eight

                                    

                                          
Beverly held Richie's hand as they walked in and out of several stores in the lesser populated section of Derry. Usually the stores here are managed by forty year olds who are carrying out their parents' 'legacy'. Although, some of the few shops here are meaningful.
                          
The couple were finding and buying gifts for their friends for Christmas- although Richie was fairly poor and could only buy the Losers each some type of candy or a snow globe - and Beverly helped paying for him. That's what couples do, yes? 
                          
Beverly got the Losers each a few valuable things; for Bill she bought him two baseballs and a mitten, for Stan a small bird book, for Mike new headphones and a The Rolling Stones poster, she bought Ben two blank journals for anything he'd want to write, and for Eddie she got him a black My Chemical Romance beanie (she didn't know what he likes anymore). And being the kind friend she was, although she did get a bit snappy and assertive towards him, Beverly got him a new sweater. 
                          
Of course, she said her Christmas present for Richie was a surprise...
                          
•
                          
"And then I said, 'I'm sorry I spilled lemon juice in your eyes!' and then he was like, 'Get out of my face before I kill you, Tozier!'" Richie laughed as he explained one of the few times where he got revenge from Henry Bowers. 
                          
Bev chuckled at him. "Well that's just cruel."
                          
"He deserves it, Bev! You know how much of a jackass he is."
                          
"All the time..."
                          
"Everyday." Richie took a swig from his hot cocoa. The couple just got done Christmas shopping and were pretty cold from the snowy weather. "So, you doing anything after Christmas?"
                          
"Eh, just going to my aunt's a week before school starts up again."
                          
Richie grinned. "Well how about that." He said to himself. 
                          
"How about what?"
                          
"Er, how about that, uh- shit, Bev. I forgot what I was gonna say." Richie chuckled softly and stared at her. 
                          
Beverly rolled her eyes playfully. "Anyway, we're going to Michigan after Bill's sleepover. I won't be gone too long."
                          
"I'll miss you, Bevvie." 
                          
"It's only in four days, weirdo. Don't start with that 'I'll miss you' shit already."
                          
"But still." Richie shrugged. "So, I was thinking..."
                          
"Yeah?" Bev perked up. 
                          
"Well, I wasn't really thinking. I was just- well, there's like, something I think you should know." 
                          
"What is it?" 
                          
"Uh," Richie shifted nervously in his seat. "Just, don't get mad at Eddie."
                          
"What's up with Eddie?" Bev quirked her eyebrow. "Rich, what's going on?"
                          
"Whooo, okay, um...so, basically, ah shit. Look at the time!" 
                          
Bev looked at her wrist watch. "It's only seve-"
                          
"I should be leaving-"
                          
"Richie!" He froze. "What the hell were you going to say?!" 
                          
Richie sat back down and fiddled with his gloved fingers. He avoided staring at Beverly. "Er- heeee said that, uh, he was glad to see you at the sleepover!" Richie lied.
                          
"That's it?"
                          
"Yep!" 
                          
Bev knew he must be lying. Besides, the random twitching of his fingers said it all. Apparently she might be mad at Eddie about something. She just didn't know what...