✓ | BETTER WITH YOU → richie tozier ³

one

"SWEEEET CAROLINE! BAH-BAH-BAHHHH!"

"Richie, for the love of God!" Ash bellowed. "Shut up! You've been singing that same song for two hours straight!"

"TOUCHING HANDSSSS, REACHIN' OUTTTT!! TOUCHING ME- TOUCHING YOUUUUU!"

"RICHIE!" Ash shouted at the top of her lungs.

He thundered down her stairs, his face flushed with glee as he reached the bottom, the laces of his Converse undone.

"Okay, okay! You're my Caroline, gorgeous, what can I say?"

"Joy." Ash muttered, rolling her eyes and he tilted her face up to look at him, his eyes twinkling.

"I love you." He said, and planted a kiss on the top of her forehead. "Come on, we're meeting the Losers. Seniors now, baby!"

Ash shook her head, but let him tug her out the door, and when he did, they almost ran right into Stan Uris, who let out a loud, shrill vulture screech.

"Holy shit assholes! You almost scratched my bike!" He said shrilly, and Richie feigned obliviousness.

"What bike? You mean, this bike?" He reached out a finger and made to touch it, but Stan slapped his hand away.

"Lay off the bike, Tozier." He said threateningly, and the sound of Bill Denbrough made them all look up.

"Stop messing with him g-guys!" Bill said, and Stan shot a smirk at Richie who narrowed his eyes and pretended to shove his bike over once again.

After they had all calmed down and Stan had stopped trying to chase Richie and kill him, they all were on their bikes and heading to the high school, Eddie and Ben meeting them halfway there.

"I have a feeling this year is going to be our year, guys." Richie said, and Eddie snorted.

"You said that in fifth grade too, Richie. And weren't you the one who made out with that guy behind the dumpsters for a dare and for the rest of the year all the kids called you 'Dumpster Gay'?" He snickered, and Richie's cheeks went red.

"Shut up, Eds." He muttered, and Ash looked at him with wide eyes.

"You were gay? Wow, learn something new everyday!"

"I wasn't gay!" Richie persisted. "It was a dare, and I took the dare!"

"You could've turned him down!"

"It was a triple dog-dare! I'm not a wimp!"

Ash shook her head. "I'm just utterly shocked right now that you made out with a guy."

"What's the difference?" Richie asked. "They're just two different genders! I could make out with you and Eds, and it would totally feel exactly the same."

Eddie's whole face colored the exact shade of a tomato and he determinedly ignored the smirks Bill and Stan were shooting his direction.

"Beep, beep Richie." He said, and Richie said, "Ah, you love me, Eddie Spaghetti!"

"Damn right he does." Bill muttered underneath his breath, and then let out a yell as Eddie "accidentally" ran into him with his bike.

"You could have killed me, dipshit!" He scowled, and Eddie blinked at him sweetly.

"Oh really? I could have? What a shame I didn't!" He said, and Richie snorted, swerving to the right as he did so and veering dangerously close to Stan and his bike.

And this time Stan really did shove him completely off.

~

"Guys!"

Mike Wheeler burst into the room, his face shining, and Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, and Lucas Sinclair all looked up.

"Oh God, he has on that look-" Dustin started before Mike waved him off.

"Okay, so you guys know how we're going to Derry this year to finish high school with Richie and all them?"

The boys all nodded slowly, and Mike raised his eyebrows. "Welllll, I just found out that a certain redhead came back to Derry!"

Dustin's mouth dropped open. "Ashley Brenner? The girl who moved away, like, three years ago and the girl you had a crush on when we were freshman?"

Mike shot him a glare. "I didn't-"

"Yeah you did, Mike." Lucas said, and Will nodded knowingly.

Mike's cheeks colored. "Okay, so maybe I had a crush on her. Whatever. Anyway, isn't that so cool? That she's coming back?"

They all exchanged glances, and then Lucas said, "Uh, Mike? You aren't gonna. . .like. . .fall for her again are you? Cause when Richie gets mad, he gets mad."

"What? No! No, I don't- I mean, I won't have a crush on her. That's just- but if she breaks up with Richie and I go out with her- I mean, I'm just saying- and if she likes me better, then that's not- that's not my fault." Mike said persistently.

"Oh, God." Lucas. "We're all so screwed if you shit up the Asshole Duo, Wheeler."

"Hey!" Mike said defensively. "Who said I was gonna screw anything up? It could be her own decision you know!"

"Thank God we don't officially start until tomorrow." Will mumbled, and Mike rolled his eyes.

"You all are the least supportive people I know." He shot at them, and Lucas said, "I'm just saying, Mike! Don't screw them up."

"Oh, come on!" Mike argued. "They can't stay together forever, Lucas. It's common sense! And if they break up, what's wrong with me going after her? Nothing!"

Dustin pressed his lips together, and shook his head condescendingly. "Whatever you say, Mike. Whatever you say. But hey, it's your funeral."

"It's not gonna be my funeral." Mike said. "Trust me."

They were all silent for a second, comprehending Mike's words, and then Mike said, "She's really pretty."

They all stared at him, and Mike's eyes flicked to the left and back.

"You know. Ashley." He said, and felt his face get warm when they all just looked at him.

"Well, I say you need professional help, Romeo." Dustin said exasperatedly, standing and dusting off his hands. "Anyone want a soda?"

"Why are you brushing this off? Why are none of you trying to help me?" Mike said, looking around at them all.

Will said hesitantly, "Um, maybe because you're talking about your cousin- your best friend- and stealing away his girlfriend."

"He's got a point." Lucas agreed.

"Stealing? I'm not stealing! It's not like I'm going to do anything while they're still dating!" Mike laughed.

His laughing died abruptly as Dustin called from the kitchen, "I hope it's still funny when you're in hell, Wheeler!"