Love at First Dare // Stenbrough

Seventy-Seven

—August 20th

"Richie shut up for a minute." I sigh running my hands through my hair. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just getting married today. No big deal." He rolls his eyes playfully.

"Do you not know how to tie your tie?" Stanley walks into the room.

Wearing a suit.

Very dark navy color with a red bow tie. His hair fixed perfectly where his curls rest perfectly on his forehead.

My heart flutters.

"No..." Richie mumbles as Stanley stands in front of him. "You should've learned by now you know that right?" He whispers as Richie looks at himself in the mirror.

"Yeah I know, I know," He chuckles pushing his hair back slowly. "Eddie promised he would show me one day. For prom. He didn't get to because he was late."

Stanley smiles softly, smoothing the collars of Richie's suit. "I'm proud of you Rich." He pats his back gently before leaving the room.

"Be careful there Bill, don't want your zipper to break." Richie laughs.
"S-Shut up frog face," I mumble standing up. "I a-agree with Stan...I'm p-proud of you man." He smirks gently as I leave the room also.

"No...I haven't...because I'm too scared you know me." Stanley chuckles holding the phone up to his ear. "Well hurry up. Bye Mike." He giggles before handing up and putting his phone in his pocket.

I stare at him from the doorway. "Bill? Are you okay?" He gives me a confused smile. Touching the scarring on my cheek with his thumb.

"Yeah...are y-you?" He looks away quickly. "Yeah..." he crosses his arms and stares at his shoes before walking away.

—

"E-Eddie? What's wrong?" He looks up as a tear falls from his cheek. "I'm nervous." His face full of gloom. "L-Listen. I'm sure he asked y-you because he knew y-you would say yes. Nothing to worry about."

I hug him gently as his head rests on my shoulder.

—Stanley's POV

I stand at Eddies door. Peeking through Bill comforts the short one. I smile gently. "Nothing b-bad will happen. I promise you." He let's go of the boy as Eddie catches my eye. I hide behind that corner.

"Thanks, Bill... is-is Richie okay?" "He's fine. He's h-happy." Eddie grins before sitting down." He catches my eyes again.

I walk away quickly. In the distance, I hear their conversation. "Who a-are you looking at?" "No one... hey Beverly."

Beverly wears a red dress down to her knees.

"Shit that was close...hey Mikey." "Hey, Stan...were you spying on Bill again." He raises a brow. "No....yes." I look away. "It's fine man...totally not weird at all." He chuckles as we sit with Richie.