Oblivious~Reddie

Chpt 12~eds?

"Eds?"

Richie had thrown a couple stones up at Eddie's window, he just arrived a minute ago after secretly leaving his house through his window. He knew his dad fell asleep last night on the sofa, drunk.

"Richie?"

Richie looked up to see Eddie standing at his open window, he was smiling. Richie always liked how his dimples appeared every time he smiled. The same thing happened with Beverly.

"Thank fuck, is your mum home?" Eddie went to open his mouth to answer but Richie stopped him by making one of his stupid jokes. "Actually never mind, she would be home. She needs rest after all that fucking we done last night."

"Oh my god, leave!"

"Nooooo, i'm joking Eds. Can i come in?" Eddie didn't reply, he just walked away from the window which was already open. Richie knew this was his way of saying 'fine you can come in'.

As Richie stumbled in Eddie's room, he got up and looked down at the small boy sitting on his bed. "Why did you come here?"

"To chat. I was bored and-" Richie stopped himself from saying anything else. He couldn't forget about the real reason he came here, he could wait any longer. "Scratch that, i need to ask you something."

"No, you can not marry my mother," Eddie sighed with a giggle. His smile instantly went away as he noticed Richie didn't laugh, he didn't even smile. "What is it?"

"You uhh, you said something at the party. I'm not sure if it was true or not seen as you was drunk but yeah.."

"What did i say?" Richie took a seat next to the small boy as it hurt to stand up, his legs felt like jelly. As well as his whole body, he felt as if he was gonna lose his balance if he didn't take a seat any time soon.

"Uhm, well you said that.. Wait hold on. You know when you ran out of the closet at the sleepover and like ditched us because you felt sick.."

Eddie gulped down, his heart was beating so fast. He was so scared of what he said to Richie at the party, he could help but annoyingly tap his foot repeatedly on the floor. He could tell Richie was getting annoyed by when Richie darted his eyes to look down at Eddie's shaking feet, but Eddie didn't stop. It was part of his adhd problem, he couldn't stop it.

"Yeah i remember.. Why?"

"Well uhm.." Richie scratched the back of his neck as his eyes wondered anywhere apart from Eddie's eyes.

"Fucking say it then Tozier."

"Okay, okay. You said that you wasn't actually sick.."

"Fuck," Eddie quickly let out by accident, he didn't mean to say it out loud: He was thinking it, yes. But he didn't want Richie to know how much Eddie was freaking out. "Sorry.. Continue," mumbled Eddie as he looked down to the floor.

"Okay uhm, you said that you wasn't actually sick.. You said you left because you got a- uh.." Richie then whispered "boner."

Eddie's eyes widened at the word, it made him cringe. But it made him cringe even more when he realised that he said that at the party. He couldn't stop shaking, he felt his stomach drop.

Next thing he knew..

He was having a panic attack..

"Richie.." Eddie took a breath after each word. "Inhaler." He moved his finger slightly to point at where his inhaler was placed, on his desk.

Richie quickly grabbed it and placed it in Eddie's mouth, pumping it for him. It took a while but Eddie finally controlled his breathing, he seemed fine. For now.

"Soo, about the-"

"Don't need to say the word," Eddie interrupted quickly. "I was drunk, it wasn't true!"

"Are you sure?"

"Ye- well no, well! Fuck. I- i don't know why ig to one," Eddie explained. "i think it's because i've never been touched that much before in a tight, hot room. A squished area!"

"I get it.. Yeah, that makes sense," Richie spoke while looking back at what happened in the closet. "Too much physical touching for you.."

"Yeah! I'm not a fairy.."

Those words made Richie's heart sink. His best friend used the term 'fairy' instead of saying gay. Was he being homophobic? Richie looked down at his friend who had rosey cheeks, he wouldn't dare to look back up at Richie. And then, he spoke up.

"I meant gay.. Not fairy. I shouldn't of-"

"No i get it, you're homophobic? Just like fucking Bowers and that lot, yeah?" Richie was confused but also upset, not like he wasn't upset before he came to Eddie's house. But, he felt like he had been let down by his best friend. 

Maybe it was the right choice not to tell the losers he liked boys in the first place.

"No! I'm not homophobic, i swear! I just freaked out and didn't want you labelling me as something which i wasn't.." Richie could hear the regret in the boys voice.

It was understandable.

"Okay."

"Please don't be mad.. I guess i just got used to hearing that nickname that it's stuck in my mind.."

Fuck you Eddie.. Fuck you for making me feel bad for you..

"Can i stay round tonight, please?"

"My mums-"

"Please.."

Richie didn't want to go home and deal with his parents tonight. Not after everything that had happened. He noticed Eddie finally make eye contact with him before replying with a polite "fine."

"You'll need to wear some of my clothes for school tomorrow though," Eddie laughed.

"Oh i know."