Library Boy//Reddie

2

The rain had slowed but not stopped completely and Eddie wrinkled his nose in discomfort when the misty air hit his face. 

Richie, on the other hand, seemed to thoroughly enjoy the rain, if it could even still be called that. He tilted his head up to the sky and smiled, sticking out his tongue to catch a few drops.

Eddie watched him. "You know that's really unhealthy?"

Richie turned to look at him. "Oh yeah?"

Eddie nodded. "Yeah. The rain carries particles of dirt and dust that evaporate into the sky and come back down again as rain."

Richie rolled his eyes playfully. "I know how the water cycle works, Eds."

Eddie huffed under his breath, mumbling, "Don't call me that."

Presently, they reached a green door with a gold number on it.

Richie gestured to the door. "Home sweet dorm." He fumbled with his key in the lock and eventually the door swung open.

Richie went over to the coffee table and picked up a matching key. "Here, I'm supposed to give this to you. It's your dorm key."

"Thanks." Eddie slipped the key into his pocket and looked around.

You first walked into the living room. There was a blue couch and a glass coffee table in front of it. A TV sat perched on a shelf in front of the couch. Then, if you looked to the right, there was a white counter bar and three tall chairs that you could sit on and eat at the counter. The kitchen was a standard kitchen with a microwave, stove, and dishwasher. It even came equipped with complimentary coffee and tea.

Richie led him down the hallway, stopping to point at a door in the middle of the hall. "That's the bathroom."

"Only one?" 

Richie nodded. "Yep. Looks like you're stuck sharing with me, cutie."

Eddie blushed as they continued to walk down the hall. Richie opened a door, saying, "I chose this room, but we could switch if you want."

Richie had already decorated the room so Eddie had no intention of switching with him. He had Big Queen posters tacked up on the walls and there was a cardboard cut-out of Kiss. The bed had black sheets and the desk had an open bottle on black nail polish sitting on it, along with various school papers. Richie had been using the nail polish to paint black designs on the walls.

Eddie looked at him. "You're going to get in trouble."

Richie shrugged. "Whatevs. Looks good right?"

Eddie nodded. "I guess so." His eyes drank in the presence of a light blue electric guitar in the corner. He ran his fingers over it. "You play?"

Richie nodded. "I try. Nowhere near as good as Freddie Mercury though." He glanced wistfully at his Queen poster.

Eddie chuckled. "To be as good as him you'd have to practice for a few years."

Richie sighed. "I know."

He led him to the second door. "This is your room I guess." Richie pushed open the door.

The walls were white and there was a window seat with a pink cushion. The desk looked like it was made out of Birchwood but wasn't it illegal to harvest Birch? The bed was white and it had a rainbow  quilt on it. There was a walk-in closet and a fluffy white rug next to the bed.

Eddie's eyes widened in surprise. "Hey they actually decorated the way I asked them to."

Richie's eyes were just as wide and he walked in and plopped down at Eddie's desk chair. "Lucky you. I spent all day decorating mine."

Eddie squinted up at the ceiling. "They even put in the fairy lights!" Eddie clapped twice and suddenly the room was lit up with the glow of hundreds of fairy lights all across the ceiling. 

Richie's mouth dropped open. "Sweet!" Then his gaze fell on the rainbow bedspread. "What's with the rainbow?"

Eddie tucked his feet in self-consciously. "Well....I'm gay  and I'm proud, so I like to decorate like that. Plus it looks nice, don't you think?"

Richie tilted his head. "Gay, huh?"

Eddie furrowed his brow. "Look, I get that some people might have a problem with it, but I can't help the way I am, and if it bothers you then I can ask to switch dorms. Just speak now because I really don't want to be bullied my whole college year-" Eddie's eyes were tearing up.

Richie cut him off by sitting at Eddie's feet and placing his hands comfortingly on Eddie's knees. "Hey, hey, shh. Don't get all worked up. I'm not like that. In fact, I'm bisexual myself so I was just thinking that it's ironic that they put us together."

Eddie sniffled and wiped his eyes. "Y-You are?"

Richie stood up and pulled Eddie to his feet. "Yup. And I think it's cool that you're proud of it."

Eddie smiled shyly. "Thanks."

"And it makes things easier for me." Richie whispered under his breath.

"What?' Eddie leaned forward. 

"Nothing, nothing. Just thinking out loud. Now it's been a long day, so I suggest we get little Eds into his pjs and into bed-" 

Eddie shoved his shoulder. "Beep beep trashmouth."

Richie grinned and sauntered to the door. "Night, Eds. See ya in the morning." He blew a kiss and ran squealing back to his room.

Eddie rolled his eyes and thought about how much he liked Richie. He hung his book bag on the desk chair and pulled out a few polaroids of him and Beverly. He missed Bev. She was his best friend since forever and they did everything together. Except not college, apparently. While Eddie went to Derry University, Beverly went to The Maine Institute for he Arts. Her college was really just down the street but it was Eddie's first time going to a school without his best friend. He made a mental note to call her and meet up after classes the next day.

He gently taped the pictures to the wall above his desk. Then, crawling into bed, he thought about how nice and attractive Richie was. Then he scolded himself. Eddie Kaspbrak wouldn't allow himself to catch feelings for his roommate. At least not yet.

~~~

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