'39 [Stanley Uris]

36: Africa

The next morning, Richie wakes up to retrieve a glass of water. He doesn't notice the two missing figures on the couch, and when he hears Andi's voice he swears she's in pain. Jesus CHRIST. She was NOT in pain.

An hour or so later, Mike finally wakes up.

"Ugh, what the hell is that sound," Mike groans, rubbing his eyes and turning to look at Richie laying on the couch across from him.

He's surprised to see Richie wide awake, staring at the ceiling with a blank look. He honestly looks like he's been scarred for life as he turns his head burningly slowly towards Mike.

"What do you think it is," he grumbles. "THEY'VE BEEN AT IT FOR THE PAST TWO HOURS. I WOKE UP FOR WATER AND I THOUGHT ANDI WAS BEING HURT BUT SHE WASN'T! MIKE, I. WILL. NEVER. SEE. STAN. THE. SAME."

Mike stifles a laugh, "Richie just calm down. What exactly—"

"I seriously don't want to have this conversation," Richie interrupts. "Look, I joke about sex a lot, but I didn't realize how terrifying it'd be to actually walk in on your best friend. He was— he—...I don't even wanna talk about this."

"Okay okay," Mike snorts, "should we like...interrupt them?"

"I walked in on them," Richie blankly reminds. "They did not stop."

Mike rolls his eyes, "they probably didn't see you, Richie. Don't be dramatic, it's just sex dude. Everyone gets a little addicted in the beginning."

"Wait," Richie smirks, sitting up, "Mike, how do you know all this stuff?"

Mike blushes brightly, quickly moving to sit up and gather his belongings.

"I just do, now hurry up, we've got places to be today," he mumbles, pulling his shirt back over his head. "Now, who's gonna pull the rabbits away from each other? You? Or me?"

"You," Richie quickly responds, shuddering as he throws his own shirt back over his head and rises from the couch. "I don't think I can talk to them for a while. I seriously can't look at them after that. It was really gross."

"Fine," Mike sighs.

He reluctantly stomps towards Andi's room, unsure of how exactly to approach the situation. Deciding to simply knock on the door, he braces himself for embarrassment. I mean, listening in was already embarrassing enough, but at least it sounded like they were finished.

Slowly, he reaches his hand out and knocks loudly on the door.

"Uh, guys," he shouts, face close to the door, "we...we should really be heading out to find the others."

There's a few sounds of stumbling on the other side of the door, along with whispers before it is finally brought open.

Stan is stood there, clearing messy, and red from either embarrassment or so much movement in a wake space. Mike chooses not to think much about, shifting his weight from heel to toe nervously.

"We're ready to go," Stan clears his throat, glancing around the room.

"Um, okay...I guess we'll wait outside," Mike nods, quickly rushing away from the situation and back to Richie.

Stan breathes a sigh of relief, turning back to Andi who has her head stuck on her arms while she struggles to pull her shirt over her head. He laughs at the sight, taking a moment to realize just how embarrassing everything is.

"Do you think they heard us?" He nervously questions, rushing over to help her pull her shirt down.

Once it's over, Andi's face appears with an amused expression.

"Oh, I know they heard us," she laughs, fixing her hair so that it isn't in her face. "Don't be too embarrassed, you're the one that woke me up."

A red hue crawls up his neck, and he chooses to ignore her.

"Let's just go," he rushes, pulling her along side him out the door.

Outside, Richie and Mike are already situated on their bikes, stopping their conversation when the couple comes out the front door. An awkward silence rings in the air, and Richie jumps in to fill it.

"Well, you two sure got a work out in," he snorts.

"Beep beep, Richie," Stan grumbles, hopping onto his bike.

They stare at Andi expectantly, but she never moves from her place on the porch. She looks a bit awkward, an unfamiliar blush coating her cheeks.

"Andi, what're you waiting for?" Richie calls, looking at her confusedly.

He does his best to ignore the bruises down her thighs and mid leg. Just as he's glancing down at them, something seems to click in his mind.

A smirk rides across his face.

"You can't walk, can you?" He grins.

She rolls her eyes at his conclusion, and shakes her head.

"No, I can't, but that isn't the reason I'm not moving dick wad," she laughs. "Look, I've got a few things to take care of, you guys go get everyone and meet me at the well."

Mike snorts and nods his head lightly, Richie remains smirking.

Stan seems hesitant to leave, turning to her with a saddened look. The other two boys don't seem to notice, biking off without him in a hurry.

"Wait, you aren't coming?" He frowns.

Andi carefully walks down the porch steps, nodding her head lightly as she approaches him.

"Lana is super pregnant, and she needs help making cheesecake. She only eats it homemade, and she eats so much," she explains, placing a hand on his cheeks.

He squints his eyes at the sun, and nods his head lightly.

"You'll be there though right?" He worriedly asks.

"Yeah, for sure. If I'm late, go in without me. I'll catch up," she promises. "Hey, I love you a lot. Take care of Bill and Richie for me, okay? And tell Bill I'm sorry, and I love him for being such a sweet kid. I really wanted to protect Georgie, I swear we'll get him out safe."

Stan nods his head, making sure to listen closely to everything she says so he can repeat it back later.

"I love you," he smiles, leaning in and kissing her gently.

With that, he turns back onto his bike properly, and bikes away in a hurry, trying desperately to catch up with his two friends.