sorry that last chapter was so bad, i needed to bridge these two scenes together somehow and that pile of trash ended up coming out instead
:::(

After lunch, Beverly stood up and stretched. "That was probably one of the best lunches I've had in a while," she said as her arms fell to her sides. Ben wiped his mouth with a napkin and nodded. "Yeah. Nice job on the sandwiches." Bill and Beverly glanced at each other, smiling when they made eye contact.

Beverly gathered her things and returned back into the kitchen. "I'll see you later guys," she said before poking Eddie in the arm. "Talk to him," she whispered sternly. Eddie's shoulders dropped. "I know," he said and slapped her hand away.

Beverly waved to her friends before letting herself
out. A saddened expression crossed Bill's face as the door closed. Ben watched as Bill's hand fell to his plate.

"You really like Beverly, huh?" Ben asked. Bill's eyes shot up to Ben and a small smile appeared on his face. "Yeah.." he said softly. "I mean, w-who couldn't? She's soft, she's p-pretty-"

"She's an angel," Ben interrupted.

Ben's eyes widened when he realized what he had said. Bill's eyes narrowed and he stared at the boy sitting across from him. Eddie sucked in a breath and looked anywhere besides his two friends. The room got strangely silent. Ben shifted in his seat.

"I think I'm gonna go," Eddie said to fill the awkward silence and stood up, grabbing his plate. "Me too!" Ben said and slid out of his chair. He and Eddie walked to the sink, their dishes clinking when stacked on top of each other.

Bill followed the two into the living room as they gathering their things. "Thanks for letting me freak out over my problems," Eddie said with a nervous smile. Ben opened the door and waited for Eddie. "O-of course. Do we g-get to figure out w-what happened?" He asked and Eddie's eyes studied the floor. "I think I'm going to go over to his house now."

Ben's eyes snapped over to him. "You are?" Eddie turned around and nodded. "Yeah. I mean, might as well get it over with." Bill hummed in response. "That's good," he said.

Bill walked Eddie to the door and watched as the two walked out. "Thanks for inviting me over," Ben said as he walked down the porch steps. Bill shifted his weight to the other foot and looked away. "Sure.." The two waved bye to Bill and he closed the door.

"Eddie!" Ben said and smacked a hand to his cheek. Eddie looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I'm dead meat! Bill is going to kill me!" Eddie chuckled lightly and shook his head. "You were pretty obvious about your crush on Bev.."

Ben groaned and picked up his bike. "He's going to kill me! I just know it!" He said, laying his forehead on his bike handle. Eddie shifted his weight to the other foot. "It's going to be okay," said Eddie reassuringly. "It's Bill, he's not going to do anything."

"What do you mean 'not do anything'? Richie and Bill literally fought each other last year," he said. Eddie bit his lip and shrugged. "Yeah.. I forgot about that."

