"Do you?" Richie was closely examining the other boy's body language. Freddy fiddled with his jacket zipper as he avoided Richie's gaze. "Freddy..." Richie smirked.

"Maybe... She's really nice, and pretty!" The red haired boy looked down in shame at being cracked. Richie started to chuckle. He walked next to him and sat dow. The two were away from the group, near a tree just outside of the woods while they all took turns spinning on the roundabout, though Trevor also stayed away from the group.

"She is... I wonder if the others feel some sort of way for her. I mean, she's so charming. I'll find out, it can't be that hard." Richie stood up and started to walk towards the blonde who was laying against the swing set pole. Richie approached the relaxed male and tapped his shoulder. "Trevor, I need to talk to you in private." Richie cooed. The boy got up and followed. "I need to know," he put his hands on the quiet boy's shoulders and stared him straight in the eye. "How do you feel about (Y/n)?" Trevor stood in his spot as he looked over to girl. She was laughing as Jason spun her as fast as he could. He began to realize that he definitely felt something towards the female.

"She's... fun. She isn't like Juliet, I kind of like her." He shrugged and looked at Richie, his face was contemplative and he looked as if he was slightly disappointed. He felt a little part of him fire up as he realized he had more competition. Trevor nodded and walked back to the pole so he could relax against it. Richie automatically assumed the abnormal male likes the new girl as well. 'Then its on.' Richie smiled to himself and walked towards the group.

"Well its getting really late guys we should head back to our houses." Richie announced to the group. They all agreed and got up. (Y/n) giggled as she tried to regain her balance. Juliet, who was also on the roundabout was holding onto the bars for support. She had a small smile om her face. "Do you ladies need any escorts home?"

"Sure!" (Y/n) giggled.

"I'll take one too-" Juliet tried to agree but was cut off when she was pushed to the side.

"(Y/n), you said yes? Come on let's go!" Richie skipped off as the girl looked back in confusion. Juliet stood there in complete sorrow. She turned to see the others guys gone.

"..." She decided to just leave and go home herself. She felt even more hurt that not even Freddy walked her home.

-

"Thanks Richie..." (Y/n) was standing at her door as Richie stood a few feet away from her first step. (Y/n) waved and knocked on the door for her mother to come open it.

"Anytime doll~" he smirked and started to walk away when the door opened and the girls mother yelled to the boy. The mother greeted her daughter until she saw the male walking away. (Y/n) hadn't formally told her who was in the group, so this was the first time she had seen any of them.

"HEY! Who're you?" She yelled out to the boy. Richie turned around and smiled at the mother.

"Why, hello there! My name is Richie, Richie Linel. You must be (Y/n)'s sister." The boy walked up to the door and bowed. The younger female rolled her eyes at the flattery.

"Sister..." The mother smiled and laughed a little. "Aren't you the charmer. Then, hello Richie. I'm (Y/n)'s mother." She looked down to the boy as if she was flustered with embarrassment. He chuckled and took her hand. (Y/n) stared in slight disgust at Richie's tone. She hoped he was acting like this to make her laugh and not actually like this... though it wouldn't surprise her.

"Well its a pleasure to meet you, Mrs.(L/n)" he kissed her hand and (Y/n)'s eyes rolled so high that they went to another galaxy.

"Oh! Haha, dont call me that~ thats my late husbands name." The whole scene dropped and caused (Y/n) to get smacked in the face with the sadness stick. Her eyes immediately got watery as she couldn't believe her mother had just said that without warning.

"Ok thats enough. See ya Monday, Richie! Come on, mom." The sorrowed girl shoved her mother in the house. She yelled an apology to the boy before slamming the door.

"(Y/n)!" The mother yelled up to her daughter. She was hiding her face as she walked to the stairs. She paused to listen. "Its time to get over it, its been so long-" The younger female shot her a glare and ran up the stairs, slamming the door once she was in her room.

Richie stood outside in shock as he stared at the door, he was frozen in his position. "I... Didnt know.." He turned around and slowly walked home. He took out his phone and decided to listen to his music. He opened up his contacts and held his finger over the call button under (Y/n)'s name. "I should be able help her.... That was rough. Hopefully I can get to her before the others... I mean, I AM the only one who knows~" an evil smile made its way onto the blue haired boy's face, though something told him he shouldn't be motivated by the thought of manipulating her. She was in a very vulnerable state. He started to skip his way home at the thought of calling her later. He went into his house after he arrived, but he was beginning to listen to himself. He decided that he would call in the morning.

