Chapter Text
2. |
Will pov
It’s been four days since we met Richie. And we’ve hung out every day. And I have to be honest, if hanging out with Richie will give me a key to hanging out with everyone as a whole group again, who am I to complain about him.
The sunrise today was pretty, and it looks really nice out. I’d ask to hangout with my friends, but I suck at asking for anything myself, according to Max and Lucas, so I hold off on the thought, no matter how much it upsets me, hoping someone else will initiate the meetup themselves.
I don’t think my daydream is gonna happen today though. My walkie has been silent and idling for the whole morning. I’ve just been sitting in my bed reading since I got up earlier, when all of a sudden, from the top of my dresser, it crackles to life.
“ Mm.. Will? Are you there? “
I tilt my head to the side, confused by the voice that drifts through the speaker. The person on the other end doesn’t sound like Mike. Or Lucas. Or even Dustin. Someone else. Their voice is a little more pitchy, but it also sounds like they just woke up- wait. Pitchy..
I scramble over to pick up my Walkie. “ Hello? Yeah. I’m here, over. “
The voice scoffs. “ Wow, you guys actually say ‘ over ‘ into these things? Nerds.. “
“ Wha- Is.. is this Richie? “ I pause for a second “ ..over. “
“ I’m flattered, Will. You remember my voice. “
“ W-well yeah. You have a funny voice. “ I stammer.
Richie laughs into the speaker. “ Funny voice? What’s that? Never heard of it.. “
“ How are you talking to me on the walkie. “ I say, completely ignoring his question.
“ Oh. I stayed over at my cousins’ yesterday. I stole his thing. “
“ To talk to me? “
“ I guess. Is there anyone else to talk to? “
“ I mean.. yeah. “
“ Well screw them. I didn’t wanna talk to them. “
My face flushes a little bit at that, and I don’t know how to reply to his words. Richie is a confusing guy. Talking to me is just as good as talking to anyone else. If anything, they’re more interesting. But he knows his way with words. Like Max does. It’s scary.
“ Did you die or something?? “ I can hear Richie’s voice again, and it snaps me out of my thoughts.
“ No. “
“ Oh, that’s good. My cousin would flip if he heard you died while talking to the Richie Tozier. “
I laugh a little bit. “ Woow. You’re so famous, Richie. “
I can almost hear his smirk through the walkie. “ I know! I’ve got a huge crowd of fans. “
“ What does your crowd do? Just listen to you talk? “
“ Something like that. Maybe I crack jokes too,“ he sighs. “ Over. “
“ Look who says over now.. “
He laughs. And so do I.
It’s getting dark out. I’ve been outside all day today. Is it fun? Yes. Am I getting tired? Also yes. I’ve biked from my house to a nearby park, to a strip of stores downtown, back up near my house, up by the mall, then back to the park. But now it’s late. I don’t know what time, but it’s definitely nighttime.
The days are longer now, in summer, but they still feel somewhat short without everyone else. It’s like I’m drifting through the days just by myself. I've gotten so lonely to the point where I’m making corny similes about myself. Yikes..
I’m getting ready to start my ride home, when I see something in the distance. Or maybe someone. It looks like Mike’s walking closer? Wait.. no, that’s..
“ Richie! “ I holler, waving my hand up at him. He jogs over now.
When he steps under the streetlight, I can see a grin on his face, and the small glare on his glasses. “ Hey bowlcut. How’s it going out here? “
My face twists a little bit at the nickname, but I'm still grinning. “ I’m good, just about to go home.. Did you just come out for fun, or..? “
“ Had a hunch I'd see someone I knew out here. “ He chuckles. “ And look! My amazing intuition strikes once more. Aren’t I wonderful? “
I laugh. “ Definitely. “
“ So you were about to go? “
I yawn quietly, hopping off my bike. “ Mm. Yeah, probably. It’s getting dark. “
“ I’ll walk with you then. “
I still for a moment, before replying. “ Uh? Seriously? “
He laughs. “ Seriously. “
The walk back to my house is warm, and I thank the summer for the first time this year for allowing me to not overheat in front of this new guy. I’m getting a little tired walking my bike all this way, and It’s not that far, but it’s definitely worse when I have to lug around the weight of a bike the whole time. Maybe I'm being cursed for walking with Richie. If he wasn’t here, I could just ride home. But it’s not that bad.. I glance over at Richie, who has an unusual pep in his step for whatever reason. He’s not tired. That makes me grumble in annoyance.
“ Say.. why were you on Mike’s walkie this morning? “ I mumble, half expecting the taller boy to not hear me.
