Things "Best Friends" Do

{6} Party In Derry

"YAHOO!" Richie runs out the school doors to the flagpole, "It's the weekend Losers!"
Eddie rolls his eyes, his arms are crossed over his chest, one of his wrists lighter than the other because of the cast he had on all summer. The Loser's are gathered around the flagpole, the soft fall breeze causing the rope to ding on the metal flagpole. Eddie zips up his coat and pulls on gloves. Bill tugs his jacket tighter around him and Ben pulls his hat lower to his ears. Mike rides up, empty meat packages in his wire basket that's attached to the front of his bike. Beverly curses herself, wishing she wore leggings under her overalls but glad she has her coat. Richie skips over to the Losers Club, no jacket, no hat, no boots. Just a t-shirt and shorts. Stan pulls on his jacket, "Dude where's your coat it's freezing out here."
Richie shrugs, "I'm not cold." Actually he was, but he doesn't have the money to go get anything for himself and there's no way he'll ask his dad.
"Richie!" Eddie chided, "Where's your winter clothes you idiot?!"
"Not with me."
"Well obviously! You're going to catch a cold!"
"I think I'm okay for now Eds." Richie laughs, "Seriously, it's not that cold." The wind picks up and Richie shivers.
"OH BULL SHIT!" Eddie points at Richie, "I just saw you shiver!"
"That wasn't me, that was the wind playing tricks on you!"
Eddie's eyes narrow, "I'll buy you a coat."
"I have a coat." Richie promises.
"Really? Then where is it?"
"I left it at your mom's house last time we had s-"
"Richie!" Stan growls, "Don't even finish that sentence."
"Yeah, that's fucking disgusting you know that?" Eddie fake gags, his finger pointing to his mouth.
"Not as disgusting as your breath." Richie sneers. He flips a coin in his hand and catches it repeatedly.
"For your information, I brush my teeth and use mouthwash every single morning so-"
"Okay we don't need to know your morning routine Eddie." Mike laughs, parking his bike next to the Losers', "What are we waiting for?"
"Th-that's a good q-question. Wh-what's t-taking them s-so long?" Bill asks.
"Who?" Mike asks.
"The new kids, Will and Eleven." Eddie informs him.
"Eleven?"
"Yes Eleven."
"Weird..." Mike shrugs it off, looking forward to seeing Eleven and Will.
Beverly presses her lips together, "You don't think Bowers got them do you?"
Richie grabs Eddie's wrist and looks at the time, "Guys it's literally only 3:10 it's been five minutes." Eddie wrenches himself out of Richie's grip and huffs at him, Richie shrugs and stares at the front doors.
"Y-yeah well I t-told them to me-meet us right after school." Bill worries.
"Maybe they got lost?" Ben suggests, "They are new after all."
"Maybe." Stan says.
Beverly steps forward, "Should we go and look for them just to-"
At that moment the door swings open, Eleven and Will step out, waving at the principal and walking towards the Loser's club.
"Hey guys." Jane says, "You must be Mike?" Jane asks, guestering to Mike who was currently pulling on his gloves.
Mike nods, shaking their hands, "Will and... Eleven? Right?"
"Yeah, nice to meet you Mike." Will turns toward Bill, "so where are we going?"
The Loser's Club looks at Bill who sighs, "Alright alright, lets go to my house."

The Loser's and their plus two, ride to the Denbrough's house. They park their bikes in the garage, wipe their shoes off and walk into the mud room. The walls are a light cream color and there's four dark gray cubicles on the left hand side, three are occupied with coats, boots and gloves at the waiting for a snowy day. Richie slightly frowns at the fourth one, which is mostly empty with a few knick knacks here and there. On the right there's a washer and dryer with clothes strewn about looking like a tornado had whirled through. The Loser's follow Bill into the living room where they set their bags down on the carpeted floor. Will looks around the room, smiling at how similar it is to Mike's house back home. The only difference is there's no Lazy Boy in the corner.
"M-mom I'm home with f-fr-friends!" Bill yells, picking up an overturned boot.
"Okay Bill, come in here for a sec!" Bill's dad says.
Bill jogs into the kitchen, his friends trailing behind, to see his parents in their going-out clothes. His mother in a long-sleeved poofy dress, her hair curled and put up. Her wrists are decked out with bracelets and a pearl necklace swings to and fro as she talks.
