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4. Eddie's POV

Okay, so theres a trigger warning in pretty much every chapter: suicidal, homophobic slurs, violence, language, drugs, alcohol, just shit like that. I probably wont have a trigger warning in every chapter, mostly because I'll forget, and it'll spoil the plot line for the upcoming chapter, so just remember that this is a trigger filled book. So if you get triggered, please do not continue. Enjoy!

When Richie walks into the classroom, he locks eyes with me, but walks the opposite way.

"Richie," I shout. He doesn't look behind him. Stan punches my arm.

"W-w-what are you doing," Bill hisses. Beverly and Mike look at me like I've grown 3 heads.

"What," I ask. Ben and Mike just shake their heads, Bev looks shamefully to the ground.

"We don't... talk to him, Eddie," Stan says. I look over and Richie has his face cupped with his hands, rubbing his temples with his fingers.

"What do you mean?"

"Eddie, you've been part of the Losers for about a year, right?" Mike asks. I nod, wondering why they are acting so weird.

"Richie Tozier used to be a part of the Losers before you came," Stan mumbles.

"Why'd he leave?" Bill is about to speak when the teacher enters the room and starts lecturing. My eyes drift to this boy. How have my friends known him and not told me? 

Lunch rolls along after an impossibly long half of a day. The Losers are still tense. I grab a tray, slowly collecting my food by the lunch ladies, and I notice that Richie doesn't grab any food. He just stands by the cafeteria doors, fidgeting with something in his pocket.

"Why do you guys hate him? He seems like a really nice guy," I say.

"Eddie, just shut up, okay?" Stan demands. "How do you even know him?"

"My mom sent me to the hospital and I saw him there," I say, praying they wont ask why I was there this time.

"Why was Richie at the hospital," Bev asks. They don't even know?

He-" I begin before being cut off by Gretta, the worst gossiper of the school.

"Didn't you hear, Beaverly? The trashmouth cut those skinny wrists like they were vegetables right on a chopping board," she exclaims, flipping her blonde hair with her jewelry covered hand. I look down at my shoes, wondering how they couldn't know.

"W-what?" I look over to where Richie stands, but he isn't there anymore. We all sit down silently after getting our food to the table closest to the doors.

"How did we not know," Ben groans, covering his chubby face with his chubby hands.

"Why'd he leave," I ask again.

"We don't really know," Mike says, absolutely the worst liar of the Losers. "He just... left." He's lying, but I dont say anything.

After we all eat, I dump my tray and walk through the double doors of the cafeteria that leads to the rest of the school, turning left to go outside and finding him.

"You okay," I ask. Of course he isn't.

"Yeah. I'm fine," he sighs, sticking a cigarette in between his lips. I frown, but I dont say anything in fear that he'll leave.

"Want one," he offers, my intense stare of the cigeratte obvious.

"No thanks," I reply.

"Wanna sit," he asks, gesturing towards the old bench a few feet to his right. I nod and make my way towards it, Richie sitting next to me.

"So," I begin, knowing I will regret it soon when he gets uncomfortable and leaves. "You used to be a Loser?" He flicks the ashes off of the death stick he holds in between his fingers.

"Just now found out, Eds?" I nod hesitantly. "It's alright. I knew they wouldn't talk about me."

"Sorry," I mumble.

"Its okay, Ed's."

"Dont call me that."

"You're real cute when you get mad, Ed's," he chuckles. I feel my face blush furiously, and see that he is also. "Sorry."

"Did you eat?" He pinches the inside of his thigh as if he doesn't think I can see; like he's punishing himself.

"Wasn't really hungry," he sighs. He's going to leave. And never talk to me again. He's not even going to look at me again.

"What's up, Fucking Tozier? Smooching it up with your fag boyfriend? Gonna fuck him later?" Henry Bowers. Fuck.

"What the fuck do you want," I say, standing up. Richie gives me a cautious look.

"Eddie fucking Kasbrak. Your little fag mouth gonna speak up?" Victor Criss bellows. They all snicker. Henry walks up dangerously close to my petite body.

"Dont mess with us," he whispers. "You're tiny fucking body wouldn't be able to handle the ass kicking you'll get if you speak up again." Richie stands next to me.

"Eat shit." What have I done? Henry breathes a chuckle of disbelief.

"Are you hard of hearing? Or just that fucking stupid?" Victor and Belch chuckle.

"Is it the AIDS messing with his mind, ya think," Belch jokes. Henry throws the first punch, and I close my eyes.

But the fist doesnt connect with my face. I open my eyes and Richie holds Henry's fist in midair. He twists his clenched fist and throws it behind his body, his face now vulnerable for a slit second that Richie uses to punch him in the jaw. Henry falls to the ground and Belch, Victor, and Patrick tackle Richie to the ground, throwing unfair punches. He's outnumbered. I run up to the clustered fight and grab Victor's long hair, pulling as hard as I can, and he falls back, not hurting Richie anymore. I punch Victor in the face, and Belch runs up, grabs a hold of me and body slams my small body. I groan from the impact of the blow. Henry is up and is beating the shit out of Richie. I feel another person grab ahold of me, and I groan loudly, not ready for the pain again.

I open my eyes and see Richie holding me like a small child, running from them. He's running off the school property and to the familiar street that leads to the pharmacy. He puts me down, but keeps hold of my wrist.

"You okay?" I look up, and his injuries are far worse than mine.

"Not as bad as you, Chee," I say. He grins at the nickname.

I grin back.

"Let's go getcha fixed up, Ed's," he says, still slightly grinning. We walk into the pharmacy and I grab bandages, rubbing alcohol, cotton balls. Richie grabs a pack of cigarettes and shoves them in his jean jacket pocket. Richie takes the items in my arms and shoves them into different pockets of his jacket.

"Richie," I whisper. "Stealing's wrong!"

"Ed's, chill, they wont notice," he says, grabbing medical tape. "Buy at least one thing and they wont get suspicious." I roll my eyes and walk to the front with him. I pull a dollar out of my pocket and hand it to the cashier but Richie slaps my hand away and hands the cashier 4 quarters. He grabs the tape and my hand and we walk out of the pharmacy.

"Where now," I ask. He turns his head to show the most beautiful smile on the whole planet, even if its laced with sadness.

"My house," he replies. "Hope you dont mind skipping."

Okay, like actually liking the story right now
Wtf this is unusual I like my story
Better not read it so I dont hate it
Okay, imma leave so just vote and comment what you think :)