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chap 37: new year

Eddie

"You're shitting me." Bev furrowed her eyebrows at me and I shook my head to let her know I was not, in fact, shitting her.

"Eddie, it's only been a week. I wouldn't assume you two are broken up and you promised Richie-"

"I haven't even gotten accepted yet, and Richie is the last thing on my mind," I snapped, pulling my coat on.

"Really? Cause he's all you've talked about since the fight."

I ignored her comment, mostly because it was true and also because I didn't want to accept that she was right. I also wasn't ready to see Richie but it was New Year and neither of us were willing to ditch New Year party with our friends for the sake of us being stubborn.

"Plus, everyone around town says that Connor Bowers and him are sleeping together already so," I added on quickly, crossing my arms. That wasn't a lie, and I knew it wasn't, but I also refused to believe it was true.

"Is that why you applied to a damn college 8 hours away? Because of a rumor?" Bev cocked and eyebrow. I knew she was preparing to give me a lecture, but I stopped her.

"You're going to tell me you don't think they're sleeping together?"

She seemed to think it over for a second before making direct eye contact with me.

"I think... that Richie loves you too much. Whether or not him and Connor are sleeping to doesn't mean Richie loves you any less. I think he's just... very hurt. That's all."

I didn't reply to that.

Mike's barn was decorated with colorful streamers and lights. People around me laughed and yelled and drank. Sometimes I wondered where Mike found these people and then I remembered people probably didn't like Mike, or any of us, they just come for the booze.

Which was the first thing I did. I found an unopened can of beer and snatched it up. Beer was disgusting and bitter and I hated it but I just wanted to drink. I wasn't ready to see Richie, or maybe I wanted to just a little. Maybe I missed him so much but was so hurt the only way I could see him was if I was wasted.

After another 3 beers Bill found me. He was clearly on his 5th or 6th beer but still seemed more stable than me. He plopped down onto the haybail beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

"Bev told m-me about you applying to Kingston."

I looked down at my feet, which actually touched the ground which was rare due to my height.

"Are you here to lecture me too?" I sighed, tapping the side of my beer can.

"No," he exhaled, "I think y-you did what you think was best."

I stared at him for a second, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Do you think I did whats best?" I asked. I saw him swallow and he took another drink of his beer before answering.

"I think... I t-think that Richie is going to be really upset when he finds o-out and I think that he's already feeling r-really lonely. But I think you should only s-stay if you have a really good r-reason."

I opened my mouth to reply but was cut off by chanting.

10! 9! 8!

Was that Richie?

7! 6!

It is. I stood to get a better look.

5! 4! 3!

Connor? God no.

2! 1!

And they kissed.

"Happy new year!"

And seeing Richie smiling against that kiss and seeing him drunkily hold onto Connors waist. Hot tears swelled in my eyes. I felt a strong hand on my shoulder and turned to see Bill giving me a pity smile.

"W-want me to take you home?" he offered. My eyes stayed glued on Richie holding Connor close to him.

"No. I'll walk."