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chap 2: Stan and Richie?

Eddie

I was happy to have english with Richie. Not only because his seat was a perfect angle at mine to where we could give each other ugly faces but also because I could stare at him without him knowing.

I liked to watch Richie. To watch the way his tongue poked out of the corner of his mouth when he wrote or how dreamy he looked as he stared out the window to watch the morning sky or how many goofy expressions he made during the class. It was entertaining.

So that Friday morning I sat in my normal seat, 3rd row from the front, 2nd row over, next to Greta and some black haired girl who I didn't know the name of, behind Buddy Griffin and in front of Robin Ubanks.

Richie sat in the front row, 4th row over, right in the sun so his skin looked a pretty golden color even though he was pale as hell. He got put in the front of all his classes, partly because of his horrible eyesight, despite his glasses, and partly because of his horrible behavior.

"You all will be writing a poem about someone important to you." Mr. Stewart announced. I wasn't paying attention. I was watching Richie stick his tongue out and cross his eyes at me.

"Mr. Tozier." Mr. Stewarts voice boomed, scaring the life out of me. Richie spun forward with his famous grin plastered on his face.

"Pay attention, please." Mr. Stewart sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Yes sir!" Richie saluted him, causing everyone to giggle, which made Richie look proud. He spun around to wink at me one last time but the remainder of the class he didn't look at me. He doodled and even almost fell asleep right up to the bell.

The second the bell ran I rushed to Riche, my books held tightly to chest. I felt like a giddy school girl waiting on her crush to walk her home.

"Can you believe that shit? I'm not writing a poem." He laughed coldly and shook his head, pushing me toward the door.

"I think I'll write about my mom." I shrugged. I didn't really have anyone else to write about.

"Are you gonna make a haiku about how fat she is?" Richie grinned.

"Oh fuck off, Rich." I scoffed. Richie drove me insane and I liked to act like I hated the teasing but I didn't. It did erk me but Richie was my best friend so I didn't mind it.

We pushed out the cafeteria doors right to the tree in the corner of the yard. The best part of being a senior was we would leave for lunch.

"Come on, Stanny boy." Richie shouted as we approached the tree. Everyone else was there too but I think Richie had a thing for annoying Stan and Stan only.

"We're h-here too." Bill rolled his eyes.

"I know." Richie deadpanned.

Bill was the only one with a car. I didn't know what kind. I wasn't a car person. Mike and Bill were the car guys. Richie knew a lot about them too but he didn't like them as much.

So we all piled into Bill's car and drove to the local pizza shop, Mercuio's.

I sat in between Richie and Stan in the rounded booth at the corner of the shop. Bev ordered for us then joined us, sitting next to Ben at the end. Richie and Bev always got the end of the seats, they got up to pee the most.

"So Mr.Stewart wants us to write a poem about someone close to us or some shit." Richie sucked down his root beer.

"Who are you gonna write about, Rich?" Ben asked. I swear I saw Richie's eyes flicker to me for just a second. Maybe it was my imagination.

"My dog." He shrugged.

"You don't have a dog." Stan rolled his eyes.

"Then I'll write about your mom, Stan."

"God, you're so gross."

"Like your-"

"Richie, if you say like your mom I will shove this fork so far down your throat." Bev cut him off. I giggled.

"Kinky." Richie wiggled his eyebrows. God I wanted to punch him.

"Stop." Ben spat, his face red.

"Aw jealous, Benny?" Richie pinched Ben's chubby cheek. Ben had actually lost a ton of weight, but he was still cute baby faced Ben to us.

"Cut it out, Rich." I saud, seeing Ben was clearly embarrassed. On one hand I didn't know why Ben didn't just ask Bev out but on the other Richie didn't make it any easier.

"God! Why is everyone up my ass this week!" Richie huffed, crossing his arms. He looked goofy, pouting like a kid.

"S-sorry, Rich. I think we're a-all just stressed over work a-and finding places to live." Bill answered apologetically. We all muttered in agreement.

"Which is my time to speak," Stan shifted in his seat, "I got an apartment by the river in town. Will you guys maybe help me move in this weekend?"

All of our faces lit up, especially Richie's. He looked like he was gonna fly out of his seat.

"I will if you let me room with you." Richie offered. Stan looked like he even considered it for a second. There was no way he could pay for that place alone. Hell, his parents had probably given him the money to pay for it in the first place.

"No way. You don't even have a job. I don't need you to be trashing up my place, plus I need the extra room for books."

Richie got the biggest, saddest puppy dog eyes and poked out his bottom lip.

"Please Stan! I can't stay in my house another minute!" he begged. Stan chewed on his bottom lip and out of my pure amazement said "fine." Richie's face cracked into a wide grin as he reached over me and gave Stan a big wet kiss on the cheek. I pushed him to sit back down, partly because he was in my space and also because it made me uneasy seeing him kiss Stan's cheek.

"Looks like I've got an apartment, people!"

"We've. We've got an apartment." Stan corrected him.

"Yes, of course, honey." Richie smirked and that was the end of the apartment conversation.