prank || reddie

7

3rd person POV

"Stan the man!" Richie exclaimed as the ringing on the other end of the line stopped.
"The fuck do you want now?" Stan answered.
"This is important actually,"
"Last time you said something was 'important' you just asked if I liked Bill or not,"
"And you didn't deny it!"
"That's besides the point!"
"Okay, okay, i'm being serious. I'm actually really worried about something,"
Stanley sighs, "Do tell,"
"It's about Eddie..."

"Have you told him you like him yet?"
"What!? Of course not!"
"For god's sakes Rich, just tell him already,"
"I can't! He's probably straight and even if he wasn't, he definitely doesn't like me that way. We're just friends, and I don't wanna ruin that,"
"You're kidding right?" Stan said, laughing.
"No?"
"Dude. Eddie wears knee high socks with fucking rainbows on and you think he's straight?? When has he ever, like ever, talked about liking a girl? When has he ever had a girlfriend?"
"I- I mean-"
"Let me finish. Have you seen the way he looks at you?"

"Like I'm the most annoying person in the world?"
"Oh my fucking god you're useless," Stanley groaned, scrunching his eyes closed and rubbing the bridge of his nose in annoyance at the other end of the line, "He's in love with you, dumbass,"
Richie fell silent. Stan could hear his breath catch in his throat.
"Shut up, that's not funny," Richie finally said, voice sounding painfully strained.
"Why do I even bother," Stanley sighed, rolling his eyes, "Seeing as you obviously aren't listening to me, what were you gonna tell me?"
"So uh- I might of... kind of... texted Eddie that I liked him,"
"You what?" Stan exclaimed, "You just told me you didn't!"
"He uh- he thought you had stolen my phone,"
Stanley snorted at this.
"Why am I not surprised? You're both more oblivious than Bill, and that's saying something,"
"Wait, what?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing, don't worry,"
"I- okay then..." Richie chuckled.
"So what did you tell him?"
"I chickened out and told him it was a prank,"
"You fucking idiot,"

"I know, I know, spare me the lecture,"
"So he bought that?"
"Well, that's the thing... I'm pretty sure that's why he's been acting so weird lately - at the quarry and at the sleepover,"
"It's. Because. He. Likes. You. Back."
"Shut up we both know that's not true! I've tried to apologise, and that did nothing, as you saw. So, oh wise one, what's the next move?"
"Richie. Listen to me, because I'm only gonna say this once more, okay?"
"Okay,"
"Eddie has a crush on you. It's obvious to anyone - apart from you, apparently. He sits in your lap all the fucking time. He stares at you pretty much every single second of every single day. He always makes you playlists, and only you, and don't give me the 'it's because we're best friends' bullshit cause best friends don't make each other playlists with love songs on them (yes, funnily enough, I do pay attention when you call me after Eddie has left and gush for twenty minutes straight). He lays his head on your lap any chance he gets, and whenever you're in the hammock he comes and joins you. When you two had to kiss in that game of truth or dare, do you remember how relived he looked that it was you and not anyone else? I could keep pointing out the obvious for days, but me and Bill are going bird watching in like five minutes. If you don't tell him soon I'm gonna fucking murder you,"

And with that, Stanley Uris hung up.

Richie sat on the edge of his bed, completely in shock. Stan's words were whizzing about in his mind.
'Eddie has a crush on you.'
'He's in love with you, dumbass.'
'He likes you back.'
Could any of it be true? What Stan said... about how Eddie acted... it was starting to actually make sense. I mean, Eddie was extremely touchy with him, (Richie was just as touchy in return, obviously, but that's not important right now) and hadn't Richie caught him staring almost seven times now? And hadn't he blushed that adorable shade of pink each time their eyes met?

It was starting to come together in his mind now, the final puzzle piece finally slotting into place. Maybe Eddie was mad at him because he couldn't tell if he was joking or not? Maybe he had unintentionally hurt Eddie by not telling him the truth? Then again, what if this was just wishful thinking? What if Stan was wrong, and Richie was just trying to convince himself Eddie liked him back because it was one million times better then the tension filled friendship the two currently held.
But isn't it better for both of us if I just tell Eddie though? Wouldn't that make him stop being mad at me? Even if it ruins our friendship, anything is better than Eddie being angry at me, right?

After a lot of overthinking and going over scenarios in his head, Richie eventually came to a conclusion.

He would tell Eddie, and he'd tell him soon.