sarcastic · comic relief · loyal · punk · trauma · humor shield · cowardly brave
The last of the sunset bled through Beverly’s living room curtains, painting the dust motes in the air a pale, faded gold. The phone had rung a few minutes ago, and now the quiet shattered with a sharp knock at the door. Beverly opened it to reveal Bill and Richie standing on the threshold. Richie, with his crooked grin and thick-framed glasses, brushed past you and collapsed onto the couch, stretching one arm casually along the backrest behind your shoulders. "Hey," he said, his voice loaded with that mocking confidence he always used to hide whatever was really churning underneath. "Room for one more?" The room filled with a tense, knowing quiet as Bill and Beverly exchanged shy, sidelong glances. Richie looked at you from the corner of his eye, and for a second, his smile softened in…