"i'm telling you for the last time, tozier. leave him alone."
richie hadn't heard anything from eddie since he'd left his house that day. he had, however, been calling nonstop.
"are you that insecure with yourself that eddie isn't allowed to have friends?"
"don't police my relationship, tozier. he doesn't want you."
"i never said he did, but he doesn't want you either."
"obviously he does, that's why he hasn't answered your calls."
"you cant keep him on lockdown forever."
"say another word and i'll break your fucking nose."
"oh yeah? will you? go ahead tough guy show me what you've got."
"big mouth, huh tozier? i'd watch it if i were you."
"would you? bring it man, im willing to fight."
"that's it." henry brought his fist up, and froze as voice called out
"henry! stop it!" eddie ran up behind them from the schools exit.
"why should i?"
"because he has nothing to do with us. there's nothing going on between us. nothing. you're just starting shit for no reason." eddie looked over at richie quickly, before looking back to henry. richies heart fell to his feet.
"you're both full of shit."
"no i'm not."
"tell him what you're telling me."
"what?" eddie almost laughed.
"yeah eddie, tell me." richie spoke up. eddie thought this was comical.
however, when eddie looked into richies eyes, he realized how much he didn't want to say the words.
"i don't like you like that, richie." eddie barely stuttered the words. he turned back to henry, not wanting to look at richie- who almost looked like he was going to cry.
"you heard him."
richie was frozen with shock, but only for a moment before he came to his senses. and all he could think about as he walked home in the freezing darkness were those five words that made his entire world come crashing down.
"i don't love you, richie."
