Direct Messages| Reddie

(15)

"It's been a whole week and we haven't heard a single word from him. What if he's hurt?!" I ask.

"If he was hurt someone would have told us" Stan says.

"The day before he left he was saying that death seemed like a good idea. Now, he's at a place that causes kids to commit suicide all the time"

"I know it's hard, Rich, but you gotta stay strong for him"

"What if the next time we see him is in the hospital or a casket?"

"Eddie's stronger than you think. Have some faith in him"

"He's stuck in that hellhole, Stan"

"You planned a date with him, right?"

"It was supposed to be tomorrow"

"Hold on to the thought that he wouldn't leave us without going on his first date with you"

"He could planning his death right now"

"Richie, he's fine. Trust me"

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I try to pay attention to class but all I can do is think about Eddie. When my free period comes around and go to the library and go to one of the computers. I look up what happens at conversion therapy.

"Whatcha looking at?" Bev asks me. Ben and Mike are behind her.

"Their tactics still haunt me. Aversion therapy, shock therapy, harassment and occasional physical abuse" I read the article out loud.

"What?" Ben asks.

"What happens at conversion therapy" I explain. The three of them pull up a chair and finish reading the article.

"Poor, Eddie" Mike says.

"How long do you think he will be there?" Ben asks.

"Until they've absolutely destroyed him" I say.

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~6 weeks later~

School is finally out and I somehow passed. I didn't think I would, I had been thinking about Eddie instead of doing my work. We're all at Bill's hanging out in his room.

"Torture. We could torture her, get her to tell us where Eddie is, and rescue him" Bev says hanging off Bill's bed.

"Right that'll work" I say sarcastically. I hear my phone start ringing and see Stan and Bill are sitting next to it on the other side of the room.

"Who is it?" I ask. Stan reads the I.D. and his eyes go wide.

"Holy shit! You're gonna wanna answer this" he says and brings my phone to me. I read the name, 'Eddie Spaghetti<3<3<3'

"Who is it?" Mike asks.

"Eddie" I whisper. I answer and put the phone up to my ear but they beg me to put him on speaker.

"Eddie?!" I ask.

"Is this Bear?" someone asks.

"Yes, who is this?"

"Dr. Prescott. You were first on his emergency contact list"

"What happened?"

"He's at Mercy Hospital. Is it possible to get you here along with his guardian?"

"I can come. His mom isn't available. Can you please tell me what happened?"

"Not over the phone. Sorry"

"Ok. I'll be there soon"

"Ok. Bye"

"Bye" I say and end the call.

"Mercy Hospital is like an hour away right?" I ask.

"Yeah" Ben says.

"Shit. Only three of us can fit in my truck" I mumble.

"We ca-can take my m-moms van" Bill suggests.

"Get the keys. We need to leave now" I say. We all get up and follow Bill downstairs and out to the van. His parents are on another business trip so they won't be needing it. We all pile in. Bill driving with Stan next to him. Mike and I in the middle with Bev and Ben behind us.

"Richie, he'll be ok" Mike says after about 20 minutes of driving.

"Don't make promises you can't keep" I say.

"We don't even know what happened"

"Yes, we do. He tried to do it again"

"You don't know that"

"I know him, Mike. I've learned what he does when he's upset. Put that in a place that makes you hate yourself and hurts you everyday along with doctors tone....I do know"

"Can we talk about something other than the fact that one of our friends is probably dying?" Bev asks.

"Sorry if this isn't your ideal Wednesday night, Beverly" I say rather harshly.

"Ideal? Yeah it's not exactly ideal, Rich"

"You didn't have to come"

"That's not what I meant. I meant that ideal would be Eddie sitting next you while we're on our way to the quarry"

"Well, he's not. He might never again"

"Way to think positive"

"You want me to think positive? Alright lets try to think positive. What are some good things that have been going lately? Oh I have one! Seeing you with Ben and Stan with Bill everyday. You guys get to see your boyfriend everyday and I haven't seen mine in 7 weeks. Maybe it would be better if I at least knew he was ok but I don't. Actually, my boyfriend is being abused all day and I can't do anything about it. What else is positive right now? Sonia's just walking around without a care in the world, that's fantastic. And the best thing that has been happening every night these past 7 weeks, either having an amazing dream that Eddie is with me and happy and then waking up to remember he's in that hellhole or having a nightmare about what's happening to him. There, I thought positively, Bev" I rant. The whole van is quiet for a minute before I feel someone climbing over the seat. I look over and see Bev sitting down next to me. She pulls her legs onto the seat and leans against me.

"I'm sorry" she whispers. I lift the arm she's leaning on and put it around her.

"I miss him" I say.

"Me too"

"I'm scared"

"....me too"