Richies POV
"So..um ha ha" Stan says, nervously laughing before glancing at Bill and nodding.
"It f-feels wrong to do it w-without Eddie but.." Bill shrugs before nodding back to Stan. Eddie didn't return to school the next day, only Richie knew the true reason why. The others just thought he was sick, which in some ways he was.
"Rich? Hellllloooooo??" Bev clicks in my face which snaps me back out of my trance.
"R-right." Bill starts, "Now we h-have everyo-n-nes attention,"
"We're dating" Stan blurts out, so fast Ben and Mike didn't catch it but the looks on our faces and they instantly knew.
"BEN MY MAN YOU OWE ME A DOLLAR" I shout at Ben with a wicked grin on my face.
"I'm so happy for you Bill! What happened after you ran off after Stan?" Mike asks remembering the unfortunate event that happened only a week or two ago.
"Um S-stan showed up at my h-house and..." He trails off nervously looking at Stan for the 100th time.
"We get it! You fucked on the kitchen counter!" I exclaim before starting to fake gag. "I ATE FOOD OFF OF THERE BILLIAM HOW DARE YOU!" Everyone cracks up as Stan and Bill just roll their eyes in sync.
"Aw young love." Beverly coos it them before the bell for first period rang and the group breaks into three going to different lessons. Beverly heads to science with Mike in the west corridor, Ben, Stan and Bill head towards art on the complete other side of the school. I however walk the opposite way to my math lesson and towards the front office and duck behind a unknown plant as the head teacher stalks past me and into his private office. As soon as I'm in the clear I sigh deeply before sneaking past the receptionist and out the school.
It's time to get to work.
~~~~~~
I've got plenty of time to get my room ready for Eddie it just has to be perfect! I know he always complains about how messy my room is so I'll start there. I unlocked the door to my house quickly knowing that my mother is probably still inside, I really do not wanna be caught by her today. Luckily, the beast is passed out on the sofa so I'm in the clear. My room is.. worse than I thought... I need to get to work to be able to meet Bev for 4th period. I pick up a few clothes off the floor and shove them in the top draw as well as chucking some other junk into my desk. This has to be perfect because of me and Bevs plan. If it goes wrong, our friendship could be ruined..
So my plan for the room is to get the blow up bed and hopefully it will fit under my bed so I can just pull it out every night for Eds. I'm going to clear my bottom drawer so he can put his stuff there and if I have time, create a little den in the tiny wardrobe so when he has to hide from my parents it will be comfortable. Oh god I hope he likes it..
It has to be perfect.
*1-2 hour time skip*
Third period has just started so I need to get back to school ASAP. I sneak down the stairs making sure to step over the creaking floorboard to not wake my mother and I slowly closed the door with my keys in hand. I grab my bike from the grass and pedal down as fast as I can to school which is something I have done many, many times in my life.
As I approach school I can hear the bell for 4th period ringing loudly and a familiar figure leaning on the bike rack.
"You're early for once!" Beverly sneers looking down at her blue wrist watch.
"That's what she said" I snigger
"Rich that doesn't even make any sense NOW hurry up! We haven't got all day!" She laughs starting to ride away towards Eddies house. "Last one there is a rotten egg!"
"Oh you're on BEVVIE"
We make it there in record time and both throw our bikes on the floor to be the first one to touch the house. I bolt off as soon as my butt leaves the worn-out seat and make it there first by a few seconds.
"Aw SHIT!" Bev yells when I brag in her face and she kicks a stone off into the distance.
"Beverly?" I hear a small voice whisper that startles us both.
"Damn Eds you almost gave a wee 'eart attack" I chuckle looking up at the small boy leaning out of his window. "Bevs helping me with taking your stuff back to mine."
"Oh." He says and disappears to go open the front door. I walk over to the door but get pulled back briefly.
"What the fuck are in those pills Richie?" Beverly hisses at me with her wide eyes.
"I-I don't k-know, but I'll take them away from him. He thinks they're making him straight." I mumble back quickly before the door swings open and we step into the evil house.
~~
"Is that all?" I look over at the small backpack sitting on the small boys bed.
"Well yes" *Cough* "I also have my medicine bag as well" He gestures to a small brown purse looking thing leaning on his wall.
"Okay." I glance at Bev who has an unreadable face. "So you know the plan right?"
"Yes, you sure it'll work?" He replies,
"Nope. But my fingers are crossed." I pull him into a hug as soon as I see the glistening tear slide down his face. Beverly joins in and we stand there for a few minutes before leaving the broken boy.
~~~~~~~
Eddies POV
"Night Mommy," I say with a reluctant kiss on her floppy cheek.
"Goodnight Eddie-bear. Sweet dreams." I take one last look at her and I no longer feel love like I used to, just built up anger.
I walk up the stairs with my lips in a tight line, checking the time on the way: 9pm, perfect.
I do not get into bed however like I would every other single day of my life. I walk straight past it to my window , slip my shoes on and climb down the pipe, never even looking back as I pedal into the darkness.
I roll my bike to behind Richie's house so his parents won't see it and wave to the window where he's waiting. His few freckles shimmer in the moonlight and I forget everything when his eyes meet mine. I love him so much.
"Eds!" He whisper shouts and shows me how to climb up. As soon as we are safely in his room I take it all in. Blankets and pillows spread along the floor with fairy lights scattered around. It's beautiful. It doesn't even look like Richie's room it's so clean! I have my own drawer to keep my things, and a safe space to hide, this is the best thing he's ever done.
"Do you.. like it?" He mumbles looking away.
"Richie I... I LOVE IT!! This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me." I hug him tightly but just before I pull him in I see the light in his eyes, the glow of pride radiating out of his skin. Pretty.
(Good Stranger Things reference am I right? XD)
We read comic books for hours, just enjoying each others company. We may at one point had a dance party when 'our song' came on even though it is a slow song. We both grinned widely when we heard the first few notes to Africa.
"Now Eds-" he starts
"Don't call me that, and yes." I interrupt laughing a bit.
"All jokes aside, we have to get rid of those fucking pills. I'm chucking them and you're in my house so there is nothing you can do about it."
I know he's right, I do, but a small part of me still believes my mothers lies, that they will fix me. I need to keep taking them. But I nod anyway knowing there is nothing I can do about it.
"Good." He grabs my medicine bag off the desk chair and empties the three pill bottles into the bin, watching them fall and bouncing off the sides. I interrupt his concentration by yawning loudly. "Lets get some sleep." he suggests and I lie down on the surprisingly comfortable blow up bed as I already got changed into my pajamas an hour before. Richie pardons himself and goes to get changed in the bathroom. A wave of energy rushes over me, a power and independence. I look at the door and listen intently to Richie's mumbled humming coming from the bathroom before sprinting over to the bin and taking out one of the half full pill bottles.
"You're sick Eddie-bear,"
"They will make you better."
"Placebo means bullshit"
"I will not allow my son to be a faggot!"
"They will fix you Eddie."
Voices ringing in my head blur my vision and I listen to them. The world's spinning but one thing is clear. I'm sick, and I need them. My hands shake and I can hear the bathroom door creak open, I open my mouth and pour the contents of the pills into my mouth, voices still ringing in my ears, and I swallow. Climbing back into the bed just as the door opens and Richie walks in.
"Night Eddie-spaghetti."
"Night Chee."