.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

SHE'S TALKING AGAIN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

xviii. the arcade

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THEY PLAYED GAMES FOR TWO HOURS, their laughter filling the children infested building. They laughed about the jokes they said and the defeats they made against each other.

"Richie, we both know that I totally fucking crushed you in Pac-Man!" Veronica laughs as they walk away from the game, Richie slinging his hand over her shoulder.

"Not a chance, Ronnie!" He snorts, stopping in front of Street Fighter.

Street Fighter has always been Richie's favourite game. The game he was best at. No matter how hard any of the Loser's attempted to beat him at it, he was always the best.

Veronica stood in front of the game, Richie in front of her smirking. His eyes flickering down to her lips before he spoke.

"You might have beat me Pac-Man but we both know that I'll beat the shit outta' you in Street Fighter," He says, voice low. He leans down to her height and brushes hair behind her ear.

"Bring it then, Bucky Beaver," Veronica challenges, going onto her tippy toes. Richie's eyes once again glimpsing at her lips.

They could both feel the tension building between them. Only now they were both realizing how crazy they were for each other. The affect that had on one another was insane. It drove them mad.

Veronica puts her hands on his shoulders, pulling him down so he was closer. His wide eyes look into hers. Hot breath hitting her cheek, he whispers to her.

"Ronnie?" He brushes a hand against her waist, shyly.

She sighs, shakily. Her lips hitting the corner of his mouth. Veronica hadn't an idea what she was thinking. This was her best friend. Was she really going to have her first kiss today? More importantly, was it really going to be with him?

Richie, Richie Tozier? Her best friend, the boy with the coke bottle lenses and an endearing laugh. The boy she clutched onto for dear life whenever she's scared. Him? Richie Tozier? The boy she refused to admit her feelings for? Him?

Their eyes wide, electricity surging through their veins as Richie fumbles his hands on her waist and Veronica's lip quivers. She was nervous. He was nervous. They were terrified of this.

This kiss! Well, would they kiss? They were both so confused. Richie liked Veronica. Since they were only ten. Heck, he loved her! Did she really feel the same?

Veronica breathes in a shaky breath. Richie was the one to initiate things. He started the play fights, the flirting, the apprehensive hand touches. He started it all. It was her turn now.

Pushing her head forward, her lips crash against his. It happened so fast. Only for half a second. Tops. They hadn't a clue how to do this. After all, it both their first kisses.

She pulls her head back in shock, head hitting the screen of the arcade game. Richie's eyes larger than normal. They stared at each other for a moment. Mouths dropped and hands brushing their lips.

Richie looks into her eyes and a goofy smile spreads across his lips. She laughs, shaking her head before pulling his face to hers again and her presses her lips against his, firmly this time.

His hands leave her waist and into her frizzy hair. Veronica would taste the cherry slushie he had earlier in the day on his lips.

They could both feel their teeth clashing against each other's and Veronica's nose keep bumping against his glasses. But, it was so perfect to them. "Is this okay?" Richie asks between their lips worriedly. Veronica stays silent, for once, nodding her head as she pulls him down, closer to her height.

And moments later, without noticing, the bell on the door to the arcade jingles. Today was going to me more than the day they had their first kiss. It was going to be so much more.

♧

The bell jingles and in walks a unsuspecting Bill Debrough, expecting to find the Tozier boy hunched over Street Fighter.

He was right, yes. Partially. Richie was indeed hunched in front of Street Fighter. But, he wasn't alone. Well, he wasn't ramming at the buttons and swearing to himself.

Instead, he was welcomed and surprised by the sight of Veronica Mills when he walks closer. Pushed against the game. Richie with his hands in her hair and lips pressed on hers.

It was a sight. Definitely. Bill stops, feeling awkward.

'When did this even happen?' He questions in his head, scrunching up his eyebrows.

"Nic! Richie!" He says, snapping them out of their state and remembering the task at hand.

The two teens pull away, Richie wearing a smirk on his face. Veronica's lips bright red as her eyes widen before smiling shyly at Bill.

"What do you want?" Richie says, seething. A glare apparent on his face when he meets eyes with his former best guy friend.

Bill averts his eyes to the ground before stammering out, "I-It got Beverly,". He looks at both of them quickly.

Veronica's breath catches in her throat as her mouth falls open for a moment, walking closer to Bill and grabbing his arm. "You're lying...".

Richie feels a pang of jealously upon seeing his best friend whom her was JUST kissing put her hands on the boy who had punched him in the face. "What're you talking about!" Richie bursts, glaring at the exchange in confusion, hands being thrown up in the air.

"IT! Richie, Bev got taken," Bill responds, urgency in his voice as Veronica turns to look at Richie with pleading eyes, worry evident in her face. Upon realization, his glare quickly softens, lips parting to say something - he's cut off.

"Let's go." Veronica mumbles, words harsh as she begins to start for the door. Snapping her scrunchie off her wrist before pulling it off and tie her frizzy blonde hair up. Muttering swears underneath her breath and shaking her head and hands trembling.

And the Losers knew, Richie and Bill worried exchanging looks. When Veronica Mills didn't have her scrunchie on and suddenly, she pulled it off her wrist. She was about to go batshit crazy on someone.

And in this case, it was that damn clown.