𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄, reddie

30 ☦︎︎ Nervous

To help visualize for the story, I realized that Rupert Grint in 2005 matches my personal perception of Baxter not perfectly, but very well. Anyways, I love Rupert so much.

Eddie walked over to a confused yet happy looking Matthew, as he grew closer to the pale boy, he contemplated if he should be here in the first place. He stopped next to Matthew as the taller of the two began. "Hey, Eddie." He said softly, his usual excited and bubbly manner extinguished into nothing but thin air, yet his award winning smile still visible, yet not quite reaching his eyes.

"Hi, Matthew," Eddie said dryly, staring up at the boy with the unfamiliar aura, "are you okay?" Eddie added, concerned and confused for anything bad that could have happened to his date.

Matthew's smile faltered as he looked away from the boy and at the car that Eddie had just gotten out of. "Was that Richie? Tozier?" Matthew asked, completely ignoring Eddie's question, knowing that if he said 'yes', he'd be lying.

Eddie looked down at the dirty grey cement bellow his feet, yet his head still fixed upwards. "Y-yeah... I'm sorry-" Eddie started,
"No, no, it's okay." Matthew interrupted reassuringly, though his words sounded everything but genuine and true, but Eddie couldn't blame him, if he were Matthew, he wouldn't be okay with it either.
"I just want to know if you're okay." Matthew added.

"Oh, yeah, of course I'm okay." Eddie replied, looking back up at Matthew.
"Just- Why have you been spending time with Richie? I mean, he's your bully after all." Matthew asked hesitantly.

"It's kind of weird, actually... we're partners for a project in science, and today he told me that he doesn't think being, you know, gay, is a problem." A light blush creeped up to Eddie's cheeks at the memory of Richie's face and voice as he had told Eddie that.

Matthew's eyes widened as a surprised look etched itself on his face. "So, uh- you guys are, what, friends now?" He inquired, genuine confusion marked in his words.
"I guess so." Eddie said, trying not to sound too disappointed in the fact that they were just friends - but why would Eddie even want to be any more than that?

Matthew let out a sigh of what Eddie assumed to be relief, then smiled at Eddie. Matthew began leaning his head down towards Eddie's, and Eddie mirrored his actions, beginning to lean towards Matthew before they both jumped back, startled by the sound of a car's honk coming from the direction of Richie's truck.

Matthew giggled, shaking his head and looking down as Eddie laughed.
Matthew stepped towards the doors of the theatre, opening one if the glass double doors wide for Eddie to step through. Eddie looked back in the direction of Richie's car when he heard wheels working against the asphalt, and sure enough, he saw Richie driving away and heading back to his house.

Eddie looked at Matthew and smiled, muttered a quick 'thank you' before walking into the cinema's lobby, Matthew close behind. Matthew slipped Eddie's small hand into his own, earning disgusted stairs from a mother and her son, Eddie tried not to let that get to him, though.

As Matthew led Eddie up to one of the ticket booths, Eddie wondered if it was a good idea to be here in the first place. He had tried to convince himself he still had feelings for Matthew, and he felt like he should, but he was finally coming to the conclusion that he can't fake feelings for the wavy haired boy anymore.

He didn't want to lead Matthew on, that was the last thing he wanted to do, but he couldn't help that stinging feeling of guilt in his chest every time he kissed him. He didn't know what to do. Eddie wasn't exactly perfect at expressing his feelings.

What if I just tell him I don't want to keep seeing him after the date? That's a normal way to turn someone down, right? After the first date? Eddie rambled to himself in his mind.
But doesn't that sound rude? Eddie let his thoughts travel swiftly as he stared at the ground with worry painted over his tan face.
Fuck it, I'll just ask Stan.

Eddie broke himself from his trance, pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing. Matthew turned to Eddie a second later, sticking his ticket wielding hand out for Eddie.
Eddie looked up at Matthew, then down at the ticket resting in his hand.

Eddie mumbled a small 'oh' before grabbing the ticket and smiling up at Matthew, who returned his smile and gently held Eddie's hand once more.
As they began to walk towards the theatre room, a familiar red-headed boy caught Eddie's attention.

Eddie let out a small, breathy chuckle at Baxter who was playing against a young kid at the arcade section, and was losing. Matthew turned to Eddie with a small smile painting his smooth features. "What?" He asked softly, causing the freckle faced teen to look up at him.

"Oh, nothing, there's this guy from my science class," Eddie stated, turning his head and nodding towards the losing ginger, "You might not know h-" Eddie started once again, getting cut off by a surprised Matthew. "Oh, Baxter!"

Eddie let out a confused laugh, "Yeah, Baxter.". Baxter somehow heard his name above the cheering of the arcade machine's music. Turning his head around, his jade green eyes located Matthew and Eddie, a smile appearing on his face and putting his uniform silver braces on display.

Eddie and Matthew caught his eye, Eddie sending a little wave his way, and Matthew simply staring, feeling his cheeks warm up slightly. Baxter sauntered over to the two boys, the white sole of his colourful old school vans slapping against the floor in a rhythmic pattern.

"Hey, Eddie," Baxter said, offering a smile that didn't reach his green, doe eyes. He then turned to Matthew, and a goofy smile now transformed his freckled lips, "Hi, Matthew!" He said, Eddie smirking confusedly when he saw a light blossom colour paint across Baxter's defined nose.

Baxter's tall figure stood higher both of the two brunette's, Eddie thinking just a bit shorter than Richie. "Hi." Matthew returned, smiling softly while staring up at Baxter's dreamy green eyes, Eddie only bothering to smile and nod towards Baxter. "What movie are you guys watching?" Baxter inquired, already having guessed the two are on a date.

"Uh, 'Pet Semetary'. The most recent one." Matthew answered quickly yet hesitantly.
"Ooh, I'm not good with horror." Baxter said, letting a nervous chuckle out as his cheeks reddened from embarrassment.
"That's okay! What movie are you watching?" Matthew had not realized Eddie had let go of his hand and was standing awkwardly, staring at the two as they conversed.

Baxter laughed a little before answering, "'Touch Of Pink'. It's a bit old, I guess, but I like that, you know?". Eddie smiled, having known exactly what the movie was about, while Matthew stayed clueless.
"That's interesting. I like old movies, too." The latter expressed, smiling and checking his watch before looking back up.

"It was great talking to you, Baxter, but Eddie and I got to go now, bye!" Matthew said, getting ahold of Eddie's hand once more, dragging the shorter boy away, not giving Baxter a chance to say goodbye.

A minute later, after Matthew had taken Eddie to the theatre and sat them down, Eddie checked his phone for the time before turning to Matthew with an amused yet confused expression.
"Matthew, the movie doesn't start for another twenty minutes!" Eddie exclaimed, wondering why Matthew had taken them into the theatre so early.

"He just makes me... I don't know, nervous." Matthew mumbled, looking down at his lap. Eddie couldn't help but smile in amusement, thinking that there might be some mutual feelings between the ginger and the brunette. Eddie thought if that was the case, maybe he wouldn't feel bad if he were to turn Matthew down.

The thought of that made Eddie giddy rather than sad or mad, he couldn't help but think the two would make for a much cuter couple.