Chapter Text
The lifeguards and paramedics have been working together for two days, generally only conversing in small talk as they pass each other.
Everyone had split off into partners for the first and second days, to get a better understanding of the beach layout, spotting and radio chatter and calls.
Patty and Bev hit it off really well, being the only girls in their respective teams. On the north end of the beach the two of them watch over a rip in the waves.
“You work very closely with Stan and Eddie, right? How long has it been like that?” Beverly casually asks, still keeping her eyes trained towards the rip.
“Well Stan and Eddie have been friends long before I came along, I’m glad we are as close as we are though! It’s good to know I can talk to them about what we see and they would understand…” Patty stops herself, leaning back in the buggy seat almost embarrassed.
“sorry for getting so gloomy, out of the three of us I’m the only usually keeping up the happy attitude, they’re both just so … cynical”
Bev nods back in understanding also leaning back in her seat to meet Patty, “don’t be sorry, I guess you’re kind of like the ‘Richie’ of your group, except more tolerable to be around and much less of an asshole...so maybe not at all like Richie” she jokes
“he’s always cracking jokes, probably at inappropriate times but it really does ease off all the life or death drama, it wouldn’t be the same without that kind of energy around.” And Patty only returns her thoughts with a sweet laugh, hand coming up to cover her mouth, smile forming small
creases by her eyes.
“Okay okay, I must ask, I’m sure you feel the same way” Patty begins, turning to face Bev as much as she could in the small seats, putting on a serious face.
“I get to talk about all sorts of things with the boys, until it comes to who we like!? I must sound like such a teenager wanting to talk about each other's crushes but it’s … I don’t know… I just want to be wined and dined once in a while” Patty almost whines frustrated.
“Oh hun, I’m 100% with you there, as stereotypical as it is boys will never understand the real exhilaration of a good date” Bev replies, “anytime I try to have a ‘civil’ conversation with Richie, he does what he’s naturally prone to do and start joking around! That’s usually the point I give up and start a new topic.” A supportive hand rests on her shoulder from Patty.
“Whenever I bring up the topic with Stan and Eddie, they kind of share a look, like they both know something I don’t … they’ll change the topic themselves”
For a moment the two of them sit in silence before falling into small bursts of laughter at the unfamiliarity of their conversation.
“There is a bar up the pavilion, not a far walk, we can take this convo into depth up there tonight if you wanted too? We both finish at the same time and we can make it a girls night”
Patty offers Bev a smile, sharing a look it’s like an instant click, a mutual understanding as if they were destined to be friends at some point in their lives.
“Sounds like a plan”
On the Northside of Maturin beach, Ben and Stan sit in their own buggy guiding people away from their own rip in the waves.
The summer heat gradually rising throughout the day has Stan shifting in his seat, unsticking his uniform from the sweat gathering at his lower back.
“This beach festival is coming up?...”
“Maturin musefest?” Ben answered
“Yeah, are you guys working through it? Will you be on duty?” questions Stan.
“Luckily for us, we got a good boss as a friend… Mike always makes sure we have the night of the festival off.” Ben explains.
“What a bonus for you guys”
“Yeah, usually means we are working the same morning but that’s not so bad, not many people on the beach while they are setting everything up”
Ben steps out of the buggy, stretching his legs and pulling his jersey from sticking to his back the way Stans uniform has currently resituated itself on his own body.
“If you guys won’t be working, will there be any lifeguards on duty?” He questions, thinking of the dangerous combination of intoxicated party goers and unsupervised beaches; a headache waiting to happen.
“Yeah, there will be people from other closely located beaches who will cover for us as well as a large group of volunteer lifesavers.”
“Must put you at ease then, to have so many people working so you don’t have too”
“Yeah, but a lifeguard is never off duty if they’re on the beach… will you be coming? To the festival?”
Sick of the sweat pooling in his joints, he follows Ben out of the buggy and readjusts himself on the sand, thinking about his answer.
