Chapter Text
He realized after IT.
Eddie didn't know how, or why, but he knew he was in love with Richie Tozier.
It was a bit jarring at first, to say the least, because it had to be Richie, of all people. That stupid, idiotic, obnoxious Trashmouth. But as soon as he accepted it for what it was, it was simple, really. An unmistakable truth that had been buried within him for years, he supposed, just waiting to be uncovered and brought to light. His mother had always told him that boys who liked other boys were dirty, immoral, wrong, but when Eddie was with Richie, all those things seemed to fade into the background because he was floating. Eddie was floating, and for the first time in his life, he felt whole. Richie had that kind of affect on people.
And he just couldn't help it, really.
The sunlight would illuminate all the deep, chestnut browns within the other boy's raven curls, he would throw his head back and his mega-watt smile would stretch wide, his shoulders would shake as he let out that laugh, and Eddie was fucking gone.
But Eddie couldn't tell him.
Richie was his best fucking friend, and if he screwed that up with this dumb infatuation, he would never forgive himself.
And so he did the hardest thing he's ever had to do: he waited.