Look What I Found!

Ch. 22

Two days have passed since Mike started staying at Ruby's. After ignoring it for the past day and a half, he finally read the article and, after many fights with his friends, was now trying to return to Richie's.

Mike didn't know what to think about the whole situation. Richie had told him that the paparazzi wouldn't be that interested in them due to his disappearance from the world, but it seemed like people still cared. And that led to another problem. Dustin was one of the few that still cared about Richie Tozier's life. He was going to see the post, and they were going to come and get him, and it scared him over how much he didn't want to go back.

He was aware that he needed to think this through. They were his family, and he still cared for and loved them, but leaving Hawkins felt like it was what he was supposed to do for a long time. He could finally breathe without getting choked up about the past. The upside-down fumes permeating the air and eating at his lungs. Something he didn't even realize until he left.

And he was finally holding his head up confidently and never looking back instead of looking down or over his shoulder, scared of what could be lurking. He was free, and he loved it. Surely, his friends and family would understand that. Maybe they would let him stay if he told them, and they could see he was happy. Or as happy as he could be with all the drama happening, at least.

"It's been two days!" Mike complained, backpack discarded on the bed, already packed.

"And?" Ruby asked, "you don't have to go check up on him. He's a grown man. A grown man who doesn't need a child taking care of him. What? He buys you stuff, and you do his bidding?"

"Ruby," Giselle chastised.

Mike glared at them, "I told you the whole story! Why won't you let me leave?"

"Because he's tricking you. You think he cares about you, but he doesn't."

"All he's done is care."

"Mike," Giselle said, "do you really think Richie has your best interest at heart?"

This question wasn't rhetorical. They weren't asking to be cruel or anything. Giselle was genuinely asking him.

"I do," Mike said, "I wanna go home."

They looked at one another, Giselle giving Ruby a look as she sighed, caving under pressure.

"Fine," she groaned, grabbing Mike's bag and tossing it to him. "Here. But we want updates. Got it?"

He smiled, nodding his head as he put his backpack on. "Got it."

They walked him towards the door, each hugging him and giving him pointers on taking down a grown man if the occasion ever arose.

"I hope you're right," Ruby spoke to Giselle.

They smiled, "I'm always right."

Having heard that bit, Mike snorted as he waved behind him and walked away. He really hoped he was making the right choice.

~~~~~~~

Richie sat on his couch, the first beer of the day in his hand. Since that stupid article, he hasn't stopped since Mike left, since the bar incident. But he had a terrible hangover today, so he was taking it slow. And what other way to get rid of a hangover than to drink some more?

He heard a pair of keys jingling in the door, causing him to sit upright, nearly spilling his drink all over himself. The door shut, and a couple of quiet footsteps could be heard, trying to go unnoticed as possible. He gently placed his bottle down and stood up, grimacing as the world swayed a bit, and his head throbbed with each movement.