A//N: ^credit to this artist. I was inspired by it. So that's what this is based off of. I hope you all like it. Comments are the best. And thank you for reading my book. I know it isn't as good as A LOT of people's one shot books but I try. (I kinda don't like my writing and I'm trying to get better soo)

"No, yeah. He was like 17 or somethin." Ben explained. "Wait so this guy was thrown off a bridge?" Richie clarified, his eyes wide. "Well, yeah. He and his boyfriend were at the carnival, and this group of guys. They just...they beat him up and...." Ben trailed off, looking down. "Apparently he had asthma too."

Eddie looked away, his breath hitching. that sounds like me he thought. "Adrian." He squeaked, the tightness In his throat only worsening. Why does that sound so much like me? His voice asked inside his head.

"Wow, that kinda sounds like Eddie." Stan joked before being elbowed by Bev. "wHat?" Eddies Doe-eyes widened. "I'm not gay." He laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "What makes you think that— sounds like me? Just because I have— asthma?" He forced a laugh, gasping every few words from the tightness of his chest. "That's stupid. I'm nothing— nothing like that."

Richies eyes flashed with disappointment before worry. "You okay Spaghetti?" He asked. "And dONT CALL ME THAT!" Eddie yelled before running off. The other six losers sat with wide eyes: looking back in the direction he'd run off to.

"I'm sorry." Ben muttered, casting his gaze to his dust-covered sneakers. "It's not your fault Benny." Bev comforted, kissing his cheek and causing the cubby boy to blush. "I th-think maybe he just needs some time to cool off." Bill added. "Bills right." Stan added, intertwining their fingers. "I'm sorry if I said something..." he muttered, hiding his face into Bills auburn hair. "You didn't do anything wrong Stan." Mike added, placing a hand on the noodle-haired boys shoulder. "Thanks mike." He said, gratefully, muffled by Bills hair.

Richie sat silently, still looking off in Eddies direction. A longing gaze held his expression while he squinted to block the setting sun from his eyes.

~~~

Richie decided to wander around a bit before heading home that evening. Well, more like he was hoping to "accidentally" run into Eddie on his way back, but no one needed to know that.

Luckily, while passing an open field on his way back, he spotted the all-familiar small shape of the one and only Eddie Kaspbrack. Richie ran over, only stopping to catch his breath and compose himself. He adjusted his coke-bottle glasses before leaning over Eddies crouched frame. "Hey Eds, wassup?" He asked, putting on his famous toothy grin. "Piss off Rich, and don't call me that." Eddie, sniffed, barely lifting his face from his knees. "Need a hug?" The taller boy suggested, ignoring Eddies previous statement. "Your glasses are falling, douche bag." The boy groaned, shoving them back onto his face and leaning back over Eddie. "Talk to me." He said, not much louder than a whisper, his usual humor-clad tone falling away.

Eddie let his eyes drift into Richies before bursting into loud, choked sobs.

Richie tumbled over, his chestnut curls bouncing. "Woah, what's wrong?" He asked, alarmed. Eddie threw himself into Richies arms as the taller boy sat next to him. Richie sat in shock for a moment before wrapping his arms around the boy and bringing a hand up to the smaller boys head. "Shh shh breathe Eddie." He whispered, heart breaking when the doe-eyed boy only sobbed more.

The ravenette slowly ran his lanky hands up and down Eddies back, calmingly whispering sweet "it's okay"s until the smaller had calmed down. "Hey. Tell me what's goin on?" He asked, in a oddly sweet out-of-character tone. Eddie sniffled once before speaking. "Wh-what if that's a sign Richie?" He squeaked, voice raspy and muffled from Richies chest.

"Whatd you mean?" The taller quirked. "H-he's ju-just like me 'Chee." Eddie cried, "and I just....I just..." he bawled again, sobs wracking through his body. "St-Stan sa-said that s-s-sounded like me. Wh-wh-what if he knows? What if he knows!?" He cried, the salty tears leaking through Richies tshirt. He didn't mind though. "What if he knows what Eds?" Richie cooed whole beginning to re-run his lanky fingers through Eddies hair.

"That I'm gay."

Richie abruptly stopped, his life seeming to screech to a halt. Eddie was gay?

"Shh Shh." Richie shushed him, when the smaller boy began to sob louder. And this only made it worse. "You don't h-h-hate me?" Eddie cried, fisting the back of Richies shirt as if letting go meant losing Richie forever. "Of course not Eds, I'd never." He comforted, kissing the small boy's forehead. "Hey, look at me." Richie requested, smiling sadly when he saw Eddies tear-stained face. "I love you."

With that, he connected their lips, the salty taste of Eddies tears stinging his lips. The two stayed with fireworks shooting through their veins for what felt like forever, yet never enough. "Rich- I-" Eddie muttered against his lips. "Shh Shh it's okay." Richie whispered, placing once more kiss on the others swollen lips before pulling away. "You're okay. It's a coincidence that he had asthma, and I've got you. You aren't going anywhere." He comforted, pulling the small boy into a tight hug.

"Thank you." Eddie cooed, nuzzling his cold cheeks into the warmth of Richies neck, the cold making the ravenette shiver.

"I love you." He whispered again. "I love you too." Richie pulled away from the hug and placed Eddie into his lap, the smaller boys back resting against his chest. "See the stars?" Richie asked, wrapping his arms around Eddie who hummed in response, his eyes falling closed. "They're always going to be in the sky. Just like you and me, okay? We'll stick together, okay?" He asked. Eddie smiled at the cheesiness, not really thinking of Richie as that type of person. Then again, an hour ago he wouldn't have said Richie was the type of person to kiss him. Eddie guessed Richie was just a boy full of surprises.