He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (Reddie)

19

Richie's POV

Eddie was silent and I wasn't sure he would answer. Maybe it was me just being hopeful, but it really sounded like Eddie could like me. What he had described reminded me so much of what I had been feeling when I first realized my feelings for him.

The times he would stare up at me and my whole body would freeze up. Or when he would grab me when he was scared and it felt like fire, but good fire.

I looked back up at Eddie, searching his face for some sort of response. He was looking at me too, a new emotion was on his face from before.

"I-I-I'm so sorry, Richie," Eddie's voice was wavering. Then he started to cry. Tears falling down his cheeks rapidly, big ones too.

It hurt to see him like this.

"What are you sorry for?" I asked quietly. I was unsure of his answer. All I wanted to do was hug him, but I wasn't sure if that was appropriate. It might even make him more upset too.

Eddie sniffled, trying to calm himself enough to respond.

Then I really really wanted to hold him to me. I really wanted to kiss him to, but I always wanted to do that.

"I..." Eddie was looking at his feet, "I think I like you....I think I like you a lot."

My heart exploded in my chest. I wasn't aware of what my face looked like but I was pretty sure that my smile was huge. And I really really wanted to kiss him.

"Eddie," I could hardly because of the size of my smile, "don't be sorry about that."

Now I had his attention back on me, his eyes were still welling with tears. I reached forward and brushed a stray tear off of his cheek.

Eddie sniffled, "but I like you...doesn't that mean our friendship is over? Doesn't that mean I ruined our friendship?"

I finally gave in to my impulses. I reached for him, wrapped my arms all the way around him, and pulled him to my chest.

"I like you too, Eds." I said softly all the while rubbing his back soothingly as he continued to sniffle into my chest.

"Really?" I hardly could hear his voice as it was muffled, but it sounded so sad, like he didn't believe me at all.

So I leaned back so that I could stare into his eyes. They were still watery, and I knew that my shirt must have been dotted with wet spots.

"I've liked you since we were in fifth grade," I assured.

That's when his face lit up.

"Really?" he was almost laughing now, "you're a dumbass then."

"What?"

"Well making mom jokes didn't exactly make me wanna kiss you," he joked. I was glad he was smiling again.

"Well do you want to kiss me now?" I asked lowly.

Eddie turned red but he stayed smiling. "Unfortunately."

I knew he was joking, so I laughed.

"You know you like me," I sang.

He rolled his eyes, "unfortunately," he said again.

Then, as if on impulse, he leaned forward and pecked my lips quickly. A blink and you miss it sort of thing.

I stood shocked, not sure of what to do.

Eddie had actually kissed me. Like lips on lips, something I had wanted for years and he had had the guts to do it in half a second.

Eddie looked shocked too, his own impulses betraying him. It looked like he was going to apologize again.

But I leaned forward this time and gave him the same peck that he gave me.

"You kissed me!" he sounded shocked.

"You kissed me first!"

Then he smiled, and I smiled, and things just felt like they would be okay.

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It's not over yet lol

I still have plans for y'all