ethereal : it oneshots

don't say goodnight

pairing: stozier

"i'm off to the kitchen, okay?" stanley said, hands in pockets as he glanced around the room. 

in front of him spanned a large living room, people milling about, solo cups in hand like a movie. the lights were only just on, leaving his eyes to adjust for a moment before he spot the kitchen.

richie, next to him, was flapping his hands a little, and stanley took little note of it. 

"a classic move of yours, stan. i'm going to find a drink." richie replied, then beelining for a table at the edge of the room. stan watched him walk away, his t-shirt just barely concealing the belt of his jeans. he'd fretted earlier about what band tee to wear, like always. stan figured he made the right choice.

as stanley moved into the kitchen, the light brightened, and he started by pouring himself a glass of water. he was only there for so long when he felt a presence next to him. he shut the tap off and turned, surprised to see patricia blum there, a can of mike's hard lemonade in her hand. 

"i thought that was you, stan! fancy you here." she smiled wide, hopping up to sit on the counter next to him. he moved to the other side of her, his cup sloshing only a little.

"my friends are here. parties aren't really my venue." stanley shrugged, leaning against the counter. she swung her feet off the edge of the counter, her shoes clacking against the cupboard.

"i didn't think so. did you even have a bar mitzvah?" she asked.

"my parents offered me a party or a trip. i went to spain," he said, sipping at his water. he brushed at his pants, straightening them. 

"i guess that's a fair trade," patricia said, "what are you up to these days?" 

stanley hadn't seen patricia for probably a couple years, if he had to guess. he'd lost touch with most people outside of direct friends after he'd graduated high school. patricia looked well, her hair grown out from the bob she'd had then. 

"you know, college and everything. going to harvard. i'm back in derry for the break, but i'm staying with mike. do you know mike? anyway, it's alright. what are you doing?" he said, scratching the back of his neck. mike had been very generous to host him, even if he spent most days (and some nights) at richie's. 

it wasn't on purpose, but being back in derry had drawn stanley back to richie like it had been in high school. it was always easier to be with richie, it seemed. he knew him inside and out. 

"i'm good! i was doing school, linguistics, but i'm taking a gap year in the middle because i've realized i hate linguistics. morphology can actually die, jesus, i'm having flashbacks. anyway, i'm working at the restaurant in town now. you know, the chinese food place?" she talked, stanley nodding along. 

"mhm," he drank more of his water.

"so how's harvard? got a girlfriend or anything?" patricia stopped swinging her feet, getting up off the counter to throw her can in the trash. she pulled another one out of the fridge, like she lived here.

"eh. harvard's fine, nothing big. no girlfriend, still, not really my thing. i'm studying bioengineering, so i'm busy, and nobody likes an engineer." he shrugged again, putting his cup down to pull up his sleeves.

"don't say that, they'll want you when you're making a shit ton of money, if that's any consolation." she leaned against the counter next to him. 

"you know, weirdly, patty, that doesn't," he said.

she laughed again, "sorry." 

at that moment, richie walked into the kitchen, a big grin on his face. his glasses were crooked, but stan didn't say anything, just waving.