The Aftermath (Reddie)

33

3rd Person POV

Eddie was pacing. Stan kept telling him to calm down but Eddie just kept on pacing.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Beverly leaned over and whispered in Bill's ear.

Bill shrugged, "maybe he r-realized he outgrew th-those stupid shorts over f-four years ago.

Beverly snickered, Ben overheard and rolled his eyes, "be nice." he chided.

"Eddie!" Stan finally yelled and stopped him in his tracks. Eddie stared up at him glaring, he was still the shortest of the losers, but only by an inch or two.

"Calm down!"

Eddie huffed and Stan shoved him onto the couch to sit. Eddie grumbled and crossed his arms. He had hardly seen Richie or spoke to him over the past four years.

The door burst open as Richie announced his presence dramatically.

"What's up losers, you're looking at the dancing queen," he sang and sauntered his way into the living room.

"Took you long enough," Beverly muttered and got up to hug him, "happy birthday Rich!"

Soon it was all one big group hug.

"Hey now, I know I'm smoking but I can't bang all of you."

Everyone groaned and pushed away from Richie.

Eddie stood staring at Richie.

"Hey Eds," Richie tried to be cool, "what's up?"

"Don't you what's up me." Eddie was angry.

Richie was confused.

The whole gang was watching the scene unfold wishing they had popcorn.

"How's it hanging?" Richie asked slowly.

"You've hardly said anything to me for four fucking years!" Eddie exclaimed, "You've avoided me like the plague ever since you got that stupid concussion!"

Richie gulped. He didn't think Eddie would be this worked up. He didn't think Eddie cared that much about him.

"We were best friends! Sure you were annoying as hell, but that was our friendship. And you ended it like it meant nothing," Eddie was waving his hands about and pointing in Richie's face.

Richie waited for more yelling and cursing, but there was only silence.

"You let it all out yet bud?" Stan asked breaking the silence.

Eddie took in a deep breath and tried to regain his composure.

"Eddie I'm sorry," Richie muttered, his eyes were wide. He was shocked. And wounded. And so fucking guilty. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

Eddie nodded, "get me a fucking drink," then he collapsed onto the couch and glowered.

"Cheers to that," Richie muttered.

Bill pointed Richie to the booze and he came back with a case of beer.

"Drink up amigo," Richie handed one over to Eddie and he took it graciously.

Richie cracked a can open himself and sat down on the floor.

No one had spoken since Eddie's outburst.

"Can you pass me one too please?" Ben asked all of a sudden.

Bill raised a brow, "R-really?" Ben usually wasn't one of the firsts to drink.

"With the tension in this room," Ben sighed, "yes please."

A can was tossed to him.

Out of no where Richie started to laugh, whole heartedly.

"Didn't take you for such a lightweight Rich," Mike teased.

Richie shook his head, stood, and crushed his now empty can against his head.

"Happy Birthday to me!" he chuckled, "I can't believe I have lived this fucking long."

"Cheers," everyone agreed. Now everyone had a can in their hands and took a swig.

"I'd like to thank my mother," Richie stood like he was giving a speech, "for pushing my out of her vagina." The losers laughed at his stupidness.

The mood had shifted to a lighter one, Eddie was even smiling softly. Richie noticed.

"I'd also like to thank Eddie's mom, for being such a rocking banger,"

Everyone groaned.

"Fuck you, Rich," but Eddie was smiling.

"Promise?"

Eddie rolled his eyes and drank more. Richie was too much to handle, he had almost forgotten that.

And Richie had almost forgotten how much he still had feelings for the boy. But he was harshly reminded when Eddie had finished a third can and gotten up to dance and Richie caught sight of his shorts.

Fuck, was all Richie thought and he guzzled down some more beer.

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Oof

I like them as teens.

*shrugging emoji*