Summer of '93 - Stozier

48

Richie didn't come out of his room until mid afternoon the next day, making his way into the kitchen for food, his stomach had been growling since early morning.

"Hey, Kiddo.." His dad said slowly from the table as Richie entered the kitchen.

Richie just nodded towards him, shuffling over to the fridge.

"You okay, bud?"

"Fine." Richie mumbled, his voice hoarse, he hadn't spoke since he'd arrived home. "Wheres mom?"

"Out." Went answered simply.

"Out where?" Richie asked, placing some ham onto his sandwich.

Went shrugged, looking up from his newspaper "The store, most likely."

"Cool."

"You're friend called earlier."

"Which one?" Richie made his way over to the table and sat down, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"That Denbrough kid." Went shrugged. "Asked if you were here."

"What'd you say?"

"Told him you were asleep."

"Cool."

A few minutes later, Maggie walking through the door, bags on her arms as she kicked the front door shut.

"Hi, sweetie." She sighed, smiling as she leaned down to kiss his cheek.

Richie hummed and forced a smile, still chewing.

"I saw Eddie at the pharmacy, asked if you were going out today."

"Maybe." Richie shrugged. Just as he said that, someone knocked on the door.

"Get the door please, honey?"

"Fine." Richie sighed, getting up.

"Oh, for gods sake, Richie! put some pants on!"

"Oh, hi Ben." Richie smiled as he opened the door, it was always a very rare case that Ben would come over to Richies house alone.

"Hey, Richie!" Ben waved, smiling. "The Losers are gonna hang out at Bills today, you coming?"

"Oh, yeah! Maybe? Couldn't you have called?"

"Yeah, but I was already on my way, so, do you wanna walk together?" Ben asked. "The rest of them are already there, Stan spent the night, so.."

"Uh, sure, i guess." Richie shrugged, a nervous feeling twisting his gut at the mention of Stan. "I'll just go get.. clothes on.."

•*•*•*•*•*•*•

"Hey, you okay, Rich?" Ben asked as they walked. Richie was being unusually quiet today. "You have a nightmare?"

"Something like that." Richie mumbled. "Im good, though."

"Oh. Well- i'm always here if you wanna talk." Ben smiled.

"Thanks Benny, you're a sweetheart." Richie forced a laugh.

"You're awfully quiet today, Trashmouth." Ben spoke after a while.

"Tired, i guess."

"Up late?"

"Sure." Richie nodded. "Hey, can you keep a secret? I- I have to tell someone and I don't want the awkward tension to bring the mood down with the others so-"