Reddie Oneshots

reddie eating disorder fic part 8

⚠️trigger warning ⚠️

-

Eddie meets up with the losers the next day and as soon as he sees Mike's face he wants to strangle him or ignore him— to be on the calmer side. Mike broke a promise, one of the number one rules of friendship. It angers Eddie so much, he made Mike promise, and he just blew him off like that.

But Mike also fulfilled another promise of friendship that's also one of the top rules... Don't let your friends starve themselves to death. So instead, Eddie smiles at Mike. Mike notices and steps forward, slowly extending his arms. He was always a hugger.

Eddie hugs Mike tightly and presses his face into Mike's chest, trying to stop himself from crying. Then as soon as Bill sees them hugging, he joins in, then Stan, Richie,

"Dammit Tozier, why are you so tall?"
"Why are you so short?"

Beverly, and Ben. Eddie lets a tear slide down his cheek and giggles beneath the weight of his friends, surrounded by love and warmth. He feels like he can finally breathe again.

For now, at least.

-x-

He isn't stupid enough to think Richie knowing about his eating disorder is going to cure him... in all honesty, he doesn't know how things are going to change now that he knows. Though he feels less alone... and he likes that feeling.

They're sitting on the bank of the river, bare feet being brushed by the cool stream of water that trickles down the river. Eddie's never taken notice of how truly beautiful Derry can be during the summer. The leaves are exceptionally green now, rustling against each other and falling into the water beneath them. The grass is dying in some spots, but in others, it is warm and lively. Eddie lays back, his back making contact with the warm grass, basked in sunlight.

Richie lays down also, his hands behind his head. "Ed's?"

Eddie smirks at the nickname, wanting to reprimand him for using it. "Yes, Richie?"

"Can I ask you some questions about... you know..."

Eddie laughs. "You can say it, Rich. An eating disorder. It's not a bad word, and like you would care... you cuss like a sailor."

Richie scoffs. "Whatever, I do not. But, okay, can I ask you questions about your eating disorder?"

"Yeah... yeah. I want you to know."

"You do?"

"You said you were here for me, and I like knowing that you're here."

"I was here from the beginning... I can't believe I didn't notice. I'm so sorry, Ed's."

"Don't be. I didn't want you to know... I've actually been keeping it a secret for a while now. It's a relief to not always be covering it up anymore."

"How long?"

"I've been losing the same 10 pounds and gaining it for a year now, but it took over my life in June."

"That's... two months... how can I not have noticed?"

Eddie frowns. "I can't notice either. I still think I look huge."