Inseparable | Reddie

Chapter Six

Richie sighed softly as he watched the time pass. He tapped a number two pencil gently against his notebook with each soft tick of the clock. His mind raced and his body couldn't stay still. The teacher's mouth was moving but Richie couldn't hear words, only a jumble of sounds.

The class was almost over. He was both excited and anxious. Excited to see his boyfriend but also anxious to see him at the same time. His short conversation with Beverly played over and over in his brain.

"You need to tell him" Beverly sighed as she ran her hand up and down Richie's back. "Sooner rather than later"

"I can't" Richie mumbled softly. "My words get stuck and I chicken out"

"He needs to know"

Richie snapped his head up when the bell finally rang. He stuffed his belongings into his backpack and scurried out the classroom door. Students rushed out of the scattered classrooms and ran through the halls. Richie dodged past kids as he hurried toward Eddie's classroom. He made a left down a side hall and squeezed past the older kids standing by their lockers. Finally, he saw the familiar adorable face he loved so much standing up ahead.

Eddie stood up against the lockers to avoid being trampled. When he saw Richie headed his way, he sighed with relief and waved to him. Richie waved back and walked over to him.

"Hey, good lookin', what's cookin'?" Richie had a smirk riding his face. Eddie rolled his eyes.

"Shut up" he replied with a small smile peeking through.

"Make me" Richie winked.

"You wish, but no" Eddie laughed. Richie chuckled and started down the hall. Eddie followed the taller boy closely. They stopped outside of the gym. Seconds later, Beverly, Ben, and Bill were on their way down the hall from the other end.

"How was math, losers?" Richie called out with a laugh to follow his words.

"G-Great" Bill muttered sarcastically.

"We were given projects" Ben looked at Beverly with a slight smile and then over at Richie.

"Let me guess, you called dibs on Beverly" Eddie teased with a grin. Ben smiled wider while Beverly nodded her head.

"And gu-guess who's ah-alone" Bill rolled his eyes and tucked his thumbs under the straps of his backpack.

"Aw, poor Billy" Richie laughed which made Bill give him a gentle push to the shoulder.

"I'll just have Stan help. He must be on the same topic by now" Bill shrugged his shoulders.

Beverly stared at Richie until the boy made eye contact with her. When he finally looked at her, she flashed her eyes toward Eddie then raised an eyebrow and looked back at Richie. He knew she was hinting at if he had given Eddie the news. He shook his head just barely and Beverly's expression dropped to disappointment.

Eddie noticed their stares and looked at the two with a questionable gaze. Richie threw his arm around Eddie and pulled him in close to break the tension and hopefully take his mind away from what just happened. Eddie shrugged it off and laid his head against Richie's shoulder gently.

"We better get to class" Beverly looked at Ben then back at Richie. "And you better do what you're supposed to" that was a demand, Richie knew it. Beverly and Ben walked down the hall to their next classes. Richie took his arm off Eddie's shoulder and turned to Bill.

"Well, here we go young lads! Another day of gym! Chop, chop!" Richie pulled the gym door open and walked through first. Eddie followed him and Bill was the last to enter. They walked toward the locker room where they shoved their bags into empty lockers that were beside the others.