BOY GRINDER ☞ BICHIE

☞ BOY GRINDER

after school, richie wanted to go anywhere but home. today, he found himself in the arcade, watching bill denbrough play mortal kombat while he asked him about his day, taking bill's focus on the game as an opportunity to look at his face; the slight red tint to his hair, the curve of his jawline, his lips. richie was drunk on bill and he wouldn't have it any other way.

the year was 1992, and the clunky arcade games theme song rang out through the empty ground floor of the aladdin. bill and richie were to only ones inside. it was june, school was out, the third alien movie was playing upstairs, and richie was staring at bill.

"so, bill, how was today?" richie inquired
"well, you were there for most of it" bill smiled and turned away from the game, leaning against the machine and looking at richie. he blushed.
"doesn't mean i don't wanna know, stunner! how was it?" richie laughed.
"well, i think my grades are shit. im kinda sad. and michael got mad at me today. he said i was using him." bill said.

richie thought about that for a moment. michael heisner was the sweetest boy in the tenth grade, he's been pining after bill for years. so of course, when they got involved, richie's gut wrenched. he knew how bill works. he doesnt get attached, he can't get attached. he's told richie he hardly feels anything since the summer of '89.

"well, are you?" richie looked up at bill meekly. bill looked at the floor.
"i don't know. but whatever im doing, he doesn't deserve it."
richie nodded. "i hope tomorrow's better, big bill. now move your ass, i'm about to get the high score."

the pair laughed and richie played mortal kombat but he couldn't stop thinking about bill's face, his eyes. how saw they've been. he wants nothing more than to take him out of his house but he knows the tozier household isnt any place for a guy like bill. but richie just laughs and jokes and plays mortal kombat and feels too much.