Chapter Text
It had always been a deep fear for Eddie that as he and the rest of the Losers went through life that they would slowly grow apart, especially during high school where each of the members began to branch off and interact with other groups within the school. Despite Eddie’s fear the Losers club remained as close as ever, always making time to get together. They would all meet up at least once a week, if not more then that.
When mike got a girlfriend, the first of the group to do so, Eddie was sure that he would be spending less time with everyone and Eddie would hate the girl for coming between his friends. but Mike didn’t spend any less time with them then he had before, and the times he would bring his girlfriend with him, she got along really well with everyone and even Eddie had to admit that she and Mike were perfect for each other.
The next Loser to enter the dating game was Stan, which kind of surprised everyone. Stan was fairly quiet and didn’t really seem to talk to too many other people at school, but one weekend, in an almost passing comment, Stan mentioned that he had been seeing someone for close to half a year. This revelation was followed by a barrage of questions, mostly from Richie and Bev who wanted to know everything about the relationship and demanded to meet them as soon as possible.
After almost a whole night of convincing, Stan finally agreed to introduce them the following weekend. And again, Eddie couldn’t help but think that the two were absolutely perfect together.
The biggest dating surprise came in their last year of high school when Richie approached the group and announced that he now had a boyfriend. everyone was silent as Richie stood, waiting for some kind of reaction. After about ten seconds of silence, five voices broke out all at once, all saying different variants of ‘congratulations’ or ‘why didn’t you tell me’. The happy clamoring rang around Eddie as he sat there quietly staring up at Richie in disbelief.
What the fuck?
This wasn’t how Eddie had felt after finding out about the others. He felt like someone had just punched him in the stomach. He felt confused. He felt…angry? How could Richie not have told him he was interested in guys. He was supposed to be one of his best friends. Had Richie not felt comfortable enough with him not to tell him, and why did the thought of that sit so uneasily with him.
Lost in thought, Eddie didn’t realize that everyone had stopped looking at Richie and had turned to face him, including Richie who watched him with a nervous expression on his face.
Eddie, not wanting to think about what his thoughts could mean, much less discuss them with everyone else, turned the corners of his mouth up into the realist fake smile he could muster. He stood from where he had been sitting and walked over to where the group had gathered around Richie with his head down. all faces still turned to him and the concerned look that Richie was sporting had spread to some of the other as well.
Once he stood just outside the circle, he raised his head and pulled the fake smile again.
“So what’s he like?” He asked, watching as the nervous look on Richie’s face dropped away to one of relief. As soon as Eddie had spoken it was like a wave washed over everyone and the excited talking picked up again. A few worried glances were still shot his way but Eddie ignored them and simply nodded along to the conversation, paying as little attention to what was actually being said as he could without drawing attention to himself.
The only part that he really tuned in for was when Ben suggested that they all go out to eat and then to a movie that Friday as a way to get everyone acquainted. Mike and Stan agreed while Richie hesitated for a few seconds. He met eyes with Eddie who gave him another one of the unconvincing smiles and then turned to look away. Richie shrugged after a few more seconds and also agreed.
It had been awhile since Eddie had dreaded hanging out with the Losers. He wasn’t sure if he really had ever before now. But eventually Friday rolled around and Eddie found himself avoiding Richie during the day. He had given it some serious thought and had determined that the reason he was so angry about Richie seeing someone was because his fear was finally going to come true, it hadn’t with Mike or Stan, but it definitely would with Richie.
All the Losers were weirdly close, but something about the two of them had always been different. Ever since they were younger, it was like they were contently being pulled together. Always choosing each other or sharing things late at night when Richie would sneak into Eddie’s room, something that they had also been doing since they were young. He doubted Richie new boyfriend would be okay with the amount of time they spent together, or even worse, what if Richie would rather be with his boyfriend then Eddie. Either way, he didn’t think things were going to go back to how they were before.
Eddie went home after school that day and seriously considered calling Bill and telling him that he was sick and couldn’t make the movie. But that would just be drawing things out and he was eventually going to have to meet his best friend’s boyfriend, as much as he didn’t want to. He tried to do some homework before leaving but couldn’t really concentrate enough to actually get anything done.
Richie had texted and offered to pick him up but Eddie refused and instead walked to the restaurant they had decided on earlier that week. He saw the fairly large group through the window as he headed towards the door.
Everyone was there minus Bill, Mike and his girlfriend, and himself. His eyes were immediately drawn to Richie’s laughing figure. He, Bev and the smaller guy between them were all laughing at something Stan was saying. Eddie’s eyes reluctantly moved from Richie to the person beside him. He was smaller with light brown hair and was currently leaning into Richie side as he smiled across the table at Stan.
Eddie hated him already.
He slowed down his walk to try and delay actually getting to the table as long as possible, a tactic that worked until he heard someone calling his name from across the parking lot and turned to see Bill running up to him. Bill pulled him by the arm into the restaurant faster then he had wanted to go and as soon as they reached the table greetings were being called out and introduction made.
