| Reddie & Stenbrough Oneshots | ♡

Secret Admirer Part 3 | Reddie

(A/N: Sorry y'all, but I'm just not writing Bill's stutter because it takes soooo much longer to write, and it's way harder to read in my opinion, so sorry about that. Imagine it in your head if you'd like sksk.)

EDDIE POV

It was a lonely Saturday afternoon. To take my mind off of everything that has been, I invited my friend Bill over to hang out. I trust Bill with my life, so naturally, of course I told him about the letter almost directly after I got it. We were reading it over and over in his backyard, sitting up against a tree, trying to figure out what all of the hints could mean.

'I may need glasses to see.' Who in our grade wears glasses?" Bill questioned. 

"Well, there's Emma. No way. Nora? God, I hope not." I said. "What about Ellie? Or Elliot?" Bill asked. "No way." 

"Well, Richie wears glasses," Bill smirked. I paused a moment, considering this for a moment. It couldn't be.

"What? No. That-That's crazy, Bill. He's just my friend, and he's not... gay or anything. Besides, I don't like him, and he doesn't like me." I snapped defensively, my voice harsh and bitter as the words came out of my mouth,

"I didn't say you did! Calm down, I was just joking." Bill said, as he eyed me suspiciously. I remembered what I'd just said and how I'd said it, so I snatched the letter out of his hands, scanning it over again for what felt like the thousandth time that day. 

 "Well, what about this? 'My last name starts with a T.' Who-" Bill had whispered something under his breath, that almost sounded like a sneeze. "What'd you just say?" I asked him.

"Tozier. Richie Tozier. Honestly, Eddie, are you blind?" I laughed for a moment, thinking he was just joking again, but then I saw the look on his face, and he looked dead serious. "How could you not be able to tell he's into you?" Bill exclaimed.

 "No, I wasn't able to tell, because he isn't. There's simply just no way." I yelled. Bill put his hand on my shoulder. "Eddie, do you like Richie?" He asked. I pulled up my knees to my chest, and when I see Bill looking at me, still waiting for an answer, I nodded.

I groaned and let my head fall into my knees. "I'm sorry for freaking out at you. It's just- after a talk we had the other day, I don't think there's any way he could ever like me." I sighed, the words sounding muffled. "Why? What happened?" Bill asked. I sighed again and began to tell him everything that happened. 

He didn't say anything after I finished, but I could tell he had so much to say. I lifted my head up and looked over at Bill, the sadness apparently showing on my face with the way he was looking at me. "Do you really think it was Richie that wrote me that letter?" I asked, my voice quiet. "Honestly? It all makes sense. The glasses thing, last name that starts with a T. Judging off of what you just told me, combined with the way I see him look at you sometimes, I can totally see it." Bill answered.

"He looks at me? Like that?" I said dreamily, my cheeks turning pink. I liked that thought. Him looking at me."Look at you, you're blushing! You are really gay." Bill laughed, and I hit him on the arm, trying to look mad at him, but failing. 

"All jokes aside, you've gotta confront him." Bill said. I shot up quickly. "What? No way. I'd rather just go to the grave with this secret of mine. Then, I don't have to do any speaking and he never has to know." I stated.

"Come on. Just ask him on Monday. It'll be fine." Bill whined. "It'll be fine for you! What am I supposed to say anyway? 'Oh hi, best friend. I'm totally and utterly in love with you. Let's kiss now."' I mocked. "That wouldn't be the exact way I would word it, but yeah. You got the point across." Bill shrugged. I rolled my eyes at him.