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❀ f o u r ❀

"All set?" the waitress asks, reaching for the check and assortment of bills and coins sprawled out. It would annoy the waitress. Every time this group comes in, they paid in random chunks of change that took forever to count. However, she doesn't mind, because she likes seeing a certain curly-haired boy with a loud voice and big glasses. She goes to school with them, but they're upperclassmen, so they certainly haven't noticed her. Richie happened to sit at the end of the booth today.

"Y-yes," Bill says, helping her scoop up the change. Suddenly one of the coins falls to the ground.

"Oops," she says innocently and leans down to grab it. Except she doesn't just lean down. She places her hand on Richie's thigh for support as she bends over. Richie's eyes widen as he stares at her hand gripped around his thigh. The other losers notice and eye him, knowingly.

"Got it," she smiles sweetly, leaving her hand on Richie's thigh for a few seconds longer than necessary. Richie and his naturally flirty personality can't help himself, so he winks at her. She pulls a paper out of her waistband and places it in front of Richie, winking back at him before walking away.

"What is that?" Ben asks, leaning in to examine the paper.

"Ha," Richie says, flipping the paper over, "She gave me her number."

"You're not gonna call her, are you?" Eddie asks. Richie just shrugs and stuffs the paper in his pocket. Eddie frowns without realizing it.

"Don't subject her to that," Stan says, and the group giggles.

"Don't be jealous, Stan," Richie retorts, "You'll get yourself a lady friend one day."

"Why does it have to be a lady?" Stan asks without thinking. Everyone looks at him, eyes widened at Stan's question.

"Well, Stan the Man, I guess it doesn't have to be a lady, does it?" Richie responds. The rest of them stare at Stanley with understanding eyes, waiting for him to continue.

"A-are you...?" Bill trails off.

"I don't know!" Stan sighs, exasperated and throwing his hands up. Bill places his hand on top of Stanley's in his lap to comfort him.

"It's okay if you are," Ben says.

"Yeah, we'll always love you, Stan," Mike says.

"You've still got time to figure it out; you don't have to be sure right now," Beverly adds. Stanley smiles slightly and nods, looking down at Bill's hand on top of his.

"Now, pip pip and tally-ho my good fellows!" Richie says with his best attempt at a British accent, "I do believe we have some swimming to do!"

"Do you really have to do the British guy right now?" Eddie asks, trying not to laugh.

"Yes, Eds," Richie answers, swinging his arm around Eddie's shoulders, "I do." Eddie blushes at Richie's arm around him but quickly shoves it off.

"I'm going to piss first," Richie states, getting up and heading to the bathroom. Just as he rounds the corner, the waitress, whose name is Heather, Richie reads for the first time, approaches him.

"I'm off at 3," she says, seductively, "If you wanted to do something." She strokes her hand down Richie's arm.

It's then when Eddie rounds the corner as well and stops in his track, watching the interaction between the two. Eddie feels a pit form in his stomach. He walks by Richie, purposefully knocking him with his shoulder before heading into the bathroom. Richie turns at the sudden force and sees Eddie, looking upset, walking away.

Richie ignores Heather and follows him into the bathroom. "Eds?" he asks. Eddie is washing his hands in the sink, not surprisingly, considering they are in a public space. Eddie glances up at him, looking upset. "Everything okay?"

"I'm fine, Rich," Eddie says simply, "Just trying not to get a disease from these restaurant booths. Who knows who has been there." He shudders at the thought. Richie smiles at his favorite germaphobe. He always thought it was funny that Eddie is still scared of tiny germs after literally killing a demon clown a few years prior.

"You're cute, Eds," Richie says, without thinking. Eddie pauses, waiting for the punchline as he dries his hands with a paper towel. But none comes. "How are you still afraid of germs?"

"Maybe because they kill people, Richie," Eddie explains. Richie rolls his eyes but smiles at him.

"Come on Spaghetti, let's go have fun," Richie says, escorting the smaller boy out of the bathroom with his arm around him.

"Don't you have to piss?" Eddie asks as they leave.

"I can piss in the lake," Richie shrugs. Eddie gags.

"Absolutely not! No way are you peeing in that lake with us in it!"

"I always do," Richie smirks at him.

"Oh my God," Eddie almost pukes.

"Think of all the fish pee that's in there, Eds," Richie continues as they approach the table with their friends.

"Rich, stop scaring Eddie," Beverly says, standing up.

"Y-yeah, the qu-quarry is mostly sa-sanitary," Bill adds, standing as well.

"Mostly?!" Eddie almost shouts, fiddling with his fanny pack. He never could get rid of that inhaler. His lungs now depend on it.

"You've survived before, you'll survive this time," Richie says, placing his hand on Eddie's shoulder. "I promise." Eddie looks at Richie doubtfully before letting go of the zipper.

"Come on, guys," Stan motions for the boys, walking out the door with the others. The two follow them out into the car to head over to their favorite cliff.