Eddie automatically began walking around the table to where Richie was sitting but stopped when he noticed that there wasn’t an empty seat like there normally was. Riche was sitting at the end of the table with Daniel, as Eddie now knew he was named, sat beside him. Eddie quickly dropped into the closest empty seat to him which just so happened to be on the complete opposite end of the table from Richie.
Bill sat beside him and Eddie absently stacked creamers in front of him as the rest of the group talked loudly and waited for Mike and Lauren to show up. once they did, Eddie demeanor didn’t really change. He kept to himself throughout the whole meal, only inputting to the conversation when asked something specifically.
An hour into dinner, Eddie had spaced out poking at his food. His head jerked a little when he felt a hand on his arm. Richie was standing over him.
“I’m going for a smoke, come with me.”
Before Eddie could put up any kind of argument he was being pulled out of his seat and dragged towards the exit. Richie didn’t let go of his arm until they were outside, where he dropped it and reached into his jacket pocket.
“So?” Richie asked as he pulled a carton out.
“What?” Eddie replied and toed at the ground distractingly. He leaned back against the side of the restaurant and crossed his arms.
“What do you think of Dan.” Richie clarified, sitting down on the low windowsill beside where Eddie was leaning and lighting the end of a cigarette with the lighter he always carried around.
“He’s fine.” Eddie muttered.
“Bullshit. You haven’t said a single word to him all night. You haven’t even really said anything to me either.” Richie nudged Eddie with his elbow. “You doing okay?”
“I’m fine.” Eddie snapped. “And sorry I don’t feel like yelling across the table just to talk to you.” Eddie pushed off of the wall and spun around to face the door with his arms still crossed.
When Eddie didn’t hear any movement behind him, he quickly looked over his shoulder. Richie was staring up at him, his cigarette seemingly forgotten as it hung between his fingers. He gave Eddie a confused looked before Eddie turned back around.
“So, you want to sit next to me?” Richie asked as he stood from the windowsill. “Because if it’ll make you feel better I can pull a chair up at the end of the table for you.”
Eddie snapped his head around and look at Richie disgruntled. As if he couldn’t even go two hours without being near Richie. How fucking clingy would that make him look.
“I said I’m fine. Hurry up, It’s cold out here.” Eddie turned away from him. He couldn’t even look at Richie right now without getting mad and he wasn’t exactly sure why that was, and that was frustrating him even more and he really just wanted this night to be over already.
He flinched and spun around when he felt something touch his arm. Richie stood there with his jacket in his hand, he looked surprised by Eddie reaction.
“Here, if you’re cold.” Richie held the jacket out closer towards Eddie. Eddie took a step backwards and started walking towards the door.
“Eddie.” Richie called after him as he walked away.
“Give your jacket to your boyfriend.” Eddie mumbled as he angrily pushed the door to the restaurant open and hurried back to the table. Bill and Mike looked over at him as he sat down in his chair a little harder than necessary. He knew he might be over-reacting but every single thing Richie was doing was pissing him off, even the nice gestures, and he had no idea why.
Richie rejoined the table about five minutes after Eddie. He stopped for a half a second behind Eddie seat as he passed by, Eddie refused to look at him. the moment didn’t last long anyway as Richie quickly started walking again and slouched back into his spot.
The movie was just about as bad as the dinner.
After they had gotten their tickets (Richie had bought Dan’s and Eddie wanted to throw up right in front of the ticket booth.) and stopped at the concession stand, they headed into the theater. They had chosen a movie that had already been out for a while so that the ten of them were sure to get seats all beside each other.
Richie had gone in first and had sat in the seat second in from the aisle, with Daniel sitting on his left and his jacket thrown over the aisle seat. Eddie had purposefully lagged behind with Ben. As they came up to the row of seats, Richie eagerly moved his jacket, smiling up at Eddie.
If dinner had been any indication, Eddie really didn’t think he could go through a whole movie sitting beside Richie knowing that he had his arm wrapped around someone el… wait, that wasn’t why Eddie didn’t want to sit there was it?
No that was ridiculous. He wasn’t sure why he didn’t want to sit there he just knew he didn’t. He turned his head as he approached and followed close behind Ben as they made their way down the aisle. He didn’t see Richie’s face but he imagined he was shocked. Eddie could count the number of times he and Richie had not sat together at a movie on one hand. And for all of those times, there was only a single person between them.
Ben stopped when he made it to the end and turned to sit down. He looked surprised when he saw that Eddie hadn’t sat in the empty seat beside Richie. Eddie squeezed passed him and sat down.
“Um, Eddie?” Ben asked. He and Stan were both looking at him puzzled.
“What?” Eddie asked, faking ignorance even though he knew exactly what they were both thinking.
“Ah, nothing.” Ben gave him a small smile and offered him some of his popcorn. Eddie took some and chewed on it aggressively, pointedly not looking towards the other end of theatre seats. He could feel eye’s on him but kept his face towards the large screen.