Song: More Than A Feeling by Boston
September 7, 1993
The morning air is crisp and cuts through Eddie's hair, tousling it just slightly. He sighs, grabbing at it and trying to place it down, but to no avail. Beverly simply laughs and glides on past him. Eventually the boy huffs and tries to forget that his hair is probably the worst it's ever looked. Instead he places his own skateboard on the concrete and skates after her.
The two hold hands as they make their way to the park. Eddie and Beverly have been particularly close since his arrival three years ago. There was something about him that drew everyone in. But it especially drew in her. They've been best friends ever since.
Soon the two stumble up to the park to see that they're not the only ones there, per usual. Now there's two boys, most likely their age. One is sat on a curb, a notebook in his hand. He is writing feverishly, paying no mind to the other kid who is practicing an Ollie right in front of him.
Eddie takes a better look now. Cuffed jeans and black sneakers. He wears a simple white tee shirt underneath the colorful, tacky Hawaiian shirt. He can't see the boy perfectly, due to him being turned around. But Eddie can tell he's a brunette with the curliest hair he's ever laid eyes on. Even curlier than his own.
Eddie admires him. Not many people skateboard in this town. In fact, he's never seen anyone other than himself or Beverly. Sometimes their friends would tag along and watch. And sometimes they'd even try it themselves. But that's about it.
"You coming, loser?" Beverly laughs, pushing into Eddie. Soon he's out of his thoughts and focusing on the board below him. He smiles before taking off after her.
Eventually he catches up with her. It wasn't hard. Not because she isn't good, because really she is. But her grind wasn't as good as it could've been, which slowed her process down quite a bit. She huffs and takes out a cigarette, not bothering to offer one to Eddie. He'd say no anyways.
"I swear I'm getting worse. How do you even do it?" She huffs once more before coming to a stop.
Eddie hardly pays her any attention and instead looks to the ground where he tries, and nails, a kickflip. The boy shrugs after completing the move. "I don't know, Bev. It's natural for me. Kind of how the piano is for you."
The girl rolls her eyes. "Oh please, Eddie. You're just about good at everything."
"I can do it, I'm just not a natural." He offers, finally peeking up to get a look at her. Only something more interesting is going on in this background.
That's when Eddie spots the boy from earlier grinding on a nearby pole. Eddie smiles at his technique. Though soon he is tumbling towards the ground with a loud bang. This gains Beverly's attention because soon she's staring right at the fallen boy.
Eddie notices the other boy who is sat to the side rush over. And suddenly he's making his way towards the two as well. He even hears Bev's feet shuffling awkwardly behind him.
When they're close enough, Eddie sees that the boy is none other than Richie Tozier, the drama nerd.
Eddie cautiously approaches the two. He's not sure if it's weird. After all, it's not as if he's ever talked to them before. However, Eddie immediately steps in as soon as Richie begins wiping his wounds with his bare hands.
"Oh my fucking god! Stop. Stop." Eddie waves his arms dramatically, causing Richie to look up.
Finally Eddie gets a better view of the boy. He's seen him around. Hell, he'd even had a couple of classes with the boy. But he's never been able to see him up close like this. And holy shit, Eddie thinks, trashmouth is cute.
On his nose rests the thickest glasses that Eddie had ever seen. But underneath the glasses are two chocolate eyes that seemed to take Eddie's breath away. It's all so dramatic. Eddie doesn't know what to do. He's never been in a situation where all he could focus on were lips and hair and-...
"Damn, dude. You took a pretty hard fall." Beverly pulls all three boys out of their trance.
Eddie situates his fanny pack before lowering to the ground wearily. It is absolutely filthy, but somehow that doesn't matter as much anymore. So he gracefully crosses his legs and falls to the ground. Richie eyes him, unsure of what to do. Should he stay put? Stand and walk away?
Instead, Richie stays. He's too busy counting the freckles on the small stranger's face. Though he's not really a stranger, Richie supposes. This is Eddie
Kaspbrak. The friendliest boy in the world. And he is currently sat right in front of them. Right in front of me, Richie's eyes go wide at the thought. He wants to run, but his feet simply won't allow it. Richie feels screwed.
"You should never rub the wound. All it does is spread the blood. Plus you could get an infection which is so not worth it. And if you do want to touch it, for whatever reason. Then at least dab it." Eddie shudders while taking out a few cotton swabs and the tiniest bottle of rubbing alcohol.
Richie tries to keep up with the boy. He never knew how fast he could talk. The boy is on hyper speed. It shocks him to say the least. Eddie was always quiet in class. But now here he sits, rushing out all this information. And Richie is even more screwed.
"Is your lip the only spot that's hurt?" Eddie questions. He receives no verbal answer and instead is given an elbow for inspection. Eddie groans at the sight. "You should really wear protection. If you had on protection, none of this would've happened-..." He's cut off by a smiling Richie.
"But then I wouldn't have officially met you, Kaspbrak."
Eddie's surprised expression seems to stick on his face. He can't even help the blush that overtakes him in a matter of seconds. "Is that the only reason you fell? To get my attention? Because your grind seemed stable to me." He shrugs and dabs away at his cut lip. Richie winces slightly, but soon is back to that strong exterior.
