Wrong

•15•

⚠ Talk about abuse and eating disorders ⚠

*Richie's POV*

I popped in some Bagel Bites into the microwave and sat down next to Eddie on the couch. Stan sat opposite us on a chair.

"So, what exactly happened?" Stan asked. Eddie visibly tensed up, but answered.

"He heard me talking to you," he looked at me. "On the phone. About how Stan knew."

"Shit..." the boy across from us muttered.

"So you can guess that he didn't like that very much." Eddie laughed, but it was filled with pain, not humor.

"Dan locked me in the closet. One cup of water a day. No food. 7 days." Eddie shuddered, obvious remembering the isolation. "He did give me food actually, even though he said he wasn't going to. A piece of chicken, crackers and strawberries. I didn't finish it though. I didn't know when I was getting out, so I tried to save it."

"Holy fuck Eds...I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch." I said and held his hand tighter. His eyes popped open in fear

"He's gonna kill me. I told you guys, and you got me out of the closet... When I go back, he's gonna fucking kill me."

"You are NOT going back there!" Stan yelled.

"We're not letting you anywhere near that shithole Eddie." I nodded along.

"Guys I have to go bac-"

Eddie was cut off by the microwave. He flinched and curled into himself as the loud beeping filled my apartment.

"It's just the Bagel Bites Eds." I smiled and rubbed his back. He gave me a soft smile and uncurled himself.

I stood up and walked back into the kitchen, resting my hands on the counter and sighing. Stan walked up behind me.

"What the hell are we gonna do?" I asked quietly, not bothering to turn to face him.

"I don't know...but did you see how small he is? That can't be healthy."

"That's why we got the best thing in the world- Bagel Bites!" I grabbed the plate and handed it to Stan.

"Ugh, these are NOT the best things in the world." Stan said and stuck out his tongue. I looked him dead in the eyes.

"Get out."

He laughed and brought the food out to Eddie. When we got back to the living room, he was fast asleep.

"He's so cute when he's sleeping." I muttered.

"Richie...that's kinda gay."

"That's the point, dumbass," I giggled. "We should let him sleep, he's probably really exhausted."

"Yeah. But as soon as he wakes up, we have to convince him to tell the Losers."

•°•

*Eddie's POV*

I woke up feeling like absolute shit with Richie watching TV next to me.

"Morning Spaghetti Head!"

"Morning... wait, morning?! I slept all day?"

"Yeah," he laughed and stood up. "You want breakfast?"

"No." I lied. I didn't deserve to eat, I had betrayed Dan. My stomach grumbled and Richie looked at me suspiciously.

"2 waffles, coming right up!" he said and put Eggos into the toaster. I sighed.

"So Eds, what do you wanna do today? Friends marathon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer marathon or South Park marathon?"

"Hmmm...Buffy!" I love that fiesty gal.

"Ok Eds. How are you feeling?"

"Not good...do you have any pain meds?"

Richie nodded and went into another room. I just sat there, listening to the hum of the toaster. I really didn't want to eat, but I knew Richie would want me to.

He came back a couple minutes later a bright red pill and a glass of water. After grabbing the Eggos, he came over and handed me everything.

"Tylenol. It should help." I smiled softly and thanked him, swallowing the pill easily from practice.

I really hate taking pills nowadays. It just reminds me of my mom and eveything that happened in Derry.

Richie walked over to the tv and popped in the taping of Buffy. He grabbed a bag of chips for breakfast and started munching away as the show started.

"Into every generation a slayer is born: one girl in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer!" Richie and I chanted along to the intro.

I started cracking up and Richie chuckled, looking at me with an expression in his eyes. I didn't know what it was. Nobody's ever looked at me like that.

I felt myself blushing and I looked away.

"You know, I'm gonna call it now." Richie said suddenly. "I know the show's only gone on for a couple months, but I think Willow's gay."

"I was thinking the same thing! She just kinda gives off that vibe."

"Exactly! You get me Eds."

I don't know why THAT made me blush, but it did. My cheeks heated up and I looked down at my uneaten Eggos.

"Aren't you gonna eat, Eddie?"

No, YOU'RE gonna eat Eddie.

I started cracking up at my own joke. Richie stared at me like I was insane, which made me laugh more.

"Holy shit," I laughed, wiping my tears. "My mom was right. You are a bad influence on me."

A moment passed before a look of recognition fell on Richie's face.

"Dear fuck Eddie! You're so dirty!"

"I'm not! Your mom, on the other hand, is."

"We need to stop hanging out...but seriously, you should eat."

The giddy feeling from a couple seconds ago was gone.

"I'm not hungry Richie." I whispered.

"Eds...you have to eat. You haven't had a proper meal in over a week! C'mon, just one? I'll have the other." He grabbed one of the waffles off my plate. "We'll eat it together, ok? That'll make it easier."

"O-ok. Thank you Richie." I picked up the remaining Eggo and started nibbling it.

"No problemo Eddie Spaghetti." Richie smiled and took a bite of the Eggo.

The theme song ended and we turned our attention back to show.