(tbh i think people [including me] have totally forgotten that mike is homeschooled and doesn't go to the losers' school- 😭
whatever he's not homeschooled no more 😘)
"i can't believe it's only tuesday," beverly scoffed as she walked up to bill, stanley, eddie, ben and mike, just arriving at school.
"it's gonna b-b-be a looong week," bill sighed.
the bell rang, signaling time to head into school and get to classes.
stanley looked around, then chuckled to himself. "guess who's late again."
"richie," they all said in unison.
"he had like- a month streak. except yesterday, he was pretty late yesterday too," eddie said.
"i dunno. he seemed a little upset yesterday, maybe that's why he's not here," mike explained as the group started to walk into the building.
"he did? he looked fine yesterday," stanley shrugged. mike looked down.
"maybe to you guys," he uttered.
"huh? wh-" beverly started, only to be interrupted.
"guys!" a voice yelled. they all stopped and turned, recognizing him. "i'm here," he panted as he stopped running and limped over to them. "oh jeez."
"did you run all the way here or something?" stanley asked. richie bent down and put his hands on his knees, panting heavily.
"no. not all the way," richie said. he swallowed, took a deep breath, and stood straight. "am i on time at least?"
"the bell already rang," said ben.
"shit. did i miss any classes?" richie asked, panic evident in his tone.
"not yet," beverly said. he sighed, relieved.
"thank god," he chuckled. richie started up a conversation with them all, acting like his normal self. they started walking again, and a few of them noticed his awful limp.
"rich, stop," said eddie. richie did so and turned to him.
"yes, eds?" he asked teasingly.
"okay. walk a bit and then walk back to us," eddie instructed, crossing his arms and making a suspicious face. richie internally panicked.
"why-?" richie mumbled as if he were clueless.
"just— do it." richie swallowed and started walking, trying not to limp. he only made it a few steps before wobbling over and hopping on one foot. the losers watched him with curiosity and concern.
"woah- uh," stanley choked out, being the closest to richie and catching the toppling boy. "what happened to your leg?"
richie shrugged. "nothin'."
"oh p-please. you can't lie your way out o-of this one," bill said, putting a hand on his hip.
"i just- rolled my ankle this morning," richie lied.
"doing what..? it's eight in the fucking morning-?" beverly asked with disbelief.
"i was biking here and then like- halfway i ran into a large stick, 'cause i wasn't looking, and i flung off the front of my bike, tried to land it, then just landed on my ankle and twisted it. my bike tire blew. that's why i was late," richie explained, sounding totally convincing yet totally lying.
"ohh, sorry about your an—" beverly started, just to be interrupted again.
"how the hell did you run here then-?" eddie asked. "your ankle had to have hurt pretty bad. and you'd have scraped your hands and knees."
