Love You Too Much || Reddie

N I N E

Chapter Nine

Richies POV

What that girl said... really got to me.
I know people say those kinds of things ALL THE TIME about me and Eddie, but we always brushed the idea off, like us being together was never going to happen.
Well, it happened.

I know I should have expected this. I mean hell, we live in Derry Maine. One of the most- if not the most- homophobic towns in history.

When someone would call me a fag, I just brushed it off. Because I didn't know myself. I didn't know that deep down inside, I really was gay. And now that I know for sure, the insults hurt now. It's like opening a wound back up after it's been sealed shut for years.
The day my dad kicked me out of the house, he called me a fag too. It hurt me so bad, and I started to believe it myself.

I slumped back into my chair. I couldn't pay attention in class.
I need to tell Eddie what that girl said. I thought to myself.

After some time that felt like an eternity, the bell rang, and I was free to leave.
I was dreading 3rd period. Because I had my identical twin brother, Mike, in that period. But I also wanted to ask about my parents. If they miss me at home or even care where I am.
Because maybe they do?

I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.

I arrive in class. A few seconds after I settle in and set my things down, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I spin around in my chair to see who it is, and an all to familiar face greets me. It's from Mike. Though we were identical, we were VERY different. Mike doesn't have glasses, and wore this navy blue hoodie, like every day. He was into D&D and would play with his friends all day long in the basement. Hell, they were annoying. But I loved them like family.
Like my brothers.

Before I could say anything, he pulls me out of my chair and squeezes me into a tight, brotherly hug.
I hug back and sigh. After we pull away, he keeps his steady hand on my shoulder.

"Richie. What the HELL happened?" He asked. He almost looked mad. I wonder if I made him angry.
"Th-they kicked me out, Mike." I swallowed hard.
"Our parents kicked me out of the house. For good this time."
He looked shocked, confused, and really angry. He leaned in a little closer and dropped his voice down to a whisper. So only I could hear what he was about to say.
"That night... I heard them fighting after you left. Rich is it true? Are you really gay?"

I didn't know how to answer. The correct way is, 'yes I am gay.' but I didn't know what his reaction would be. I lost my parents, my home, and I couldn't lose my brother.

Not again.

But I and my siblings had this promise. A promise we made to each other when Mikes best friend, Will Byers, was missing.
It was:
No more lies, no more secrets. From now on, the only thing in between us is the truth and the truth as a whole. Promise?

That night Mike, Nancy and I would promise that there would be no more lies, no more secrets, just honesty. Mike and my older sister Nancy, had kept that deal. Ever since then. But I had a big secret. One that could cost me my safety or even my life in this stupid town.
Because I am gay and proud.

"Yes, I am," I say sitting taller.
"I'm gay and I'm proud." I see his eyes swell with tears, just begging to gush out. He pulls me into another hug. "No more secrets okay? I'm done with that." I say.
"I'm gay and proud. I don't care what our parents say to me, Mike."
I heard him sniffle. He choked out a word I could barely understand.

But it sounded an awful lot like
"Me Too."