Denial ~ A Reddie Fanfic

Chapter 5

Warning: some temporary hetero

Richie POV

I wake up to sunlight pouring through my window. I groan as I sit up. Everything hurts. My arms, my head, and my side. Jesus, my side hurts so fucking bad. I lift my shirt to see a bandage covering almost my whole side, and blood has soaked through it. I slowly peek it away, wincing. There are deep cuts there that spell out the words flamer. I curse, putting the bandage back on and pulling my shirt back down. It's soaked in blood, so I push myself to my feet, wobbling slightly. My head pounds as I do so, and that's when I spot the bottle of water on my dresser. I pick it up and chug half of it in one go. I set it back down and make my way over to my closet. I grab my favorite, a short-sleeved button-up with hibiscus flowers all over it. I struggle to get my shirt off and then put on the button up, not bothering to button it. I make my way out of the room and down the stairs, going very, very slowly. I can faintly hear someone clanging around in the kitchen, and as I turn the corner I see the short-haired brunette who I've only known for a day, making me breakfast.

"Eddie Spaghetti?" I ask groggily, still trying to blink the sleep out of my eyes. He laughs at the nickname and turns around.

"What did you just call-" His words stop when he lays his eyes on me. His eyes roam over my exposed torso, where bruises can be seen coloring it different shades of blue, brown, purple and even green. The bloody bandage is just barely beaking out from behind my shirt. "Oh my God." He whispers, dropping the spatula he was holding onto the counter and making his way over to me. His hands push my shirt back and gently run over the bruises. 

"I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch." He says firmly, a look of pure rage on his face. My eyes widen as I imagine Eddie confronting Bowers.

"Don't," I say, and he looks at me quizzically. "Don't try to mess with him, I don't want you getting hurt." I look at him seriously, and his face lights up.

"Oh yeah! That's why I got these!" He says excitedly, walking over to the counter and grabbing two small boxes. He hands me one and I open it to reveal a pocket knife.

"Eddie, Jesus Christ, you're not planning to kill him, are you?" I ask, half-joking.

"No, you fuck bucket. They're for self-defense!" He says, laughing. "Henry's a coward. If you pull this on him and his goons, they'll back off." I pull the knife out of the box and see the initials RT etched into it. It's a beautiful gold color, probably brass or something. I look at Eddie's and see that its silver, with the initials EK on it. I set my knife down and wrap my arms around Eddie. Wonderful, thoughtful Eddie.

"Thank you," I whisper into his hair, which is slightly wet. He must've taken a shower because he smells like my vanilla shampoo. Beautiful Eddie. Suddenly, without warning, the front door opens and voices can be heard filling the room.

"Of course that fucker would leave his front door unlocked. What an idiot." I hear someone say, and I'm 99% sure that it's Stan. Five kids file into the kitchen, and Bev whistles when she sees me with my arms wrapped around Eddie with my shirt unbuttoned.

"Damn Eddie, you really can turn someone 'gay in a day'." I start to blush, but quickly start laughing to cover it up. I step away from him.

"Ha-ha very funny, Beaverly," I say, rolling my eyes. "What are you guys doing out of school?" 

"Upperclassmen have open campus during lunch," Mike says, and then walks over and sets a dish with tin foil over it on the counter.

"It's already lunch?" I ask, and everyone nods. I hear Bev gasp, and she walks over to me.

"Oh my God, Richie." She says, but she doesn't comment on my bruises like I thought she would. "You're ripped." She presses her hands against my chest and slides them down until they are pressed against my abdomen. My eyes widen. Is she, flirting with me? I shake my head, pushing the thought away. No girl has ever liked me, why would Beverly be any different? I can't stop the blush that spreads over my face. I look up to see Eddie, Ben, and Bill all glaring at me. I gulp. Her fingers brush over the bandage and her eyes lock onto mine.