Rejected || Reddie

chapter two

A single tear went down my cheek as Richie raced out of the clubhouse. I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to hurt him. In fact, I think I actually wanted to be with Richie. But I just couldn't accept his confession. The things that I felt when I was with Richie... they were wrong. I was supposed to like girls! Girls! But all I could think about was Richie and his stupid face.

I grabbed a pillow from the hammock and screamed into it, my eyes welling up with tears. I was a messed up human being. But I couldn't help it, and I just missed the opportunity to be with the love of my life. I honestly don't think I had ever seen Richie cry before, except for the time his cat got hit by a pickup truck. I had gone too far in rejecting him. I had no reason to be that harsh. But what I said to Richie was things I told myself everyday so it came out of my mouth easily. I tried to imagine it wasn't Richie as I yelled, but just a mirror.

I started to feel my breathing become messy, and quickly unzipped my fanny pack to retrieve my inhaler. Feeling somewhat calm again after a few breaths, I sighed and flopped onto the cold dirt floor. I had to think of what I was going to do to gain Richie back. As just friends of course. We could never become anything more, despite how much I wanted that. Richie probably never wanted to see me again though.

I was deep in thought, when I heard a scream. Not just any scream. It was... Richie. I stumbled off the floor and ran out of the clubhouse to his voice, not thinking of any consequences. It led to the... kissing bridge.

   I watched from afar as I saw Henry Bower's goons hold Richie by his arms as he struggled to get free. Henry pulled out a pocket knife out of his shorts. Richie gasped, but was quickly quieted as a boy put a hand over his mouth. I was in panic. I had no chance against the Bowers Gang, but I had to do something. But I just stood like a statue and shook like a rocket. Henry began to take Richie's shorts off, but I still stood frozen.

"Ah, what do you think I should carve on you?" Henry asked Richie, clearly not looking for a real response. "Oh, I know!" the tall boy exclaimed with a laugh.

   I widened my eyes in terror as Henry started to slice into Richie's inner left thigh. Hearing Richie's muffled screams brought tears to my eyes. Where was the rest of the Losers Club when you needed them? I desperately tried to move my feet from where they were implanted in the grass. I shakily was able to start walking in the direction of the kissing bridge.

   Richie noticed me quickly, and violently shook his head, trying to get me to go away. Henry had now completed his work on Richie's left leg, and started on his right. Richie's eyes squeezed shut as he began on writing again. Henry just finished the first letter when I appeared to the gang at the end of the bridge. Henry noticed and stopped for a second, turning to face me.

"Oh man, it's the little shit's boyfriend!" he cackled. "What are you tryin' to do? Save your wittle love bug?"

   I narrowed my eyes and said something I never would have thought I would have the guts to say in a million years.

"Bowers! Let him go!" I yelled, my hands balled into fists by my sides.

   Bowers just laughed again.

"Am I supposed to be scared of you?" he questioned in a grimacing voice that made me want to run away and never look back.

   I stuttered to find brave words again, but nothing came out. Henry started to walk towards me, and I started to feel like I was going to faint when a rock was hit directly onto his forehead, making him fall to the ground. I turned around to see who it was, and saw Beverly and Ben behind a bush, starting to aim towards the rest of the Bowers Gang. Realizing they had no ammo, they quickly surrendered Richie and slumped Henry over their shoulders, running away.

I swiftly ran to Richie's side where he laid on the bridge, groaning loudly. Bev and Ben came out from behind their spot and ran to him as well.

"What happened Eddie?" Bev asked me in distress.

"I-I dunno? Richie has just left the clubhouse without me and I guess he got cornered by the B-Bowers Gang here? I-I feel so bad!" I cried, putting my hands over my face.

Bev patted my shoulder as Ben read what Henry carved on Richie. He widened his eyes.

"Oh my god," he said under his breath.

Bev gasped as she saw what they did to Richie.

"Richie! Are you alright?!" Bev asked in panic, getting close to his face.

Richie just groaned. Blood dripped out his wounds badly.

"We need to get him to the clubhouse." Bev demanded.

Nobody disagreed, and without a word Ben and I helped Richie to his feet and walked slowly to our hideout. When we got there, we placed Richie in the hammock, and began to search for supplies to help him. We quickly found a rag and tried to stop the bleeding. Richie winced as we even barely touched the cuts.

I put my hand around Richie's face, trying to distract him, and smiled half-heartedly whispering, "You're gonna be alright Rich."

Richie smiled a little bit back, and I tried hard not to get blush. His smile didn't last long though as Bev put rubbing alcohol on his injury with a cotton ball. He whimpered in pain, and I wanted so badly to kiss his forehead and continue to whisper reassurances to him. But I knew very well to avoid anymore physical contact with Richie, knowing that I would fall harder for him if I didn't.

Ben finally then put bandages on Richie's wounds. Richie sat up and hugged all of us when Ben finished.

"Thanks, guys. I don't know what I would do without you." he said with a smile.

When he pulled back from the hug, he groaned a bit. I then noticed the bruises around his upper arm. I felt so terribly that this was all my fault. If I had just told Richie how I really felt...