real; reddie

t w e n t y s i x

"what the fuck?"

eddie is up and across the room before will's lips come within an inch of his own. his breathing is suddenly heavy, but it's solely because of the shock and anxiety that both just skyrocketed as richie's point had been proven right in front of his eyes.

"what?" will asks, still comfortable on the couch. he has a cheeky grin on his face, and he nods, motioning for eddie to come and sit back down.

"what the fuck," eddie repeats, unable to say anything else.  he's beyond surprised, and honestly, really very uncomfortable, inching further away from the couch as he waits for an explanation. when will doesn't say anything, eyebrows just raised in a teasing curiosity, eddie finally spits out, "what the fuck are you doing?"

will chuckles a bit, as if he'd expected the question, as if it were stupid to even ask. "why don't you come back here and find out?"

"cut the shit, will, i'm serious," eddie says, and he can barely hear his own voice over the sound of his heart beating furiously in his ears. "what the fuck did you think was going to happen here?"

will's face remains amused, and he shrugs nonchalantly. "eddie, you don't have to be embarrassed about this. this has been in the making for a long time."

"what has been in the making?"

"us. obviously. now come back and sit down."

eddie cannot believe what he's hearing, and his stomach turns. arguably the most disturbing part of all of this is the fact that will genuinely does not seem at all phased by what he's saying, doesn't even seem to consider that he could be wrong. he's just smugly waiting, as if he expects the other boy to cross the room and fall back into whatever the fuck he was hoping to start.

"there is no us, will."

it's only now that will's face drops. an unamused expression replaces the previous interest, and he crosses his arms over his chest. "eddie-"

"no, will, i'm serious. there is no us. there never has been, there never will be. we went on one date in high school and it didn't work out. we're friends. that's it. that's all."

will doesn't seem to actually believe this, his face contorting first in confusion and then in annoyance. "then why did you come to me when you and richie broke up?"

"because we're friends! that's what friends do!"

"you have plenty of other friends and chose me, eds. that counts for something."

eddie throws his hands up in frustration, tugging them through his hair awkwardly. "no, it doesn't. you're the only one who knew richie and i weren't always broken up. i couldn't exactly confide in the others when they thought him and i had been apart the whole time."

the other boy grimaces, and he flies up from his spot on the couch. "so you were using me?"

"i was never using you, will! i just came to you for comfort, as my friend! i never meant to lead you on, but i genuinely believed that we were friends, that we cared about one another enough to share these things.  i don't understand why you thought otherwise, why you tried to kiss me."

"bullshit, eddie," will scoffs, his tone louder, and he's angry, almost yelling. "that's all bullshit. i took you in, gave you a temporary home, and now you're making me out to be the bad guy?"

"i never..." eddie doesn't know how to respond. he's taken aback, shocked by the entire situation. he's at a loss for words, not understanding what's happening. "not at all. i appreciate all you've done for me, but i thought this was all platonic."

"sure. you're just an ungrateful bastard. no wonder richie broke up with you. you're a leech and a fucking tease."

eddie is unmoving, frozen in place for a moment. he feels genuinely sick to his stomach. finally, he just crosses the room, grabbing the bag he'd been living out of for the past few days, and leaves will's place without another word.

-
anyway fuck him