My Girlfriends Brother || Reddie

Chapter Nine

By midweek, Eddie had almost convinced himself that he could move past everything. The weekend's turmoil, Richie's kindness, and his own outburst had left him emotionally drained, but he was determined to push it all aside. He'd been sticking close to Stan and Bill, using their presence as a buffer to avoid both Richie and Henry. For the most part, it worked. Eddie focused on his classes, his breathing exercises, and his resolve to keep his head down.

But trouble had a way of finding Eddie, no matter how hard he tried to avoid it.

He was walking to his next class alone, clutching his books tightly to his chest, when a chill ran down his spine. The faint buzz of the hallway chatter seemed to fade, replaced by the distinct, slow drawl of a voice that made his stomach churn.

"Hey, Kaspbrak," Henry called out, his tone dripping with mockery.

Eddie didn't even have to turn around to know who it was. The hair on the back of his neck prickled as he quickened his pace, hoping to slip into the classroom before Henry could catch up. But his hope was short-lived. Henry's heavy footsteps thudded against the tile floor, and within moments, he was in front of Eddie, blocking his path.

"Where's your knight in shining armor?" Henry sneered, his lips curling into a cruel grin. "Not here to save you this time?"

Eddie's jaw tightened, his grip on his books like a vice. He fought the urge to lash out, knowing it would only make things worse. "Leave me alone, Henry," he said, his voice low but steady.

Henry leaned in closer, his face just inches from Eddie's. The faint smell of cigarettes clung to his clothes. "Make me," he taunted, his gang laughing behind him like a pack of hyenas.

Eddie's chest tightened as panic set in. He glanced down the hallway, desperate for an escape, but the corridor was empty save for Henry's gang. He took a step back, only to bump into the cold metal of the lockers.

Henry's grin widened. He grabbed the edge of Eddie's books, yanking them sharply, but before he could fully snatch them away, a sharp voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"Don't you assholes ever take a day off?" Richie's voice rang out, sharp and unyielding.

Henry turned, his smirk faltering slightly as he took in Richie's figure. Richie was leaning against the lockers a few feet away, his arms crossed and his gaze cold as steel. His casual stance didn't hide the tension in his frame, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

"Oh, look who it is," Henry sneered, recovering quickly. "Lexi's boyfriend. Back again to save the day. What, you got a thing for Kaspbrak or something?"

Richie pushed off the lockers, stepping closer with an unhurried confidence that made Henry's gang shift nervously. "Touch him, and I'll make sure you regret it," Richie said, his voice low and steady.

Henry's grin wavered. "Big talk, Tozier. This isn't your fight."

"Yeah? Then why are you running your mouth to someone half your size?" Richie countered, his glare intensifying. "What, can't find someone your own size to pick on? That's pathetic, even for you."

Henry's cronies muttered among themselves, glancing at each other with uncertainty. The tension in the hallway was palpable, the air thick enough to cut with a knife.

For a moment, it seemed like Henry might push further. His lips parted as if to respond, but then he glanced back at his gang. Their hesitation was clear, and for once, Henry wasn't willing to risk losing face. He sneered, shoving past Richie with a muttered, "You're not worth it."

The gang trailed after him, muttering curses under their breath as they disappeared around the corner. The sound of their retreating footsteps echoed down the hallway until it was silent once again.