soulmates? - reddie

3

Eddie never responded. Richie watched the typing bubble pop up, but he never got an answer. He tried to distract himself. Dressing in a low-effort outfit. He made his way to class. It was long, and exhausting, but he tried to deal with it. Halfway through class he got a message. He rushed to the bathroom, just to find a notification from some coupon system he signed up for months ago. He rested his face in his hands, trying his best not to cry. He didn't mean to send that message.

When Connor Bowers found the flowers he smiled, then frowned. He read the letter and admired the carefully wrapped flowers. Fake flowers, but still a nice gesture. He pulled out his own stationary and wrote his response. He wasn't exactly excited.

Richie,

I'm sorry, but if you're looking for a commitment, I can't do that. Judging by the fact that I still only see blue, we aren't soulmates. If you ever need something like last night, I can still do that. Again, sorry for this, and thank you for last night.

C.B.

When Rich read the letter, relief spread through him. It was just a mistake. One night couldn't ruin anything. He flopped down on his bed, looking at his now lacking flower arrangement. He rolled his eyes. He turned and stared at the seconds hand on the clock. He laid there until it hit him. He knew how to tell Eddie, more formally, how he felt.

He ran to a flower shop "Do you have pink and red roses?" He had barely burst through the door. The store keeper nodded, and brought a small bouquet. "Do you want a card?" He shook his head. Richie knew what he'd write. It was too much for a dumb card. He paid and ran out the door, back to his dorm. He watched the clock, taking a deep breath. He grabbed a red pen and started scribbling onto a sheet of paper.

Edward Kaspbrak,

I know you're my soulmate. I KNOW it. I can see color now. Don't lie and say you cant. I always thought I could like you. I told you about the issues with my parents, I told you when I struggled in school, I told you whenever my friend's fought. Well I guess now they're your friends. I thought I loved you when you called me and taught me how to calm down. You told me to find something in my color and watch it. I use it as a distraction now. Even now that I can see all the colors I still love red. I remember when your mom bought you daisies and you said you couldn't see them. I offered to send you red roses, but you said you liked the shade of gray pink was replaced with. I guess they aren't the same anymore. Here I am, fulfilling my promise. Don't hate me for this.

Love, Richard Tozier

He stared at the note. Was it good enough? He didn't care. He folded the note and stuck it in with the bouquet. Rich smiled and looked out the window. He texted Bill and got Eddie's room number. He walked with the flowers to the room. He knocked on the door, but Eddie didn't answer. "Hello?" Richie said, holding the flowers "Who're you?" When he asked the woman smiled "I'm Eddie Kaspbrak's girlfriend, Myra."

Richie felt his heart sink. He tried to hide it. "Oh! I have the wrong dorm room!" he bluffed and sped his way back to his room. He slammed the door, throwing the flowers, thank god Bill was still over with Audra. He started to cry. Taking his glasses off, shakily setting them down on his nightstand. He walked to the center of the room, picking up the note. He opened it and re-read his masterpiece, tears splotching over the page. Some ink ran, he barely cared. The note was carefully folded, and placed in Richie's night stand. He didn't bother to pick up the flowers. 

Rich opened his laptop to the last day's research. He read, and read, and read. He opened him and Bill's shared mini-fridge. He pulled out the beers he'd put there, taking one. He stopped drinking before it was as bad as last night. Bill texted he'd be home soon. Richie didn't care, he turned the laptop off and tried to sleep. He was failing. He used the damn clock trick. He drifted off quickly after that.

When Bill returned, he found a note on the door, asking to please not slam said door. He shrugged it off and opened the door, Richie was laying on the bed, eyes red and puffy, Bill knew he'd been crying. The tall boy was over the covers, and fully dressed. There were pink and red roses in the middle of the floor. Real ones, not like Richie's go-to. Bill noted they were Eddie's favorite and had clearly been thrown. Bill shook his head and cleaned the roses up, and then draped a blanket over his roommate.

A few minutes later, Bill was knocking on Eddie's door. Eddie opens it and promptly asks "What do you need? I'm trying to organize my meds" Bill rolls his eyes at the predictability of that sentence. "I'll make it quick then, did Richie come over today?" Eddie's eyes widened, Bill couldn't tell if it was in fear or excitement. "No, why?" Bill shook his head. "Something happened, he seems upset." Eddie quickly, before Bill could walk away, asked "Is he going to be able to sleep?" Bill laughs "He's already ahead of you there, I think he tired himself out."

When the door shut Myra called out "Eddiebear? Was he talking about that boy who sent you that message? The one I've asked you to delete?" Eddie snapped back at her "You didn't ask me to delete it, you took my phone and deleted it yourself, before I could even read it!" She shakes her head "You wouldn't have wanted to." When Eddie had told Myra he was moving to her town, she insisted he'd see her daily. He knew they weren't soulmates, he know he didn't love her, but he was stuck. The question was what would happen next? What does Richie want? Eddie wondered, walking back to lay down with his girlfriend. "I'm sorry for yelling, I don't know what came over me." He kissed her cheek and laid there until he finally let himself drift off.

Word count: 1070