"BUT WHAT'S THE GOOD IN GOODBYE ANYWAY?"
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In which a heartbroken Richie Tozier receives letters from his missing best friend.
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ALOSERSWORLD
RICHIE X EDD...
"Will you hear me when I speak? Do you feel the pain, with me? I tried to be so strong. I thought that hope would come but you're not here. Darkness keeps its grip. How'd it come to this? Please come back."
-Natalie Taylor
(Come To This, Natalie Taylor)
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Richie sighed and turned towards Mike, "Are we almost there?" he asked. It felt like they had been on the road forever. Ben's head sat on Richie's shoulder as he slept, Mike hummed along to the music on the radio while he drove safely, and Richie sat between the two and thought about Eddie. He tried to read all the letters but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He was scared to know all the facts and he was also scared of there being a permanent ending. If they didn't find Eddie, the letters could be all he had left of the smaller boy.
"Yes, Richie," Mike told him. "We are almost there, so please stop asking and read your letters. We'll be there in an hour."
"Fine," Richie huffed. "I don't want to read these letters anymore."
"Why not?" he asked. "You aren't nervous, are you?" When Richie didn't say anything and stayed quiet for the first time in a while, Mike let out a soft laugh. "So you are nervous, well, don't be. You got me and Ben," he kept his eyes on the road. Richie lifted his hand and reached out for Mike's. "Are you serious? You want me to hold your hand?"
"What?" Richie sighed. "A bro can't hold another bro's hand?"
"Not when a 'bro' is trying to drive," Mike replied. "I need to keep both hands on the wheel." Richie tried grabbing his hand but Mike slapped his away before he could. "Oh, will you quit? Are you trying to get us in an accident?"
"I want someone to hold my hand as I read the letters, c'mon," he complained. When Mike didn't say anything, he groaned loudly. Richie repeatedly poked Ben's head until he woke up. "Benjamin, will you hold my hand while I read?"
Ben wrapped his hand around Richie's lazily before he laid his head back on his shoulder. "Don't wake me up again," he mumbled, already half asleep. "I swear, I'll cry." After he smiled, a frown made its way to Richie's face. Ben didn't tell him to stop with the nickname. He sighed, only Eddie would.
"Richie, I have a feeling we're gonna find him," Mike spoke quietly, trying not to disturb Ben. "I don't think you have to worry."
"I hope you're right," he said. He pulled out another letter and opened it a bit too slow. "I'm on the eighth letter."
