Suck It Up (Mike Hanlon x Reader Fanfiction)

Chapter 26 (Only Kids)

(Y/n's pov)

I poke at my mash potatoes with my plastic spork the school has provided us. The Losers Club table is silent expect for the chewing since someone is absent from the table and school in general.

"Where the fuck is he?" I finally say and put down the piece of plastic. I look around at my friends to see them staring at me.

"Richie's dad told me that he had to stay home. He didn't tell me why," Eddie spoke up. I sigh deeply and push the tray away from me.

"I'm over m-mashed potatoes and meatloaf, to-too, (Y/n)," Bill agrees and pushes his tray away from him. Mike nods softly and does the same, along with Stanley.

We all look to Eddie who has his brown paper bag that's stuffed with proteins and nutrients. He hands all of us a slice of his orange and we feast on that instead.

I look into the mirror of my bedroom and brush my hair, humming. It was that night and I just got home from dinner with my father's friend and work partner, John Bulton. They had me meet their son, Richard, who was super fucking boring. I caught myself almost falling asleep about five times.

I hear a tap at my window and smile wide before fixing my hair quickly. I get up and quickly compose myself.

I open my window, expecting it to be my boyfriend, but no. It's Eddie throwing pebbles at my window.

"What is it?" I ask slightly worried. I know it has to be serious if Eddie snuck out and was getting me.

"It's Richie. Come quickly and I'll explain," Eddie whisper-shouts and I nod. I quickly shove pillows under my covers to make it seem like I'm sleeping there and turn off the lights before slipping on my shoes. I haven't changed out of the dress that I wore to dinner and I didn't really care to change out of it now.

I climb out of my window and shut it, but not fully closed. I climb down to the ground where I'm greeted by Eddie shoving my bike in my hands.

"Come on. Quick," he urges and jumps on his bike, peddling quickly down the stairs. "Oh shit," I mumble and chase after him.

"What the fuck happened?" I ask as I pedal fast behind Eddie. "I called Richie's house today and his father said he was out God knows where, but I know a place he would go," he says and turns onto a dirt road, leading to the quarry.

We drop the bikes once we get to the long cliff, seeing Richie look over into the water. Eddie and I jog up to him.

Eddie puts a hand on Richie's shoulder who quickly wipes away the tears on his face. He readjusts his glasses and doesn't look at us.

"What the fuck, Richie," I breath out and wrap my arms around him. This is when he broke. Richie started sobbing into my shoulder and shake as Eddie wrapped his arms around the boy also.

It took a couple a minutes for Richie to calm down, but when he did he told us everything. We sat with our legs dangled over the cliff.

"M-my mom is a criminal and the drunk of the town now," Richie said softly. "My dad is trying to deal with me and her at the same time, but he can't handle it."

He looked at both of us with a painful face. "I just want to be a kid again. After this summer, everything is fucked."

I stare at them for a moment before standing up. I pull off my shoes and then my socks.

Richie and Eddie watch me confused as I take off my dress and put it to the side. I look to Richie and smile softly.

"Let's feel like a kid right now," I say before jumping off the cliff. I hit the water and I feel free. Holy shit that really worked.

I reach the surface and look up at Richie and Eddie who are stripping down.

"Give me a strip tease!" I yell at them and laugh. Richie flips me off from the cliff, but grins. "Maybe Mike can for you!" he suggests and I flip him off back. "I'll give you a fucking broken bone of you don't move out of the way though!" he yells.

I grin wide and move to the side, so they can jump in. Richie goes first and then Eddie.

"This water is fucking freezing," Eddie says and shivers. "Don't be a baby, baby boy," I say which makes Eddie roll his eyes.

I lay on my back and float in the water, staring at the sky. Life can be shit, but also pretty fucking good.