dawn : stenbrough

6

"𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐈 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔?" bill asks, mike looking over in concern. 

"yes, of course, what's up?" mike responds, and bill shakes his head. bill stands up, garnering the attention of stanley across the table, who is talking to richie. bill takes mike by the hand and leads him to his room. 

once the door closes, his true nature is revealed, and he starts pacing. 

"mike, man, i th-thuh-think i have a crush on stan. no, no, i know i do. it keeps getting bigger and bigger." bill starts rambling, mike blinking rapidly. 

"you like boys?" mike asks, honestly not meaning to say the question out loud. 

"yeah, i g-guh-guess, he's the only boy i've ever liked, but that's not important. i've never felt like this about anyone, mike. i r-ruh-really like him. an-and yeah, i've only known him for two or three days, but holy shit. not to s-suh-sound dumb, but mike, i w-wuh-want to kiss him so bad. i want him so bad," bill keeps going, talking more than mike has ever heard him say in one go. 

bill sits down on his bed. "he's, he's incredible. i love talking to him, and his v-vuh-voice is so sweet, and i just... mike! do you see the issue?!" bill groans, putting his head in the covers. "FUCK!" his voice is muffled, but mike gets the point. 

"bill, i'm sure it's okay. you could, like, ask him out on a date, or something? after we get to portland?" mike suggests, "or just wait the last couple days and see if it fades?"

"we'll see, i j-juh-juh-juh-just--FUCK!" bill screams again, and then calmly walks out of the room. mike snorts, walking behind him. 

the other teens look at bill a little strange when he sits back down at the table, but he's really not bothered.

stanley: heard you screaming fuck, you alright?

bill looks to his phone, a small smile on his face from the text 

bill: yea just a lil bothered its okay

stanley: does it have to do with me visiting last night? i'm really sorry if i was a bother.

bill: no no absolutely not i'm glad u came to me i'm sorry u went thru whatever u went thru yesterday. u could never be a bother. 

bill looks up to stanley, who smiles warmly at him. their eye contact lingers a moment. but just for a moment, because bill glances down nervously. he always feels a little inadequate staring into stanley's eyes. how could he possibly deserve the incredible boy that is stan?

stan is put together (most of the time), charming, pretty, irresistible, i mean, how is bill supposed to be friends with him and not have a crush? it's impossible, to bill at least. 

bill, although looking down, found himself rocking back and forth a little, waiting for his phone to buzz. 

stanley: okay. i really appreciated it. thank you very much. 

bill feels his heart buzz too, when he looks down to his phone. he is really feeling something. what is he supposed to do about this?

stanley, who is also smiling at his phone, responds with sass to richie for a moment, and then looks back to his phone. his smile disappears, and he looks behind him. he mutters something to richie and stands up, leaving the table. 

bill watches with concern, but ends up taking stanley's spot at the table, near richie and eddie. 

"the moment we get to that hotel, i am jumping on that bed," richie says with full conviction, as if no one can change his mind. 

"you'll absolutely break the bed, rich, no," eddie cautions, shaking his head. richie looks to bill and shrugs, who laughs. 

"are you calling me fat, edward?" richie whips his head back towards eddie, whining. eddie rolls his eyes, a smile on his face, and he shakes his head. 

"what if i am, richard? what if i was calling you a fatass?" eddie jokes, bantering back and forth. 

"i'd be heartbroken, i'd never be happy again!" richie moans in fake agony, eddie pushing him playfully and snorting a little. richie recovers his spot and eddie sighs in content, leaning his head on richie's shoulder. 

"gay~" bill comments, richie scoffing. eddie's face reddens and he looks down, a small little smile on his face. 

"oh shut up. oh shit, did i tell you guys my parents want to get a cat?" richie brings up a new topic, a giant smile on his face. eddie sits up with a gasp, covering his face with his hands in excitement. "yeah, yeah, it's really fucking cool. i'm really more of a dog person, but a pet is a pet, and that's sick." richie goes on, the two nodding excitedly. 

"what kuh-kind of cat?" bill asks, leaning back in his chair.

"uh... i don't know she's going to adopt. we're visiting the adoption centre after i get back," richie answers, playing with his nails happily.

"you'll have to let me pet them, please, oh my god," eddie begs, leaning his head back on richie's shoulder. richie scuffed eddie's hair, laughing.

"yeah, eds, you'll be over all the time anyway."