𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡.

𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 | 𝐞 & 𝐫

E

    Eddie reclined back in the seat, slightly bored from the ride, despite them only being fifteen minutes into it. He grabbed his phone from the pockets of his cuffed, light washed denim jeans. He checked for notifications from any of his "friends". None were there. He knew that they only cared about him to get answers for their homework or just to throw parties at his apartment because of him living without his parents. It wasn't a good feeling, being used, but Eddie was almost used to it at this point. Eddie let out a breath, and put the phone back into his pocket.

He turned his head to face the smudged window, peering out of it to see the vivid rays of sun pour his caramel irises, illuminating them with its intensity. He squinted at the sun's brightness, turning back to face the windshield of the car.

After a few minutes of silence, Eddie delved into deep thought suddenly. The realization of the situation was beginning to sink in. He was leaving his job, "friends", even school if they weren't back by the time spring break was over. In hindsight, yes, it wasn't the most responsible idea, but irresponsible ideas weren't inherently bad ideas. Eddie knew he needed this, and so did Richie.  He turned to study the boy of mention, whose hands were tightly gripped on the steering wheel. Eddie couldn't deny that he was worried about Richie, but deep in his heart, he still had some understood resentment for the boy. It was like a wound - cut, but healing over time. He didn't hate Richie anymore, of course. He was almost... fond of him, oddly. He'd never thought it would even be possible to reconnect with him after everything that happened, but he felt closer to him than before. Shared trauma, I guess.

Learning everything new about Richie was intense for Eddie. He would have never imagined him to be how he was now. Not even just the drugs thing. He was more open now. The things Eddie would have to dig deep in himself and try to figure out about Richie were more on display than ever. It was like reading an old book - understanding it more each time, and not trying to analyze it as much anymore. It was just enjoying a book again, like old times.

Eddie, on the other hand, found himself on the opposite spectrum. It was hard for him to open up now, and he seldom talked about his own internal demons he was facing. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Richie was helping him open up, in a way. He didn't know what it was. It was almost like Richie was the divergent pole of his emotional magnetic, and pulling everything out of Eddie. Yes, he was still sort of an asshole, but he made an effort to connect with Eddie. Not many people tried to do that for him.

He continued to examine Richie, who was trying to focus on driving. He could tell the boy was struggling to concentrate.

R

    Richie stared at the road ahead of him, trying to keep his focal point on driving. He felt as if he had stared at the white lines paved on the roads for so long, them starting to blend together, despite the short distance of the ride so far. He glanced at the clock in his car - it had only been sixteen minutes. He felt his head buzzing as if bees were attacking his thought process. He hoped it was just the sunshine giving him a headache and that he wasn't peaking.

    He grasped on firmly to the steering wheel, feeling as if he'd slip away if he let go even a bit. He didn't know what was happening - he felt on edge and overly conscious of everything. His breath support was faltering a bit, but tried to distract himself from the fact by taking some deep, but quiet breaths. He didn't want Eddie, who he'd noticed has been studying him the entire ride, to worry about him.

    Eddie's staring at him was starting to make Richie self conscious. He was already feeling insecure today, and this was not helping. He tried to deflect from this by looking at the road, but then the sunlight seemed to illuminate itself even more. He thought he was going mad for a second. "Can you not do that for like, two fucking seconds?" Richie said, raising his voice in a mean tone and turning to Eddie, almost losing control of the steering wheel. Shit. Fuck. Why did you say that?