dawn : stenbrough

10

"𝐈'𝐌 𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐆-𝐆𝐎 𝐋𝐈𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍," bill announces, standing up from the table. richie acknowledges him and nods, and the rest of the kids give him a sort of wave. bill's stomach churns, and he groans to himself.

walking through the sickly motion of the train, he makes it to his room. his hand grips the doorknob and twists it, stumbling into the room. turning his head towards his bed, there's stanley, tucked under the covers, napping. if it weren't for the rearranging of bill's insides, he would be admiring stanley. bill just has a really bad stomach ache, honestly.

he lies down on the bottom bed of the bunk bed, hoping richie and eddie haven't done anything worse than make out. his stomach settles, and closing his eyes, he feels more at peace. he stays there for a while, long enough for him to turn on his side and feel fine, now looking at stan, sleeping peacefully.

"don't tell me i kicked you out of your own bed," stanley mutters, shifting around to see bill staring right at him. bill's lips part in a gasp, and looks away.

"wha-no, not at all. this bed is more comfortable, anyway," bill says, shifting as every spring in the bed creaks. stanley laughs at him, the blatant lie funny to stan.

"no it isn't, dummy. c'mere," stanley flips the duvet up, sitting up himself. bill blushes at the invitation. bill's cheeks newfound colour makes stanley realize what his invitation sounded like, and turns a little red, too.

"o-oh. okay." bill gets out from under the sheets, and he stands up awkwardly. there's a soft smile on stan's face, so he doesn't feel too awkward. bill wanders to the bed and slowly shuffles in, facing stanley. the two just stare at each other as stanley reaches his arm over bill's back to pull the sheet down. 

"why did you come in here? taking a midday nap?" stanley asks, hesitant to pull his arm back. instead, his arm just hovers over bill's torso, his arm shaking a little. bill snickers.

"this is my room, thank you v-vuh-very much. i can do what i want. i had a stomach ache." bill explains, acutely aware of the arm nearing his waist. he reaches a hand up for it underneath the covers and he reaches for stanley's arm, but as he does, stanley retracts his arm. bill's hand recoils.

"oh, i'm sorry. is it better now?" stanley asks, a kind look on his face. bill exhales through his nose softly, admiring stan. 

"uh, yea-yeah. did you actually get any sleep in here?" bill responds, noticing stan looks much less tired. he looks more gentle, right now, lying in this bed and staring back at bill. stanley nods as best he can lying down. 

"mhm. i'm sorry if i worried you. i am fine, it's just... hard to sleep." once more, stanley does not elaborate, and bill continues to worry. bill smiles sympathetically. a moment of silence passes between them.  

"this bed is far comfier. you're right." bill says softly, stanley laughing softly under his breath. the laugh makes bill smile wider, and he realizes something. he blinks in recognition. 

"yeah," stanley says breathily, "also, you don't know what richie and eddie have done on that bed." bill groans and stanley laughs at it. bill turns onto his back, putting a hand on his forehead. 

"oh god, i KNEW that was an option but i didn't want to think about it, stan!" he complains, the two laughing, bill mostly groaning while stanley cackles. stan lightly nudges bill with his fist, the duo's laughter calming down. bill still has a couple giggles in him.

 "s-s" stanley snickers, "sorry, i just thought i'd point it out. make you suffer." stan says, bill rolling closer to stanley. he rolls closer until his back ends up near stan's chest, the two facing the same direction. 

"well, it worked. i am suff-fuh-fu-fering." bill mumbles, stanley flushing entirely red. he murmured to himself softly, bill listening intently to stanley. "this is comfy," bill whispers, hoping for stanley to make a small move of any kind. 

stanley lies behind bill without touching him, his hand shaking just at the idea of cuddling with bill. he hears his heartbeat in his ears and rolls his eyes at himself. 

"we should pr-pruh-probably get up, though, i'd guess it's going on 6." bill comments, rolling off the bed onto the ground, stanley coughing and hoping his face cools down. 

"yeah, i guess you're right," stanley gets out of bed too, and as he flattens down his shirt, bill watches him with a certain look. stan raises his eyebrows at bill and bill shakes his head.

stan exhales through his nose, shrugs, and opens the door of the room. the two head out towards the other rooms.