(Eddie)Chapter 10- Ring,ring

The phone rings. I pick it up, fiddling with the wire. I'm surprised when I hear sobbing on the other line.

"Eddie- Richie-" Bev's voice hiccups through.

"Bev?" I question.

"Eddie-" She chokes," Richie- last night- Gordon- Hospital-" 

"What?!" I exclaim. Is Richie hurt? What happened last night?

"He's in the emergency room Eddie I-"

I hang up. I sprint out of the house, my mom calling after me. I run outside and grab my bike that sits in the front yard. And I peddle down the street, a million thoughts racing through my head.

***

I speed walk down the hall and burst through the emergency room doors. I hate hospitals. The chemical smell, the bright lights, and the constant sound of coughing. I keep myself from running, searching for a trace of Richie. And I recognize a familiar laugh. I look to my right to see Richie, his family, and the Losers tucked away in the corner of the patient quarters. I march over to them, grabbing the edge of Richie's bed.

"What the hell did you do?!" I yell at him.

"What?! I got the shit beat out of me man!" Richie exclaims.

And he looks like it. His right eye is black and blue, and his lip is busted. He smiles nonetheless.

"Were pressing charges. They could have killed you." Richie's dad claims, sounding crossed.

"The doctors said I'm fine. I can even still go to the dance! Wouldn't wanna waist that suit!" Richie tells us, grinning.

I glance over at Steph who sits on the edge of Richie's bed, her hand on his leg protectively. I have a feeling she had a role in this. But I might have too.

***

We hang around the emergency room all morning, even though we were warned multiple times to leave because we were a fire hazard. We didn't listen. We all stayed until the doctor came with Richie's release paperwork. His parents start filling it out when Stan pulls me aside.

"What the hell happened last night?" He whispers.

"I don't know. I mean, Richie and I talked underneath the stands. He made some jokes, I left, he said he was getting popcorn, and he never showed up." I tell him.

"They said they found him out by the bus barn. He definitely was not getting popcorn, Eddie." Stan says.

We join back in the group when Richie's parents come back. We tell Richie bye and leave together as a group. We stop outside, all grouped together.

"That was a close one." Mike comments.

"Yeah, I didn't think we had to worry as much since Henry left but I guess someone had to replace him," Ben says.

"God I h-hate this sh-shit town." Bill sighs.

"Same." Stan agrees.

"Are we gonna do something about this?" Bev questions, looking around at us.

"I'm with Bev, we can't let them get away with this." I chime in. They turn to me.

"No, we are not starting a war with these guys," Mike tells us, putting his arms out.

"I-It's too late f-for that," Bill says.

"Tonight, they'll be there. Mike, aren't the Bower's old chickens still there?" Bev asks.

"Yes, but were not-"

"Get in my car, and grab some boxes from the dumpster. We'll tape them up and poke holes on the way. We're doing this tonight. If they want a war they'll get a war." Bev proclaims, putting a hand in. 

I slap a hand in. Bill puts a hand in. Then Ben. And then Stan. We all look at Mike who stands back, arms crossed.

"Mike, common," I tell him.

He rolls his eyes, putting a hand in," Fine, but if we get caught-"

"It'll be fine," Ben reassures him.

"For Richie," Bill says.

"For Richie." We all say, breaking are hands apart.

***

I slick my hair back with gel, looking at myself in the mirror. I had to take a shower after the wild chicken chase we had this afternoon. But now it's time for Bev's sinister plan to come together. They've stashed fifteen live chickens in the back of the car, and Bill and Stan are driving it to the dance tonight. And once the dance starts Bev and Ben are gonna sneak out and break into Bower's Gang's cars and let them loose to wreak havoc.

"Eddie Bear, your dates here!" My mom calls me from downstairs.

I straighten my tie and make my way down the stairs. My mom and Betty stand in the entranceway. Betty has her hair down in tight curls and wears a sparkly light blue dress. She's as beautiful as ever, but I still don't feel that tug in my stomach. She smiles up at me, looking me up and down.

"Aw, you look so cute!" My mom coos.

"Let me get a picture!"

Betty and I move to the stairs. I stand up a step from her, putting a hand on her shoulder. She places her hand on mine, and I force a smile. The camera flashes and my mom inspects the finished product.

"Alright Mom, we better start heading," I tell her.

"Oh, have fun you two!" She waves us goodbye. We were halfway out the door when she stops me," Eddie, your jacket!" I turn and she hands me Richie's green jacket. I take it, thanking her, not bothering to argue with her about wearing a jacket. I put it on for her sake, just to discover that Richie's scent has worn off.

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Hello! I'm so sorry for the last chapter I posted. I started crying while writing it(I was listening to Sam Smith too so...). But I hope this soft chapter made up for it. I'm excited about the Loser's payback plan. And I try to make Mike the mom of the group(I can relate) because he basically is. Anyways, goodbye!