My Girlfriends Brother || Reddie

Chapter Four

The dim glow of the television illuminated the living room as Nightmare on Elm Street played on the screen, the eerie score heightening the tension. Eddie sat practically glued to Richie's side, his knees tucked up to his chest as he held onto Richie's arm like it was a lifeline. Every so often, he flinched at the jump scares, his wide eyes darting nervously between the screen and Richie's calm expression.

"Eds, you okay?" Richie asked, glancing down at the younger boy with an amused smile. His voice was soft, filled with concern but also a hint of teasing.

"Don't call me Eds," Eddie muttered, his grip on Richie's arm tightening as another loud shriek erupted from the TV.

Richie's grin widened. "Why not? Eds has a nice ring to it."

"Because my name is Eddie, not Eds!" Eddie whined, giving Richie a weak shove with his free hand. But the gesture lacked conviction, especially since he immediately burrowed closer into Richie's side, his face half-hidden against Richie's shoulder.

Richie chuckled, turning his attention back to the movie. To him, it was obvious that Eddie had simply chosen the wrong film. Not everyone was cut out for horror, and Eddie's reactions were evidence enough. But in Eddie's mind, this was all part of a carefully calculated plan. Sure, he hated scary movies—he always had—but watching one was the perfect excuse to get close to Richie.

Richie, Lexi's boyfriend.

The thought echoed in Eddie's mind, dampening the fluttery feeling in his chest just a little. He shouldn't be thinking like this—he knew that. But still, he couldn't help noticing the way Richie's glasses caught the faint light from the screen, or the way his unruly curls brushed against his forehead when he shifted. Sure, Richie was hot. Anyone with eyes could see that. But you could think someone was hot without having a crush on them... right?

Eddie sighed, gripping Richie's arm tighter as another scene sent chills down his spine. He felt his heart racing, but he wasn't sure if it was because of the movie or because of how close he was sitting to Richie. Maybe both.

"Why can't I call you Eds?" Richie asked, chuckling softly as he tilted his head toward Eddie.

"Because it's annoying," Eddie shot back, though his tone lacked any real bite. "And don't think I don't know what you're doing. You're trying to make it stick. It's not gonna happen."

Richie smirked, leaning back against the couch and ruffling his already-messy hair dramatically. "You sure about that? I think Eds suits you."

Eddie groaned, shoving Richie's shoulder again, this time with a little more force. "Also, you've got way too much hair. Seriously, it's like a jungle up there."

Richie laughed, shaking his head and letting his curls bounce freely. "It's my best feature. You like it?"

Eddie felt his cheeks flush a deep shade of red, and before Richie could notice, he leaned his head onto Richie's shoulder to hide his face. His heart was practically pounding out of his chest now. "Cut it, or birds are gonna move in," he grumbled, trying to keep his voice steady. Without thinking, he reached down and grabbed Richie's hand, his fingers curling around Richie's larger ones.

Richie raised an eyebrow at the sudden contact, but before he could comment, Eddie blurted out, "You know what they say about big hands—"

Richie snorted, cutting him off. "You mean big feet? And yeah, big feet mean big—"

"Shut up!" Eddie hissed, his voice rising slightly as he smacked Richie's arm, his face now completely crimson. "It's the same thing! You know what I meant!"

"Shhh," Richie whispered, stifling a laugh as he gestured toward the stairs. "Your sister's asleep. Don't wake her up."

"She's a heavy sleeper," Eddie mumbled, looking away, but his words were cut short as they both heard the sound of footsteps approaching.