problematic ➳ reddie

44

march ❀ age 13 -14

"alright! here's the clothes riley doesn't use anymore" richie sighed and placed a pile of riley's old skirts and shirts in the middle of his room. "mom says have to put them in this box"

richie threw an empty cardboard box next to the pile, looking down at eddie who was sitting his legs crossed, looking at the pink clothes in front of him. "this is why you invited me over? to put you sisters clothes into a box?"

"yes?" richie chuckled. "also i thought we could just hang out" he added. eddie smiled and nodded. "well thanks"

"so you're helping me?"

eddie nodded and took a hold of a white shirt, looking at it, wind getting caught in his throat. he folded it neatly until placing it in the box.

"thanks for helping me. riley has to study for her exams and mom is busy with work since she has to keep this house up on her own..." richie trailed off.

"but your mom and dad are still close" eddie gave richie a reassuring smile. "at least they didn't break up with a fight. it's all good, rich"

"I know, I know. it's just weird not having dad around" richie sighed and put a ruffled pink skirt in the box.

eddie watched the clothes, having an urge to try them, but shook his head and folded more clothes into the box.

"so how is she? betty I mean" eddie asked.

"she's good. we've been out on movies and at the park. we went to the arcade yesterday" richie grinned.

"the arcade?" eddie looked up, feeling sadness wash through him.

"yeah. betty's a natural gamer. she beat me at all the games" richie sighed.

"sounds nice" eddie smiled and took a puff from his inhaler. "sounds really nice..."

"and myra?" richie lifted a brow.

"what about her?" eddie frowned.

"you kissed her. remember? thought you'd been talking a lot"

"No. we didn't say a word to each other after. nor before, for that matter" eddie shrugged. richie chuckled a bit. "shame. she seems nice"

"i don't know" eddie bit his lip. "even if I kissed her, doesn't mean I like her"

"you look at her that way" richie winked.

"I do not" eddie protested, sounding like he was caught on a lie, but eddie was telling the truth. he doesn't look at myra. at all, to be honest.

"right, sure" richie rolled his eyes. "so? anyone else on your mind?"

eddie hesitated but shook his head. "Nope"

"no more kisses after myra?" richie smiled, joking, but the look at eddie's blushed face made him lift a brow. "right?"

"uhm, yeah" eddie nodded. "No more kisses after myra"

richie squinted his eyes and looked at eddie for a long time, a silence falling over them.