat are you talking about?â
âI know it sounds rude and itâs so fucking terrible for your best man to do this but you canât marry her. She isnât right for you.â
Eddies face turned red, his body shook in frustration as he hissed, âWhat the fuck Richie?â
Richie flinched, tears still blurring his vision. âIâm sorry.â
âWhere is this coming from?â Eddie asked, raking his hands through his perfectly sculpted hair, ruining it forever. âYou told me that you liked Myra.â
âYou were there when I picked out the ring, when I asked her to marry me.â
âI know Eds.â Richie whispered, feeling his heart crack at the horrific memory. âI know all of that but you canât marry her okay? You just canât.â
âWhy not?â He asked, shaking his head. âSheâs a good girl and this is what people do right? So why shouldnât I marry her?â
Richie clenched his fists, his nails digging into the tender flesh of his palms. Warm blood began to run down into the crevice of his fingers but he ignored it. âShe isnât right Eds. Iâm telling you as your best friend, you arenât supposed to marry her.â
âThen who am I supposed to marry Rich?â
The earth stood still, time became irrelevant as the two stared at each other, both shocked that the confession had come out. The simple word ate away the air around them, poisoning them with every second that passed. It was Eddie who spoke, so soft that if they werenât the only ones there it would have been lost. âWhat did you just say?â
âI said youâre supposed to marry me.â Richie managed to repeat. Eddie stood there, staring at him, his mouth gaped opened. Richie could feel his heart rip from his chest, practically presenting itself to the man before him. The look on the grooms face was unreadable, his eyes completely distant. âI-I love you Eddie. Iâm sorry it took me this long to tell you and fuck does my timing suck but you canât marry her. Youâre supposed to be with me.â
âRichie I-Iâ The smaller man paused, sighing heavily. His hands rubbed his face, obviously shaken by his friendâs words. Richie frowned, closing the gap between them. Slowly he lowered his face, lingering just above Eddieâs lips.
He expected the groom to shy away, to slap him and spew some profanity in his direction but he didnât. Eddie just stood there, his eyes fluttering as he looked up at Richie. The trashmouthâs hands found his hips, pulling him closer. Eddie responded, sliding his hands behind Richieâs neck.
Richie kissed him, his chapped lips and lingering nicotine brushing against Eddieâs perfect porcelain mouth. There was a moan that stretched between them as the kiss deepened, both of them becoming hungry for the others touch. Richieâs hands moved without his permission, pushing the groomâs jacket from his shoulders and allowing to fall to the ground. Eddie reacted, shoving the trashmouth against the wall, practically ripping his jacket off. They fumbled with one another, their hands pulling at the clothing they wore. Eddie unbuckled Richieâs pants, speaking under his breath. âFuck Richie.â
âI know.â Richie replied, allowing the smaller man to slide his hand down his overly tight dress slacks. He let out a ragged moan, feeling Eddieâs hand grip onto him. Richie pressed himself into him, nipping at the other mans exposed skin. It was like wildfire and Richie wasnât sure if he could stop but he knew it was supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be them.
There was a knock at the door that halted their movements. âEddie, youâve got five minutes.â Mikeâs voice spoke through the barrier. âHave you seen Richie? I canât find him anywhere.â
Eddie ripped himself from Richie, stumbling as he walked towards the door. âNo, I havenât seen him. C-Check in the alley, heâs probably smoking.â
âYeah okay.â Mike replied, âI will.â
âOkay.â Eddie replied, dismissing his groomsmen. He looked back to Richie, shaking his head. There was something that he had said but it was uncommendable. He leaned against the door, not bothering to adjust his clothes as he slid down to the ground, burying his face in his hands.
Richie felt his heart sink. Slowly he approached the groom, kneeling down to his level. âEddie.â He whispered, rubbing his knee gently.
âWhat am I going to do now?â He whispered, âI canât face them after what we just did, what I just did. Fucking shit.â
âIâm sorry.â Richie choked, sighing as he kissed the other manâs knee. âI didnât mean for any of this to happen this way, I just want you to be happy.â
âI didnât even know I was unhappy Rich. I never though this-we would happen and now? Now Iâm completely lost.â He replied, undoing his messy tie before tossing it to the side. âI was supposed to get married today.â
âYou were.â Richie replied, feeling a wave of nausea wash over him. âI fucked everything up.â
âYeah. You did.â Eddie retorted chuckling. âWay to crash a wedding Tozier.â The trashmouth smiled, leaning in and planting a chaste kiss on the groomâs lips. The smaller man sighed, leaning his head against Richieâs shoulder as he pulled away. âWhat now?â
Richie smiled, âI have an idea.â
Beverly bit her nails, darting her eyes around the drug store parking lot. Her weight shifted in her heels, pulling at her bridesmaids dress. She cursed the damn thing, pulling at it angrily. Ben appeared beside her, his suite hugging his now fit body perfectly. âAre they here yet?â He asked, removing the bags from the other car and placing them on the hood.
