Trips. (Angst, Action.)

California Gals.

Richie lied down in his bed, holding his phone up to his face. His clicked his tongue, bored out of his mind.

A knock was heard at his door, and he recited a casual 'come in.' It opened to his parents, who both had large grins.

"Guess who got a great deal with your friend's parents!" Wentworth said. Richie sat up.

"Who? Ms. K? Does she miss me?" Richie joked.

Maggie sighed. "No. But, pack your bags!"

"What?! Are we moving?!" Richie panicked.

"No, dingus! We're going to Cali! We got a good amount of tickets and are happy to take you and your friends," Maggie said kindly. Richie gasped. He jumped up from his bed and hugged them.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!!" he squealed. They chuckled and hugged him back.

"No problemo, kiddo. We know how long you've wanted this for," Wentworth said with a smile. Richie exchanged one.

{i want parents like these :,)}

"Okay! Now, out, out! I gotta pack!" Richie jumped around.

"Alright! We leave tomorrow at 8:30, you gotta be up and ready," Maggie checked in as Wentworth walked away.

"8:30... what? Pm?" Richie asked as he looked up from his closet.

"Am. Gotta be there at 9:00 on the dot. Flight leaves at 9:15."

Richie groaned. "Whatever. Totally worth it." Maggie smiled.

"That's the spirit!" She left him alone in his room and he packed. Once done, he jumped into bed and immediately called his friends.

"Did you guys know about the whole vacation thing?!" Richie asked once they were all on.

"Yes, actually," Beverly laughed.

"I'm still surprised your parents convinced my mom to let me go," Eddie said. Richie shrugged.

"Excellent persuasion runs in the family, I guess!" Richie chuckled. The losers tittered.

"Have you all packed?" Stanley asked cautiously.

"Duh durrr," Richie teased.

"I still have some clothes to pack, but overall, yes," Ben spoke up.

"Okay, well, be up and at the airport at 9:00 sharp! Flight leaves at like- 9:15- that's what my parents said," Richie explained.

"Got it. Ugh, I HATE waking up early," Beverly complained.

"It's k-k-kinda refreshing sometimes. It also f-f-feels nice to have peace and quiet in the morning," Bill added.

"Well, unlike you, none of us have siblings that annoy us to oblivion, no siblings in general," Richie shot.

"Yeah y-yeah," Bill chuckled.

The day arrived quicker than you can say 'Beep Beep, Richie.' It didn't feel quick to Richie, though. He hadn't slept due to being so excited. At least he didn't have to go through the whole process of waking up.

The plane ride there was chaotic yet so peaceful at the same time. Richie, Eddie and Bill together, Beverly, Ben and Stanley to their left. Mike volunteered to sit with Mr. and Mrs. Tozier. He enjoyed parental company.

Richie fought for the window seat, Bill on the aisle seat and Eddie smashed right in the middle. He was the smallest, either way.

On the other side, Stanley sat in the aisle seat, Beverly in the middle and Ben on the window seat. Mr. and Mrs. Tozier made sure Mike was to feel comfortable, letting him have the window seat while Maggie sat in the middle of the kid and her husband.

Half way through the ride, Eddie glanced over at Richie, who was already half asleep. He huffed and flicked the boy on the head, who jumped and snapped his head at him.

"You okay? You're awfully quiet," Eddie asked.

"Oh, I'm perfectly fine. Just thinking. About Ms. K."

"Really? Cause you seem pretty deep in 'thought,'" Eddie argued.

"Yeah, and I'm also pretty deep in Ms. K," Richie chuckled.

"Ugh! That's disgusting! Hearing that just makes me want to drench my hands in hand sanitizer."

"Why? You getting hard from my story? I don't think hand sanitizer helps," Richie teased.

"What the fuck?!" Eddie whisper-yelled.

"Gross, R-Richie. Beep beep," Bill complained.

"Yeah! Beep fucking beep, asshole!" Eddie squealed.

"And you guys call me Trashmouth?" Richie asked the two.

"Did you n-not just hear yourself?" Bill asked as if it were obvious. Richie swatted playfully at him and rolled his eyes to look back at the window, quickly sparing a look at Eddie.

'Stop being so fucking cute, oh my god,' Richie thought with a sigh that Eddie could hear.

Upon arriving at Cali, they all got hotel rooms. The losers shared one and the Tozier adults shared another.

"I call bed!" Richie yelled, jumping into one of the large beds.

"We're gonna have to have two to a bed probably, anyway," Beverly said.

"Yeah," Bill agreed. He looked at Eddie, who rolled his eyes and blushed.

"Oh be quiet! I'm not sleeping with him!" the shorter boy whispered.

"Oh come on, you ss-sl-sleep in the hammock together all the time! There's not much of a difference. Plus, y-y-you have more space in a bed than a small hammock." Eddie sighed.

"Whatever. You better not be bringing this up when we get home, though," Eddie said as if it were a threat. Bill smiled as Eddie walked over to the bed Richie lied on.

"You coming to join me, Eds?" Richie asked.

"Shut the fuck up, we have to share a bed," Eddie scoffed, setting his stuff next to the bed.

"I prefer Ms. K, but this is great too," Richie chuckled and pat the spot on the bed right next to him. "Come lie next to me, my beloved!"

Eddie sighed and sat. Richie was propped up on his elbow, lying down on his side. He smiled as he watched Eddie sit on the bed and look down at him.

"Don't call me that."

"You love it!"

"I do not! Don't be putting words in my mouth like that!" Eddie said defensively as he crossed his arms. Richie looked down and sat up. He had a joke ready, bubbling as it was ready to be said, but he already felt annoying enough.

"Sorry, Eds," he said, patting the boy on the shoulder. He repositioned and settled on lying on the bed like it's meant to be. He lied on his back, head on the myriad of pillows on the bed. "This is nice."

"Yeah," Eddie breathed, lying next to Richie. Richie looked over at him, Eddie doing the same. Richie looked at the boy's lips, and Eddie's face began to melt. He wanted to kiss this boy so badly. They began to lean. Just a little closer, Richie! Come on! Don't you dare pussy ou-

"Alright!" Beverly yelled, causing them to jump and lean away from each other quickly. "First things we're doing tomorrow, go!" she announced, clicking a pen.

"I say we go look around on a walk to see what they've got here?" Ben suggested.

"Walk! Got it," Beverly said, writing on a mini notepad.

"We should go to a beach. I mean, that's what California's for, right?" Eddie said.

"Yes! Oh, we're definitely doing that one more than once these next two weeks," Beverly said with ease.

The losers gave their suggestions, settled down in their sleeping areas, and fell asleep. The plane ride was long and tiring. It felt nice to get to lie down and sleep in such a clean, fresh, new place.