Summer of '93 - Stozier

17

"Bill, stay here." Eddie said, standing up from the sofa as the crowd of drunk teens went back to having fun, completely ignoring the argument before.

"Kayyyy." Bill nodded, watching Eddie follow Stan out of the door. "He's not the boss of me." He whispered to himself, before he stood up and stumbled away into the kitchen, where the rest of his friends were.

Eddie closed the door behind him, standing still for a second, gazing at the back of his curly haired friends head.

Stan was sitting on the porch step, staring down at the concrete path below him.

Eddie sighed, stepping forward and sitting down a few inches away from Stan. They sat in an awkward silence for a few seconds before Stan spoke.

"If you came here to say 'i told you so', just say it already."

"Nah.." Eddie shrugged. "I know im an ass but im not that much of an ass."

Stan breathed out through his nose, laughing. "I know you want to."

Eddie cleared his throat and muttered, "I told you so."

They both laughed a little, some of the awkward tension melting away.

"You okay?" Eddie asked, looking over at Stan.

Stan shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. I think i'm more mad than sad.."

Eddie hummed in agreement.

"Woah! What are you two do doin' out here?" Richies slurred, his voice joyful. He sat down between them and flung his arms around their shoulders.

"That is my cue to leave," Eddie whispered, standing up. "I'm gonna go check on Bill, probably gonna take him home." He walked back inside.

"I should probably take your drunk ass home too, eh?" Stan chuckled, looking over at Richie.

Richie hummed in agreement, dropping his head onto Stans shoulder.

Stan laughed again. "Nice nails, by the way."

"i've been told that a lot tonight, though they usually end the sentence by calling me a fag." Richie smiled, picking at the black nail polish.

"Assholes." The other boy grumbled.

"S' fine though, Mike always threat'ns to rip 'em limb fr'm limb." Richie shrugged. "Bill told 's what hapn'd." He slurred.

"Im not surprised." Stan chuckled. "Bills always been a bit of a loudmouth, even with that stutter of his."

"True.. 'm sorry th't she did that.. you didn't des'rve it.." Richie gazed up at him through his glasses.

"Its fine, Rich.. I sorta had it coming," Stan shrugged. "I never really expected a girl like her to genuinely wanna date a guy like me.." He chuckled. "Quoting myself, i'm a loser, and I always fucking will be."

"Y'r not sad 'bout it?" Richie asked, a little surprised.

"Mmn-mm." Stan hummed, shaking his head. "Nah, not really. Like I told Eddie, i'm more mad than sad. I guess I didn't like her as much as I thought I did.. I really just wanted it to work, y'know? I dunno, its stupid.."

Richie hummed in agreement, lifting his head off of Stans shoulder. "Hm, 'ts her loss, anyways.. anyone would be lucky to have you."

"I know you're only saying that cause you feel bad, and cause you're my friend." Stan chuckled.

"No, really! 'ts the truth! I mean, c'mon! Y'r sweet! li'l bit sarcastic, you somehow j'st know how to make someone smile.. Y'r just.. amazing, Staniella." Richie smiled at him. " Also, y'r hot as fuck which is just a bonus." He added.