Chapter Text
Waking up with the most horrible ache in his cranium, Eddie clutched at his stomach, groaning. Slowly sitting up from the pillows, Eddie turned off the incessant beeping from the alarm clock sitting on the table next to his side of the bed. That irritating noise made his head feel worse like a bowling ball was crushing it. And his stomach churned like a boat sailing through the sea.
He didn’t have the energy to get out of bed. There was no way he was going to be able to go to work like this today. It was best to stay home, rest and… no. A first-year teacher like himself calling out because of some little illness? That would look terrible on his report!
Don’t overreact Eddie, you know it’s all in your head. And you know what happens to you when you think like that! Yes, Myra was right. But, his mother always thought the worse whenever Eddie sniffled or coughed.
Denying that he was sick and that this was something that would pass, Eddie dragged himself out of bed, getting out of his comfortable pajamas, and hardly cared about what he dressed in for the day. Seeing was a hard enough task, cringing from the bright sun shining through the windows.
Walking into the kitchen felt as if he were carrying an elephant over his shoulders. Pouring himself a bowl of cheerios, Eddie turned his nose up at the bowl of cheerios, Eddie turned his nose up at the unappetizing meal floating in the milk. Only eating three unwanted spoonfuls, Eddie felt as if he wanted to heave. Even holding a spoon felt like too much of an effort.
Oh no. That student who was sick on Monday that he had to escort to the nurse. It was in the rule book that no student should ever walk to the nurse’s office alone. Luckily (Well, not for them) his student threw up right when he showed up. After work, Eddy went home and scrubbed his body until his skin was red that night. Apparently, it didn’t work.
No, no! Don’t think like that! I’m not sick! It’s all in your head!
“What the hell is the matter with you, you piece of shit?!”
For a moment, Eddie believed that his husband was shouting at him. His mind was so muddled that he didn’t even notice that the other end of the bed was empty that morning. Due to Richie’s career he hardly ever had to work during the day. Today, however, he must have had rehearsals or a meet to attend to.
Turning his head ever so slightly, Eddie just glimpsed Richie’s head from out the kitchen window. Why was there a black sludge mark on his face? He was struggling to push something out of the driveway. Was it heard of cows? Making out thick black smoke, Eddie could only guess that it was the car.
Oh no. Eddie kept telling Richie that it was time for a new car, but he wouldn’t listen. Oh, just thinking about the situation worsened his stomach. Maybe if he stayed as stiff as a statue he’d feel better. The more he moved, he felt worse.
“Hey, Steve, It’s Richie.” He must have been talking on the phone to his manager. “Listen, I’m having car troubles. No, no, no I will be in, I just need to take my car into a shop so they can have a look… Yeah I know we’re rehearsing for tonight’s big show by eleven. I will be there! I’m just going to take my car in and then… wait, what? I thought we weren’t doing that segment. I haven’t even rehearsed that part of the show!”
Smacking his lips together to try and get rid of that fermenting taste, Eddie groaned. He couldn’t tell Richie about how he was feeling. He was under enough stress as it was. Due to the life-threatening injury that doctors called a miracle he even lived five years ago, Eddie’s immune system wasn’t as strong. He got sick easily. Not to mention, it took longer to recover compared to how others got better within a quicker timeframe.
Richie had canceled a good number of his events just to take care of him. While that was great, Eddie felt that he was getting in the way of Richie’s career. No, he could never do that. Richie had been talking about this event for weeks. And thinking back to his own job, his boss wouldn’t be happy with him calling out at the last minute. That happened enough times as it was.
Heaving his achy body up from the chair while holding the heavy bowl, walking to the sink felt like a longer walk than normal. Feeling his stomach lurch, Eddie grasped the sink counter breathing in and out of his nose.
“… Yeah, okay, as I said, I will be there! And I will bring my script of suggestions!”
Richie stormed into the house, grumbling to himself. Walking into the kitchen he only just glanced at Eddie standing over by the sink, struggling to keep himself up. He stuffed a banana in his mouth and drank some coffee. Due to the car and scheduling for events, the morning escaped him.
“I’m not going to have the time to drive you to work, sorry. Steve booked like a zillion interview rehearsals and the fuckin’ car just decided that it didn’t want to back up! You don’t mind walking, do you?”
Oh, please drive me? I can barely stand. “No.” That was the first thing Eddie said all morning. It felt like such an effort to even talk. And it hurt.
“Great. I think I’m working late tonight. I’m going to leave now so I can get the car in and then get over to the studio. You never know how long it could take to hail a taxi in the morning rush,” Richie said. Then he laughed. “Hey, maybe I could get a taxi for free ‘cause I’m, you know, Richie ‘Trashmouth’ Tozier! Do you think that could happen?!”
Turning around, Richie just caught a glimpse of Eddie disappearing around the corner, opening the front door. “Maybe.” And Eddie was gone.
If it weren’t for his phone ringing, it was then that Richie noticed that there wasn’t a smell of toast in the air. And Eddie’s barely-eaten bowl of cheerios was left in the sink without so much of an effort of being cleaned nor being put in the dishwasher as Eddie insisted. Richie lost count on the number of times Eddie chewed him out for leaving dirty dishes in the sink.
Hurrying to catch up with Eddie who was already walking down the last step, Richie struggled to lock the front door trying to keep an eye on Eddie as he half-listened to his manager ramble on. “Yeah, ‘k, cool. No, not cool! Sorry, I was, uh… just hold on a sec… Eddie, are you okay?” he called out.
Hugging himself to keep warm despite the sun shining, Eddie stared back at Richie who was getting smaller the further distance his jello-like legs took him. No, please stop me from going through with this stupid decision. “Yes.”
Was it the smudges on his glasses or did Eddie look sickly pale? And now that he thought about it they didn’t even kiss each other goodbye like they did every morning! Was Eddie made at him for coming home late last night? He was already in bed. And it wasn’t even ten. “Um… okay, I lo- huh, yeah, Steve, I’m still here! Wait, what time? Shoot, I have to get my car in now! Can Barry or whatever that limo guy’s name is come pick me up?”
Trudging along, listening to his stomach making uncomfortable noises, and wanting so badly to go back to bed, Eddie tried to stay positive that he could somehow get through this day.