Richie only grins wider while throwing up his hands. "You caught me. Though now I'm excited to hear you were watching me so closely."
Eddie scoffs, still working at the boy's lip. "Please! I was simply admiring your technique. Don't flatter yourself, Tozier."
Richie is taken back by this. He had no idea anyone knew his name. So the fact that this firecracker does makes his entire day. Hell, it makes his entire life. Eddie Kaspbrak knows me. Richie is all too giddy about this information. "You know who I am?" He curses himself for how desperate it comes out.
Eddie pulls away slightly to get a better look at him. Their eyes connect. Richie notices Eddie's soft expression and smile. "Of course. Everyone knows who you are, Richie. You're the funniest guy in our school."
It's Richie's turn to blush now. He tries to cover it with a cough, but Eddie knows better than that. Still, he doesn't say anything about it. "I didn't know anyone noticed me."
Eddie doesn't pull away from the lip this time, but Richie still spots the surprised look on Eddie's face. Richie smiles to himself.
Soon Eddie moves on from the lip, leaving both of them slightly upset. They'll never admit that, though. But it is true. They were both far too comfortable with the closeness of it all.
"You really should wear protection. That's a nasty scrape." Eddie is now working wonders on the lanky boy's elbow.
The two boys are alone now. Beverly and Richie's friend have taken off without a word. Eddie can spot them. They seem to be hitting it off, which makes Eddie smile.
"Your friend-..." Eddie starts, realizing he's not quite sure of the name. Luckily Richie comes to the rescue.
"Ben."
"Ben and Bev seem to be hitting it off."
Richie laughs and Eddie is grateful that he's able to hear such a sound. "No shit? He's been pining after her since eighth grade." Richie takes it among himself to turn and get a good look at the duo.
Eddie smiles at this. Perhaps he shouldn't tell his best friend. It's not really any of her concern.
"So, Tozier. I've been going to school with you for four years and even have you in a few classes. Yet we never talk. Care to explain?"
Richie looks up at him and his hair gently sways. Then he shrugs. "You're kind of intimidating."
Eddie lets out a giggle at this. "You're joking."
Richie shakes his head, a smile still prominent on his face. "Not at all. You're so quiet and confident and nice. Everyone loves you. Plus you have that posse of jocks always parading around you. It's kind of hard to get a conversation started when your gang is threatening everyone in your way."
Eddie finishes up by putting a pink and blue cupcake band aid over the wound. "They mean well. They're scared Bowers is going to try and beat me to a pulp if they leave me alone for too long."
Richie nods. He understands. "I know. I still remember when they took you in."
Eddie sits up and focuses his gaze on Richie once again. "Really?"
The boy smiles and once again a blush is spreading across his cheeks. "Y-yeah. I noticed you immediately. It was hard not to. You were wearing these red shorts and striped shirt. Two band aides. One on each knee. And you had that damn fanny pack. You were so unique. I could hardly take my eyes off you."
Eddie looks away with another smile. "Most people looked away."
"They were scared of you." Richie tells him.
"Why?"
"Because they had never seen someone so confident and angelic before you walked in the room. Their lack of confidence gave in." He says it so nonchalantly.
"How come you looked?" Eddie can't help but to ask.
"You gave me confidence." It's a simple answer, but Eddie takes it. Even if he's not quite sure what it means.
Beverly and Ben are walking back now. Each have numbers written across their hands. That's when Eddie spots a pen in Ben's hand. He eyes it, gaining an idea. "May I borrow that?" The small boy questions. Ben doesn't say a word and instead holds it out.
Eddie quickly scrawls numbers onto Richie's hand before standing. Now he holds out his own hand, which Richie gladly takes. Now the two are stood side by side, hand in hand. They stay like this for only a few seconds, but even after they've pulled away the feeling lingers.
"You should definitely call me. Maybe we can even go skating together. Or not. It doesn't really matter I just thought maybe-..." Eddie rambles on and on, smoothing down his navy shorts. He tends to do that in awkward situations.
"Of course I'll call you." Richie speaks quickly and quietly.
It's quiet now. Ben and Beverly watch the two, obviously amused. However, Eddie and Richie are completely oblivious.
"Okay." Eddie nods. Finally he's able to tear his eyes away. Over his shoulder he spots Beverly. "Okay," the boy repeats, "I should probably head home. I promised my mom I'd be home for lunch."
Richie nods along, listening to every word. "Okay yeah. Cool. I'll see you around?"
Eddie smiles before tiptoeing. He rests his hands gently on Richie's right shoulder before leaning in to peck his cheek. "Of course." He turns around now, leaving a stunned Richie Tozier.
Eddie grabs Beverly's hand and pulls her along. Right before they leave the park once and for all, Eddie turns to look at the boy one more time. "Wear protection! At least a helmet!"
Richie stands with his hand lingering over the place Eddie's lips had once touched his cheek. Ben notices and begins to snicker. This pulls the tall boy out of his trance. He smacks Ben playfully before picking up his board. "Oh shut it. Like you were any better!"
Ben blushes at this. "It's funny, right? We both just got the numbers of who we've been pining over since we first saw them."
They both stare towards the exit, unable to comprehend what just happened.