(Eddie)Chapter 12- Friends

I pull away from Betty, her lips tasting of nothing. This whole relationship is nothing. It's a cover. A lie. I can't keep doing this. Betty doesn't deserve this, and I certainly don't deserve this. 

"What's wrong?" Betty asks, her voice filled with worry.

"I'm sorry," I tell her.

"What do you mean?" She questions, dropping her hands from mine.

"I can't do this, Betty. You're a lovely girl it's just- I can't," I say, rubbing my eyes.

I walk away before she can say another thing, looking for Richie. I find Bev and Ben, dancing together, smiling, their hands around each other. 

"Have you guys seen Richie?" I ask. They shake their heads, and I walk off.

 I walk into the cafeteria and see Bill and Stan. They sit at a table together, hands intertwined underneath the table. I walk up to them, not wanting to interrupt them, but I need to find Richie.

"Have you guys seen Rich?" I ask.

"He's o-o-o-"

"He's out in the parking lot." Stan finishes for Bill," Here, you might want this." Stan hands me the green jacket that sat behind him.

I nod, and jog outside, throwing on the jacket. I see him at his car. He kicks his tire, grumbling to himself. I walk over, my heart pounding. I keep my eyes on him, walking a quick and steady pace. Richie looks up and forces a grin as he sees me.

"Hey, Eddie Spaghetti!" He greets. I keep walking up to him until were a foot away.

"Eds...what's wrong?" Richie asks, his smile dropping.

"Everything Richie."

"Oh...why?"

"Because I kissed Betty."

"Yeah, I saw that. Um, congrats, dude."

"Don't."

"Eddie I-"

"Why do you tease me, Rich? Do you secretly hate me? Do you know how I feel about you and just want to torment me?! Because that's what it feels like!"

"No, I-"

"You know what I felt when I kissed Betty?! Nothing! I'm not supposed to feel nothing, Richie! But when you barely touch me it sets my heart on fire! So what is it?! Just tell me you hate-"

Richie grabs me by the waist, pulling me in, and presses his lips on mine. My stomach feels like I just ingested nuclear pop rocks. And all I can do is kiss back. But he soon pulls away, breathless.

"I'm in love with you." He breaths, his words muffled as he kisses me again.

Everything seems to melt away. Nothing else matters, just our lips interlocked, moving together so naturally. I can feel his sore from the night before and it only reminds me of how much I wanted to kiss him then. I get up on my toes, trying to reach up to his height. He still has to lean down though. I run my fingers through his curls, and one on his hands travels up and down my back, trying to embrace me more. 

I pull away, pressing our noses together, "Your such...an...idiot." I whisper, trying to catch my breath.

He laughs into my neck, gingerly kissing me on the jaw.

"You have no idea how long I've been dreaming about this," I tell him as he trails up from my jaw to my cheek.

"I'm sure I've dreamed longer." He sighs in my ear. 

"You're my best friend, Rich," I tell him.

"Don't ruin the moment, Eds," He replies, kissing my nose. Chills go down my spine.

"I mean that I love you, stupid," I tell him.

He looks down at me, his eyes glittering in the street light. I take off his glasses, minding the tape that's barely keeping them together.

"Was your plan to kiss me, blind me and then kidnap me?" He questions, grinning.

"Rich, if you ever got kidnapped you'd get returned in less then twenty-four hours." I laugh at him, kissing him again.

It starts out soft but grows more passionate. I want to pull him closer, but we're already pressed against each other as close as possible. I want him more than I already have him. I feel his hands travel down to my thighs, and he picks me up with surprising ease. He sits me on the back of his car so that I'm now taller than him. I cup his face in my hands, his hands resting on my thighs. My lips are sore but I don't care. 

But we finally seem to pull apart, both of us gasping for breath. The taste of cigarettes is still in my mouth, and the pop rocks are still sizzling. He wraps his hands around my waist, peering up at me.

"What're you thinking about?" He asks me.

"How ugly your suit is," I say, smiling down at him.

"Ouch!" He jokes, "I mean, I could take it off if you want."

My face starts to burn, and I playfully shove him away.

"Your disgusting!" I scoff at him.

He grabs my hands, intertwining our fingers. 

"You shouldn't speak to your boyfriend like that," Richie tells me.

"Boyfriend?" I question, my heart skipping a beat.

"If that's oka-"

"Yeah, it's perfect," I tell him, sliding his glasses back on his face.

"Good."

"Good."

Were silent, staring into each other's eyes, unable to wipe the grins off our faces. A slow song plays from inside, faint out here but still audible. Richie backs up, taking a bow and offering a hand.

"May I have this dance?" He asks.

I take his hand, hopping down from his car. He grabs my waist and a hand. I do the same to him. And we waltz around, stepping on each other's toes. And it's like back in the gym and the driveway. But truly just us. We're alone.

"I have to confess something." Richie murmurs.

"What?" I question, laughing slightly.

"I keyed Betty's car," He says.

''What?! Richie!" I exclaim, pulling away from him.

"I didn't really mean too- I mean I did. But I wish I didn't." He tells me.

I walk over to Betty's car, Richie following behind me. I look on the passenger's side to see a long scratch down the middle. I gawk at it, outraged and yet amazed that Richie did this.

"Why?!" I ask, running my fingers through my ruffled up hair.

