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Expose: reveal the true objectionable nature of someone or something.
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It had been a week since Richie stood up to the bullies, and their deafening silence and lack of acknowledgement was more terrifying then if they were pestering him. It felt like they were planning something, which Richie didn't like one bit.

However, the only positive to their stagnant plan was that he got more time to be with Eddie. He knew they weren't going to settle down - and waiting for them to strike was worse, but, waiting with Eddie (who still doesn't know everything which has happened) made it slightly better.

"Hey." Eddie softly muttered to Richie as they were led on Richie's bed, with Eddie's head on Richie's chest. Richie was currently holding The Maze Runner, and they were roughly halfway through. Eddie decided they should read it together in the end.

Richie looked down at Eddie, placing the book carefully to the side, "Hmm?" He mumbled, running a hand through Eddie's hazel hair.

"Are you alright?" Eddie started. "You don't seem quite yourself."

Richie mentally kicked himself. He was trying to act normal as normal as possible so Eddie wouldn't grow suspicious of why Richie was so nervy.

Richie wrapped his other arm tighter around Eddie's waist, pulling him even closer, "I'm fine, promise. I'm just a bit tired that's all."

Eddie only shrugged in response, before placing a delicate kiss to Richie's jaw. Richie just hoped that after all of this, Eddie wouldn't be as hurt as Richie worried he would be.

-

It was a Saturday night and Richie was sat by his desk on his laptop, scrolling through the Internet aimlessly. He was messaging the group chat alongside per usual, with a separate conversation with Eddie of course, whilst they planned their ideas of activities to do next weekend.

His phone buzzed, and he mindlessly checked it before noticing he was tagged in a post. His mouth went dry when he saw it.

A video of him, well, not him anymore. Prince him. Posted by the one of the boys who he didn't even know the name of, yet who he had carelessly pissed off. He resisted the urge to cry as he plugged in his headphones and pressed play.

The video was clearly sloppily made, but that didn't make any difference. It started with a video of Richie in his home country, the age of thirteen making a speech. A small part of him hoped it wasn't completely obvious it was him, until he quite clearly introduced himself - then, it was evident.

Why did he never change his name? He didn't want to lose his identity; but this was far worse.

A voiceover came on over pictures of Richie, in his hometown, clearly royalty.

"This is Richie Tozier, the kid who moved here a few months ago. He's really nobody special, plain, boring and rude, but he's also a dirty cheating liar,"

Richie paused the video and took a deep breath before continuing.

"Richie Tozier is a Prince, and he's been lying to everybody about it. This is who he was before he came over to our school," the slideshow of Prince Richie continued. "A snotty, know it all piece of royalty, who thinks he can have whatever he wants because he's worth something in a place nobody has even heard of. But his lies aren't even the worst part, he's clearly a joker, too,"

His heart could've stopped. Please don't bring Eddie into this, he thought.

Unfortunately, photos of Eddie started to appear on the slideshow. Richie cringed as he saw they'd tried to photoshop Eddie into peasant clothes. Although the editing was bad and shabby, the message still hurt the same. Richie wiped his face with the back of his hand, and only then did he realise he was crying.

"Little Eddie Kaspbrak," The slideshow contuined with photos of Richie and Eddie. "Or better referred to as little peasant boy who lives in a poor, old house with his poor scumbag family. How sad?" The person doing the voiceover, who's voice he didn't really recognise, paused to laugh. "It was quite obvious Richie only felt pity for him, and I guess we should too."

And that's when Richie lost it.

A video, clearly taken from a crappy camera phone, appeared on the screen. A video of Richie paying the guys to stop bullying Eddie. He didn't even now they were filming.

It was clear it was Richie, it was his voice, his words. His decision. His fault.

"Richie thought it would be hilarious to pay us to make Kaspbrak's life a little worse. He'd come back to us and say how pathetic he was, all while telling the pitiful, feeble Eddie how much he loved him. He doesn't though. All he feels is pity, because peasant boy Eddie will never be rich and wealthy like him. And Richie will never, ever, be one of those who love."

The video cut out, and Richie broke down into sobs.

He immediately went off the app, trying to ignore all the horrible comments aimed at Eddie. Richie cursed to himself when he realised that nobody was insulting Richie, probably because of his status. Instead, everybody had turned to Eddie. Like it was him who lied.

Richie
Please don't believe the video, none of it is true.

He replied almost straight away.

Eddie
It looked pretty convincing to me.

Eddie
Why did you lie? I would have liked you either way.

Richie
Eddie please believe me. Absolutely everything on that video isn't real.

Richie pressed send before he could think. Another lie. He was so used to lying that it's almost a second nature now. He regretted it immediately.

Richie
Eddie?

Eddie
I'm turning off my phone, don't try and speak to me ever again.

Richie
Please Eddie, I'll have to go home now that video is posted. And I don't know want to never see you again

Richie
I'm sorry.

Eddie
Yeah. And I'm sorry I ever believed you.

Sobs racked through Richie's body as he bought his knees to his chest. He felt so stupid for lying to everybody; even though he could hear Eleanor's words repeating in his head like a broken record - you have no choice.

But did he?

All he ever wanted was to feel normal. To come here and live a standard life, with nice friends, normal people. But now he knew, he could never be normal. Never have it. Even if he payed for it with all the money he owned.

Why couldn't he had just told Eddie the truth in the first place when he knew he could trust him? They would've been okay. He could still have Eddie.

Richie thought back to all those times spent in the palace. The isolated halls and empty rooms. The never ending glances and whispers. He thought he was lonely then, but now that he had lost Eddie, he swore to himself; he had never felt more alone.

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