“ I stayed over at his place last night, “ he replies. “ The Wheelers love me, Will. They’ve drooled all over me every day I'm here. “
“ Well, you’re family! “
He smirks. “ You’d be right. What a genius. “
“ Okay, but you didn’t answer my question, “ I pressed. “ Why were you talking to me? “
“ I was bored. Mike sleeps until like- ten, unless his girlfriend wakes him up. “ Richie grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest.
That makes me laugh a little, but I can tell by the hint of defensiveness in his voice that he isn’t really telling me the full truth. But it’s okay, I won’t force the guy to talk. “ Um.. are you staying at the place you rented tonight? “
“ Yeah. The Wheelers adore me, sure, but not that much. “
“ We’re really close. “ I pause, before fixing my words. “ O-our houses, I mean. “
Richie smirks, turning to face me. “ Our houses. Yeah, very close. “
I look away, continuing to roll my bike down the sidewalk. I can see my house up ahead, and Richie’s just across the street. It’s silly, but I'm glad we’re close. Maybe we can get closer that way. Maybe I can have my own person this summer after all. Could Richie be my person? Does he already have one at home? I don’t know. I don’t think I ever will. He’s pretty reticent about life in Derry.
Soon enough, we’re right in front of my house, and it’s time to say bye. I turn to Richie, and he’s bouncing a little awkwardly on his beat-up sneakers’ heels. He’s clearly looking at me, but when I raise a brow, he snaps his head away.
” Do you need something? “
” Which one is your room, “ he answers almost immediately, his voice lacking any emotion. It doesn’t sound like his regular tone, it sounds almost strained.
The question catches me off guard for a second. “ Oh- uh.. I dunno if you can see it from this side.. it's kinda on the left there.. “
Richie moves his whole body and cranes his head to see the window I pointed at, and he just nods in response. I giggle a bit at his antics. “ You’re pretty weird. Has anyone ever told you that? “
Richie laughs too, shaking his head. “ No, people usually tell me I’m better than their husbands.. that they want more.. stuff like that. “ He grins.
I crack up, almost dropping my bike. “ Oh, gross!! “
He smiles. “ You say that, but you’re practically cry-laughing, Will. “
“ Yeah, yeah.. alright, okay. Goodnight, Richie. “
Richie pauses, his mouth opening and closing for a second, before pressing his lips shut. I can swear his face reddens a bit, but the streetlights haven’t been replaced in years, and the light’s too dim to tell. Finally, he replies. “ Goodnight Will. “
I wave and bring my bike into the house, and before closing the garage door, I look out to see Richie still standing there, still red, watching me go inside. It makes me laugh a bit, and I wave. He waves back almost instantly, like he was waiting for it.
The garage door closes slowly, the creaking of the hinges against summer nights is loud and a little annoying, but it doesn’t disturb my thoughts of the confusing boy who was still probably staring at the wide doorway, blushing like an embarrassed tomato.
Going to bed was easy tonight, probably for two reasons. One- I was exhausted from biking the whole day and staying out so late. Two- I was able to talk to Richie today. And even though we only talked for a bit, it felt like a long time. I had a lot of fun today.
Richie pov
Which one is your room? Am I an idiot? Definitely. I probably just ruined any chance of anything with Will. I sounded like a stupid stalker, and now he’ll probably have his windows boarded up to the extreme because he most likely thinks I’m gonna sneak in in the middle of the night and kill him like that stupid clown.
I groan, standing in front of the fridge with a sigh. I forgot to eat dinner, and now it’s late. So anything will do. I snag out something frozen, then shove it back in the freezer before storming upstairs. I’m too pissed at myself to eat. It’s not punishing myself, I think emptily.
I flop down to the firm mattress on my bed, looking to the ceiling as if it would give me an answer to why I feel the need to outdo myself around Will. Maybe I'm not outdoing anything, I'm just being weird and annoying. I hope that isn’t how he sees me. Truly.
Whatever. Will’s a nice guy. A breath of fresh air compared to Mike, honestly.. I’m glad I get to hang out with Will. I don’t know what, but it’s like he’s a force I can’t help but be dragged to. I’m like a moth drawn to a flame with him.
“ I’m so embarrassing.. “ I laugh to myself, letting the words float into the air of my room, then basking in the silence.
I sit up one more time, just to look out at the house across the way once more. Maybe I’ll see into his room one day. Maybe he’ll let me get as close as I want to him. As embarrassingly close as I want. Because maybe one day he’ll want the same thing. I’d let him get close.
As close as he wanted.
My cheeks warm, and I throw off my glasses, grinning into my hands. So stupid..