Richie walked down the street angrily, dragging his feet and he kept his head down. Actually a few old ladies would stop and ask him if he was alright, Richie would just reply with, "Yes I'm alright ma'am."
Pharmacy. Pharmacy. Pharmacy. Clean yourself up maybe Eds won't realise what's happened. Richie thought to himself. His heart started to beat faster as he imagined the look on Eddie's face when he walked into the clubhouse, broken glasses, bruised and bloody nose and a black eye.
Richie approached the pharmacy and lit up a bit. It'll be alright. You'll patch yourself up and Eddie will be fine. But just as soon as he got to the pharmacy door, it was slammed and locked. Richie sighed and locked eye contact with Greta Bowie who was obnoxiously gnawing on her bubblegum.
"What?-" Richie started.
"We're taking a break," Greta said bluntly. "It's a long break, move along Tozier." Richie sighed. "When will you open again?"
"Tomorrow," Greta replied smugly. "Daddy's sick." Richie rolled his head backwards and sighed again. He stuck his middle finger up at Greta and walked away.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Richie thought. You know what just suck it up. You'll be alright, it'll be okay.
~
As Richie approached the entrance to the clubhouse, he slowed down. On his walk there, he prayed that Eddie went home with Bill, but as he got closer he could hear Eddie's voice. He sighed. He was going to have to show them at some point, so he decided to just fucking do it.
"Hola amigos," Richie grinned as he climbed down the ladder. "Do not be mad at me" he turned and the first person he made eye contact with was Bev. Her face immediately dropped. She dropped her bag and rushed towards him, Richie thought she was going to hit him and say, "We fuckin told you so!" But instead she just gave him a hug.
"Oh my fucking god," Eddie said angrily. Richie looked at Eddie with a weak expression on his face. "I knew this would fucking happen. I told you to stay, didn't I?" Eddie continued. Richie shrugged and made his way over to the hammock.
"Richie, I'm sorry but we were right. You should've stayed." Beverly said gently, lighting a cigarette. Richie shrugged again and looked at the ceiling. Eddie noticed the watery layer on Richie's eyes, so he calmed down.
"Did he hurt you?" Eddie asked. Richie shrugged again. "Not that much, no." He lied. "His words hurt a lot more though." Richie chuckled nervously.
"Why?" Eddie asked, standing above Richie who refused to make eye contact with the smaller boy. "I mean if his punches don't hurt, why don't you fight back? His words and insults aren't true, are they?" Eddie said in a loud voice. Beverly felt slightly scared. They were true.
"You're not gay, you're not a faggot or a fairy, and you're not a failure!" Beverly felt a sting in her chest. "Eds..." Richie started.
"No, listen! Okay? Understand that you're not any of those things. Then you can teach yourself not to get so upset by his words? 'Kay?" smiled Eddie. There was silence for a while.
And then Richie sighed. "Yeah, thanks dude." He smiled weakly. Eddie nodded reassuringly and picked up his stuff. "I've got to get to Bill's, my mommas gonna be picking me up soon," he kissed Bev on the cheek and said his goodbyes.
"Bye Eds." Beverly called. She watched Eddie climb out of the clubhouse until he was fully gone. She sniffed.
She didn't want to look at Richie, she was too afraid he was going to be too upset with Eddie's words. She knew Eddie was only trying to help, but the things Eddie was saying was just going to make Richie feel like an idiot. And Beverly knew that. Maybe Bev was wrong. Maybe Eddie didn't feel the same way Richie felt about him.
