Video Games // Reddie

1

"What do you wanna do today?" I asked Richie. We were sitting together on a park bench licking away at our ice cream. It was the summer after Pennywise had been defeated. We decided to celebrate by going outside and enjoying the summer for once. 

Richie and I had gotten close since all the things that happened in Derry. My arm had healed perfectly after Richie snapped it back in place. I would never tell Richie that, though. He would never let me forget it. 

"Hmm... let me think...." he pretended to ponder my question before shouting out, "Let's go to the arcade!"

I rolled my eyes and laughed. "I can't believe it. You really will never change."

"Speaking of change, got any on ya? I need lots of quarters to play Galactica."

I zipped open my fanny pack and looked inside. There were many coins. I didn't want to just give them up to Richie, though. He still would cling on heavily to his need to make fun of me. 

He pouted and cocked his head to the side. He made eye contact with me and batted his pretty long eyelashes. "Come on, loverboy."

Loverboy was the name he teased me with most now. I hated it more than Eds. It came from the word on my cast. I didn't like the nickname because it made me feel weaker and soft. Richie made me feel like that a lot. Again, I could never tell him. His ego was big enough already.

"Fine. You owe me," I said.

He nodded and licked his ice cream. "I'll pay you back, I promise."

I shook my head. "Na, you won't. I know you."

He shrugged. We finished our ice cream and got on our bikes towards the arcade. I liked seeing Richie's face light up when he got in the door. This was heaven to him.

He gravitated towards the big Galactica machine immediately and leaned forward and kissed the screen dramatically.

"Ew!" I exclaimed, "Do you know how many germs are on that?"

He laughed and tousled my hair. "You know how many germmmms are on my hand right now?"

I smacked his arm away. "Richie, that's not funny!"

He laughed. "I think it is."

I rolled my eyes and handed him a quarter. "Thank youuu," he smiled.

He's lucky I put up with his shit. He calls me names, takes my money, makes fun of me, and for what? Still, I let him. Sometimes I don't know why. 

Sometimes I do. I looked at him going away pushing buttons smiling and giggling. That's why I do everything he makes me. Seeing him so happy, to smile and laugh, that's better than him ever paying me back.

"NO!" he shouted, suddenly. The video game came to a close. He frowned and turned to me, expecting another quarter. I raised my eyebrows. 

"How about this," I wagered.

"I bet you that I can beat your score on Galactica," I taunted.

"In your dreams, Kapsbrack."

"Why? You scared?"

"Fine. If I win you get bragging rights."

"No no no, I get something better."

"Well what is that?"

"You can never tease me again."

Richie scoffed. "You're on, Eds."

I was determined to win.