Math Tutor 🥀 Reddie

Part 4

Eddie heard the front door close behind him as he stepped onto the welcome mat. Immediately, he was greeted by his mother showering him with concern.

"Eddie!" she cried, "Where have you been?"

It was then that he remembered what he'd initially gone out to do. Sonia had sent him out to pick up his various prescriptions from Mr.Keene at around 6:30 pm.

On his way there, he'd been put off track by Henry Bowers, who chased him all the way to the house on Neibolt street. Strangely, he hadn't started hyperventilating. He'd just ran away.

Suddenly, a word popped into his mind. Psychosomatic. It was a word his gym teacher had brought up in a conversation with his mom when Eddie was younger.

A couple years after that, when he finally convinced Sonia to let him have a phone (which had immediately been littered with parental locks) he'd looked it up.

Phsychosomatic
(of a physical illness or other condition) caused or aggravated by a mental factor such as internal conflict or stress.

Around the fourth grade, his gym teacher had suggested to Eddie's mother that maybe his symptoms were psychosomatic. This had gotten a rise out of Mrs.K, who had proceeded to lecture the coach for what felt to Eddie like forever.

He'd never say it, but Eddie had spent the rest of that day wondering if his coach was right. The next day, he'd dismissed it.

As he got older though, every once in a while he'd wonder if he was actually sick or not. Then, it turned into more than every once in a while. Then, it turned into a silent disfavor towards his mother.

As she stood there in front of him, probably planning on taking him to the emergency room, his blood began to boil.

"Oh," he began, "I'm sorry. I got held up-"

She rushed toward him and started checking his face for any sort of injury.

"Eddie-Bear! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Don't worry," he said, pulling away.

"We might need to take you to the doctor!  Is everything okay?"

"Mom, I'm fine."

"You know you're delicate, Eddie! I just don't want you to get hurt!"

"Hurt by what?" he said loudly enough to shock both Sonia and himself, "What am I so sick with, mom? Just stop trying to pretend I'm sick!"

"Eddie," she said calmly, but with anger in her voice, "Go upstairs to your room, and we can talk when you're ready to be mature,"

He bit his tongue, not wanting to dig his grave any deeper, and made his way up the steps.

What the hell am I gonna do now?

His house was the last place he wanted to be, and he was basically trapped there for the rest of the night.  Probably the next day too, since his mother was insistent on him being ill.

He pulled out his phone and checked the time.  8:30. 

It was dark outside already. A black sky dotted with stars peeked through the white window frame.

He felt like he could scream, like he'd go crazy if he stayed in that house any longer, so he decided to text Richie.

E: Hey

Richie Tozier is typing

R: whats up

E: Nothing. Bored as hell tho.

R: same. im grounded lmaoo

E: I probably am too tbh ✌🏻😔

R: wait why 😂

E: Long story.

R: i have time

For a second, Eddie debated with himself about whether or not to tell him about it.

E: Wellll, you know the First Aid kit and all the pills and stuff?

R: yea

E: I'm like 99% sure I don't actually need any of that. Tbh I think my mom has like,, Münchausen syndrome by proxy or something.

R: holy shit really?! that thing where you pretend your kid's sick?  i  mean, i kinda knew she was weird but still.

E: Yup. I'm not 100% sure but I think all my pills are gazebos.

R: lmaooo you mean placebos?

E: I guess. So yeah I'm basically trapped here with my crazy mom all weekend.

R:  you dont have to be.  wanna sneak out?  we can always go to the Aladdin if you get over yourself 😂

Richie had snuck out to that old movie theatre with the others numerous times, and every time he'd invite Eddie aswell, but Eddie would always decline for fear of being caught.

E:  Sure.

R:  Wait really?  Eds are you okay?

E: Let's go.