Oh, my love //: Reddie:\\

t w e n t y t w o

eddie*

"Maybe he is just homophobic?" Ben suggested.

I shrugged. "Could be it." I nodded.

"No, I feel like it's more than that. He's acting weird, very weird." Beverly was so invested as to why Mike ditched us.

I shrugged. "Hey, I've gotta make a quick trip to my house, but you guys go head back to Bill's. I'll be there in a bit." I said.

"You sure?" Bev looked at me.

I nodded. "I'm a big kid, I can handle it." I chuckled, gesturing towards the bat.

She shrugged. "If you're okay with it," she nodded, glancing to Ben.

I nodded. "Yeah, I just want to see if my mom made it home yet, and grab something." I said truthfully.

They nodded. "Yeah, okay."

"Cool!" I smiled before I turned off the next street, circling down towards my house. It was a quick jog, but since I have short legs, I gotta really push.

I made it to my house, my mom's car being there. I smiled happily to myself as I ran through the door. I was silent.

I looked in her usual place in the den, her not being there. I looked around in confusion, not being able to find her. I looked in the backyard too.

I went to her room, there being no signs of her. Although, her suit cases were sitting there.

Maybe she went off with a friend or something? A walk maybe? A trip to the store down the street possibly?

I sighed, walking out of the house, looking at the dawning sky.

I closed the gate to the yard and went to walk away.

"Hey, wheezy." I heard.

I turned to see Bowers. "Shit." I muttered. I gripped the bat, eyeing him. "Fuck off, Henry." I said sternly.

He walked closer to me, making me back away, bumping into a mail box. "I just wanna chat, faggot." He shrugged, striding towards me.

I held the bat, ready to swing. "I will knock the rest of that mini sized bean you call a brain out, Bowers." I gritted my teeth, becoming scared. I don't wanna hit this guy, I don't, but I fucking will if I must.

He smirked, wiping his box cutter knife out. "Like I said, I just wanna chat." He held his hands up.

"Get the fuck away from me!" I yelled, my voice shaky and high.

He stopped walking, staring intently at me with a vague expression. I felt myself stop walking, looking at him with a confused look, waiting for the next move.

He sighed. "I'm just fuckin' with ya." He shoved the knife in his pocket. "I wanted to ask about Hanlon. What's with that guy?" He questioned.

I didn't let my guard down, not risking anything. I looked him up in down with squinted eyes. "We don't know. Maybe that clown, or he's just a two faced homophobic prick." I said honestly.

He nodded, looking down. "He, uh, he wanted me and the boys to come stop you from leaving." He looked around. "He 'threatened us' you could say, 'black mailed'? I'm not sure. He was scary, truth be told. The sheer look in his eyes sent chills over me," he said out, seemingly earnest.

I lowered the bat, still keeping it handy. I glanced around, making sure this wasn't a decoy. "He was good to us, until Richie and I came out, along with Stanley and Bill. What his problem is, we don't know. Just stay weary about it. He might not be who you think he is." I warned him.

"What does that mean?" He looked up at me.

I sighed. "There's a lot of unspoken shit in this town, Henry. I'd get out while you still have the chance." I said, trying to be nice.

He nodded. "I'm sorry, for all the shit I've done to you dweebs. You guys didn't deserve any of that." He said. "I really am sorry. It was shitty and cruel."

I chuckled. "Henry Bowers as a nice guy?" I said playfully.

He chuckled. "I'll still fuck you up, Wheezy." He joked.

We laughed. "Tell Mike we said bye?" I asked.

He nodded. "Of course. Bye, Kaspbrak," he waved.

I waved as I watched him turn on his heels and leave down the opposite street, taking a right.

I sighed. Maybe this town does have potential.

I smiled to myself for a moment. What Henry Bowers said made me happy. He apologized for everything. Yeah, he was being hella creepy in the beginning, but in the end, it seemed genuine.

I reached Bill's house, everyone outside on the porch. "Eddie!" Stan practically yelled.

I gave them confused looks. "What?" I chuckled out.

Richie came running to me. "Where the fuck have you been? You've been gone for almost an hour!" He embraced me. "You has me worried sick!"

I smiled and hugged him tightly. "I'm okay, Chee. I ran into Henry." I said as we pulled away.

"What did he want?" Stan questioned.

I shrugged, sighing. "He told me how mike is acting weird and threatening him and his goons if he didn't make us stay in Derry. He actually apologized for everything and left peacefully." I smiled at them as they stood around.

"Oh, that's strange," Ben said, looking to all of us as we nodded.

"See your mom?" Bev asked.

I chewed my lip. "No, actually." I said slowly. "She wasn't there. All of her things were, even the car, but she was gone." I explained.

"Maybe she's with a friend," Bill suggested.

"Yeah, probably." I nodded. I yawned. "Let's get going, it'll be dark soon."

I grabbed to Richie's hand, pulling him to the truck. "You're driving through the first hour."

I climbed into the truck beside him, the rest taking the back, mainly because Stan and Bill didn't want to part, same as Ben and Beverly.

I rested my head on Richie's shoulder and he drove, making me yawn again before dozing off.