Richie pulled his other leg up onto the bed. "Well," he started, a smile coming onto his face, "hopefully your mom won't mind me cheating on her with her son." Eddie rolled his eyes. "Will you ever-" He cut himself off when realization fell onto him. "Wait," he said, "did you just.. say we're dating?"

Richie laughed and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "Seriously? We practically just fucking made out in front of Stanley. How can we not be dating?" At the mention of the kiss, Eddie's fingers started to ache for Richie again. "I guess," he said slowly, suppressing the urge.

Richie noticed how Eddie's fingers twitched and him grow increasingly silent. "What Eds?" He asked. Eddie glanced up, his eyes falling onto Richie's lips. "Nothing." Richie caught this and a smile slid onto his face. "Aww, is there something you want, Eds?" He asked, leaning closer and Eddie quickly looked away. "Don't call me that."

Richie raised an eyebrow. "You sure, Eds?" He asked. Eddie looked back over, meeting Richie's eyes. He didn't miss a beat, Eddie grabbed Richie's collar, pulling him close. He kissed him, a bit harder than the other times. Richie broke away and smiled. "This is a whole lot better than your mom," he said. Eddie breathed out and slapped Richie's shoulder. "I can stop," he warned and Richie laughed before leaning back in.

~~~

Five o'clock rolled around. Eddie glanced at the clock and at first didn't think anything of it, but then the lie popped into his head. "Oh, shit," he said, his back straightening. Since he lied to Richie about his mom, he had to keep up the act as if he was still living at home. "What?" Richie asked as Eddie slid off the bed. "It's 5. I have to get home before.. before my mom gets upset with me," Eddie explained.

Richie looked at the digital clock and sighed. "Well, what if you slept over?" He asked, grasping at anything to keep Eddie with him. "It's not like it's your first time." Eddie swallowed and thought it over. Staying the night does sound like fun..

"Wait, aren't you grounded?" Eddie asked and Richie's shoulders fell. "Fuck, you're right." He looked away, his eyes searching the walls as he thought. "But as long as we don't go downstairs my parents won't know."

Eddie pushed air out of his nose, a small smile on his lips. "Richie, as if that's going to fucking work. And I'd still have to call my mom," he reminded. "Fine," Richie said and stood up. "We can just hang out some other time. Tomorrow, maybe?" Eddie nodded and told him it sounded like a plan. "Wanna meet up at the hideout?" Richie asked, "Just.. just the two of us?"

A smile overtook Eddie's face. "Yes," he said. Richie breathed out and smiled too. "Okay, cool. Tomorrow at the hideout."

Eddie was about to reach for the doorknob but Richie quickly grabbed his arm. "No, my dad's home. If you go down there he'll know I snuck out," he said and Eddie's hand fell off the knob. "Okay, then.. I'll, uh, go out the window." He crossed the room and pushed the window up, his eyes squinting at the sun.

"Want me to walk you home? You don't have your bike with you, do you?" Richie asked as Eddie eyed the roof. He turned to him and quickly shook his head. "No- no, that's fine, Rich," Eddie reassured.

He breathed in deeply before climbing out the window. As he did, his back accidentally scraped against the top of it. He stumbled out onto the roof, a tight grip on the window sill as he hissed out in pain. "You okay there, Eds?" Richie asked. Eddie rubbed his back and nodded. "I'm fine," he said and shuffled down to the tree. He grabbed the branch before turning around. "See you later, alligator," Eddie said as he waved. Richie snorted softly and set his chin in his hand. "In a while, Crocodile."

Eddie carefully climbed down the tree before falling down to the ground with a soft thud. He walked down the lawn of Richie's house when he reached the cement he looked over his shoulder. Richie was forcing the window shut and caught Eddie's eyes. He smiled and waved again.

Eddie started down the sidewalk. He knew he couldn't go home.. god why did I lie to him? Eddie groaned softly and picked at the strap of his fannypack as he thought.

He flipped through where he could go, maybe Bill's house? No, his parents aren't in the right state after loosing Georgie to take care of another child. Beverly had her situation with her dad, Mike lived at an unsanitary farm..

The hideout popped into his head. The hammock could reside as a bed and Stanley's shower caps can fend him against the spiders. This could work. Eddie breathed in deeply, his mind set. This could work.