cash in. (au story)

chapter 37; bonus birthdays.

richie checked the time, his heart skipping a beat. "ah, guys, i gotta go!"

"oh, why?" eddie asked sadly. richie sucked in a breath and kissed eddie.

"i'm sorry, baby, i won't take long."

"it's okay, be safe," eddie said with a smile, and richie shared one, running out of the house.

richie ambled to the pharmacy, sneaking in and grabbing some register money, biking to the bakery, picking up cake, biking to the dollar store, picking up decorations, biking to the larger store, picking up a few things along with wrapping paper and bags, and biking back to the pharmacy.

he entered, decorating the shit out of the pharmacy. balloons, loud decor, fancy streamers, you name it, the place was crazy.

richie opened the cake box and slid some candles in, grabbing the lighter out of his pocket and lighting it.

"ohh, well that's dumb," richie uttered to himself, putting the fire out with his fingers.

he wrapped up the presents, set them on the counter, and grabbed his phone out once satisfied.

rich >> kev

rich: okay sorry fuck what i said i need help here 😭

kev: its fine, im bored as fuck anyway

rich: okay HURRY
rich: andele!!

kev: IM COMIN IM COMIN

richie lit the candle after five minutes and ran to the light switch to his right. he was glad it was so late, because the pharmacy was pitch black.

kevin jumped out of his car and walked up to the pharmacy door. "the fuck?" he mumbled, noticing how dark it was inside. he entered. "richie??"

the lights shuddered on and richie smiled widely. "surprise!"

kevin's face dropped. "wha.. what..?"

"happy seventeenth birthday, kevin howwie!"

"you learned my last name! congrats!"

"thank you thank you." kevin looked around the pharmacy with a wide grin. "ya like?"

"i do, i love it rich, thank you," he chuckled, walking up to the counter. richie smiled.

"you seemed like a chocolate person, so this is your cake. it's also the only cake they had, but let's not mention it."

kevin snickered. "that's okay. i love chocolate."

"great!" richie cleared his throat. "haaa-"

"no-"

"ppyyyy-"

"no!" kevin laughed, shoving richie's face.

"biiirthdaaay to YOUUU!!" he sang, blowing into his kazoo.

"stop!" kevin laughed, trying to slap him.

"happy biiirthdaay to youu! CHA CHA CHA!" richie yelled, dancing at the lyrics. "happy birthdaay, happy birthdaay, happy birthday to you!! WHOOOO!!"

kevin flushed red of embarrassment. his smile reached from ear to ear and he shook his head.

"jeez," he chuckled.

"make a wish, birthday boy!"

"i wish that richie tozier stops being an idiot," he joked.

"come on now, kev. you gotta have something realistic."

kevin rolled his eyes with a smile, closed his eyes, made a wish in his head, and blew out his candles.

"happy?"