Eddie Kaspbrak is in love with Richie Tozier. Richie Tozier is a fucking idiot. As Usual.

Chapter 1: I'm not bulletproof, when it comes to you

Eddie Kaspbrak stared into his locker, thumbing through his pile of books, looking for what he needed for next period.

That was when he heard it. Their laughter. Her laughter. Richie's and... Tiffany's. A cold feeling washed over Eddie, his hand gripping tightly onto his locker door. His eyes peered around it at his best friend, who had been pushed against his own locker, with Tiffany Johnson pressing her body into his, her hands shoved into Richie's dark tresses, as her lips met his in a sloppy display.

Eddie's whole body seemed to tense and he was sure he let out a verbal "ugh" at the sight. He looked away, grabbing his books and slamming his locker shut, before quickly storming down the hallway.

The noise made Richie break the kiss. He turned to look in the direction of Eddie stomping away. His attention was diverted for a moment, his smile tapering. He stared solemnly, before Tiffany's hand moved up to Richie's chin, turning his head back to face her. "Earth to Richie!?"

He focused his attention again, his smile returning.

"Am I boring you, Tozier?"

"Not at all, beautiful," Richie replied before pressing his lips to hers and resuming their mini make-out session, the pair of them giggling into each other.

Eddie put his head down in his last class of the day, trying to get through his work as fast as he could. He just wanted to get the fuck out of there and get home. For some reason, he couldn't concentrate.

A slowed down replay of what he'd seen earlier kept looping in his mind, as he lay slumped at his desk, one arm draped across in front of him, his chin leaning on said arm. Without realising, he had begun to absent-mindedly draw random patterns and objects on his work in front of him.

The image looped again. Richie leaning back against his locker, those stupid dark curls of his getting messed up even worse than usual. His coke-bottle glasses teetering on the end of his nose, having to push them up before Tiffany leaned in for a kiss.

The way Richie had smiled down at Tiffany made Eddie's stomach lurch. The way he'd looked at her. The way his hand had rested on her hip, gripping her as they made out. Eddie pushed his pencil even harder into his work, almost tearing the page with the force of it.

"...Mr. Kaspbrak!" The teacher called out, as if having said it for a third or fourth time in a row.

Eddie looked up at the source of the voice, his hand coming to a standstill.

"My, well, I've never had such a forthcoming student, Mr. K."

"Huh?" Eddie was completely lost and out of it.

"Class has been dismissed, Eddie." Mrs. Walker said.

Eddie looked around again, realising the classroom was empty. How had he missed the bell? He had really been thinking way too deeply this time.

"Oh." Eddie replied, quickly gathering his things, throwing his books into his bag as he shuffled out of his seat. "Sorry... thanks Mrs. Walker." He replied before practically running out of the room.

"Eddie wait up!" He heard his name being called. He recognised the voice to be Stan's. He didn't want Stan to see him, he didn't want to have to put on a brave face. Although, with Stan, he usually never had to.

His initial urge to speed up between the crowds and pretend he never heard his friend quickly faded. He slowed down until Stan caught up with him.

"Hey, Stan." Eddie turned around. Stan could immediately see that Eddie was riled up.

"What's wrong, are you okay?"

"Yeah" Eddie answered, unconvincingly. He knew Stan wouldn't believe him anyway.

"Was he with her again?" Stan asked.

Eddie nodded his head, looking down.

Stanley Uris knew Eddie Kaspbrak well. He knew that Eddie and Richie had been the closest of friends ever since they were kids. They had all been best friends since then. Eddie, Richie, Stan and Bill Denbrough. But Stan knew that Richie and Eddie had an even closer relationship than the rest.

The two boys hung out together at every opportunity, even without the others. They had sleepovers, they went to the barrens together, sometimes camping out under the stars.

But Stan was the only one who knew how Eddie really felt about Richie. He knew that Eddie held Richie in high regard, perhaps a higher regard than the others. He also knew that Eddie had realised a long time ago that he was gay. Stan had been the one he'd confided in. It didn't take him long to work out that Eddie Kaspbrak was in love with Richie Tozier.

His feelings for Richie were not something Eddie had openly admitted. But Stan wasn't blind. He'd never wanted to question Eddie on it. He hadn't wanted to make him feel uncomfortable. If he hadn't told Stan about his feelings, he knew there must have been a good reason why.

So Stan did what Stan always did and was just... There. He simply acted like a friend. "You wanna go to the arcade and waste some money?" Stand smiled, looking hopeful.

"No thanks Stan. Think I'm just gonna head on home." Eddie replied forlornly.

Stan knew not to push him. "Okay... Guess I'll catch you later?"

"Yeah. See ya Stanley."

Stan watched Eddie walk away, his heart aching for his friend. He couldn't fathom what it must be like to be in love with your best friend and for there to be literally nothing you could do about it.

He had a moment of anger towards Richie. Why did Richie have to flaunt his new girlfriend in everyone's faces? Surely Richie must know how Eddie felt. It was so obvious. Although, Eddie was a reserved person and maybe it was only obvious to Stan because he knew Eddie was gay. And because he paid closer attention to things. Whereas Richie always had his head in the clouds. Too busy having fun to notice other people's pain.

Yep and just like that, Stan's anger returned. Of course Richie could never know because he never fucking paid any attention. Stan began to wonder what it was that Eddie even saw in Richie. He could be a real jackass sometimes.