Things "Best Friends" Do

{10} Sunset

"When do you think they'll be here?" Stan asks the red-headed girl beside him.
Beverly shrugs, "We left them like twenty-ish minutes ago. So, seeing as they haven't killed each other, they'll be along soon."
As if on cue, Eddie runs past with a shout, stripping himself of his shirt and shoes as he goes. He jumps into the greenish water with a whoop and a big breath. The chilly air whistles in Eddie's ears as he plunges down, the wind catching in his red shorts making it look like a parachute. Eddie feels his feet hit the water with a slap and the rest of his body following, more peacefully this time. Eddie stays under a while to appreciate how the bubbles tickle his sharp chin and round cheeks. The water feels warm and inviting which is surprising because, well it's fall. But Eddie suspects the water has absorbed and stored the suns heat and the old summer air which God... Eddie wishes he could go back to summer -after Pennywise of course- with all the shits and giggles of being high school friends. Eddie closes his eyes, feeling the water envelop him, air bubbles floating up and up.

Eddie feels strong hands pulling him upward, looking up he realizes that it's Mike, his face scrunched with concern; even from underwater. Eddie's head breaks the surface, the sun quickly warming up his face, and breathes in deeply.

"Dude!" Mike swims to shallow water and stands, "You were under there for a while, whaddya tryin' to do?"
"Oh chill out." Eddie laughs, "I was just sight seeing."
Mike just nods softly smiling as Eleven, Bill and Ben swim over. Bill and Ben are wearing their underwear and Eddie almost laughs thinking of the day just before Pennywise. When Beverly out-braved them all and jumped straight into the quarry, her golden-red hair being the last thing they saw before all chaos broke loose and they cannon-balled in after her. Such amazing memories that will always be near and dear to Eddie's heart, except Pennywise. Those memories? Yeah they can burn.
"Hey Eddie how's it going?" El asks, her short hair wet only on the tips, breaking Eddie out of his trip down memory lane.
Eddie smiles, "I'm alright, you?"

As their small talk continues, Beverly and Stan talk about what went on earlier. Stan lays on his back on a towel, his shirt off enjoying the sun hitting his tan skin. Beverly is to his left laying on her stomach, using a rolled up towel as a pillow. Her fairer cheeks are turning pink, the sunblock worn off after their time in the water.
"I have no idea what's going on with them." Beverly sighs, "It sucks to see them like that-fighting- they've never really done that before except for playful jokes but..."
Stan nods, "I know it's weird. I'm sure they'll settle their differences soon." He turns over onto his stomach, "Where's Richie anyways ?"
"Right here." Richie says, sitting cross cross on a towel.
"Aren't you getting in the water?" Beverly asks.
"Nah. I'd rather just tan."
"Tan?" Stan laughs, "Since when? You're as white as a cloud."
"Nice one." Richie rolls his eyes and lays down.
"How are you and Eddie? Did you talk it out?" Beverly asks, concerned.
"Uh... kinda yeah." If kinda could describe a fucking goodbye kiss... God I hate that we have to say goodbye. It's not fair! I didn't ask for that... Richie sighs and turns onto his back, still in a slight bad mood despite the suns rays sinking into his body.
Beverly turns toward Richie, "So... what did you guys talk about?"
Richie gives his red headed friend a tight smile, "Nothing. It's all worked out it doesn't matter."
"Right. I think I know a grim face when I see one."
"Seriously I'm fine. It's fine. We are fine." Richie sighs and turns away from Beverly, giving up on the 'let's pretend I'm happy for my friends!' philosophy. Richie doesn't want their pity, but he's done pretending. If they think his jokes are stupid? Fine then; He'll stop making jokes, at least for serious situations. If Eddie thinks Richie needs to share his feelings for him more often? Fine, here goes nothing.
Beverly, and now Stan, are trying to get Richie's attention but he doesn't notice. Richie stands up with a set determination, taking off his glasses and setting them on his towel, he digs his bare feet into the strangely soft rocks below them. Richie runs, sprints, and then jumps through the air. He stretches his arms out wide, relishing the cold wind through his fingers. Richie feels the wind tangling his hair, whistling through his ears and stinging his eyes. The wind weaves through his shirt and underwear, his bottoms tighter since two summers ago when they first visited the quarry. Richie opens one of his eyes to see the water coming toward him like a speeding bullet, he tucks in his arms and hits the water with an "umph." He smiles at the warmness of the clear water, and the bubbles Eddie always talks about tickle his ears and cheeks. Richie opens his eyes, the depths of the water as clear as a summer sky, and stares into a face of a small turtle. He waves and smiles, more bubbles escaping his mouth. The turtle opens and closes his beak once, then promptly swims away. Richie laughs, feeling good about what he's about to do; and glad he got the turtles approval. He swims upward, the soft current tugging at his shirt, until he reaches air. Richie breathes deeply, the slightly chilled fall-air cooling his lungs. He calmly swims over to his group of friends, sitting on one of many shallow areas in the quarry, despite what he's about to do.