(Eddie's Perspective)
The gravel of the quarry feels more at home than the carpet in my own bedroom at this point. As the sharp edges of the rocks thrown askew on the ground poke into the soles of my feet, I realise I've forgotten to slip on my shoes in the panic to get out of Richie's house. We see the other Losers in the water about half a mile ahead of us. They're splashing around, one of them missing but too far away to know who. Richie's smiling, grinning, really. He looks so happy to be with his true family after our disaster of a morning. His hand is still firmly grasped in mine. It feels more wonderful than anything else I've ever experienced. The warmth of his palm, the caress of his fingers. When he subtly rubs his fingers along the back of my hands. I love it more than anything in the world, because it's him.
Water gently splashes up against my toes, they curl at the contact, as we reach the bank. Richie stops, releasing my hand much to my dismay. He throws his shirt over his head and tosses it to the ground, leaving it in a heap. His shorts follow. I haven't moved, I'm too encapsulated in the shape of his body. He's lean, thin, almost too thin. As if he hasn't had a proper meal in a while. With his family, I'm sure he hasn't. And it doesn't help that whenever we go to my house all we eat is junk food and candy. I notice Richie's eyes catch mine, a glimmer of guilt in his eyes. He probably thinks I'm too self conscious to strip down. And I am, though I do it nearly every day it doesn't get any easier. Each time I can't help but notice how my stomach sticks out just a pinch farther than everyone else's. Or how everyone just somehow looks more in shape than I do. Even Ben has started to lose some weight. Every time I try, I just end up not eating for days and then I binge eat when I finally give up. Not a good system. So I just stopped trying.
"Eds, don't think about it. Just enjoy today." He knows all too well what goes on in my head, most of the time. I nod, but can't bring myself to toss my shirt. "Here." Richie says, his tone soft and caring. He reaches for the bottom of my shirt and slowly lifts it off over my head. I lift my hands up to allow him to take it off. Well, here comes the self-hate spiral. But before I can think anything negative, Richie catches me by surprise and is grabbing the rims of my(technically his) shorts and lowering them to the ground. My body shivers at the contact, not to go unnoticed. Richie's gaze meets mine. He leans in, moving towards my ear. Softly he whispers, "Why do you have to make life so goddamned hard for me." Warm breath whispers behind my ear, and before I know it, Richie's lips are gently kissing the patch of skin behind my ear. I. Explode. He steps away, but I can't even breathe. Did Richie Tozier just kiss me? Was that just my imagination. He's staring at me, waiting for me to react, waiting for my approval. Never in my life have I seen such a scared yet confident look on someone's face, and it absolutely terrifies me.
"Richie." I whisper, moving my hand to his shoulder and pushing up. He moves his head back and shakes his head.
"Not here. Not with everyone watching." I move up to the same spot on his neck where mine is still fizzled with goosebumps.
"Later, then." I too kiss the patch of skin behind his ear, and feeling him shiver beneath me must be the best feeling in the entire fucking universe. I step down and away from him, a shocked yet pleased expression on his face. I smile softly back at him before he takes off towards the water. I follow, eager to see what later will bring.