problematic ➳ reddie

30

December ❀ age 11

"wuh-why can't y-your fuh-family come to o-out christmas duh-dinner?" bill pleaded leaning onto stan's shoulder, pulling his arm, begging.

"I can't, I told you. my parents and I are going to Philly for the holidays. Honestly, we would come, but we just can't" stan apologized. "sorry billy"

"and there you go again with the nicknames" eddie scoffed. "billy and stanny"

"eds and rich aren't any better" stan rolled his eyes at the two boys in front of him.

"flip off uris" richie mumbled while working on his math problems.

"what is in Philly anways?" eddie asked, settling his legs better on bill's lap.

"my grandparents" stan replied and took a sip from the hot chocolate he was holding. they were currently wrapped up in blankets in richie's attic, spending time together, before they'd have to separate for the holidays.

"wuh-what about nuh-next year?" bill asked, shifting closer to stan, eddie's legs dropping off.

"it's a year from now. I don't know will I be there" stan smiled down at bill, who playfully rolled his eyes.

"ugh, shut the fuck up guys! I'm trying to do these exercises! I'll fucking fail this math test" richie groaned, bottom lip red from all the biting of frustration.

"didn't wuh-we have the t-test like a wuh-week ago?" bill asked.

"well yeah, but I fucking failed and have to do it again" richie cried out, biting onto the pencil. eddie crawled in front of richie and took the pencil away from his lips. "no, no, no, don't bite it. it damages your teeth and also there's like million germs"

richie sighed and nodded. "i'm just really fucking stressed"

"hey, i'll help you" eddie suggested and looked down at richie's book, but the taller one slammed it shut. "no, I don't want to think about math anymore"

"but I could help?" eddie said in a more questioning tone.

"i really appreciate it, but I swear...I will hurt someone soon if I see one more division" richie clutched his fists in front of his face, which eddie then grabbed. his hot breath tickled richie's knuckles.

"let me help. it's the least I could do" eddie whispered.

richie let it and nodded. "fine...whatever"

"okay...so division is hardest for you?" eddie asked, letting go of richie's hands and leaning back a bit. the taller one nodded.

"let's start with an easy one. 9 divided by 3"

"three" stan said bluntly from behind eddie. richie was about to scoot on stan, if eddie hasn't caught his shoulders and pushed him back a bit and bill wrapped his other arm over stan's chest, as to somehow protect stan, who only laughed a little.

"shut up stan! this is for richie and for richie only" eddie scoffed and turned to richie.

"4 divided by 2"