#redddie

Richie raised an eyebrow, looking over his best friend.Normally Eddie would exclude himself from parties, but for whatever reason hehad agreed to tag along. Richie had tried his best to keep track of him,feeling as if he was responsible for what happened to him but Beverly insistedthat she would take care of him while he went out for a smoke.

An hour ago.

“Are you high?” The trashmouth asked, staring into his friendsgiant pupils.

“Psshh….” Eddie replied, smiling uncontrollably. “Yes.”

“What the fuck Bev?” He hissed, “You said you would watchhim!”

“Hey I didn’t know those brownies were tainted.” Shedefended, clearly stoned herself. “Your baby boy was hungry!”

“He is not my-you know what it doesn’t matter. How many didhe eat?”

“Like three?” Beverly replied, her pitch getting higher withher confession. “I mean, he had as much as me so-“

“He’s a light weight Bev. He has to be out of his mind rightnow.” Richie felt his stomach twist as Eddie staggered over to him, his handsgripping onto his shirt. He was so close that Richie could see the frecklesthat were dusted along his nose.

“I’m fine.” Eddie blurted with a giggle, “But I am hungry again.”

Richie couldn’t help but smirk, he had never seen Eddie thishigh before. “Okay Eds, let’s go home so I can get you something to eat.”

Eddie’s face flustered, his fingers now biting into theflesh of his friends arm. “Oh! Can we stop at taco bell? I would kill for ataco right about now.”

“Sure, whatever you want.” He replied, lighting up hisfriends face. The sight nearly killed him. “But we gotta hurry, they close at 1o’clock.”

“Oh my god let’s go!” Eddie cheered, running towards thefront of the house, jumping over people with the grace of a three year old. Richielaughed at the sight.

“Oh by the way.” Beverly muttered, pulling the trashmouths attentionaway from his friend. “He would not shut the fuck up about you.”

“What?”

“Eddie, all he did was blabber on about how amazing you wereand sweet and blahblahblah” She stuck out her tongue as if in disgust, causingMike to chuckle. “If you don’t lock that down soon, I will kill you Rich.”

“Note taken.” He replied softly, turning heel and trottingthe way Eddie had went. His ears rang, his emotions pushing against his chest makinghim feel sick. The small boy was already by his truck when he had caught up.

Eddie anxiously bounced on the balls of his feet, smiling asRichie unlocked his door. “Yay. Taco Bell!” He giggled, hopping into the cab ofthe tuck. “You are the fucking best Rich, really.”

Richie got into his truck and watched his friend bob on theseat, his soft humming filling the space between them. It was like everything madesince then, every touch, every lingering feeling, all of it clicked in hishead. It was that moment that he realized, he actually loved this kid.

Eddie noticed his silence, looking over to him confused. “What’sup?”

“Nothing.” He muttered, starting the engine and smiling. “It’snoting Eds but when you sober up we gotta talk about something okay?”

“What is it?”

“Don’t worry about that right now okay? Let’s just get yousome food.”

“Okay. To taco bell!” Eddie blurted, pointing towards the absolutewrong direction. Richie laughed as they pulled away from the house, his bodyfeeling lighter than before.