Library Boy//Reddie

3

Eddie woke up to the soft puttering of the rain. This time it wasn't just a foggy mist, it was legit rain. The campus glistened with it and Eddie's breath created cold steam on the window. Why must it rain so much in Maine?

Checking the time, eddie remembered that he only had two classes scheduled for today and they didn't start until later. He tip-toed out to the kitchen in blue pajama pants and a t-shirt. 

Richie was sitting at the counter, sipping from a mug of coffee and reading the newspaper. Eddie snorted. Richie looked up. 

"What?"

Eddie shook his head and grinned, sliding into the chair next to him. "Nothing. You look like a grandpa."

Richie put on a playful scowl. "Some people like older men. Plus, reading newspaper keeps me informed. Have a look."

Eddie peeked over his shoulder and stared at the brightly colored talking fox. "Richie you're just looking at the funnies column."

Richie smirked. "Duh. Oh, by the way, I made you some food. I already ate."

Eddie wandered over to the stove where a plate of eggs was sitting to stay warm. "Thanks."

Richie shrugged. 

Eddie sat back down next to Richie, crunching on a piece of toast. "So...Do you have class today?"

Richie nodded, setting down the newspaper. "I'm here on a scholarship, so I gotta do all the classes assigned to me. How about you?"

Eddie frowned. "Unfortunately not me. The only good park of paying 20k a semester is that I got to choose my classes. 'M not going in until later, today."

"Cool." Richie sipped his coffee. "Any plans?"

Eddie wrapped his arms around his torso. "Well I could go to the coffee shop with my friend Bev. But I feel like we've grown apart recently, with us going to different colleges."

Richie nodded sympathetically. "I can relate. My friend Ben decided to go to TMIFTA instead of Derry Uni. It was hard on a lot of us. We still hang out though."

Eddie cocked his head. "Really? Beverly goes to the Maine Institute For The Arts, too. Maybe they know each other."

The corner of Richie's mouth twitched up in a half-smile. "I'll be sure to ask the next time I see him." He scooted off the chair and went over to the sofa where various papers were scattered. Richie began to shove them into his black backpack. "I'm gonna blast."

Eddie raised his fork in greeting. "Have fun; Don't die."

Richie looked back at him teasingly. "Not on the agenda." he paused. "Oh my friend Bill is having a party tonight. You know, kind of like a ,WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL PARTY. Not really though, because everyone's going to be wasted. You should come."

Eddie stared at him uncertainly. "Don't think so."

Richie's eyebrows drooped.

Eddie was quick to console. "I-It's not personal or anything, it's just loud parties aren't really my scene. I'll be here to help you though your drunken haze afterwards though." He smiled.

Richie scratched the back of his neck. "I dunno, Eds. If you aren't going, maybe I shouldn't go either."

Eddie rolled his eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. Have your fun and don't let me stop you. I'll just be here binging American Horror Story. Probably not much fun for you."

Richie's eyes lit up. "I actually love American Horror Story."

Eddie smiled again. "We'll have a marathon sometime. But text me if you decide not to go to the party, so I can wait up for you for dinner."

Richie slung his book bag over his shoulder. "So THIS is what it's like to be married. I could get used to this." And he whirled out the front door in a gust of blackberry scented cologne, leaving Eddie to curiously ponder what in the hell that meant.

~~~

Eddie sat on the couch eating noodles, his eyes glued to the screen. Hours before, Richie had texted him one last time asking him to come to the party. Eddie declined again. Assuming Richie wasn't coming home anytime soon, Eddie had made himself noodles and plopped down to watch his favorite shows.

Just then, the front door banged open and Richie stumbled in, an arm around a giggling and obviously drunk girl with long blonde hair and slutty tits. Eddie switched off the TV and jumped up in alarm.

"What the fuck is going on?" Eddie glared at Richie.

"Hey baby Eddie bear." Richie slurred. "Could you be a doll and scooch for like 30 minutes?"

Eddie frowned.

"Pweaseeeeeee." Richie begged.

"Ugh fine. Whatever, asshole. " Eddie grabbed a book and stalked out to the front porch.

"Thanks, Eds, you're da bestttttt."

Eddie gave him the finger.

~~~

As he sat on the porch, Eddie contemplated how he ended up in this position. He had thought Richie was a good person, someone he could even be friends with, but it turned out he was an asshole that like kicking his roommate out so he could screw drunk whores. Eddie shivered in the cold. It had stopped raining earlier, leaving the air bitingly chilly.

Eddie was not going to stand to be treated like this. He stood up and slammed his fist against the door repeatedly. "Let me in, let me in!" He screeched.

~~~

Richie led the girl into his room. The bitch thought she was going to get fucked no less. Ha, stupid bitch. Richie slipped her a 20. 

"I'm not having sex with you. I don't even know you and we're both drunk so it would be taking advantage of you. Just pretend like we did. I need to make my roommate jealous."

The girl frowned but accepted the money. Her name was Lilly, but she doubted Richie knew that. "So you're gay then, huh?" She struggled to meet his eyes. 

"Bisexual. But this roommate, duuuudeee, I just love him so much I wanna kiss him all day longggg." Richie pretended to make out with his hand.

Lilly had met a lot of weird drunks, but this kid was something else. Lilly could handle her alcohol, this kid couldn't. "Look, you should tell him how you feel. Hiding shit and screwing around with him isn't helping anyone."

Richie glared at her. "He prolly doesn't evvvenn like mee anyway."

Lilly briefly wondered if he was going to start crying. "Welp, that's enough excitement for me for one night." She stood up and left, throwing Richie the peace sign. "Later, dude."

Lilly opened the door and let a short, steaming mad, brown haired boy into the house. "Thanks, dahl, you're a peach." She put on a slutty southern accent and patted his cheek, stifling her laughter when Eddie turned bright red.

Eddie slammed the door behind her.

Lilly giggled, lighting a cigarette. "First-years." She said exasperatedly.

~~~

Eddie stormed into Richie's room. ""What the fuck, dude?"

Richie looked at him lazily. "I love you Eddieeeeee."

Eddie shook his head, eyes softening. "No you don't- you're drunk."

Richie reached out his arms. "I'm sawy , Eddie, but I loveee youuu!!"

Eddie folded himself next to Richie. "If only you did."

They fell asleep like that. Eddie decided he could talk to Richie in the morning.