butterflies // stenbrough

~ Stan Part One ~

"What time is it Mr. Wolf?" The campers asked.
"Lunch time!" He exclaimed before running to tag the kids. Granted, he wasn't the fastest runner but he got a few of those kids.
"Okay K-K-Kids! I'm sure you're having t-t-tons of fun playing g-games with me and Stan, but now it's time for s-s-s-swimming. Head to the lake and c-c-counsellor Ben will help you g-guys." Bill explained.
The kids eagerly ran to the lake, wasting no time.
"Wow those kids love swimming." Stan chuckled.
"It's better than these s-s-s-stupid games they make us p-play with them." Bill said.
"I don't know, they're kinda fun." Stan said, even though the games were kinda lame, he always loved them as a camper.
"Maybe." Bill smiled. Stan liked to see him smiling again. He had been awkward since capture the flag and barely talked to Stan, much less smiled at him. Stan couldn't deny that the air was still a little bit awkward but it was nice to rebuild the friendship, which he had learned to accept as just that after their conversation.
    "Wuh-wuh-what are we supposed to be d-d-doing right now?" Bill asked.
    "We're on cleaning duty. We have to wipe down all the tables and floors from after lunch." Stan said with a groan, met with a groan from Bill too. "It's the worst but everyone has to do it at some point, better today than on buffet night."
    They reluctantly walked to the dining hall, wishing that magically the entire place would already be clean, or someone else would already be cleaning it. But alas, they arrived to a completely empty and completely disgusting dining hall. The tables were eternally sticky and the ground was covered in lettuce and various vegetables from the salads served. Even worse, spaghetti was the main meal and noodles were stuck to practically everything. It seemed as if the campers did more throwing of their food than eating.
    "Holy shit..." Stan was at a loss for words, he knew the campers were gross but this was a new disgusting high.
    "Wow." Bill looked equally as grossed out.
"Guess we got to get the cleaning supplies." Stan hesitantly walked to the supply cabinet, though he had no idea how anything could clean this mess. Bill followed him, even more hesitantly. Stan grabbed the handle and pulled the door open, but to his surprise he found not cleaning supplies, but rather two campers making out.
"Oh my god!" He exclaimed.
"Jesus!" Richie pulled away from Eddie, his eyes clouded with fear.
Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit His mind raced You just caught your best friend making out with one of your really good friends. How do I approach this situation?
"Um hi." Bill awkwardly said.
"Hey." Stan decided to go with, his mind chiding him immediately. Hey?? HEY?? You found your best friend making out with a guy, he obviously looks very scared and all you say is hey???? Fucking loser. Oh my god, do better.
"Please don't tell anyone." Eddie said worriedly.
"C-Course not." Bill replied.
"Oh god." Richie said before running out of the cafeteria, followed by a much slower Eddie.
"Shit." Bill sighed.
"Do you mind cleaning up alone for a bit? I just feel like I should check on him." Stan asked.
"Yeah, g-g-go ahead." Bill responded.
Stan headed out of the cafeteria and tried to discern where he might be headed. Oh his cabin of course. If he and Eddie could be....alone then his kids must be doing an activity. His cabin would be empty. Oh but what cabin is he,,, one?? Two?? Three?? Four?? Four..? Yeah four that sounds right. He headed towards the fourth cabin, a million thoughts of what to say racing in his mind, yet none seemed quite the right way to approach this.
    The fourth cabin came into view and soon he was on the doorstep. He took a deep breath and opened the doors. Shrunken on the floor, he saw Richie with his face in his hands and Eddie rubbing his back.
    "Um, hey." Stanley said, awkwardly. He hated seeing Richie tense up just at the sound of his voice. He wanted to be a safe space for Richie and just the idea that he felt uncomfortable by his presence... words couldn't describe how terrible it felt.
    "I'll give you a guys a moment." Eddie gave Richie one last pat on the back before heading out of the cabin.
    "Hey." Stan said as he took a seat on the ground beside Richie.
    "Hi." Richie put his hands down, revealing a very scared and worried expression. Stan hated to see him like this.
    "Richie-" Stan started.
    "You're not going to tell anyone, right?" Richie interrupted.
    "No, I would never." Stan stated.
    "Okay, good." Stan liked to see that his worried expression faded a little.
    "So are you and Eddie like, dating?" Stan said with a little smirk.
    "No! It was seriously just like a one time thing like I don't even like b-" Richie rambled.
    "Rich! It's okay. I know you like him. You don't have to give me the whole 'it was just one time! I'm not like that' bullshit. You can be honest." Stan lost the smirk, for once Richie didn't need jokes.
    "Well, we've been sort of like dating for two months." Richie's worried expression really seemed to fade now.
   "That's good. You guys seem good for each other." Stan meant it, he always though Eddie was a good influence. Well, Stan thought he was the best influence on Richie but Eddie was a close second.
    "So you're like... good with this?" The worried tone crept back in for a second.
    "You and Eddie? Definitely."
    "No like..." Richie's worried demeanour became to fully take over again "Me being......gay."
    "Richie, of course." Stan felt proud just to hear him say the word. He knew Derry and he knew the world, and anyone being able to just admit that word to others, or even to themselves, was brave to Stanley.
"Okay." A smile returned to Richie's face.
"We've known each other for how long? Thirteen, fourteen years?" Stanley asked.
"Fifteen. But you knew that right?" Richie replied.
"Yeah."
"Of course." Richie chuckled.
"We've known each other for so long, you're my best friend. Nothing could change that." Stanley reassured him. He always hoped the sentiment would go unspoken and Richie would just know, but it wasn't until know that he really realized how important it was to actually say it.
"You can tell me anything, always." Stan said.
"Ditto."
"You know...." Stanley debated between telling him or not, he knew that Richie wouldn't have a problem with it, but there was always the worry of other people. Richie wasn't known for being the best at keeping secrets, but who knows, if he could keep his own for seventeen years then maybe he could be trusted with Stanley's too.
"What?" Richie asked.
"I'm... also into guys." Stanley sighed, the words were out there now, he couldn't take them back.
"Really? You're gay?" Richie seemed surprised, but not in 'what?? this is so crazy and weird' way. Just more of the 'I wasn't anticipating this' way.
"Not exactly, bi. I've had crushes on girls too." Stanley liked to hear the words somewhere other than in his mind. There's such an emptiness in keeping a secret that you just don't realize until someone else knows too.
"Cool. Good for you." Richie smiled.
"Thanks." Stan smiled back "Does this mean your relentless mom jokes will finally be retired?"
"No! Fucking your mom knows no sexuality." Richie teased.
"I think that's my cue to go back to the food hall." Stan said, standing up.
"Okay. But like seriously, thanks for being so cool about everything." Richie looked anywhere but his eyes.
"Don't worry about it. See you later." With that, Stan walked back to the cafeteria. His mind kept replaying their conversation, and he couldn't help but smile every time.
"H-H-How'd it go?" Bill asked.
Stan smiled again "It went great."

///
Love to get a little reddie in there !!