The End Of Us || losers club ✔️

thirty four

thirty four - in my feelings

Richie had indeed gone home to shower up and talk to his dad before seeing his friends again. Went had gotten called in at work though, unfortunately, so Richie missed his chance to catch up with him. Although, Went had responded to his letter he left the night before with an:

Okay bud be safe I love you :)

Richie had taken his father's response note and taped it up on his wall next to the dozens of photos from years ago. It keeps him happy and with the loss of his mother, Richie has now realized the love in the little things.

And now he is on his way back over to Eddie and Bill's place. He had left right as Bill was supposedly entering back into Derry, giving a 10 minute buffer for Eddie to clean up the dishes and pretend that Richie totally didn't spend the night in his bed.

Surprisingly to Richie, the thought of seeing his friends again after a month of no contact doesn't frighten him at all. Maybe a little nervous, sure, but not at all as scared he expected himself to be.

As he is rounding the corner to walk up the driveway, he sees Beverly jumping up each step with a heavy sack hanging from her hand. Seeing her only confirmed what Richie had been thinking the entire walk over: he wasn't scared.

"Bev! Bev!" He yells as he jogs up to her. Beverly swings around, wide eyed and watching as Richie barrels over to her.

"Jeez, Rich. Why'd you have to scare me like that?" Beverly gives him a soft slap to the arm and welcomes him into her warm presence.

"Wow. Can a boy not be happy to see a friend?" He asks. Beverly just rolls her eyes.

The door opens a second later and there Bill stands, grinning. To Richie, the smile on Bill's face is as if the past month never even happened. As if they all didn't avoid the shit out of each other.

"Come in, come in. How are you guys? How have you been? Replaced me yet?" Bill laughs. He takes the bag full of snacks from Beverly's hands and leads them down to the basement. Beverly and Richie both say passing greetings to Bill's parents in the living room.

Everyone had already arrived prior to Richie and Beverly, but it's not like the group will be waiting on too many people to show up like before. Mike stood in the middle of the basement with cards in his hands and an unamused Eddie sits before him.

"I've seen this trick before, Mike. I know what you're doing!" He says.

"No," Mike fights back, "This one has a twist. My grandad taught me. Look- Just watch!"

Eddie sighs and his eyes glide over to the three entering, to Richie, and all of a sudden he no longer looks so unamused. Richie shoots him a grin. Eddie happily returns it.

"See, Eddie? Did- Did ya see that?" Asks Mike. Eddie shakes his head. Mike groans.

Like all the other previous sleepovers and hang outs there's plenty of snacks, candy, and pop to keep stomachs full and mouths refreshed.

The group laughs, talks, and the atmosphere around them bounce with happiness, like as if Tinkerbell was flying around each head leaving a trail of pixie dust to keep them high on laughter for the rest of their years. It's early in the day but with how easily the now five of them converse and joke, the day slips away from them. Sleepovers died the same day Sonia did and once the clock hit 10:00, the group knew it was time to wrap it up.