Eddie's My Boo

1. Drowning Thoughts

Richie sat up on his bed, a book perched on his thigh. He checked his phone, and to his dismay, there was no text awaiting him. He sighed, and slid on his slippers. His room was maroon coloured, a disgusting colour that his mother had chosen. He disliked it, but nobody could argue with her. It was always "mother knows best". She was always on his case, questioning his every move. Richie was certain that she had cameras around the house, as he had detected movement from various corners in the living room.

He groaned and stood up slowly, the mattress creaking. The lights from the cars outside turned his room a shade of gleaming orange, and died down with each pass of a vehicle. His arm reached to his lip, and he began to pull bits of skin.
It was something that made him feel secure, as dread overcame him. School tomorrow, he thought. Great.

His hands reached for the brass doorknob, and it groaned as he twisted and pulled it open. Richie's eyes glanced left and right, a worried expression on his face. He was trying to avoid his mother, prying at him like a curious cat. It was beginning to take a toll on him, and he despised her for it. Always making him feel watched. It's a frightening feeling. Like dropping down a deep, dark hole in your dreams. But then you woke up, and everything was fantastic. Well, not in this warped dream.

He clambered down the landing, swearing as he stepped on squeaky toys, left by his unintelligent dog Rupert. He was very stupid, with no sense at all. His nickname was Ruby, which is a useless epithet seeing as he was a boy. His parents were always weird like that.

Richie felt the corners of the wall reluctantly. He bit his lip, and winced. Silence is golden, especially in this circumstance.

He made it to the bottom of the stairs, and prided himself for doing it so timidly. "Well done Richie, master of silence" he said to himself, softly. He suddenly thought of Eddie. Oh poor Eddie. Richie missed him undoubtedly, yet every visit was uncomfortable. It was like an atmosphere of sadness. Very weird, considering they had been friends for years and knew each other inside out. He had hoped that Eddie like him back, even though they hadn't declared it yet. It was a bit too soon to feel fully dedicated and comfortable with telling him. These were his basic 2am thoughts, pondering in his imagination about where the wedding venue would be. Every night he dreamed about Eddie. They would frolick in daisy covered fields, the cows mooing in the background. They held hands and watched the sunrise, heads moving closer towards each other until....

And that's where his dreams would always end.

Richie grabbed the key and the lock clicked open. He pushed it, his eyes creasing, trying not to make a sound. Suddenly, a hand grasped his shoulders.

"Aah!" He screamed and jumped. He shuddered, his teeth rattling. "M-mum. I thought you were asleep?"
"I was reading. Then I heard you, so I followed you downstairs"
Richie sighed, half with relief, half with fright.
"You scared me, mum. Don't do that again! Anyway, I'm off to bed" he chuckled, worry showing through in his voice. He gulped, a bad habit that had chased him through childhood. It showed that he was terrified.
"Woah, woah" she said, pushing him back with a force that startled him. She smirked, her pearly teeth reflecting the moonlight from the open window near the stairs. "You're not going anywhere."

At this point, Richie realised how controlling his mother was. Her hand climbed up his shoulder, and brushed his neck. "Come into the kitchen, hun"
"No! I...mean, no" his voice reached a point where it was almost inaudible. His voice had begun to replicate a chipmunk's. "I'm really tired mum, I am!"
"Don't lie to me, you son of a b-" she paused, and gave a small cough. Her lips folded as she swallowed. "Kitchen".
She grabbed his hand, and squeezed it. His delayed response to her pull caused him to lurch forward. He stumbled and used her as a sort of crash mat. She marched into the kitchen, and shoved him onto a chair. She poured herself a glass of water and slammed it onto the table, minimal droplets splashing. They shone in contrast to the dusty wooden dining table. "Talk. Don't talk? I'll make you" she slumped on her chair, furiously twisting her hair.
"I just wanted to have a little fresh air. My room felt...musty" he said, clearly lying.
"Mhm, and you expect me to believe that? I'm not stupid you know!" She let out a hysterical laugh. Then she quietened down. She said in a quiet voice, "you weren't going to meet Eddie again were you?" Her body leaned over the table. Her breath was warm, as it travelled onto Richie's bare arm.
"Of course not. I don't see him anymore, like you told me" he looked down at the floor. Who was he kidding? It was obvious that he still saw him. There were so many hints! Like the hoodies appearing in his wardrobe, bracelets, necklaces, books. They don't just appear. Plus, they usually don't get printed with R+E on the front. Well, unless I'm unaware of this change.

"Oh yeah? What's this then?" She passed a heart emblem, saying "Besties Forever" on it, across the table. "I bet it was from Eddie. You were always with him" she rolled her eyes.
"No!" he ran his hand through his hair repeatedly. "It was...a gift from a...uh...a girl in class for Valentine's day. She likes me." He grinned and faintly nodded.
She stared at him, perplexed. "Oh. Okay. Well then. That's...uh..." she looked stricken, lost for words. "You know how much I hate Eddie. His mother, she's so controlling that it's changed him"
Have you seen yourself, Richie thought, you're always on my flipping case.
"Don't meet him tomorrow. Don't meet him anyday. Please. Just for mama?" She said and grinned.
"Of course" Richie said slowly.