Math Tutor 🥀 Reddie

Part 16

"Eddie I'm sorry.  Please say something."

Eddie reached into his fanny pack and took out a pair of white earbuds with wires that were only hanging on by a thread. He put them in his ears to drown Richie out.

"Fine then!" said Richie, "Be like that. You're the one who agreed to the stupid cricket plan anyway."

Richie hoisted his backpack onto his lap and reached into the pocket. He pulled out a piece of gum, which he then started to chew obnoxiously.

Eddie tried not to react but after a while he just couldn't take it. He whipped his head around to face Richie who was sitting in the seat behind him.

"Can you just stop? Please." He snapped.

"Only if you accept my apology." Richie replied, popping his gum.

"No."

"Oh come on, Eds.  I'm so bored"

"Why don't you just text Beverly then?" Eddie suggested, sounding more irritated than he meant to.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing.  It's just, she's your girlfriend.  Why don't you just text her instead of bothering me?"

"Shit, Eddie.  What's your problem with Bev?  You've been acting all weird ever since we started dating." Richie replied with anger rising in his voice.

"I don't have a problem with Bev.  And I have not been acting weird."

"How come you're getting all defensive then?"

"I'm not being defensive!"

"Whatever Eddie.  You've been acting so different ever since me and Bev got together.  Do you not like her or something?"

"No, I like Bev.  I don't know what you're talking about."

"Then what's your problem?"

Eddie started to feel cornered.  What was he going to say?  He knew he had been acting weird, but he could never tell Richie why.

"Nothing.  There's no problem.  Can we please just stop talking about this?"

"No, I wanna know what your issue is!"

"Richie stop."

"No, tell me."

"Richie, quit it!" He yelled louder than he meant to.  Richie went silent. 

Eddie felt tears start to well up in his eyes.  He rose his sleeve up to his face as his vision started to blur.

Shit.

"Eds?  Are you okay?" Richie asked in a softer tone, "I didn't mean to-"

"I've been acting weird cause I like you, Richie."

"What?"

"I'm sorry.  You're probably freaked out now."  Eddie quickly started to pick up his things and go.

"Eddie, wait." Said Richie, "I like you too.  I really like you.  This whole thing with Bev, it was fake.  We were just trying to stop any rumors about me."

Eddie started to sit back in his seat.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really."

They sat there in silence for a moment.  Then, Richie reached out and took Eddie's hand.