stan moves in next door to eddie in june.
heâs just left his parentsâ and heâs looking forward to independence
richie helps him unpack his stuff, but he keeps getting distracted by the âcute guy next doorâ
stanâs tired of his shit so he looks out the window at where richieâs looking and oh!
he pulls richie back by the ear and they finish unpacking and afterwards richie goes to chat up that guy.
he comes back when stanâs tidying up his kitchen and introduces eddie, and stanâs made his first friend since moving.
they meet up for tea every friday and chat about their lives, because theyâre both chill guys and richie and eddieâs best friend bill are kinda rowdy
in fact, bill and richie are getting quite close and going out partying together, so the responsibility is off stan and eddie
eddieâs cat takes a huge liking to her
and stan and eddie raise them together until theyâre old enough to be sold
and at some point during that stan falls in love with eddie
for the next two years he messes around not quite denying his feelings but not really dealing with them, happy to just spend time every friday with his neighbour.
heâs closer to eddie than he is to richie
(oh, to dress up in your arms. alone with nothing but our scars)
he opens up about some things heâs never told anyone
like how he considered killing himself when he realised he was gay because he didnât know how his parents would feel (and how relieved he was when they still loved him)
or how he began to self harm when he became depressed
and eddie tells him about his overbearing and abusive mother
and how when he got away from her he felt like he could breathe for the first time
and actually, often, they end up crying together over their mugs of tea, but they feel better for it, always.
and stan couldnât be happier to have found a friend like that.
one afternoon eddie reaches out, touches his hand and just lingers before he leaves and stanâs heart doesnât slow down again for hours.
eddie comes around more often, even without reason, it seems.
and stanâs confused about that, but happy.
richieâs still super got it bad for eddie, though, so heâs around a lot often more, much to stanâs annoyance.
stan almost tells richie about how he feels about eddie, but richie beats him to it by talking about how he wants to ask eddie out and stan, even though he knows he shouldnât, feels betrayed.
(i know that he wonât love you like i love you)
they end up arguing about it and it ends with stan yelling at richie that he should just fucking do it, then! and richie leaves.
and the next friday eddie comes to his door to tell him about how richie asked him out and how weird it is because he was sure heâd get with bill but you know itâs surprising but heâs happy about it!
and stan realises he said yes and eddie doesnât love stan.
but he sits and he drinks tea because eddie is still his friend
but eventually he begins to feel hollow and he distances himself from eddie, whoâs spending so much time with richie that it hurts stan
he distances himself from richie, too
and bill, who heâs become friendly with
and he calls mike, crying one night because heâs worried heâs gonna do something stupid
and mike comes and holds him as he shakes.
and stan stays with mike and his boyfriend, ben, and girlfriend beverly, for a couple of months and he becomes very close with that group.
in fact he even seems to be doing really well again
and he still doesnât speak to eddie often, but he waves when heâs gardening
and sometimes they have tea
but his heart still hurts when he thinks of eddie with anyone that isnât him
he shouldnât feel like that, he really shouldnt
he bites his tongue and heâs ,,, okay
for a couple of years itâs okay, still.
and then richie and eddie get engaged and stan spirals again
and this time when he wants to do something stupid he doesnât call mike, or ben, or bev. he doesnât call richie and he doesnât call bill. he doesnât go to eddieâs, sit with him and talk it out.
(âcause if youâre gonna take forever, i hope i live forever less a day)
he runs a bath, just a little too hot so he leaves it to cool.
and while he waits he cleans.
and then he gets in, breathing steady and calm.
his bathroom has a great view of eddieâs house, and eddieâs cat watches him from the window.
he grabs his phone from the towel next to the bath and leaves eddie a text.
âiâm going away for a little while, can you take care of esme?â
heâs not cruel enough to leave his cat without care.
and then he picks up the razor and facilitates his exit.
(âcause i canât live without you next to me)
eddieâs the first to notice itâs strange when stan doesnât reply after his âsure!â
because stan hates leaving things unfinished and he tries to text back as soon as possible.
but itâs been a few hours.
he has a spare key, so he heads over.
and when he gets no response heâs afraid. stanâs car is in the driveway, so heâs home. so eddie calls the police, just in case.
and when they find stan he breaks down
because he loves richie but heâs always loved stan so, so much too
and if stan hadâve ever loved him back heâd have been there, forever, he knows. he promises. stan we can do this over again just please come home.
esme misses you. richie misses you. i miss you.
everyone misses you stan.
(no i canât live without you next to me)