A New Chapter

Chapter 12

Previously-

"Take your time." Bev smiled, as Richie began fumbling the bottom of his shirt and deepening in a breath ready to relive some of his previous events.

Chapter 11-

Beverly was now sitting opposite Richie on her bed, with the biscuits in the middle she watched Richie fumble for words but didn't interrupt him once. He began telling her about the recent events with both his mum and dad and how he felt about himself, how he hated everything about himself and a lot about the town - except the losers of course.

"I...it's just, they haven't always been like this! It's since they have been working away from home, they don't trust each other and they hate that i'm always at home. They have always said things to me but never physically hurt me before. It's been happening for only a couple of weeks." Richie uttered, it was hard to tell this to anyone let alone someone who cared so much for him. He could see the pain in his friends eyes. "I didn't want to tell anyone because you all have your own problems."

"For fuck sake Rich you really need to stop it with that talk!" Bev snapped back. "Friends are here to help, its the whole point of friendship! I know first hand what its like to live with an abusive parent, you should have told me about this sooner. I'm sorry i haven't helped you."

"But you couldn't have because i never told you, so don't be sorry Bev." Richie whimpered, his cuts were stinging and his heart was aching. He hated all of this so damn much, he hated himself so damn much. "I'm sorry Bev."

"You don't need to be." Bev smiled, holding Richie's hands and making circling motions with her thumb in his palm. "Now what's this about you hating yourself? There's nothing to hate." Seeing that Richie was in no state to reply and could see that he didn't really know how to she simply sat up and pulled him towards the bathroom. "Take your shirt off."

"I'm flattered Bev but you know as well as everybody that i'm already taken." Richie smiled, she was glad to see that he still had some jokes tucked away in him.

"Shutup, just take it off. I'm going to do something that my mum used to do to me to calm me down when i was younger." Bev smiled, she began running the back and pouring the remaining bubble bath she had left in. "Lemme fetch my dad's swimming bottoms i think he has a pair somewhere." With that she darted off in search, leaving Richie to keep an eye on the bath and taking his shirt and trousers off. "Here, they might be a little big but it saves you getting your underwear wet right?" Bev smiled, turning around to give Richie privacy whilst he changed. She wasn't wrong the trunks drowned him, she laughed softly as Richie continuously pulled them up rather embarrassed. "Now get it."

As Richie lay in the warm bath, Beverly began rubbing the top of Richie's head. She perched on the floor and spoke to him softly about her fondest memories with the losers club, soothing Richie and taking his mind off of everything. "Rich, your hair is a mess. I'm gunna brush it."

"No, don't i never bother i let it run wild, let it do it's thing." Richie chuckled, it was kind of true but really he didn't groom himself a lot because he didn't care about himself enough to and Beverly knew this all too well.

"No, i'm brushing it. Don't worry i'll be gentle." With that Beverly began separating parts of the boys hair and softly brushing it. The two were having a peaceful evening, it was nice for them to get away from everything sometimes and Richie was beginning to find it easier to con soul with her. As Richie dried off, the two headed back to Beverly's room with a bowl of hot chips with melted cheese on top.

"Do...do you think i should talk to Ed's about this? I mean if he somehow finds out that i've spoken to you about personal things again and not you..he'll flip out again..." Richie stuttered, suddenly reliving the last time he confessed to Bev and not talking to Eddie about it first.

"It's up to you. You know he will understand and he only wants you to talk to him because he worries so damn much about you." Beverly smiled, wrapping the melted cheese around a chip before tossing it into her mouth. "You do whatever makes you feel comfortable."

"I wish he could be here right now. It's easier when you're here too sometimes." Richie sighed, looking down at his food. Eddie was easy to talk to but Beverly was like the sister he never had and the one his mother so truly wanted, so it was nice to be with her too sometimes.

"Hmmm, i have an idea." Bev smiled, dashing into the hallway and reaching for the phone.

"Hello, is this Mrs K?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"It's Beverly Marsh, please don't hang up!" As she heard Eddie's mother sigh and nearly put down the phone. "It's important!"

"I don't have time for this Miss Marsh."

"I was just wondering if Eddie has completed his presentation for tomorrow? It's due in the morning and me, Bill and Stan are at mine trying to finish it."

"Bill and Stan are with you?"

"Yes, last we heard Eddie hasn't even started his part of the project and if he doesn't pass he will fail history."

"What do you suggest Miss Marsh?"

"That he comes round mine for a bit then stay at Stan's, his parents are okay with it."

With that the phone went silent and Eddie's mother hung up. Beverly and Richie were both unsure of what was happening and they both sat in anticipation.

At Eddie's house-

"Eddie-Bear you get down here right now!" Sonia exclaimed, already packing up his medication for the night. Dashing downstairs, Eddie was wondering why his mother looked so flustered. "Pack your clothes for the night you are staying at Stans!"

"But mummy its a school night?" Not that he was complaining, Eddie was just in utter shock at what his mother had come out with. "What's going on?"

"What's going on is that Miss Marsh just called saying you haven't done your part of the project and will fail if you don't complete it for tomorrow morning." She snapped back, she was always against Eddie seeing Beverly and going round for sleepovers on a school night no less - but when it came to his education these things had to be set aside.

"Ummm... okay." Eddie knew full well this was a bluff on Bev's behalf but said nothing as he knew Richie was round her's tonight and he desperately wanted to see him again. As he began packing his things quickly, they began to head off towards Beverly's house.