#dijsf

a reddie fic

summary:

“How are you?” Stan asked. Richie’s face fell a little.

“I’m ok,” he lied. Stan leaned into his shoulder. They watched their friends for a few minutes. “I don’t want to leave. I want to stay.”

“Then stay,” Stan said.

Richie laughed, shaking his head, no. “This town is too small. I don’t think anyone would survive.”

Stan bit his lip. “What if you move to the town where Bev and Ben live? They’re close enough that they can pop down any time. It’ll mean you'll be far enough you won’t accidentally run into your family constantly.”

“But my job is in LA,” Richie argued.

Stan rolled his eyes. “I’m pretty sure you could work anywhere. You make enough you could keep your apartment in LA and just split your time.” Richie sighed.

“It’s so cold here.”

“All I hear is you making excuses,” Stan shrugged. “You don’t have to be this unhappy, Richie. You deserve to be happy.”

Richie sighed. After a minute, he said, “I can’t stay here.”

Eddie came over to them and threw his arm around Richie’s shoulders, smiling widely.

“It’s time to wake up, Richie,” Eddie said.

***

Chapter Twenty Summary:

They stopped at the bathroom so they could use the toilet before heading down to the luggage claim. To his relief, this time Richie’s bag was there. Once they got their bags, they went to the parking lot to find Max’s car in long term parking.

“Are you ok to drive?” Richie asked and Max laughed.

“I had a drink over six hours ago-”

“You’re not too tired is what I’m asking, asshole,” Richie laughed. They put their bags in the trunk.

“I slept on the plane some,” Max said. “I should be good.” Richie nodded and got in the passenger seat. Richie rolled the window down letting the warmer-than-Maine air in as Max pulled out of the parking spot.

As promised, they stopped and Max bought Richie a large bottle of Richie’s favorite spiced rum and a couple liters of Dr. Pepper.

***

a reddie fic

***

Chapter 7 Summary:

“Eddie?” Richie called.

“Bedroom!” Richie walked to the doorway. “Wanna watch something?” He asked, pointing at a large TV mounted to the wall. Richie looked at the bed and then back at it, smirking a little.

“That’s probably the worst line I’ve ever heard,” Richie said. Eddie rolled his eyes and patted a spot next to him. Richie tugged out of his shoes before going and sitting next to him. “What are we watching?” He leaned back against the headboard, hands over his head.

a reddie fic

***

Chapter 8 summary:

Richie sat his phone on the counter and went to the fridge. He pulled out some string cheese and a bottle of water before heading back to the bedroom. Ray had curled up in the middle of his warm spot.

“Punk,” Richie said, laying on his side and pulling the blanket up under his chin. After he ate the cheese, he must have dozed off again. When he woke up, Eddie was knocking gently on the door.

“Hey,” Eddie said. Richie groaned. “How are you?” Eddie tugged out of his shoes and curled up behind Richie, pulling him close.

“Time ’s it?” Richie mumbled.

“Just after 3,” Eddie said. “You eat anything?”

“Cheese,” Richie said, holding up the wrapper. Eddie laughed.

“Let’s get some food,” Eddie said, but didn’t move.

“Can’t.” He sighed. “Gonna take Grace and her family for dinner. You come.”

a reddie fic

Chapter 6 Summary:

When he got to the corner of the street, Richie pulled out his phone and the card. He punched in Bill’s number so he could text him.

Richie 5:11 pm: Hey Bill, Richie here. You need me and Eddie to bring anything for dinner?

He paused looking down at the message. Me and Eddie. It just looked so natural. He jumped a little when his phone went off with a text from Eddie.

Eddie 5:12 pm: Ok. I get off around six, but you can sit in the back with me. Richie 5:13 pm: Ok.

He repocketed his phone and the card. He walked down the road taking deep breaths. He found it easier to breathe with each step he put between him and his childhood home.

a reddie fic

Chapter Four Summary:

The day was awful. Some of Richie’s cousins went to visit his mom, so he had to stick around the house, and it didn’t seem to matter where he went, he was in the way or an annoyance in general. Finally he gave up and went out front. He pulled his phone out and scrolled through Facebook wondering how much longer he would have to wait before he could call an Uber without it being rude.

His phone dinged with a message from Eddie nearly forty minutes later.

Eddie 5:11 pm: Hey, you doing ok?

Richie 5:11 pm: …

Richie 5:12 pm: Not really. Trying to figure out if it’s too early to go to the hotel.

Eddie 5:15 pm: Wanna get some food?

Richie 5:16 pm: Sure.

Eddie 5:17 pm: Be there in 10.

***

a reddie fic

***

Chapter 5 summary:

Richie goes to the fridge to see what there was to eat. Richie smiled. There were different fruits, vegetables, some ground turkey, bread, some lunch meat, and cheese, along with a lot of different condiments and jellies. On a good day, Richie’s own fridge had old take out boxes, cheese that is just this side of moldy, and jelly Richie couldn’t remember buying and was worried might kill him.

Richie pulled out some bread, butter, and jelly to make toast. Ray jumped up on the counter and sat staring up at Richie.

“Are you supposed to be up here?” Richie asked and Rey let out a small meow. “That’s what I thought.” Richie sighed. “Well, I won’t tell if you don’t tell.” Ray merrped and Richie laughed, scritching the cat behind his ear.

After breakfast, Richie pulled on his shoes, grabbed his phone, and the spare key so he could go for a walk through Derry. The less time he had to spend with his family, the better. It was overcast, and he groaned, hoping it wasn’t going to snow. Squelchy shoes were the last thing he wanted that day.

Eddie lived on the other side of town from where they had played together as kids and later hung out as teenagers, so he decided to walk up Main Street to see what changed, and maybe see if he could find somewhere to get coffee.

a reddie fic

Chapter 9 summary:

Richie woke up alone the next morning. Stretching, he got up, put on his glasses, and grabbed his pants to put on after he peed. He went to the kitchen and opened the fridge. He grabbed the orange juice and saw a kid in a yellow raincoat behind the door.

“Jesus! Where the fuck did you come from?” Richie yelled.

“Richie, don’t you recognize me?” The kid asked and Richie adjusted his glasses, his heart thudding hard in his chest.

“Georgie?” He whispered. “You- you can’t fucking be here. You’re fucking dead.” Georgie was Bill’s kid brother who had died when he was six years old. A drunk driver had hit him on the 4th of July in the middle of the afternoon.

“But I’m always here,” Georgie said.

“No you fucking are not!” Richie closed his eyes and opened them again.

***

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