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They entered the fair, all seven of them.
Bev was already planning to buy enough cotton candy to fill their small kitchen. Stan had a hold of Richie’s hand, stopping him from just rushing over to the games. Eddie was on the verge of a rant about the uncleanliness of fairgrounds, with Richie turning to mock his words every so often, which only made the situation worst. Ben and Mike were in their own little bubble next to them, talking quietly, heads together…and Bill was following on behind them.
It was an important night tonight.
He was going to ask them all the big question…maybe in one of those big carriages in a Ferris Wheel, right when it reached the top, like in a romance novel.
If someone had told him five years ago, when they were all kids, when they’d all just come together, that one day he would fall in love with them all, he would never have believed them. After all that they went through, this was still the craziest path that they’d gone through.
He was reasonably sure that they all felt the same, but actually asking the question was stressful.
It needed to be perfect.
He wouldn’t accept any less.
“You’re quiet.” Mike pointed out, showing up by his side suddenly and making him jump a little, “What’s wrong?”
Bill let out a slightly strangled laugh, “N-N-Nothing r-really.” He answered quickly, cursing when his stutter gave him away a little, Mike looking at him thoughtfully.
“I know you.” He said, “I know when something is bothering you Bill.”
“It’s r-r-really nothing.” Bill tried again, “I-I just have…plans. For t-t-tonight.”
They had all come to a halt in front of a stall, where Richie was working his way through the biggest cotton candy Bill had ever seen, Stan looking weary beside him, but clearly deciding that this was not a battle he was going to win.
“Oh?” Mike looked curious now, “What kind of plans?”
“You’ll see.” Bill looked away, only to come face-to-face with Bev, who had her own cotton candy in her hands.
“Plans?” She smirked, “Sounds serious.”
Bill glared at her, hating that knowing look in her eyes, and wishing that the ground would swallow him up. Thankfully, before she could enquire further, Ben was turning back to then, clearing his throat to catch their attention.
“Richie wants to double check that we’re all going on the Ferris Wheel.” He winced, hearing a bit of a rant going on behind them, “Eddie wants to point out that there have been reports about Ferris Wheels falling apart because of poor screws and rust.”
“It’s true!”
“Maybe we should check out the booths and everything before that?” Ben ventured, “Maybe we can get him to calm down before then.”
“Never going to happen!” Richie joined them, pulling Eddie over, “Eds here has made a solemn vow to not step foot on that Ferris Wheel.”
Eddie glared at him, “Don’t call me Eds!” He then looked over at Bill, who hadn't quite managed to hide his disappointment in time. His best friend stared at him for a moment, before sighing, “Fine! But at the slightest shake, I will hold it over all your heads for the rest of our lives.”
“Let’s hope the Ferris Wheel kills us then.” Bev teased, jumping out of reach as Eddie squawked in displeasure.
Bill sighed in relief.
It was all still going according to plan.
....
“What’s going on Bill?” Stan asked as they reached the bumper cars, Bill avoiding looking the other teen in the eyes.
“W-what do you mean?”
“This was your idea, this fairground.” Stan recounted the facts of the day, ignoring how Richie joined the queue for the cars, pulling Bev with him, the pair of them eagerly making bets about who could knock who the most, “But you’ve barely spoken to any of us, and you’ve been stuttering again. What’s going on? And don’t lie to me.”
“I d-don't think that’s p-possible.” Bill tried to play it off, but there was a realisation sinking in that he might not get the chance to ask them all out tonight, not if Eddie’s paranoia about the Ferris Wheel took over.
Without it, he didn’t know what he would do.
“Bill.” Stan just stared at him, and Bill felt bare in front of him.
“I...I want to ask you all something.” Bill said as slowly as he could, “But I wanted to do in on the F-Ferris Wheel.”
“Oh?”
Bill nodded, as Stan hummed thoughtfully, saying nothing else as they turned their attention to Richie and Bev’s little contest.
They had churros, Bill laughing as Richie ended up with chocolate all over his face.
Eddie made a show of avoiding the various clowns that were around the fair, giving some of them such vicious looks that many of them didn’t dare go over.
“Who wants me to win them a stuffed animal?!” Richie cried out, as Mike chuckled at him.
“You’ve never managed it before.” He pointed out, “Besides, we all know those games are rigged.”
