sweet ♡ richie tozier

chapter three

"Richie, Adelaide, stay here."

"Wha-" Adelaide blurted, about to protest, but the boys were already down the alley and on the way to the Keene's grocery store.

She sighed and dug in her back pocket for a piece of hard candy, finding one and smiling as she popped it into her mouth.

"Glad I got to meet you before you died," Richie told the boy.

Adelaide shook her head at him as Ben awkwardly looked up at him.

"You two know each other?" Richie asked, gesturing between Adelaide and Ben. When they shook their heads, Richie nodded. "Well, this is my girlfriend—"

She threw her hand over Richies mouth. "Adelaide!" She said, her face heating up. "Not Richies girlfriend."

"Yet," Richie said as soon as she let go of his face, almost incoherently, but Adelaide caught it.

Adelaide didn't look at Richie, but a small smile had formed on her face, the same smile that made his heart flutter, and he found himself staring at her, per usual.

He just couldn't help finding her so incredibly beautiful.

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and leaned against the wall. They sat in comfortable silence until the rest of the group got back.

—

"Get my bifocals. I hid them in my second fanny pack."

"Why do you have two fanny packs?"

"I need to focus right now," Eddie answered, not that that was a proper response.

As they bickered about sucking the wound and how Doctor K would fix Ben, Adelaide only stood there, trying to stifle laughs. She found it fun to hang out with the losers, which she never knew was possible.

"Are you okay, that looks like it hurts."

All heads turned to Beverly Marsh, walking up to the group with Bill. Adelaide's eyebrows raised at the sight of her. Of course there were rumors about her, that she got with every guy in school, but frankly, Adelaide wasn't sure there would be a single guy anyone would want to "get" with at this age.

"No, I'm good," Ben answered, looking at the girl in awe. "I just... fell."

"Yeah, right into Henry Bowers," Richie said bitterly.

"Shut it, R-Richie," Bill hissed.

"Why? It's the truth!" Richie shrugged.

Adelaide tilted her head.

"You sure they got the... right stuff to fix you up?" Beverly asked Ben, taking a step closer and winking.

Adelaide shifted uncomfortably. Her eyes involuntarily drifted to Richie beside her, furrowing her eyebrows. What would it be like if she were like that, a flirt? As soon as Richies eyes met hers, she looked away as fast as she possibly could, clearing her thoughts.

"W-W-We'll take care of him," Bill told the girl. "Thanks again, Beverly."

"Sure. Maybe I'll see you around," she smiled.

"Yeah, we were thinking about going to the q-q-quarry tomorrow, if you wanna come."

Nice shooting your shot, Bill.

Adelaide almost laughed at how cute the scene in front of her was. Instead, she smiled and raised her eyebrows, interested in Beverly's response.

"Good to know. Thanks," she said, turning around and waving as she walked away.