Summer before college, late July.
Richie felt like he had been half in love with Eddie Kaspbrak for years. Actually, he knew he had been. It was just that ever since that summer Eddie broke his arm he had a harder time denying it. And he stopped wanted to deny it.
Luckily,, a few weeks ago Eddie had kissed him after leaving the movie theatre. Richie had thought something was coming since Eddie had just taken a hit off his inhaler and looked nervous. Richie was teasing him about not needing the inhaler and Eddie told him it was for confidence. Then he kissed Richie.
Richie couldn't believe his luck. Eddie who he had loved and lusted over for years was kissing him. Eddie, who he dreamed about every night- sometime sweet, sometimes less sweet- liked him back. Richie kissed him back with gusto and immediately asked him to be his boyfriend. The two were more inseparable than ever.
A few weeks later, the two were making out in Eddie's bed. Mrs. K was at church and Richie had snuck in. Their make out session were still mostly sweet. Eddie was on top of Richie slowly kissing his neck. Richie moved his hands under Eddie's shirt and felt his chest, playing with his nipples.
The smaller boy groaned into Richie's skin, making Richie want to rip off all of Eddie's clothes. Richie wanted more but didn't want to push Eddie. He was happy just being able to kiss him. Eddie moved to Richie's lips, planting a quick kiss before sitting up.
"Get those luscious lips back here." Richie said, trying to pull Eddie down.
"I just wanted to look at you for a minute." Eddie smiled and leaned in to kiss Richie again. "I love you." He whispered into Richie's ear.
Richie froze. His brain stopped working. He stopped moving his hands and stared up at Eddie. Eddie seemed to realize that he said the wrong thing and pulled back, "Sorry, Richie. No, I was joking."
Richie lightly pushed the boy off him and scrambled up. "I just...I can't do this. We're leaving for college soon. What are we doing?" Richie was looking frantically for his shoes. He needed to get out.
Eddie was staring at him. "What are we doing? Are you kidding? It took us years to get here! And we'll both be in New York for college!" He hadn't moved off the bed, watching Richie's wild movements.
Richie just looked at Eddie. He knew he loved Eddie so much it scared him. He knew that this was just a summer fling. Eddie would find some sweet boy in college and he'd leave Richie. Richie was certain of it. So Richie decided to leave first.
"Look, I'll call you later?" Richie kissed Eddie's cheek. "Bye Eds." He ran out the door.
Richie never called Eddie. Three weeks later he left for college. He and Eddie didn't talk until the next summer when they were back in Derry. Bill was having a bonfire and insisted they both come. Richie eventually worked up the nerve to walk over to Eddie and halfheartedly apologized for last summer.
Eddie just smiled, "Richie, it's not a big deal. I mean, it was then but it's been a year right? I'm over it. I started dating someone at school, he's great."
All Richie heard was 'I'm over you' and it broke his heart. He had no one to blame but himself and it killed him. The two started hanging out more once they went back to New York and Richie pushed his feelings down. None of Eddie's boyfriends or girlfriends seemed to last long and Richie convinced himself that they'd be together in the end.
Until this fucking engagement happened.