Do Not Fucking Touch Me // Reddie

Thirteen

(Eddie's POV)

Richie sat down on the curb. I kneeled in front of him, wrapping bandage tape around his knuckles carefully.

"Don't peel it off before it's ready," I warned him. "You don't want it to get infected."

He smiled and looked down at me. He stretched out his fingers and balled up his fist.

"Thank you," he said.

I nodded. "You're welcome."

"You didn't need to break his nose," I added. He rolled his eyes.

"Yeah I did. See, if I don't teach these fuckers to leave you alone, they never will. And if you keep getting that much attention from other guys, Eds, I might get jealous,"

I shook my head and laughed. "Shut the fuck up, Richie."

"I'm sorry, do I.... look.... like a person who ever shuts up? I mean come on, you know me. You know me."

"Okay, but I bet you I can make you stop talking."

He scoffed. "Yeah right."

I leaned in and kissed him.

He was silent for a couple seconds.

"Damn, okay. I'll give it to you. Ya got me. But that's only because you kissed me, Kapsbrack."

I sat next to him. "Yeah? Or maybe it's because you liiiiike me," I stuck my tongue out at him.

He made a disgusted face. "Fuck off, you cute ass little shit."

He pouted but then gave in and we both cracked up. "Cute ass little shit," I said, "Might be the nicest thing you've called me."

Stanley Uris walked up to us and sat down. He didn't say a word.

"Um, hi, Stan the man," Richie said, a little rudely. He had interrupted us, in his defense.

"Are you two dating now?" he suddenly asked.

I couldn't talk. My mouth hung open and I froze up. I hadn't prepared for this. I couldn't breathe.

Richie noticed right away and pulled my inhaler out of my fanny pack and put it up to my lips.

"Yup," he said to Stan and popped the last syllable with his lips.

"Oh, uh... cool," Stan nodded.

"I don't mean to be nosy," he added, "It's just Bill ran up to us just now talking about seeing you guys in the back of the theater all snuggled up."

I regained myself and whispered, "Thanks," to Richie.

"Do you have a problem with it or something?" Richie continued to harass Stan.

"No! No...It's none of my business really. Um uh, congratulations."

"Yeah, you might wanna just say that to me, and not to Eds here. I kinda have the better half of the bargain," Richie admitted.

I rolled my eyes. Mike, Bev, Bill, and Ben all sat next to us.

"Well! Five's company!" Richie said.

"Let's just get this out of the way, okay?" I said loudly, "Richie is my boyfriend now. We like each other. That's it."

I was fully prepared for a negative response. Richie held my hand tight. He glared at everyone, as if to say "Got a problem?"

"I'm happy for you," Beverly chimed in.

"Well, I'm happy for Richie, I mean, Eddie could do better," she added.

"See! I told you!" Richie told Stan. We laughed. Things seemed better now.