Summer of '93 - Stozier

13

The room was quiet for a few minutes, Eddie looking at his friends, trying to read their faces.

Richie looked back at his friends. Bill stood up after a few more seconds and slowly walked towards Richie.

Richie, fully expecting a right hook to the jaw, clamped his eyes shut. Instead, He felt Bill pull him into a warm embrace. Richie opened his eyes, slowly wrapping his arms around Bill.

"Im p-proud of you, Rih-Rich." He whispered.

Bev stood up and joined the hug. "Me too. That must've been hard to do."

Soon, Mike joined, and so did Eddie. "We're all proud of you, Richie." Mike told him.

"Y-yeah, you're still you." Bill stuttered.

"We love you, Rich." Bev murmured.

Richie didn't know when, but he had started to cry. "Stoppp! i'm crying! I don't deserve you guys, oh my god." He sniffled.

Eddie laughed a little. "You're such a cry baby, Richie."

"I knowww!" Richie chuckled, sniffling again. "Jesus," He spoke after a few minutes. "I don't know why I was so scared, you guys are the best. I love you guys."

The group laughed and pulled away from their group hug.

"Im g-gonna be pissed if yuh-y-you didn't have a crush on me at wuh-one point." Bill joked.

"I think we all had a crush on you at one point, Bill." Richie chuckled, glancing over at Eddie.

The group laughed again, Eddie with his hand over his mouth to hide his blush.

"Does Ben know?" Bev asked.

"Oh shit." Richie whispered. "I forgot about him.. oopsie?"

"What about Stan?" Mike asked.

"Sh-surely he knows, M-muh-Mike, Stan knows everything about Ruh-Richie." Bilk stuttered.

"About that.. no he doesn't know." Richie shrugged.

"Oh." Bev raised her eyebrows. "That's surprising."

"Mhm." Eddie smirked, Richie glaring at him.

"Richie!" Mikes grandma yelled from somewhere in the house. "Your father is here to pick you up."

"Dammit." Richie muttered.

"Wh-whys your dad picking you up?" Bill laughed.

"My mom being overprotective." Richie replied, punching Bills shoulder.

"Richie i'm staying over at your house, my moms being a bitch so you have no say in this." Eddie said, picking up Richies backpack and throwing it at him.

Richie caught the backpack and shrugged. "Hell yeah, company!"

All five of them walked to the door, Richie and Eddie saying goodbye to Mikes grandmother.

Richie hugged Bev and she kissed his cheek. "Bye,
Rich."

"See ya." He laughed, wiping his cheek and earning a fake offended gasp from Bev. "C'mon Eds."

"Bye weirdos." Eddie waved and went to walk out behind Richie, his hand being caught by Bill who pulled him into a hug.

"B-bye." Bill let him go and waved.

"Uh- yeah, bye." He mumbled, running out of the house and shutting the door before anyone could see him blush.

Eddie, sensing Richie about to make a joke, grabbed his arm and pulled him along. "Shut up and walk."

Richie shook his head, laughing. "Aw, Eds and his little crush! cute, cute, cute!" He pinched Eddies cheek and got a smack on the hand for it.

"Hey, dad." Richie muttered getting into the front seat of the red station wagon.

"Hey, Mr T." Eddie smiled, sitting in the back seat.

"Hey, Richie. Richies small friend." Went nodded, starting the car.

"Eddie." Richie corrected him. "Six years, dad. I've had these friends for six years and you still don't know who they are." He laughed.

"Sure I do!" Went turned on the radio, some song that neither Richie or Eddie knew started playing. "Theres the small one, back there." He nodded towards Eddie in the rearview mirror. "The stuttering one, the farm boy, the jewish boy, the one who reads a lot, and the girl."

"Hm, proving my point." Richie smiled.

"Nah, i'm joking, kid. Theres Eddie, Bill, Mike, Stan, Ben anddd.. the girl."

"Her names Bev." Eddie piped up.

"Ah." Went nodded.

"By the way, Eds is staying over." Richie said, changing the radio station. Bastards of Young by The Replacements started playing.

"Fine by me." Went shrugged. "Its your mom you're gonna have to convince."

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dis is short :P
Wentworth is a cool dad 😎👉👉