Promise || A Reddie Fanfiction

New Years Eve- Chapter 9

Richie awoke early the morning of December 31st- New Years Eve. Finally back from an out of state holiday trip, he was eager to see the Losers- by this time, it had been nearly three weeks! The night before, he found his mind dwelling on the homophobic slurs spewing from his fathers mouth every time he'd had something to drink. As the sun had fallen below the horizon and the last of its warmth slipped away, both Richie's body and mind were frozen. Just when he had begun to welcome this newfound self acceptance, his father was there to shove him back down once again. Being trapped in a place as distant and unfriendly as the constant presence of his own family, he had begun to slip back into a place of denial.

Richie raised his arms into the air and stretched, reluctant to set his feet down on the freezing wood floor. He laid back against his headboard and sighed. Fucking finally. Never thought it would feel so good to be back in Derry. He then stared down at his open palm, smiling as he suddenly remembered the way it felt against Eddies the night he walked him to his car... or the afternoon they stumbled upon each other in the Diner. He closed his eyes and hoped for that same feeling tonight, at the Losers annual New Years Eve party.

***

It took some convincing the month prior, but Ben had finally managed to take Bill's usual spot as host for the night. Their deal included absolutely no New Kids on the Block (per Stans request, of course). The afternoon of the 31st, the stress was on to make sure he could live up to Bill's expectations. Ben spent hours rushing through Main St., picking up goofy party hats, snacks for the night, and after realizing he needed to branch out when it came to his music taste- new vinyls.

8:00 PM

By the time he kindly ushered his mom out of the house for the night and set everything in place, he thoroughly believed Bill himself couldn't have done any better. He silently prayed everyone would make it safely and on time- being in Maine, they were still in the dead of winter. Snow continued to pour from the sky as he looked out his window, waiting for the Losers to arrive. It's only a couple of inches. The forecast didn't call for anything crazy this morning... We should be fine tonight... right?

9:00 PM

Despite his worries, the Losers did in fact all arrive safely, although the weather did not seem to slow in intensity, and soon enough everyone was laughing and chatting in the family room.

Beverly rose from her seat and stood in the center of the room, smiling.

"Let's hear 'em!" She declared.

Stan furrowed his brow. "Hear what, Exactly?"

"Your New Years resolutions, Stan," she replied playfully. "Come on, let's go around."

"Ah, I see," He replied, and thought a moment. "I want to be more sure of myself this year. More... confident."

Mike raised his hand. "Well I want to get more than five days off this year. I love working on the farm, but sometimes..." He widened his eyes as he shook his head, and the Losers laughed.

As they went around their circle, the room was filled with a cacophony of laughter. Bill, serious as ever, vowed to ace every one of his courses. Richie announced the fact that he will have slept with Eddie's mom by the end of the year. Beverly halfheartedly decided to quit smoking.

10:00 PM

"Pizza is in the oven!" Mike called from the kitchen. He pulled up a stool next to Stan where they had been chatting, and waited for the oven timer to go off. Richie walked in to join them and hopped up to sit on the counter.

Stan looked over his shoulder, then at Richie.

"Is this your first time seeing him since you've been back?" He asked him quickly, in a hushed tone.