not my forte || reddie

Eleven (EL WHERE ARE YOU)

Another day, another apology.
That could be the name for Richie Tozier's autobiography. Because that's all he seemed to be doing nowadays.
Fucking up, making things right again.
Richies grateful he had such an understanding friend group.
He was fucking grateful every day they put up with his bullshit.

The walk back to Eddies house was the most nerve wracking.
Richies palms sweat no matter how many times he wiped them down his pants they continued to be a little bit clammy.
He practiced another apology, reciting it over and over in his head. Richie learned from last time not to ask Stanley for help. Stan was a good listener but his apologies were way too formal for Richies taste.
"Eddie, baby, I'm sorry." Richie mumbled in a half assed Elvis impression. He scoffed kicking a piece of rubbish his heart hammering in his chest.
"Eddie! It's not what it looked like! Now let's kiss and make up. Pretty please? With a cherry on top?" Richie and Bill had done a lot of talking after his confession. Mostly questions on Bill's part, 'So you are gay?'
To be completely honest Richie didn't know what he was going to label himself as. Just that he definitely had the hots for Eddie Kaspbrak.
He was thankful Bill was supportive of him. Bill egged him on to talk to Eddie, he helped build up his confidence.

Richie thought of Bill's encouraging words when he looked up at the house, his heart lurched painfully in his chest.

Richie sighed and turned down the driveway his teeth gnawing nervously on the inside of his cheek. His feet moved but he felt stiff. Richie raised his arm and knocked on the front door his mouth going dry from the nerves.
The front door creaked open Richie went stiff as a board, Eddies face poking out a startled gasp escaping him.
"Hm.. Uh- H-hey Richie.." Eddie mumbled airily his eyes trained to the ground not daring look up at him.
Richie wrung his hands in his t-shirt a pain slowly spreading through his chest.

"We should.. talk." He took a step back as Eddie met him on the porch closing the door slowly behind him as to not make a noise.
Eddie met Richies hurt eyes, glaring at him furiously. "How could you?" He spat crossing his bare arms over his chest. Eddie was shuddering in his t-shirt the air turning his skin pink. "How could you do that to Ben?" Eddie groaned and rested a hand on his head like Richie had given him a headache.

Richie shoved his hands in his pockets shifting his weight uncomfortably, waiting for Eddie to finish his rant.
"He's a good kid! And you-you God, Richie.." Eddie cried shaking his head. He threw his hand down and gripped his stomach instead.
"I'm sick just looking at you, I'm throwing up! You made me physically sick." He exclaimed as he lurched forward.

Richie jumped into action catching Eddie before he could tumble over or puke everywhere. The guilt was really getting to him. "Ed's I'm sorry, I didn't know I'm so sorry." He forced out as Eddie bat Richies hands away straightening himself out best he could.
"Please listen, what you saw wasn't what you thought it was." Richie explained drawing his hands away.

Eddie scoffed.
"What fucking else could it be Rich?" He demanded his eyes searching him waiting for a damn good answer. Eddie had his mind made up about Richie before he even had a chance to explain himself.

Richie decided to elaborate anyway.
"She was showing me a trick, we were smoking and she passed the smoke into my mouth." He explained then quickly added.
"Bev and I have always been like that, super close." Richie thought back to their childhood the amount of times they had full on kissed before when all they wanted was to feel something.
"Personal space doesn't exist with us." He finally stated, rocking back and forth waiting to see if Eddie would change his mind about him.

Eddie just shook his head and jabbed a finger in his chest.
"Maybe it fucking should. She has a boyfriend, keep a respectable spacing asshole." He choked out glaring at Richie that fire still burning deep in his auburn eyes.