21

Strike a pose

Slight NSFW warning 

"If you two sing again, I'll deck you both I swear." Richie was half asleep and had woken up to the smell of fresh coffee and breakfast. Bill had made chocolate chip waffles, and Stanley made the bacon and eggs.

"What? We can't make our best friend a special birthday breakfast?" Bill set a large plate in front of Richie, he had now placed a dollop of cool whip on his waffles and stuck a candle in the center.

"I feel like you guys are making a really big deal out of today, and you really don't have to." Richie didn't need a couple of broke college kids spending money on him, especially when rent was due in two weeks.

"Richie! Blow out your candle or its gonna melt the cool whip!" Bill whined.

Richie rolled his eyes and blew out the candle. 

"This is it okay? No more birthday stuff."

"Until tonight." Stanley said.

"No, for the rest of the year, until my next birthday."

"Okay but can we give you your actual birthday gift first? It goes along with what we planned for tonight, and then we swear after that no more birthday stuff." Stanley said.

Richie nodded and Stanley walked away excitedly presumably getting Richie's gift. Bill grabbed an envelope from the kitchen counter and brought it over to Richie.

"Open the card first." Bill smiled.

Richie shook his head, overwhelmed by the amount of love his friends were showing him on his birthday. He tore open the envelope and took a look at the card. It was homemade, complete with glitter glue that was still a little wet, and Happy Birthday  written across the top. Richie opened it up to read an incredibly heartfelt message.

Dear Trashmouth,

21 years ago our lives changed forever, we didn't know it at the time, especially since we were also babies, but the most important person in our lives had come into the world. We owe everything to you, Rich. You have no idea how important you are to us. We love you man.

Love,
Bill and Stan

Richie blinked quickly to keep his tears of joy from escaping his tear ducts. Every year, Bill and Stan made him a card. And it became harder not to cry at the sweet messages they wrote him every year.

"Thanks man." Richie wrapped his arms around Bill and held him tightly.

"Okay now open this." Stanley interupted.

Stanley handed Richie a small rectangular box. Richie opened it, inside were three concert tickets to see the B-52's in concert later that night.

"Oh my God! Where did you even get these!?" Richie exclaimed.

"Remember that radio competition a couple weeks ago? Bill and I skipped class and called the station all day. We had to promise to babysit for Mrs. Roberts next door to borrow her phone, but it was worth it!" 

"You are kidding me! You guys won these?"

"Yep! So you don't have to be worried about us spending money on you, they were free." Bill said.

Richie had never felt so happy. Things had been pretty rough in Richie's life for so long, but he had come so far. Things were different now. He had friends, he had a purpose. 

Richie hugged both Stan and Bill now. This was the greatest surprise that he had ever recieved.

~~~