Summer of '93 - Stozier

49

perhaps theres a lil bit a kaspbrough in dis chapter °-°

•*•*•*•*•*•*•

"Hey, whats up with Stan? He's been lookin' kinda depressed lately.." Eddie asked quietly, leaning over to Bill so no one else could hear.

"I dunno." Bill shrugged. "He's been like that for a few days. W-wont talk to me."

"Huh." Eddie nodded. "Hey, your stutters getting better!" He added, watching Bills face visibly light up as he smiled sheepishly.

"I know, right? My speech therapist said sp-speaking slower hel-helps, and even though i've been doing that for- for years, its really helping now." He said, instinctively closing his mouth, feeling like he was rambling, but Eddie looked genuinely interested.

"Proud of ya, Billy." Eddie chuckled, playfully punching Bills shoulder.

Bill looked down and smiled, a blush prominent on his face.

"God, they're so in love." Richie groaned quietly, rolling his eyes and sipping his Pepsi.

Bev chuckled from beside him. "Yeah, and they don't even know it. -And, hey! You're one to talk!" She smirked, speaking quietly.

"How'd ya mean?" Richie asked, almost rudely, he always seemed to be in a bad mood these days.

"You know what I mean, Tozier."

Richie rolled his eyes. "Will you just shut up about that already? Difference being, Stans straight, he doesn't like me back! Im over it! End of discussion." He grumbled, speaking so only Bev could hear over the music from Jenny's Stereo.

"Alright! Alright! Don't get your knickers in a twist! Also, isn't Eddie also 'Straight'." Bev said, emphasis on 'straight'.

Richie looked scared for a moment, hiding the bottom half of his face behind his Pepsi can. "Yeah- right. Sorry for snapping."

"S fine, used to it. Whats got you all in a bad mood, anyway?" She asked.

"Im not in a bad mood!" Richie huffed.

"You are too!"

"I am not—"

"Stan, you good?" Mike asked, interrupting Richie and Bevs aggressive whispering. "You've been quite all day, you feelin' okay?"

Stan nodded. "Just tired." He shrugged, toying with his Star of David necklace as he tapped his pencil on the lined paper of his notebook he'd been writing in for a few hours.

"You sure? You want some water?" Jen asked, already standing up to get it.

"No, its fine, you don't have to-"

"'S fine, I was gonna go get Ben and Eddie some lemonade, anyways." She shrugged.

Stan thought for a moment, accidentally glancing over at Richie (he did that a lot nowadays), before looking back up at Jenny. "Sure, okay then."

There was a heavy silence in the room when Jenny left, only broken my Bev a few minutes later.

"Anyone else feel the thick tension in this room,
or is that just me?"

Before anyone could reply, Jen returned with a bottled water, and two cups of lemonade, placing the cups on the table in front of Ben and Eddie and tossing the water bottle to Stan.

"So, I was thinking.." Jen began, sitting back down beside Bev. "Since my parents are out tonight, how would you guys feel about all sleeping over?"