#b-everlymarsh

The hot air that pressed against Eddie’s cheeks was unbearable, and soon enough it was unbreathable and the noise of an unzipping fanny pack and the release of an inhaler , against the soft breeze was all that could be heard.

Richie came jogging back from around the corner, the usual spot where he’d lock up their bikes with a grin on his face. Richie looked at Eddie’s closing fanny pack and then back up at the smaller boy.

Richie bumped into his friend, “Don’t die on me now Eds! We haven’t even gone inside!” Richie gestured for Eddie to follow him inside.

Eddie pushed back against the taller boy, let out a laugh , and ran through the arcade doors.

They spent hours inside the cool damp arcade, the smell of candy stinging their nostrils. The dim lights easing their eyes.

They took turns on pacman, frogger and galaga and shared a coke.

They closed the day off with street fighter as usual. Eddie lost the first round, but won the next two.

“Hey, you’re cheating, aren’t you Eds!” Richie yelled as he leaned over and threw his hands over Eddies, trying to mess him up.

“Richie! You’re gonna make me lose!” Eddie yelled back

The two kids exploded in fits of laughter that made their stomachs hurt. Eddie almost didn’t notice the heat in his cheeks.

But Richie did.

“How’d you get so good at street fighter Eddie? Have you been sneaking around behind my back?” Richie joked once they had finally exited the coolness of the arcade, Eddie’s face crinkling in response to the hot air.

“Yeah all the time Rich.” Eddie rolled his eyes playfully before swinging his leg over his own bike.

Richie clapped his hands together in front of him, “Now there is only one thing that could make this day even better Eds. And that one thing… is Ice cream!” Richie suddenly turned his bike and zoomed off toward the sweet shoppe down the road; Eddie desperately trying to keep up.

Richie got mint chocolate chip while Eddie got chocolate. They both walked side by side, pulling their bikes with one hand, cones in the other.

They had reached the field just past the barrens, an overgrown area full of weeds and dirt and most likely bugs. Richie dropped his bike in the grass and continued walking, Eddie mimicking his actions but hesitant to step through the grass, his mother’s loud voice echoing in his mind about allergies.

“Come on Eds! Don’t you wanna watch the sunset, we haven’t done that in like…” Richie looked down at his wrist to a pretend watch “forever!”  he smiled back at the small boy, took a lick from his ice cream and continued on his way.

“If I start sneezing this is on you.” Eddie pushed his way through the grass and up the small hill that looked towards the tall trees that surrounded Derry.

Out of breath, Eddie unzipped his pack, took a puff of his inhaler and plopped down next to the dark haired boy.

Eddie concerned with catching his breath, caught sight of Richie staring with an uncontrolled grin on his face.

“What?” Eddie said exasperated

Richie giggled “You’ve got a little… something on your..” gesturing to his lips.

Eddie felt embarrassment rise in his cheeks as he quickly wiped his mouth with the back of his arm, melted ice cream dragging its way across.

“Aren’t you just a cutie pie!” Richie howled.

Eddie this time felt the heat in his cheeks, but shook it off as the breeze that was beating down on them like a smokers exhale.

Richie laid back on the cool grass and stared at the changing sky, after a few moments Eddie followed.

If Eddie really thought about it, he hadn’t realized the time that had passed between this morning and the moment they were in now. And it was usually like this with Richie, It’s almost as if time stopped whenever the joke cracking boy he called his friend was around.

Eddie turned his head to  stare at his friend to the left of him, the way his freckles reflected off his face, and how his mop hair hung down in front of his eye brows. The smudges on his glasses and the way his shirt always blew with the wind even if there wasn’t any.

"You should marry me.” Richie deadpanned at the sky.

By this time Eddie knew it wasn’t the heat of the day. The heat in his cheeks was a fire now and he was certain it  was visible. His heart stopped for a second, and then picked up again.  He didn’t notice his fingers digging into the grass or how he was holding his breath.

Until Richie’s explosion of laughter brought his breathing back to normal.

“N-Not funny Rich.” Eddie giggled back.

“I’m being serious!” Richie tried to get out between laughs.

The two boys toppled over in laughter,

Eddie not realizing the sweaty palm that enveloped his own.