Secrets | Reddie Fanfic

Playing Pretend

"Edds, I'm telling you Domino's is the best fast-food pizza place in the entire universe! They put every other pizza place to complete shame," Richie beams, working on his fourth slice.

We are laying the opposite direction from each other on my bed while scarfing down pizza, per Richie's request. His socks were by my head and they were probably the cutest pair I have ever seen. Very short, pastel pink ones with black, diagonal lines. They didn't go with his outfit, but you couldn't see them when his shoes were on so it didn't matter. He moved his feet around so much that at any moment he is perfectly capable of kicking me straight in the face. My knees were in the air, so my feet didn't fall far down, or anywhere near him for the matter. I didn't have socks on and I didn't care for interfering with his personal space while he was eating.

"I like your socks," I comment.

"Pretty gay, doncha think?" He smiles.

I laugh, "I mean, yeah I suppose. Your dad doesn't mind them?"

"Oh, he's never seen them. If he did he'd saw my feet off just so he could burn the socks. Like, before I got here he was throwing a tantrum because my shirt has a gay dude on it!" He explains.

I cautiously ask, "Is that why he hit you?"
"Yeah," He nods, with the same amount of caution.

"You know Edds, he may be a maniac but he means well at heart," Richie sighs.

I question, "Does he?"
"Fuck no, I lied. In fact, I think he kicked me out of the house today. I don't know, he does that sometimes. But, I always return within forty-eight hours, and we do this thing where we both pretend the other isn't there for a few days, then we go back to small talk and tremendous amounts of homophobia. Every child's dream!" He explains.

I ask, "So do you need a place to stay?
"I guess. Normally, I'll stay with Bill one night, and then I like to rotate between Bev and Ben, I like their homes best," He says.

"What's wrong with the others?"
"Mike's house is too big, it feels lonely. Then, Stan's dad irritates me because he's always up Stanley's ass. If it were up to Stan he'd just make me smoke until his dad's words fizzle out, but I feel weird being stoned out of my noggin in front of his father. Stan does it, he couldn't give a single fuck."

The two of us, and the empty pizza box, lay and stare at my ceiling fan.

"So, Eddie, ask me something and I'll answer it no matter how personal the question is," He suggests out of nowhere.

I think, "Uh, I don't know, what were you like as a kid?"
He starts, "Super fucking annoying, but happy. I pulled pranks, and made jokes, I loved doing impressions. I think I was good at them, but everyone else seemed to disagree. I wouldn't eat dinner ever, I went from lunch to a snack right before bed. Lucky for me, I had parents that didn't care if I was underdeveloped. I liked playing pretend, my imagination was fucking endless. So endless, sometimes in school I'd pretend to be someone I wasn't. I'd tell my teachers to call me random ass names, and I'd have an accent, or a weird quirk and shit. No one fucking liked me, but I drove my teachers bat shit crazy so I think it made the others entertained at the very least."

I smile, "That Richie does seem annoying, but at least he was having fun."
"True, this Richie has far less fun. It's like, I took the imagination part of me and kicked it up seven-hundred levels, but in the worst possible way. I do love playing pretend, don't I."

I shrug, "I guess, but you don't do it on purpose. You're pressured by literally everyone."
His eyes sparkle, "I am."
"Not by me, though. You don't have to play pretend with me," I grin.

Richie begins, "Well then, let me introduce you to the real Richie Tozier, he's shy though because he hasn't made an appearance in a while."

He clears his throat and puts on a fake, high-pitched voice, "I'm Richie T, I love D, and I'm a flaming homosexual man-child. My hobbies include listening to indie bands, watching quality films, masturbating, and staring at pretty boys like you."