21

Phone Tag

"What are you thinking about?" Stanley asked as he sat down next to Richie on the couch.

"Nothing." His mood was incredibly low.

"Have you caught up on your assignments yet?"

"Yeah." He had not.

"H-he's probably still upset about E-Eddie."

Stanley wanted to hit himself for what he was about to say.
"Maybe you should try calling him again? Maybe there's a perfectly reasonable explanation."

"Like what? Like 'I didn't actually get divorced I just want you as a side piece?' Oh or maybe, 'I feel like an asshole for leaving you all those years ago' and 'oh look! You broke your leg and I feel sorry for you'."

Bill looked at Stanley
"I don't think he's going t-to call him."

He was starting to get his stutter under control again.

"Look, all I'm saying is that getting a divorce is complicated. We don't know exactly what happened between them. She could have been at his apartment to get some of her things, or to drop off some of his things. I'm sure it meant nothing." Stanley wasn't Eddie's biggest fan, but he could tell Richie wanted things to work out.

"I don't think I want to take that chance. If I call him, and I hear her voice again,  I'm going to throw up."

"What if I do it?" Stanley suggested. "That way when he's answers I can hand the phone to you, and you can talk to him about it."

Richie thought about it for a moment.

"Okay, call him."

~~~

The line was still ringing. It felt like Richie had been on the phone for forever. Richie watched and waited patiently for Stanley to say something, anything.

"Its him." Stan whispered as he covered the phone with his hand.

Stanley shoved the phone in Richie's hand.

"Um, hey. Its, um, its Richie."

"Hey, are you feeling better?"

The memory of Richie panicking in his room flashed in his mind.

"Yeah. I'm good now."

"Good. I was. . . Worried about you. I'm glad you called though."

"Yeah about that. We should probably talk. Can I meet you somewhere? Preferably somewhere close top me since I'll have to walk."

"If it's easier for you, I can just come over there?" Eddie had hoped he would say yes.

"Oh, um. Maybe another time? I'll just meet you at the bakery on fifth and broadway?"

"Yeah, ok I'll see you there."

Richie hung up the phone.

"Well?" Bill asked.

"I'm going to meet him at the bakery."

A/N: short quick and boring but I figured after all the excitement of the previous chapters this was probably best