The Aftermath (Reddie)

29

3rd Person POV

"Stan, w-where are the r-r-rest of the gang?" Bill asked referring to the empty hole where Richie and Eddie would sit at lunch.

Stan looked up from his food and to the empty space, then he shrugged.

"Y-you're not w-worried that they are in-n t-trouble?" Bill was worried. He was feeling deja vu, the familiar feeling of being worried over someone being missing.

But he couldn't place it.

"They're five minutes late, I'm sure its fine."

"Y-yeah, but both of th-them are missing..." Bill stuttered.

"Look," Stan said still distracted by his food, "if you are really so worried, go ask Eddie's girlfriend," Stan almost cringed saying those words. Eddie. With a girlfriend? Unlikely.

"Right, g-good idea."

"What do you want Stuttering Bill?" Mary Ann didn't even look up from her book until the flipped a page and closed the book with her finger still in it.

Bill wasn't even phased by the nickname.

"W-where's Eddie?" he asked and sat down at the table.

"Sure, you can take a seat if you want to," she muttered.

"W-well?"

Mary Ann shrugged, "how should I know?"

"You're d-d-dating him," Bill argued.

"Nope."

"W-what?"

"We broke up," she shrugged, "still friends though, it was a mutual dumping."

"Since w-when?" Bill was shocked, and confused, "y-you guys j-just started dating!"

"This morning."

"Oh," Bill didn't know what to say.

"Wait, is Eddie missing?" Mary Ann was concerned now.

Bill looked up at her, "yeah, h-him and R-r-Richie are both gone a-and Stan-"

"Him and Richie?" Mary Ann cut off. Then she smirked, "I think they are fine, better than fine actually."

******

Richie's POV

I was not fine.

Everything hurt, especially my ego.

Eddie had taken me back to his house to 'dress my wounds' or some shit.

All I knew was that things felt and looked fuzzy. I was lying face down on Eddie's bed as he dug around in my hair for the source of the blood. The bleeding had gone down a bit, but not much.

"Ow!" I hissed as Eddie prodded an especially sensitive part of my head.

"Calm down, the painful part hasn't even started yet."

I grumbled, "did you find it yet?" I asked and reached my hand back to my head.

"Yes, now stop moving," he smacked my hand away.

I hardly held in a scream as I felt him start to stich up my head.

"Are you even-FUCK-qualified to do--OW--this?" I was gritting my teeth.

"Well you insisted on staying away from the hospital so..."

The pain rendered me speechless and unable to shoot back an insult.

So instead I just thought of them in my head.

Stupid Eddie, with his stupid medical knowledge and concern and stupid empathy and stupid smile and stupid hair and stupid laugh and-

Insults Richie...not thirsty little comments.

I turned my thoughts to something else, anything else. Unfortunately the first thing that came to mind was kissing Eddie.

Well, him kissing me.

He had kissed me. I had wanted to kiss him, but I didn't. I thought he would be repulsed and instantly run away.

But he kissed me, eagerly, like it was a favor for me.

But what he had said still clung in my head, "just pretend I'm a girl."

He thought I was straight, he was definitely straight.

"I'm done Richie," Eddie said finally.

My head still hurt like hell.

"You can sit up if you want," he poked my arm with his finger.

I slowly sat up, wincing the whole time, until I was facing him. I didn't have my glasses on so I could hardly see him.

His eyes were wide as he looked at me, searching my face for something.

"Do you feel better?" he asked in his innocent voice.

His stupid innocent voice.

"You just stuck a needle in my scalp multiple times," I deadpanned, "it still fucking hurts."

Eddie grinned sheepishly.

I sighed, "can you grab my glasses please?"

"Oh right," Eddie jumped like he was distracted, "here."

He handed my glasses to me and I slowly put them up to my face, finding where they belonged. It was awkward.

I blinked to adjust to the magnification.

"Shit," I breathed in cursing. Now that I could see again, I realized how close we were.

Hardly inches.

"Richie?" Eddie sounded concerned.

I nodded slowly, I felt speechless.

We were so close.

Like when he kissed me.

"You look really dazed," Eddie said, "I think your concussion is worse than I thought.."

His voice sounded muffled. I tried to focus on his face but then I started giggling like mad.

Everything seemed so funny.

"You look like a yorkie Eds," I said all of a sudden.

He furrowed his brow.

"Don't worry, I cute one." I insisted.

"I'll go get you some water," Eddie sighed and stood.

I stood to follow him and wobbled. I was about to fall but Eddie caught me by my side.

"Richie!" Eddie exclaimed and helped me stand up straight.

"Chill out Eds-"

He grimaced at the nickname.

"-I'm just coming to help," I sang in his ear.

"Great," he muttered and we started walked. He was still supporting me by my waist so I slung an arm around his shoulder.

I started to giggle.

"What's so funny?" Eddie sounded annoyed.

I continued to giggle, "it's like we are getting married!"

Eddie turned red.

----

Fun fact: my brother got a concussion and said this to one of his guy friends as they were helping him off of the basketball court.

Longer chapter.

I have ideas but I need to write to get to those ideas. If that makes sense...