EDDIE turned up the dial of the radio in the U-haul as he sat next to Mike, his foot bouncing to the beat of some popular Ariana Grande song that blasted from the tinny old speakers.
He was impatient, a horrible trait for the current moment, as they would be in-and-out of the U-Haul and hotels for the next two days. The only stops they made were bathroom breaks and gas breaks so far, overstocking on snacks around six thirty that morning when they first set on the road.
They were halfway through their first day, only 25% of the way to Jacksonville, and Eddie already just wanted to keel over and die — the constant wrenching carsickness only mildly weakened by Dramamine didn't help matters much.
Bill was supposed to tag along for their so called adventure, but he had one week left from school — a senior in high school, what a baby — and his parents wouldn't let him stay off for the last week of school.
Eddie and Bill's departure was a bit dramatic; even as Mike and Bill both promised to stop by every few months and call as often as possible, he still knew that he would miss his best friends.
It was solely for selfish reasons that he found himself hoping that they'd move to Florida one day, too. Bill had a caring family and adored the company of his little brother, and Mike's parents were kindhearted and funny.
He knew it would be cruel to ask them to come live nearby some day; that didn't stop him from silently hoping that they would.
"You excited?" Mike asked through the silence they'd found themselves in, focusing on the road, hands gripped properly on the steering wheel of the large vehicle. Eddie turns to him with a small smile.
"No, no, I hate Richie's guts," He teases, causing Mike to snort a bit at the joke. Eddie's smile goes more fond at his friend's amusement, always happier when people he loves are smiling.
There's something about the kind energy of someone laughing, smiling, because of you. Especially when it's someone that you strive to make happy.
When Mike's laughter fades into a smile and he turns the large vehicle, he spares a glance in Eddie's direction. "Hey," He says, "Can you hand me a bag of chips?"
Eddie glances over at him with a tight lipped smile, nodding his head and reaching into their plastic bag full of chips. He hands him one of his favorite — Sunchips in a blue bag — and Mike hums in excitement and tugs it open with his teeth.
There's a brief silence between them, and Eddie finds himself drifting away and focusing on the trees flowing past the windows.
They're on a highway, one that's wide and just busy enough to make it feel surreal; the only buildings around them are the little pit-stops with wide dog parks and playgrounds.
There's a lot of trees, too, but not tall ones. They're the same size as apple trees, all lively and full of green leaves, and the interior of the U-haul smells like disinfectant and menthol.
A sign shows that there's one of those locations upcoming on a highway where a plethora of stores line the streets, and he realizes it's nearly six pm and he still hasn't eaten an actual meal.
"Can we stop somewhere to eat?" He asks softly, rolling his head so that he's facing Mike. The sun is just beginning to go down, and Mike's skin is glowing in the light, the sun-visor down so that the brightness didn't impair his vision.
"There's some stores coming up — I mean, what about Taco Bell?" Mike offers, sparing just a small glance to Eddie, careful with such a large vehicle.
Eddie doesn't like driving so much, because he gets road rage and freaks out, and it's like watching a rabid kitten.
"Yeah," Eddie responds gently, voice soft because he feels a bit ill and tired from being in a car so long, "That sounds okay."
He stares back out the window as they roll down the road, waiting patiently to get to Taco Bell.
Even though he's sick and miserable and has that same exhaustion that comes when you just got done swimming in the hot sunlight, he still thinks it's worth it to be near Richie.
He can't wait to see him — since they parted he mourned the feeling of just being around Richie, touching him.
Not in a sexual way, or even just a grand-romantic-gestures way. He misses the feeling of them gently bumping into each other as they walk side by side. He misses the feeling of Richie's hand gently touching the back of his own.
He misses how it feels to be next to him, their knees brushing as they sit on the mattress together.
That's not to say that he doesn't miss how it felt to have Richie's lips against his own, surprisingly soft, hands a vice grip against his own waist or shoulders as if Eddie would vanish if he let go.
He missed all of it.
He was glad that they were being open about their relationship, because he knew as soon as he saw Richie he wouldn't be able to stop himself. Rather that be hugging him tightly or giving him a certainly not platonic kiss.
He couldn't wait.
IMESSAGE
CHIE, EDS<3
chie
i miss youuu )):
r u eating well??
eds<3
!! we just got done eating!! we're gonna stop at a hotel soon <3
chie
i just wanna see you:///
hurry up!! come hold my hand!!!
eds<3
you only have to wait until tomorrow night!!!!
then i can hold the Hell out of ur hand!!!
chie
:,)
rip to romeo and juliet but we're different
eds<3
hskshs i love u so much,,,,
fuxk it *teleportinf noises*
chie
pls do
beverly is watchinf these weird ass crime shows
because she's. in my house for some reason
eds<3
is that common??
does she just ,, come in ur house???
chie
she sure does
i don't even think it's . allowed by the apartment i live at
yeah i'm pretty sure you're supposed to tell them when someone stays with you and it can only be like. 4 days a month or something
also we're not allowed to give anyone else a key
eds<3
i'm gonna guess that you broke All of those rules ??
chie
oh 100%
it's for BEV though
i'd commit murder for bev
eds<3
someone could accidentally bump into her and i'd bash them over the head with a wine glass
chie
uh
why a wine glass???
eds<3
??
because that's badass???
chie
damn u got Real Defensive there
i am sorry for asking
not even a wine bottle either just a wine glass
eds<3
u underestimate my badassery )):
chie
sorry baby :/ </3
ill never do it again ,, u r the most badass baby
eds<3
thank u <3 i appreciate it
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bevzmarsh excited to finally live w my Strong New Roommate <3
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eddiekaspbrak i can't wait shsjsh!!!!! <3
— kaspbraq aw 🥺🥺 bevdie is the sweetest friendship
— trashm0uth bev about 2 steal my man
stanuris The homos are going to be closer together now. We can't escape them.
— bevzmarsh ur right ... damn maybe i should rethink ...
— trashm0uth that's homophobic :/
— bevzmarsh richie i'm bi , please.
kaspbraq omg theres gonna be more content ....,.
AUTHORS NOTE!
two chapters left wtf....
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