Reddie Oneshots

Richie's Guitar Pt. 5

i'm a dumbass, i forgot how many parts there are. it's more than 4.
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Eddie knocked at the Tozier door. For a moment, he convinced himself he heard no signs of life on the inside and considered leaving, embarrassed and annoyed with himself for so brazenly hurting Richie's feelings. He wanted to explain, needed to explain, though it wouldn't be easy. On the other side of the door, he heard padded footsteps, and then Richie answered.

'What do you want?'

'Hi,' Eddie said. 'Can I come in?'

Richie folded his arms. 'Why?'

'Please.'

His eyelids low, Richie opened the door wide enough for Eddie's access. Eddie didn't hesitate to climb the stairs and push into Richie's bedroom. There was the guitar again, on its stand. As Richie closed the door behind them, he said sarcastically, 'Sorry, I would have hidden it away if I'd known you were still coming over. Wouldn't want you to have to look at it.'

'Rich, stop,' Eddie pleaded, turning to face him. 'I'm sorry. I don't hate your guitar.'

'That is literally the opposite of what you said yesterday.'

Eddie screwed up his face. 'I didn't mean it like that. It came out wrong.'

'You still said it,' Richie snapped. He sighed, 'It's the first thing I've been able to really focus on. The first thing I've been able to still fucking enjoy learning after the novelty's worn off. I thought I was getting pretty good at it, too.'

'You are good at it, Rich,' Eddie assured. 'You're really good at it.'

Richie extended his arms dramatically, 'So you just hate the guitar as an instrument? You're bored of hearing me play? What?'

Eddie stumbled, 'No, no, I love the guitar. I love hearing you play. And yesterday, fuck, I really loved that.'

'I did too,' Richie droned, exasperated. 'So what the fuck did you mean?'

Squirming, Eddie cast his gaze downwards. 'It's stupid.'

'My guitar is stupid?' Richie spat.

'Fuck, no!' Eddie raised his head and locked his eyes desperately, not wanting to create another misunderstanding. He corrected, 'My reason is stupid. I've been stupid.'

Richie grumbled, 'You can be a fucking idiot sometimes.'

'Yeah, I can,' Eddie agreed. 'I shouldn't have said anything; it just slipped out and it's not even an issue anymore which is why it slipped out. And it's not even your issue, it was never your issue, it's mine.'

Narrowing his eyes, Richie said, 'Go on.'

Eddie struggled, pinkness blotching across his cheeks and up his neck, hideously embarrassed. 'You know the other week, when I came by and accidentally heard your song?'

'Yes,' Richie hissed, going pink himself at the reminder.

'The reason I was there was because I was pissed at you for not coming to lunch again, because I fucking missed you, and I blamed the guitar. It was taking up so much of your time and that was time you used to spend with me.'

Richie twitched his nose. The part of him that was in love with Eddie twanged, but the part of him that loved the guitar insisted, 'I'm not going to apologise.'

'And you shouldn't. I don't want you to. It's my fault.'

'What is?'

Eddie puffed out his cheeks. 'I was getting lazy. With our friendship, I mean. I was waiting for you to come to me and getting annoyed that you weren't, because I'd come to expect it. I was taking you for granted.'