The Aftermath (Reddie)

34

Richie's POV

I was happy, truly happy. The gang was really together just laughing and hanging out.

Best birthday ever.

And Eddie seemed to not hate me as much, or maybe it was just the amount of booze in his system.

I surveyed the scene around me:

Bill and Stan were having a chugging contest

Beverly was smoking and laying lazily on Bill's couch.

Mike and Ben were just laughing and sort of conversing with Bev.

Eddie was dancing like a maniac to some jazz music.

I was watching him dance and wishing I could be able to record him to laugh at him later.

This was such a cliché.

"Guys!" I interrupted while laughing, "can we make this night more cliché and play truth or dare or spin the bottle or some shit?"

"Wh-why not," Bill shrugged and went to sit down, "circle up b-boys,"

Beverly scoffed.

"And la-lady."

We all sat down, stupidly might I add.

Eddie sat down next to Ben who was siting next to me. I needed to stop noticing his every move, this was getting creepy.

"After you Birthday boy!" Beverly cheered and waved her cigarette at me.

I laughed, "well, Bill?" I wiggled my eyebrows at him, "Truth or Dare my good sir?"

"T-truth." he said.

"I feel like I am obligated to ask this, " I smirked, "who's your crush?" I giggled and batted my eyes.

Bill rolled his, "you're a dumbass."

"I know," I shrugged, "welllll?" I asked.

I expected him to blush and stutter and confess his feelings for Beverly finally. Because, for fucks sake, it was getting really sad.

Not that I could talk I suppose.

"Stan, duh."

"Wait-What-I don-" I stuttered. I had not expected that in the slightest.

Bill shrugged, "w-we've been d-dating for like four y-years now."

"What?" that was Mike.

Ben was gaping.

Eddie was mellowing out and staring at the carpet.

Beverly was laughing, "you guys' are such dumbasses!"

"You knew?" I questioned.

"After I saw them holding hands and cuddling a couple of times I kinda figured it out."

"You guys seriously didn't notice?" Stan asked.

I realized all of a sudden that he had his arm slung around Bill, how had I not seen that before?

"I mean I know we kept it a secret for like a year and didn't exactly 'come out' and tell you, but we weren't exactly hiding it from you."

Bill nodded, "y-yeah we've kissed during almost a-all of the times w-we've hung out."

"Damn," I cursed to myself.

"Ok, that g-got off topic," Bill interrupted all of our bewilderment, "I b-believe I'm up."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"E-eddie,"

Eddie snapped his head up, back in focus.

"Truth or d-dare?" Bill asked.

Eddie was silent for a long time. I almost thought he had forgotten the question.

Then he answered with "dare" and ran a hand through his hair.

He seemed to be sobering up, he had had his last can about an hour or so ago.

Stan whispered something to Bill that make him smile devilishly.

"I d-dare you t-t-to do seven m-minutes in heaven with wh-whoever you choose."

Eddie barely seemed to register the dare.

"Huh?" he asked.

"Earth to Eddie," Beverly started rapping her knuckles on Eddies head, "pick someone you want to be locked in a closet with!"

Eddie swatted her hand away and shrugged, "Richie I guess."

He had to add the I guess, that kinda stung.

"Why not Beverly?" Stan asked smirking, "she's obviously hot and the only girl in the group."

Eddie didn't even seem phased, "Beverly's like my sister, Richie's my best friend-well was at least- and I'd rather kiss my ex best friend than my sister."

His logic wounded me a bit.

"Whatever," Stan sang.

Eddie just grumbled and stood.

"Come on dickwad," he was referring to me as he stomped towards the coat closet in Bill's entry.

"Love the nickname Eds," I teased and he rolled his eyes.

There was some hesitation as we stood in front of the closet.

"I'm not starting the timer until you two get in the closet!" Stan called and some laughter erupted.

Eddie grabbed the sleeve of my shirt and tugged me into the closet then shut the door.

I sighed and sank on the floor, "time to get comfortable Eds."

"Stop calling me that," he muttered and sank to the floor across from me.

Then he started to lean forward towards me.

"Ummmm...what are you going?" I was nervous. Eddie had gotten so close to my face.

It had been ages since we had kissed, but the memory was still fresh in my head.

"Kissing you," he shrugged.

"You really don't have to do that."

"Those are the rules of seven minutes in heaven," he argued.

"Still obsessed with rules huh?"

"Just shut up and kiss me Richard," he snapped and leaned in closer to me.

I turned my head to avoid his lips. I couldn't kiss him again. I wouldn't be able to take it.

Plus why would he even want to kiss me? I was definitely labelled as a disease in his head.

Eddie frowned, "what's wrong?"

"Aren't you worried I'm like...contagious or some shit?" I asked nervously.

His eyes widened, "wait you have the flu?" he backed away from me and covered his mouth with his hand.

"I'm gay Eddie?"

Didn't he know this?

"What?!"

I guess not.

"You haven't heard?" I was genuinely surprised, "why do you think Michael beat me up that one day?"

"Cause he's a dick?" Eddie shrugged, "wait people have known since we were eleven? And I'm just hearing about it now??"

"I thought you had found out, I mean I haven't exactly flaunted my sexuality, but that's because we live in stupid ass Derry."

"Shit man," he cursed.

"Yeah," I sniggered, "still wanna make out with your ex gay best friend?"

Eddie hesitated, "I mean you did promise you would teach me,"

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Ooooo

Longer chapter :)

Teen Reddie has my heart