"i have to make a decision about what i'm going to do, rich." eddie grabbed richies hand, looking up at him.

"a decision about what?" richie knew what, he just didn't want to have this conversation. not now, at least.

"you know what, asshole." eddie said, a sarcastic tone sticking to his voice. it had been three months since they had met. they had spent the entire summer together, touring around the united states.

eddie thought it was great, but he soon realized that he'd have to make a decision. richie would be leaving the u.s. soon. his tour was continuing in other places, and he wanted eddie to go with him. the only issue was that school was starting back up, and eddie had to go back. he didn't really want to take a gap year midway through school, and risk not getting accepted again, but he also didn't want to be away from richie for the next five months.

"i know, i just don't want to think about it." richie never talked about what was going on. he hated talking about the future, and he hated thinking about what was happening. he didn't want eddie to leave, he didn't want to leave eddie.

"i don't either, but i have to. we have to." eddie didn't want his time with richie to end. he didn't want anything to end. neither one of them really knew what to do at this point. they knew they couldn't avoid it, because time would catch up to them soon.

"can't you just stay with me? i know i'm being selfish by asking, but i don't care. i don't want you to go."

if richie could have it his way, neither of them would go anywhere. they'd stay in the hotel room for the rest of their lives, and that would be it.

don't get him wrong, richie loved touring. he loved his music, and the band, and all of the support. but he loved eddie more. he loved the time spent with eddie more than he loved anything else.

"i want to, rich. i really want to-"

"then why won't you? you're probably the smartest kid at UCLA, there's absolutely no way that they won't accept you back. and if they don't accept you back, fuck them. you can go to any school in the world, eds. you're smart enough to do that. i'll make sure that you get put into any college that you want to be in. i swear to you."

"richie, can you just promise me that no matter what happens, you'll be here for me? and that you'll be okay with whatever i choose to do. can you promise me that?"

eddie held his pinky finger out, looking up into richies eyes. the other did the same, holding his hand out to meet eddies. richie locked their fingers together, nodding his head.

"i promise you eds, i'll be here. no matter what you want to do. i support whatever decision you make. i'm going to be here. pinky promise."