Reddie Oneshots

Fears Of A Senior

|| the one where the boys are getting ready for graduation ||

-

Eddie sat on the edge of his perfectly made bed. His eyes were watery as he stared across the room at the graduation gown that hung on his closet door. His mind felt all over the place while his heart felt as though it would burst through his chest. 

Richie was busy decorating his graduation cap with sharpies and pins. He only noticed that Eddie was distant when the song ended and the room was absolutely silent. He lifted his dark brown eyes and looked up and over at the bed where Eddie sat. He noticed the sad expression on the shorter boy's face and sighed heavily.

"Eds?" Richie stood up and walked over to the bed. He let his body fall onto the mattress beside Eddie. He gently placed his hand on Eddie's spine. Eddie blinked away the forming tears before he looked at Richie. 

"Hm?" Eddie barely muttered. He felt too worn down to even argue the long-lasting nickname. He loved it, but fighting over it was their thing.

"What's wrong?" Richie asked. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose before glancing down at the graduation cap in Eddie's lap. "You haven't even started decorating your cap"

"I'm just not in the mood anymore," Eddie admitted softly. Richie gave him a curious look as he slowly ran his fingers up and down Eddie's spine. 

"Why not?" Richie asked.

"It's just...you know, when we were in first grade, the sixth graders looked like adults. Then when we were in the seventh grade, the seniors looked like adults. Now that we're seniors so close to graduation...I've realized something." Eddie gripped the graduation cap that rested in his lap.

"And what's that?" Richie asked gently.

"I'm still just that kid in first grade. I've just become a bit wiser, I've grown, and I've matured. I'm no adult and I'm in no way ready for that real world out there" Eddie sighed and stared down at the graduation cap in his tightly gripped hands. "I'm not ready" he repeated. He looked up at Richie who's expression was slowly fading to a sadness that Eddie related to. "We're off to new lives. There are no more bike rides to school. There are no more lunch breaks together. This is it, Richie, and I'm terrified" 

"Eds" Richie carefully brushed his fingers along Eddie's cheek. He looked down at the graduation cap and sighed softly. "We are off to our new lives. But who's to say we can't keep our childhood? Who's to say that just because we're adults, we can't be kids?"

"Everybody, Richie. We have to be mature. We have responsibilities the day we leave this place that we've never had before" Eddie leaned his face into Richie's hand. Richie shook his head.

"Eds, you said it. We're still just those kids we were. Look at us. Babe, I still climb through your window at night. I still call you Eds, you still yell at me for it. We still fight like an old married couple. We all still ride our bikes every chance we get even though we have cars now" Richie smiled at Eddie and pressed his lips against Eddie's forehead before speaking again. "I've learned that life isn't easy. We've seen how monstrous adults can be. But we don't have to be like them at all"

"Nobody plans to be like that. It just happens" Eddie blinked away more tears.

"We won't end up like that. You've got me and I've got you. We've got the losers club. Yeah, so college is a thing. Moving is a thing. But baby, we've got technology. And I promised you when we were young that I won't leave your side. You are fuckin' stuck with me, spaghetti boy" Eddie giggled at this and rolled his eyes. Eddie's giggles made Richie smile and start to chuckle.

"Just promise me everything's going to be okay" Eddie begged after his giggle fit had ended. Richie shook his head slowly.

"I can't promise you that everything's going to be okay. But I can promise you that we'll get through this. These graduation caps aren't going to form monsters once they're thrown up into the air. They're going to form the most childish adults that Derry has produced. I can also promise you that even through our struggles, our changes, and our fears...we're going to be together. You, me, and the losers club. That's how it'll be, forever and always" Richie lowered his face and kissed Eddie's lips gently. Eddie returned the kiss and threw his arms around Richie.

"Thanks, trashmouth" Eddie smiled wider than he had all day.

"No problem. Now would you please fuckin' decorate that cap? You are gay, you can't have some boring ass cap" Richie rolled his eyes dramatically. Eddie laughed hard and pushed Richie away toward where his cap waited. 

"Shut up" Eddie rolled his eyes too but reached for the sharpies and got to work.