‟ Shut up, Rich. „ | Reddie

Derry middle school, Chapter 2

(English class, Richie and Eddie)

 R-   Richie pulled out his notebook, jotting down notes that were up on the board for the class to copy. His eyes wandered away from his paper and over to Eddie, who was sitting in front and diagonal to him. He thought about yesterday, "He probably didn't even care. I'm overreacting." he thought to himself. It had felt like a tornado to him, an avalanche. Like everything came crashing down. But what had even happened? He was still even trying to figure that out. He flipped to a fresh, blank page in his notebook and wrote a note, passing it to Eddie when the teacher wasn't paying close attention. 

E-   "Are we ok? Like are we still friends?" was etched out in #2 pencil. Eddie read the words and tapped his own pencil against the desk. Trying to think of a response (and how to get the note back to him without the teacher seeing and getting him in trouble). He thought about the words for a second, "Of course we are still friends. We are always still friends. How was this any different?" he thought to himself, although not daring to write that down. "Yeah, of course" He wrote down instead. Carefully timing passing the note back to Richie.

R-   He took the note quickly and set it in his lap, tapping his foot as his anxiety grew. He wrote down a couple more notes in his notebook before finally opening the note and sighing out of relief as he read the response. "That was anticlimactic," he thought "What was I even thinking? Of course we are still friends" he felt no need to respond to his words. That's all he really wanted to know. He continued with his notes, while occasionally glancing at Eddie. He always found himself staring at Eddie, not for any particular reason, he thought. But his eyes just always wandered off to him. Sometimes he would catch Eddie doing the same before he quickly averted his gaze after a second or 2 of eye contact. Richie had always wondered why he liked looking at him so much, why his heart rate spiked whenever he saw him. He always passed it off as just really liking Eddie as a friend. Of course. 

E-   Eddie was jolted out of his daydreaming from the ring of the lunch bell. He gathered his stuff, slung on his backpack, and head out the doors of the English classroom, not even bothering to wait for Richie like he always did. He darted straight for the cafeteria, walking to a different table than they all usually sat at, it wasn't that he was mad at any of them. He just wanted to be alone for now. But of course, Richie followed him.

R-   He watched as Eddie darted out of the classroom, he wanted to shout something. Something like "Wait up Eds!" but he didn't. Instead, he just followed him. When he noticed Eddie breeze right past the losers club designated table, he quickly told them all that he was gonna sit with Eddie and walked away. Still following him. 

Eddie sat down first, and Richie sat down beside him, keeping arms distance. 

E-   "God." he thought, "Why can't he just leave me alone?" but his thoughts hurt him. He didn't wanna think like that towards Richie. He was his best friend. "Maybe crush." he inhaled sharply, realizing what he had just said in his head. Could you take back your own thoughts? He tried to force himself to forget, but of course, it just made him think about the 2 words even more. 

R-   "Hey Eds, you alright?" he said, with an unfamiliar tone of nervousness in his voice.

E-   "Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Are you?" 

R-   "Yeah. I'm alright. I was just confused because, you know, this isn't our usual table."

E-   "I know. I was kinda hoping id be alone."

R-   "Oh, I can leave if you want."

E-   "No, don't. It's ok"

R-    "Well alright then." Richie pulled out his lunchbox, setting it down on the table in front of them both. 

E-   He set his hands in his lap and scooted a bit closer to Richie, hoping he wouldn't notice, and retrieving his lunchbox as well. Although he wouldn't touch his food. He wished they were alone, that they weren't in a crowded lunchroom, so he could tell Richie everything. Everything he felt. But he felt as if there were a knot in his throat. Something he couldn't swallow or force down. It felt like if he were to talk, or even open his mouth, he would sob.

(time skip cuz I'm lazzyyyy)

The last bell of the school day rang, indicating dismissal. Richie and Eddie walked out into the courtyard together and began their walk home, side by side. It remained quiet between them both for a short while, until Richie eventually spoke up. "Do you wanna swing by my house?"

"I don't know, Rich. My mom might go nuts if I don't ask first."

"Oh come on. Just say you stayed after school for tutoring or some nerdy shit. It'll be quick, I swear" Richie replied

Eddie protested for a while, before finally giving in. They walked side by side to Richie's house. Eddies stomach fluttered with butterflies the entire walk.

When they finally arrived, Richie lead him around the back and through the back door. "Rich..Have you ever liked somebody?"
"What, like, LIKE like?"

"Yeah." Eddie said, sheepishly.

"Yeah actually. She's amazing."

Oh. She. 

"Who..?" Eddie said, his heart in his stomach. 

"You really wanna know who, Eds?" 

"Yeah." He hesitated, not really sure of his answer. 

"Your mom." Richie said after a long pause, teasing Eddie. "God, you really thought I LIKED somebody? Have you seen the people in this crackhead town?" He chuckled.

"Fuck you, dude." He couldn't help but laugh as well, sighing out of relief and taking a puff of his inhaler.  

"Why, do you like someone Eds?" He mocked, forming one hand into an ok sign and sticking a finger in it.

"Yeah. Maybe, I don't really know. I don't know what it feels like" Eddie replied, ignoring Richie's dirty mind.

"Did you try asking Bill?"

"Yeah, he's the first person I asked." 

"Welp, I cannot be of service here, Romeo. No girls like me." Richie said.

"Yeah." Eddie thought about the word 'girl' for a second longer than he wanted to. Richie was right, no girl liked him. Because Eddie did. 

(filler words)