Stay (REDDIE FANFIC)

Chapter 2

Richie shows up with all of his stuff on Sunday evening. He helps Eddie clean up around the house, and ends up playing a couple rounds of Candyland with Julia. It's actually a pretty nice night, overall. It almost doesn't even feel like a job.

However, the job aspect comes crashing down on him when a stuffed teddy bear is thrown at his face on Monday morning. He freaks out for a split second when he realizes he's in a new room, a new bed, a new house. But he quickly remembers where he is, and squints his eyes at a smiling Julia. She climbs up on to the bed and plants herself down on Richie's stomach.

"Hi," she says as she pokes his cheek. "Aren't you my new nanny, now? Daddy said you are. I'm hungry. I want breakfast. You need to get up and make me oatmeal. Daddy already went to work," she announces.

"Ugh," Richie says in reply. He doesn't know what time it is, but he glances through the closed curtains at his window. The dark gray sky indicates that is is far too early for Richie to be up right now. He checks the clock on his bedside table. 5:02 AM. Fuck.

Julia giggles.

"You're silly," she says happily. "Oatmeal! With apples and raisins!"

She climbs off of him and runs back down the hall to her room.

The first week really doesn't get any better from there.

By Thursday, Richie's knees are aching from hours of crawling around the floor to pick up crumbs and dust that the old vacuum refuses to pick up itself. His back is sore and his fingers seem like they're going to become permanently pruney from all the exposure to dishwater. He knows he's losing brain cells too, from hours and hours of breathing in cleaner fumes.

He's cut the crust off of nine peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and he's burned six pancakes. He's watched twenty episodes of Sesame Street next to Julia, and he's even had to go on four more Kraken hunts with the child. Only one of those four hunts has ended with Julia successfully washing her hair, unfortunately.

It's all so strange. He's used to sharing small spaces. His tiny house growing up, his small dorm room in college, apartments with friends and now this. However, it's odd when he's signed a contract to share a small space with two complete strangers.

He tries not to be bothered by the fact that he says about ten words per day to the extremely busy Eddie. Variations of 'I made Julia some dinner, you want some' and then, 'Okay, suit yourself,' when all he gets is a distracted shake of the head and a wave of the hand in return.

"Story time, Julia," Eddie says when he finally returns home from work every night, and that's Richie's cue that he's done for the day. Eddie will swing her into his arms and carry her to her room, while Richie usually sits back on the couch and flips through the television channels idly.

It's not a terrible job by any means, but it's only the first week, and Richie already can't wait for it to be Saturday.

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Richie: Hey little lady, Mike officially kicked me out of the apartment, so he can finally have sex with his new wife without worrying about me walking in on them. Don't worry though. I managed to find a job, which actually comes with a place to stay. I'll be spending the next few months being a manny to a little girl. Laugh it up. She's a sweet girl. Kind of weird, though. She thinks the Kraken lives in her bathtub. Good enough job until something better comes up, right? Her dad's kind of a piece of work, what little I've seen of him. Anyway, text me back soon. I miss you, Bev. I know you're super busy with your new job, but we need to smoke soon. I miss it.

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Beverly: You're a NANNY??? Hahahahahahahaha. This, I've GOT to see. When can I come over? Miss you too. Love you.