The Phone Calls ☏ || reddie

First Love

2530 Maple Street, Hawkins, Indiana
Tuesday August 31st 1994
6:34 am

Richie walked into his house, he had spent the night with Vanessa, and she woke him up and told him to leave, so he changed and left. He arrived home to see Ted awake watching TV, slowly beginning to drift off, and see Karen in the kitchen making breakfast.

"Hey, mom." Richie spoke, stepping into the kitchen.

"Richie? Why are you home so early?" Karen didn't know how terrible Vanessa was, really only Max, Mike, and Jane knew, but soon it was told to Lucas, Dustin, and Will.

"Vanessa had to leave for something..." He lied, sitting at the island, and watching his mom whip up whatever she was making.

"So, what time are you guys leaving?" She asked.

"Leaving?" He questioned, confused on where she heard of him going anywhere.

"Yeah. Mike said you, Max, Jane, and Dustin where going to see Lucas today."

"Why would I do that? He's all the way in New York."

"Well, Mike said that you guys wanted to see him one last time before you all leave for school."

"Well, that's new information to me."

"Mike didn't tell you?"

"No. And I'm not going either."

"You don't have to. Did he just think he could drag you?" She laughed. "Anyway, here." She turned around grabbing a newspaper, and handing it to him. "Here's some apartments."

"Thanks." Richie scanned each place. He's been wanting to move out for a while now, and was looking for apartments in the area, and none were nice. He called Nancy a few times to ask about the spaces down in the next town over, and none were acceptable.

"Why did you cancel with your dad, yesterday?" Richie glanced up. "He was very upset that you didn't go."

"He's upset with most of my life choices." Richie rolled his eyes, thinking back to the time he told his dad he was bisexual. Or the time when his dad met his first boyfriend.

"Richie-"

"'He's trying to get better.' I know, I know. I canceled because I was just busy." He flipped the paper, and continued his look, when fast footsteps where coming down the stairs.

"Good morning." Mike said, entering the kitchen.

"Why didn't you tell me about going to New York?" Richie asked, eyes still glued to the paper.

"Well, I thought you'd just come when I asked the day of."

"Well, it's the day of, and I'm not going."

"Why?!" Mike groaned. "It's New York!"

"I can't."

"Why not, Richie?" Karen asked, now forming something and laying it on a tray.

"I just... Vanessa... we're probably busy."

"Fuck, Vanessa!" Mike yelled.

"Michael!" Karen spoke back, scooping raspberry jam and putting it on the dough.

"Sorry, but really, Richie. You barely do anything with us!"

"I do stuff with you!" Richie defended, sitting up straight and looking at Mike.

"No, you don't! You didn't come with us to take Lucas to college, you didn't come with me to dads yesterday, you didn't go to that movie with Jane last week, you didn't go with us to get milkshakes on Saturday, you don't do anything with us and your reason is always the same! It's Vanessa, she's controlling you, Richie! You have to make your own decisions, and stopping seeing her if she's make you distance yourself from us!"