Shine *Richie X OC*

C.3

"Why did you help us? Me?" Ben asked.

"Southern Hospitality." I smiled at him and took a bite out of a chocolate chip cookie. "It's just what we do. Help your neighbors, be a good host." I shrugged.

"Is it true you're a witch?" Richie asked and the others sighed.

"Shut up, Richie."

"It's an honest question! Are you a witch?" He looked at me, and I gave him my straightest face.

"Shit, you've discovered my secret. Now I have to find another town to live in where I can cast spells and turn people into frogs." I rolled my eyes at him. "I'm not a witch."

"So what are all the plants around your house for?" He said and they looked up to see dried flowers and herbs around corners of the house; my mom's warding.

"You wouldn't understand." I shook my head with a smile and took a sip of coke.

"So those pills on the table, you gave one to Ben. Should we not find that suspicious?" Eddie asked and I sighed a smile.

"I gave Ben a painkiller, nothing to worry about. And what are you doing poking your nose into other people's business?" I smiled.

"G-g-g-guys, don't be be be rude," Bill said and I looked at him as they chattered and argued amongst themselves. He met my eyes and I blinked.

"Sorry," I said and looked away.

"You like Bill or something?" Richie snorted.

"No, he just looks a scary amount like this guy I knew, well, my ex, but that doesn't matter. And I mean like, you two could be twins. I can only think of two differences." I said and looked back to Bill. "He looks exactly like you, but shorter, like Eddie's height, and he didn't stutter. You guys even act a little alike, like damn. If you were shorter and didn't stutter, I don't even... that would've killed me." I sighed.

"He's your ex? What happened?" Bev asked.

"He liked to talk about me behind my back." I scoffed and took a drink of coke. "And when I confronted him about it, he just said he thought I wouldn't be mad and that it was okay," I said and she rolled her eyes. "Right?!" I sighed and she nodded.

"So you date? That's cool. How far have you ever gone with a guy?" Richie leaned forward, and his friends groaned.

"Shut up, Richie." They sighed.

"Why in the hell would I ever tell you?" I shook my head, staring at him.

"Just so I know for later, babe." He grinned and sat back, and I confusedly looked around the room. This seemed like a normal thing to them.

"Richie, stop. She's not into you." Stan sighed.

"What? Like she'll be into you? It's not like you have anything to boast with after your dick cutting ceremony." Richie said and I slightly leaned over to Beverley.

"What is happening? Does this happen a lot?" I whispered.

"Too often. Richie craves attention, and he does that by saying stupid shit, starting arguments, and flirting. Don't pay any mind to it." She whispered back, and I nodded and we sat up again.

"So, baby, what do you say?" Richie grinned at me and I looked him up and down.

"Try again later." I pursed my lips and took a drink of coke.

"That wasn't a no!" He cheered.

"Wasn't a yes either, dumbass." Eddie rolled his eyes.

"But, more importantly, it wasn't a no." He pointed out and I rolled my eyes as well.

To be honest, he wasn't that bad looking and seemed pretty funny, so I might as well keep him open as an option.

"So, Briar, we were going to go to the quarry tomorrow, wanna come?" Bev asked.

"Oh, uh. Sure, alright." I nodded, a little nervous. Soon, they all left, but Bev hung around a little more.

"The quarry. Does that mean swimming?" I asked, biting my lip.

"Yeah. Can you not swim?" She asked and I shook my head.

"No, I can swim. Some. I'm just not very good at it." I admitted.

"You don't have to if you don't want to." She shook her head.

"No, I mean, I want to. It's summer, why shouldn't I swim a bit. Uhm, what were you planning on wearing?" I asked her.

"Oh, I was just gonna go in my underwear. The guys probably were, too." She said and watched as I grew even more nervous.

Bev stood up, taking my hand. "Where's your room? I can help you pick out something. I know the guys, so I know what their opinions will be." She said and I lead her to it, then she opened my top drawer and sifted through my panties.

"Thongs? You wear thongs?" She asked.

"They're actually quite comfortable... you can't even feel them," I said.

She hummed and took out a pair of red boyshorts. "These... oh, never mind. They have cutouts in the back..." she said and put them back.

"I have these black ones. This good?" I asked and held up a pair of large black boyshorts.

"Yeah, that'll be great. Wait, you wear boxers too? Like guy boxers?" She chuckled as she held up a pair.

"They're comfy as well!" I argued.

"Well, you could wear those boyshorts alone, or whatever panties you want and some boxers. Where are your bras?" She asked and I opened the second drawer.

"Damn." Her eyes widened. "My father would kill me if I had some of these." She said and we were soon sitting on my bed.

"I won't lie to you, I've heard the rumors. Where is your dad?" She asked.

"Dead. Died just three weeks ago. Mom decided it was good to move away and start a new life where he or his memory had no influence on us. We even changed our names to get rid of him completely." I smiled.

"I take it he was pretty bad, wasn't he?" She hummed and took my hand and I nodded, avoiding eye contact.

"He had a very short temper, and drinking only made him angrier." I shook my head, then smiled at her. "Sorry, it's still a bit too fresh to talk about," I admitted and she nodded.

"I completely understand. Well, it's always the girls like us with bad fathers, isn't it, Bri?" She sighed and lied back on my bed.

"You have a shit dad, too?" I asked and she nodded, so I sat back with her. "At this point, I'm not even sure good fathers exist." I sighed and she chuckled.

"I wish I knew." She sighed out.