Summer of '93 - Stozier

58

The line for the ferris wheel wasn't too long, surprisingly, only a few young kids who definitely looked to small to be riding alone, and a few teens. They passed Bill and Eddie on the way there but they only stopped for a few minutes to talk (it was mostly just Eddie sulking about how Bill kept winning prizes and he didn't).

"You okay, Stan?" Richie asked, laughing just a little at his facial expression. "You look like you're about to shit yourself,"

"I might," Stan mumbled, staring up at the wheel. He'd never liked heights.

Richie laughed again, elbowing the taller boy. "Don't worry, Staniella, i'll hold your hand if it gets too scary for you." He mocked in a voice one would use while talking to a young child or a pet.

"Fuck off." Stan shook his head, huffing out a laugh.

They got onto the ferris wheel after around five minutes, Richie being kinda zoned out most of the time.

Stan held his breath as the wheel started moving, grabbing tightly onto the bar and squeezing his eyes shut. He was waiting to hear Richie make fun of him, but no comment came, which was very odd. He opened his eyes slightly, his stomach doing backflips as he saw how high up they were, and slowly turned to look at Richie. His stomach filled with butterflies for a reason other than nervousness this time, watching Richie stare up into the starry sky, a solemn look on his face, which, again, was odd.

He's so pretty..

"You okay, Richie?"

"Fine." Richie mumbled, glancing over at Stan quickly before looking down at his lap and fiddling with his hands. He looked almost sad.

"Uhm... I have to tell you something..?" Stan said slowly, his chest a little tight.

"Yeah, I have to tell you something too.."

"Oh, well.. you go first."

"No, its fine.." Richie shook his head, still looking down at his lap. "Whats up?"

"Um.. well.. b-basically.. i kinda- i told ste—"

"Im moving." Richie blurted, interrupting him.

Stan feels like he's just been punched in the gut. "Moving? What- What d'you mean? Like- moving house?"

Richie nodded.

"Like- a- away from Derry?"

He nodded again.

"What!? Where?" Stan instinctively grabbed Richies hand, because if he didn't, it felt like he might just disappear.

"Georgia." He answered quietly.

"Why!"

"I-"

Stan interrupted Richie, squeezing his hand. "No! Why- You cant move! You can't leave me-.." He lowered his shaking voice "Don't leave me.."

"I have to go home." Richie shook his head, scrambling as fast as he could to get away as soon as the ferris wheel stopped.

In the short time it took Stan to process what just happened, Richie was already lost in the crowd.

He was a fast little bastard when he needed to be.

But Stan knew Richie like the back of his hand. He knew the fastest way to Richies house was down an alleyway, and he knew thats where he would have went.

Pushing through the crowds, he spotted Bev and dug his car keys out of his pocket and tossed them to her. "Dont! Crash it!" He yelled, speeding past a few people and out of the general area of the festival.

Stan was right, He caught up with Richie in the alley, breathing heavily from running.

"Richie— wait up!"

He stopped in his tracks, not turning to face Stan.

"Jesus- Why'd you run of? I could have drove you-"

"I told you I have to go home." Richie interrupted, his voice broken, making it obvious he'd been or was crying.

"Im not talking to your back, Look at me, Richie."

Richie shuffled on his feet, still facing the other way.

"Look at me."

He sighed, hesitantly turning around, keeping his gaze on the cracked stone below him.

"When are you going?" Stan asked quietly, stepping forward slightly.

"Before the start of school.." Richie replied in a low whisper.

"What?! Thats not even a week away! i- I promised to never leave you, so how come you get to leave me?!"

"You think I want to leave?!" Richie snapped, glaring up at Stan. "You think this was my decision?! I DON'T GET A SAY IN THIS, STAN!-"

"Richie..-"

"I couldn't give a flying fuck about this fuckin' shithole of a town! But that doesn't mean I wanna leave my friends, okay?!" He continued to yell, his hands flying about as he spoke the way Eddie does when he's ranting.

"Then don't leave!-"

"THATS NOT MY DECISION TO MAKE!"

Richie pressed his palms to his eyes in frustration, letting out a deep sigh before adjusting his glasses and looking back up at Stan. "Im going home." He turned on his heels and began walking away.

"Richie, wait,"

"What?!" He snapped again.

Stan would've much rather had Richie slap him in the face than yell again. "I- uh-" He walked towards him, stopping only when there was a little bit of space between them.

do something, idiot!

"I have to go, Stan, what is it?"

Stan leaned down and hugged Richie tightly, resting his chin on top of Richies head. "Promise me you won't completely forget about me when you get better friends?" He half joked.

Richie slowly wrapped his arms around Stans torso. "Don't be fucking stupid." He laughed.

•*•*•*•*•*•*•

they were supposed to kith in this chapter but i felt like it was too soon help