The Aftermath (Reddie)

49

3rd Person POV

For once, Bill wasn't the one napping. Stan was completely zonked out next to him, but he was wide awake.

It was only an hour after school, Stan had come over only ten minutes previously. His dad thought he was in the synagogue.

Bill was just sitting comfortably in his boyfriend's arms and then there was a knock on the door. He figured his parents would answer it. No one besides Stan ever came over at this time.

"Richie's here!" his father called up.

Bill was puzzled by this, why would Richie be at his house? He unraveled himself from Stan and quietly made his way downstairs.

"Were you sleeping?" his mother asked, surveying his bed hair.

Bill shook his head and turned to Richie, his mother walked away.

"H-hey Rich...what's u-up?" Bill asked.

Richie was fidgeting with his hands, "I need to ask you something...Stan's here too I presume?"

Bill nodded, "he's sleeping, come on."

Richie followed Bill upstairs to his room. Stan had woken up and was rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"What d-d-did you want t-to ask?"

Richie continued to fidget and sat down on the floor. Stan was suddenly interested and sat up straight on Bill's bed.

"Um...are you guys like, out to your parents and stuff?"

Both Bill and Stan were intrigued by Richie's genuine curiosity. He wasn't ever serious.

There was silence, then Stan cleared his throat, "hell no, my family is obviously very religious, I don't want to get beat," He tried to make light of the situation, but he was upset by the fact that his family would never accept him.

Riche was scared of the response, he was scared of having to do the same.

"Bill?" he prompted, hoping for a more comforting answer.

"W-w-well," Bill's stutter was more prominent when he was stressed, Stan knew this and pulled his boyfriend next to him. Bill took in a breath, "I th-think my mom knows...I-I've never t-t-told h-her, but she once c-caught me and S-S-Stan s-sleeping t-t-together."

Richie took note of his unease, he felt bad for pressing but he said, "has anything changed since then?"

Bill was silent for a bit then, "I d-don't think so, s-sometimes sh-she'll say stuff like, 'I l-love you no m-m-matter what,' but my d-dad has no clue."

Richie sat, thinking over Bill's words. Stan was hugging Bill, who was still in a state of distress.

"Why are you asking? Haven't your parents already heard about you from rumors and stuff? I'm pretty sure all of our own parents have heard, I had to do a lot of convincing with my dad to continue to hang out with you," Stan was furrowing his brow.

Richie was pale again, "I don't think they know, I don't know how, but I don't think they know. Or maybe they have heard the rumors and just don't believe it. I mean I have overdone trying to be heterosexual."

"Do you think you will...tell them?" Stan asked.

The whole topic was striking fear in all three of the boys,

Richie was looking down at his hands, "Honestly...I don't know....definitely not my dad, but my mom...I mean I almost came out to her last night..." Richie sighed.

"Well, we will always be here to support you," Stan assured, "how are things between you and Eddie by the way?"

Richie flinched at the name.

"N-not good, huh?" Bill asked.

"I don't know," Richie shrugged, "I'm scared for him, I don't want him to be harassed...like I was," he said quietly.

Bill and Stan shared a sad look.

"Well, me and Bill haven't been harassed yet...we just have kept our relationship under wraps," Stan said. He was trying to comfort the teenage boy moping on the floor.

Richie wasn't convinced, but he nodded anyways.

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Oof.

I'm trying to post quality content....