2 out of 7 || reddie

three

In English, the class Richie had before lunch, he spoke to Stan bout the new lunch arrangement.

"Eddie, the new kid. He's really cool, and he's got like two friends. Bill and Ben, and they're all gonna sit with us, okay?"

"Okay, sounds nice." Stan replied.

-

Richie was at his locker before lunch, and Eddie found him. He tapped on his shoulder.

"Oh, hey eds." Richie said, a little startled from the tap.

"Stop calling me eds, before I slam your face into the locker."

"Wow! He's feisty today folks." Richie joked with a laugh.

"Fuck off."

Richie led Eddie to his lunch table. Stan was sitting there, and Bill and Ben found their way as well. Richie and Eddie walked over and took their seats. Eddie was about to question where Richies other friend was. He knew one of them was homeschooled, but he thought there was another. Before he could speak up, Bev Marsh ran to the table, holding a folder that was falling apart and took her place.

The teens started chatting and getting to know each other. It was a little awkward, but Richie didn't mind. That was because he kept staring at Eddie. And catching himself staring at Eddie. He couldn't stop. He wanted to know everything about him, he wanted to spend more than just a couple periods a day with him. He wanted to stare at his pretty face forever.

What's going on? he thought to himself. Did he like Eddie? He'd only known him for a few days. Yet, he loved talking to him, and being around him, and he was itching for more interaction and contact with him.

"Richie?"

Richie snapped out of his thoughts and realized Eddie had said his name. "What?"

"Dude, you've been staring at me for like 2 straight minutes." Eddie said with a little laugh.

"Oh, sorry." Richie blushed deeply, "I was just thinking."

"About what?" Bev questioned.

Richie internally cursed out Bev. Why did she have to ask that? Obviously, he had been thinking about Eddie, and his feelings towards Eddie, if he liked Eddie.

"Just home. Wondering what's for dinner."

-

Later that day, Richie was in fact not home. He was in Stans living room, hanging out with him, Bev, and Mike. He had been filling Mike in on the amazing person Eddie was.

"Do you like him?" Bev blurted.

"Huh?" Richie asked.

"Eddie. Do you, like like him?" She continued.

"What? No?" Richies face felt hot. Why was she asking this? And why was he feeling so defensive? And why was his stomach turning from a simple question.

"It's just the way you've been talking about him, and the way you act around him. It's okay if you do, he's a nice kid." Stan adds.

"Yeah, we're your best friends, you should tell us." Mike egged on.

"What the fuck are you guys talking about? I don't like him."

"You're always so red around him!" Bev exclaimed.

Richie stood up and grabbed his bag, overwhelmed and frustrated with his feelings. He didn't know what to do or what to say. So he left. He blasted his music in his car as he drove around, not sure when to stop. Eventually he stopped looping around Derry and settled at the park, sitting on a bench.

He thought a lot about what his friends said. I mean, they knew he was gay, he came out a long time ago, but was Eddie gay? Why did it matter? Do I like him? he thought. He's all Richie thought about. He made his heart beat out of his chest. He wanted to be with him all the time. Richie was starting to realize that maybe he does like Eddie. A lot.

-

Eddie was hanging out with Bill, doing some homework.

"S-so Richie is c-cool." Bill said after awhile of silence.

"You think so? I think so, his friends are too." Eddie replied with a smile. He really wanted his friends to like Richie, but he wasn't sure why.