Do Not Fucking Touch Me // Reddie

Eleven

(Eddie's POV)

Richie and I went to the movies. We were going to see Carrie. It was supposed to be super scary. I didn't really care for horror films. But I couldn't help but smile walking into the theater when the cashier wasn't looking. Richie Tozier, the boy I was sure hated me but only a week ago, and now he was my boyfriend. I was both scared and thrilled by that word. I just knew it felt right.

We sat in the back row, so he could hold me when I got scared and hold my hand without anyone seeing. He pulled out snacks from his pockets and placed them on my lap. Pop Rocks, Twizzlers, and Nerds.

"Nerds," he pointed to the box of colorful candy, "for my favorite nerd."

I laughed. His teasing didn't hurt anymore. It felt more affectionate. I liked him playing around with me like that. He never teased any of the other boys half as much as he teased me. I finally understood the game he played.

He was wearing a sweatshirt from gym class. It blew my mind that he would wear something from school in the summer. He put the hood up and sunk into the comfort of the cotton fabric. He pulled my hand into the sleeve and held it. I could feel heat rushing to my cheeks. Out of the corner of my eye I could see him smirk.

The movie began with the name of the theater on the screen. My heart raced. I had never been on a date before, I realized. What did people do on dates? My mom had shut me out from the world so long, that I didn't know.

I guess my hand must have tightened up, because Richie turned his gaze towards me. "Are you scared already, Eds?"

I shook my head. "No. Just thinking."

He nodded and looked at me with his puppy dog eyes. "You have nothing to be worried about. It's just a movie."

He rubbed the side of my hand back and forth gently with the edge of his thumb. It felt nice. I felt cared for. It wasn't a smothering affection like my mother's. It felt more like it built up and made my heart flutter.

We saw Bill walk in. I was fully prepared to jump out of my seat and wave to him, say hi, or shout out his name. Then I remembered that I was currently holding Richie Tozier's hand. I didn't know what he, or any of the others for that matter would think about this. What would they think about us? It was so early on, so soon. It felt like we should keep it hidden, at least for a while more.

"Richie, look," I nodded in Bill's direction.

"OH! Hi Bill!" Richie shouted and with his free hand waved as our friend turned around. Bill smiled and sat down in an empty seat near the middle. He didn't seem to notice Richie and I holding hands. Maybe it was because our feelings for each other were hidden inside of a sweatshirt sleeve. Once we saw Beverly Marsh walk in and smile, then sit next to Bill confidently, we knew why he hadn't noticed.

"Wow, he's on a date with Beverly!" I whispered to Richie. The screen began rolling the tape.

"And I'm on a date with you," he whispered back and winked, and then turned back to the screen.

I sat there for a second. "So this is a date?" I asked softly.

He looked at me and smiled. "Yeah of course! You know, I like you, you like me, kissing, boyfriend stuff."

I laughed at the way he worded it all. It was so cute. He made me feel better about all this, and much less nervous. Being his boyfriend, I thought, would be very easy and quite enjoyable for me.

"Boyfriend stuff," I mocked him.

He rolled his eyes and leaned in and kissed me softly, making sure not to make a noise.

"Alright, boyfriend. Now let's watch this movie."

He grabbed ahold of my hand again, this time outside of the sleeve. I rest my head upon his shoulder and nuzzled into his neck. It was hard to believe that this was the same boy who snapped my arm back in place, the boy who told vulgar jokes about girls, and more specifically my own mother. It felt too good to be true. But as long as he was acting like this, I was going to appreciate every second of it.