The End Of Us || losers club ✔️

twenty six

twenty six - just like old times

"It's all going to be okay, Rich."

"No it won't be, dad!"

Richie sighs heavily, his face pushed into his hands. He wishes he could become invisible, because Wentworth's hard stare burns into the back of his head and it's not helping him deal with what he's feeling. Richie hates it. He just wants Went to look away.

"You can visit Stanley whenever you want. You can go down there every weekend, or he can come-"

"You're making it sound simple!" Richie looks up at his dad, eyes wide and hands open. Why can't Wentworth understand? "He's not going to be three minutes away anymore. North Carolina is more like.. three hours away!"

Wentworth looks down. "Fourteen, actually."

Richie's hands fly into the air. "That's even worse!"

Wentworth doesn't respond right away, and Richie stares at him, waiting for something. He feels like he's trapped Wentworth, and he gets a sense of accomplishment. But then his dad sighs softly and begins walking around the counter.

"Richard," he says.

He brought out the full name. Richie's breath hitches and his eyes fall to his lap. He's gone too far. Typical.

"I'm sorry Stanley is moving away."

No you're not, Richie wants to spit out. He doesn't, as he's already dug the hole deep enough.

"If there was something I could do, I would," he says slowly. He pauses, looking down at the counter. Richie's eyes study the floor. He hates how easily he can begin to feel bad for his actions. "But it's Donald's and Andrea's decision... Do your friends know Stanley is leaving?"

"Yeah," Richie sighs. "You know when we all went to dinner yesterday? At the diner? That's when he told us." The six of them didn't even get halfway through eating when Stanley broke the news. It was as though time froze when he said it.

"I'm leaving Derry next week."

He said he only got the news on the way over to the diner, in the car with his parents. Richie wasn't sure what he was expecting. He knew Donald and Andrea moved down to North Carolina last year, but the thought of Stanley moving with them never crossed his mind.

"I've been-... Dad, I've been with him for three years. Every single day, every single minute. I don't think-" Richie inhales sharply, "I wouldn't know what to do without him."

"You're not with him now," Wentworth argues. "It's not going to be the end of the world, Rich."

Richie has to bite down on the inside of his cheek to keep the emotions from rising. He breaths steadily and mentally threatens himself not to cry. It's always his parents that make him feel so weak.

"I have to leave," Richie says, sliding off the kitchen chair. "Meeting with my friends."

"Where will you be?"

"Around town," Richie responds shortly. He knows that doesn't give Wentworth any direct clue, but that's the point. He doesn't want his dad anywhere near him right now.