cash in. (au story)

chapter 23; strange.

- FRIDAY -

"hey," richie said, entering the pharmacy.

"ello," said kevin.

"how'd it go? with your dad?"

"uhh.. i didn't go home, instead slept here."

"wow, now we can have homeless pharmacy sleepovers together!" richie cheered sarcastically, hopping over the counter.

"yeah okay," kevin chuckled.

"cough cough, oh, i'm sick, can i leave for like- ten minutes?" richie asked. kevin looked at him with un-amusement.

"you got here not even a minute ago," said kevin.

"pleeaaassseeee?" richie begged.

"whaatever," sighed kevin.

"thanks kev, you're the best!" richie chanted, jumping back off of the counter, grabbing some money from the open register that kevin was sorting, and running.

"dude?!" kevin yelled, arms up as he watched richie run. he groaned audibly.

richie hummed as he walked down to a candy shop, glancing over at a group of unbothered citizens. his eyes trailed over to two of them, which were arguing aggressively as a few watched.

his heart pounded and he ran into the candy shop, hurrying in and towards where he needed to go. he grabbed about five bags of skittles, tossed them onto the counter, handed the lady a twenty, and cautious watched the front door.

"heya, fred? how much for skittles?" the lady at the counter asked. richie turned back, confused as to why she couldn't just scan the item, but his heart rate picked up as he saw the man come out.

"the tag is right there, kid," fred pointed out to the girl.

"i swear to god that just appeared when you came o-"

"you again," said fred, interrupting the girl. she looked at richie and then the man.

"you two know each other?" she asked.

"unfortunately," richie breathed. "can you just take the money and let me go?"

"not so fast," the man said. "char, i got him, go take a break."

her eyes shifted to richie, who clearly begged her to stay. she sighed and walked away, keeping an eye on her father and richie.

"what do you want," richie demanded.

"not much. just you."

"you look like you could die in two fucking days, you're disgusting."

"that's what most of them say. but, you are beautiful for your age," the man creepily said.

"get the other person out here, i'm uncomfortable."

"as long as i can follow you home," the man said. richie sucked in a breath, grabbed the skittles, and glared at the man.

"screw you for fucking with me. you'll regret that," he mumbled, turning around and leaving the shop.

"hm."

as richie left, he saw his mom storming to him, already angry. richie swore under his breath and began sprinting, but she followed close behind.

he knew better than to run to the pharmacy. so he didn't. he ran straight for the quarry, completely unaware.

as richie ran, he noticed a large campus ahead. he recognized it, realizing he had been there before. and the cliff stopped so suddenly that it was hard tell it was even a cliff.