problematic ➳ reddie

75

april ❀ age 16-17

"i'm so happy for you two" mike smiled at ben and beverly who were holding hands. beverly had her legs laying on ben's lap, while the other was slurping a milkshake.

"thanks, mikey" bev gave mike a sweet smile. "we weren't sure how you'd react"

"how come?" stan asked. he, himself, was sitting on the backrest of the bench at the park. bill was sitting next to him, although he was sitting on the actual chair.

"we thought it'd destroy the group" ben told and gave everyone a small smile.

"nonsense. we're loving this" eddie motioned between ben and bev, who blushed.

"i always saw as dating in a big group would turn out to be a bad choice...I mean, bill and I dated and we ended up breaking up..." bev pointed at bill who looked down, smiling a little.

"oh what are you smirking at, billy boy?" mike nudged bill's side, making the other let out a breathy laugh. "n-nothing"

stan looked down at bill for a moment, until looking up at the settling sun, shutting his eyes and enjoying the warm.

"have you talked to richie recently?" ben asked from eddie, who snapped out of his thoughts.

"what? uh, yeah. we talked a couple weeks ago...and on his birthday too" eddie smiled a little. "he said he thinks he's making progress"

"that's fantastic" bev cheered. "i'm so happy he's getting better"

eddie gave bev a smile before looking away into the distance, holding the cold slushee in his hands. he really missed richie.

he kinda hoped bev would've not brought him up. but she had every right to know about richie's state.

although, if she really cared, maybe she would've called him.

eddie frowned and squeezed the plastic cup in his hands.

"oh c-crap. I need to g-go home. ih-i promised muh-my dad I'd help him wuh-with cleaning the g-garage" bill choke as he glanced at his watch.

"i'll give you a ride" stan said and threw the empty coke bottle in the trash.

"oh yeah, I forgot you got a car" mike looked at bill and stan who stood up from the bench.

"yeah, figured it'd be easier. is anyone else going? I could drop them off too?" stan lifted a brow.

"I am" eddie stood up. "if you don't mind"

"yeah, not at all. i'll drop you off" stan smiled and took his keys out of his pocket.

"we'll stay" bev leaned on ben's shoulder. "what about you mike?"

"I can stay too. my grandpa doesn't need me at the farm right now anyways" he nodded and waved his hand at stan, bill and eddie.

"see you g-guys later" bill waved back and the trio began walking towards stan's pickup truck.

and not long, until eddie had sat on the backseat, bill on the passenger seat and stan driving the car, towards bill's place, since it was closer.