the new kid - stozier -

- chapter 18 -

* Richie's POV *

I slowly make my way home now feeling horrible about what I said, tears running down my face once again.

My words circle around my head. I try to think of other things but I can't stop thinking about how I told Beverly and Stan I hated them when they're two people in this world I love the most.

I finally snapped and instead of losing my temper at my parents or just anyone but them, I lost it at them. They both looked so hurt.

I pushed Stan after all he did was touch my arm..I hold the place where the bruise my dad gave me is that Stan touched and sigh sadly.

When Beverly tried to give me a touch of comfort, I pushed her hand away and shouted at her.

What is wrong with me?
I ask myself this question almost everyday.
what is wrong with me .

Now this question circles around my head and my final answer is
"everything"

I hope Stan and Bev know I don't mean what I said. I don't. I really don't. I can't lose them.

I finally arrive at my house only to be welcome my fathers angry face.

"What are you doing home an hour early and why are you crying?"
"I-I had to leave..school.."

He grabs the neck of my shirt and pulls me close to his face so I can feel his hot breath on my face.

"I'll let you off skipping school today. Never again.
And for the crying, I won't have my son crying. Be a man."

He punches me harshly across the face and I step back. He shoves my head and I stumble forward and slowly walk up the stairs.

I flop on to my bed when I get to my room and my face is aching.

No more tears fall down my face or threaten to fall. I've cried enough today.

When I hear a knock on my window, I slowly turn my head to see Stan with his curly hair looking through.

I get up and open it.
"I didn't mean what I said. I don't hate you."
I blurt out and his face turns soft.

"I know you didn't." He hugs me and I slowly wrap my arms around him to return the hug.

"What did Bev say? Does she hate me? Is she okay? Did she get home okay? How is she doing? What happened after I left?"

Stan smiles and I turn my head once again to look at the window after hearing a knock.

Now Beverly is the one sitting outside it and my face lights up. I rush over and open it.

"Bevvie!"
She smiles widely and jumps in. There's a bag on her back and I give her a look of confusion when she hands it to me.

I open it only to find all my books. Clean.

"Stan and I put some money we saved together and bought some books that we could clean for you. The ones we could, we cleaned."

Tears of joy now threaten to fall but I blink them away and throw my arms around her. She hugs back.

"Even after I was so rude to you?"

"We know you didn't mean it..you were hurting.. we get it and we forgive you.."
Stan chimes in and I smile at him.
A wide smile appears on his face and I hug him again.

Stan's phone beeps and he pulls it out of his pocket.
"Jane wants to hang out."
He looks at us and I nod a yes. Beverly nods eagerly and we sneak out to meet her in a meadow. It's getting dark quickly but it's okay.

Jane tells us to meet her at her house.

We arrive there and knock at the door. No answer. We all look at eachother curiously and shrug. Stan knocks a second time and still no answer.

"Come on, lets just walk in." I say.
Stan and Bev nod. "Okay."

We open the unlocked door and make our way through the small house. There's 3 doors and we step in through the middle one.

It just be Janes. My eyes land on the pink paint covering the walls as I think this until Stan utters a scream. I then look down to the blood soaked floor only to see the body of Jane with a knife plunged into her back.

My hand slowly covers my mouth and my eyes widen. Beverly screams and steps backwards.

"We are calling the police. Now."

Tears roll down Stans face as he nods his head.

I pull out my phone and call them. They're on their way. So is her father who is a police officer.

The police all rush in around 10 minutes after the call and we are called down to the station to give our stories on what happened.

I tell them everything and why we were going and why we walked in.

Stan and Beverly probably do the same.
I step outside only to be greeted by my parents furious faces. They're fucking pissed.

They drive silently on the way home and my dad loses it when we get into the house.

"What were you thinking! First you skip school, then you sneak out and find the dead body of some random girl!? Who even is she?"

"She was my friend and I snuck out so Bev, Stan and I could hang out with her."
"Who is Stan?" My mother asks.
"My friend." I say coldly. I so desperately wish I could say boyfriend but that would be a death wish.

"You're getting punished for this."

He punches me right across the face and I stumble backwards, ending up with me falling.

(Idk what really happens or how parents abuse their children?.. idk it sounds weird so let's pretend I explained it 🤠)

It doesn't end pretty when I'm laying on the floor of our hallway nearly unconscious breathing heavily most likely with bruises on my face and torso after he kicked me (lmao idk).

I sigh heavily and lay there until my eyes shut.

I have nightmares about Janes dead body and eventually wake up crying.
I didn't know her well. All I knew was that she didn't deserve this and whoever did this needs to be caught. Now.

This is shit.