Bev pouted, “I’d like a stuffed animal.” She took a hold of Richie’s arm, swinging it a little, “I have faith in Richie, I bet he could manage it.”
“Yeah? I mean, yeah! Obviously!”
Mike shook his head, but they headed over to the booth anyway, where the man instructed Richie that he had to knock three of the cans fully off of the shelf with the ball.
“Easy.” Richie scoffed, watching as Mike, Ben and Bill both decided to try as well, neither of them wanting to make Bev disappointed, “Which one are ya after doll?”
“The turtle!”
Keeping up the New York gangster accent, Richie winked obnoxiously at her, “You got it sweet cheeks.”
Unsurprisingly, he failed, but he saw the funny side in it when Bill and Mike didn’t manage it either.
“You would have thought our rock wars would have prepared you all better.” Ben chuckled, letting the ball fly as the entire stack of cans fell over. The owner of the booth looked a bit annoyed, but handed the turtle over to Ben, who then gave it to Bev.
“Thanks Ben.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, “I knew I could rely on you.”
“He is the reliable one.” Stan chuckled, ignoring how Richie whined about wanting the pink whale, “Nice arm Ben.”
“T-thanks.”
It was getting close to sundown.
It was now or never.
Bill cleared his throat, feeling nervous again. His hands were sweating as he rubbed them on his jeans. There was a trembling in his voice as he attempted to speak, stopping and trying again.
“Bill?” Stan was the first to notice, which wasn’t a surprise, the others all turning to him, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Bill reassured him, keeping his voice as steady as possible, “Are you up for a Ferris Wheel ride?” His eyes lingered on Eddie, who rolled his eyes.
“Alright...and I won’t say anything if it shakes, but all bets are off if it falls apart!”
“Just think of the view though! What a lovely last sight.” Richie smirked, “Next to my gorgeous face of course.”
“Beep Beep Richie.”
They headed to the Ferris Wheel line, seeing the large compartments that they would all easily fit into, something that Bill was grateful for. They entered the carriage, sitting still as it slowly moved up, swaying a little in the wind.
As they got higher, Bill felt like he was sweating.
He could do this.
He’d been thinking about this for weeks.
This was the perfect moment.
But the dread was still heavy in his soul, and he couldn’t help but wonder if this would shatter their friendship forever.
He could hear Ben pointing out some of the old buildings in the distance and what they used to be, with Mike chiming in every so often.
Nausea was settling in Bill’s stomach...he felt like he couldn’t even move.
“Bill?” He felt Bev’s hand on his cheek, “Bill, what’s wrong?”
“I-I- “
“Breathe Bill.” Stan whispered, “Can you open your eyes and look at us?”
Bill did, seeing that they were all staring at him, “We...I love you all.” He confessed, “All of you, at d-d-different times but...since that summer, I c-c-couldn’t imagine life without any of you in it. You’re the one for me, you’re the loves of m-m-my life, my b-b-best friends, my soulmates.” He took a deep breath, “I want us...all to be together.”
Silence.
Mike was the first to lean forwards, taking Bill’s hand into his own, “I don’t think I could imagine life without any of you either.” He admitted, Stan nodded slowly.
“We’re Losers, right? We stick together.”
Bill looked at the others.
Bev nodded softly, even if she did look a little unsure, “You’re the only boys that never said anything about those rumours when I was a kid. I think all of you have been there for me.” She whispered, looking over at Ben.
“Stan’s right.” Ben’s voice was a little unsure, “We’re Losers and Losers stick together. I-I think we should try, right?”
They then all looked at the final two.
Richie looked pale.
“Richie? Are you okay?”
“...I’m gay.” He slapped his hand over his mouth, as though unable to believe that he had just said that.
“Is that...we’re literally talking about ALL being together.” Eddie rolled his eyes, “I knew all those jokes about the girls and my Mom were bullshit.”
“Me and Mrs K- “
“- Richie.” Bill interrupted gently, “I know this is a lot, for both of you, but- “
“- Yes.” “Yeah.” They answered in unison, glancing at each other, before Richie flushed red and looked away.
“It’ll probably take all of you to handle my hotness anyway.”
“Beep Beep Richie.”
The Ferris Wheel was near the bottom now and Bill couldn’t take his eyes off them.
His partners.
Lovers and Losers