not my forte || reddie

Five

Richie pushed the Lima beans around his plate with his flimsy plastic fork. Bill invited him to sit with him and the others at their lunch table. Unfortunately eating was out of the question for today. Richies mind was bustling with intruding thought after thought. He swept the lunch table with his eyes noticing the source of his provoking thoughts staring at him. Richie adverted his gaze immediately, continuing to shove his food around. He couldn't stop thinking about the sleepover at Bills house. Richie swallowed thickly feeling his hands begin to sweat, why had Eddie tried to kiss him. Was it out of pity? Richie pushed his plate to the middle of the table and got up.

He felt his face flush red as the conversations died on his table mates lips. Their eyes landing on Richie who so abruptly stood up. Richie planned to make a quick escape, instead he created a scene. He uttered an apology before making his exit.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.

A hand encases his wrist. Richie didn't have to look to know who it was.
"Where are you going Rich?" The familiar nasally voice of his thought provoker edged on.

Richie trudged forward dragging along 'ol Eddie with him. "Away." He mumbled trying to shake Eddies grip off him. "I need to be alone Ed." Richie looked down, his first mistake. Eddie stared up at him, the usual gleam in his big hazel eyes was downcast with emotion. He had his bottom lip caught between his teeth, gnawing on the flesh nervously. Richie was grief stricken. It wasn't his intention to put the poor boy in misery. He cursed himself internally and drew his attention elsewhere, anywhere but Eddies worried face.

"What's wrong with you?" Eddie demanded, yet his voice lacked any force coming out almost like a whisper.
Even now Eddie was trying to weasel his way into Richies heart, after he'd so forcefully been shoved out.
"You don't know me Eddie, stop trying to act like you do." Richie walked into the boys bathroom, hopefully a place Eddie would leave him to mope in peace.

He was sorely mistaken.
"I know a lot more about you then you're letting on." Eddie continued, walking into the stall with Richie arms folded over his chest creating a barrier between them. He leaned back against the stall door as to prevent Richie from escaping his confrontation.
Richie scoffed at his boldness
"Because I don't talk to anyone." He nearly shouted, pacing the stall like a cornered animal.

Eddie watched him, his face distraught.
"You talk to everyone, Rich. You just never knew anyone who gave a shit to listen."
Richie registered the words. He didn't realize how much Eddie payed attention to him until he had him tell it to him straight.
"Richie Tozier speechless? I must be a miracle worker." Eddie teased, trying to force out a laugh his voice holding anything but humor. Richie snorted, followed closely by his cackling laugh ringing off the empty bathroom walls. "That's what your mom said about me last night." Richie shot back with a hesitant smile, nudging his glasses back up the bridge of his nose.

"There he is." Eddie whispered cracking the stall door open for both of them.
Richie dragged a hand over his face eyes rolling back in his head.
"You really locked me in a bathroom so we could talk about my feelings." He mumbled walking out into the bathroom looking over at Eddie who had a goofy grin on his face.
"You're psychotic." Richie caught sight of himself in the mirror, he looked worn out. He had heavyset bags under his eyes, his hair needed a wash. Richie frowned at the display. Eddies reflection approached him, peeking out from his side. 

"It worked though, didn't it?" He replied looking at Richie in the mirror a hopeful gleam in his eyes.

Richie nodded with a tight lipped smile.
There was so much more on his mind. So much he couldn't tell Eddie, even if his soul begged for him to. So much he wasn't ready to admit to himself. Richie abandoned the bathroom breaking out into the usually bustling hallway. Their school day was slowly coming to an end. Richie thought about returning to his empty house. He hated being alone. The silence was too much.