The Love Is Still There |Richie Tozier (2)

~3~ Dinner

Richie didn't notice me yet, since I had hidden myself behind Eddie. Next to Richie, was Beverly and...... Ben? Damn, the guy looked really different.

"Look at these guys!" Eddie grinned.

Everyone stared awkwardly around. Richie still hasn't seen me. He pointed to Ben from behind and made an arm movement around his own stomach, indicating that Ben used to be bigger. Ben turned around to look at him and Richie smiled innocently.

Eddie moved away from me, not realizing I was trying to hide behind him. 

"Ah fuck Eddie." I muttered.

Richie looked at me and his grin faded. "October."

"Richie." I said breathlessly.

Oh God, was I still so hung-up on him after all these years? We made eye contact and my heart started racing. Okay, yep. I was.

Richie walked up to me. "It's been awhile."

I nodded. "Yeah, it has."

He went in for a hug, while I went in for a handshake.

"Oh sorry." we both mumbled.

I switched to a hug, while he switched to a handshake.

"Oh fuck okay uh." I mumbled.

We ended up doing a really weird half side hug while our fingers touched awkwardly.

"Right, well when you're done being awkward lovers, let's sit down." Eddie said.

I pointed the middle finger at him and sat down between Bill and Eddie. Once we got some shots on the table, conversation started flowing really easily.

Eddie grinned as he took a shot. "I haven't had a shot in forever. My wife wants me to stay sober."

"Wait, Eddie you got married?" Richie asked Eddie, while laughing.

"Yeah, why is it so fucking funny dickwad?" Eddie retorted.

"What, to like a woman?" I elbowed him and grinned.

"Fuck you both." Eddi waved his chopsticks at us.

"Fuck youuuu!" Richie cried.

"Hey, what about you trashmouth... you married?" Bill asked Richie from across the table.

"There's no way Richie's married!" Beverly laughed.

"No, I got married." Richie said.

I couldn't help but feel a pang in my heart.

"Richie I don't believe it." Beverly replied.

"Wait you guys didn't hear this?" Richie asked, looking serious. "You didn't know I got married?"

Eddie shook his head. "No."

"Yeah no, me and your mom are very very happy right now." he said to Eddie.

I spit into my glass as we all started laughing. Except for Eddie, who shook his head in disappointment. "Fuck you."

"She's very sweet," Richie continued. "She'll put an arm around me." Richie started doing an accurate impression of Jabba from Starwars.

I leaned forward, laughing so hard and smacking the table with my hand.

"Alright, we all get it. My mom was a great big fat person!" Eddie raised his hands.

"ohhhhhh!" We all cringed.

"Okay, and what bout you Other Trashmouth?" Bill asked me.

I shook my head. "No, too busy with my photography. I've got a lot of models to shoot."