“I’m not sure, large crowds and loud music aren’t exactly my thing but if Patty is, I’ll probably tag along”
“Hmm, Beverly convinced me to go my first time, I did and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would… could be the same for you?” Ben suggests with a light pat on the shoulder.
“Alright, I guess I’ll think about it”
As the day lurches on, temperatures continue to rise driving people to seek out shade and ways to cool themselves down.
In the tower, Richie finishes off his third popsicle of the day, trying and failing at trickshotting the stick off the wall into the wastebasket behind him.
“Hey Rich?” Eddie says, announcing his entrance, knocking on the door frame and leaning forward receiving a rush of air-conditioned breeze.
“Ah Eds, how nice of you to join me”
“Do you mind if I just fill up my water bottle?” Eddie shakes his canteen before stepping inside and towards the sink
“how is the tent life treating you?” Richie asks, spinning his chair around to chat with Eddie.
“It’s not so bad, pretty warm… pretty sandy, is there a filter on this tap?”
“Yeah there is, you don’t trust the water here or something?”
“Or something…
“ it’s a lot cooler in here, how’d you get lucky enough to get tower duty?” Eddie questions, leaning against the counter, looking out at the beach through the large windows, the midday sun is shining through and the air of the beach is getting more humid by the minute.
“Believe it or not Eds but tower duty is the worst part of this job, I’d much rather be out there with Ben or Bev on the buggies” Richie waves Eddie toward the front of the tower, handing him a pair of binoculars for him to use and points his sight down to the southside of the beach.
close to the waters edge but just off the wet sand was a blue and black buggy with a board strapped to the side and in the seats we’re Bev was with Patty looking out to the water together.
“I don’t think I could see what’s so bad about the tower? It’s much cooler and you can still see everything that’s happening, it’s not like you’re missing out on much?” Eddie can’t help the genuine confusion lacing his question, that doesn't seem to matter when he is only met with silence from Richie.
“What are you looking at?”
Placing the binoculars back on the desk, Eddie looks over Richie’s shoulder before he reaches for the radio, still giving no response to Eddie.
“Come in Beverly, those two heads in front of you… you might have to go in on that one and soon”
“Got it I’m going for a paddle” came back Beverly’s crackled response.
Richie keeps his eyes trained on the scene between Beverly and the couple trapped in the rip in front of her.
Beverly is a remarkable lifeguard, Richie knows this but any rescue involving two or more people can make a mess; she lifts the board from the buggy and runs towards the rip with no effort in her movements, using the current to reach the couple struggling in no time.
She has them secured, heads above water letting them catch their breath before riding a wave back to the shore. Removing his binoculars he can see Bev’s small figure directing the couple she saved towards the middle of the beach, between the flags only after receiving a gracious hug from the two.
“That… that is why I hate tower duty”
“What was it you said yesterday? Cause you don’t get to be the hero? Carry the hero's burden?” Eddie joked, moving to take a seat next to Richie.
“Yeah, totally… because I don’t get to show off my heroics to impress you Eds” cracking a smile and fiddling with the radio before putting back on its charging port.
“I’m sure your heroics impress enough ladies on the beach”
“I’m sure they do as well, but I only have eyes for one lady sadly”
“Oh really? I didn’t know you had a girlfriend” Eddie couldn’t help the surprised tone in his voice, correcting his posture and really looking at Richie almost like trying to catch his bluff.
“You didn’t?”
Eddie could only stare back in confusion, shaking his head.
“ … No yeah me and your Mum are very happy together” he jokes with a light punch to Eddie’s arm
“Fuck you, you’re such a dick” he huffs, getting up from his chair
“I’m leaving for real”
“Hey, wait no come back… ‘twas just a joke Eds” Richie responds, reaching out to grab Eddie’s arm before he gets too far.
