Our Story- Reddie

Chapter One

Tick tock. Tick tok. Tick tock. The old clock on the wall of the diner seemed to taunt Eddie Kaspbrak. He kept his eyes on the hands of the clock as they moved and time passed. Seconds, minutes, and finally an hour had passed. People in the booths stared at him feeling bad. Eddie looked around. He locked eyes with some of the customers who stared at his table and the empty seat across from him.

His attention now focused on the door. He flinched each time the bell chimed when it opened and someone walked in. He was hoping to see the face of his then boyfriend, James, walk in. Each time he saw a face that wasn't him walk in he would slump back down into his seat and check his phone until the bell chimed again and someone new came in. 

James had texted him that afternoon, asking Eddie to meet him at 'Curly's'  their towns local diner. He said it was important and serious. Why wasn't he showing up? Why was this so important? Is it good or bad? So many thoughts raced across his mind.

Richie Toizer was sitting in the back of the diner with the six of his friends. They all watched the nervous Eddie Kaspbrak on the other side of the restaurant waiting for his date. The seven of them argued about what was happening.

"What's he waiting for?"

"His date, o-obviously." The one in red flannel stuttered to the one across from him in a polo.

"No way. He looks like he's twelve. How could he have a date?"

They leaned over one another to try to get a good look at the small boy.    

Richie started to feel bad for him. He felt guilty although he had done nothing wrong. He knew that the boy was being ghosted or stood up by someone which feels awful. It looked to him as if Eddie was on the verge of tears. 

"I'm going over there." Richie stated. 

"No! Don't bother him. It's his business. It's probably personal, Chee." The redhead next to him protested. 

"Yeah. Not to mention the fact that you would have no idea what to say to him and it would be super fucking awkward. You have no idea how to talk to anyone without being an idiot." Agreed the blonde in the polo. 

"Shut the fuck up. You guys have no idea what it feels like to be ghosted."

"And you do?" 

Without saying anything back, Richie stood up and started to walk over to Eddie's booth.

"Richie-"

But he was already there before he could hear one of his friends finish their sentence. 

He sat down so casually as if he were supposed be sitting there. He had everything all planned out in his head. Eddie looked so confused when Richie sat down. 'Does this guy think he can just sit wherever the fuck he wants?' Eddie first thought.

He got a good look at Richie. He looked about his age. But it also looked like he didn't take very good care of himself for his age. His hair was messy and un-brushed. His glasses were huge and seemed like something a little kid would wear. They were slightly cracked in the corners and were definitely to big for his face.

His clothes were a mess as well. Eddie imagined he covered his eyes or had his glasses off while he picked out his outfit. Jeans, a t-shirt, and a unbuttoned lavender Hawaiian shirt over it. It looked like a shirt a dad in his forty's would wear on vacation with his perfect Caucasian family. Eddie thought it was unbelievable that he was wearing such a thing in winter.