A New Chapter

Chapter 21

Note- Sorry in advance. This chapter is not very good, i haven't really had the motivation to write or do anything. Things have been a bit stressful at the moment, but i am going to continue this series for a while and have planned to carry it on to the point of when the losers are adults :) Enjoy

Previously-

"Come on Ed's lets run back and surprise the others with my lovely gifts!" Richie shouted, as the two braced the wind and rain again. Both dashing back to Richie's laughing and splashing in the puddles on the way.

Chapter 21-

As both boys dashed home with the bags of shopping swinging in their hands, Eddie's mind was finally clear. Nothing was worrying him and he was finally living in the moment, he would never admit it but Richie truly helped him take his mind off everything. Not too long after leaving the shop they both arrived at Richie's front door, as the boy gestured Eddie to go in first.

"We're back losers!" Richie yelled out, dropping the bags on the floor and taking his shoes off. 

"Hey, Richie what the fuck you're soaking." Bev scowled, looking Richie up and down as she grabbed the bags off from the floor. "Get in the bath or you'll catch a cold." 

"I tried to tell him." Eddie sighed, crossing his arms as he stood next to Bev.

"Okay mum and dad!" Richie laughed, he loved how much his friends cared for him even if they did nag a bit too much sometimes. "Can you get the food ready Bev?" 

"Sure, i mean can't be hard as you've bought pizza again." Bev smirked. "Holy shit Rich, you bought vodka?" 

"Yeah, thought we could have a couple of drinks tonight?" Richie laughed, taking his wet jumper off and flinging it over his shoulder, making Eddie blush slightly. "Oh i got some cigarettes too."

"Nice, thanks. But, Richie we can't drink tonight." Bev sighed. "Stan and Bill have already fallen asleep in the living room and it is a school night." 

"Yeah, there's no fucking way i'm drinking. Mum will literally kill me." Eddie rolled his eyes, he tried to warn Richie that his idea would never actually pan out. "Told you so." 

"Ugh you guys are boring." Richie uttered, now heading upstairs with his head lowered in defeat. 

"Hey Richie, why don't we drink saturday? I mean it's Ben's birthday and then we'll all be 15 so it can't be that bad?" Bev perked up. "Plus we don't have to worry about getting up early the next day."

"I like your thinking Bev." Richie smiled, instantly raising his head and now racing to the bathroom to have a warm bath. 

"Well that cheered him up." Eddie laughed, following Bev into the kitchen. "Want me to help you?"

"Sure, thanks Eddie." Bev replied, turning  the oven on and watching Eddie get the pizza's out of the boxes. "How are you by the way?"

"I'm okay, just looking forward to Saturday." Eddie uttered, lowering his eyes. 

"You know you can talk to me Eddie." Bev gestured, rubbing the top of Eddie's head as she walked past to get the cutlery out. 

"I know i know." Eddie sighed lightly, patting his head checking she hadn't messed it all up. "Can i ask you something Bev?"

"Sure." 

"Is Richie okay? I mean i know he has shit going on at home, but like...he just sometimes seems off, i don't know how to explain it." Eddie almost whispered, worried Ben and Mike might hear, who were currently playing card games together.

"It's not my place to say, but maybe talk to him Eddie?" Bev smiled. "There's a lot more to Richie than people think, he's not as confident as he makes out and definately cares about people more than others think too."

"Yeah, i just wish he could open up more around me." 

"You're the same Eddie." Bev laughed, causing the boy to redden as he realised how much of a hypocrite he was currently being. 

"Shutup Bev!" Eddie blushed as he watched her put the pizza in the oven and fill the glasses with coke. 

"So, saturday night huh? You going to get drunk?" Bev smirked.

"Bev iv'e never even tasted alcohol, probably not. Plus if my mu--"

"Eddie, you need to stop running everything by your mum. You need to loosen up sometimes, make some fun memories!" Bev smiled, opening her arms up for Eddie to embrace her. 

"I know, it's just hard." Eddie uttered, coming in to hug Bev. The girl was taller than him, which Bev loved as it made her feel like even more of a bigger sister to Eddie, leaning her chin on the top of his head. 

"I know. But, we're here to help." Bev smiled, tightening their hug. 

"H..hey whats g..going on?" Bill spoke, walking into the room rubbing his eyes. "You g..guys okay?"

"Yeah, we're just hugging." Bev laughed, opening her arm up to invite Bill in. 

Soon Mike, Ben and Stan came into the kitchen wondering what was going on and a group hug soon formed. Eddie being in the middle of it, they all laughed and tightened the hug every time Eddie complained about it being too tight. 

"We having a fucking orgy in here?" Richie butted in, his hair soaked from the bath and his face glowing red. "Could have sent an invite guys." He soon rushed in to embrace the group, squeezing his way into the middle to make sure he was hugging Eddie. The group stayed like this for a while, laughing at Richie's crude jokes and Eddies complaints. It was only when the oven clicked that they dispersed, ready to eat. 

"So, what are we doing for Haystack's birthday then?" Richie smiled, reaching for his fourth slice of pizza. 

"Well, my family's out of town for the weekend so you guys can bring some blankets round and sleep for both nights if you want?" Mike smiled. "Plus, the barn is going to be decked out."

"You guy's really don't have to." Ben blushed, he had never really celebrated his birthday much but the losers made sure to make the most of each of their birthday's each year. 

"Don't be silly, you deserve to have a good time." Stan replied, gagging at Richie as the boy reached for another slice of pizza, only to get flipped off by the boy in response. "It'll be fun." 

"Yeah Ben, we can play some games have a few drinks. " Bev smiled, making the boy smile back and agree to the party. 

The day soon flew by, to the groups disappointment it was time to head home and face their punishments for ditching school. Both Stan and Bill were grounded (except for the weekend as they didn't want to punish Ben), Ben was let off as this was his first time doing something bad as well as Mike. Bev's dad, much like Richie's had no idea she even missed school, so was completely let off the hook. As for Eddie, more persuasion was needed. 

"Mummy, i'm sorry." Eddie lowered his head worried his mother would punish him further like the other night. 

"Why Eddie? Is it these friends of yours again? Is it Richie?" Sonia snapped, cringing at saying the boys name. 

"No, not at all. I...i just needed some air and i think it helped me, i haven't thought of sick things all day and night. I stayed at Bill's for the night." 

"Well you're grounded Eddie-Bear, but i am happy to hear you haven't had any disgusting thoughts, maybe you need to take more walks. But you are not missing school again or avoiding home! I have been worried sick!" Sonia yelled, causing Eddie to flinch at every word.

"Sorry mummy." 

"The doctor is coming soon, so you can tell him how you feel." Sonia sighed. "You are not to see your friends for a while."

"But it's Ben's birthday mummy." 

"You can see them for that weekend, but you are to come straight home every night after school!" Sonia snapped back. "I do this because i love you Eddie. "

"I know mummy." Eddie uttered, his heart pounding as he heard the front door knocking. It was the moment he was dreading again, Saturday was the only thing that would get him through this session.