Masked Lover •reddie•

Chapter 4

Eddie leaned his petite body up against the basement walls. A smile tugged at his plump lips as his eyes glue to the mic that was once held by a mystifying, breathtaking boy. His mind was mesmerized by the lengthy figure that stripped his lungs of air. Eddie was soothed by the outline of heat that ignited a yearn in his heart. Yet, the boy couldn't be falling in love. No, was already in his relationship with James. The yearn in Eddie's heart slowly turned into an pitiful ache as his head filled with painful memories of James and himself.

"Just be grateful for what you have you dumb fuck." A voice fought harshly. "He helped your mom when she was sick and provided for you when you had nothing. The least you can do is repay the favor-"

"Hey kid, we're gonna go meet the band! Wanna join Ben and me?" Beverly's velvet voice hummed, breaking Eddie from the thoughts penetrating his infatuated heart.

"Huh? Oh uh yeah I'd love to!" Eddie mumbled, plastering a fictitious smile on his sorrowful face. Beverly quickly links her arms with Ben and Eddie as they walk side by side, giggling at small comments that are whispered into each others ears. The trio's arms stay linked as they spot Bill talking to a familiar curly haired boy.

"Big Bill!!" Beverly shouts as she runs with both boys clinging to her arms. "You guys did great!! Especially Mr. Saxophone over here."

The curly haired boys cheeks fluster in embarrassment at Beverly's comment. Bill swiftly notices and grabs onto the boys shoulders, calmly rubbing them as he changes the subject."Thanks B-bevy! This is S-stuh-Stan. He p-plays the Sax and t-the keyboard along w-with the piano."

"Uhm H-Hi." Stan whispers, politely holding out his hand for Beverly and the boys to shake.

Beverly frees her arms from the two boys, shaking them loose before firmly shaking Stan's hand. "Hi Stan. I'm Beverly."

Ben then walks up to greet Stan with a polite handshake. "You truly did fantastic today. I'm Ben. It's nice to meet you Stan."

"Both of you are awfully nice. I don't know how Bill is friends with you guys. He's a total ass." Stan replies, releasing Ben's hand from his own.

Eddie lightly giggles at Stan's comment as Bill death glares Stan. "You got that right, I'm Eddie. Your skills on the saxophone are breathtaking."

"Thank you!" Stan says as he smiles a full, gleeful smile. He's never been validated so much in his life by people he's never met. They touched his heart, warming it with contentment.

The group chatter between each other, as they learn more about the fresh figures that stood in front of them. The chatter is broken once Mike walks through the stage curtain, holding it open for a lengthy boy. The same lengthy boy that Eddie had been head over heels for since the beginning of the night.

Eddie felt his heart race, as his eyes glared the towering figure up and down, taking in all of his features.

"Hi Mike!! Who's this interesting man standing behind you? Are we gonna meet him or not?!" Beverly pleads as the lengthy boy still retains a black fedora and oval sunglasses.

"Well if you'd like to know, he's our lead singer-"

"No shit Mike," Beverly impatiently replies.

"Oh I like her," the lead singer replies as he whisks the fedora from his head, revealing black licorice locks of hair that reached down, centimeters from grazing his shoulders. Eddie felt his body burn up as the boy then took off his glasses, revealing for a second time, the pecan brown eyes that Eddie could drown in. "I'm Richie. Richie Tozier. Nice to meet you princess."

"Shit," Eddie thought to himself. "Richie Tozier?! Are you crazy Eddie?! The theatre kid? No Eddie. No you can't like him. Anyone else just not him!!" Eddie shook his head from his thoughts, trying to take back everything he said about the beautiful boy that seduced his mind.

"Nice you meet you Tozier." Beverly smirks, noticing Eddie's flushed cheeks and the action of shuffling his feet. "I'm Beverly and this little guy-" Beverly says as she pulls Eddie to her side, "is my best friend, Eddie."

The two locked eyes once again, Eddie floated in the pool of rich chocolate as Richie almost drowned in the sweet pool of almost black coffee.

"Nice to meet you Eddie. I saw you dancing earlier with Mrs. Beverly. You looked amazing."

Eddie's cheeks flushed an even darker red as his mind filled with insecurities. "I uh thanks I guess."

"No problem Eds."

"That's not my name. It's Eddie not Eds."

"Well I think Eds had a nice ring to it."

"But it's not my name."

"But~, I like it."

"But-"

Ben interrupts the two as he pulls out his hand for Richie to shake. "I'm Ben Hanscom. Your singing skills are amazing."

"Why thank you kind sir." Richie replies in a failed British accent. The group laughs as the accent as Richie turns his full attention back to Eddie and his freckle kissed face.

Richie extends his hand for Eddie to shake. Eddie eyes the boney hand curiously, as his eyes wrapped around the colorful jewels that laid on top of large silver bands, curled around the boys boney fingers. Eddie takes Richie's hand with his. Eddie feels a warm ignition through the soft handshake, causing his heart to beat even faster than before. Richie calmly retracts Eddie's hand with his, pulling it close to his face. Richie remains in eye contact with Eddie until he gracefully tips his head down to leave a tender kiss on the back of Eddie's hand, leaving the petite boy in shock.

Eddie slowly pulls his hand back to his side, already missing the breathtaking touch of Richie Tozier.

"So," Mike asks, breaking the solid tension. "You guys coming to pur next gig?"

"Hell yeah we are!!" Beverly replies, enthusiastically. Eddie nods in agreement as he grazes his thumb across the back of his hand where Richie had kissed only moments ago.

"Well, can't wait to see your dance moves again hot stuff." Richie says, winking at Eddie as a smirk displayed across his face.

Eddie fumbles his hands into his pockets, searching for a small inhaler. Eddie pulls the baby blue plastic out of his overalls and cautiously presses it against his plump lips, pulling the trigger to pump his infatuated lungs.

"Shit. Kid are you ok?" Beverly asks as she lays her arm around Eddie's shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm ok Bev. Thanks." Eddie replies breathless. Eddie has never known his body to do that around someone. Especially not Richie Tozier.

"Why the fuck is my body feeling this way?!" Eddie thought to himself. "How do I make it stop..."