" DOMINOS " + STENBROUGH

[28]

a/n: i'm not saying there's any type of sex whatsoever in this chapter, but it got a lot more sexually suggestive than i anticipated so sorry?? this chapter isnt what i intended but im not mad at it, just mad at my awful writing lol. enjoy !!

there's just this feeling, of pride and admiration and excitement as stanley uris grabs the hand of betty ripsom, guides her further downstage, and bows.

the crowd is cheering wildly, because they just did something amazing. stan hears richie screaming supportive cheers rather aggressively, looks up to see his dad crying, and his sister sticking out a thumbs up. and it's so surreal. he had no idea he'd ever feel like this.

and as they all take a step back, and the curtains close and the lights in the house turn on, stan can't believe he did it. he actually did it.

"you were amazing!" betty says, as everyone begins to float around chatting or going to change out of their costumes. the girl throws her arms around stan's tall, skinny frame, curly hair smushing against his chest and loose coils tickling his chin. she pulls away with an elated smile.

"thanks, betty. you were, too."

"a couple of us are going out for pizza after this, wanna come?"

"i think i'll pass," stan says politely. "i'm exhausted, and you wouldn't want romeo to fall asleep on stage, would you?"

"maybe romeo just has narcolepsy," betty says, and stan chuckles. betty stands on her tip toes to kiss stan softly on the cheek, and says, "i'll see you tomorrow, then. goodnight, stanny."

"night, betty." betty winks, as she heads offstage in the opposite direction. and then stan himself turns, deciding that romeo actually does need some sleep, and should probably get out of his costume—horrendously uncomfortable tights and all—first.

stan passes some of the ensemble who have already changed, or the few members of the cast who are already dead by the last scene and decided to change, as he goes deeper backstage to the boys' dressing room.

he opens the door, newly aware of just how uncomfortable he is in his get-up, as the cool ac hits the sweat on his skin. he's thankful the dressing room is empty, as he sighs almost embarrassingly with pleasure at the sweet release of taking off romeo's dumb hat, and dumb puffy-sleeved shirt, and dumb capri pants.

stan is standing in nothing but his boxers, in the middle of pulling on his sweatpants, when the door opens. stan doesn't look up, figuring it's just another male cast member coming to change or grab his things. he doesn't expect it to be bill denbrough. until it is.

"i-i-if i knew this wuh-was the v-v-v-view i'd be guh-guh-getting in the dressing room, m-m-maybe i would have t-tried out myself." it's not just the stutter that gives him away, but also the fact that stan has been best friends with bill—who he's still madly in love with, in case you forgot—for so long he doesn't even need to think, as he hears his voice. his cheeks redden at bill's statement.

even more embarrassing than stan's reaction to the comment is how stan stands up straighter at the same time he turns to look, twisting his legs with the loose fabric of his pants and ends up landing hard on his ass. even worse is that his sweats are hugging his knee caps, and bill denbrough is standing feet away, watching with his bottom lip tugged between his teeth, as the sweaty, tired boy on the floor begins to even more so resemble a tomato.