problematic ➳ reddie

68

november ❀ age 16

"I heard the football game is coming up. we're playing against Eastport" ben said and looked at bill and eddie who were studying with him to the home economics test.

"and wuh-why would we be going there?" bill asked and looked up from his book, laying on ben's bed.

"richie's in the team, I thought you- I thought you knew?" ben furrowed his brows. "eddie, did you know?"

eddie looked up from the floor, right leg stretched forwards, the left on bent and reaching his other hand towards his toes. "huh? oh yeah, I knew. I saw him rehearsing one day. didn't tell you cause I thought everyone knew"

bill and ben stared at eddie, who was stretching on the floor.

"i'm sorry, but what exactly are you doing?" ben shook his head.

eddie glanced at his position and shrugged. "stretching. I know i'll fall for those christmas treats so I should get ready for that"

"but y-you do ruh-realize you're just s-s-s-stretching and not exercising" bill chuckled a bit.

eddie glared at bill for a while until groaning. "fine! damnit! I kinda want to..learn how to...dance ballet..."

"yeah I can see that" ben tilted his head and looked at eddie. "go for it"

"you're not...shocked?" eddie straightened his posture, letting go of his toes.

bill laughed loudly. "y-you think a-after all this, we'd buh-be suh-surprised over this?"

ben let out a chuckle. "yeah, ed. this, this is one of the least shocking thing I've ever heard"

"I don't know should I be offended..." eddie furrowed his brows.

"No, not at all. i'd love to see you as a ballet dancer" ben gave eddie a thumbs up and a big smile.

"that means a lot, ben. thanks" eddie smirked.

"but ih-if you want to buh-be a ballerina so much, why duh-don't you go suh-somewhere and get real education?" bill asked.

"you know my mother, bill. you know she'd fire like a thousand questions at me. she'd think I'm a queer for a fact" eddie sighed and rubbed his face.

"But like....you a-are" bill smiled a little. ben kicked his ankle, shaking his head. "they're not called queers, bill, educate yourself"

"sorry, ed" bill gave the smaller one a guilty look. eddie shook his head and smiled. he got up and sighed. "the thing is that I really should tell my mom about this, but she's....if she found out I'm..." eddie kept a long pause. "she's gonna kill me if she finds out"

"I don't think she will" ben gave eddie an uncertain look.

eddie rolled his eyes. "she'd put me in a hospital"

"we'll bail you o-out. don't worry" bill gave eddie a wide grin, where the other one replied with a shove on the elbow. "i'm serious! my mom will have a stroke when I tell her I like guys"