problematic ➳ reddie

37

april ❀ age 12-13

so the whole school knew eddie had a boner in the boys locker room for staring at his class mates' naked bodies. and when I said, the whole schoo, I especially mean Henry bowers and his gang, who just wouldn't leave eddie alone.

"he might have a boner in his pants, watch out" henry hummed as eddie walked pass the bullies who were leaned up against the wall. the smaller boy gripped the straps on his backpack and walked fast away from them. he looked down, not seeing the boy who was walking towards him, headphones in his ears. and so the two bumped together, eddie stumbling backwards a bit. the other boy let out a small yelp.

"oh my god, i'm so sorry" eddie sighed. "i wasn't looking ahead of me"

"it's okay" the boy replied, until coughing a bit. "eddie, right?"

"uh, yeah..." eddie blushed and looked at the boy, recognizing him as the boy who was sitting with beverly once. the time richie and henry got into a fight.

"i'm ben" the boy said softly smiling. "hanscom"

eddie smiled.

"i uh...it's...it sucks how people are uh...bullying you for what happened in the locker room" ben said, blushing a bit.

eddie's smile faded.

"but just so you know, it's like...uh, normal. normal in our age to have uh...." ben was rambling.

"yeah, I know what you mean" eddie nodded and felt like disappearing.

"i don't think it's....weird-"

"okay" eddie cut ben off. "you don't have to make me feel better. it's fine"

ben went even redder. "sorry, i didn't mean to"

eddie let out a breathy laugh. "it's fine, alright?"

ben nodded. "yeah, sorry-"

"stop apologizing" eddie giggled. "maybe i'll see you later"

"yeah, bye" ben smiled and looked how eddie walked smiling away.

"what got you so happy?" stan asked as eddie walked to him.

"you know that ben kid?" eddie asked.

"name doesn't say anything. who is he?" stan shrugged.

"i bumped into him. he's really sweet"

"and that's what made you happier? I haven't seen you smiling this whole week ever since that incident"

eddie's smile faltered once again.

"which I think isn't weird at all" stan added rushed. "look, do you wanna maybe like...hang out with me today? my mom and dad are out of town since some stupid seminar in Augusta"

"me? you'd wanna hang out with me?" eddie asked.

"why are you so surprised? didn't I tell you that you annoy me the least?" stan chuckled.