My Girlfriends Brother || Reddie

Chapter Six

Richie had always been a well-liked figure at school, with his loud jokes and easygoing personality drawing people in effortlessly. He wasn't the type to shy away from attention, and he was good at diffusing tension when things got awkward—except when it came to the Bowers gang. The delinquents had been a thorn in his side since middle school, always looking for a fight or someone weaker to bully. Richie hated them, and he had already promised Lexi that if they even looked at Eddie the wrong way, he'd deal with it personally.

As the final bell rang, Richie strolled through the hallways, heading straight for Lexi's locker. The bustling crowd didn't bother him; he thrived in the chaos, exchanging quick nods and jokes with classmates as he passed. When he reached her locker, Lexi was already there, gathering her books. Her golden hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and she turned to greet him with a small smile that instantly warmed his chest.

"Hey, baby," Richie said, leaning in to kiss her on the lips, flashing his signature grin.

"Always the gentleman," Lexi teased, brushing her hair behind her ear as she continued organizing her things. "Hey, have you seen Eddie? He's not texting me back."

Richie shook his head, leaning casually against the lockers. "Haven't seen him since earlier, but I'm sure he's fine. Probably just hanging with friends."

Lexi frowned slightly, her brow furrowing in concern. "Yeah... I just hope his first day wasn't too rough. If something happened and Mom finds out—"

"Relax," Richie interrupted, his hand reaching out to rub her shoulder soothingly. "He's fine. Trust me, you'd know if something was wrong."

Lexi sighed, closing her locker with a soft thud. "You're right. I'm just being paranoid. It's his first day back in a real school, you know? I just want it to go well for him."

Richie smiled, pulling her close and wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "He's tougher than you think, Lex. He'll be fine. C'mon, let's get out of here."

Lexi hesitated, glancing down at her phone one more time before tucking it into her bag. "Will you drive me home? I'd walk, but—"

"Of course," Richie said, chuckling as he steered her toward the parking lot. "What kind of boyfriend would I be if I made you walk?"

The drive to Lexi's house was quiet, save for the soft hum of the radio playing some indie rock tune Richie barely recognized. He kept one hand on the wheel, occasionally glancing over at Lexi, who was glued to her phone. She kept refreshing her messages, her thumb swiping anxiously across the screen.

Richie couldn't blame her. If it were his brother Mike, he'd feel the same way. As much as Eddie could be annoying—or downright confusing—Richie understood the protectiveness Lexi felt for him.

Her phone buzzed suddenly, and Lexi let out a small gasp. She unlocked it immediately, her shoulders relaxing as she read the message. "Thank God. He's at Stan's house," she said, exhaling deeply.

Richie smiled, squeezing her thigh gently. "See? Told you, baby. Relax. He's fine."

Lexi leaned into his touch, her anxiety easing as she let herself rest against him. "You're right. I just... I don't know, sometimes I feel like I worry about him too much."

"Nothing wrong with that," Richie said. "He's your little brother. That's what big sisters do."

As they pulled into Lexi's driveway, Richie parked the car and turned to her with a soft smile. She leaned over the console, kissing him warmly. "Thanks for driving me, babe. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Of course," Richie replied, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Love you."

"Love you too," Lexi said with a smile before hopping out of the car and heading inside.