Your dirty little secret - Reddie

-16-

"What do you mean?" Richie looked at Eddie with confusion. Eddie took another puff of his inhaler, "I told them not to push anything but they don't listen to me!"

"Ed's what the fuck are you talking about? I'm not a mind reader!" Richie interrupted. Eddie threw his hands in the air and let them drop, "Bev took you outside so they could get Stan alone. To ask what happened with you. I told them not to but-" Eddie took another puff of his inhaler, "They don't listen to me! Ever! I said they didn't have to talk about it with you or anyone because it made you uncomfortable-" Eddie puffed his inhaler again, "I'm so sorry, Rich! I wanted to be a better friend but there was nothing could do!"

"Ed's...." He started, "Your...Your not a bad friend... I um...I appreciate you trying to talk them out of it..." Richie nudged Eddie in the side.  Eddie wiped his face. Richie scuffed up Eddie's hair with one of his hands, "How's about I walk you home?"

Eddie smiled and wiped his tears again. Richie opens the front door, "I'm walking Eddie home. Bye guys!" The group yelled their goodbyes. Richie closed the door again, then walked back over to Eddie, "Let's go see my wife!"

~~~ 

The boys walked to Eddie's house and went to his room. Eddie had an uneasy feeling in his stomach. They sat down on his bed and talked for an hour about random shit like the always did.

"What are you afraid of, Rich?" Eddie asked randomly. Richie hesitated in shock, "What? N-Nothing anymore." He averted eye contact then sat up on the bed. Eddie sat up with him, "Last summer you said you were scared of clowns, this summer you're not? That's not how it works...I'm still terrified of germs and getting sick and shit. All of the others still fear what they did before so what was it that you were actually scared of?"

"Fine! Don't believe me! I don't give a dick!" Richie looked at his hands. They shook frantically. Richie's heart was pounding and his eyes began to water up in frustration and panic. Eddie placed a hand on Richie's hand. Why won't you look at me? He thought.

"Richie?" Eddie scooted a bit closer, "Look...I'm not trying to be a jerk...I just want you to talk to me...Why do you feel like you have to lie to me?" Richie's heart pounded. He turned to look at the door.

"You want me to be honest?" Richie started Eddie in the eyes. Eddie's heart began to pound. He smiled nervously, "Yeah...That's why-"

Richie grabbed Eddie's cheek and leaned in, pressing his lips against Eddie's. Eddie froze. He didn't know if he should kiss back or if this was wrong. They were best friends! Richie pulled away. He backed up, "I'm so sorry!"

Eddie gripped his shirt tightly and reached down for his inhaler. He took a few puffs of it as he frantically struggled to breathe. Richie stood up and walked backwards into the door. He opened it, then ran downstairs and out the front door.

Eddie laid down on his bed. His lips still felt tingly from the feeling of Richie's being pressed into his. He lifted a hand ti his mouth, then gently pressed it against his lips, repeating the odd feeling. His heart pounded and a slight smile peered at his lips.

Richie ran all the way to his house. His eyes watered with regret and guilt. He unlocked the front door, opened it then walked into the house checking the clock for the time. Wentworth still wasn't home. It was only 5:30, an hour and a half before his curfew.

Richie ran past his mother who laid sober on the couch. She turned to him, "Richard?" Richie turned to face her, "Your sober?" Maggie smiled then realized the boys eyes were dropping tears all over his face. Maggie stood up and walked over to Richie.

"What happened, Rich?" She asked. Richie took off his glasses, then walked over to her and laid his head on her chest, wrapping his arms around her. She patted his head and hugged him gently, "What happened?"

"I'm sorry..." Richie's chin shook as he spoke quietly, "I'm Gay, mom...I'm sorry..." Maggie froze for a moment. She hugged him tighter, then kissed his forehead softly, "It's okay, baby. Don't cry! I love you no matter what you are, okay?"

Richie and his mother stood in the middle of the hall for a few minutes, just hugging. He didn't want to leave her embrace. They very rarely hugged and the timing was emotional and embarrassing for Richie.

Eddie got out of his room for dinner. Sonia asked how his day was, then sat his plate on the table in front of him. Eddie nodded, "It was fine, Ma. I have a question? What do you think about...umm...Gay, people?"

Sonia's eyes froze on her sun, "Are you confessing, or asking?" Eddie's heart skipped a beat. He cleared his throat and placed his fork down, folding his hands on the table, "I was just asking. I saw two boys holding hands earlier and I just wanted to know how you feel about...that...?"

"I think it's outrageous! I chose to 'love' my late husband, that Can be something you choose!" She stuffed the rest of her dinner in her  mouth, "It's not too late to fix you if you're, like that?

Eddie looked at her for a moment and thought about what she meant by 'Fix' him. Eddie smiled and shook his head. Sonia gave a sigh of relief to which Eddie felt like he was going to puke.

Eddie excused himself from the table, then cried in the upstairs bathroom. He couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. It was his first kiss. And his mom hated gay people. His heart was racing and he just felt confused. What the fuck Richie?