𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐄 // reddie // complete

Chapter Eight- not just a kid

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chapter eight

"richie... wake up"

richie opened his eyes and rubbed them till his vision came to. he looked up to see his mom sitting at the edge of his bed. he gave her a weak smile and stretched, "yeah?"

she smiled at him and ran her fingers through his matted curls. "i'm leaving soon... i left some money on the counter and a list for groceries."

richie sat up and studied her face. yet again she seemed to be shrinking. her eyes were tired and glazed over. she slouched like she hadn't slept in days.

"you look so tired mama... can't you take a day off?" richie whispered even though no one else was in the room

she gave him a half smile, "no honey, not if we want the bills paid. besides, the office isn't so bad."

richie sighed but nodded. she pat his knee and got up to leave. she looked back at him, "i love you rich"

"love you too"

she smiled and left. only then was when richie cried. he felt alone. and he felt bad for his mother. all she did was work at that stupid office that over worked her. he knows they need the money but is it worth all the suffering his mom goes through?

richie let out a quiet sob and rested his forehead on his knees. he felt two arms wrap around his middle. he sucked in a sharp breath and looked up to see eddie, who was giving him a half smile and sympathetic eyes.

"how'd you get in here?" richie asked as more tears rolled down his cheek.

"the window" eddie answers simply

richie would never understand how eddie gets up to his second story window. he sniffled and eddie rubbed his back. "thought i said to come after 8?"

"you did, i just came by early" eddie shrugged, "want me to go?"

"no! i just... wasn't expecting you." richie noticed eddie wearing his jacket and smiled to himself

eddies wiped his thumb across richies cheek. richie blushed and closed his eyes. eddie smiled and adjusted richies bottle cap glasses for him. "why are you crying?"

richie opened his eyes and noticed that eddies face was only a few inches away from his. "i... my mom she's just... she works too hard. she's never here because she's trying to make money and..." his throat formed a lump that he couldn't speak over

eddie understood though. money wasn't a problem for him and the losers because they don't pay bills. but they get money from the people they eat. usually they search the bodies for wallets and jewelry.

eddie nodded, he couldn't say anything in this moment. richie was too fragile. he leaned in and pulled richie into a hug. he wrapped his arms around his neck and ran his fingers through richies curls. richie buries his face in eddies shoulder and let out a shaky breath. "i'm sorry"

"don't be. it's okay to cry sometimes"

richie huffed and sat up, "i'm okay"

"you sure?" eddie felt his heart drop at the sight of richies puffy eyes

"yeah, i'm okay eds" richie put on a smile