real; reddie

t h i r t y

"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."

eddie's words had been playing on repeat in richie's head for the past twenty four hours. they'd never gotten another chance to speak alone last night, but then again, richie isn't sure what he would've said if they did, anyway.

now, he stands alone against the wall at the year end party, a cup in one hand while his other pushes his curls back and out of his eyes. eddie hadn't arrived yet, and richie can feel his heart beating fast and faster with anticipation.

what is he going to say? what is he supposed to say? eddie had poured his heart and soul out, placed all his cards on the table. he'd admitted all his wrongdoings unabashedly, as if richie hadn't partly been at fault, too. he'd said everything richie had been waiting to hear since their break up and more, and richie just stood there silently.

and then there was eddie's implication. he'd said that he believes that richie is over him. what does that mean? that eddie isn't over him? that eddie still has feelings for him? or is he reading too much into it?

richie wants to smack himself. he wishes he would've said anything in response. but he'd been much too stunned, and eddie hadn't given it much time before rushing out of the room.

richie is drawn out of his thoughts almost immediately when eddie walks in, the smallest smile on his lips as he greets some people near the door.

of course richie still loves him. how could he not? but their fight really set him back. he worries that eddie doesn't trust him. that eddie won't in the future. and what's a relationship without trust?

eddie moves to the snack table, popping a chip in his mouth while laughing half heartedly at something that mike says.

but eddie had apologized for not trusting him. he'd admitted that he had been wrong not to. he knows that he should've. and that, honestly, was all richie wanted, or needed, to hear.

now eddie's in the middle of the room, alone as bill and ben leave his side, and when he looks up his eyes meet richie's.

suddenly, richie needs to talk to him. he's not sure what he's going to say, but at this point it doesn't matter. he replays prom night, a long time ago, in his head, when he himself had been the one storming out. how had eddie went about approaching him after that?

fuck it.

without another thought, richie is crossing the room. he walks with purpose, and he stops in front of eddie, who wears a look of confusion on his features. they stand a moment in silence, eyes locked, with so much unsaid but understood. and then, richie speaks.

"you were wrong this time, eds," richie finally says. "i'm not over you. in fact, i doubt i could ever get over you."

"but i was horrible to you, richie," eddie's voice is soft and apprehensive.

"you weren't. we were both at fault, and it was a stupid fight over a stupid guy who means nothing to either of us. i don't care about him or my internship or pretending anymore. i care about being with the man i love. and i won't lose you, as long as you still want to be with me."

eddie looks shocked by this turn of events, but his eyes soften almost immediately. "of course i do, you loser."

richie breaks out into a grin, which eddie matches, and then they're kissing. lips pressed together, richie's hands holding eddie's face as if it's the most precious thing in the world, eddie's hands on richie's chest and feeling his heartbeat race through his shirt, and everything is okay again.

because, no matter what they're going to go through in the future, they know they have each other, and really, that's all they need. at the end of the day, none of that drama matters. none of the fake, pretending nonsense. all that matters is the fact that they're real.

fin.

-

should i do a q&a for the characters again?