HEART ACHE <3 REDDIE

chap 15: four eyed lover.

Eddie

I avoided Richie and Stan that week. When Bev asked why I had just shrugged it off, but in honesty I was still processing what Richie had told me. What Stan had told Richie.

But then Saturday came along and I couldn't avoid Richie. It was hang out night at Bev's.

I'll talk to him. I will.

I got there last, I could hear everyone laughing from outside of the door, Richie's slurred and drunken yelling. I couldn't help but smile. Awkward or not, mad or not, Richie was still the Richie I had a crush on.

I threw the door open with a wide smile, which instantly faded when I saw Richie's arm wrapped around a pretty blonde girls waist.

"Eddie! This is Jane!" Mike jumped up with a smile, introducing her for me. I forced a smile and swallowed back my the tears. I sat next to Bev and Mike. Richie hadn't even looked in my direction.

Look at me. Look at me bastard.

But he kept laughing with Jane. I caught Stan staring at me out of the corner of my eye. I didn't know if I was mad at him. Maybe I was but not mad enough to confront him yet. I had to let the anger build up and watching Richie and Jane was sure doing the trick.

"You okay?" Bev whispered in my ear. She clearly saw me staring at Richie. Nobody else had noticed. Mike and Bill were in a heated argument over yatzee. Ben was laughing at them, Stan was staring into his lap, sipping his wine, and Richie was too busy laughing with that... that... whore.

I felt tears swell up in my eyes at the question. Bev jumped up and grabbed my hand.

"W-where are you guys going?" Bill asked. Now Richie was staring at me. Not just at me. In my teary eyes. He looked concerned but I just dead panned my expression at him.

"Eddie's gonna go through my shoes and help me pick nice ones for prom." Bev lied quickly.

"I t-thought you said you w-weren't going to prom." Bill replied.

"And Stan has the clothing taste," Mike added. My eyes wandered to Stan and his eyes met mine. I wanted to lunge at him.

"Eddie will pick better ones than I could. Just let them go." Stan answered, not once breaking eye contact with me.

Bev pulled me to her room and shut the door quickly. The second I heard the click I started bawling. I was so damn tired of crying in this room.

"Why would he bring her here? Bev you said he liked me too. You implied it. And he brought her. I hate her. I hate him!" I sniffled. Bev sighed and grabbed my face gently.

"Eddie. Look at me," And I did, "You have to let Richie figure this out on his own. He's scared, he's in denial. Just like you're scared. You have to understand that he just wants to figure things out. We all do. Being an adult is scary shit. Cut him slack, okay?"

"Cut him slack?! That's all I've done my whole damn life. I don't give a fuck if he's scared. He's not the only one becoming a fucking adult. He doesn't get to... to tell me he's gay and then bring a girl around! He's so stupid!" I broke away from her and started pacing.

"Eddie.." She started to say but stopped when the door opened and Richie stumbled in with Jane, laughing.

"Oh this room is occupied." Jane giggled as she clung to Richie. I was going to throw up. Right there. I felt Bev's hand on my shoulder but I yanked away, tears now blurring my vision.

"Oh my god." My voice shook and I ran out, past pur friends on the sofa, who called after me as I grabbed my shoes and took off outside, not caring about being barefoot or leaving my jacket behind.

Hot tears started to stain my face. The roads were empty and abandoned. I felt like collapsing there in the road and letting someone run me over.

I felt entirely empty.