𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗌 ʳᵉᵈᵈⁱᵉ

6.

{Richies Pov}

My name is Richie Toizer. Im 16 and probably have some mental illness I have no clue about.

Im not popular in school. In fact I honestly dont even care if I am.

My life is pretty good. Except for tje fact that I have been in love with my best friend since the 7th grade.

Thats beside the point though. Eddie has been acting really strange. I cant place a word on it but he won't talk to me about whatever is bothering him.

The last time I talked to him I apparently touched a nerve asking him if he was okay. He had just doubled down and could hardly breathe, I feel like it was the right moment to ask.

Also in the middle of the night Eddie cries and kicks. Almost like a baby, ha. Sorry.

I knew he had a nightmare from when he woke up and told me.

And I was just going to leave it be until-.

"Richie we are leaving!" Maggie screamed at me from down the stairs. I place my pencil down and open my door to get a better response.

"Bye guys!" I yell and shut my door. I love having the house to myself over the weekend.

I looked at my clock and saw that it was only 9:30. I groaned flopping back on my bed. I glance over at the black journal sitting on the bed.

I loved to write.

Just then the phone downstairs starts to ring an annoying tune. I sigh and go downstairs. "Trashmouth speaking." I mumble into the speaker.

"H-hi Richie i-its B-b-bill." I hear Bills soft voice from the other end. "Hey Bill whats up?" I lean against the wall phone still up to my ear.

"H-have y-you seen E-e-eddie lately?" "No why." I reply my heary starting to beat a bit faster at the sound of his name. "M-me and S-stan were sup-p-posed to invite him o-over and he never showed."

Shit. My heart started to race out of my chest. Something was wrong.

And I was too lazy at the moment to find out what.

I hung up the phone and ran back upstairs to my room. I made my bed to how I would if I were having a sleepover.

I glance over at the clock on mu bedside table.
10:30.

I groan wanting to go to bed but also not wanting to at the same time.

Just then I hear a knock on my window. I jump in fright as I turn to it. There he was.

Eddie Kaspbrak.

I open up the door and Eddie practically jumps into my arms. I stumble back from the impact and look down and the small brunette boy.

"Eddie whats wrong?" I say trying to make my voice soft. "I-im sorry Richie." He sobs into my chest.

"She took me into the hospital and made me stay there for days. She tortured me Richie." My stomach dropped. I pull Eddie closer and sit on my bed.

"Eddie how long were you outside my window?" I question feeling the coldness on his soft skin. "An hour at least."

I quickly pull a blanket from my bed and wrap him with it. "Eddie you should have just knocked." "I thought you would be mad." The brunette looked up and for the first time tonight I saw how terrible he looked.

His eyes were bloodshot and he had dark eyebags under his eyes. His skin was a light pale and he was really skinny. "Eddie you dont look good." I mumble standing up and rushing to the bathroom to grab some medicine.

I come back and Eddie is still sitting in the same position as when I left. He was shaking and fresh tears ran down his pale face. "Here Eds take this." I hold out my palm with a small blue pill in my hand.

He stares at the pill for a second before bursting into tears. "Woah, woah Eddie whats wrong?" I sit on the bed with him and place the pill on my nightstand.

"Please dont make me take those." He sobbed softly grabbing me. My eyes stung with tears. I hated seeing him like this. "Eddie it will make you feel so much better."

He sobs harder. "That's what she always says." My face scrunches up into a confused look before realizing what he meant. "Eddie I would never hurt you." I calmly say picking up a fresh water glass.

He looks up at me with big brown eyes. "Promise Richie?" I smile softly and hold out my pinky. "Pinky swear."

He swallows the pill with ease as he sets the glass back down. His hands shook a bit and he refused to look at me.

"Eddie its time we talked." His eyes finally met mine as he looked up. "Richie Im scared."

I hug him. "Dont be Im right here." I tuck him tightly in my arms as to say.

Dont worry Im here and I wont let you go.

Eddie pulls back. "I have nightmares Rich. Every night and I can't make them stop."

I nod almost not understanding the urgency of the situation.

"What about?" I ask and the small boy looks away in shame. "I dont wanna say."

I nod. "I understand." I glance over at the clock that reads 11:30 pm.

Shit. "Eddie you're staying over." I don't give him a chance to answer before setting up my bed the way he likes it.

"Im sorry Richie." The brunette mumbles climbing into bed. "Never be." I say climbing in next to him.

"I yelled at you though." Eddie says and looks up at me, his big brown eyes glazed over with tears.

"I didn't care." I say and cuddle up close to him. The smaller boy cuddles in closer as he starts to shut his eyes.

"Night Eddie." I say softly. He responds not really awake.

"Love you Richie."

(1013 words)