HEART ACHE <3 REDDIE

chap 33: college talk

Eddie

"No fucking way!" Bev practically screeched, which made me slap my hand over her mouth quickly.

"Shut up! Don't let everyone know!" I hissed, removing my hand. Stan leaned against the table, as if he was so engulfed in the story. Mike was absent-mindedly stacking books, like I hadn't just told them all that Richie confessed his love for me.

"Well Richie doesn't know that Bev or I or Mike know about him being... ya know, so I would preferably not go tell every but us," Ben whispered. I narrowed my eyes at him and pressed my hand flat against the table.

"Who am I gonna tell besides you guys, asshole?" I cocked an eyebrow, which caused Ben to shrug.

"This stays b-between us, s-scouts honor." Bill placed his hand over his heart like an oath.

"You weren't a scout." Stan deadpanned.

"Everyone shut up." Bev hushed us once she spotted Richie strutting over to the table, plopping down beside me with a grin.

"Hey spaghetti." He winked at me playfully, but it made my face tint red.

"So," Ben cleared his throat, "you guys thinking about possible colleges you guys wanna apply to?"

I had. I didn't know for sure but now that Richie and I were solid... I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to be away from him.

"Dunno. Might just take a year off, what about you, eds?" Richie turned his gaze to me, snaking his hand to place it on my thigh under the table.

God damn it get you hand off me so I can think.

"Oh uh... yeah. I don't know. I'm gonna apply for a doctorate, probably in Chicago." I managed to spit out, placing my hand on top of Richies.

"You're just gonna leave me all by my lonesome?" he squeezed my thigh, pouting. I completely forgot about the others watching us. Giggling at us.

"Shut up, Rich." I pushed his hand off my thigh and turned to reface my book.

The truth was that I wanted to go to college but I didn't want to leave Richie, and if he didn't want me to leave then I wouldn't. I would stay in Derry forever if it made him happy. Anything to make him happy.