Six Feet Under : Reddie

Part 2

The bell rang mercilessly at the end of fifth period, signaling it was finally time for lunch.

Eddie let out a small huff as he grabbed the paper bag from his locker. There was absolutely no way he was trusting whatever new kind of plastic the school had prepared.

By this time, Eddie had seen, and spoke to most of his friends, well, excluding Richie, who still hadn't acknowledged his existence. They had first, third, and fifth period together so far. But, alas, nothing.

Eddie made his way to their usual lunch table, the same one they've had since middle school.

"Hey E-Eddie." Bill nodded, with a wave.

"Hi Bill." Eddie replied, sitting down on the rather uncomfortable bench.

"H-how is your m-m-morning?" He asked, biting into his sandwich.

"It's the same shit every year." Beverly responded for him, sliding in with Ben.

"Yeah." Eddie agreed, resting his head on his hand.

"Damn. I don't think I'm ever going to get used to this." Mike said lightly, shaking his head.

This was only Mike's second year attending school, and it was a large and unexpected change for him. He liked it, but it was different. Too a lot of adapting.

"I've been here all my life and I'm still not used to it." Stan said, rolling his eyes as he came up to the table.

"Ah come on Stan the Man, it can't be all bad. I mean, I'm here." Richie chimed from behind him, sporting a large grin as he pushed his glasses up his nose.

"No, really, you just make it worse." The Jewish boy hissed, sitting down beside Bill.

"Billiam!" Richie greeted, jumping in his seat beside Eddie.

"H-how was y-your s-summer, Rich?" Bill asked.

"Yeah, we didn't see you much in the end." Mike added before popping what Eddie thought was a school chicken nugget into his mouth.

Richie just shrugged, taking a rather large bite of his pizza, "Yeah, I was here and there, mostly at the arcade. Had to get last minute training in amirite?" He said with a chuckle.

Eddie couldn't help but notice the frown that settled on Beverly's lips at Richie's statement.

"Rich... Can I have a cigarette?" She asked, standing from the table.

"But Bev... I'm eating." He whined, slouching far into the bench.

"Richard. Now." Beverly snarled, her eyes speaking the words she didn't.

"Okay." He mumbled, giving up all joking demeanor quicker than Eddie thought possible for someone like him.

Richie slid from the bench to follow the red headed girl.

Eddie looked over at tot he rest of the table, surprised to see they looked just as confused as he.

"What w-w-was that?" Bill was the first to ask, but of course, no answers could be supplied.

On the other side of things, Beverly yanked Richie along with her until they found a place she would call private. Just a closet.

"Richie." She said, her eyebrows raised expectedly.

"Yes?" He asked, seemingly just as curious as her.

Closing her eyes, she sighed, looking up into Richie's eyes, pleading for him to be truthful with her as he once had.
To console in her like she knew he needed.

He sighed shakily, letting his arms fall in defeat.

Beverly was quick to wrap him in her warm embrace, holding him close to her. Richie was like the brother, the friend she had been deprived of. Sure, Ben was a great boyfriend, and Bill was awesome. But Richie was different for her.

In her mind she needed to be there for him, to protect him after she learned the truth. Well, one part of it.

No, she had no idea of Richie's sexuality, however she did know of his home life.

It wasn't too long before Richie's body collapsed in a sob, his shoulders shaking.

"It's just getting worse Bev... They don't stop. They never stop." He cried, clinging to her as she allowed a few stray tears to slip from her own eyes.

"I'm sorry Richie... I'm so sorry." She whispered, pressing a kiss to his hair.

The pair eventually calmed, sitting against the wall, sharing a cigarette.

It felt like a strange form of home, in a way, for the pair.

∆°∆°∆

It seemed like forever until Eddie and the group saw the pair, their eyes bloodshot, smelling strongly of nicotine.

Richie's eyes remained slightly downcast momentarily before a wide smile spread across his features, sending Eddie's heart a flutter for reasons unknown.

"So what's the plan for after school?" He said, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"The quarry?" Eddie suggested, chewing on a blueberry.

"Eager to see me shirtless are ya Eds?" He asked, smirking down at the other.

"Don't call me that." Eddie spat, his face flushing a deep shade of crimson at the accusation. But, nevertheless, he did not deny the fact, the image that came to mind set his face on fire, reddening more than it already was.

Richie smirked smugly, taking another bite of the now cold pizza.

After awhile the group was waiting around the lockers for Mike and Ben.

Eddie was watching the clock when he saw Victor Bowers. He couldn't help but think he was like his cousin. Perhaps coming over to torment the group.

But, no, a smirk lay on his lips as he passed the group, his hand brushing along Richie's hip. Eddie noticed Richie held his own smirk, his eyebrow quirked upward.

Richie tore his gaze as Victor left, lighting a smoke.

"What the hell was that?" Eddie growled lowly, his eyes boring into Richie's.

"Wh-what was what?" Bill asked, his head tilted in confusion.

What? Had they not seen it?

Eddie's mouth fell open, staring at all of them in shock. It was so obvious!

"What's wrong Eddie Spaghetti?" Richie asked, tilting his head innocently.

"Nothing." He said through gritted teeth.

He didn't understand why it infuriated Eddie in such a fashion, but it did. Without a doubt it did.

That's when he put the pieces together, the "sickness", his thoughts, this anger. His jealousy.

Eddie liked Richie. And damn, he liked him a lot.