They make eye contact for a split second before Richie tugs at his arm lightly, coaxing Eddie closer. He notices how Richie’s hand dwarfs his own, a firm grip on his wrist, his skin heating under his grasp … What the hell?... he looks up to meet Richie’s eyes looking right back at him... Has his eyes always been that big?
“You can stay… i-if you want too that is, I’m not gonna force you; it’s nice to have company finally” his words tumbling out faster than Eddie can pick them up.
“I uh.. think I left something in the Ambulance” Eddie pulls his hand away and quickly tries to head out, rubbing at his wrist.
A small sniffle sounding from the doorway interrupts his movements, a child no older than 5, on the verge of tears is waiting just outside the door; neither of them seeing him climb the stairs under the window.
Richie noticing him at the same time as Eddie is swiftly standing and making his way over to the doorway,
“Hey kid, what’s up? come inside and tell me what’s wrong hey?”
The damn keeping the tears locked away breaks and the kid is sobbing in uncontrollable waves.
Eddie sidesteps out of the way when Richie swoops in and hugs the poor kid, picking him up then placing him on a cushioned bench and ruffling his hair.
“Hey buddy it’s alright, you're safe here… are you lost?” Richie has his full focus on the little boy in front of him and Eddie is just watching, almost star struck at the quick change in demeanour from Richie.
The little boy only nods to answer Richie, still blubbering tears.
“Alright, that’s okay I’m here to help alright we’ll find someone… just answer me a few questions alright?” again Richie is only met with nodding.
In only a few minutes, Richie learns the boy’s name is Henry and that he’s come with his mum to the beach to try out their brand new ‘bigger than my dad!’ white and orange umbrella they bought this morning.
“That sounds really cool, look bud, wanna come up front here … I’ll give you my fancy binoculars and you try to find your umbrella okay? I wanna see if it’s as big and cool as you say?” Richie says, hoisting Henry up and moving him to the front of the tower, letting him sit on the bench placing a cautious hand on his back.
Eddie had removed himself from the tower, feeling unsure where to place himself in the situation. Excusing himself for a moment, Eddie gathers what he needs from the ambulance. moving it into the free spaces of the tower, working around Richie and Henry as they dutifully look for the boy's mother.
“I found it look, look!” Henry exclaims from his seat next to Richie, he shoves the binoculars into Richie’s face almost launching his glasses to the floor.
“Good job Henry! Did you see if your mum was there? She must be worried sick if she can’t find you”
“Let me see one more” he says, putting the binoculars back to his face, sticking out his tongue with focus. Richie picks up his own pair and begins to look in the same direction as the young boy, spotting what must have been his mother, worriedly looking towards the water and pacing around.
“Hey ParamEddie?” Richie calls
“Don’t call me that…”
“Looks like Henry’s mum is still at their setup, you wanna take him back?”
Eddie makes his way behind Richie and follows his point to the White and orange umbrella, not even 200 meters away.
“Yeah man of coure” Eddie says standing back and waiting for Henry to get ready.
“Alright little bud, we’ve found your mum now my best friend Mr. ParamEddie here” Richie says, gesturing to Eddie.
“He’s gonna walk you over so you don’t get lost again alright big man?” Eddie helps Henry off the desk and holds out his hand for Henry to grab and make their way out of the tower.
On the sand Henry babbles to Eddie about how much he loves the water and his favourite animal all before they even make it past the lifeguard tower, before getting too far Eddie hears the sliding of one of the glass windows in the tower before a shout.
“Hey Eds!!” Richie’s more metallic voice assaults the air.
What the hell?!
Turning around to look back to Richie, he sees him sticking his head out and a megaphone in hand with the widest and stupidest grin on his face.
“Bring me back a seashell!!” Richie laughs, sliding his head back inside the tower.
And out of sight.
He can’t be serious… right?
“Mr. meddie?, are you going to get your friend a shell? I can help look with you!” Henry looks at Eddie with a full set of teeth staring right back at him,
“Sure kid, let’s make sure Mummy knows you’re alright first.”