the new kid - stozier -

- chapter 4 -

* Richie's POV *

I wake up in a bed with an ice pack on my nose. I sit up and look around unaware of my surroundings. Where am I? Stan walks in and his face lights up once he sees me awake. I remember what happened. Henry beat me up. Stan has a gash across his cheek.

Bev walks in behind him.
"Richie! You're awake!" Stan rushes towards me and hugs me from where I am. He hugs me gently of course since I'm pretty bruised up.

I wrap one arm around him. It's painful. What the fuck did Henry do to me? Jeez.

"Where am I?" I look at Stan to Bev.

Beverly walks over.
"Stan's room. Stan called me from your phone (let's pretend richie doesn't have a pw) and told me you guys got beat up by Henry and you were unconscious. I immediately came after he told me where you were and Stan's house is the closest to where he got you guys." I sigh sadly.
"Sorry guys. I don't mean to a problem to you both."

Stan looks shocked.
"It is not your fault! It's mine. I shouldn't of held your hand." Beverly goes from a look of sympathy to confusion and slight shock when she hears Stan and I were holding hands. I make eye contact with her. She raises her eyebrows and smirks.

I smile shyly and roll my eyes.
"I'm hungryyy!" I whine.
I try to get up. I eventually stand up and pain shoots through my face and torso but I'm okay.
"You shouldn't be walking! Get some rest!" Beverly follows me.
"Whatever. Give me food Staniel."

"Okay, mr demanding. What do you want?"
"Food. Duh." I say jokingly. Beverly snickers and Stan doesn't look impressed. He walks over to the fridge.
"Pizza? It's basically all I've got right now." He looks at me and I nod.
"Sure. What topping?" I sit on a stool beside Bev in his kitchen.
"Pepperoni. Is that okay?"
"Hell yeah."

He nods and puts it in the oven after preheating it.
"You guys want a drink?" Beverly shakes her head. "No thanks."

I nod. "Yes puh-lease." He stands on his tippy goes and takes two cups from the cupboard. He fills them with water and puts one in front of me.
"Thank you, peasant." He glares at me and smiles slightly."

"Hey, do either of you wanna go bird watching with me tomorrow?" Stan asks.
"I'm down." I reply.
"Sure, i would love to!" Says Beverly.

She looks at Stan and starts concentrating on "his" hoodie.
"Isn't that.." she looks over at me with a smirk on her face "Richie's hoodie?."
"No! No! Richie and I, you see, we..we.. have the same hoodie! So I'm just Uh wearing my one."
"Uh-huh..sure.." she winks.

Stan sighs.
"Anyways, give me your number Bev and we can all make a group chat. Then tomorrow, I can text you both when we are going bird watching!" Stan looks excited and I smile.

Bev goes to check on the pizza.
"Pizzas ready."

- later that night -

Bev just left my house after she brought me home. My parents barely noticed as I walked through the door so atleast I don't have to deal with interrogations of them acting like they're worried about what happened to me even though they're capable of doing this to me and won't hesitate if I do something wrong.

I sit on my bed cross legged and stare at the wall. I just think about my life. How shit and good it is at the same time.
My parents, anxiety and hurtful explicit thoughts make it bad.
But Bev and Stan make it good. They genuinely care about me and love me.

Before I have time to let anymore thoughts cloud my mind, I hear a *ding!* on my phone. It's a message from Staniel in a new group chat with Bev and I.

Staniel 💩💗 :: what time should we meet at tomorrow? btw, it's at the sand pipe and near that area.
Beaverly 💘✨ :: any time !! im free all day.
Richie :: maybe 12?
Staniel 💩💗 :: yeah,, sure,, 12 is good for me. is it okay for you Bev?
Beaverly 💘✨ :: it's perfect ! meet you there. xox
Richie :: see ya ! 🥰<3

— ^ THIS IS CRINGY !! —

I put my phone down and walk downstairs and into the kitchen quietly. I get a bowl of cereal and eat it in my room. I might as well study for upcoming tests or something now that im finished eating and have nothing to do.

So, I take out my books and study until I fall asleep on my desk from exhaustion.

- the next day !! -

Beverly and I coincidentally met on the way to meet Stan so we walk to the sandpipes together. We see a figure with curly hair laying in the grass staring up at the sky in the distance. I smile.

Beverly walks up behind him.
"BOO!"
He jumps and sits up.
"Beverly! You scared me." He glares at her and she smiles. Bev sits down beside him and stares up at the sky too. It is a beautiful blue with fluffy white clouds spread out across it.

"This is my bird book." Stan seems excited as he pulls a book out of his bag.
"I write down birds names that can be found in the area I'm in and then tick the box when I see them. I then take a picture of them, stick it in here and then I draw them." He smiles happily.

"Are you good at art?" I sit on his other side.
"Ehh. No. Not really." He shrugs.
"Show me!" I smile.
"Ugh..fine. It's terrible."
"Doubt it." I roll my eyes.

He opens the book and Beverly gasps. It's a very good and very detailed drawing of a bird he's seen.
"That's awesome!" Beverly says.
"I agree." I say back.
Stan blushes and quickly shuts the book. "Uh..thank you guys." He gives a small smile.

"So, what did you do for fun? Back in Hawkins or whatever it was, I mean." I sit up and ask him this.

"Nothing. I basically hand no life. Went to school, went on my phone and talked to my boyfriend and slept." He shrugs casually.

Mine and Beverly's eyes widen.
"Boyfriend?" I ask.
"Uh.. yeah, we're not together anymore. He was awesome though, his name was Bill. He's actually from here but I haven't seen him once."
Now Beverly sits up.

"Bill Denbrough?" She asks.
Stan looks kind of shocked and nods.
"Uh.. yeah. Do you know him?" Beverly and I nod.