✧alive✧ reddie

twenty-six

Richie POV

Eddie was out of the hospital the next day, so Mike, Eddie, and I were all walking to school in the morning. The sun was just peeking out behind the clouds, illuminating a soft glow to reflect off our clear skin.

"So, Eddie," Mike starts, breaking off the calming silence. "What's your first class, again?"

"History, with Richie." He smiles a warm smile, then sneakily wrapped his hand around mine. I look down only to be met with his eyes already fixated on mine, then looking back in the direction we were walking, giving my hand a little squeeze too.

I smile sheepishly, returning that same light squeeze. Not long after, we were almost at the school, someone in the distance running towards us. A tired, out of breath Will stopped in front of us, putting his hands on his knees as he catches his breath.

"M-morning, guys." He gives us a slight wave and smile, finally recovering from his short run.

"Your hair," Eddie giggles. "Let me fix it for you." In which he lets go of my hand to rearrange Will's hair to look reasonable, not messy and bad looking. "There." He says once he finished.

"Thanks?" Will chuckles slightly, us all walking once again towards the school.

I wrap my hand around his, almost protectively, before the others start to talk again. I ended up zoning out of the conversation, mainly just focusing on Eddie. But that didn't last long, considering we were soon inside the school and in our class. But then again, my eyes would always drift to him even when we were supposed to be paying attention. But I was never paying attention.

The only thing on my mind was him.

-----

"Richie..!" Will called, catching up with me as we were making our way to the cafeteria.

"Hey." I say.

"So, uhm.. you didn't meet up with Beverly yesterday?" He asked almost cautiously.

"Nope. Didn't want to deal with her. Plus she was probably in detention anyways and fuck if I'd wait for her." I reply.

"Don't you think she would be mad..? I mean,, I don't think seeing her mad is the prettiest thing.." He tells me.

"Well, she can just deal with it." I shrug, getting a little annoyed. I can tell Will is fussed up about something, due to his tension at the topic, but I can't quite put my finger on it. I mean, why is he even talking about this? Why does he care so much?

"Don't you maybe think one of your friends, or maybe even you is going to get hurt? Maybe you should see her after school-"

"Why do you care so much? This doesn't even concern you, so drop it." I say a bit harshly. I notice him wallow his head closer to the books his carrying that were folded against his chest in his arms. I felt a bit bad, considering he didn't say anything afterwards, but dropped the fact.

"Hey." Mike greets us with a smile as we arrived to the table. Will slouching in his seat next to Mike, me noticing right away, feeling bad for what I had previously told him. Somethings up, I just don't know what it is yet.

"Hey." I say back.

"WHAT'S CRACKIN' LOSERS?" Stanley comes to our table, setting his food tray down with a large 'thump'.
 
"Buh-before you ask,"  Bill comes trailing behind him. "Huh-he just found out he guh-gets to go birdwatching at this suh-special place or something, so he's juh-just in a really good mood." He shrugs.

"Oh, fun." Mike says, holding back a light chuckle.

"That's pretty exciting." Eddie joins the table, sliding in beside me.

"Heya, Eds." I greet him.

"Don't call me that." He huffed jokingly.

"Yep." Stanley replied to Eddie's previous statement, popping the 'p'.

"So when are you going?" Mike questions.

"This weekend. It's just going to be me and my dad, I'm really looking forward to it." He answers with a smile.

Everyone was basically engaged in the conversation, so when Eddie wasn't looking, I swiped a fry from his tray. He didn't notice so I stole another with a smirk.

Eddie then jolted his head towards me right as I was about to put the fry in my mouth.

"Welcome to your tape."

"You wouldn't dare." I said, matter-of-factly.

"I would."

"Hush child." I said, putting a finger to his lips, catching everyone else's attention doing so.

"I'm not a child." He swatted my finger away from his mouth.

"You sure look like one." I smile.

"I'm offended."

"You should be." I say.

"At least I'm not a foureyed trashmouth." Eddie says back.

"You might want to shut that pretty little mouth of yours before I-"

"AAAAAND That's when I cut the sexual tension." Stanley interrupts, taking a bite out of his hotdog. Bill rolls his eyes at us, leaning back in his chair.

I look over to Will considering he hasn't spoken yet since he sat down, only to see that Mike was already talking to him quietly. I wonder if they were talking about me, and what I had said to him.

"Hey, do you guys want to come to the quarry after school today?" Stanley suggests.

"Stan, it's luh-literally October." Bill comments.

"So?"

"Fuh-fine, I'll come. But huh-hell if I'm going swimming." Bill says.

"I'll come too." Eddie agrees.

"I'm going if Eddie's going." I smile and look to Eddie.

"Mike? Will?" Stanley asks and we all turn to them.

"U-uhm.." Will looks reluctant.

"We'll go." Mike answers for him.

"Okay, great." Stanley smiles. "Let's meet up in the front of the school after fourth."

In which everyone agrees and goes back to eating their lunch until the bell rings. But what no one knew at the time, not even myself, is that Beverly and Mike heard their entire conversation.

I feel bad for not updating sooner and I'm sorry ripp. also these long ass author notes at the end of each chapter are getting tiring so I'm just going to write a little to none from now on so yeaa. Also thank you guys sm for all of the reads, votes and comments it means a lot. If you're interested in knowing more stuff such as sneak peeks to this book you should check out my spam book where I basically post things about the books I'm writing and oml the recent chapter of that book jskdks okay that's all i have to say so buh bye