Six Feet Under : Reddie

Part 6

Richie watched the group as they splashed in the water, all of them seeming to be having the time of their lives.

He sat back with Victor and watched wordlessly, doing his best to look okay, to look happy.

When deep down, in cold reality, he was neither. In all honesty, his heart lay in the soles of his shoes, being stepped on and crushed by every cruel thought.

His heart was breaking, more than it was. More than he would've expected.  By one simple sentence, everything that kept Richie on his feet, was destroyed.

Eddie.

He not only didn't return Richie's feelings, but he hated who he was. There was no way even their friendship would be quite the same because of this.

He's finally done it, Richie seemed to have finally lost Eddie Kaspbrak. And the thought plagued his once cheerful mind with an ominous cloud.

Richie sighed softly, taking another swig of vodka, unidentified in the average Derry Pure water bottle.

But the way Richie screwed his eyes shit didn't go unnoticed by the small teen across the way.

Eddie watched as Richie took drink after drink of the water.

He watched as Richie's eyes sloped, like Eddie's had once done when he taken bad placebos.

Something wasn't right, Eddie could practically feel it. Taking a breath he walked over to where Richie and Victor sat.

"Rich?" He asked, hesitance flowing through his already small voice.

"What Eddie?" He asked, his voice cold and slurred, giving Eddie all the information he needed.

With a quick step he grabbed the plastic bottle from the tall teens slender fingered grasp.

"Hey!" Richie exclaimed, his eyes comically wide with shock of the slightly younger male.

"Richie is this alcohole?" Eddie asked, her eyes boring into his.

"How is it your business if it is?" Victor asked, his eyes cold and angered.

"I'm my business because I care!" He snapped.

"Don't." Richie spoke, "Leave it alone Eddie. It's not like it matters."

"Of cour--" He began, only to be cut off by Beverly.

"Richie... Just, come on, let's go get some coffee. Okay?" She said, her voice gentle as though dealing with a small child.

For a moment Richie thought about fighting it, but eventually thought better of it under the red heads firm yet caring eye.

He nodded, Victor helping him stand as they followed close behind.

Richie's leaned on Victor, who was gently running his fingers through Richie's dark curles.

Beverly ordered the drunken teen a pure black coffee, handing it to him with a sigh.

As he began to drink, he felt his mind begin to sober. In more ways than just literal. He realized, even if Eddie didn't love him too, he couldn't keep doing this with Victor. It wasn't fair to either of them.

"Bev can you drop me at home? Thanks." He said, giving her a smile.

She nodded, "Anytime Trashmouth."

"Hey, can we talk?" Richie asked as Beverly drove away.

"Yeah what's up, Rich?" He asked, turning to the other.

"We can't keep doing this." He said softly, his eyes serious, but empathetic.

"What do you mean?" Victor looked ahead, his eyes not meeting the other's.

"You know what I mean. It's not fair to us. It's not. I can't, I'm sorry." Richie said sincerely.

"You gotta be fucking kidding me." He snarled.

Richie said nothing, his eyes hardening slightly as he maintained a serious expression.

"You're gonna fucking regret this Tozier." He said darkly, his eyes glinting with such a familiar gleam Richie could've swore he was looking right at Henry Bowers himself.

Richie stared after Victor's seething retreating form. Sighing, he walked into he house, only to come face to face with Wentworth and Maggie Tozier, in the middle of what looked to be another bad fight.

The screamed furious slurs at each other, beginning to throw objects such as glass plates and cups. Little splinters flying everywhere.

Richie was about to ignore it as usual until he saw his father lunge at his mother, violently grabbing her by the hair and slamming her on the glass coated floor.

Wentworth bent over his wife, gripping by the back of the neck and pushing her down harder, his fist harsh against her.

"Mom!" Richie yelped, rushing forward, though his mind tried to tell him to think better of it. But it was too late, his heart had taken over, the same heart that remembered his mother as she once was, gentle and sweet. Singing lullabies as his father told him tales of dragons and knights.

"Dad stop!" He yelled, grabbing onto his father's arm mid swing. Wentworth's arm swung back violent and deft, sending Richie into the wall, his head smacking the counter top, his eyes blurred as he slumped down everything slowly going dark.

∆°∆°∆

Bill and Stan's relationship was going really, really well. They both happy with each other, never second guessing the decisions they made with together.

They had come out to their parents, really, Stan's father wasn't pleased, but for the most part he didn't seem to care as long as it didn't directly affect him.

But as for Bill's? Well, as they told them they hadn't even moved, not a glance or a twitch. One may of even assumed they were dead.

But, that's what they considered a good reaction, especially for a place like Derry, Maine.

Acceptance was a rare delicacy without a doubt.

Adrian Mellon and his boyfriend Don had been given hell for their choices, so much so they left the town of Derry entirely.

That was part of what made Bill and Stan so hesitate in the first place. But, without Henry or his goons, there wasn't too much of a threat for their age. And it made them feel free.

Free yet in each other's arms. Love held them together like the strongest glue. Love kept them grounded, yet souring through the clouds. Love allowed there troubles to melt in the presence of each other, love gave them life. Love was the key.