Your dirty little secret - Reddie

-3-

As they approached Eddie's house, Eddie took a deep breath. He pulled into the driveway slowly.
Richie nudged him in the shoulder, "It's fine! You're like 5 minutes late, what's the worst that could happen?"

"Um, she could ground me from leaving my room for the whole summer! No matter how good my grades are at the end of the year, if she thinks I'm in danger and I'm not, I won't see any of you for a good while-" Eddie spoke fast without stopping for a breath but it caught up with him. He grabbed his inhaler and puffed it a few times.

Richie took the inhaler from Eddie and walked him to the front door, "You're gonna be fine, Ed's."

"Don't call me that!" Eddie pulled his keys out of his fanny pack, his hands shaking frantically. Richie grabbed Eddie's hands gently, they keys still in the palms of his hands, "Hey, you're fine, okay?"

Eddie stared into Richie's eyes for a moment, then looked back down at his hands and cleared his throat, "Um...I need my hands to-"

"Right! Sorry, heh." Richie let go and put a hand behind his head, trying not to be obvious. His face felt warm and he was fighting to keep a straight face. Eddie unlocked the door, "Mommy? I'm home...Mom-"

"Eddie-Bear! There you are! Were have you been? I've been worried sick!" Mrs. K gave Eddie a but kiss on the cheek. Eddie turned back to Richie embarrassed, then back to his mom, "We had a math page that's due tomorrow and I said I'd help him."

"You never called!" Sonia(Mrs.K) said. Eddie placed a hand on one of his hips, "You weren't home when I left! I was gonna be home earlier but Richie's slow-"

"Excuses Eddie-bear! Come in or you're going to catch cold!" Sonia grabbed Eddie, pulling him inside. Eddie grabbed Richie's arm as he was pulled into the house. "Are you boys hungry? Eddie? Did you eat?"

"N-" Richie started. "Yes! We ate a Richie's, Ma. We're gonna go to my room." Eddie turned to Richie and gave him a stern look. Richie nodded and the two boys walked up the stairs to Eddie's room. "Overwhelmed? She didn't look mad to me-"

"No, I don't know, I just didn't want you to talk to her. You always say stupid shit? So I didn't feel like listening to her yelling at your dumb ass to leave my house!" Eddie ranted after closing his door. Richie chuckled a bit then laid down on Eddie's bed.

"So, we have school tomorrow ya know..."
Richie sat back up, "And?" Eddie rolled his eyes and put his bag down next to his dresser, "And if you don't go to bed soon then you're going to be dead by morning! And it's past my bedtime so do what you want, but I have to go to sleep!"

"Past your bed time? Is Mrs.K going to come in and check one you, because I forgot my mint gum at home-" Eddie kicked Richie in the face, "Shut up! Stay over if you're gonna, but if you're late to school tomorrow that's not my problem!"

"Ouch! If you're not careful you'll brake my glasses!" Richie took off his glasses and placed them on Eddie's nightstand. Eddie rolled his eyes and got himself comfortable under his blankets. Richie laid next to him, trying not to be weirdly stiff as he struggled not to think about how close Eddie was lying to him.

"Goodnight then, Rich." Eddie reached over and turned off his bedside lamp. Richie cleared his throat, "Yeah, night Ed's!" Eddie rolled his closed eyes, "Don't call me that!"

~~~

The next morning the two boys woke up an hour earlier than usual to make sure they had time to stop by Richie's house. They pulled into the driveway, resting their bikes on the garage door before walking up the steps. Little did Richie know, his dad had parked his car down the street.

Richie walked up to the door and turned his key. Eddie stood by the steps as Richie walked into the house. Richie turned to Eddie, "I'll be right back. Wait here?"

"Sure.." Then Richie disappeared into the house, closing the door behind him. "Look who's home!" Richie paused at the living room doorway and turned to face Wentworth. He was sitting on the couch, facing Richie as he spoke, "Where'd you sneak off to last night?"

Richie stayed frozen for a moment, then looked back towards the stairs, "Im gonna be late for school." He ran up the stairs as his father shot out of his chair and followed. Richie attempted to close his door. His father slammed it open causing one of the three hinges to break.

Richie walked quickly over to his dresser. Wentworth still pissed off, "I wasn't done talking to you! Where the Hell did you go last night? Sneak off to your boyfriends again?" Richie froze for a second, then grabbed his backpack, "Nope. Just walked Eddie home then stayed over. Nothing Mu-"

Wentworth smacked Richie in the back of the head causing his glasses to fall onto his bed In front of him. His father grabbed his shoulder and turned him quickly, "Listen here! I have 3 rules kid! You don't sneak out, you don't have people over, and you don't lie to me! Where were you and why is he outside of my house?"

Richie stayed quiet, bracing himself for the next hit. Wentworth shook Richie's shoulders aggressively then slapped him in the face, "Don't lie to me, what happened?!"

"Nothing! I just stayed over!" Richie tried to brake his arms free as the blurry image of his father screamed in his face, "Look at me!" Richie's face straightened and he began to shake franticly. Wentworth slapped Richie in the face twice more then griped his shoulders tightly, "I said look at me, Richard!"

"I Can't See You, Asshole! My glass-" a punch straight to the stomach. Wentworth let go of the kids shoulders, allowing him to fall to his bed for support. He walked out of Richie's room, "Next time you sneak out you won't be so lucky, got that?"

Richie clenched his stomach in agony as he reached for his glasses. Eddie one the front desk, was quietly standing, staring at the front door at the noise stoped. Richie finished changing and grabbed his things, then walked back outside. He looked at Eddie then the ground as he shut the door behind him. Eddie gave him a face of concern, "Are you-"

"Let's go or we're gonna be late!"