Painless || Reddie

5

Bit of a shorter chapter but enjoy!

"Sorry for yelling at you." Eddie said as Richie finished cleaning his wound. At first Eddie wouldn't let Richie see it but eventually calmed down and let him lift up his shirt. Bowers had carved FAG onto the side of his stomach. The blood made Eddie lightheaded.

"I mean, I'd be pretty pissed too if someone started carving into me like a tree." He tried to joke. Eddie didn't laugh. He just watched, and directed Richie's hands. "Your shirt's drenched, take it off I'll see if I have a spare hoodie or something laying around, yeah?" He instructed Eddie, smiling at him softly.

Eddie smiled back and nodded. They stayed quiet for a little bit while Richie went to search for a hoodie. When Richie returned, black hoodie in hand, Eddie smiled up at him and removed his bloody shirt and put on Richie's hoodie. "Um, thanks... for everything. And, I'm really sorry about last night. Like really sorry, I'm so embarrassed I can't believe everything that I did-"

"Did you clean my room?" Richie interrupted the boy.

"Oh, yeah, sorry. It was just such a mess I couldn't help myself. I'm sorry I kissed you and forced you to take me to your house and sleep in your bed and that I cleaned you room and-"

"Eds it's fine! What can I say I'm a helpful guy I love to help out." Richie sort of lied. "Just a question. It's like 7pm and you had school today right? Why were you leaving so late?"

Eddie looked away from Richie, slightly embarrassed. "Well some days I stay back to tutor some of the younger kids and the days I don't I usually study in the library for a few hours, it's the quietest after school... And also gives me enough time for Bowers and his friends to leave. Guess they waited for me this time." He looked down at his jumper clad stomach and cringed.

Richie felt really sorry for the poor kid. He was super uptight and a little bit annoying but for some reason Richie was hell bent on helping him out. He looked so vulnerable, his eyes were sad and eyebrows crossed as if he were holding back tears. "Your school's what, a five minute walk from here? If you can make it to the shop I can give you a lift home after school? I usually don't finish up in here until about 6 but you can study in the back room if you want?"

Eddie looked up at him in confusion, "Why?" He asked simply. Richie bit his lip, he didn't know why he just knew he wanted to help. He also doesn't really think things through before he speaks.

"Those guys aren't school bullies they're psychopaths. If you died I feel like I'd be responsible for your murder and I can't live with that survivors guilt bullshit." Richie joked and to his surprise, Eddie giggled. The sound immediately made Richie's insides heat up similarly to how he had felt earlier that morning with Stan.

They sat there in a comfortable silence once again, just staring at each other. From an outsiders perspective they probably looked crazy but not to them. Richie didn't know for a fact it wasn't him who began to lean in first but he did know that they were both moving closer towards each other as if an unknown force were pulling them together. Soon Richie was standing right in front of Eddie and bent down so their faces were almost touching. Eddie took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. Richie inched closer and closer and rested his hands softly on Eddie's lap.

Before the gap between them was closed, Eddie's phone began to ring. The sound sent Richie flying backwards and snapped him out of whatever trance he was just in. He was somewhat disappointed about the interruption but also extremely grateful, 'that could have been bad.' He thought to himself.

Eddie reached for his phone out of his jean pocket and answered it, obviously very annoyed. "Hi mommy."

Richie knew he should be quiet while Eddie was on the phone. He knew. But he could not stop the outburst of laughter from Eddie being the biggest loser on planet earth. He was hunched over with tears in his eyes by the time Eddie hung up the phone. "You, you still call your mom..." He tried to finish his sentence but he simply couldn't.

"Okay, asshole" Eddie huffed in annoyance, crossing his arms defensively.

"Do you call your old man daddy also?" Richie asked, he had to know.

"No, I never met my dad."

"You don't know your daddy?" Richie asked, with a softer more sympathetic tone. Eddie pursed his lips and nodded slowly, "So the positions available?"

"Shut the fuck up." Eddie shoved Richie and stood up from where he was sitting. He cringed at the sting but tried not to let it show to Richie how much pain he was actually in. "Could you, uh, please drive me home?" He asked awkwardly.

"Sure, Eds." Richie said easily, getting up himself and grabbing Eddie's backpack for him before walking out of the shop.

"Don't call me that..." Eddie grumbled as he followed close behind.