where we left off

9

They postponed the eight hour drive to New York, they would move there in two weeks now that Richie had been released from hospital.

"Stan! Someone's calling you!" Richie yelled from the Denbrough's kitchen. Stan picked up the phone in the living room, where he and Bev were eating popsicles.

"Hi Stan." It was Josy.

"What does my father want now?" Stan was not in the mood to argue.

"He wants to talk to you and Bill before you move away."

"If he wants me to apologize-"

"He doesn't. He wants to say sorry. Dinner at our house?"

"Fine. What time?"

"At six, tomorrow."

"Fine. I'll see you. Give my love to Ash."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Stan hung up and went upstairs to Bill's room. He flung open the door and threw himself dramatically onto the bed. Bill lifted his head from his drawing and lay down next to him. He kissed Stan on the forehead and asked,

"What's up, hun?"

"My Dad wants us to go to dinner there tomorrow and make up."

"Did you say yes?"

"Of course I said yes!" Stan ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

"What are you worried about?"

"Well, none of my nice clothes fit me anymore, this dinner'll end in tears and i just fucking know it."

"Okay... Look on the bright side. This dinner from hell will only last a few hours, worst case scenario is that you guys fight again." Bill reasoned.

"Worst case scenario is that he suddenly has a heart attack and Ash cries the entire time, actually."

"Smartass."

"One of us has to be around here, dumbass."

The next evening, Bill and Stan stood awkwardly outside the Uris' for about five minutes before walking up to the door and ringing the bell. Josy answered.

"Stan! Bill! Come in! I hope you like spaghetti, Bill." She hugged them both and grinned. Ash came running out of the dining room and hugged Stan's legs.

"I missed you Stan! Don't leave again! Who's this?" Ash pointed at Bill suspiciously.

"This is Bill,remember?" Stan patted Ash's curly hair.

"Your friend Bill. Like Bev and Ben?" Ash loved Bev and Ben, who babysat once when Stan had a migraine.

"Yeah. He's Bev and Ben's friend as well."

Ash took this very well, anything Bev liked had the seal of approval to Ash.

"We're having pasghetto." She grabbed Bill's shirt sleeve and dragged him towards the kitchen.

Josy smiled and looked Stan up and down.

"How do you feel?" She asked.

"Fine. How are you?"

"Tired. Diane has moved the PTA meeting again because of some reason and Joey won't cook for the fundraiser even though it's his turn-" Josy easily fell back into her normal self, all previous awkwardness forgotten.

Bill was sitting cross legged on the floor  of the living room as Ash did some sort of interpretive dance show. Stan and Josy chatted until Mr Uris served the spaghetti and sat down next to the others.

"How are you, Stanley?"

"I'm fine, thank you. How are you?" Stan looked composed and made slightly too much eye contact.

"Very well. How are you, William?"

"It's Bill, Mr Uris. I am very well, thank you."

"Call me Donald, please. What university are you going to attend, Bill?"

"I got a full scholarship to New York University, but I'm taking a gap year to work and take care of the baby. The college was very understanding."

Mr Uris had a fantastic poker face.

"So you don't mind?" Mr Uris raised an eyebrow.

"Mind what?" Bill looked confused.

"That your entire life is being thrown out the window because you forgot a condom? That you'll be stuck with Stanley until you die or run away? That you will have to take care of a wailing-"

"I don't mind. I had an easy way out. I could have left, but I didn't. I didn't leave because I love Stan, I really love him. But also, I knew that you would chuck him out or disrespect the choices he's made, so if I didn't stand with him, who would? Because you sure as hell didn't." Bill's tone was scathing.

"Good." Mr Uris lessened his glare slightly.

"So, I heard that Richie got shot?" Josy prodded her food.

"Yeah, he did." Stan replied.

"Is he okay?"

"He's fine, just a bit sore."

"Was it at the hold up in the supermarket?" Josy said.

"Yeah."

"How are your parents, Bill?" Josy was the only one making an effort.

"They're good, thanks. My mom just got a job in a law firm, she's very happy." Bill said.

"That's nice. I wanted to be a politician when I was little, but now I'm a RSPCA inspector." Josy nodded.

"Oh? You work with animals?" Bill looked interested.

"Yeah, just the other day I spent nine hours at this hoarder's house, trying to get all of the dogs out. They were all swimming in their own crap! I had to wear a hazmat suit just to get in there and-"

"Josy. Please don't talk about animal faeces at the table." Mr Uris interrupted.

"Fine." Josy looked put off.

"No, I want to hear more about the animal rescues. What happened then?" Stan continued to glare at his dad.

Josy grinned at him and continued to talk about the animals, helping Ash out of her high chair.

"Well. That was lovely, Josy. I think we should be getting home soon, Stan. My mom'll be getting worried." Bill helped wash up, ignoring Josy's protests.

"Wait a minute, Bill. I want to say something to Stan." Mr Uris said.

"What?"

"I'd like to apologize for kicking you out, Stanley. I was just angry and worried. I should have been better." Mr Uris glanced at Stan apologetically.

"It's okay. I know that you were just scared." Stan smiled.

Bill and Stan left the Uris house and immeadiately fell asleep.