4

"You think?" Is the first thing that comes out of the girl's mouth which confuses Richie, she didn't look surprised or even grossed out...?

"Uhm yeah"

"I'm pretty sure you would know a 100% dude" She chuckles shaking her head, "Fine, yeah I'm gay"

"Soooo, when did you come to this conclusion?" She says her expression soft as she leans back against the counter looking over at her friends, his eyes were glued to his hands as he thought about her question... When did it hit him? He's never really thought about the certain date he labeled himself as gay... Fuck he does not even remember labeling himself..

"I uhm... I don't know, I guess it just clicked one day I've noticed for a few years that girls weren't as important to me as they were to the other guys and when I tried to be attracted to them it didn't feel right"

"What do you mean you tried to get attracted to them?"

"Like playboy and shit, like it did something for me the first few times I looked at it but after that it didn't do anything"

"When did you start liking Eddie then?" Richie perks up his eyes snapping over to the living room which he could see from where he was standing and thankfully from what he could see everyone was asleep, "Jesus, can you say that any louder?"

"Sorry but answer the question!"

"Like the beginning of middle school, I guess" Richie shrugs, he just remembers finding his friend and cute first but soon just cute turned into smiling every time he looked at him then into thinking about him when he wasn't there... "Middle school? Richie that's been years!"

"Yeah, I know that dumbass"

"And you've never said anything to anyone? Not even your parents?"

"No and I plan to keep it like that"

"Well don't worry, your secret is safe with me Rich" Bev smiles at him "Really?"

"Yes really, now come on its late and I'm tired" She chuckles grabbing a hold of his wrist dragging him back into the living room giving him another small smile as she lays down then turns to face the wall leaving Richie standing there... He told someone... He really told someone, and it didn't feel scary... "Jesus dude why the hell are you just standing there?" Richie looks down seeing Eddie staring back up at him, "Shit sorry was just thinking about something, you're still awake?"

"For a second before I saw your scary ass"

"Sorry" Richie chuckles sitting back down on the floor pulling his blanket over him listening to the sound of Eddie rolling over the boy letting out a content sigh, it took Richie a few more minutes before he started feeling tired soon sleeping off to sleep.

The sun shining through the curtains was enough to walk some of the losers up, Mike sit's up letting out a loud startling Stanley awake. Bev had already been up for a while taking the task of getting breakfast for the group, she walked back into the house, closing the door with her boot holding a large brown bag in her arms, the smell of food waking the rest of them up. Eddie sit's up rubbing his eyes with his fisted hand letting out a tired yawn, looking next to him he sees Richie still passed out laying on his stomach his messy hair flopping onto his face as it buries itself deeper into the pillow at the sound of people talking. Eddie never quite understood how his friend could sleep like that without hurting the muscles in his body, he stares for a second longer at Richie's peaceful face until the beeping from his watch laid on the floor next to him snaps him out of it. With a groan he stands up sliding his watch back on then digs through his fanny pack for the container of pills he had brough with him, once he finds them, he pops the morning one's into the palm of his hand then walks into the kitchen looking for water.

"Richie still asleep?" Bev says as Eddie walks into the room, "Mhm" He mumbles his body still feeling tired his brain groggy, "I don't understand how he sleep's so much!"

"D-Didn't he sleep till like four p-pm one time?" Bill asks making Bev nod her head, "Yep and he was still able to function"

"It's like he's a robot" Mike adds making the group chuckle in response, "You guys are too fucking loud" Richie groans dragging himself into the kitchen not having even put on his glasses, yet his brown eyes shut, "Morning sleepy head!" Bev grins.

"I would have slept longer if it wasn't for your loudmouth"

"Aw but then you'd miss out on hanging out with us!" Bev teases sliding his glasses onto his face allowing him to finally see, "I'd trade you guys for sleep anytime"

"I wasn't even talking" Eddie mumbles still half asleep as he downs his pills with a large chug of water "Fine you can stay but I'm trading you the second you start complaining" Richie mumbles back resting his forehead against the cold tile counter,

"Not if I trade you first asshole" Eddie chuckles before looking over at the brown bag, "What's in that?" He asks. "Well since I love you guys so much, I brought some of my aunt's baking" She smiles holding the bag up so the guys could peak inside seeing muffin's, "Please let me marry your aunt" Richie gasps suddenly wide awake.

"Do they have nuts in them?" Eddie speaks up again peeking into the bag unable to tell if they held one of the foods, he was deathly allergic to, "Nope nut free!"

"Can't handle nut's Ed's?" Richie smirks the joke making Eddie gasp his head snapping over to face him "Gross dude! Gross!"

"Set yourself up for that one man"

"I did not idiot! Sorry I was making sure I wasn't going to die if I ate these" Eddie rolls his eyes crossing his arms like a stubborn child, the group just watch's the two bicker back and forth like they normally did "Already an old married couple" Ben chuckles fishing a muffin out of the bag, "I'd give you mouth to mouth don't worry" Richie tease's again making Eddie scrunch up his nose "I would rather die, plus that's not even how you treat an allergic reaction dumbass"

"Alright enough you two, it's way too earlier to start fighting" Bev break's the two up plopping a muffin into Richie's hand making him shut up instantly, "Don't worry Eddie, my aunt knows about your allergy" Bev adds while offering a muffin to him, Eddie huffs as he accepts the muffin "At least she cares if I die or not" He mumbles shooting a glare at Richie, "Hold on, I'd care because who else would I have to tease every day?"

"God it's like you were born just to put me through hell"

"Oh, little do you know this is heaven" Richie winks making Eddie stare at him dumbfounded, he rolls his eyes letting out a low groan before shoving a piece of the muffin into his mouth ignoring his friend's comment.

"So what are we doing today?" Bev speaks up breaking the comfortable silence that formed while everyone ate, "Well I have some stuff to do today with my parents, but I could hang out later this afternoon" Stanley shrugs looking over from his muffin, "Same, I have to go to the pharmacy to get my new inhaler" Eddie adds, Richie looks over at him wondering why the hell he still even used that thing he only used it when he was panicking or ran a lot but even then he didn't really need it.

"Okay well then I guess we could meet up in town then?" Bev shrugs looking around the group earning nods from everyone, after breakfast was done the teenagers start to pick up the living room just as Richie's dad walks into the house. "Hey Rich" he call's out while removing his shoes with a tired huff, "Hey dad" Richie call's back looking over at the tired looking man, "You kids have fun?"

"Yeah, thanks again for letting us crash here Mr. Tozier" Bev says respectfully, "Ah it's no problem, good to know my son got friends" He chuckles lightly flicking his son in the back of the head not enough to hurt, "Jeez thanks dad, wouldn't want to end up like you huh?"

"Good one" The older man let's out another deep chuckle making Richie smile, him and his dad were always closer than he was with his mom... The two were like the same people even mom said that his father was just like him when he was in high school, well less of a trash mouth but he joked a lot. The group all started leaving waving bye to Richie and his dad, Eddie was the last one to leave throwing his bag over his shoulder as he slipped on his shoes "So how's your mom kid?" Wentworth says walking past Eddie into the living room, "Oh she's good Mr. Tozier"

"That's good, well tell her me and Maggie say hi"

"Will do sir" Eddie says giving the older man a small smile before waving goodbye to Richie who was leaning against the wall next to him, the walk home was nice the sun was warm and beating down on Eddie as he walked but it was peaceful... He knew that was going to change when he walked into his own house.