The summer you were mine

16.

Eddie hung up, worry quickly filling his mind. He jumped on his bike and raced down the street, tears threatening to spill. Was Richie ok? Was he going to be too late? NO! Eddie, stop thinking like that. Richie's probably just messing with you. Right?

Eddie came to Richie's street, his legs feeling almost completely numb. He pulled into Richie's driveway. Good, no one's home. He could help his boyfriend without having to worry about what his parents thought. He knocked on the door. No answer. And again, no answer. "Rich? Richie, please!" He shouted. He tried the doorknob, it turned easily. It was unlocked.

Eddie rushed in the house, calling for Richie. No answers. He looked all around the first floor of the house with no luck. He raced up the stairs, following a small trickle of blood. He came to Richie's room. "Rich, please be ok." He whispered to himself. He put his hand on the door and inhaled sharply. Eddie opened the door and gasped at what he saw. Richie, laying face down in a puddle of his own blood. Eddie finally let the tears fall as he went over to him. "Richie! Richie? Come on, wake up!" Richie lay there with his eyes closed, but as Eddie soon found, he had a strong pulse and was starting to breathe steadily. Eddie rolled Richie over and looked at the damage. This is bad.

Richie was always good at hiding when he got in fights. But he couldn't hide this. This is bad, maybe even a few broken bones. "Richie, love, please. Come on
Hey. Please wake up. Don't leave me." Eddie gently shook Richie's shoulder. Nothing. "Richie, please." Eddie leaned down and kissed Richie's forehead. "Eds?" Eddie heard a weak whisper saying.
"Rich! You're ok! Thank god!" Eddie cried tears of joy.
"It hurts, Bubba..." He whispered softly
"I know, let's get you cleaned up. Ok?" Richie nodded.
Eddie got a first aid kit and helped Richie sit on the sink. Richie was in a lot of pain, everywhere. He let Eddie clean him up. He didn't say a word, not one. And neither did Eddie until it hit him.
"Rich? Did your dad do this to you?" Richie looked away, he couldn't face Eddie with tears in his eyes. Eddie put his arms around Richie's waist and pulled him into a comforting hug. Richie sat on the counter with Eddie's head against his chest, trying to hold back the tears. Eddie started rocking side to side, taking Richie with him. Richie couldn't hold it in anymore. He let the tears fall and he put his head on Eddie's shoulder, wrapping his arms around his neck.
"I'm so sorry, Eds! I didn't mean it! I didn't. I shouldn't have said it. I'm so sorry! Please don't leave me. I love you." Richie said through sobs.
"Rich, what are you talking about?"
"I-I-I told him t-to kill me"
"What? Rich? Why?"
"I said....Go ahead...Beat me... Kill me...I don't care... You took everything from me...I can't be happy for one day because of you...GO AHEAD "DAD"... Eds, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it."
"Richie, it's ok. Everything's ok... shhhhhhh. Hey, let's go lay down. Ok?"
Richie shook his head and Eddie helped him off of the sink.

They laid down, Eddie's head on Richie's chest. Richie pulled him closer, not ever wanting to let him go. He thought about his dad, Eddie, and his feelings. He couldn't let Eddie get hurt. He had to keep him safe, no matter what.
"I do love you Eddie Kaspbrak. I hope you know that."
"I do. And I love you too." Eddie said as his eyes fluttered shut. Richie kissed his head and smiled.

That was his spaghetti and he loved him. He was going to keep him safe. No matter what. Even if he had to do something he never thought he would have to, something he had thought about a lot until he and Eddie got closer.
He would leave if it came to it.
Anything to keep Eddie safe.