"Hey Rich?" Bev asked for the second time that night.
"Yeah?"
"I have to be at the school at three tomorrow… Do you think you could take me? I won't be there too long so you could stay if you wanted." He made a face, rolling over onto his stomach and looking at her.
"For what?"
"You know the fundraiser they're having in January?" She asked. His breath caught in his throat and she raised her eyebrows.
Bev is the girl. Of all people.
"You okay?" She asked.
"Um, yeah I can take you. I have to be there then too anyways." He told her, swallowing harshly. She made a face.
"Why are you… Oh! Are you auditioning too?" She asked, grinning at him toothily. He bit his lip and nodded. "Just to play piano or guitar?" She asked.
"Piano," He hesitated, "and sing." Her eyes widened.
"No way!" She slapped his shoulder lightly. "That's awesome! I didn't know you could sing!"
"Only ma, dad and Mrs. Gandy know… and now you, I guess?"
"What song are you singing? I'm singing What's Up." She said excitedly.
"That's for me to know and you to find out, my dear." He grinned back at her as she pouted.
"No fair! I told you what I was singing!"
"Okay but honestly what other song would you sing?"
"Fair point."
Saturday, December 2, 2017
"I see you two figured out who the other was." Mrs. Gandy said, wiggling her eyebrows as the two walked to the front of the school, Richie's arm draped over Bev's shoulders.
"Yes ma'am we did." Richie said, grinning at her. "She stayed over last night and asked me to give her a ride here, so I kind of had to tell her." She chuckled, then raised an eyebrow.
"You two are together?" She asked, confused. Richie choked on a laugh and Bev giggled, shaking her head.
"We're best friends. I'm dating Ben Hanscom."
"Ben Handsome you mean?" Richie joked. She snorted but nodded.
"Did you tell each other what songs you're singing?" She asked, leading them to the choir room. Richie snorted.
"I didn't tell her what I was singing but she told me what she was. I figured she'd sing it though, so." He shrugged and Bev pinched his side. Mrs. Gandy snorted.
"Who's up first?" She asked as they walked into the choir room, where there were three seniors and two other teachers that neither of them had ever had-or seen for that matter, were sitting in chairs.
"Ladies first." Richie said immediately, giving Bev a giant grin. She snorted.
"Got stage fright, Tozier?" She teased.
You could say that.
"Psh, no. Always save the best for last." He winked at her and she smacked him. He snickered and sat down in one of the chairs. He was handed a guitar and he raised an eyebrow at Bev, who'd handed it to him.
"What? I want you to play it for me." She said, as if it was obvious.
"Oh." He nodded. He started playing when she gave him the signal.
"Wow, Marsh, I didn't know you could sing." One of the seniors said as they clapped. She just shrugged.
"You ready to sing, Richie?" Mrs. Gandy asked. He bit his lip and nodded, standing up. Bev high fived him on his way to the piano. He waited a couple seconds, for everyone to stop talking and began playing.
" We'll do it all, everything, on our own… "
Bev's eyes nearly bugged out of her head the entire time. She knew he could play piano after yesterday, but singing? She never would've thought. She's heard him sing- well, scream along to a song at the top of his lungs- before, but never this well. She teared up, too. The way he was singing it, like it was everything he was feeling, just got to her. A lone tear fell at the end, and he looked up nervously, to see them all- even Mrs. Gandy- staring at him in shock.
"Um… Is the staring at me a good thing or was I that bad?" He asked.
"Dude. You've got red crying." One of the other seniors said, and he looked at Bev, who was red eyed. He blinked, confused. Then he glared at him for calling her red. "What? It was good? Didn't think you had it in you, kid."
"I'm a year younger than you." Richie retorted. Bev snorted.
"I think we can all agree that we have two more performers for the fundraiser, yeah?" They all agreed and Mrs. Gandy sent the two on their way. Bev had yet to say anything to him, and that made him nervous. They were getting in the truck when someone yelled,
"You're a faggot, Tozier!" He just rolled his eyes and slammed the door shut.
