impulses | reddie

ch 1

It's always been Richie and Eddie, well since kindergarten. A chilly September day, frost coated the playground. Richie's calloused hands were nearly frostbit from the metal monkey bars. He made the impulsive decision to join the boy sitting alone on the swings.  It was destiny. They clicked right away, worlds collided, a puzzle pieced together, everything fell into place. They were meant to be. They were best friends. You could ask anyone...two peas in a pod.

"GET THE FUCK BACK HERE RICHIE." Eddie yelled.

"COME GET ME EDS!" Richie teased, taking a sharp corner in the school hallways, his converse let out a screech on the polished tile. Leaning against the wall to catch his breath, Eddie's inhaler a prisoner to his grasp. He let his thumb run over the thick plastic in his hand behind his back and smirked slightly, a miniscule pang of guilt infested his brain but he pushed it away.

It was a truly evil move, stealing an asthmatic kids inhaler and running. That's what best friends are for though right?

"You're a real dick Rich." Eddie approached Richie, gasping for air, he wrapped his arms around Richie's waist in an attempt to snatch the inhaler from Richie's hand but before he could Richie pulled his hand from behind his back and took the initiative to pop off the cap and slip the mouthpiece into Eddie's mouth.

"Sorry, I couldn't help it." Richie admitted, his guilt catching up to him. Eddie's breathing regulated and he rolled his eyes, they started walking towards the exit of the school. He knew he could never stay mad at Richie for long, but he always gave him a tough time about his bullshit antics. That was the funny thing. Eddie was always pissed at Richie but he was never actually upset with him. Mostly just annoyed, confused. Why was it always Eddie he picked on? Even Richie wasn't sure, he just liked when Eddie would pay attention to him, he liked the way Eddie's freckled cheeks would glow red with flustered anger. It's just how things have always been.

"Why do you always have to be like this?" Eddie shot back, a smile followed, easing Richie's nerves, he didn't mean it. Richie often found himself lying awake at night. His thoughts slowly suffocate him. He says and does things without thinking and while he acts like he doesn't he cares about what people think, he does and he knows this.

"Oh Eds, what would you do without me?" Richie smiled his crooked smile. He reached out and pushed the door open. Eddie watched in admiration as a swift breeze flowed through Richie's shaggy hair and he smiled at the sight.

"Maybe I'd finally get some peace and quiet." Eddie propped open the door until he could pass the responsibility on to the person behind him. "And how many times have I told you not to call me that?"

"It's not my fault it's just so fitting, it's cute." Richie let out a short chorus of laughter before ruffling Eddie's chestnut brown locks of hair. Eddie pursed his lips as all the blood in his body rushed to his face. He looked down to prevent any further embarrassment.

Eddie didn't respond, Richie bit his lip and kicked a sturdy rock that rested on the pavement, it flew straight into the street and Richie frowned slightly, he didn't like that he was parting with the rock so soon. Even more, he didn't like that he was parting with Eddie so soon. As they walked up the block and Eddie's house waited menacingly for them, Richie let out a huff.

At the end of Eddie's driveway, Richie gave the shorter boy a soft push "Alright bye Eds."

"Bye."

-

Eddie shoved the bright orange bottle back into the medicine cabinet and closed it. He looked at his reflection briefly in the mirror acknowledging his freckles were fading with the summer heat. It was bittersweet to see them go. He wasn't very fond of his freckles until Richie mentioned them saying it made him look like a "cute little strawberry". For some reason Eddie thought about that more than he thought he should.