room 999 |reddie|

5.

"oh, eds, it's a beautiful day."

eddie looked at richie.

"you know i hate when you call me that." he said.

"but spaghetti, i know you love it." richie smiled.

"shut up, trashmouth." eddie said laughing. "i wonder what the losers are doing."

it's august, meaning it's supposed to be their junior year. the losers are definitely in school. neither eddie nor richie had brought up derry basically since they left.

"sometimes i do too."

"i know," eddie said.

how did he know?

"eds, have you ever felt like something wasn't real?"

"no, why?" eddie raised an eyebrow.

they're laying on the grass, they haven't ate in a few days. they don't have any money. they did the stupid thing and used the money they did have to get richies truck fixed. new windshield and getting the front of it fixed costed $999, it was less than richie thought, but still a lot. he thought he'd have to buy a new one, which he can't, he's not eighteen.

"sometimes, i sit and think, and feel like none of this is real."

"like a dream?"

"kinda, yeah."

there was silence, something that the two boys don't enjoy.

"i've been thinking about the room number." richie admitted.

"what do you mean?"

"like, the room number is weird, and the room number and the amount it took to fix the truck, it was the same. do you think that's a coincidence?"

richie got up from the grass, and so did eddie. pieces of grass was attached to their clothes and hair.

"it's an angel number, rich."

richie looked at eddie with a confused look on his face.

"you don't know what an angel number is, do you?" eddie asked and richie shook his head.

"it's a series of numbers. if you're suddenly noticing the same series of numbers in different places, it could be a message coming to you from a greater power."

"what does 999 mean?" richie asked.

eddie thought to remember what it meant.

"it's a moment of clarity. you have to let go of whatever it is holding you back. let go of what's no longer serving you."

richie was confused so eddie went on.

"if you get 999, it means you need to let go. fears, past resentment. it could also mean that a cycle in your life is ending, and you need to make room for new things in life."

richie listened. he's heard someone talk about this once, it's just now clicking.

he's felt like he's been reliving parts of his life but in a different order.

he remembers laying in grass with someone, he doesn't remember who, it's a blur. he remembers he learned about angel numbers, a few weeks ago they were at the store and a song came on and he felt like he's heard it.

it could all be a coincidence.

"well, eds, aren't you smart?" he takes a cigarette out of his pack, getting the last one. "damnit i need more cigs."

"no you don't." eddie said.

richie rolled his eyes. "yeah, yeah, whatever." he said and laughed a bit.

"it's cold," eddie said, shivering.

"i agree, let's go somewhere, maybe pickpocket someone."

"i'll do it, i wont get caught." eddie said.

"you sure?" richie asked, eddie nodded.

eddie never agreed to do anything illegal but richie guesses he's in a rebellious phase.

"alright," richie said, and drove to somewhere he knew was busy. more victims the better.

they were ale to get around $200, not a lot, but it'll do.

"eds, you're amazing." richie smiled.

"no i'm not, i'll end up ruining your life."

"we've known each other since forever, you never ruined my life."

"yeah, but," eddie paused. "i might some day."