Family Line | Toziers

3

Richie had passed out after crying for almost two hours straight. He was fast asleep on Eddie shoulder. Everyone else was talking to each other and waiting for Richie to wake up. They didn't want to wake him, though, knowing he wasn't sleeping at night anyway.

Richie eventually woke up to Eddie smiling down at him.

"Hey, Rich," he said, having the most soothing voice Richie's ever heard.

"Mmgh.." Richie didn't want to wake up. One, he was tired, and two, he didn't want to wake up ever. At all. He hoped to die in his sleep.

"Fuck.." he said.

"What is it?" Eddie asked.

"Mmh, nothing, just kinda didn't want to wake up again, you know?" Eddie didn't exactly know what he meant by that.

"Uh, you mean you're tired?"

"Something like that.."

"Something like that?"

"Mhm."

They were whispering. No body else had really noticed that Richie was awake. The were deep into conversation.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm tired?"

"No shit Sherlock, but you said 'something like that.'"

"Ah," Richie kept his head on Eddie shoulder as they talked.

"I mean, I'm tired of being alive so, yeah, something like that." Richie groaned.

Eddie felt his heart break for the third time that night. He hugged Richie as tight as possible.

"Please don't say that, that scares me."

Richie looked at Eddie.

"Sorry Eds, it won't happen again." Richie smiled and Eddie, who gave a weak smile back.

"Oh, you're awake," Ben said, interrupting on Eddie and Richie's conversation.

"Yep," Richie said, sitting up. He sighed. "Is it morning yet? I'm hungry."

Everyone laughed half-heartedly, not being able to forget how Richie was just feeling not long ago. He seemed better now, it just hurt their hearts to see him like that.

"No, but we can go eat something if you'd like?" Stanley suggested.

"Fuck yeah, let's go!" Richie got up and practically ran into the kitchen, Stan close behind.

"There's our Trashmouth," Beverly laughed.

"At least he's eating something," Mike smiled.

Everyone made their way to the kitchen for a midnight snack. The rest of the night was great. Sure, Richie couldn't sleep again, but it didn't bother him.

Months passed at the Losers we're helping Richie out with his home problems. He wouldn't usually spend his days at his own house. They'd let him spend the night and day at theirs, rotating every now and then. Nights that Richie did get back were pretty bad, but nothing some cleaning supplies couldn't fix.

But, soon enough, he couldn't stay at his friend's house. He didn't even know how to call them friends.

Something happened. Something horrible.

———

Richie was walking out of school when he heard Bowers shouting at him from a distance.

"HEY! FAGGOT TOZIER!" Henry screamed, chasing after Richie.