𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 | 𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕕𝕚𝕖

chapter twenty-two: sinnerman

"Beverly this is insane!"

"I know, Ben," the redhead sighed and rubbed her temples, "but I tend to pity the broken!"

"Yeah, it's just another wonderful trait you have." Ben smiled and traced hearts onto Beverly's back with his fingers, "but this stuff is really serious."

"I know what I'm doing. Those- uh boys, Victor and Reginald seemed pretty concerned. I understand that we just got to be living in New York together, but I believe in justice too."

"Who're the people we're trying to protect now?" Ben squinted his eyes and picked up his suitcase.

"Eddie Kaspbrak and Richie Tozier. I think I met them where I work."

"Hey, I met them too! At the hotel!"

Beverly was slightly speechless. How come everything was so connected?

They were about to board a plane to Nebraska, which had just been announced to be the last place the runaways were seen. It was all Beverly's idea, for she knew exactly what it was like to run away from home.

Everything was really connected. Bill Denbrough, Richie's friend, happened to be boarding the same exact plane.

★

"Morning, sunshine!" Richie sang into Eddie's ear, springing him into waking up with a jolt.

"Jesus, you swine!" Eddie jumped, looking around him until he realised that he'd fallen asleep in the backseat of their car. "Rich, you can't scare me like that. I have a delicate heart." He sighed, holding his palm over his pounding chest.

"Aw, that's so cute." Richie smiled.

"I'm pretty sure it's not that cute to have a heart attack," Eddie rolled his eyes, "oh, but no offense to your mom. She couldn't help but go into cardiac arrest after seeing my beautiful face."

"Oh, Eds gets off a good one!" Richie was shocked, laughing like a child as Eddie took a puff of his inhaler.

The two boys simultaneously stared into the sky through their windows, their smiles didn't falter, they seemed to brighten even more. What a special day it was. Clouds comprised of painful colours, reminded them of their gloomy days in winter when they would wrap themselves in quiet coats and loud scarves. The sky was silent and calm, but that's just how they liked it.

They enjoyed for a moment before Eddie pressed on, "What time is it?" He rubbed his forehead, still waking up.

Richie pulled back and squinted at his small, pink watch, "it's seven am."

Eddie pursed his lips, squinted his eyes, and nodded. "We need to keep moving."

"Is that all you can say? Who says that we can't have fun on the way to our destination?"

"Me. We can save the fun for Los Angeles. Don't forget that there's a weird gang following us."

Richie put one hand behind his head and half-smiled, "yeah, you're right about that. Though I suppose you're always right."

"That's right."

★

"Ooh, I love this song, turn it up!"