The End Of Us || losers club ✔️

five

five - news breaks

Beverly finally came outside to find Richie. He was still slumped against the car, nails digging into skin and trying so, so hard to keep everything in.

It was an accident, he kept telling himself. It was an accident and no one hates us. No one hates me

"It was an accident, right Bev?"

She pauses in her steps, just barely finishing the walk over. Her eyes grow the slightest bit wider and stares Richie hard in the face. He doesn't raise his gaze to hers, instead keeping it trained on the trash littered cement in front of him.

"What?" She forces out.

"It was an accident, right?" He repeats himself. "Right? It was an accident because Ms. K wouldn't let him go and I just wanted her to stop it. Right, Bev? No one hates me, we aren't hated."

He watches as she walks closer, bringing him into her arms. Only when a hand closes around his cheek is when he realizes the wetness under his eyes and the tightness of his throat. Why doesn't he notice these things anymore?

"Richie," Beverly whispers, her breath hot against his ear, "We aren't hated."

"I feel hated," he says into her shoulder. He wishes Beverly were tall like his mother because hugs where he has to slouch down to receive aren't as comforting. He also finds himself wishing she smelt like his mother, and talked like his mother, and hugged like her too.

Richie Tozier just wants his mom.

She slides a hand down his head and to his back. "You aren't hated, Rich," she says, squeezing him tightly. "Yes, we did something horrible and I snapped at Stanley.. but no one hates us. Sonia isn't.. Sonia wasn't a woman to be missed."

She releases him and all Richie wants to do is run back to her arms and stay there for as long as he pleases. She'll fight everyone off for him, he knows it, but she drops her hands to her sides and he accepts as the cool night air replaces her embrace.

"Let's go get something for you to eat, Rich. We can't stay long."

Richie nods and lets her walk him inside. The heat of the building hits Richie hard, almost to the point of getting sick to his stomach. Ben is keeping his head tilted down as he pays for the gas, pointing to the only car near the gas pumps.

There's a small, dainty TV sitting on the counter, facing the inside of the store. It runs nightly commercials for businesses Richie hasn't seen around within the last 20 miles. He follows Beverly deeper into the gas station, gazing over the snacks and display of travel hats and t-shirts. He tries to find a state name or a city to figure out where they've landed up at.

Beverly offers him a bag of Doritos, knowing it's one of his favorites. He grabs it from her and thanks her before venturing off to other aisles. Bill and Mike are scanning the drinks, the latter grabbing water bottle after water bottle and handing half of them to Bill. Eddie is no where to be seen and probably hidden away in the bathrooms. Richie isn't sure he even wants to face Eddie anyway.

He ends up in the front of the store once more, watching as the cashier sighs heavily and tells Ben he would be right back. As he's disappearing off to the back, Ben catches sight of Richie.