CAN'T REMEMBER TO FORGET YOU // REDDIE

s e v e n

Richie was about to walk over to Beverly's classroom to ask if she wanted to go out to smoke when he heard a weak, tear-filled cry pierce the otherwise still air. Out of sympathy, he turned the corner of the hallway to be met with the sight of Henry taunting a small boy against the lockers, his pocket knife placed threateningly against his cheek.

Oh my god, it's Eddie.

Richie could feel his blood boil in anger, his fists clenching as he stomped over to the scene. "Hey Bowers!"

"Don't fucking touch him," Richie spat, pushing Henry and ripping the knife out of his hand and throwing it to the ground.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Trashmouth coming to save his little boyfriend," Henry sneered, amused that he'd shown up.

"Oh please, as if Patrick Hocksetter isn't sucking you off," Richie rolled his eyes. He knew you shouldn't be testing Henry with his smart remarks, but his mouth was wild and uncontrollable, especially when he was angry. And in this case, he was infuriated that someone would try to hurt a boy as delicate as Eddie.

"You've got a lot of nerve, Tozier," Henry chuckled dryly. "Maybe I should teach little wheezy here a lesson." Henry kicked Eddie and grabbed his inhaler, throwing it to the ground and threatening to smash it with his foot.

Before he could, Richie punched Henry's jaw, taking him by surprise. Henry threw a fist at him in response, nearly knocking his glasses off. Richie's cheek throbbed in pain, but he threw another punch at Henry before he could counter.

"Agh! What the fuck!" Henry cupped a hand over his now bleeding mouth. Henry pushed Richie against the lockers, Eddie looking over in horror, his eyes pleading Richie to stop.

"You're just asking for it now," Henry staring at him through his ice blue eyes with an I'm-going-to-kill-you look. "I'd better punch your teeth back into place."

"God I love it when you punch me, just turns me on," Richie smirked, catching Henry's fist in the air before it could hit him and kneeing him in his crotch. Henry retreated for a moment before lurching at him forcefully.

Henry grabbed him by his neck, causing the teen to gasp for air as he tightened his grip. "You better watch it, Tozier. You and your fag friend," Henry spat before he wiped his bleeding lip and walked off through the empty hallway.

Richie immediately slid down to Eddie's level on the floor. "Let's get the hell out of here," he said through heavy breaths. Richie grabbed Eddie's inhaler from the ground before lifting Eddie bridal-style into the boy's bathroom, thankful it was empty.

Richie's heart dropped at the sight of the bleeding and bruised boy in his arms who had tears still running down his face.

"Let's get you fixed up, okay?" Richie said softly as Eddie nodded. Richie carried him and sat him down on the edge of the sink. Richie got to work wetting paper towels and cleaning off Eddie's face and cuts. Eddie winced slightly at some of the touches, causing Richie apologize repeatedly. Richie took some band-aids from Eddie's fanny pack to cover his cuts from when Henry had slit his skin with his knife.

"There," Richie cooed as he wiped a last tear from Eddie's face with his thumb.

"You could've gotten yourself killed, idiot," Eddie said in disbelief.

"That's a risk I'm willing to take, Eddie," Richie chuckled quietly, looking into the small boy's brown eyes.

"Richie... why are you helping me?" Eddie asked with confusion written over his face.

"Once a loser, always a loser, right?" Richie opened his palm, revealing a faint but still noticeable scar across it. Eddie smiled lightly and opened his own palm and placed it next to his, showing his own matching one.

Richie ran his thumb lightly across Eddie's scar, sending warm tingles up Eddie's arm. Each one of the losers had the same scar after the blood oath they'd made the year before. They swore that they would all return, together, when Pennywise returned.

"It was for you, Eddie. I got into the fight on the first day because I heard the names Henry was calling you. I didn't know it was you at first, but I don't regret it," Richie admitted, intertwining their fingers.

Eddie's eyes widened at the revelation. He had no idea he would do something like that for him when all Eddie had done was treat him like an asshole. "Thanks, but Henry will always pick on me. I just have to accept it. You didn't have to do that for me, this time either."

"Yes I did. It's been a year, and fuck, I missed you, Eddie," Richie said sincerely, stepping between his dangling legs and pressing his forehead against his.

"I missed you too, Trashmouth. A lot," Eddie admitted, his cheeks heating up.

"Eddie, I know why you're mad at me," Richie swallowed, placing his other hand on Eddie's thigh and running his fingers at the end of the material of his shorts.

"Y-You do?" Eddie pulled back slightly, taken aback by his words.

"Me and Bev aren't dating, Eddie. Her and Ben are. She's my best friend," Richie told him, their noses brushing at how dangerously close he was to his face. Eddie's heart raced.

"O-oh," Eddie breathed. He cursed himself for jumping to conclusions so quickly.

"So that's it? Are you jealous that we're not best friends anymore? That I'm best friends with Bev now?" Richie asked.

Eddie wanted to say, "no dipshit, it's because I can't be with you. You don't like boys, and you don't see me as anything more than a friend." How could he not see that he liked him?

"I mean, it's more than that," Eddie gulped, his eyes uncontrollably darting from Richie's eyes down to his plump lips.

"Then what?" Richie asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

Just then, the bell loudly went off signaling it was time for their dismissal.

"I have to go, Richie," Eddie shrugged out from Richie's touch and jumped down from the sink, grabbing his inhaler and walking out of the bathroom door.

Richie sighed, hands resting on the edges of the sink. What did he mean, more than that?