The Aftermath (Reddie)

39

3rd Person POV

"Eddie? You're out of breath, where's your aspirator?"

Eddie had just stumbled his way into the living. He was panting and his face was red, some from the cold some from embarrassment.

All he did was nod at Beverly who had asked the question.

She put out her cigarette before walking to him and searching his pockets for his pump. He was using the door frame to stand and was gasping for air like a fish out of water.

"I know I know, I'm trying," Bev muttered and started rifling faster, "Aha!"

She pressed the aspirator into his mouth and squeezed the trigger.

"Eddie!" Mike had spotted the boy in distress by now and ran to his aid.

The pump was improving his gasps but he continued to hyperventilate, he couldn't calm down.

"What happened?" Ben was in the room now.

"I don't know he just sprinted in here and started to hyperventilate!" Beverly exclaimed, she was becoming more and more concerned, "come on, help me get him to the couch."

Ben and Mike lifted Eddie up and supported him on either side.

"Eddie, hey, Eddie, please calm down!" Beverly was pleading now.

"What's all the yelling?" Stan said well sauntering in with Bill's arm slung around his waist. They had been previously occupied by each others' lips.

"Sh-shit, Eddie!" Bill exclaimed and they both ran to his side.

Eddie waved everyone away from him and sat up on the couch that Mike and Ben had placed him on.

"I'm-" Eddie gasped, "fine."

Everyone rolled their eyes.

"Nice one," Stan said, "now save your breath and pump that bitch," the pump was shoved back into his mouth.

Eddie spit it out and stood up, "No!" he yelled, "that shit isn't working! I'm not having an asthma attack! I'm fucking GAY!"

Again everyone rolled their eyes.

"Eddie, sweetie," Beverly stood up and put her hands on his shoulders then pushed him to sit back down, "thank you for finally telling us and obviously we accept you, but you need to calm down."

"Did you mean 'fucking gay' or 'fucking a gay,'?" Stan asked smirking.

Bill smacked him, "not n-necessary," he muttered.

"Oh it was," Stan whispered back.

Eddie ignored the two and continued to hyperventilate.

"Uh....."

Everyone turned to look at the front door. Richie was standing shivering, covered in snow, and dazed.

Eddie started to hyperventilate more intensively.

"I'm not about to watch whatever dramatic showdown is about to happen," Ben muttered, "wanna go get some more refreshments Bev?"

"Hell no, drama is my life," she squealed.

"I'll go with you," Mike sighed and stood up to follow Ben into the kitchen.

"I agree with Bev," Stan said and sat down comfortably on the floor as if he was about to watch a rom-com.

"Is no one gonna ask what happened?" Richie chattered through his teeth.

Stan shrugged, "I assumed we wouldn't have to, your dramatic ass would spit it out and start whining."

Richie glared.

"What happened Rich?" Bev asked, taking the bait.

Richie took in a deep breath and then pointed him finger shakily at Eddie, "he happened," he hissed.

"Shit!" Eddie curse and stood up again.

"Eddie what'd you do to poor Rich?" Stan teased.

"Nothing!" Eddie screeched.

Richie stumbled into the living room, snow falling off of him with every step.

As he neared Eddie, Eddie started backing away.

"I'm definitely not responsible for that snow covered mess!"

"You're g-gonna have t-to clean that up l-later," Bill stuttered and Richie shot him a glare.

"After you ran away from me," Richie started, he was staring intensely into Eddie's eyes, "I was shocked but then I tried to run after you but I slipped and fell right into a snowbank--"

"Klutz!" Stan called from the side lines.

"Hey bystanders, if you're gonna watch, keep your traps shut." Richie shot back.

"Shut it dickwads!" Bev whispered.

Eddie gasped for air loudly.

"Shit Eddie," Richie said getting soft, "are you okay?"

Eddie shook his head.

Richie stepped closer to him, "deep breaths Eds, I didn't mean to make you freak out."

"Stop," Eddie put his hands up to stop Richie from getting any closer, "stop caring so much!" He cried.

Richie sighed, "I'm sorry..." he reached forwards and grabbed the hands Eddie was holding up and enlaced his fingers with Eddie's, "just please calm down, you're going to pass out."

Eddie nodded shakily and held firmly onto Richie's hands.

"Take deep breaths, okay?" Richie whispered.

Eddie nodded again and closed his eyes.

A crunch broke the silence of Eddie fighting for breath and Richie staring intensely at Eddie's scrunched up face.

Another crunch.

The two looked at the source: Stan.

He was holding a bowl of popcorn in his arms and a handful of it was being crunched in his mouth.

"When the fuck did you get popcorn?" Richie asked.

"Details, details," Stan waved his hand, "proceed please,"

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Okay

I kept writing this between doing my homework and now the poster I had to make looks like shit. No joke. The beginning was fine and then I gave up and wrote this shit show.