Okay so I put up a sneak peek a few weeks ago annnnnd let’s just say that version fell through. I was not into it at all. It took me forever just to come up with what I had but I’ve finally found a version that clicks! So let’s ignore that other one, okay?
So here is a snippet of the new one. I’m not sure when it’s going to be done and I’m not going to make any promises. Writing has been really difficult lately and I’m just now feeling it again.
I’m gonna tag everyone who asked to be tagged from the other sneak peek so they have a chance to change their mind if they don’t like this new version. Just shoot me a message or ask if you want to be removed.
“Don’t forget we have that dinner tonight.”
Eddie turns to his left, frowning at his friend and co-host as the commercial plays on before they get back on the air. “That’s tonight? I thought it was next week.”
Bev sits up and grabs her headphones off the desk, running a hand through the back of her short, flaming hair. “What day do you think it is?” she asks, a little concerned.
Grabbing his phone off the desk, Eddie distractedly pulls at the headphones around his neck as he checks the date on the screen: November tenth. His birthday is next week. “What the hell? I thought it was the beginning of the month.”
“You’re working too hard,” she comments, then flaps her hand at him to hurry up. “We’re still going together, right? Or did you meet some stud while I wasn’t looking?”
Rolling his eyes, Eddie sets his phone back down and slips his headphones on. “No, I didn’t. You’re still my date.”
“And for the fundraiser at the club on Saturday?”
Groaning, Eddie nods. He forgot how busy this weekend is going to be.
Snorting, Bev hits the “On Air” switch and starts off the last segment. “Here we are back at KSDC on this depressing, rainy Friday afternoon. I, personally, can’t wait to get home and binge something sad. And gay. Hey, Eddie- you got any home videos I can watch?“
“I really don’t wish that at all.”
“Give me a chance, my sweet gay angel!”
“Ughh, you suck.” Bev pulls the scipt for the dinner reminder closer to her, sticking her tongue out at Eddie briefly. "Now don’t forget everyone, we’re hosting the Sushi Slam fundraiser dinner at the Legion Hall in downtown Stockton. It’s dressy casual, but listen to me, people of Stockton.“
Eddie hides a smile. "Here we go.”
“Do not show up in some jank saggy jeans with your underwear on display, gentlemen. I will hurt you if I see this.”
“She really will,” Eddie adds. "I’ve seen it happen.“
“And Eddie here is fabulously gay, which means he dresses very nicely, even when he forgets about our engagements. And he will help me smack you down.”
Eddie narrows his eyes at her. “Thanks, Bevvie, for calling me out as you always do.”
She smiles sweetly. “You’re welcome, dear.”
Ignoring her, Eddie picks up where she left off. “KSDC has teamed up with San Joaquin Delta College to raise funds for the San Joaquin Pride Center, a non-profit organization serving our LGBT community. Tickets are still up on our website. There’s not going to just be sushi and Japanese cuisine. There will also be some dancing as well.”
“And you’ll get to see us,” Bev sing-songs, returning a thumbs-up from their producer on the other side of the glass. “And I’d like to apologize in advance if for getting drunk and dancing.”
Trying not to smile, Eddie adds, “I’ll protect the community from your traumatizing hip thrust.”
“But what if I dance all over you?”
“Dear god, just don’t start doing the Dirty Dancing thing you do.”
Bev dissolves into laughter as Eddie turns to the phones, stifling his own chuckles. “While Bevvie stops giggling like the psycho she is—”
Bev snorts into the microphone.
“—we have time for one last call before we head off for our sad, pathetic lives this weekend.”
“Hey,” Bev sobers a little, sitting up straight in her chair as she looks at him over the microphones between them. “My life isn’t sad! Speak for yourself, babe.”
“Do you really think I’d speak for you?”
“You’re a man. I’m sure you’d try.”
Eddie can’t stop the giggle that bubbles up in his throat. “Jesus— can we take the last caller now? You know, do our jobs.”
“What job? My job is to sit here and look pretty.”
Looking over the lines, Eddie reaches out to answer the one waiting call. “How do you still work here?”
“I have friends in high places.”
“What, like the King of Hell?”
“That would be my father.”
Bev sits back in her chair with her feet up on the desk, drags the adjustable microphone back to hover in front of her. “Put ‘em on!”
Smiling, Eddie shoves her shoes off the edge of the table and smothers his laughter as she nearly falls out of her chair. He answers the line and addresses the caller. "Not sure why you want any advice from this lunatic, but thanks for calling in. What’s your name?“
A throat clears in Eddie’s ears, and a deep voice speaks up. ”Uh. Hi. I’m Kevin.“
"Howdy, Kevin!” Bev is sitting back up, scooting her chair up against the table. "What can me and my very gay and single friend do for you?“
Eddie suppresses an eye roll. "Don’t worry, Kevin. I’m about to shoot her full of tranquilizer. You don’t have to talk to her.”
“Try it, Kaspbrak,” Bev growls playfully, elbowing him in the side. “So Kevin, what’s going on?”
Kevin chuckles a little, starts with praising the show and saying how much he loves the dynamic between them. Eddie shares a simple smile with Bev. They’ve been working together for a few years, and though they receive frequent compliments on the way they get along, it never gets old, and Eddie always feels grateful to be loved by the community.
“Well thank you very much,” Eddie says, then moves on as he glances at the clock. Ten minutes left. "What’s on your mind?“
”Well, uh,“ Kevin gives a breathy little laugh, then starts. ”So I’m in love with my best friend. He’s uh– we’ve been friends since, like, first grade. We’re in college now, and it’s just, you know. It’s a lot to deal with.“
Eddie reads between the lines easily, sinking into the hurt hidden in Kevin’s voice. "Is he straight?”
