Roses - Richie Tozier x reader

5 - SLEEPOVER

I chuckle to myself as he frantically rushes down stairs with an armful of medical stuff.
"God, did you rob a pharmacy?" I laugh.
"More like my medicine cabinet, I got everything I could find." He drops all the supplies next to me on the couch and then kneels in front of me.
"Do you know what you're doing?" I smile to him.
"Ha nope. Not in the slightest." He smiles but turns red.
"Well we can start with cleaning the cuts, did you bring down antiseptic?"

We spend the next half an hour putting the stinging antiseptic on every wound Henry inflicted on me.
"It's a shame we can't do anything for the pain from the bruises, you can barely walk." Richie states, looking concerned and placing a hand on my knee. "Maybe you could take a bath and the hot water will help."
"Yeah maybe, but wait when are your parents home? I think they'll be a bit shocked to find some random girl in your bathtub." I giggle to myself. Then I realise that once his parents are home I'll have to leave. Where the hell am I meant to go?
"They're away on business, you can stay as long as you need, I can't let you go back to that house."
"Thanks Richie." I look up and into his eyes. We hold this contact for what seems like forever. I feel heat rise to my cheeks and start to laugh to try and get rid of this awkward feeling. "Will you help me upstairs then and get me a towel, I really think having a good soak will make things a lot better."
"Sure sure." He suddenly switches to talking in a god awful British accent, " we need to get this young lady to the bathing quarters pronto, there's no time to lose chaps." I giggle and shake my head,
" just pick me up, loser." We both laugh and he wraps his arm around my waist, the feeling from before returns. Holy shit, I totally like him. Like a lot.

After a painful trip up the stairs he shows me to the bathroom and runs me a bath.
"Thanks again for this, are you sure it's ok if I stay here?" I ask as he passes me a towel.
" Of course, we have a spare room and you can borrow some of my clothes."
"Okay cool, anyway I'm going to get undressed now, so-"
"Yeah yeah, I'll leave, sorry, call me if you need help or anything" I can tell he's flustered as he quickly leaves and shuts the door. I laugh and take off my clothes.

"Richie, which room am I staying in?" I shout down the stairs as I emerge from the bathroom wearing a towel. My bruises are deep purple all across my chest and back, the bath only slightly helped with my throbbing muscles.
"One second." He shouts back and I hear him run up stairs. "Holy shit." He says when he sees me. "You're black and blue."
"Yeah, I know. It's been worse though. My dad was super bad after mum left, one time I couldn't move for a week."
"How do you live there?"
"Where else am I meant to go?"
Then something really unexpected happens. He pulls me into a hug. A long hug where I am totally covered by his arms, where his hands touch the bare skin of my back and I hug his waist, nuzzling my head into his chest. I feel overcome with emotion.
"Look, I'm here for you whenever you need me. You can always come to me." His grip gets tighter and i return this and hug him harder.
I finally feel cared for.
" well I'll let you get dressed and get ready for bed, make yourself at home."
"Thank you." I then take my self my surprise and kiss his cheek. It felt right. We both blush a deep red.
"No, thank you, for that." We both awkwardly giggle.
"Erm ok I'm going to go now." We're both grinning like fools."
"Yeah, see you later, tell me if you need anything."
"Will do" I reply as I go into the spare room shutting the door behind me.
Nothing could wipe this stupid smile off of my face.