"You're so beautiful...." Richie can't help but blurt the words out, and even when Ivy looks at him funny, he doesn't attempt to cover up what he said.

"What?" Ivy asks quietly, her dancing coming to a stop.

Richie smiles.

"I said you're beautiful..."

Ivy blushes lightly and nods her head. "Uh....thanks? It's been a while since you've called me that." She chuckles the words out, and goes to plop back onto her bed. Her records are still playing as she attempts to catch her breath. Richie follows her, and sits beside her. Too close, as usual. She scoots away from him, he frowns.

"Ivy, please. Why can't you just—"

"I do forgive you," the girl insists with a frown, "but I can't go around kissing other people, and then just drop them fast when you show up at my window late at night. Plus, I really care about Bill..."

Richie huffs and crosses his arms.

"Well, you can't keep kissing Bill pretending it's me! Bill is out of it and you can't keep helping him! We're just kids. We aren't supposed to be heroes."

Ivy sighs and tries to think of the correct words to respond. Richie looks at her expectantly.

"You're right, Richie. But...the thing is, I don't kiss Bill and pretend it's you. I kiss Bill, and all I can think about is him, and how sweet he smells. I genuinely like him. I'm sorry, Richie..." Her voice is soft, and she feels guilty as she watches Richie frustratedly clench and unclench his fists.

She doesn't expect him to cry about it. So when he does, she doesn't know what to do.

He is sat there sniffling. Soon, that sniffling turns into soft sobs. Then, into loud sobs. Richie Tozier is crying over her, and she can't take back her words. Why? Because they're the truth. And you can't take back the truth.

"Richie, please– I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...stop crying please..." Ivy begs, pulling the boy into a hug. For some reason, Richie accepts that hug.

"I love you– I know we're kids– but, Jesus, I love you. Today I heard your name, and my hands started shaking. Please make it stop, make it stop!" He sobs, trying so desperately to keep himself together. He can't understand why, but he feels so much pain by the fact that she actually wants to kiss Bill. At the same time though, he realizes that he did the same thing to her.

What the poor boy doesn't understand yet, is that the entire reason he's so upset is because of how important she actually is to him. She is the only girl that's ever wanted him and needed him. She's the only girl that kept admiring him, even when he opened his stupid mouth. She never left. She could relate to him. The entire time, he's needed her as much as she needed him. He doesn't understand any of this though. All he knows is that it hurts so bad to think that in the future, she might be with his best friend and not him.

"How do I win you back?" He suddenly asks, causing her to shiver, "please tell me how. I'll do anything—"

"Jesus, Richie....don't you get it? You've already fucking won!" Ivy sniffles, "I love you so much, damn it! I just– I love Bill, too! Logically, everything tells me Bill is the right choice. My heart tells me otherwise, but that bitch gives bad directions! Richie, please understand that I love you and always will, but also understand that Bill deserves a chance too..."

Richie cries more and more as she keeps on talking. He isn't about to give up though.

"Please, Ivy! Bill doesn't need you like I do– I'm a fucking mess! I'm a literal piece of shit, I know–but, Jesus– I need you so much it hurts and I don't want you to pick Bill over me!"

Ivy is crying now, she hates this. She hates make decisions like this. Richie is acting like he's gonna fucking die if she says she loves Bill again, but she can't fucking help the way she feels. How can you blame her after everything? Bill was always there. From the start, he invited her everywhere and was nice. Richie was an asshole– which she loved– and he left her shattered. What the hell is she supposed to do?

"Can we please talk about this later?" She begs, trying desperately to avoid the situation.

"Only if you kiss me." Richie states, not giving up that easily. She turns to him with a look that questions his sanity. "Kiss you? Are you stupid? I can't. I won't. I need to talk to Bill first—"

"I thought you weren't dating!"

"We aren't!"

"Then WHY do you fucking need permission to kiss me?!"

"RICHIE IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT. I'm not a fucking slut who kisses people left and right! I started shit with Bill, and I will finish things before I decide to move on. Because that's what GOOD people do. THEY END THINGS THE RIGHT WAY BEFORE THEY LEAVE." She yells, angrily throwing a book at him. He dodges it, and frowns guiltily at her.

"I SAID I WAS SORRY!" He insists, walking towards her. She steps further away from him.

"SORRY DOESNT FIX WHAT YOU BROKE! HOW ARE YOU SO INCOMPETENT?! Here, let me explain it in a metaphor." She thrusts her body past him, and towards a glass sat on her night stand. Richie watches her timidly, confused by her actions. "See this glass?" She questions. Richie nods carefully.

She takes a deep breath before turning around and throwing the glass against the wall. It shatters loudly causing them both to flinch.

"What the fuck, Ivy!" Richie screams, looking between her and the broken glass. He watches as she crouches beside the shards.

"Sorry!" She says, staring at the glass. "Oh my! What's this? It isn't fixing itself? But I said sorry!"

Richie stares blankly at her, not amused by her actions. She stands away from the glass and looks back to him. "See, Richie? Even though I said sorry, it didn't fucking fix itself. That glass represents my heart. You're insane if you think I'd ever do the same to Bill. Or anyone for that matter."

Richie sighs knowingly, still taken aback by the glass smashing.

"Okay. I got it. No kisses." Richie reluctantly sighs in defeat, looking up to the girl. He decides to take a different route of words. A route more like his normal self.

"Jesus, you're so hot when you're mad..." he mumbles. Ivy can't help but laugh lightly at this. He feels relieved at the sound, glad to know he lightened the mood.

"Okay, I get it...but, be honest, do I still have a chance?" He questions.

Richie watches the girls small movements, looking for any sign of reassurance.

"Yes." She admits, walking over and pulling him into a hug. He sighs in relief, returning her hug. "Of course you still have a chance. I just...give me some time okay? I need to understand my feelings for Bill and stuff.."

Richie nods and reluctantly pulls away. He wipes at his tear stained cheeks, looking towards the clock.

1:00am.

"Can I...sleepover?"

"Yeah. But don't get any ideas, Tozier." She playfully winks, laughing and going back towards her bed. He smirks in return and follows her.

"Ah damn, I thought for sure I'd be seeing some action." He jokes.

"Maybe next time." She hums tiredly, causing Richie to smile and blush.

"Yeah, maybe.."