problematic ➳ reddie

16

August❀ age 6 -7  

Richie and Bill chuckled as they entered the cafeteria, seeing Eddie sitting alone at one table, looking self consciously around him. 

"Oh there's Eddie" Richie grinned and went quickly grab his tray with Bill and stuff their plates with gross, school food. 

"Eds!" Richie sat down in front of Eddie, frowning a bit at how sad he looked. 

"hi..." the smallest boy greeted his two friends, who were now sitting in front of him. 

"Aw, don't be sad eds. Just because you're not in the same class as me and Billy, it doesn't mean we can't be friends" Richie reached his hand to Eddie's and gave it a light squeeze. "Don't you think?" 

Eddie glanced at Bill, shooting him a nasty glare, which made Bill flinch. 

"Eddie?" Richie asked, noticing that Eddie wasn't looking at him anymore. 

"It just sucks..." Eddie sighed and let his gaze drop to his lap. 

"It's buh-buh-been a week...you're o-opinion could c-change" Bill said. 

"Shut u-" 

"Bill has a point" Richie cut Eddie off. "Maybe you'll find someone nice from there and then our group just gets bigger and bigger" 

Eddie shivered at the thought of losing Richie to other losers. It made him sad. Richie used to be his best friend. They used to do everything together, but now, Bill stole him from Eddie. 

Yet, Eddie gave Richie a little smile, until looking down at his food, poking it a bit with his fork. 

"So!" Richie let go of eddie and turned to Bill, who was just collecting some mashed potatoes onto his fork. "Have you thought about it?" 

Eddie looked up, furrowing his brows. 

"Ih-I need to a-ask my muh-mom" Bill said. 

"Thought about what?" Eddie asked. 

"Bill and I wondered if we'd join the AV club" 

"But first graders can't join clubs....it's on third grade" 

Richie furrowed his brows. "No...our teacher said we could"

"You can't join AV-club" Eddie said a bit louder. 

"Why?" Bill asked. 

"Because....it's...it's..." 

Eddie broke the eye connection between the two boys, who were burning their stares on Eddie. 

Richie let out a sigh and turned back to Bill. "Well ask your mom. It'd be awesome if we got in" 

Bill grinned. "The fuh-first thing I'll do wuh-when I get h-home" 

Richie nodded, letting out an excited giggle. 

the corners of eddie's mouth pulled down, but he fought back the urge to hit Bill in the head. He just swallowed his anger and looked quietly down. He didn't feel like eating anymore.