stozier

Chapter Fourteen

 I had really started to doubt Richie. He was being so inconsistent. Richie would only talk to me in biology and band, and flat out ignored me in geometry and during lunch. Was he tired of me? That wasn't possible, I didn't bother him much. I considered giving him the benefit of the doubt and assuming that he thought I was tired of him, but the more I thought about it, that didn't make sense either.

At first, I figured he just didn't know I had geometry with him. He can be pretty forgetful sometimes, and he sits at the front of class, nowhere near me. But even after I waved at him in geometry, he gave me a forced smile and didn't give me a second thought, continuing to talk to Beverly and Mike. So what was up with him? Were there just more important people to talk to in geometry?

That didn't add up either, because every class I had with Richie, at least Beverly or Mike was in it too. And even then, Richie still managed to make time for me. I didn't have a clue why he was doing this. Maybe I was stupid for not knowing why, but one day, I decided to ask him. I was sick of just wondering why, and I wanted answers.

It was the day after McCarthy terrorized us Clarinets in front of the entire class. I was walking to his bus with him, just talking normally, when I decided to bring it up. I didn't know what kind of response it would invoke in Richie, but I made sure he was in a good mood when I mentioned it, just in case. Luckily, Richie was pretty much always in a good mood.

"Hey," I started, placing my hand on his shoulder and pulling him to the side of the hallway. People rushed past us and most of them didn't seem to care, but some people gave the two of us weird looks. Richie didn't see them, or care.

He looked up at me and narrowed his eyes, not in an angry way, more of a "what are you doing" way. "What did I do?"

It pained me to hear that. For him to ask what he did wrong. Did his past relationships make him feel like he was always the one to fuck things up? I shook my head, deciding to deal with all of that later. "Nothing. I was just wondering why you ignore me in third period. I mean, you don't have to talk to me all the time. I was just wondering, why, you know... that class specifically." I suddenly felt bad for asking, but the words were out, and I really was curious. I didn't mean to make him feel bad or guilty. If I could take it back, I would've.

Richie frowned, staring down at the tile floor beneath our feet. Was he ashamed? Or just avoiding this topic for too long? "Uh. Yeah, well, I just don't like... Bill. And he's with you. Sorry," he said quickly and dismissively, before pushing my hand off of his shoulder. He seemed to regret that, though, because he looked upset after the fact.

So Bill was the reason he was avoiding me all along? It could've also explained why Richie told me to "shut the fuck up" on the first day I tried to talk to him. But I still didn't understand. Bill was fine, and I hadn't seen him do anything to Richie. Hell, Bill even found out that I liked Richie and he was cool with it.

"Why don't you like him? Did he say something to you?"

Richie turned around and shook his head slightly. I stepped next to him and started walking down the hallway with him again. "Come on. I won't get him involved." That was a lie. I'd probably try fixing it, but I wanted them to get along.

He only shook his head as we left the hallway and got outside. "I don't want to talk about it. Well, uh, I'll see you later. I mean, I'll text you." Before I could respond, he turned and climbed up onto his bus, passing through the aisles of seats. I stared up at him, watching him through the glass as he greeted a few people and sat down.

I was going to fix it. I didn't care what Richie or Bill said.

-

The next day, I decided to talk to Bill about it.

He seemed dismissive of it, too, but I was determined. I wanted to know what happened between him and Richie.

After ten minutes or so of pestering him, he finally cracked. "F-Fuh-Fine, Stan-lee." That's how he always says my name. I used to hate it at first, but it grew on me. "Richie... c-cuh-came out to me, ah-and I cuh-c-cah-called him a bunch of shuh-shit like fag and... I don't k-... remember whuh-what I said, but I know it wuh-wh-was bad. Really b-bad. And I regret it now, but I know he h-huh-hates me. So just leave it ah-a-alone."

I was actually a little shocked at Bill's confession. Never in my life could I imagine Bill saying those things, especially not to Richie. But that didn't mean it was the end.

"Hey. You can still apologize. I'm sure he would appreciate it, Bill."

Bill looked at me and shook his head. "Really, I duh-don't-"

I stood up from my seat and looked across the classroom, spotting Richie bothering some poor girl. One thing I noticed about him recently was that he stopped dating. If I were him, I would've stopped dating too, after learning everyone you love is actually full of shit. "Richie, hey, I need to talk to you," I called, glancing down at Bill in hopes he would change his mind. I don't know why I was hoping. He was shaking his head, telling me to stop.

Richie did actually come over to the corner of the room where Bill and I sat, although hesitantly. "What?" he asked, his eyes locked on Bill. Unmoving. I looked at Bill, and sure enough, Bill was staring right at him too.

"Bill has something he wants to say to you."

-

Long story short, they made up. I didn't need them to be best friends. Just on decent terms. But that whole thing, it wasn't like me to do. I'm not sure why I did it.

Bill, Ben and I did start sitting at Richie's lunch table, though.

Guess which seat I sat in?