soulmates? - reddie

5

Richie didn't know what he wanted to do, he was going towards the park, but he has to admit he'd rather turn back. Cry into Connor's shoulder. But he doesn't want to use Connor. It's clear they wouldn't ever actually date, and he's okay with that. A family Christmas with the Bowers family doesn't seem very blissful. But, Connor is the closest thing Rich has to a boyfriend. If he could, Richie would be at Eddies dorm by now. But he can't, there's no way Eddie wants to talk to him. He hasn't yet, so why now? 

He turns around, but as he suspected nobody stopped him. The whole floor probably heard him, including his friends, but nobody came to comfort Rich. Stanley was probably trying to figure out what Richie did wrong, because of course he's the guilty one. Or maybe Stan was with Patty, and Bev and Ben had a date yesterday, so they're probably waking up in each other's arms. Knowing Bill he's off to Audra's today, blow off steam over the fight that HE started.

Richie hated being jealous of his friends. But he couldn't help it. They were all happy with partners, and Mike was studying and knew what he wanted in life, at least it seemed like he did. Meanwhile Richie wanted to be a comedian and he wasn't even taking the right college courses. The boy he was in love with had a girlfriend. And the boy he was sleeping with was impossible to date. As he got to the park, Rich takes out his phone. Nobody texted him. Not even the boy that started the mess. 

Meanwhile, back at the dorm Bill had found the note in Richie's drawer addressed to Eddie. Bill knew. He knew Richie was soulmates with Eddie the minute they met. Even though that was online. They'd never seem each other, and at that lunch, Rich's eyes lit up. Bill went straight to Eddie's. As soon as the door opened Bill asked "Is Myra here?" Eddie shook his head confused. Bill invited himself in and read the letter aloud. Eddie looked even more confused up until the signature at the end. Bill put the letter down on the table and left.

Red ink. Their color. Eddie looked at Myra's collection of blue. Blue clothing, a blue blanket, blue everything. It wasn't hard to see they didn't belong. After rereading the letter a few times, analyzing the hand writing, the bleeding ink on small crinkled spots. Tear drops. Eddie couldn't believe it. Genuinely couldn't. He had clearly been hurting Richie. The boy who'd been there for him without ever seeing him for years. Eddie couldn't bear to think about Myra. He grabbed out a trash bag.

Myra came by to ask Eddie to take her to lunch, and found a trash bag outside. She opened it as she was suspicious, and found her things she'd left. A note on top explained Eddie found his soulmate, and he wouldn't be seeing her anymore. Myra was so surprised Eddie had the courage. She banged on the door and yelled at Eddie. He yelled back and told her to leave. Richie walked back from the park to this debacle. He heard Eddies voice, he sounded like he was crying. 

"Leave him alone, he clearly doesn't want you here" Richie started calm, but Myra started yelling at him "Calm down, just leave him alone" She looks at him and starts calling him slurs, homophobic slurs, saying it's his fault Eddie is doing this. Richie can't take it, he feels tears streaming down his face and yells at her to leave Eds alone. Suddenly Connor, Bill and Stan's doors are open. Bill is yelling at Myra but she focuses on Rich. Connor rushes straight to Richie, he grabs Richie's wrist "Don't pay her any attention."

Within seconds of Connor showing up Eddie's door opens. He has tears down his face and in a stern voice nobody expected he tells Myra to go home. She must've been awfully surprised because she left. Richie looks down at Eddie's hand. He's grasping a note. Richies note.  Connor is grasping at his cheeks, wiping the tears. "Are you okay, what was she doing? Did it have to do with earlier? The yelling? Me?" Richie's eyes are glued to the note "Im fine princess, go back to your room, I'll text you later. Connor nods and walks away.

Eddie smirks as Richie walks over and wipes the tears from his face now. "Princess?" Eddie asks, smiling still. "Oh, that, yeah, I've slept with him a couple times." Richie looks at the note again "Nothing serious though... where'd you get that?" Eddie looks down "Bill read it to me." Richie sighs. "You want to come over?" Eddie nods and Stan closes his door, shooting Rich a thumbs up. 

Richie didn't know if he should thank Bill or kill him. As Rich and Eddie walk in, Bill has the proudest smile on "You okay Rich?" He gets a nod and then a "Who else did you tell Eddie was my soulmate?" "Just Stan" Richie rolls his eyes and sits on his bed. "We can't afford a couch yet, me and Billiam are working on it" Eddie joins Richie and soon after starting a John Mulaney show, Eddie is asleep in Richie's arms. Richie gets a text from Connor and ignores it. He feels bad, because yes, Connor is an amazing guy, but he isn't Eddie.

Richie knows they're moving fast, but he likes it. He slips away from Eddie, setting him comfortably on the bed. The losers had a movie night tomorrow, Richie's movie choice. He'd ask Eddie, but maybe they should tell the others. The phone buzzes again and he knows it's Connor. Richie puts a blanket over Eddie, he has to go to Connor's and explain this all. 

The knock on the door surprises Connor, when he answers it, Rich is standing there. "Connor, we can't, you know, for lack of better term, fuck anymore." Connor laughs, "I know that! The way you looked at that boy, you got yelled at by a homophobic bitch to make sure he was okay, like jesus!" Richie scratches the back of his neck. "Thank god, this was too awkward." Richie laughs and awkwardly walks away.

He felt relief, but sorrow. He wanted to at least stay friends, but judging by this conversation, that wouldn't happen. Just earlier today, he wanted Connor to love him, but now all he wants is one boy. He walked into his own dorm and immediately felt his spirit lifted when he saw Eddie laying there. He lifted up the side of the blanket and slipped in, laying beside Eddie, wrapping his arms around him. Forget Connor, Eddie will love Richie, not just for sex, for everything. And if he doesn't Richie will love him.

Word count: 1145