𝐛𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢; reddie

(v.)

  "EDDIE BEAR! William's here, are you ready?" Sonia's shrill voice echoes through the house.

Eddie shoves an eggo waffle into his mouth whilst snatching his school bag off of the kitchen counter.

  "Yes 'm coming!" he replies, crumbs flying out of his mouth as he ambles to the front door. The boy embraces his mother before he takes Bills hand, pulling the taller boy down towards their bikes.

Every Monday, Bill cycles to Eddie's house to escort him to school since they share the same morning lessons.

  "Be safe honey, I love you!" Sonia shrieks from the porch. Eddie looks back to see her leaning over the rusted railings, waving frantically.

  "You too ma!" he shouts over his shoulder.

  He mounts his bicycle, waiting for Bill to do the same before he takes off down the street.

  "Hey Ed, Bev-Beverly called lah-last night." William gushes.

  "And?"

  "She wants to guh-out for lunch to-today, just me and her."

  "So you're leaving me alone?" Eddie pouts, extending his leg to nudge Bill with the toe of his battered converse.
"You do realize she's dating Ben right? Our best friend."

  "L-Lunch is nuh-nothing romantic Eddie."

"Then why are you blushing?"

Bill ignores him.

"You can go to lunch with R-Richie, he'll be alone too. Bev said he usually eats in the li-library when she's not around."

  "Sure, whatever." Heat creeps up his neck and face. Eddie hates to admit it, but he finds Richie extremely attractive, just the thought of spending lunch alone with him has his heart beat sky-rocketing.

  "Maybe you could take h-him to our spot, it's going to be r-really nice today!" Bill hums, completely oblivious to how flustered the other boy is.

The older boy stops in his tracks and swings his backpack over his shoulder, unzipping it and yanking his camera out. "Wow, Eddie, luh-look at the view."

  Eddie lifts his head and gasps. He slams on the brakes and hops off his bike to pull his sketchbook from his rucksack.

The sky's an enchanting shade of blue, cerulean. Vibrant eggy yellow spills over everything, seeping through the swirling green of the trees in the distance. Eddie just has to draw it.

Bill takes several photos before returning the Polaroid camera to its case, and furthermore, into the safety of his school bag.

  "C'mon Ed, we're going to be late." Bill drawls, perching his bicycle on its stand.

  "Go without me, Bill. I'll see you at school, love you." Eddie dismisses the other boy with a brief glance as he sits cross-legged on the pavement.

  "Okay Eddie, sure, don't be too late. I love you." Bill leans down to peck the small boy on his forehead before he climbs onto his bike and rides away.

He knows better than to stop Eddie from drawing, the boy is incredibly devoted to his art, and never fails to disappoint.

Eddie pulls out his pastels, exhaling shakily when he lifts the lid. Each one is worn down to a stub. He's saving for new ones.

-

Meanwhile, Richie is enduring yet another unnecessary row with his parents. All because he forgot to polish his fathers' stupid work shoes last night.

  In his head, Richie runs to the edge of the world and jumps off. His mother and father don't bat an eyelid.

Before either of them can spit another insult, the boy stands wordlessly and strides into the hallway.

He runs a hand through his wild hair, checking his digital watch, almost an hour late for school. Richie unbolts the front door.

"AND WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING YOUNG MAN?" his mother squawks after him.

"I'M FUCKING OFF," he slams the door, flinching as splinters of wood fly in all directions.

-

  Eddie captured it perfectly. The view. It's as if the boy copied the sky and pasted it onto the manila paper of his sketchbook. By now he was an hour late for school. Doesn't matter.

  He stands, joints aching from the position he'd been sitting in, and tucks his book into his bag.

"Ed's? You should be at school."

Eddie whirls around, letting his eyes adjust to the change in lighting.

"I thought I told you not to call me that, Richard." He rolls his eyes, flicking the stand of his bicycle with his foot. Richie simply shrugs and smiles.

"Cat got your tongue?"

"No," Richie smirks, "But your mom has."

"That's disgusting." Eddie groans, pressing the heel of his hand to his forehead. He starts walking down the hill, steering the bicycle along beside him.

Richie chuckles, picking up his pace, "a little birdy told me that we're having lunch together today," he says, wiggling his eyebrows.

  "And what makes you think I want to do that, Trashmouth?" Eddie picks up his pace.

  "Oh," Richie mutters under his breath, his bold bravado faltering slightly, Eddie instantly feels guilty.

"Just kidding, where do you want to eat?" Eddie flexes his fingers around the handles of his bike.

"It's up to you, Ed's."

"I have a place in mind, pick me up at lunch, I'll be in room 27."

"Sure thing," Richie shoves his hands into the pockets of his dark jeans, "so, why aren't you at school? Class started an hour ago."

"None of your business," Eddie flicks the lanky boy's nose, "don't be nosey."

Bill's the only person that knows of Eddies beloved sketchbook. And his sensational talent for drawing.

"What about you, Rich?"

"Oh, so we're on nickname terms now, are we?"

"You've been calling me Ed's since we met, dipshit," Eddie guffaws, poking Richie on the shoulder.

"Well," He presses, "why aren't you at school."

"Eh, family stuff." Richie waves his hand, dismissing the subject.

Eddie kicks at the gravel beneath him, the new texture familiar to his worn converse. Fuck.

He looks up and exhales heavily through his nostrils, capturing Richies attention.

"Oh, nice."

School.

The school secretary peers at them through a window, making sure to document their late arrival.

"I guess I'll see you later then, Ed's."

Eddie scoffs, sauntering away.

"Don't call me that."

Authors note
This took ages to write because I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I suck. Please vote and/or comment because I have zero motivation to carry on with this story.