"It takes one to know one." He muttered. Bev choked on her spit and he looked over at her, realizing he'd said it loud enough for her to hear.
"Richie." She questioned, though it was more of a statement. "Are you… Are you gay?" She asked. He shook his head.
"No."
"Oh." She almost looked a little sad at the fact and he made a face when she looked away.
"I'm bi though." Her gaze snapped back towards him and he stared out the windshield, gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.
Oh fuck, I just came out to someone. Holy actual shit she's probably gonna hate me because I didn't tell her and because I've been lying to them all about me being straight and- Oh my God.
"Richie? Are you okay?" She asked softly, putting a hand on his arm.
"You're the only one that knows." He choked out. "The only one I've told."
"Oh, Rich. Come here." She pulled him by the arms gently and wrapped hers around him, hugging him tightly.
"Please don't hate me." He whispered.
"Why would I hate you? I could never."
"Because I lied to you." He sniffed
"How did you lie to me? I wouldn't count that as a lie, Rich."
"I've been telling you I'm straight all this time and I… I'm not . I'm sorry."
"Don't be, babes." She said, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not mad at you. You shouldn't feel like you're lying to me, or the others. They'd understand, and they'll still love you. It wouldn't matter if you were in love with an alpaca, they'd still love you."
"They'd expect that from me." He said and she laughed.
"They would. They'd probably just laugh and say okay, Richie. " He chuckled quietly, and wiped at his eyes.
"Yeah, they would."
Richie thought the rest of the day was gonna go by smoothly, and it had, for the most part. He and Bev hung out at his house for hours, went and got dinner, and he dropped her off at home. He made cookies with his mom and joked around with her, feeling the best he had in months, when there was a knock on the door.
"Can you get it?" She asked him. "I've gotta check on the cookies." He nodded and jogged to the door. He opened, and nearly screamed. Bev was standing there, soaking wet from the rain- that he's just now noticed- half naked, using her arms to cover up her bare chest.
"What the fuck?" He exclaimed. "Oh my God, come in, come in ." He gently pulled her inside and shut the door using his foot, wrapping her in his arms. "Mom!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Jesus, Richie, what is- holy fu- Wentworth! Get your ass down here right now! And bring some towels!" She yelled. She rushed into the living room and grabbed a blanket, wrapping it around Bev's shivering form, and covering her up. She rubbed up and down her shoulders.
"What's going on?" Went asked, arms full of towels. His eyes widened at the sight of his wife and son huddled around Bev. The side of her face was black and blue and she had blood dripping from her lips. His eyes narrowed and his blood boiled, knowing exactly who did it. He rushed and gave Maggie the towels and went in the bathroom to get the first aid kit. From the, "Who the fuck did this to you," he heard, he assumed the two finally saw her face. He returned to the living room, every light on, to Richie sitting on the couch next to her, and she hadn't said a word. He handed Maggie the kit and sat next to her- across from Richie- on the coffee table. She wouldn't let go of Richie, so it was hard for Maggie to get a good look at her injuries, but she did as best she could.
"Bev, what happened?' Went asked softly.
"Dad…" Richie shook his head.
"I need to know, Rich. If it was that sorry fuck-"
"He t-t-tried t-to… t-to- he almost- he pulled down his- he h-hit m-me and ki-kicked me." She barely managed to get out. "H-he d-destroyed all-all my clothes. B-burned them because I-I smoke. Tore m-my shirt o-off m-me after I sh-showered." She squeezed Richie's arm's tighter and let out a choked sob.
"Did he… did he do anything else?" Maggie asked softly. Bev shook her head.
"He- he tried to but I-I r-ran before he co-could."
"Good. C'mon, let's get you a warm shower- or would you rather have a bath?" Maggie asked.
"Shower. Want to hu-hurry and get b-back to R-Richie."
"Alright, Billiam." Richie joked softly and she let out a short, breathy laugh. She slowly let him go, but latched onto Maggie as she led her up the stairs. Richie watched them go until they were out of his sight and he turned to his dad with tears in his eyes.
"Dad-"
"Don't worry, son. She's never going to see him again. Never ."
