Shakily, the girl walks to the window. It had only occurred to her now how dark it had gotten outside, only furthering her fear.

When she pulls her curtain back however, she is flooded with relief.

There leans Richie, patiently waiting at her window seal. She decides to forget the previous event, not wanting to sound insane. So, with a raised eyebrow, she slides open her window and helps the boy in.

"What're you doing here?" Ivy asks, forgetting all about her current attire.

"Hopefully you," Richie jokes, smirking lightly.

Ivy blushes as she registers her current situation. Quickly, her hands tugs her fathers large shirt to cover her small frame. Her eyes narrow at the boy.

"Seriously, what are you doing here?" She huffs, turning and walking toward her bed.

She sits down and looks expectantly towards the trash mouth. Richie smiles and sits on the opposite side of the bed.

"I don't know...my parents are sorta being dicks right now, and I had no where better to go...so, I figured, why not pay my favorite girl a visit?"

Liar.

His parents were fighting, that much was true. However, he had plenty of other places he could've gone. Starting with Bill's place, but instead he came here.

Ivy raises her eyebrow.

"Just the other day you were treating me like I was actual shit, now suddenly I'm your favorite girl?" She snorts, pulling out a book and beginning to read it.

That was a bad habit she had. Ignoring people to read.

Richie, like the other day, pulls the book out of her grasp and throws it aside.

Ivy stares dumbfounded at him.

"What the hell!? I was reading that!"

"Yeah, and I was talking to you!" Richie responds, causing her to roll her eyes and lay back dramatically. "Can I stay here for the night, or not?"

Ivy grins widely, and Novocane whines.

"Sure. You're lucky I have a queen size bed. Knowing you, you'll probably take half the damn bed," She hums, pretending to not care.

Really though, her heart was thumping louder than ever.

Richie rolls his eyes and smiles.

"Nah, I'm not Eddie's mom. Now she– she would take the whole bed!"

Ivy can't help but laugh lightly.

With Richie around, it was easy to forget about nearly drowning in her bathtub. It was easy to forget a lot.

There's a few sounds down stairs, signaling that Ivy's parents were home now. Not that they'd care if they did find Richie. They'd be happy their child even had a friend.

"No reading allowed while I'm here," Richie states, pointing an accusing finger.

Ivy groans loudly, "Fine, fine. No making fun of Eddie's mom for you tonight."

Richie raises an eyebrow, "Why? Do you like Eddie?"

"No! Oh my god! What is it with you and being all Inspector Gadget lately?!" Ivy questions, rolling her eyes at his accusations.

Richie blushes.

"Just seems like you and Eddie are close lately–" he huffs.

With a teasing glint in her eye, the girl comes up from behind him and whispers lightly in his ear.

"Are you jealous, Tozier?"

His breath hitches.

Her breath is warm against his skin, and he feels goosebumps raise on his neck. With a deep blush he stands up and moves quickly away from her.

"Y-You wish!"

Ivy laughs at the boys reaction, and lays back on her side.

"No, I wish I could marry Rick Springfield."

"Who's that?"

A scream erupts from Ivy, she stares at Richie in pure disbelief.

"Ivy, así que ayúdame a Dios, cállate o yo subo a tu habitación y vuelve tu mundo al revés!" Clyde shouts from downstairs, annoyed by his child's screaming.

Translation: Ivy, so help me god, if you don't shut up, I will come into your room and turn your whole world upside down!

Ivy blushes, and Richie's eyes widen.

"Sorry, papa!" She shouts back, giggling.

"Wait, you speak Spanish– are you Mexican?!" Richie whisper shouts, afraid of the thought of facing her father.

Ivy smiles lightly and shrugs.

"Half black, half Mex."

Richie blinks, smiling at the new found information.

"That's cool."

Novocane watches as the two interact, finding interest in them.

"Yeah....anyway, I can't believe you don't know who Rick Springfield is! He's so beautiful, and dreamy, and and—"

"Yeah yeah. Shut up about him already," Richie groans, rolling his eyes.

Ivy walks towards her record player, turning on the song Jessie's Girl.

Richie watches as the girl slowly begins to sway to the music.

"Jessie is a friend..."

She dramatically walks towards the boy, who rolls his eyes in response. He'd never admit how attractive he found the girl when she was showing this side of herself to him.

"But she's watching him with those eyes, and she's loving him with that body, I just know it! .."

Richie's eyes watch as the girl dances around the room and dramatically sings along to the music. He laughs at her dorky dance moves, but soon finds himself dancing along with her.

"You know I feel so dirty when they start talking cute, I wanna tell her that I love her but the point is probably mute." 

Laughter fills the room as the two dance around and sing along. Richie's heart is filled with so much joy. More than ever. Even more than that time Eddie's mom tripped and he couldn't stop laughing for weeks.

"Where can I find a woman like that?"