âNo. I texted Bill and he said they were on their way.â She replied, pulling out a cigarette from her behind her ear and lighting it. âI just hope Mike can calm all those people down, you know how Eddieâs mom is.â
âOh, I know. Iâm just glad Richie texted us before Eddie sent that note, god can you imagine what itâs like there?â He asked, leaning against the car beside his wife.
âI can, I had to deal with that bridezilla for over a year. Sheâs just like Eddieâs mother.â Beverly hissed, taking in a long drag of her death stick. âThereâs good news though.â
âStan owes us twenty bucks. He said that Richie would stop the wedding at the altar, I said just before.â She smiled up at him, smoke trailing from her nostrils. Ben smirked back, kissing the tip of her nose fondly.
Billâs car pulled up then and Beverly groaned. âFinally.â She hissed as the four men exited the vehicle. âWhat took so long?â
âI had to get your twenty.â Stan replied, handing his friend the bill. âYour good at these things, should I be worried?â
Beverly only smirked, biting her bottom lip and slipping the money into her bra. Eddie rounded the car and sneered, âI canât believe you guys betted against my wedding.â
âWe didnât.â Bill corrected, âWe b-bet on Richie ruining your wedding.â
âWell they do have a point Eds.â Richie joked, following close. âI did ruin your big day.â
Eddie pursed his lips, ignoring his friendâs laughter. âYeah ha-ha, funny, except you guys arenât the ones who have to face all those fucking people.â
âHey donât worry about that right now.â Beverly cooed, tossing him one of the bags. âYouâre about to go on your honeymoon. Cheer up.â She tossed Richie the other one, winking. The two pulled off their suites, changing into the clothes that had been shoved into the bag hastily.
âDo you think itâs wrong of me to go? I mean I did leave her at the altar.â Eddie asked, his stomach twisting painfully. He could only imagine what she was going through right now, what everyone was going through. Richie and he had ruined the wedding, jumping through the window and calling their friends for an immediate evacuation.
Ben shook his head, allowing Richie to steady himself by clutching onto his arm as he slid off his pants. âNo, she was a horrible person. Total bitch.â
There was an accumulation of agreement between the group and Eddieâs face flustered. âWhat? Why in the hell didnât any of you say anything? You all said she was okay!â
âYeah well we planned on Richie growing a pair long before you got engaged.â Stan replied, accepting Eddieâs dress shirt as he handed it to him.
âHey I have a very nice pair, thank you very much.â Richie replied, making a crude gesture through his jeans. The group rolled their eyes, practically groaning at the sight.
âI hope you keep that shit to yourself when youâre my best man.â Stan hissed.
Eddie laughed, pulling on the last of his garments. âYou donât want him as your best man. He was mine and now look.â
Stan cringed, âYouâre right. Eddie youâre my new best man.â
âI donât t-think so.â Bill interjected, âHeâs mine. Your stuck with your original, no trading.â They bickered for a moments until Eddie and Richie were finished changing.
Beverly stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with happiness. âHere are your tickets.â She whispered, handing Eddie a small booklet. âCall us when you land okay?â
âOkay.â He replied, embracing her. She planted a gentle kiss to his cheek before pulling away. The others hugged the two briefly, each of them sharing their own words of encouragement. Ben handed them the keys to his car, lecturing them about safety and handling to which they nodded annoyingly.
Richie took the driverâs seat, awakening the engine. Eddie followed slowly, sliding into the passenger seat with a sigh. âYou arenât regretting this are you?â The trashmouth asked, looking over to the now ex-groom. âBecause if you are we can just go back. I know I sprung this on you and Myra isnât all that bad, I mean she is but if you do actually love her than you should be with her not me because-â
âBeep beep Richie.â Eddie breathed. Slowly he interlaced their fingers, bringing Richieâs hand to his mouth and placing a gentle kiss on top of his wrist. âYou were right. I am supposed to be with you.â
Richie smiled, his heart swelling. âI love you Eds.â
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