d r u g s • r e d d i e

№ 1

**They are 18 in this story**
Trigger warning- homophobic slurs

Walk home with me, eds." Said Richie. "Pretty please? No mom jokes, I promise!"

Eddie stared at the concrete. "Don't do it Eddie, it will only hurt worse in the end." he told himself. "One time. That's it, period." He decided.

"Fine.." Eddie huffed, faking being annoyed.

Eddie watched his breath linger in the air, outstretching his fingers to grasp the foggy substance. And as quickly as it came, it was gone.

"What're you doin eds? Come on." Richie stopped and turned around, noticing the small boy wasn't next to him anymore.

"Nothing, Richie." Eddie scoffed. "And how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that!" He just couldn't stay away from Richie. He was like a drug.

"Who pissed in your cereal, Eds?" Richie snickered.

"Nobody." Eddie glumly responded.

An awkward silence approached as they walked towards the boys houses.

"Richie, what do you think about gays?" Eddie asked slowly.

"You mean.. boys kissing boys? that's fucking disgusting eds." Richie responded in a casual tone.

"Why do you ask? What.. are you a faggot or something?" Richie questioned.

"W-what?" Eddie felt his heart break in two.

Eddie snapped.

"I'm so fucking done with your shit Richie!"  Eddie growled. "Just walk home alone, asshole!"

"Oh come on Eddie! What's the big deal?" Richie asked.

but Eddie was long gone.

---

Eddie barged into his house, ignoring his mother's pleas for him to take his medicine. He ran up the stairs, into his room and locked his door. Once in complete privacy, Eddie began to break down. "He'll never accept me." Eddie sobbed. "He'll never love me back."

Eddie cried himself to sleep that night. Actually, he had been crying himself to sleep for the past couple of weeks. He knew that if he came out, the bullying would only get worse, and his mother would get him more pills to help with "his sickness." According to his mother, being gay was a sin, and a disease. He knew he couldn't come out. Not until he was out of Derry and far away from Henry, from his mother, and most importantly, from Richie.