ghostzier:
“hey, whoa, it’s just me,” richie says, voice uncharacteristically soft. if you’d pointed out the change to him, he would’ve laughed–– or maybe if you’d caught him at the right time, he’d have brushed you off with an easy ‘it’s eds.’ as someone who’s made something of a career out of stretching the truth in the name of exposing it, richie tozier is perhaps unsurprisingly apt at dodging his own personal truths. so much so that it’s getting harder and harder to recognize them by light of day.
“little outside of tulsa,” richie replies, squinting out at the long stretch of highway ahead. “we passed an exit for lotsee a while ago, which is funny because there was… absolutely fucking nothing to see, but.” he gestures vaguely at the passenger side window. “there’s a rest stop, and i kinda needed some stuff of the rest variety.” a little smile flickers across his features before he resumes the pretense of casualty. “couple of hours. you needed it.”
it’s just me, richie says, and eddie can feel the tension leave his shoulders immediately. breathes, in, out. slowly, steadily. “right-- sorry,” he speaks around another yawn before he’s dragging his hand down his face, wiping his eyes to try and get rid of the sleep gathered there. he is still tired - but he’s better than he was a few hours ago, that was for sure. needed that sleep, as much as they both knew it wasn’t exactly the most comfortable of things. far from it... but eddie was more used to it now after months of doing it.
“sorry, didn’t think i’d sleep for that long,” he always feels a bit guilty, sleeping for so long and giving richie nothing to do in the meanwhile. no one to talk to. he stretches with a deep inhale, exhale. “i can drive again after, if you want to sleep again,” but he’s unbuckling his seatbelt and pushing the van door open. stretching his legs out into the air to try and stop the sudden pins and needles creeping up his shins before he dares stand up properly. “you want me to grab you a monster?” he hates them, but he knows richie does not. “or some red vines? as well as actual food, obviously-- you’re not living off sugar this entire trip, rich.”