The Aftermath (Reddie)

5

Richie's POV

Laura Johnson was all sorts of wrong. She hardly talked and when she did her voice was too high.

Her lips were too soft and they tasted like artificial strawberries. And she had too much hair. It was straight but hung halfway down her back, and I did not want to put my hands in it because I feared they would get stuck.

She was sitting too close to me, I was almost gagging on her perfume. It was too sweet.

"Richie," she said softly in my ear. My face turned red, I was embarrassed.

"What's up?" I asked as casually as I could, inside I was cringing.

"Do you want to go to the movies after school with me?" She seemed nervous, but she was smiling brightly to show her pretty teeth.

I was supposed to say yes, so I did. And we sat next to each other for the rest of lunch holding hands. She had grabbed it after I agreed.

The bell finally rung, I leapt from my seat and went to throw my lunch away.

"Rich," Stan had followed me, "are you okay?"

My back was still facing him as I threw my trash away, "'course, why wouldn't I be?" my tone was playful, my face was strained. But he couldn't see that.

Finally I was facing Stan, he was scratching the back of his head awkwardly, "it's just, Laura was all over you,"

I made a face like I agreed it was gross.

"any guy would kill to have a girl that pretty sitting next to them, but you didn't even seem interested."

Shit.

I tried to play of my emotions and just laugh, "dude, she's just desperate. Sure she's pretty, but I'm just warming up you know?"

I was a douche. Stan was going to think I was a douche.

The taken aback look on his face proved it, then it morphed into his usual look of disappointment, "whatever dude," he let it go, "what class do you have next?"

We had gotten back to the table and Laura was gone, but she left a note saying when we would be goin on our 'date.'

I took out my timetable, "umm, fifth period is literature for me, you?"

Stan had his schedule memorized, "I have math," he was bummed, I was too. It was starting to feel normal again, I didn't feel so panicked looking at the kid who nearly died with me this summer.

Hell, I hardly even noticed the scars on the sides of his face.

But just because me and him were cool, didn't mean that I was ready to face any of our other friends. Stan was easy to be friends with, we had been close since forever. Some of the other losers I had just truly met.

"See ya later Rich," Stan called as he left the lunch room, I waved sadly.

Time to rush to class before I get stopped by some dipshit seniors again, or I see one of my friends...

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Five whole chapters, as promised.

I'm writing this last one in between dance classes as a caribou coffee as I eat a sub. I'm already obsessed with this book though not gonna lie.

I don't care if you guys don't like it (well maybe a little) because I like it. I like writing it.