an evening i will not forget [richie tozier]

chapter fifteen

TRIGGER WARNING-MENTIONS OF ABUSE/VIOLENCE

The radio played quietly as they drove towards the townhouse. Guilt was basically eating Emily up, she was a mess and she had exploded on her childhood friends. Friends that she's not see in over twenty years.

"Rich" she speaks filling the silence. "I'm sorry for what happened back there" she says hanging her head in guilt.

Richie glances at her then puts his eyes back on the road. He wants nothing more than to help her and for her to be safe. He gently places a hand on her leg. She flinches like she does when anybody else touches her. When Richie touched her she usually felt safe but that was in the past.

"He really hurt you didn't he?" Richie asks hoping she would open up to him. The memories flood back to her mind as she feels the bruises and scars along her arm.

Her lips part to speak but she couldn't bring herself to admit the truth. Richie sighed, he knew he was right even if the girl didn't admit it.

Richie stopped the car across from the townhouse as he turned to face her. She was still nervously tracing the scars along her arm as she looked up at Richie.

"You didn't deserve it Em" Richie quietly says. "Anybody who fucking hurts you deserve to live a miserable, shitty life" Richie says. He looks at his steering wheel as she places a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you Richie" she whispers. The two adults heart beat quickly as they move closer to each other. They jump back as someone knocks on Richie's window.

"Hurry up!" Eddie shouts. "I want to get out of this fucking town before we die" He exclaims as Richie and Emily get out of the car. Richie waits for her to make it round to his side and places a hand on her lower back, encouraging her to keep up with him as they walk towards the townhouse.

"Let's get our shit and get the fuck outta here" Richie says allowing Emily to walk in behind Bev as he holds the door open.

"I'll grab my stuff. Is your stuff here?" Richie asks. Emily nods and is about to climb the stairs but is stopped as Richie puts his arm in front of her. "Nope. I'll get it for you and then I'll drive you back to New York." He smiles running up the stairs with Eddie close behind.

Emily looks at Ben confused as he shrugs his shoulders, slightly smiling. The two adults hear glasses clinking against each other as they both turn to see Beverly in the bar pouring herself a drink. They both slowly sit down on the bar stools in front of the red head who is drinking a shot.

"Tell me" Ben says as Emily places her head in her hands.

"Tell you what?" Beverly looks at Ben confused then to Emily who shrugs her shoulders.

"Whatever it is that you're afraid to tell me right now" Ben says watching Beverly try hide what was going through her mind. She walks away as Ben shoots up after her.