Love at First Dare // Stenbrough

Fifty-Six

"Richie?" A small voice startles the three who eat cereal in the afternoon.

"Hiya Eds...are you okay?" "No...I think I'm sick." Richie pulls through blanket tighter around the boy, hugging him closer.

"You'll get sick..." "It doesn't matter...I wanna make you feel better." He kisses the boy's forehead before taking him back to lay down.

"Would you do the same for Stanley, Billy?" He looks up from his bowl. "What do y-you mean?" "You love him don't you?" "Are you done with your cereal?" "Yup." His voice happy.

"Eddie's sick?" "Yeah..." Bill whispers, pouring out the remaining milk.

Stanley grabs a drink from the fridge before sitting down. "You didn't answer my question, Billy. Would you do the same for Stan?" He keeps his voice low, but not low enough.

In Stan's peripheral vision he can see Bill look over at him. "It depends Georgie. It d-depends."

—

"Eddie is asleep again. He feels horrible." Everyone that's awake nods. Georgie thinks back to what Bill said, it not making sense of the most half.

"Billy?" "Georgie?" "What did you mean, it depends." "For a nine-year old y-you ask a lot of questions you know." "I'm curious." Everyone chuckles.

"I'll answer that later."

—text—

Dad

D: ask Georgie if he wants to see us

B: Im not doing that

D: why?

B: because he doesn't need to see you

D: he saw us the other day. What's the change?

B: I don't know. You left me with him when I was 14

D: we're sorry. Just let us see him again.

B: he saw you the other day. He's fine.

Bill leaves it at that, realizing Stanley glancing over. Once catching his eye he looks away from the phone.

"Sorry." He whispers.

—

"Mr Denbrough? What are you doing here?" "To collect my son." Beverly frowns.

"Fuck no." Bill pushes him outside. "Come here Georgie lets go to my room and watch some tv. Okay?" "Okay." He smiles, oblivious to what's happening.

Stanley nods before taking him. "You saw h-him the other day..." "I see your stutter isn't gone...you still probably a fa-"

Bill loses it.