To confirm Richie's suspicions, Bill's mother says, "Bill me and your father are going out, we won't be back until Saturday night so have fun with your friends. We told Mrs. Nancy to kinda keep watch over you guys while we're gone." She intertwines her arm with Mr. Denbroughs and hugs Bill, "Love you, call us if you need anything."
"Uh- mom w-wait, me-meet El and Will b-before you go."
Mrs. Denbrough smiles shaking the hands of the two new kids, "I'm Mrs. Denbrough, Bill's mom. Stay as long as you like." They thank her and she walks out the door. Watching them leave was like watching grass grow, but finally the door swings shut with a clink and Richie jumps onto a wooden chair.
"Who's ready to get this party started!" Richie pumps his fist in the air, his other arm searching his short pockets. He brings out a small bag of weed.
Eddie's eyes go wide, "Rich where the hell did you get that?!" Richie jumps down from the chair, his glasses sliding down his nose.
Richie adjusts his glasses, "Some guy at a party I went to last week. I've been saving it for the right time."
"Some guy?" Eddie shrieks, "Some guy?! What if it's laced!"
"Well then it's laced."
"What if- ohmyGOD, did he look dirty?" Eddie's hands make a circular motion at his head, "Like ya know did he have-"
"Eddie." Beverly puts a hand on his, "Calm down, you don't have to have any."
Bill smiles, "L-let's go to my room."
Will and Jane glance at each other with wide eyes, their friends never did this kind of stuff, the Loser's Club was a huge change- The Loser's Club partying, where their Hawkin's friends would look at X-Men comic books or ride bikes together- but at least they have friends here in Derry.
Richie runs up the stairs, "Ben and Stan could you be sweethearts and get the alcohol?" Richie laughs, "Actually Stan, better take Mike with you you'll need a nice strong farm boy to carry-"
"Oh shut it!" Stan says already on his way to the liquor cabinet.
Eleven looks around, they pass by a room full of stuffed animals and a perfectly made bed. There's a big 'G' above the headboard and childrens books line the shelves.
"Who's room is that?" El asks.
Bill stops and turns, "O-oh th-that's... G-G-Gorgie's..."
"Where's he?"
Richie winces and Beverly signals to her that she'll tell her about him later. Eleven cocks her head and frowns, she knows what it's like to lose people but why are they all so sensitive about it?
Bill sighs, "He's d-dead." He shuts the door rather forcefully, smiling again. "Alright, h-hurry up sl-slowpokes."
Richie whoops and runs to Bill's room, grabbing a lighter from a nearby table. Eddie follows suit, taking off his fanny pack and laying it on Bill's nightstand. His room is dark gray, a finger painting signed 'Georgie D.' sits in a frame on a shelf surrounded by snow globes. Bill's bed has navy covers and six pillows piled up resting against the gray headboard. A basket full of blankets sits next to his closet that is, surprisingly, very tidy.
Richie jumps on the bed, patting the space beside him, "Eduardo, come sit rig' 'ere!" Richie says in a British accent.
"How many fucking nicknames can you come up with?" Eddie lays on Richie's stomach as Richie fiddles with the lighter.
"Do we need to open a window?" Richie asks Bill.
"No w-we're fi-fine, I'll j-j-just air it out t-tomorrow."
Will hears the clinking of cans and bottles behind him, he opens the door for Stan, Mike and Ben who have an assortment of alcoholic beverages clutched in their hands. Ben is holding the cups with his mouth on account of he doesn't have any free hands left. Beverly grabs the cups out of his mouth, yelling as a blob of slobber drops on her hand, and sets them on the floor.
"Sorry!" Ben laughs as Beverly wipes off the spit onto Ben's shirt, giggling.
Mike laughs and shakes his head, peeling off his gloves and coat- the other's following the lead. Bill takes their coats and gathers them into a big pile next to the window, closing the curtains before he sits back down.
The closed curtains dim the room, the lamp is the only lightsource on. Eddie wriggles, sliding closer to Richie who is currently unzipping the bag that carries the weed. He puts the bag on Eddie's head.
"HEY!" Eddie yells, swiping the bag away with his arm, "That's gross Richie..."
"No you're gross."
"That is such a lie- I'm the pinnacle of cleanliness!" Eddie turns his head, his cheek rests against Richie's knee and he faces Richie's stomach.
