☆ My Star ☆ ~Reddie~ (completed)

☆ Three ☆

Richie had forgotten how it felt to be outside. Since the end of summer he had shut himself away, Stayed inside, avoided the real world. Fresh air filled the boys lungs, replacing the nicotine that had been lingering there from the cigarettes he had smoked earlier. The same cigarettes he had found in his mom's drawer beside her bed. It was the only thing she actually noticed. He knew they were the only thing she cared about going missing. So he continued to take them. She made such a fuss about them yet nobody ever bothered to ask him about them. God, no one knew he was even there. Not even his own family.

The two made it down to the quarry. Eddie had insisted they looked when crossing roads, but Richie didn't care. He walked straight out into the street. It was empty so it would be fine, and even if it wasn't, he knew nobody would miss him. He kept his head down for the entire walk and tried to speak when he could, but rarely wanted to. He felt bad, He loved Eddie, maybe that's why he was so upset. He couldn't tell him. He was too scared, feared rejection or even worse, humiliation.

They sat themselves on a rock. "Are you okay Richie?" He asked with a concerned look on his face. No, Im not okay. I'm a wimp. I can't tell you simple things because I'm scared. That's what He wanted to say, be truthful and tell him everything he had on his mind. But he lied, that stupid lie he had been convincing himself was true. "I'm fine Eds."  Richie replied but Eddie didn't look convinced. He swallowed nervously, began shaking a bit. Richie could've blamed it on the bleak air of Derry, but he didn't.

"Richie, I know you... come on, tell me what's wrong," He genuinely sounded worried, like he actually cared. That's what he loved about him. He was the kindest, most benevolent boy he'd ever met in his life. All Richie ever did was tell shitty jokes about his mom... He didn't deserve him. His eyes glanced over at him. "Things are just, tough..." Richie finally spoke out. "I feel like I'm bothering you too much with my issues Eds, I don't want you to worry about me." It was the truth. He felt guilty for putting him through the pain he was feeling. Richie didn't want him to feel pressured to speak to him just because he was feeling down. He wanted him to speak to Richie because he actually liked him, not because he pitied him.

"Rich, you don't bother me... and I love being your friend! I worry about you because I care, I don't feel pressured to speak to you, I do it out of free will." The words comforted Richie. It was almost like Eddie read his mind, how Richie was scared about Eddie thinking he was too needy, Richie didn't even mention pressure but Eddie seemed to know already. Eddie was an awful liar. Richie had noticed that a long time ago, He could tell he was telling the truth. He wrapped his finger in one of Richie's curls and began playing with it. "You have really nice hair," he giggled. That giggle that made the raven-haired boy weak, soft even.

So many things he could've complement him on, his eyes, his hair, his kindness, his... his freckles. His star-like freckles that splattered on his face. Richie pressed his finger up against Eddie's cheek. He was confused at first but allowed him to keep it there. "I know I've told you this millions of times but, your freckles remind me of stars Eds," He whispered to him. He smiled and a small blush crept onto his face. Richie noticed it, but he didn't think Eddie did. At that very point, light seeped through the clouds and shone directly on their faces, warming them ever so slightly. Eddie made everything right again. Richie believed he was the reason the sun came out to brighten the sky... He had almost certainly lit up Richie's day and it was like he had encouraged the sun to do the same for everyone else.