[For a long time Richie wasn't sure what he was missing, the call from Mike changed everything. He hadn't thrown up because of nerves, or fear, it was everything bubbling up at once. What he remembered of Eddie, what he remembered about himself. It was enough to make his stomach roil.

Now, he couldn't think about a world without Eddie. A world without him would be a dark, dull place. A place he didn't want to live in, and couldn't imagine without some sense of fear and foreboding.]

You're perfect the way you were. You don't have to be anything for me, Eddie, just you.

[It was always just him. Eddie was so much more than his interpretation of himself. He was this dynamic unattainable thing growing up, but at the same tie the only person that he ever wanted to be around.]

No, I mean without peer pressure, or drugs, or anything. Just me and you without anything extra involved.

[Richie had definitely filled him up in the best of ways before, but it would be even better to just do it like they normally would have. Without a ritual or some aphrodisiacs to loosen them up. A real first time, without any extras to distract them.]

I would've come if you were sober and just mentioned it in passing. What made you party so hard tonight?