Lover | Richie Tozier

Chapter 61.

Elle
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"You haven't seen Richie for a week? The whole Thanksgiving break you didn't even see him once?" I brought my fist by my side and gained a strong awareness of the stinging arising in my throat. My voice fell in response to the intrusive anxiety. "That's a whole 7 days, Stan."

Stan's curls tossed towards the ground, dropping his head with dejection. His eyes paced doubtfully across the floor. "I know, I know it is. But... then again, I don't know. I don't know where he is or what he's doing. I haven't heard a single thing from him," he surrendered.

Ignoring the worry washing over me in crashing waves, I looked over to Bill in strong hopes that his usual leadership would provide me with different answers.

Bill lifted his shoulders, moving his head side to side. "N-No. I haven't heard anything, e-either. Eh-Eddie?"

Eddie's entire posture flinched nervously when heads turned in his direction. His lips pressed together, fragile eyes moving with caution. "No. Last time I saw him was the night before break started. The night that Beverly came to your house," he lightly articulated, knowing that he had hit a soft spot.

Beverly. Beverly came looking for Richie. Beverly took Richie away. God... she didn't... did she? "I'll be right back," I vaguely assured, sending myself to my feet with force.

My knuckles pressed against the lunch table, turning them ivory while I let my eyes cast over the group of boys in front of me until one of them nodded in approval.

The two boys beside him exchanged unsure looks, but Eddie slowly tipped his chin downwards and then lifted it again. It wasn't really a nod, but more like a plea that I wouldn't come back with a busted lip. He knew well enough where I was going. I sent him an assuring smile, turning my back before Stan and Bill could catch it.

A ponytail caressed down the back of the girl who was locking blue eyes with the window in front of her, staring out of it vacantly while disregarding the conversations happening around her. My teeth gritted, taking in an audible breath.

"Beverly."

She rotated in her seat -- the same one that I used to sit across from -- and when she realized who it was that called out her name, it was hard to miss the shock registering on her face.

"Y-Yeah?" She cleared her throat soberly in an effort to collect herself. Keep it together, Marsh. "I mean, what? Need something, Lowe?"

My arms crossed over my chest, feeling so incredibly off by speaking with her. Feelings of familiarity felt so unfamiliar all at once. She was my entire past in one person: the only one who held a piece of me before everybody else had their share. Her freckles were a galaxy that we used to dance through together no matter what position the sun was in.

But the sun wasn't shining for us anymore, so did it really matter?

"Richie's practically missing. Nobody's seen him for a week." I bit down on the inside of my cheek, shifting myself from side to side while I tried to fight back a disdainful glare. It seemed that even she didn't recognize me being so angry. I didn't recognize myself.

For a moment, her eyebrows pulled together in confusion. "Okay..." she finally drew out. "What am I supposed to do about that?"

My jaw tightened. She focused in on my face with a condescending but curious glance as she waited for me to reply. Kind of like she was challenging me.

"You were the last person that I saw him with, Bev. You came to my window and asked for him, and even though I was hesitant, I let you take him. Now he hasn't been heard from for 7 days and didn't even bother showing up to school today."