Under It All || Reddie

chapter 21; The notebook isle.

word count: 1,274


High school was starting soon and all the Losers dreaded it.

Bowers and his 'gang' always tortured them, they hated when they looked at there class mates and they would see Bowers or any of Bowers friends. Every year the losers all go there separate ways when it comes to buying school supplies, they all had different taste and never shopped together unless it was food they all loved food except Bill, who we've established is vegan. So as usual the Losers shopped for there items, separately, even Richie and Eddie who lived together, shopped alone. Eddie of course was always over buying just to be prepared, and Richie was under buying even though he's one of the smartest in the school, he doesn't like showing it.

Eddie began looking up and down the isles examining each item he was gonna buy carefully making sure to always grab the ones in the back so the items didn't have any scratches, and it was touched less. As Eddie went down the notebook isle, there was a taller blonde boy there. Eddie took no interest in him whatsoever, considering he had the boy he was chasing after for almost a whole year with him.

"Eddie?" the taller blonde spoke.

"uhm,yes?" Eddie replied to the unfamiliar blonde.

"Its me," the tall blonde said gesturing to himself. "Connor." It all flooded back to Eddie, Richie running home from the arcade crying because bowers and his friends caught him playing a game with his younger cousin, and Richie called Eddie the rest of that day telling him all about the most embarrassing moment ever, then a few weeks later Eddie ran into Connor and Eddie told him off....not verbally...in his head. What actually went down between the two is Eddie was struggling to get his words out and Connor thought he was lost, but since Connor was only visiting, he was lost two, and the to boys then introduced themselves to each other. Eddie had forgotten what he was even doing there in the first place, and Connor asked him if he was lost, but Eddie just turned around and walked away, face bright red of embarrassment.

"oh ya..." Eddie conjured up out of him after mentally disappearing for a few minutes to remember that moment. "How-How are you? I thought you were only visiting last time we...talked?"

"Im good, and ya I came back one last time to visit Henry again before school started but he ditched me to go hang out with some girl." Connor annoyingly said.

"cool cool...I mean sorry what?"Eddie said having completely tuning Conor out.

"Uh- never mind. So how ya been?" Connor questioned while closing the space between them slightly so they were only three feet apart.

"Good, good." Eddie awkwardly said stepping back pretending to look at a notebook but he really was just uncomfortable. "How about you?"

"You already asked that Ed's...do you mind if I call you that?" Connor giggled.

"I actually hate that name." he doesn't. But it was reserved for Richies lips, and Richies lips alone. He occasionally didn't mind when the Losers said it, but to Eddie it sounded better rolling off of Richies lips. "Just Eddie is fine."

"Oh...ok? why are you in the notebook isle?" Connor replied eyeing Eddies basket.

"school." Eddie answered uncomfortably. "I should get going, Richies probably wondering where I am." Eddie said taking a few steps back.

"But you didn't even pick out a notebook." Connor grew confused at Eddies awkwardness towards him.

"Here, this ones fine-" Eddie spoke grabbing a notebook that was covered in rainbows and white out-linings, then stepping backwards one more time just to run into a stand marked '75% off ALL summer items!'.

"Whoa, dude are you okay?" Connor yelled slightly, as if Eddie cracked his head open. Connor rushed over next to Eddie putting his Hand to the area Eddie bumped into...his back.

This is one of the situations that claims they aren't as bad as they look, and it was 100% completely true but to Richie Toziers eyes it was a nightmare.

"Ed's?" Richie said turning the corner to see Connors hand up against Eddies back and Eddies face bright red.

"damn it." Eddie whispered softly because he knew this wasn't gonna end well. "Chee I-I just bumped into a few Books- Notebooks! that's why I was down this isle not because of him and I was leaving to come find you but I bumped into...I already said that." Eddie spoke at a fast pace trying to stop Richie from thinking something bad was happening, but in reality Eddie was just trying to leave and go find Richie in the first place.

Richie had never been so relieved and embarrassed at the same time. The boy who made himself realize he was gay,Eddie, was next to the boy who made him feel bad about being gay, Connor. "Eds? why are-what are-why are, you with him?" Richie never wanted that sentence to come out of his mouth 'why are you with him?' Richie choked back tears not wanting Connor to see he got the best of him, even though he did.

"Ed's? I thought you hated when people called you that." Connor said darting his eyes between Richie who was a emotional mess, and Eddie who was to panicked to function. A smile grew on Connors face remembering the arcade, and when Bowers outed Richie.

"what is going on?" Richie choked back tears. His face then grew bright red, from angriness.

"Nothing I swear! I was just looking for a notebook and-and this guy just started talking to me and-and I swear, please believe me Chee." Eddie said talking at a fast pace again and tears filling his eyes.

"why does-why is....his hand." Richie grew madder and madder and eventually sat down his basket that was filled with a few pencils and candy, and marched over to Connor who was a whole foot and a half taller then Richie, and shoved him.

"Hey! man what's your deal I was just making sure Ed's was okay." Connor smirked, he knew it made Richie mad, and Connor loved it.

"Eddie?" Richie said with the tears he was trying to hold back, trickled down his face that was bright red from anger.

"Richie, trust me nothing is going on he's trying to piss you off come on lets just go." Eddie said infuriated that Connor was acting like such a...dick. Eddie then grabbed Richies arm and tugged him away from the conversation.

"Eddie. what- how do you even know him!" Richie groaned.

"you, you told me about the arcade remember? and before you ask how I know him, I bumped into him a few days after you told me about it and I told-I tried to tell him off, but it ended in me just walking away." Eddie said trying to hug Richie but he never got the feeling of Richies arms hugging him back.

After a few minutes of Eddie hugging Richie and silence, Eddie finally felt the warmth of Richie arms wrap around his small waist.

"I believe you." is all Richie said breaking the silence. "Come on lets just, go." Richie said tightly squeezing Eddie one last time, then releasing to grab his basket and a plain notebook heading towards the checkout.

After the two boys left and got home they put there supplies in there backpacks from last year, and got ready for bed.....

HI!! This chapter was very..chaotic? anyways I needed a bridge for my next chapter, that may or may not be a smut.

Don't forget to comment! ENJOY!!

-Hayley