Do Not Fucking Touch Me // Reddie

Eight

(Eddie's POV)

I woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. I was in Richie's bed. He was laying beside me with an arm draped around my shoulders. He was holding me loosely while snoring quite loudly. My breathing was becoming faster and faster. 

I shook Richie's shoulder. I took in deep breaths but it was becoming harder for my lungs to get any oxygen. He woke up, eyes half shut. 

"What is it, Eddie?" he groaned, adjusting his position in the bed. 

"I-can't-inhaler." 

His body shot up and looked at me worriedly. 

"Oh fuck. Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck." He said, reaching around the floor for my bag. He found my suitcase and pulled it onto the bed. He quickly unzipped it and began rummaging through my things. 

He found it and threw the bag aside. He put it up against my lips and I took ahold of it with my hands. After that, I could breathe again, I was feeling much better. 

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I had a nightmare," I explained, and looked down at the covers. His bed was much warmer than mine. I felt more at home here, probably just because Richie was there too. He pulled me in close to him.

"What was it about?" he asked.

"Same old same old. The clown," I said. He sighed.

"He can't get you anymore, Eddie. No one can."

"That's not true," I said. 

"Who? Henry fell five million feet into a hole, Pennywise vanished, and you're with me. I promise you, this is the safest you're ever going to be." 

I looked up into his pretty brown eyes. I hardly ever got to see them behind those big glasses of his. I ran my fingers through his hair. 

"Do you wanna stay up a little to calm down?" he asks. I nod and make a fake pout face. We both laugh. 

We climbed onto his rooftop and sat opposite each other. I looked up at the stars. They were beautiful. I looked over to Richie. He was beautiful too. I was starting to really catch feelings for him. I didn't want to. I didn't think Richie would ever seriously feel that way about me. 

"What do you wanna be when you grow up?" he asked. 

"I don't really know. Maybe a doctor. I mean I know enough about that kind of shit cause of my mom," I said, "What about you?"

He scoffed. "I'm kinda useless to this world, Eds. Just think about it. What do I contribute to the losers club? All I do is talk shit." 

He laughed but it was clear he was actually in pain. "That's not true. Shut the fuck up Tozier."

"Oh yeah? Then what do you think I should be?" he challenged me.

"I don't know. A comedian? An actor? Something that you can be yourself at."

He sighed. "I don't know if I'm all that great, honestly." This shocked me. I thought Richie's confidence was impenetrable. 

"What? Richie you're great. You make everything easier to deal with. You make me laugh when all I feel is sad. You make me happy."

He cocked his head and looked at me. "Awwww, looks like somebody liiiiikes me," he teased. 

He kissed my cheek and I pulled away. "Stop, stop," I played along.

We stopped laughing. "Do you? Like me?" he asked. 

"I thought we already went over this," I frowned.

"I didn't get a clear answer. Well, I should have specified. Do you have feelings for me?"

I shrugged. "Well, yeah. I think that bit's a little obvious, huh?"

He smiled. "Nah. You don't give it away that easily."

"Why.... though... why do you like me?"

I rolled my eyes and fake slapped him. "I told you! I'm not about to get all cheesy on you again."

He gave me a puppy dog face and batted his eyelashes. "Pleeeeaaaaseeee," he said. 

I looked him right in the eyes. "You make me feel safe."

He gushed. He wrapped me in his arms and giggled. "Awwwwww," he teased. 

He rest his chin on the top of my head as we both looked out at the stars. "I like you a lot, Eds. I know it seems like I'm mean to you from time to time, but it's just teasing, I swear. I look at you, and I just want you to be happy. I have some of my best memories with you by my side. I want more. I want to have fun and make you smile til the end of time. It makes me happy to see you happy." 

I blushed. He kissed the top of my head several times. 

"C'mon, Eds. Let's go back to bed. This time, I'm gonna hold you so you don't get any more nightmares."

He led me by the hand back into his room. He shut the window and I climbed back into the bed where I was before. He put a pillow underneath my head and climbed under the covers. I wrapped my body around his side and he held both arms around me. I knew this time, I had nothing to fear. Richie would keep me safe.