Tis the damn season-Reddie

Chapter 4

Richie rolled out of bed that morning with a smile on his face.  Last night felt like a dream.  Part of him couldn't even believe it was real.  He pinched his wrist just to make sure it was.  He checked the digital clock on his nightstand which read 8:30, and got up to go downstairs and eat breakfast.  At the breakfast table with his mother and father he couldn't seem to get the smile off of his face.

"Well you seem happy today huh Rich?" Maggie said smiling.

He looked up from his food and nodded in agreement, "yeah I couldn't be happier."

"Well did something happen son or are you just glad to be here." said Wentworth.

"Oh, no I'm just glad to be here.  I mean christmas is coming!"

"That is true! Only 2 days left!" said Maggie happily.

They continued talking while they were eating until a loud car horn interrupted them.

"Well who could that be?" Maggie questioned as she got up from the table and to the front door.  Richie and Wentworth stayed seated at the table before they heard a delighted scream from Maggie from outside.

"Oh! Eddie Kaspbrak is that you?!" she said.

"Mrs. Tozier!  Hi!" Eddie got out of his car and ran up the front porch steps to hug her.  "I haven't seen you in forever!"

"Oh Eddie we missed having you around!  You were such a light in our home.  You look so grown up I haven't seen you since you were, what, 15?" she said while gently caressing his cheek.  

Eddie had always been like a second son to the Toziers.  He was like family.  And back before his mother and him had learned to get along and before Sonia had learned to be less controlling, Maggie was like a second mother.  After Eddie and Sonia had a huge fight when he was about 14, she promised him and herself that she would change, and she did.  It made Eddie happy to have the relationship with his mother now that he had always wanted as a pre-teen.  Maggie and Wentworth were very sad when Eddie and Richie had stopped being friends.  At first it seemed like they were the only ones who cared.  They desperately wanted to ask Richie about it, question him about letting go of his best friend so easily.  But after a bit of time they decided not to, they could see how hurt Richie was by it.  

Richie and Wentworth both got up and went outside to meet the face of Eddie.  Richie couldn't help but to smile and blush, neither could Eddie.  Wentworth walked up to Eddie with a shocked but happy face.

"Eddie!" he said while pulling him in for a hug. "My god how we missed you here at the Tozier house.  You look so grown up, in my mind you're still 16." Wentworth said laughing.

"That's exactly what I said."  Maggie told Wentworth before grabbing his arm and tugging him closer to her.  

Both the boys looked at each other smiling.  Richie wanted to kiss him but he knew he couldn't, not in front of his parents.  He sort of figured they knew by now.  He had never had a girlfriend and never spoke about girls to his father or mother.  He knew they would accept him, he wasn't worried about that.  He just simply wasn't ready to tell them.

Maggie's eyes switched between the two boys back and forth quickly.  "Why don't we leave  them alone for a bit" she whispered to Wentworth and he nodded before they both walked back inside.  

"Hi."

"Hi."

"So...what are you doing here?" Richie took a look at Eddie and then took a look at himself.  Eddie had taken a shower, combed his hair, and put on a nice outfit (khakis and a sweater).  Richie on the other hand was in pajama pants, an old t shirt, and his hair was a messed up looking mop that fell atop his head.