not my forte || reddie

Seven

The doorbell rang early Monday morning Bill Denbrough stood at the door, a honking coming from behind him. Richie peeked around Bill spotting Stanley Uris sat in shotgun hand pressed on Stellas horn. "Who does that bastard think he is touching my girl?" Richie muttered his eyes narrowing to slits.

Eddie pushed past him walking toward the parked car.
"Once again Rich, leave Stella alone." He warned pulling the car door open for them climbing in the back. Richie followed close behind.
Richie tried not to think about the night. Eddies face pressed in his chest their limbs intertwined. He flushed at the thought but it quickly diminished when he climbed into Bills car the radio turned to classical making Richie want to tear his ears clean off. "God who put this on?" He scrutinized reaching for the dial and getting his hand smacked by Stan. "Lay off, Bill picked this." He quipped.

Richie drew his hand back opting to place it in his lap, rubbing the stinging flesh softly. Richies gaze shifted to stare out the window before quickly being dragged to the boy beside him. Eddie had tentatively rested his head on Richies shoulder yawning, promising in a whisper he was "just resting my eyes for a minute." Richie watched dumbstruck, "Take all the time you need." He whispered into the dead silent car, Eddies eyes cracked open to shoot a look up at him.
Embarrassment flared up in Richie turning his head to look out the window again. 'Stupid.'

The rest of the ride to school was silent, Eddie no longer leaned on Richie. He had his head resting on the car door, no doubt giving himself a cranium milkshake. Actually getting to school was the worst part, everyone split going their separate ways. Eddie onto History, Stan to Psychology, Bill to Civs, and Richie to hide out in the boys room skipping math.

Richies favorite part of the day was lunch when they all came back together.
Richie walked up to the lunch table everyone huddled around Eddie laughing to themselves as they pointed out something in a book. Upon further inspection Richie noticed it was young Eddies yearbook they had propped open pointing out their classmates and jeering at their horrible school photos.

Eddie flipped through the papers getting to the club section searching through the many faces of his classmates. His face fell pulling the book close to him.
"Are you kidding me? Right in the centerfold, that's just fucking great." He groaned throwing the book down anger edging him.

Richie plopped himself down beside Eddie squeezing his shoulder.
"My angel is the centerfold!" He joked quoting the well known and adored rock song. Eddie shot him a look that spoke louder than words but he spoke a couple of those too,
"Fuck off, my one stroke of fame and no one will even see me." He mumbled bumping his head on the table grumbling to himself.

Richie pulled the book close to him looking at the dreaded picture. And there he was, Eddie Wheezy Kaspbrak right smack in the middle grinning ear to ear a trophy in hand. He pushed the book back to the center of the table, Bill pulling it over flipping through its pages. "Who gives a shit. No one cares about FBLA anyway. They're all pretentious." Richie laughed trying to lighten the mood.

Eddies head shot up glaring at Richie. He hopped out of his seat snatching his yearbook from Bills hands and shoving it in his book bag, throwing that over his shoulder. He started off in a rush pillowing through the crowd of teenagers in a haste to get away.

Richie gawked at him.

"Y-you fucked u-up." Bill declared folding his arms over his chest like a disappointed dad having to scold his delinquent son.
Richie felt embarrassment begin to crawl up his neck,
"What? I was trying to make him feel better." He answered honestly though he knew he could have chosen his words better. If only his teeth caught the words before they slipped off his tongue.

It was Bev's turn to lecture Richie.
"By calling him pretentious? Richie, Cmon." She spoke softly shaking her head of fiery red curls.
Richie felt cornered and embarrassed. His friends ashamed by his poor actions.
"I'm sorry! I don't fucking think!" Richie shouted digging his hands in his hair frustrated.