Inseparable | Reddie

Chapter Seven

"You're not leaving me" Eddie shouted. His voice was so loud that everybody in the cafeteria had gone silent. Richie's eyes widened as he looked around the room. "Who the fuck do your parents think they are?!" Richie quickly moved his own hand over Eddie's mouth. If he had been anybody else in the world, Eddie would drop with an asthma attack. Luckily though, Richie's germs were the only germs that Eddie actually enjoyed. Eddie's eyebrows lowered as he glared at Richie.

"Do you want the attention all on us, dear?" Richie muttered under uncomfortable laughs. Eddie shoved Richie's hand away and shook his head.

"You can't leave me, Richie" Eddie's voice has quieted and his eyes were filling with tears. Richie felt his chest tighten.

"I can't really change it, Eds" Richie reached his hand out to cup Eddie's cheek but Eddie shoved his hand away.

"Well figure out a damn way!" Eddie's glare only worsened and Richie's chest only continued to tighten. A painful lump filled Richie's throat and the tears stung his eyes.

"Don't you think I would if I could?" Richie frowned. "Eds, I don't want to go"

"Then fucking stay"

"Eddie" they stared at each other for a few seconds before Eddie shook his head and backed up.

"Fuck this" Eddie mumbled as he turned his back to Richie. Richie reached forward to grab his arm but pulled his hand back once Eddie pulled free roughly. He wanted to chase after him but a hand settling on his shoulder kept him back.

"Let him go" Beverly spoke gently. Richie watched Eddie push his way out of the cafeteria. His eyes stung, his heart hurt, and his stomach was twisted. Once Eddie was out of sight, Richie turned to Beverly and pulled her into a tight hug to hide his tears. She wrapped her arms around him and ran her hand up and down his back. "Shh, it'll be alright. He just needs to blow off steam"

"I don't want to leave him, Bev" Richie cried against her shoulder while she held him in a firm embrace.

"I know. He knows" as her words fell silent, the bell rang for lunch to end and classes to start back up. Richie tensed at the sound and Beverly sighed softly. "Come on, lets skip class"

"What?" Richie lifted his head to look at Beverly. His eyes were swollen and red while the rest of his face was as flushed as a ghost.

"You heard me" Beverly moved her hand into Richie's and tugged him toward the doors. She waved goodbye to their friends then dragged him out into the halls. She walked around the school until they found the side doors that were mainly there for emergencies and for the staff to take smoke breaks. She shoved the door open and lead the way outside.

As soon as they were outside, they walked off toward the wooded area. They took the path that led to the outer roads of Derry and walked slower as they were out of sight from the school. Richie stayed silent and stared down at his hands. Beverly had taken a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and placed one between her lips. She fished out her lighter and lit the cancer stick. Richie looked up at her once the strong smell awakened his numbing senses.

"Want one?" Beverly asked while only moving half of her mouth. She used the other side of her lips to hold her cigarette still between her lips while her hands were heading for her pocket. Richie shook his head no.

"Eddie would kill me before those would" he sighed. Beverly nodded and put the pack and lighter away. She took the cigarette away from her lips and held it between her fingers.

"He'll calm down soon enough" she reached her hand over to squeeze his shoulder. "Promise"

"Before or after I'm gone?" Richie pushed up his glasses and kicked a fallen branch out of the way as he walked.