how it started || losers club

ch 6

"So," the principal, Mr. Tenison said. "You all got yourselves into a lunch right?"

The losers nodded, and he exchanged one. He took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair, squinting as he scanned the group. He noticed a familiar face, Richie, and smiled slightly.

"Richard Tozier," he said, and Richie looked down, ashamed. "I'm afraid you've been here one too many times. I'm gonna have to give your parents a call. And as for the rest of you, including you, Richie, there will be lunch detention tomorrow."

They nodded and Richie felt tears burn the back of his eyes. Eddie side eyed him, seeing the shimmer of the tears. Richie's hands shook as he picked the skin off of his fingers. Eddie swallowed and looked back up.

"What's your parent's number, Richard?"

Richie just sighed at this. He rubbed his face and groaned.

"Can you seriously please not call them?" Richie asked, and Mr. Tenison sucked in a breath through his teeth.

"I'm afraid I have to," he replied, and Richie's chest throbbed. He really didn't need to get hurt even worse.

"Please," Richie begged, and Mr. Tenison noticed the tears in the boy's eyes. Beverly and Eddie looked at each other, and then back at the principal.

"I'm sorry, sir. You can cry all you want, but you're not getting out of this. You've been here too many times, and I've let it slide too many. What's your mother's number?" Mr. Tenison picked up the phone and Richie froze.

The losers looked at each other, and Beverly leaned forward.

"What if you just let this one slide, and then the next time it happens you can call his parents?" Beverly suggested, trying her best to get the boy out of this situation.

"Do I need to make a call to yours as well, Ms. Marsh?" She froze and shook her head, leaning back to her chair.

Richie typed the number in for the man and sighed, trying not to cry. At least it was his mother and not his father.

"Before you call her, can I talk to her before you hang up?" Richie asked, voice slightly cracking.

"I suppose so," Mr. Tenison sighed, and Richie closed his eyes in thanks.

The phone rang and a woman picked up.

"What?" she asked.

"Hello, Mrs. Tozier?"

"Yep."

"Hi, I've called to inform you about your son, Ri-"

"Oh I don't care," she said, and hung up the phone. Mr. Tenison looked at the boy, and put the phone back into place.

"Hm."

"What?" Richie asked, and the losers were just as confused.

"She hung up. You're lucky she doesn't care."

'Tch. Lucky? Yeah. Sure.' Richie thought as he huffed.

"But you only said Richie's name," Eddie noticed, and Richie squirmed.

Mr. Tenison looked back at Richie and squinted.

"In fact I did. Weird."

Richie stared at his now bleeding hands as he dug his nails into them. He hated topics about parents. They made him extremely uncomfortable.

"Well. You're all dismissed. Out of my office. Except you, Richie. Stay behind for me," the principal said, and Richie stared at him.

"Why me?" Richie asked innocently.

"I want to talk with you. Everyone else, leave please."

"That's unfair," Eddie spoke up, and Richie pointed his open hand at him as a way to say 'see?'

"Life's unfair, Kaspbrak. Get out of my office."

"No!" Eddie yelled.

"Eddie, come on," Beverly said, pulling on Eddie's arm who stood up.

"I'm staying with Richie. He didn't even do anything wrong, we all got into that food fight."

"Yes, but this is not about the food fight. This is about something more personal, so I'm going to ask you once more to leave or I will contact your parent." Richie looked up at Eddie and smiled.

"Go, Eds, I'll be out soon," Richie prompted, and Eddie sighed.

"Whatever." Eddie and the losers left the office, and the principal cleared his throat.

"Is everything alright at home?" he asked sympathetically. Richie had no idea this man had a soft spot.

"Um.. y-yeah.. why wouldn't it?" Richie replied, and Mr. Tenison only sighed and clicked his tongue.

"You were about to cry when I threatened to call your parents, and when I called your mother, she said she didn't care after hearing that it was about you. She doesn't seem very.."

"Nice? Loving? Caring?" Richie finished his sentence, and he breathed out, nodding.

"Yes. What about your father?"

Richie froze. He wouldn't just say he was abusive, but he didn't know what to say. He didn't want to say he was good, because then Mr. Tenison would call him. 

"He's uh.. he's like my mom.. in a way, just.. less caring..?" Richie stuttered for words, but it was hard to explain this lie.

The principal narrowed his eyes in disbelief and Richie sighed.

"I don't like talking about it, it's a really sensitive topic. Can I go, please?"

"I suppose I can't force you to say anything. Yes, you may leave. Next time, you give me your father's number." Richie sucked in a breath and nodded. "Good day, Richard."

"You too, Mr. Tenison," Richie said before exiting the office.

He looked around, noticing his friends weren't in sight, and made his way to the bathroom. He sat on the toilet seat in one of the stalls and let a few tears slide down his rosy cheeks.

"Jesus Christ Richie," he whispered to himself. He sniffed and looked under the stalls, making sure no one was in there with him. He sighed and sat back. "You shouldn't be crying like a pussy about your father. He's not worth it."

Richie sniffed and wiped his cheeks before leaving the stall and splashing his face with water. The school bell rang, and he groaned, realizing he had just missed another class. He figured the principal wouldn't call his parents, for he was the reason he didn't show up.

He exited the bathroom and made his way through the halls to his next class. They day went smoothly at school, until he had gotten home.