The Phone Calls ☏ || reddie

Mike Talks to Eddie

2530 Maple Street, Hawkins, Indiana
Monday November 30th 1986
4:43 pm

"Hey, Richie, did you go to school today?" Eddie asked, mid-way through their conversation.

"No..." Richie mumbled, for the full week last week, Richie didn't attended school. He'd let Mike go on his own, and let his mom leave and hid till she was for sure gone. Then, at the same time as everyday, he'd call Eddie and tell him.

"Richie, you have to go to school. I know the past events were sad and frustrating but you need your education!"

"I know, I know, but it's not only about my dad anymore, Eds... I-" He cut himself off, not being able to find the right words.

"What?"

"I don't even think my friends like me..."

"Richie... they're your friends, of course they like you."

"No, Eds, they don't. They clearly like Mike more, I know! They plan to do things and disclude me, they sometimes give me weird looks, sometimes they won't even talk with me! And, I swear, Dustin and Lucas have said that i'm a loud mouth so many times that Mike has actually gave me the nickname Trashmouth. Trashmouth!"

"Okay, okay, Richie, calm down."

"They don't like me! How can I stand going to school if they don't even want to be around me?! But, I know they like Mike more."

"How do you know that?"

"Well, three weeks ago, Mike had a cold, so he had to stay home. I went to school and at the beginning they asked where Mike was, and they definitely didn't seemed impressed when I was around. Plus, they came home after school with me to see him, but when i'm sick they don't come to see me."

"Maybe try making some new friends?"

"It's not that easy, Eddie. People don't like me. That's why me and Mike share the same friends, because no one wants to be friends with- with a trashmouth."

"Richie, you're not a trashmouth. You like talking, what's wrong with that? Everyone has something they do without really noticing. So you might crack a joke or say something that's off the tip of your head, but that's just who you are. My friend, Stan is stubborn every once in a while, but that's just who he is. And if your friends don't like you because you do what you do, then try to make friends. What's the harm in trying?"

Richie sighed out a little chuckle. "Honestly, Eddie, you're the only person that I can talk to who doesn't hate me and doesn't prefer my brother more. I wish you lived out here, or I lived out there."

Eddie smiled from the other side.

"Thanks, Rich, I feel the same way. But promise me you'll go to school tomorrow, and you'll try to make friends."

"Promise."

-

Richie walked into Mike's room, without knocking, causing him to get mad.

"Richie! Do you not know how to knock?!"

"I do, it's not like you're doing anything anyway."

Mike groaned. "What do you want?"

"Does Will, Dustin and Lucas like me? Be honest."

Mike was silent. He knew his friends didn't enjoy Richie. They've asked multiple times to stop pretending to be his friend, but Mike couldn't do it. Richie is his brother, he couldn't stand with people who liked him while Richie had no one. They are supposed to stick together. And how could he tell Richie when everything has been going terrible? With his dad, his mom, Richie not going to school. How could he break his brother even more?