Reddie: Richie Returns

6: The Boat

Beverly had quietly driven on ahead of Ben back to their boat. She worried deeply for Richie's wellbeing, but she knew that Ben would do his best to comfort him while they followed closely behind her. She would check her rear-view mirrors every now and again to reassure herself that Richie hadn't tried to grab the wheel to make Ben turn back, but was relieved to find that Richie appeared to have fallen asleep across the passenger seats behind Ben.
Ben looked awfully tired after having to wrestle Richie away from Neibolt. His hair was messier than normal, and he looked visibly upset that Richie was so distraught about having to leave Eddie a second time. It was scarily similar to how he'd left him the first time, and still just as painful.

Ben shuffled in his seat a little to try and get comfortable again as he concentrated on the road in front of him. Richie was sprawled out in an exhausted fashion in the back passenger seats and even then he still looked exhausted. Ben tried his hardest not to try and wake him to try and get him to sit up again so he could be comfortable. He knew that if he woke Richie, he would have to fight him again. He quietly decided that it was best he left Richie alone for now. 
Ben continued to follow behind Beverly in silence, trying to process everything again. His heart really went out to Richie as he understood the pain of loving someone who wouldn't reciprocate those feelings. He felt fortunate that Beverly had finally understood his feelings and had fallen in love with him too, but it broke him to be reminded that Richie could never know that happiness. He began to miss Eddie more now that he knew just how much Richie loved him.

Richie eventually stirred and slowly began to wake up. His neck felt stiff as he'd been flopped over in his seat at an awkward angle, and he rubbed the back of his neck gently. His palms were still sore and grazed from his fall in the well, and his face felt heavy with grief. He felt bruised from when Beverly had hit him so many times, and his heart felt empty again. He looked up to see in the rear-view mirror that Ben had quietly watched him wake up, "Hey" Ben said quietly to him "We're almost home" he said reassuringly. Richie continued to try and massage the back of his neck with his hand, and then scowled at Ben from behind. He said nothing.
He slid down in his seat a little so he could lean his head against the window as he folded his arms, he continued to scowl like a grumpy teenager who'd just been grounded for the tenth time. 
He blankly watched the rain beginning to tap at the car window, just as he had done when he was alone in his dingy apartment just days ago. The raindrops were slowly pushed to the side of the window in the wind as the car continued to roll down the highway, and all Richie could notice about them was that they were moving in pairs. "God, even the raindrops have a better love life" he thought miserably to himself. He gently closed his eyes again and sighed in pain, he felt like Derry was still out to haunt him and that it wanted to taunt him one last time that he couldn't have Eddie. After all, in Derry, nobody ever really leaves. That thought stuck with him painfully, like a tiny splinter in his heart. It was just small enough to try and ignore, but painful enough to be constantly reminded of it's uncomfortable presence. 

After a couple of hours or so had passed, Beverly finally pulled up into her parking space in front of where the boat was moored in the docks. She was relieved to be home again, but she didn't leave her seat until she watched Ben pull up beside her. Richie was still looking particularly miserable in the back seat and was hunched over heavily like a pouting child.
Beverly quietly left her car and went to help Ben drag Richie back inside where he could warm up, but she didn't need to. Richie had given up and seemed far too tired to resist their help any more. He slumped out of his seat and followed Ben to the boat, Beverly felt his exhaustion just by watching him walk. Her heart was heavy for him.

Richie entered the living room on the boat in silence, and sat in the corner by himself. He gently moved the dog away from him as she tried to greet him happily. He just wasn't in the mood. He couldn't even bring himself to look at Ben or Beverly, who were stood in the kitchen watching him with deep concern. Beverly quietly turned towards Ben "I'm so worried about him" she said with a soft sadness in her voice as she gently held his arms. Without saying a word, Ben held Beverly close in his arms and hugged her tight in reassurance "He's gonna be okay" he whispered softly "He just needs some time... He's safe here with us" he reassured her. But he knew how much Richie was hurting, and it would take a long time for him to recover from the trauma.