real; reddie

t w e n t y n i n e

"hey, richie. can we talk?"

eddie's voice is timid as he speaks. it had been about an hour since everyone had arrived at bev's house, and upon seeing richie standing alone in the kitchen for the first time that evening, eddie had taken the opportunity to approach him, palms sweating and heart racing.

hearing eddie's voice startles richie. in fact, he even looks around to make sure it's him that eddie is addressing, and only when he recognizes that no one else is within earshot does he respond, "uh, yeah, okay. i guess so."

looking for a bit more privacy, eddie nods his head towards the guest bedroom where he'd been staying since leaving will's. richie follows behind him as he enters the room, still a bit stunned with the sudden interaction.

once the door is safely closed behind them, eddie turns to richie, even more nervous now. suddenly, eddie isn't sure what he's supposed to say. a silence draws between them for just a moment before richie speaks first.

"so, uh, what's up?" he asks, hesitant.

eddie scratches the back of his neck, unsure of where to start. out of nowhere, he blurts, "i, uh, i came out to my mom."

he hadn't meant for that to be his opening line, but now it's out there, and richie looks fully bewildered by these words. "for real this time?"

"for real this time," eddie confirms, forcing a smile. "she did not take it well. said i wasn't her son. she kicked me out."

richie's face softens a bit, and he doesn't know what to say or do, so he settles on, "i'm sorry, eddie."

"no, no, it's fine. that's not why i wanted to talk to you," he pauses for a moment. "i'm sorry, richie."

richie furrows his eyebrows, looking genuinely confused. "for what?"

eddie drops his gaze now, refusing to make eye contact for this next part. the room falls silent while he tries to gain the courage to speak, shifting his weight from one foot to another anxiously. and then, finally, it all tumbles out in one big mess of an apology.

"you were right. about everything. about us – you and i – and about will. he's exactly who you said he was, and i know i just didn't want to see it at first, i wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, believe he was a good person and a good friend. but i was wrong, and you were right. i should have trusted you. i was so dumb for not trusting you, because i trust you more than anyone in the world, but i was just blind to what you were saying. now i'd be more than happy to never see will again. he was just using me, he made that abundantly clear, so i'm done with him for good. he's out of the picture, that's why he's not here today. i'm just sorry, god am i sorry. sorry that i couldn't see what was right in front of me. sorry that i didn't believe you when i definitely should have. sorry that i let it come between you and i, and sorry because it's my fault that everything fell apart. that we fell apart. i'm so sorry, rich."

richie seems to be at a loss for words. eddie dares to look up into his face, and if he didn't know any better, he'd think richie's eyes were watering, but he's sure it's just a trick of the light. eddie, though, he's certain he could start bawling on the spot if the silence stretches on any longer.

"anyway," eddie starts up again. "i don't expect anything to come of this. i was awful to you, so i wouldn't be surprised if you hate me. i know that you're probably over me, and that this probably doesn't change anything, but i just had to tell you how i feel. i don't want to lose you, even as a friend," he drops his eyes again. "and, uh, yeah. that's all."

before richie can even begin to formulate a response, eddie is out of the room, tears threatening to spill, rushing to the bathroom to let them fall.

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