Summary: In which, Emma Kaspbrack has liked Richie Tozier, her twin brother's best friend, not knowing he might also like her.
Warnings: a kiss or two, aged up everyone in the loser's club to 15 and 16 but nothing else
Emma and Eddie Kaspbrack were two 15 year old twins. The two had spent their whole lives sharing whether it’d be food, clothes, birthdays (obviously), and the most unfortunate thing you guys had to share was a bedroom. You guys were 15! It felt childish to still be sharing a room and Emma knew there was no point in confiding in their mother too. Growing up, their mother was way more protective of Eddie, barely even glanced her way. She got Eddie in the habit of taking pills but after Eddie found out it was all just bullshit, all he really cared for was his little asthma puffer. The twin’s room was separated by twin beds, the two sides looking completely opposite. Emma’s side was all pink, fairy lights, books neatly stacked on top of her wooden bed frame, posters of different bands like The Cure and The Smiths which were two of Emma’s personal favourites. Eddie’s side on the other hand was…different. His bed was never neat, clothes always on his bed, comic books scattered open on his pillows, video game consoles on his desk too. For Emma it was infuriating living with someone so careless about their living space but mature enough to know what causes different infections.
The arrangement was imperfectly perfect. Eddie knew the times you would stay up late at night and read when things got too much for you. Emma knew when Eddie was lying awake spiraling about something someone had said about him. Which is why Eddie knew something was off with Emma even admitting it to herself. At first it wasn’t noticeable. She would leave every time the Loser’s came over, saying she had to “meet her friends at the park” or some other lame excuse she could think of. The second Eddie even mentioned the existence of Richie and that he was coming over, Emma would always double check how her hair looked and even lingered just long enough to say hi to not only him but all the Loser’s in general. Eddie had clocked it all immediately, though he didn’t say anything, mostly cause he didn’t want to know. The Kaspbrack spot was the official hangout spot. This was because Bill liked meeting in the middle of town, Beverly thought their mother’s snack supply was free food for her and Richie loved tormenting Eddie in the comfort of his home. And the fact that Richie was there constantly made Emma lose her mind. Every dirty-minded joke he made, every taunt, every insult Emma’s stomach would do a flip.
She recognised him by the sound of his footsteps and she hated how aware she was of him. All of it was so, so wrong. All because Richie Tozier had a girlfriend. Natalie Brooks became your sworn enemy since 6th grade. One petty insult turned into a years worth of sharp remarks and taunts, pointed glares and mutual sabotage. So when Richie had the audacity to rock up to school on a Monday morning holding Nailie’s hand like it was natural, Emma thought she might have thrown up then and there. Sure Natalie was pretty, talented in the polished popular girl way but it felt like she won something Emma knew she could have never had anyway. Ever since then, Emma avoided Richie more than ever, even the small talk that kept their little dynamic going was gone. If the boys were hanging out in her room she’d go out, if Richie was over she’d find a million reasons to not be in the same vicinity as him. It was easier that way, well at least that’s what she thought. The only problem Emma was not aware of was that Richie noticed. Everytime your footsteps passed from outside he’d ask Eddie: “Hey is your sister around?” Eddie twitches his eye. “No she went to the library. Why?.” Richie shrugs “No reason.”
That’s when Richie got more paranoid, every time he’d come over he’d make questions and comments like: “Does she hate us? I swear she keeps hiding from me-us.” or “Did I scare her off?” Eddie brushed it off, always getting more suspicious by each question but Emma heard everything. Then one Sunday rainy afternoon changed everything. Her mom hadn't allowed her to go out since it was raining. The one time she cared it had to be today. Bill and Ben were arguing over some game, Beverly was painting nails on Emma’s bed, Mike was reading a comic, Stan was listening to music and Richie and Eddie were sprawled out on the floor, and Emma was at her desk. Emma was looking at her English notes pretending to read her notes, still stuck on the same page for the past 50 minutes. Suddenly Richie got up. “Okay” He stated. Emma looked up and saw Richie looking directly at her. “What.” She asked. He pushed his glasses up. “You’ve been weird.” Emma scoffs and shrugs, trying to dodge the question. “You’ve been avoiding me.” He continues. Emma turned fully towards him. “Have not!” “Have!” “Have not!”. Richie sighs, “Oh please you vanish every time I come over.” “Well it’s cause you’re annoying you can’t really blame me.” She snapped back.
Usually Richie would have a comeback but he genuinely looked offended. “Then why does it feel personal?” Emma’s throat tightened. Because it is idiot. Thankfully Stanely had changed the subject, feeling the tension between the two. Even after that Richie got worse: asking her questions, sitting a bit too close, always trying to find excuses to talk with her. It really made no sense he had Natalie after all…then why was he so hellbent on trying to talk with his best friend’s sister. The answer came two weeks later. It was a long day after school. Emma headed up to her room and was met with a wide-eyed Richie on her bed. “Oh” She whispered softly, knowing whatever was gonna happen she would most definitely be screwed. He gave a weak shrug, “Eddie went to the pharmacy with your mom, he broke his inhaler thing at school.” She nods looking anywhere but him. Then she hesitated, finally sitting down on her own bed, next to Richie but not too close. Richie sighed then started. “Natalie and I broke up.” That got her attention. She looked at him in shock. “What? Why?” Needless to say she was happy but it wouldn’t hurt to know why. Richie scoffs. “Apparently I was emotionally unavailable and was insensitive.” Emma chuckled. “That sucks.”
“Yea well it’s heard to even look at your girlfriend when you can’t stop thinking about someone else.” Her breath caught. She slowly looked him eye to eye, finally. Richie was already looking at her and soon everything clicked into place. “Richie..” She spoke softly but to be honest she didn’t know what to say afterwards. He swallowed. “It’s you.” Emma didn’t say anything waiting for Richie to keep going. “I liked Natalie at first well barely…I just thought I would get over my stupid crush on my best friend’s sister.” Emma sighs. “Did it work?” She asked jokingly. Richie chuckled. “Not at all, if anything it made me fall for her even harder.” Emma’s mouth falls open for a moment. Then she lets out a laugh. Richie raises his eyebrow confused. “What?” “I’ve liked you for months, idiot.” His eyes widened then grinned. “Guess we’re both really bad at this huh?” Before she could answer. Richie cups her cheek and kisses her. The kiss felt soft and safe, like he’d spent forever waiting for this exact moment. It was amazing, careful until…”ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” The voice made the two jump. Eddie stood frozen in the doorway, jaw dropped as low as his bag.
“No. Nope. Not doing this I refuse this, Tozier get out.” Eddie said. Richie just laughs. “Woah Eds-” “Uh-uh OUT.” Richie gets out of the door laughing holding his hands up in mock surrender. “I’ll see you at school tomorrow." He shouted to her. Before Emma could get a word in, Eddie replied with. “No she won’t!”. It took everything in her willpower to not burst out laughing from embarrassment.
Callisto watch out for any Zeuses disguised as artemis!! ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
Callisto: one of the followers of Artemis who attracted Zeus. According to some writers, Zeus transformed himself into the figure of Artemis to pursue Callisto, and she slept with him believing Zeus to be Artemis.
She became pregnant and when this was eventually discovered, she was expelled from Artemis's group, after which a furious Hera, the wife of Zeus, transformed her into a bear, although in some versions, Artemis is the one to give her an ursine form.