"Well guess what?" Richie says, pulling his shirt down.
"What?" Eddie deadpans.
Richie stretches, his shirt riding up, and Eddie catches a glimpse of what the word starts with.
"Hello?" Eddie asks, waving his hand in front of Richie's face.
"Oh. I fucked your mom."
"Dude..."
"What." Richie crosses his arms and bounces his knee, jostling Eddie's head.
"Stop moving your leg!!" Eddie growls, hitting Richie's leg.
"Okay, okay!" Richie says, his hands go in the air, "I yield!"
Eddie laughs and turns around again, Richie pats Eddie's hair and he holds back a sigh.
"So what is that?" Eleven asks, pointing to the weed that Richie is currently wrapping and lighting.
Eddie laughs, "Is she serious?" He sits up on his elbows.
"Eddie!" Beverly shoves him and he tumbles back into Richie.
"Yeah, I've never seen that stuff." Eleven shrugs.
"It's weed El." Mike informs her, "It's like a cigarette but... better."
"Yeah!" Richie puffs out a ring of smoke, "Wayyyy better." He laughs and offers it to Eddie who shakes his head; "Oh c'mon Eds, you're not gonna make me smoke a joint all by myself right?"
Eddie rolls his eyes, "Of course not." He grumbles and takes a hit, his eyes water and he holds back a cough.
"Y-you good Eddie?" Bill laughs.
"Yup. Fine." Eddie smiles and passes it back to Richie who takes another hit, blowing the bitter smelling smoke into Eddie's face. "Blah!" Eddie shields his mouth, "My asthma!"
"Asthma smathma." Richie jokes, "If you really need your inhaler your fanny pack is on the desk."
Eddie grabs Richie glasses putting them on his own face, "How do I look?" The glasses are lopsided and as Eddie smiles, the right lens goes upward, the black rim of Richie's glasses resting on his cheek. Richie smiles, "You look terrible, but only because I can't see." He grabs them off of Eddie's disapproving face. Eddie flips over and pushes himself so he's sitting on his knees, He grabs for Richie's glasses again and Richie pushes him with his foot.
Eddie holds his face, "Ow! Rich that hurt!"
"Oh poor wittle baby!" Richie says in a baby voice, "You want me to kwiss it fo' you?"
"Ew no!" Eddie laughs scrambling away.
"Okay kids!" Beverly claps her hands together, interrupting the two's squawking, "Let's play a game." Richie sits cross-legged on the floor next to Eddie and Stan. Bill lays on his stomach on the left of Stan, Mike on the other side of him. El and Will sit next to each other by Ben and Mike- and Beverly sits next to Ben with Eddie finishing up the circle.
Stan grabs the cups and lines them up, "How about Truth or Dare?"
Richie's heart pounds, "No! That's so 1987, let's play Never Have I Ever!"
"Yeah!" Ben says, he grabs a bottle of vodka and unscrews it, "If you've done it you drink!"
Will laughs, "You all are much more rowdy than our group back home."
"Really? What'd you guys do together?" Mike asks.
"Uh..." Will blushes, "We'd play D&D..."
"Dungeons and Dragons?" Ben beams, "I used to play it all the time where I used to live!"
"It's such a fun game, but I left my board at home."
"Why?"
"Well, I didn't want to start playing D&D with a new group... I don't know it's kinda a really long story." Will shrugs.
"Really? Well we've got ti-"
"Boring!" Richie interrupts, "Sorry to break up your nerd fest, but we're here to party."
Ben laughs, "Okay Richie, then you go first."
"Okay then," Richie screws his face up in mock concentration, "Never have I ever... played D&D."
"No fair that's totally targeting!" Ben throws his head back drinking a shot.
"Never said you couldn't target." Richie shrugs.
"Okay so from now on," Stan glares at Richie, "No targeting."
"You're n-no f-f-fun St-Stan the Man." Bill says. Out of the nine of them, four of them drank. Ben, Bill, Will and El.
"Since you all have decided to play dirty, never have I ever smoked until..." Stan grabs the joint out of Richie's hand, "Now." Richie puts his hands up in surrender and drinks along with Bill, Mike, Beverly and Eddie. The vodka tastes strong, the clear liquid stinging the back of Richie's throat as he drinks. He holds back a cough and his eyes water.