"I saw you two kissing and I just kinda...lost it," Richie tells me, looking down at the ground.

"So, you were jealous?" I question, trying to hold back a smile, failing.

"No!" He retorts.

"Admit it, you were jealous." I tease him, walking over, and putting a finger on his chest.

"Now listen here. I'm the most beautiful person you'll ever meet, and Betty can't even come close to this," Richie says, gesturing to himself, "So, no my Eddio Spaghettio, I was not jealous."

"I think you were." I murmur, turning away and examining the car again.

"I'll let you think what you wanna think." Richie huffs.

"Hey, do you wanna ditch this place?" I ask, turning back to him.

"I thought you'd never ask," He says, a grin on his face. He takes out his car keys, and we walk back into his car and get in.

I buckle my seat belt and am greeted with a kiss as I look up. I look at Richie, his face shadowed in the darkness. He grins at me.

"Burger King? He asks.

"McDonald's." I tell him, "I've had enough of Burger King."

"Does this mean we can't go there anymore?" He questions, buckling his seat belt.

"I mean, there's a drive-thru," I say.

"Your so smart, Eds." Richie coos, starting the car.

"Are you always gonna be like this?" I ask.

"Like what?" Richie questions, pulling out of his parking spot.

"Like an idiot," I sigh.

He gasps playfully, "Why are you so mean to me? I'm just trying to be a good boyfriend!" 

Boyfriend. It makes me smile.

"I love you," I tell him, savoring the words, knowing he feels the same.

"Me too." He replies, grinning.

I slap his shoulder.

***

I lay in the hammock, Richie's arms wrapped around me. There's lanterns set around the clubhouse, and the moonlight streams down from the entrance. We munch on french fries, talking. One of his hands is on mine that holds the french fries, while the other he uses to eat.

"Would you rather be bitten by a zombie or a rabid dog?" Richie asks.

"Neither," I answer, disgusted by the thought.

"Your suppose to choose one."

"Fine. A dog. I can just get a rabies shot. But if the zombie bit me then I'd have to slowly rot away into one of them," I say.

"Lame. I'd wanna be a zombie." Richie states, taking the last french fry. I toss the container down on the floor.

"If there was a zombie apocalypse, and I was bitten would you shoot me?" I ask him.

"No way, I'd let you bite me so we could be together," Richie says.

"That's stupid. I'd shoot you. You would not last!" I tell him.

"What?! That's rude! I would wanna be with you in death!" Richie exclaims. 

I sit up and twist around so I'm lying face down on his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist.

"That's nice, honey," I tell him, closing my eyes.

I feel his fingers rake through my hair, sending chills down my back. 

"Is this my jacket?" Richie questions.

I sit up, looking into his eyes. He smiles back at me.

"Maybe," I tell him.

"You've had it all this time?" He chuckles.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I wanted to hold onto you. But you should have it back."

"What? Why?"

"It doesn't smell like you anymore."

He holds my gaze. His smiles gone. He has a strange look on his face, and I become worried I said something wrong. He leans forward, pressing his lips to mine. It's not like back in the parking lot. It's gentle and less eager. He pulls away, his fingers tracing my lips. I almost quiver under the feeling of his calloused hands.

"You can have everything, Eddie Kaspbrak. Take my jackets, all my clothes. Take my glasses, if I have you I won't need to see. As long as I have your hand in mine I'll know where to go. Trash my car, and I will still walk a thousand miles to see you. Burn all my cigarettes without letting me have a taste because I all I need to taste is your lips. Strip me of everything I own as long as I keep you. Because, you, you are the only thing I need. God, take my name as long as I can take yours!" He whispers to me, his eyes traveling up and down my face. 

I take in everything. His words, his hands now on my hips, and the smell of french fries and cigarettes in his breath. 

"Richie..." I utter, searching for something to say that could even compete to his speech. But then I realize it's not about competing. He told me all that because he loves me. 

"Sorry, got carried away. It's just....you remind me so much of your Mom."

I stare at him for a second, my jaw becoming lax. I should have known. I already knew. Richie could never say something like that without a mom joke.

"Richie...."

"You don't have to say anything, Eddie. Just...." He pulls me closer, laying me down on his chest, my head on his shoulder. He places a hand on my back and uses his free hand to find mine. I let the comment slide focusing on the words he said before that.

And we lay together in the hammock, silent, letting the sound of the crickets ring through the air. Our legs tangled, and fingers intertwined. Our shoes and blazers thrown into a corner, forgotten. Our stomachs full, and the body heat of each other keeping us warm on this cold fall night. And everything seems right. Like it was just meant to be this way. And I never want to leave. 

Richie Trashmouth Tozier is my best friend, the most annoying person, and my soulmate.

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Hello! I know it seems like me, the author has been silent which was purposeful. I just wanted to keep these chapters flowing without my annoying interruptions. And I hope all this fluff makes up for my past angst. But if you thought it was all over- THINK AGAIN! Nope! I mean just cause they're together doesn't mean there won't be future problems. Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter. See you next week, bye!

(P.S:  Richie's big speech near the end used to be even more serious and sappy and whatnot, but I was rereading and decided to change it a little to make it more in character. I can see Richie having a big love speech but not while taking it completely serious. And just to show how Eddie appreciates him but still finds him annoying)