Do Not Fucking Touch Me // Reddie

Thirty Seven

(Richie's POV)

Instead of getting to go to the dance with Eddie as my date, I had arranged something different. He was terribly upset, even after finding out I didn't cheat on him. The pain was still there, and sitting in a hospital bed by himself was making him feel worse. Since my last surprise didn't go so well, I was worried about how he'd feel about what I had in mind. 

I was going to bring the dance to him, since we couldn't go. I sure as hell wasn't going to attend without him, especially now that I realized just how badly he needed me. He wasn't paralyzed or anything, he could get out of bed and walk around, he just chose not to. He didn't want to be active or get up and see anyone. The only people he let come into his room were his uncle, Stan and of course, me. I spent the first night that he was at the hospital in the chair by his bed, holding his hand until we both fell asleep. 

What was worse, in my mind, was that he was turning fourteen the next week. He wouldn't have even lived to see fourteen. That is so young. He should have never felt like the rest of his long life would be nothing without me. It made me sad, that he felt so strongly dependent on me. I was going to make sure he could be happy without me, if something were to happen. 

I had zero intention of ever leaving him, however. He was mine and he would be until we both died- of old age. I was never going to let him even get the chance to do something this drastic again. 

So there I was, practically begging, to a nurse that I didn't know to let me decorate his room.

"Mr. Kapsbrack is here temporarily," she said again, "We don't give decorating privileges to temporary guests."

I clapped my hands together. She was being a bit standoffish and rude, considering the circumstances. "With all due respect, Miss, Eddie almost died. He tried to kill himself. How many suicide attempts of thirteen year olds do you see around here?"

The town we lived in was notorious for deaths and disappearances, but suicide was not that common, especially among children. I knew it, and she knew it too. But like every adult in this town, they chose to ignore it.

She sighed. "What were you thinking for the decorations.." 

"Okay so Eddie's missing the school dance because you know, you guys are keeping him here locked up like a zoo animal, and I wanted to just bring in like a disco ball or something you know lasers or whatever, maybe have some snacks," I said at the speed of light.

She rolled her eyes and looked at her clipboard. "I'm not cleaning this up," she said, and walked away, somewhat indicating that it was a possibility. I smiled. I would wear Stan's tux and I'd ask Eddie to slow dance with me, just like I'd wanted to do before all this mess happened. 

This was a surprise that would potentially make Eddie happy, even if temporarily, and I could tell that is exactly what he needed right now.