𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗌 ʳᵉᵈᵈⁱᵉ

5.

I wake up my eyes stinging at the sun. I glance over to my side Richie lying down and hanging onto my side.

I take a second to admire Richie. His eyes. His face. His freckles.

His lips.

"Morning Eds." Richie yawns. "Sleep okay?" No. I was up three times in the night. I almost fainted once.

"Dude Im starving. Let's go eat."

My stomach feels as though its going to drop.

We head down to the kitchen and Richie starts going through my pantry. "Dude y'all have no food" Richie wines.

I shrug. "We have food dipshit it's just not filled with crappy ass stuff." He raises his glasses and puts a finger up.

"Your mom is just a fattie."

I stood in shock. My jaw dropped. The audacity to say something like that-.

I cant hold back my laugh any longer. "That so mean asshole." I choke.

We both start dying of laughter. "Dude stop laughing." I gasp still laughing hard. "I cant." Richie wheezed.

Suddenly a tight pain in my chest makes me stop laughing. "Eds you okay?" I nod unable to speak.

Suddenly I can't breathe.

My airways start to close and I start gasping for air. Richie then runs out of the room.

A moment later he comes back with my inhaler. I cant grab it, my arms are to weak.

Richie holds it up to my mouth and presses the button. Cold air fills my mouth and I take a gasp of air.

He does this two more times before setting it down. We both just stare at each other in silence not knowing what to say.

My eyes feel wet with tears as the situation hits me. Richie takes me into his arms and I sob in his chest.

"Im sorry." I manage to choke out. I hated crying. My mom always said it was a sign of weakness.

"Dont be." Richie softly said pulling me closer. I still continue to cry.

After a bit my breath steadys out and I pull away from Richie. "Sorry." I mumble standing up. I wipe my eyes and look around for something to do.

"Eds-." "What time do you have to be home?" I cut him off. "Um no time specifically. But Eddie-."

Im not letting him finish his sentence. Even though I absolutely hate when people interrupt me. This was a time I kinda had to.

"Okay then. My mom should be home around 2:30. Basically leave whenever. I probably should go shower so um see you in like, 10 minutes."

Honestly I dont think I have ever said that many words that fast.

I run upstairs shutting the bathroom door before Richie could ask anything else. I really need to quit having those stupid asthma attacks.

A knock on the door shakes me out of my thoughts. "What Rich?" I say almost annoyed that he was still here.

But let's face it. I could never not want him here.

"Eddie can we please talk. Just before you shower." The dark haired boy says in a soft voice. I havent heard Richie speak quietly. Even if I had I don't remember.

I open the door. "About what?" I ask. No facial expression just Richie taking my hand and leading us towards the bed.
(dont you guys even try)

"Rich if this was about earlier, Im fine. I just forgot to take my pills today." Richie tilts his head slightly. Looking almost like a puppy.

"Eddie you told me that your pills were placebos. Remember?" The dark haired boy questions.

Shit blew my cover. "Richie I was just fucking with you of course my pills aren't gazebos."

"Placebos Eddie." "Right but besides the point it was just some silly prank I did."

"And what about the nightmares?" Richie questions. "It you wanna talk Im here. Honestly it would probably be better."

"Your not a fucking therapist Rich." I roll my eyes. He flinches a bit before standing up. "Yeah, right. Well Im gonna go."

Shit. "Wait Rich." He doesn't look back and goes towards the window. I sigh. "Go through the front door Richie."

"Fuck you Im trying to be adventurous."

——————————————————-

Three days have passed and I havent talked to Richie. My mom had woken up one night to use the restroom and didnt find me in my bed.

Today is my second day in the hospital. She said it took three hours to find me. To be fair I was in the closet listening to music. I couldn't hear.

"Anything stressful going on?" The doctors deep voice snapped me out of my train of thoughts. "No sir."

Before my dad died he taught me to have good manners. In the hospital he always said thank you and please to the doctors.

They always smiled and told him that he was very nice and polite.

They never say that to me.

Well god Eddie your not special. Your just some stupid kid. I mean shit. Is your best friend even talking to you? Can't keep him around. He was only trying to help and you pushed him away. Ugh.

I hate myself.

"Eddie bear?" My frantic mothers voice rings in my ears. Me spacing out just costed me another day in the hospital.

"Sorry Ma, spaced out." I reply with no effort. "Eddie what have I told you before. Spacing out means you're depressed or have cancer."

She stares deep at me with her big brown eyes. Not in the comforting way. "Eddie I think we should stay in the hospital for a bit longer."

"No." Fear boils in my chest. "Ma Im fine I just didn't get much sleep in the hospital beds-." "Eddie you complain a lot for someone who has a caring mother who is concerned about your well being."

She strongly grabs my wrist. "Now shut it and let's go see the doctor." The large woman pulls me towards the room where the doctor had just told us we could leave.

This was going to be a long week.