Look What I Found!

Ch. 16

After they ate, they were both back to being their usual selves. Which meant they were back to doing their usual thing: Arguing.

"Come on, kid!" Richie yelled, standing along the sidewalk to the store.

"No!"

"Get out of the car."

"No." Mike was stubbornly staying seated in the car, arms crossed. "I don't need these things, ya know?" They were currently parked outside of an electronic store. Richie insisted that Mike needed a phone and a laptop, but Mike refused.

"This is too much!" He complains, "I don't need all of this stuff. It's too much money." He gestured to the backseat, which was filled with stuff.

Richie poked his head through Mike's window. "How many times do I have to tell you? I. Am. Loaded. Now get out of the damn car and pick out which phone and laptop you want. You can even buy a gaming station. I saw you eyeballing that Xbox back at the mall." Mike blushed, turning his head with a huff, and Richie sighed. "Kid, I promise you this. This will not put a dent in anything. And you need to get used to it."

Mike turned towards him slowly, glancing back at the store before placing his hand on the handle. "Just the phone."

"And a laptop."

"Just a phone."

"And a laptop. Possibly tv."

They continued their little game through the store as Mike picked out the latest iPhone at Richie's request. Now, they were in search of a computer. Mike would stop and admire some cameras and video recorders but left them be. Richie stored that little bit of information for later as Mike finally settled on a MacBook Pro with a detachable keyboard. He insisted on getting another keyboard for it, just in case. For what? Richie didn't know, probably for the aesthetic.

As they were walking out of the store, Mike was on his new phone as Richie made sure he didn't run into any doors while maneuvering the tv around; They heard a few yells from across the street. Richie looked up; Mike barely glanced over as Ruby, Giselle, and Jacob were running or skating over.

"Yo! Mikey!" Jacob hollered, starting to circle Mike, who finally glanced up. He gave them a smile as Ruby and Giselle ran up, Ruby giving him a high-five as Giselle just nodded their head.

"Hey, guys."

"Hey," Ruby said, glancing over toward Richie as he placed the laptop and tv in the car. "Hi, Mr. Tozier!"

"Hey, kids!"

"We're not kids," Jacob argued, causing Richie to roll his eyes.

"Don't mind him," Mike started, "he's just old. Everyone's a kid to him."

Richie glared at him as the others suppressed their laughter.

"Hey," Giselle said, catching their attention, "your eyes looking better there. And you got a new phone?"

"Yea... And I'm trying to figure it out."

"Do you not know how to work a phone or something?" Ruby asked jokingly.

Mike gave a sheepish shrug, "I lived with my mom for most of my life. She was very strict and didn't allow me to have a phone. Now, I live with my dad for reasons unknown to you. And this is my first phone..."

"No way!" Ruby exclaimed, snatching his new phone out of his hands.

"Hey!"

"Dude! Let us help you." Jacob insisted, swatting Mike's hands away as he tried to grab his phone from Ruby.

"First things first-"

"Snapchat," Giselle interrupted, quickly sliding over to Ruby to peer over her shoulder.

After nearly an hour of Richie sitting in the car while all four teenagers talked, gossiped, and played on their phones. They were now on their way back home. Mike now had four new contacts and every social media ever created on his phone. Richie promised to give him his and each of the Losers' numbers and usernames once they got home. Mike quickly hops out as Richie parks the car, dashing inside with the few bags in his lap.

"Hey! Hey! Help with the rest of this shit!" Richie yelled after his retreating form.

"I will! Just give me a second."

Richie shook his head, slamming the door closed before opening the trunk. Richie was in the process of grabbing the heavy stuff when Mike finally ran back out. He started loading his arms with the smaller, lighter bags before returning.

"Yea! Just leave me here with all the heavy shit!"

Mike came running out, jumping the steps leading to the living room. "I can't carry that stuff. Do you see my arms? They're noodles. Plus, I'm still injured. Remember what the doctor said. No straining activities. You got this, old man. Just don't throw your back out!"

He grabbed a few more things and walked back inside, Richie following close behind. "At least you were decent enough to hold the door." They walked up the flight of steps, Mike having to help Richie every once in a while.

Making it to the room, Richie saw that Mike had dumped all the smaller items on his bed. "That's going to be a bitch to clean later," Richie noted, staring at the bed.

"No. I'll just shove it to the end of the bed. Problem solved."

Richie scoffed, placing the boxes that held Mike's desk and gaming chair down, along with a beanbag he just had to have.

"I can get the rest. Are we starting on the desk first?" Mike asked, turning to look at Richie, who nodded.

"Yea, hurry back, though. I'm not doing all of this by myself."

"Yea, yea."

As he left to grab the last items from the car, Richie started tearing the box open and pulling everything out. He spread everything out on the floor before looking for the toolbox his dad gave him years ago.

Mike returned to an empty room, but noticing the stuff spread out, he sat on the floor and grabbed the instruction manual. Richie returned, toolbox in hand, stopping at the sight of Mike as he tried to piece everything together.

"Um... Kid?" Mike turned towards him as the two boards he had standing up fell. "I think you might need these to help put it together." He held up the toolbox before coming over, placing it beside Mike, and sitting beside him.

Mike rolled his eyes, "I know. I was making sure that they went together and fit."

"We won't know if those two fit until we start drilling them." Mike looked at him, annoyed, before snatching up the toolbox. "Careful with those! You might hurt yourself."

"I'm not a baby!"

"But, you are still hurt. How's your wrist?"

"Fine. I took my meds, don't worry."

"Good. Now, you look at the instructions, and I'll put it together."

Mike rolled his eyes, giving a sassy "fine" as he read the instructions.

~~~~~~~

After an hour and many arguments, Richie and Mike were finally done with the desk. Richie looks at the chair and mini dresser, still in their respective boxes, with disdain.

"Let's do those later." He suggested with a pinched face.

Mike nodded his head, standing up and stretching. "Deal. Can we order pizza for the night and watch a movie?"

Richie groaned as he stood up, his back popping in places it shouldn't pop. "Sure. What movie?"

Mike thought it over for a few seconds before responding. "Ghostbusters?"

"A classic! I like your style, kid." Richie grinned as he and Mike descended the stairs to finish their night.