Chapter Text
Richie rode his bike across Derry, a thousand things swirling around in his mind. He wanted to just be there already, but he was stuck biking up a hill.
Finally, after riding up three huge hills, almost letting his glasses slip off his face, and nearly running over some old woman, he made it to his destination.
He ran up the stairs and knocked frantically at the door.
A happy, beautiful Beverly opened the door. “Richie. Hi. why are you here, you never called ahead.”
Bev likes everyone to call ahead if they can so that her dad doesn’t open the door to a sweaty high school boy. That would be interesting.
“Sorry Bev. I didn’t have time. I have to talk to you.” Richie was carrying a helpless expression. It was that, mixed with confusion, and a hint of hope. Hope for what? He didn’t know. Just hope.
“It’s ok, my dad’s at work for a while longer. Come in, what did you need to talk about?”
“It’s a little.. Personal. Can you promise not to talk about this with the losers.” he stepped into her house, and walked all the way in with his shoes on. Stan would tell him to take them off. He walked back to the door and took them off.
Beverly was clearly puzzled at this.
“I promise I won’t say anything. What happens at my house within the next hour or so, stays at my house.” she smiled and closed the door as they left for her room.
Richie walked in and flopped onto the floor, leaning against the bed. “So..”
Beverly sat across from him. “I’m all ears.”
Richie smiled for a split second. Beverly is just so… Beverly. He stared at the floor… for a while.
Beverly puffed up her cheeks and waited.
Richie went red. Then, as if he had twelve seconds to live, he blurted out “I love him.” wow Richie. So smooth. She doesn’t even know who you’re talking about.
“Ok….. who?”
Richie was still staring at the floor, picking at little pieces of wood. “Stan. I love him. And… I just… I don’t know. Is something wrong with me?”
“What?” Beverly took Richie’s hand. “Nothing’s wrong with you Richie. You love him. It doesn’t matter what other people say. Love is… love is love. Nothing could change that. Nothing’s wrong with you.”
Richie felt a huge weight come off his shoulders. Something in his brain allowed him to believe everything Bev says. Therefore making him feel valid. “There’s something else.”
“Ok, what is it?” their hands stayed together.
“I… I can’t help but feel like he likes me too. It sounds so stupid, Stan’s so Stan and I’m so me. And in the clubhouse today. But sometimes when he looks at me…. I just… I’m so confused.”
Beverly smiled. She tried to keep it in, but it won.
“Why are you smiling? I just confessed all of my thoughts and feelings and you’re basically laughing at me.”
“I’m not laughing Richie. I just know something. I know that you love him. I know that he was ignoring you in the clubhouse earlier. And I know why.”
“What?” Richie’s gaze snapped up to Beverly.
“Richie, he loves you too. He’s just too scared to say anything.”
Richie’s heartbeat sped up from 10 to 50 mph. He just stared at Beverly as she smirked lovingly at him. “He what?”