𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒘𝒐

[5/7] Bill and Richie

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Richie guided you to his bathroom, after collecting you several bathroom necessities to use in the shower. Weirdly giving you his mom's razor, hidden under the towel. You knew he was hinting at something with the small gesture but didn't speak up about it. Knowing how jokeful he could possibly be, and that was at his worst moments. You didn't even want to think about his good moments.

Your eyes rolled at the persistent teen whom still stood in the doorway. Lingering, to see how far he could make it before you pushed him out yourself. "Go!" You shooed, sending him out with force. Since it seemed like he wasn't going to voluntarily walk himself out. The door was soon shut in his face, revolting out in a large aww of disappointment.

"I get no invitation?!" He called out behind the thin door, causing you to let out a huff of annoyance. Your hands danced against your own skin as you began to undress, eagerness flashing through you as you swooned at the thought of being able to be clean for the first time in a while.

[One thoughtful shower later...]

You stepped out of the steamed bathroom, a towel on head, and Richie's clothes clung to your body. Which actually fit you quite well, though the boxers seemed to be tight around your bottom half. Making you wonder if the boy purposefully did that. Which he most likely did.

"I would say you look better in my clothes than me, but that wouldn't be very truthful." Richie spoke up from behind you, causing you to jump and turn to him with frustration written in your face. He wore a sly grin and held a soda can in his hand.

Your arms crossed over one another as you stepped towards the boy. "Can you tell me what's wrong with Bill? Earlier I was trying to comfort him and he pushed me away. Does he hold a grudge against me for Georgie? B-Because, I couldn't blame him if he did."

Richie sighed and grabbed your hand, taking you to be seated at the dining table. "Don't let him know I told you this, but he's always had something for you. And I guess it didn't leave when you did. But, now he's with Beverly, the new girl. Which is probably why he pulled away."

Your lips parted, but you didn't know what to say. Your words seemed jumbled at the moment. Keeping you from speaking in reply. Had Richie just admitted your crush, Bill, liked you? But then moved on so willingly?

You outreached your hand to pinch at your flesh, Richie stopping you with his own. "Yes, this is real. No need to pinch yourself."

Everything hit you at once, finally making you realize that the entire time you'd been here, you'd missed hints that the boy gave towards you. Like him staring at you when you both took Georgie to the park, or the fact he'd lean close to you when around all the other boys. And now it was all too late to do something about it, considering he was with Beverly.

Richie snapped his fingers in front of your face, making you fade back into reality, due to the louder sound. "Since you're all dressed, why don't we go do something?"

"What like?"

"Well, we could go to the Quarry. Maybe skinny dip." He said, wiggling his eyebrows, causing his thick glasses to fall halfway down his face. You laughed at the boy's dorkiness, before stepping up out of the squeaky chair. Hands going down to your sides.

"Nice try, but I need to be paid for that to happen." You jokingly replied, almost taking the boy aback. He was usually the jokester. Not you, or anyone else.

"Okay, hot stuff. Stop stealing my mojo." He walked passed you and towards the door, where he stood like a gentleman and held the door open for you to walk through it before him.

Which you did. Him closing it behind the both of you as you exited the building. Before you both got aboard the bike, you turned to Richie with raised eyebrows. "Can we invite the others?"

He shrugged his shoulders, notifying you that he didn't particularly care. Before getting on the bike seat and nodding his head back, gesturing for you to get on behind him.

After all, everyone needed a nice time at the peaceful Quarry, after all the trauma they'd just experienced in the sewers together. You especially.

[..]

Bill stood in front of Beverly's apartment, his hands tightly gripped onto the handle bars of his bicycle. Why did she leave him so suddenly? Before he could at least give her a hug goodbye.

"Bev!" He called up to her dirt stained window, hopefully catching the attention of someone in the apartment. But to no avail, there was a silenced reply.

Until it was broken by the sound of laughter coming from the side of the apartment buildings. Which sounded identical to Beverly's. This struck his curiosity, leading to the boy venturing further over to the source of the sound.

Beverly sat next to Ben, them oddly close for Bill's distaste. "So you were the writer of the poem this whole time?" She asked him, and received back a sweet smile.

"My heart burns there too." He spoke up, causing her face to drastically heat up at the poetic wording. It confirming that he was indeed the composer of the beautiful letter given to her. Bill frowned when they started leaning in to one another. They weren't about to.. His eyes widened in betrayal when their lips began locking in passion. Until it was abruptly stopped by Bill stepping forward. "S-So the rumors were t-true?!" He asked in a shaky tone, Beverly jumped up from where she sat. Looking at him like a deer in headlights.

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Busted!!