The Aftermath (Reddie)

7

Eddie's POV

I couldn't focus the rest of the class period. Fifty minutes of my leg bouncing and my pencil tapping. I just kept looking over to the spot Richie was sitting in before he started panicking.

Was is because of the seniors bullying him? Cause he seemed perfectly fine sucking face with Laura Johnson during lunch.

Was it because of me? He was fine until he sat next to me, I probably reminded him how cowardly and fragile I was. I probably disgusted him. I disgusted myself.

Seeing Richie freak out like that scared the shit out of me. I wanted to hug him like my mom would do whenever I started to freak out. I wanted to just hold him until it got better.

But I knew he didn't want to be around me.

"Mr. Kaspbrak," I was snapped out of my thoughts, "can you go grab the yellow literature books from storage room 143?"

For real? I have the muscle mass equal to a chicken.

"All of them?" I questioned, there was no way he could be serious.

"Well I figured it would wake you up from whatever daydream you were slipping into, so yes. All of them."

I silently cursed, "Ok," I muttered and walked out of the room.

This was literally going to take the rest of the class period. I had to carry twenty six fat dusty textbooks from a storage room on the other side of the school.

When I passed the nurses office I stopped and looked in.

Was Richie still panicking? I had hoped not.

He was sitting on a wooden chair in the corner. His head was down resting on the palm of his hand. He was sadly tapping his foot.

I again felt the urge to go and hug him. To hold him until he wasn't sad or scared or whatever, like he had done for me this summer.

The nurse was not in sight.

So I quietly walked into the room and sat down next to Richie. He was facing away from me and seemed to be completely trapped in his head, so he didn't notice me.

It was weird to be sitting this close to him again. When I looked at him all I could see was pain, trauma.

When I put my hand on his shoulder he flinched and turned to me. His eyes were wide.

"E-eddie?" he asked.

I was trying to smile in a reassuring manner, "Hey Rich."

"What are you doing here?" He seemed to panic more.

It was probably my fault again. I took my hand off his shoulder and placed it awkwardly in my lap. He sighed.

"I was just seeing if you were okay," I was quiet.

I was looking at my lap now, embarrassed, but I could feel his gaze on me.

"Thanks," he was speaking softly too, "the summer just kinda fucked me up, ya know?"

I nodded looking at him again. His face wasn't as pinched as before.

"I've hardly been able to sleep all of summer," it was true. Every time I closed my eyes I saw IT.

"That's because your mom's loud when I bang her."

I rolled my eyes.

Richie was okay. He was a dumbass per usual. He was back to the annoying Richie we all knew and loved.

"Well if your good I'm gonna leave," I stood, "Mr. Johnson ordered me to carry the yellow books for the class."

"What?" Richie questioned, "you're tiny though," that didn't hurt at all, "let me help you."

He stood too and went to leave.

"Thanks Rich," I flashed him an appreciative smile.

He looked like he was going to pat my shoulder but then stopped and dropped his hand.

"Don't touch the other boys, Richie," I barely made out the phrase Richie whispered.

"What?" I questioned.

Richie turned red and started to leave, "nothing eddie, it's nothing."

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Dramaaaa

I'm trying to make it interesting still.

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