Your dirty little secret - Reddie

-17-

Richie's mom slept in his bed with him that night. He was frantic, so she didn't want to leave him like that. She didn't push for the explanation, or what happened. She just laid with him to make him feel less anxious.

When they woke up, Maggie was already late for work. She scuffed Richie's hair, causing him to wake up, then told him she was calling in sick so they could talk about what happened the night before since it was a new day.

Richie nodded, and she went to the phone downstairs. He patted the nightstand for his glasses. Richie got out of bed and changed his clothes. He'd cried so much the night before, that his eyes felt more swollen than last week when his dad punched him in the face.

Maggie made pancakes and they sat at the table for breakfast. She didn't ask any questions. They just sat and ate. Richie took a few bites, then pushed the plate forward and dropped his head on the table.

"I kissed Eddie, mom..." he whispered as if admitting to a crime. Maggie grabbed one of Richie's hands lightly, "Okay... And then what happened?" Richie thought it was weird talking with his mom. She'd been a drunk for over half of his life. Birthday parties, Christmas's, thanksgiving. It was a bit old and knew at the same time. A return to old memories.

"I think he was...scared...I don't...know..." Richie hesitated in between his words. He felt ashamed of himself. Maggie messed with Richie's hair, his head still on the table, glasses will on his face. She smiled with pity, "Okay, and then you came home?"

"Yes..." Richie mumbled. Maggie laughed quietly, "Honey I know this is a different feeling, and it's making you feel guilty, but you're going to brake your glasses and that's what we don't want."

Richie smiled. He took his glasses off and placed them on the table next to his plate, "I just don't want this to be real. I'm mad...and...is dad coming home today?" Richie's head shot up. Maggie looked down at the floor, "No rich..."

Richie sighed in relief, then dropped his head back down to the table. He looked up at Maggie, "Why not?" Maggie smiled softly, "We're getting a divorce..."

Richie sat back up once more, then put his glasses back on his face. He looked at Maggie in shock, "Is he moving out?" Maggie's face softened.

"No Richie... I am. He pays for all of this, but we're splitting custody so you're going to live with me over the weekends so you can go to school in Derry. I'll only be a town over..."

"So I'm gonna have to deal with dad by myself?" Richie pulled his hand away from Maggie's. She sighed, "No. I'll come over if you need me-"

"I Do need you! Dad's not gonna be okay with everything I told you!" Richie's eyes began to water again from frustration. A few tears ran down Maggie's face, "Then come live with me-"

"My friends are here, mom! Eddie's here, mom!" Richie clenched his fists as the tears rolled down his face. Maggie wiped her face with her hand, "You don't even know what's going to happen next with Eddie. What if your friends don't want to be your friends anymore?"

"You think they won't?" Richie unclenched his hands. He looked down at his plate. Maggie put a hand over her chest, "That's not what I meant, honey. I just think you need to see this from my perspective! I'm sobering up so you don't have to deal with your father alone!"

"Wow! So Nobel, huh? I'll be in my room." Richie stood up from his chair, walked up the stairs to his room, then slammed the door. Maggie sat at the table in tears for the next half hour.

~~~

Earlier that morning, when Eddie woke up, he laid in bed thinking about the night before. Eddie didn't want to talk to Richie yet. He wasn't sure if he was mad or just confused. He didn't want to face his mother either.

Around 12:15 Sonia called Eddie to come down for lunch. He'd said no to breakfast, and if he refused lunch she'd send him to an Eating Disorder Center to 'fix him'. He walked down the stairs into the kitchen.

Sonia gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek before he sat in his chair. She placed his sandwich in front of him, "Is everything alright this morning? Why were you in your room? And don't let me forget, you need to pick up your new inhaler today. Are you feeling ok? Sick? Stomach bug?"

Eddie poked at the sandwich, "I just have a lot on my mind is all. Can I eat in my room?" Sonia made a concerned face, "What if you drop crumbs on your bed or carpet?"

"Me? Ma, please...it would rain!" Eddie faked a smile as he walked grabbed his stuff, kissed his mom on the cheek, then walked back up the stairs. He grabbed a plastic bag and placed the sandwich inside, leaving a few crumbs on the napkin on his nightstand.

Eddie laid down in silence again, the sandwich in his fanny pack, as he stared at the ceiling. He thought about how much he'd used his inhaler in the past two or three days, then decided he was going to walk to the pharmacy himself to pick up the new one.

Eddie got out of his bed and changed into a good pair of shorts and a nice summer shirt then slipped on his shoes and headed down the stairs. He looked around the house, "Ma?" No response. "Mommy?"

Sonia's car wasn't in the driveway any longer. Where did she go? Eddie hesitated, then realized she must have gone to pick up some medicine and his inhaler. Eddie wasn't sick though. She didn't know that.