Eddie rolls his eyes, "And you call me weak?"
"Shut up Eds, I haven't done this in a while."
Bill sits up, his turn. "Never have I ever worn knee socks!"
Eddie sighs taking a drink along with Will and Stan.
"Nerds!" Richie laughs, he's starting to feel the effects of the weed. The room feels fuzzy and pleasantly warm, his eyes itch a little bit and he rubs them. When Richie brings his hands away he sees stars and lines zip across his vision.
"Never have I ever kissed anyone!" Mike yells pointing across the circle, "I got at least four or more of you I know it!"
Beverly drinks winking at Ben who's red faced and drinking also. Bill takes a drink and so does Stan.
El drinks, her face screwed up with disgust, "How do you drink this stuff? It's disgusting!"
"It's good!" Richie says, "The effects of it anyways."
"Richie there's no way you haven't had your first kiss yet." Stan deadpans.
Richie shrugs, "I haven't- well I guess I have if you would count Eddie's mom-"
"Ohmygod stop!" Eddie covers his face with his hands, his knees coming up. His blue shorts ride up and he quickly pulls them down, blushing. "That's fucking disgusting Trashmouth."
Beverly rolls her eyes smiling at the two bickering friends, "Enough with the lovefest you two, we're trying to play a game."
Richie's eyes widen and he scoots away from Eddie, "Ew no cooties!"
Eddie shoves him, "You know you-"
"Oh my Lord when will this hell end!" Stan moans.
El laughs, "Okay, I guess I'll end it Stan, here we go... Never have I ever drank until today."
Everyone except for Will drinks, Eddie's really lightweight and he's starting to feel tipsy. A few more rounds and he'll be on the floor. Once everyone's had their turn, Eddie finishing up with 'Never have I ever skinny dipped.' resulting in Richie drinking just to hide the fact that he's blushing like crazy thinking about Eddie's naked body in a cold lake wrapped around- STOP! Richie almost chokes on his vodka, and Eddie pats him on the back.
"Okayyy..." Ben slurs, "It's time forrr... Truth or Dare!" Richie's heart pounds, his anxiety cranked up to one-hundred from the weed.
"How about we... find a different game?" Richie squeaks, he wrings his hands together, "Is it hot in here...or is it just me?" The alcohol will make him screw up! He's going to accidentally pick truth and then the dreaded question will come up and then-
"Rich a-are y-you ok-okay?" Bill asks. Richie hates Truth or Dare. Why? Well that's simple, he thinks one day someone is going to force him to pick Truth to make up for all the times he's picked Dare. He's scared for the one question asking him who he likes. Of course Richie could always make up a lie, he could say Beverly but that might raise a multitude of questions. And he doesn't even know any other girls! So, to answer Bill's question, no Richie is not okay. He's about okay as a gazelle getting chased by a cheetah- close to death.
"I'm fine!" Richie yells, a bit too loud. "Sorry the weed and alcohol are really getting to me."
"I'll go first." Eddie says, "Richie T or D?"
"D!" Richie pumps his fist in the air, "I never back down from a dare."
"Okay well... If you back down from this you have to take three shots." Eddie muses.
"I'm ready." Except he's definitely not, what if Eddie dares him to pick truth? Wait... can you do that? No, that's a rule... right?
"I dare you to kiss Will." Eddie laughs, "He's gay right? Like you?"
"Excuse me?" Richie sways and his breathing picks up.
Eddie gives him an odd glance, "I said I dare you to kiss Will, we need to know what Hawkins tastes like!" Eddie snorts and pushes him, "Well go on!" Eddie didn't say any of what Richie thought he said, it's just the weed, anxiety and paranoia messing with his brain.
Richie breathes a sigh of relief, "Alright sexy let's get it on!" Richie laughs and butt-scoots over to Will. Their socked feet touch and Richie sees Will tense up.
"Oh c'mon buttercup don't be so scared, It's just a kiss."
"Yeah well I..." Will gulps, "I mean I don't think..."
"Don't think just do!" Richie leans in and pecks his mouth. For the millisecond their lips touch Richie did taste Hawkins, it tasted soft and sweet, homey.
"So?" El says, "What does Derry taste like?"
"Weed." Will nods, firm and serious, getting laughs out of the Losers.
But Eddie is just wondering why the hell he feels so jealous.