Ben sighed deeply and got onto his bike. "Good luck," Eddie said as he kicked off. Ben breathed out a nervous laugh and nodded. "You too. With Richie."

~~~

Eddie looked up the tree, knowing he'd have to climb it if he wanted to see Richie. Breathing in, he nodded a determined nod and jumped for the first branch. He grabbed onto it and began to slowly climb. By the time he scrambled onto the roof, his hands were red and a small cut lined is left wrist. "Shit," he muttered and shook his hands.

He climbed up the slope of the roof to Richie's window. He crouched down next to the window and peered in. Richie was laying in bed, eyes closed, glasses on, and lights on.

Eddie realized this was the perfect moment for revenge. Since Richie once woke Eddie up one day by knocking on his window - or more like throwing rocks at it, he could do the same to Richie. Eddie took a moment to watch Richie breath, he seemed so peaceful. He took his fist and knocked rapidly on the window.

Richie's eyes flew open as his head snapped over to the window. His frightened gaze relaxed when he saw Eddie laughing. He stumbled to his feet and walked to the window, opening it.

"Hello," Richie breathed out. "Hi," Eddie smiled. "Aren't you gonna let me in?" Richie's mouth formed an "O" and he quickly backed out of the way. "Right, yeah, yeah.."

Eddie slipped into the room and turned around to close the window himself. The cool air conditioning of Richie's house instantly started to cool Eddie down from his long walk in the summer heat.

"Why- why are you here, Eds?" he asked and moved back to the bed. Eddie swallowed and looked around his room. "Umm," he said, feeling the anxiety fill his bones.

"We- we need to talk, Rich," he said as he fumbled with the fabric of his shirt. "About the kiss."

Richie paused and stared at his bedding. "I don't know what you're talking about, Eds," Richie said. He never once looked at Eddie directly in the eyes, knowing once he did he wouldn't be able to help himself. His lips tingled, remembering the last time he was with Eddie.

"Richie," Eddie said and crossed his arms. "Don't play dumb with me." Richie breathed in and shifted. "I'm not playing anything. I honestly don't know what you're talking about."

The room fell silent. Eddie brought his hand to his mouth, trying not to cry. Richie was being so difficult. Why couldn't he just explain to Eddie what he wanted from him?

Eddie breathed in deeply and a sniffling sound came from his nose. oh fuck. Richie's head snapped to him. "Are you crying?" he asked and Eddie shook his head quickly. "No!" He said. Eddie looked away as his eyes stung with tears. Richie got to his feet. "Eds.." He said slowly and looked at him with sad eyes.

"Richie, I'm practically crying in front of you, could you not call me that?" Eddie asked quietly. A smile played at Richie lips and he shrugged. "You know you like it," he said and Eddie shook his head. "No I don't. And back on topic!" He huffed and Richie looked away. "There's nothing to talk about," he said and Eddie stared at him.

"No, Rich," he said, starting to get frustrated. "You can't do this. You can't.. kiss me.. then pretend like it never happened. You're playing with me and I won't have it." Richie stared at him and bit his lip. "Okay.. you're right. I'm- I'm sorry." Eddie breathed out and nodded. Richie turned around to sit on his bed, criss cross.

"So, I kissed you," Richie said quietly. Eddie played with his nails. "Yeah, yeah you did." The room fell silent. "I'm sorry, Eddie. I know I shouldn't have and I totally completely ruined our friendship and.." he trailed off, his mouth becoming dry. "Can we forget it ever happened?"

Eddie looked over at Richie. "You want to forget it happened?" He asked and Richie nodded. "Yeah. It would be for the best, you know? We can pretend I didn't just fuck up our friendship."

Eddie breathed in and stepped forward. "But I don't want to forget about it, Rich." His eyes flickered up to Eddie. "Richie.." Eddie swallowed thickly and he raised his head, looking anywhere but in front of him.

"Do you like me?"

Richie snorted and adjusted his glasses. "Was that kiss not obvious enough?" He asked. Eddie glared at him. "It was a simple question!" He defended.

"Asking someone to confess their love isn't exactly simple, Eds!"

The room fell silent. Eddie's breathed practically stopped and Richie's eyes widened. He pushed himself farther back on the bed, his mouth opening as he tried to figure out what to say. "You- you.. love me?" Eddie asked, his voice barely coming out.

Richie squeezed his eyes closed. "I.." He trailed off. Is it really worth trying to deny it? He's already dug himself a big enough hole.. Richie's hand played with the fabric of his jeans.

"Yes okay!" Richie forced out. "Maybe I do like you.. a lot. But who couldn't, Eds? Have you seen yourself? You're fucking adorable, which bothers me to no fucking end, you're funny and- and sweet and you're my best fucking friend. No one can compare to you."

Eddie stared at Richie, his mouth full of words but nothing filled the silence. "Is that what you wanted to hear?" Fear and anxiety jumped around in Richie's legs, forcing him to slid off his bed and stand.

Eddie stepped backwards and leaned against the wall and swallowed thickly. His chest started to close in on itself, making it hard for him to breath. His hands fumbled for the zipper of his fanny pack before pulling out his inhaler. Richie watched as he pulled the tigger and breathed in deeply.

Eddie closed his eyes and coughed, trying to even his breathing. Richie's stinging eyes fell to the floor, his own chest filling up with hurt and fear. Eddie only uses his inhaler when he's scared and Richie just confessed something he's been bottling up and locking away for a year now. "I..." Richie began.

He ruined their friendship. Eddie's never going to want to see him again. Richie's chin trembled as he stepped backwards to his bedroom door. He's ruined everything.

Eddie opened his eyes, finally getting control over his lungs. "Richie, I-" he started but got cut off when his eyes fell on a wall. "Richie?" He quickly pushed himself off the wall and ran around the bed to the open door. Richie pulled the front door open, sunlight spilling into the house. "Rich!" Eddie yelled but Richie didn't stop for anything.

He ran out of the house, away from what he thought was an unfixable problem. Eddie tried to stay at Richie's heels but he was a fast runner and Eddie had to stop if he didn't want his asthma acting up once again.

Eddie helplessly watched as a tacky Hawaiian jacket flapped in the wind as it got farther away.