HEART ACHE <3 REDDIE

chap 7: jane

Richie

"You're funny." A blonde girl twirled her hair around her finger. Her nails were painted a perfect pink color.

I leaned against the counter, adjusting my glasses with a cheesy grin. It had gotten dark out and honestly I had passed the whole day flirting with girls who came in and out. Even eyeing some boys carefully.

"I get off in 5 if you wanna see how funny I really am." I winked. Get Eddie off my mind. That was my mission. I wondered if he was still in bed. No way. Eddie doesn't sleep that late. Maybe he was still at the apartment. Maybe he was doing one of Stan's puzzles with him. He probably looked cute. He was probably struggling to find a piece he dropped on the ground. Or calling his mom so she didn't worry.

"Hello?" The girl waved her hand in front of my face.

"Sorry. I was just thinking of all the different dates I could take you on." I lied, pulling my famous smirk. She giggled again.

"I'd love to hang out with you tonight but I've got homework. What about next week sometime?" she had grabbed my arm and a sharpie from the counter and scribbled her number onto it, writing Jane with a heart under it.

"That's fine with me, sugar."

And with a smile she left. I shooed a few kids out before following behind, locking the door.

"Evening, trashmouth." A voice made me jump. I turned to see Eddie leaning against the building with a smile.

"You scared me, spaghetti. Don't sneak up on me like that." I stuffed the keys into my pocket.

"Yeah yeah. How was your first day?" He asked as we started walking in the direction of Bev's apartment. Saturday nights were always spent at Bev's. Drinking, watching movies, board games, all the fun stuff. We were both going to be late but I didn't mind.

The bunker used to be our spot but as we got older and I got too tall to fit down there, we abandoned it so we could raid Bev's instead.

"Great. You'd never believe how many chicks go in there. I never noticed them growing up. Maybe you should go there and find yourself a girl." I playfully poked his side, which made him uncomfortably squirm.

"What's that?" He asked, grabbing my arm as he read the number Jane had written on it.

"A hot little blonde gave me it. I think I might call her tomorrow." I pushed my glasses up my nose, nervous by him touching me. He looked at me for a second, as if he was going to say something but he just dropped his arm back down to his side.

He stared at his feet as if he had made a conclusion about something. Like he had just solved the worlds biggest problem.

"What are you thinking of, Eds?" I wrapped my arm around his shoulders.

"Rich, can I ask you something?"

"Anything, spaghetti."

"That summer. When everything happened," he looked up at me and I felt my heart stop.

God don't ask about it, Eddie. Please.

"Those rumors. Richie, what happened at the arcade?"

I swallowed sharply and forced a smile, shaking my head.

"I don't know what you mean, Eds." I tried to play it off. I knew what he meant. I didn't want to think about it. I wanted to forget that entire summer. I felt liked I was going to vomit.

"Okay, Rich." He said softly. He knew I knew what he was talking about, and he sounded like he knew I wasn't ready to talk about it or even accept it.

I just stared down at him for a few seconds before taking my arm off his shoulder and stuffing my hand into my pocket. We walked in silence the rest of the way.