The Aftermath (Reddie)

12

Richie's POV

I ran so fast out of the lunchroom and ironically into a closet. I was safe, alone. I could hear the laughs surround me as I ran out of the room, and the noise seemed to play on a repeated track in my head.

I was so fucked.

"Richie?"

I basically leapt out of my skin, "fuck!" I cursed as I hit my head on the brick wall.

The closet was dark, but I make out the person's face by the glow of her cigarette.

"Beverly?" I was shocked to see her. It had been so long.

The memories of the summer threatened to crash into my head but I pushed them away.

"Why are you crying?" she asked, her brows were furrowed.

I quickly wiped the tears off of my cheeks that I hadn't realized had slipped out. I just shrugged at her.

She sighed and dug into her back pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes, "here," she handed me one, "since you're in distress."

I nodded appreciatively and lit my cigarette off of her lighter.

"So what's up?" she asked.

I puffed out some smoke, feeling the drug calm my brain already, and sighed. "You first."

She gave me a confused look.

"Why are you hiding in a janitors closet smoking?" I asked.

She shrugged, "I'm hiding."

"From who?" I asked.

"From everyone I guess, you losers mostly though. I thought that seeing you guys would just make everything worse."

I puffed out more smoke, "that's what I thought too."

Beverly nodded, "but it didn't. I mean seeing you here now doesn't stress me out," she looked calm even to prove it, "your turn," she waved her cigarette at me.

I sucked a breath in. It was Beverly. I could tell Beverly. We weren't super close before, just casual friends with a mutual agreement for smoking.

"So?" she pressed.

"I'm gay," I admitted and looked up nervously into Beverly's eyes. It felt better to tell her than I expected.

But she still held the same calm and cool composure, "no shit, and let me guess: you're in love in Eddie?"

"How did you-"

"Richie, really?" paused to take a drag, I was just standing there ogling, "you spend every moment trying to make him laugh and you always - I mean always - stare at me. And whenever we were in danger, Eddie was the first one you thought about."

"Oh shit," I groaned. I was so doomed.

"Is it really that obvious?" I asked, I was scared. What if Eddie knew? Would he ever talk to me again? I don't think I could handle that.

Beverly shrugged, "not to any of the boys. They are just as oblivious as you, I mean how long was it before you figured it out?"

"I...I don't know," I said trying to search my memory, "I think I always knew I liked him more than a friend, but I didn't really get it until he was in danger."

She just nodded and went to take another drag but paused, "Oh, Stan has caught on to your guys' 'bromance' too."

I sighed and took a drag, "great," I said while puffing out smoke.

-------

There's Bev!

I did not forget about her.

Also I have a rlly big master plan that is made up of small ones that may not seem to go together but my brain planned it out so hopefully it works out..

I'm supposed to be doing homework but instead I decided to write a whole chapter