Losers' Club //Richie Tozier//

🎈73. 🎈

Isabelle and I sat down in the living room eating away a tub of chocolate ice cream.

"You're crazy." I said as I licked my spoon.

"You have no idea." She giggled as she leaned back and stared ahead, "who else do I have to beat up?" She asked.

"Mmm?" I hummed as I dipped my spoon into the ice cream and scooped some out, "what are you taking about?" I asked.

"I saw your eyes." She said, "big, watery, and red. Was it Richie?"

"That's what I find kind of odd, that you always assume it's Richie who makes me feel either angry or sad, but the worst part is that you're always right." I sighed as I leaned back as well.

"What happened this time?" She asked as she set her spoon aside.

I let the ice cream melt on my tongue before swallowing the liquid. I set my spoon aside as well and placed the ice cream tub on the coffee table in front of us.

"The conversation we heard this morning... about the woman we believe has to be Richie's mom, I asked him about her and he got so fucking mad." I said as I crossed my arms.

"What did he say?" She asked.

I took in a deep breath, "he began to ask me about Jess and our mom and said it was non of my business." I said quietly, "I just wanted to talk to him and feel close to him because he never talks to me about his family and what's wrong wth him."

"It's all going to work out like it should." She said as she rubbed my arm.

"He was so mean." I said with a shaky tone.

"He's a teenage boy, they have mood swings and they're going through the 'I'm a tough boy' phase. It'll pass Cole." She said.

I nodded my head, "I know he just hurt my feelings a little bit." I said.

"I'm really proud that you didn't beat his ass on the spot." She smiled.

I let out a small laugh, "I couldn't. Even if I wanted to I couldn't lay a finger on him."

"Young love, so beautiful." She said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes as we heard the front door open and close. Heavy footsteps made their way over to the living room.

"Hey dad." I said as Isabelle and I both stood up to greet our dad.

"Hey girls." He said with a heavy sigh as he wrapped an arm around Isabelle and the other around me.

"What's wrong?" Isabelle asked as we walked into the kitchen.

"I was checking out my card records and I'm missing a bit of money." He said as he sat down at the table.

Isabelle walked over to the stove to heat up food for out stressed dad that sat on the kitchen table while rubbing his forehead.

"How much money?" I asked.

"Too much." He said.

"What if we go down to the bank?" Isabelle asked as she pulled out a plate from the cupboard.

"I need to finish paying off the electric and water bill. I also need to pay off the house... your mom's medication." He sighed.

I looked over at Isabelle with worried eyes. I didn't know what to say or do in this situation.

"What if we ask for loans?" Isabelle asked.

"I already did. I asked Mr. Patterson for a loan... the most important thing right now is the house... if I'm not careful we can lose it. Who's going to take in a family of four and a dog?"

I licked my lips as I looked down at my feet. Isabelle came over to my dad and set a plate of food on the kitchen table for him.

"It's going to be okay dad." Isabelle said as she sat by his side.

"Hey darling, bring my notebook that's in the living room cupboard." My dad said.

I walked out of the kitchen and to the cupboard that stood next to the Tv. I grabbed his notebook and a pen that rested on the side. I walked back to the kitchen but stopped right outside to hear what they were whispering about.

"I lied... It's not from the card. The money is missing from what your mother and I set aside years ago." He whispered.

"For what?" Isabelle asked.

"In times like this. Your mother stopped working so it's only me now and I can't pay off everything." He explained, "there's more than 6,000 missing." He whispered.

"Oh god." She whispered as she rubbed her face, "What are we going to do about it?" She asked.

"I don't know Izz... I don't know." He said, "don't tell Cole about this, got it?" He asked.

She nodded her head, "yeah, I won't say a word."

I walked into the kitchen acting like I didn't hear anything and handed him his notebook.

"Why don't you girls head to bed?"

We nodded our heads and kissed him goodnight. We both walked out quietly.

"Did he say anything about the money?" I asked.

"No. We'll get through this Cole." She assured.

I nodded my head, "Okay."

Why is everyone holding back the truth?

If I can't get answers, it's fine... I'll just keep pushing harder.

-
For the chapter I missed on Monday.