kissing in cars|reddie

seventeen

A man stepped out of the car.

He had grayish-brown hair that Eddie could see from the window. He didn't know, but Laurie had taken baby Anthony from him, and Frank Kaspbrak was opening the front door.

Laurie, Eddie and Richie stood up from the couch. This is it. This is the moment. Eddie's chest felt tight, he could feel his palms get sweaty by the second. So he bit his lip harshly and tried to breath normally, because this was reality. He had run away from his home to finally be here- for his dad.

Then, footsteps. It was almost like Frank was stomping because of how loud the steps were, or maybe it was just cause everyone was super quiet.

All of a sudden, it was like Eddie's whole life after his dad left flashed before his eyes- all the times he's been gone and Eddie's life had been such hell. He was there in the living room, thinking about when-

•

( Age 11. November 10th. )

-He watched his father walk back and forth with large boxes, carrying them out to a U-Haul truck in the driveway. He played with some markers his father gifted him ("It's an early birthday present, bud."), thinking nothing of his mother's pleas in the kitchen. All he did was color, because he was told to do so. However, boredom was getting the best of him, and he stood up from his spot at the coffee table in the parlor. Walking outside, and smelling the autumn, crisp air, he touched the trucks side. He was struck curious, wanting to be inside of the cool truck and drive it.

Despite his father telling him to stay within his mother's eyesight, Eddie climbed onto the single step of the driver's door of the U-Haul. He smiled brightly, there were stars in his eyes, glowing with the wonder of an innocent sixth grader.

"Edward!" Frank's voice shot behind him sharply. "Get away from the door and head inside this instant!"

Eddie turned around, his smile still evident to his dad. "Can I get in? I wanna drive it 'cause it's so cool!" And he looked at his father so happily that it made Frank frown.

"Alright, you can check it out just for a minute, Eddie." Frank shook his head, putting down the nearly heavy cardboard box he held on to the ground. He watched his son sit right into the driver's seat and put his hands on the steering wheel.

"Cool!!" Eddie's squeaky voice recited. "Dad, I wanna drive someday!"

"When you're older, bud."

"Can you teach me?" Eddie asked him, still so oblivious to the situation before him.

"Er," Frank flushed. "I don't- maybe." He said. "If you're good."

Eddie promised himself to be 'good' for his father in that very second. He swore to be a good boy so he and Frank could spend some time together. He heard his mother's voice call out to his father, resulting in Frank sighing and taking his box in his arms again. Eddie hopped out of the truck.

"Want me to help, dad? Shouldn't I pack stuff up, too?"

Frank looked at him with such a blank look that it made Eddie's heart melt. He didn't know that look. He didn't like it.

"No thanks, Eddie. Get inside."

Later that evening, Frank Kaspbrak had his hand on Eddie's shoulder and spoke to him. He said he had to go.

"But where? Can't I come with?" Eddie asked his dad.

"No, Eddie. I've got to go. It's some... important thing, so important that it would bore your little brain."