Kevin sighs. ”Yeah, I’m pretty sure. I mean, he’s said stuff about guys before, but I’ve never seen him with one. I need to know what to do about this. I need advice about something.“
Bev shifts a little in her chair. "About what?”
“So, here’s the thing,” Kevin pauses for a moment, and Eddie waits patiently. ”I want to cut him out of my life. For me. Because being around him all the time is torture. I feel guilty, though, because I’ve tried to back off and gradually stop talking, but he gets upset about it.“
“Upset how?” Eddie brings his hands up and rests his chin over his palms, keeping his mind off the memories itching at the back of his skull. "Does he yell at you?“
”Kinda? He gets mad. He’ll text me something like Why aren’t you answering what the f dude, or Did I piss you off what’s going on quit being f-ing senstive. I’m the closest friend he has and he’s got a lot of problems. We’ve argued before and it can get pretty bad. I’m just.“ Kevin sighs again, and Eddie lowers his eyes to the table in sympathy. ”I’m tired of being sad all the time.“
Though he tries to shove all the memories down, Eddie is hit with a few images from his past. He pictures a boy with a wide, toothy grin and thick glasses, dark hair a curly mess on his head as he flips his skateboard over and misses a landing. Smiling a little, Eddie can almost hear the boy’s laughing voice in his head: You laughing at me, Eds? Get off your ass and do it, then!
“That’s hard to deal with,” Bev says, her blue eyes flitting to Eddie quickly. "Best friends are both the ideal and worst people to fall in love with.“
”Does it make me selfish that I want to cut him off?“
"No,” Eddie replies, firmly, and he folds his arms over the table as he goes on. "You have to do what’s best for you in the long run. It’s okay to cut people out of your life for your own good. You don’t owe anyone anything.“
”I know, but. He’s been in my life for so long. I’m gonna miss him. Even though our friendship’s a joke right now, we’ve had a lot of good times. I wish I didn’t feel this way.“
"Yes, I understand that,” Eddie says, avoiding Bev’s eyes as he speaks. “But when the good isn’t good enough to outweigh the bad, that’s when you have to say enough is enough. Do what you need to do for your own emotional and mental health.”
Kevin makes a frustrated noise, and Eddie braces himself for an outburst. It’s happened before, but he’s pretty good at rolling with it. ”It’s so hard. What if it’s the wrong decision? What if I regret it in the future?“
Bev looks like she’s going to say something but Eddie taps her arm to stop her, words coming to him before he has a chance to rethink what he’s saying. “You might feel some regret, but focusing too much on that emotion can put a stop to your determination. Speaking from a similar experience, it’s… it’s definitely a challenge.”
“You cut someone off, too?”
“Yup, I did.” Eddie can feel Bev’s gaze on him, but he doesn’t look her way as he goes on. “My best friend since second grade. I stopped talking to him when he moved away during college. Made it a little easier.”
“You were in love with him?”
Relief floods Kevin’s voice as he asks, “And you’re fine now? You’re over it?”
Hesitating, Eddie finally spares a glance at Bev, regretting it immediately when he finds her soft, curious eyes focused on him. He hates his mind a little bit right then as it supplies a clear image of the boy who once held his heart, sitting in the windowsill of a childhood home Eddie knew as well as his own. He was silhouetted by the afternoon sunlight shining inside, cigarette hanging from his lips. It was one of the last nights Eddie saw him before he ditched the simple life for a new one in LA.
“It’s gonna happen, Eds,” he had said, blowing a thick stream of smoke out into the world. "I can feel it.“
And Eddie was on the bed, legs pulled up and off the floor, arms hugging his knees close to his chest. He stared longingly at his best friend, heart beating hard as he greedily took in the sight to keep as a memory. "What’s gonna happen, Richie?”
Richie turned to him, his jawline cast in the shadow of the room, the right side of his face illuminated by the fading light. "I’m gonna make it,“ he said, and grinned in the way that never failed to make Eddie’s heart skip. "Just watch.”
Eddie forces away the memory, picking at his cuticles as his leg starts jiggling under the table. "Yup. Completely over it.“
Perma-tag list: @not-reddie@dailydoseof-reddie@eds-trashmouth@waypunsarelife@richietoaster@reddies-spaghetti@goghnic@inkystrawberry@eddie-kas@megelizabethvh@reddietofall@r-eddie@fabulousqueen59@reddieforlove @justriching@its-stranger-than-you-think@finnwolftozier@derrylossers@beepbeeprichiellc@mtvreddie@reddie-trashgetti@claryvoyantfray@reddiesetandgo@depressed-virgo@lilyridehalgh2@rixhietozier@trahsmouthing@loadsofgayy@richietczierr@brenda-wolfy@fucknugget3@ihavesympathyforthedevil@kween-13ee
Escort fic tag list: @reddie-set-cry@moopai@buverly@aesteddie@missingstanleyuris@alli-kaspbrak@thegreatwhiteferret@hanabee17@geckolover001@stanleysrichie@gazebo-motherfucker@halfway-happy353@this-is-not-a-drilllll@tiny-tea@ellene-reddie@thecastlebyers@irl-tozier@thedillpickleisnotafruit@xoxofrnkii@was-i-even-reddie@richieshawaiianshirts
** Don’t forget to let me know if you want to be added or removed. The story definitely changed **
turnnoffyourmind
pixelskylines
