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e i g h t e e n

"hey baby."

it's later than expected when the couple returns to their shared apartment. the late lunch with their friends was only supposed to last until five, however they'd been so caught up in conversation that it was just past seven when they finally decided to call it a night. none of them complained as they had filed out of the restaurant few by few, sharing some hugs between them before parting ways tiredly. richie had driven home alone, with will dropping eddie off only ten minutes later.

when eddie enters the apartment at 7:23pm, richie is leaning on their kitchen counter, staring into nothing. "what's wrong, rich?"

richie exhales a deep sigh before standing up straight and turning to face his boyfriend, who had just walked through the door. "nothing."

eddie's eyes soften in sympathy, and he kicks off his shoes, crossing the room to wrap his arms around his boyfriend. "something's up, baby. what is it?"

richie doesn't move to hug eddie back, obviously tense, and he pushes both his hands through his hair. "it's just...will."

"will?" the smaller boy pulls back to look his boyfriend in the face, eyebrows creasing and confused look in his eyes. "what about will?"

"what do you mean, what about will?"

eddie looks confused, but not upset, and pulls away, moving to hop onto the counter for the remainder of their conversation. "i mean, what about will?"

"did you...did you not..." richie huffs, rubbing his hands over his eyes. "did you not see the way he was acting?"

eddie's voice is genuinely curious when he asks, "how was he acting?"

richie squeezes his eyes shut, exhausted from the long night, wanting to just go to bed but knowing it's much too early and he wouldn't be able to sleep through the night. "he was being a dick! he was so smug, trying to call me out in front of our friends because he just knew i couldn't react. his entire nice guy act is so fucking fake! he pretends he's so genuine and sweet and innocent when he's actually a scheming douchebag! with his goddamn hair flips and obvious flirting-"

"whoa, whoa, whoa," eddie stops his boyfriend, attempting to comprehend what he'd just said. "flirting? he doesn't flirt with me."

richie actually lets out a laugh at this. "eddie, are you blind? he's never not flirting with you! directly in front of me! i'm sure it's worse when i'm not around."

the shorter boy hops off the counter, rounding to the other side, exasperated. "rich, i thought we were done with the jealousy thing. we're just friends. it's just a  friendship."

"a friendship built on blackmail!" richie is angry, and he's overwhelmed, and he isn't trying to be rude but he can't help the upset emotions bubbling up in his chest. "you seem to forget that the only reason that you're friends with him is because he was so 'in love' with you that he blackmailed you to hang out with him!"

"richie, you agreed this is what was best."

"i know i did. but.." richie sighs to himself taking a seat at one of their stools. "it's just too hard."

"what's too hard, richie?"

"all of this. watching you with him. watching him flirt with you. watching you let it all happen because you have too good a heart to notice his shady behaviour."

"baby, i think you might be reading too much into th-"

"god, eddie! how stupid can you be?! it's so fucking obvious! i cant deal with this, i can't watch this. i cant stand by this anymore."

"first of all, watch your mouth," eddie warns, arms crossing over his chest. "and second of all, i'm not going to ruin a friendship because you think he's flirting with me when he swears he's not."

"oh my god, eddie," richie lowers his voice as if he's given up entirely. "are you really choosing will over me right now?"

"who said i have to choose?"

"eddie, i can't do this anymore."

"do what?"

"any of this!"

"so you want to break up?"

"do you?"

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hello all it's been almost a year since i've updated this and i apologize! i honestly forgot wattpad even existed not to mention my stories and i've been super busy! im so sorry ilysm