I slowly came to consciousness when I heard my mother knocking on my door. I pretended to be asleep, as didn't want to start crying again. 'How stupid does my mother have to be..?' I didnt even want to dwell on the matter, it would only make me sad. I looked at my phone to see a message from Juliet in the group chat, just a few minutes ago.

Is anyone up? I need dome advice...

some*

I decided to be nice and try to see what's up with her.

All ears.

oh thank you (Y/n). Well, my mother says that I may need therapy and I dont know what she means... I don't think I need it, I'm fine.

She sent a picture of a forced smile and has dark circles under her eyes. I thought she would be a little better after yesterday, or at least get some sleep... I suppose there is something wrong.

...

I didn't know how to respond.

...

Richie is online-

Oh the ladies~ Hey (Y/n) I need to call you. So promise me you'll answer?

I had to think, 'why me?'

hmm... Ok?

perfect! Adios~

Richie is offline-

I...

sorry Jully...

...

...see you tomorrow.

You is offline-

As soon as I logged off, my phone started to buzz. I allowed the call and Richie sang through the phone.

"(Y/N)~" He laughed, I felt like I could hear a hint of something other emotion in his laughter. Maybe guilt?

"Richie..." I nervously laughed back. He was quite loud for it being morning. 'Must be a morning person.' I quickly thought.

"So, I needed to ask you something." I could practically here him shuffling around his room.

"Shoot."

"Ok so, its... about a touchy subject but....... Your dad..." My eyes widened at the mention. I had wished he had forgotten.

"Uh- what- hum-" I was tripping up, my throat was beginning to close. I hated how upset the mention of him made react.

"I'm so sorry if this is really sensitive! I just want to be able to help you, or even comfort you."

"Its... Its ok. He died not too long ago. Two years before we moved. I was so distraught that I couldn't go to school. People started to worry too. I was pretty well known. A lot of my friends even sent letters to my house."

"I see... I'm so sorry (Y/n)."

"Its... Ok. My mom was worse. She didnt leave the house for three months. I had to go to the post office to pay the bills and get groceries. Of course, I avoided school more. My teachers were so worried, they called my house almost everyday. Somehow a rumor that I had died was being spread around my town. I didnt really care seeing as I practically was...inside." There was a long pause. I could hear my heart pounding as it was the first time I hadn't burst into tears telling that story.

"Jeez... I'm really sorry, (Y/n). I'm always here, and I mean, if you want I could tell you my baggage. We'll be even!" He chuckled, though it held a lot of sorrow.

"Sure, go ahead, share. I'm ready to listen." I figured that if he had a sad one, it would take my mind off of my own train wreck of a life.

This made Richie so happy. His heart started to pound at the fact that she was listening. "Well... See when I was little, my family was really poor. We had to live off of bread and lettuce. I couldn't complain, a lettuce sandwich became my favorite snack, but my brothers were so annoying. They always complained about the living space. They even went as far to yell at my father for not being able to work after he broke his leg. My mom was a maid and my dad was a doctor. One day though, I went out to a job interview, they said I was perfect. I then worked enough to get money for the house. My brothers got jobs as well and we finally were able to buy a better house. Eventually I kicked my brothers out of the house because of the way they were. So now its me and My parents. I stay to support them as much as I can."

"Oh jeez... I'm sorry you started that way. Im really glad you were able to climb back up though. It must of been hard..."

"Yeah... But I did it. Sorry I dont mean to sound like I'm bragging."

"Nah, you're good. Listen, thanks for lending an ear. It kinda helped to have another person listen to me. I gotta get up for the day but I'll talk to ya later."

"Oh! No problem (Y/n). I'm always here to listen. Talk to you later!" He hung up and I looked at the time. '9:40am'

"Jeez..." I sighed and eventually got up to face my mother. I apologized for what I had said and we talked it out for the most part. We ate brunch and decided it was a day to chill.

-

"Well, I definitely am getting ahead of the others..." Richie smiled to himself. He closed his eyes for a moment to think about the day they had yesterday.

_________________________________