Stan didn't quite know how he got roped into this spur of the moment road trip, but here he was laying in the back of Richie Toziers truck, staring up at the shell that Richie had put on the back so that he could sleep in it instead of spending money on hotels. The truck was a complete mess, the back window between the bed of the truck and the 3 front seats was broken out, Richie had done that when he was mowing his lawn, hit a stone and launched it through the back window. It was a bit convenient, the boys could easily squeeze through from the front to the back and visa versa.
This road trip was supposed to be some kind of last blowout fun weekend with Richie, Eddie, Stan, Bill, Bev, and Mike. Ben was spending the summer at his aunts in Florida, Bill got an offer to go to a creative writing camp that he couldn't pass up, Bev had to work because she needed all the money she could get for an apartment, and Mike's dad refused to let him go due to the previous incident with Richie. Richie was driving Mike home from a party and both of them were very drunk, but Richie was slightly less drunk due to the fact that Mike was a lightweight. When Richie was pulling into the Hanlon's farm he turned into the driveway too early and ended up taking out some of their fence...and one of their chickens. Mike's father knew that Richie would never pay him back, so he made Richie work on the farm for the summer to pay off his debt, so understandably Mike's father didn't trust Richie to drive almost 15 hours with his son in the car.
All 3 boys were happy to get some alone time together so they could do dumb boyfriend shit without trying to hide it, but Stan was nervous due to the fact that almost no planning went into this trip. Hell, they didn't even decide on where they were going until last night. Stan almost didn't go on the trip but Eddie practically begged him to go, and he couldn't say no to him.
The boys had all decided to go to Virginia Beach, Richie wanted to go to New York City but Eddie threw a fit due to the fact that his mother told him it smelled like 'hot trash', upon hearing that Stan agreed that New York was not the place for them and they finally settled on Virginia Beach. Eddie was looking forward to seeing the ocean which he had never seen before, Richie wanted to have fun and get drunk with his boys, Stan really just wanted to relax but he didn't think he would get much of that done with Richie and Eddie. Right now they were singing Africa by Toto very loudly, and whether Stan wanted to admit it or not he thought was kind of cute.
"Stanny Boy! Why don't you join us up here?" Richie shouted over the music. Eddie looked back at Stan and smiled at him. Stan rolled his eyes but climbed through to the front and sat on the passenger side with his arm out the window.
"How excited for the beach are you?" Eddie asked looking at Stan
"I am... moderately excited" Stan told him "Just, kidding I'm really excited to go to the beach." Stan added after seeing Richie and Eddie's hurt faces.
"You better be! We're gonna be there for a week, and if you hate it it's gonna make us hate it." Richie said after he turned down the radio .
"I am actually excited, so when we get there what are we gonna do other than the beach?" Stan asked
"The aquarium, the water park, what else Rich?"
"Mount Trashmore, the park, maybe a museum." Richie added nodding.
"Mount Trashmore? That sounds fucking disgusting." Stan grimaced
"No, it's a park that used to be a dump, but there's no more garbage there so you two can relax." Richie explained knowing that they would freak out once they heard the name. They both nodded and relaxed. Richie turned up the radio and tapped the beat of the music on the stearing wheel, Eddie leaned on Stan which made him smile.
The boys drove along in silence for about 2 hours, Eddie was asleep on Stan's shoulder and Richie chuckled. It was noon and they'd been driving since 8, they had about 10 hours left to drive. Richie knew that if they wanted to they could be in Virginia around 10 or 11 pm tonight, Stan or Eddie could take over for Richie and they could make it in one day.
"Hey, there's an exit up there with a McDonald's we should stop." Stan suggested pointing towards a sign
"Dude you literally just had McDonald's at 9!" Richie laughed shaking his head.
"Don't shame me, I'm hungry!" Stan reasoned giving Richie the finger
"Fine Staniel! We will stop at McDonald's. Again." Richie told him putting his hands up in mock defense.
"Keep your hands on the wheel Tozier!" Stan yelled, then checked to make sure he didn't wake up Eddie, the boy was still asleep on his shoulder and Stan breathed a sigh of relief. 10 minutes later Richie pulled into the parking lot of McDonald's and shut off the car. He shook Eddie's arm lightly.
"Huh?" Eddie mumbled groggily stretching, Richie smiled over how cute he was.
"We're at McDonald's." Stan said softly starting to get up, Eddie got out of the car following Stan and shut the passenger door.
"Thank god, I'm starving!" Eddie exclaimed. Stan smirked at Richie who gave him the finger in return. The boys walked into McDonald's and they each got drinks, chicken nuggets and fries. Richie went and sat down at a table while Eddie and Stan waited for the food.
"Sorry I fell asleep on you" Eddie told Stan trying to fill in the silence, Eddie always had tendency to do that, he would always try to talk when things were silent to make it less awkward for him, but it usually made things more awkward.
"It's ok. I didn't mind." Stan told him truthfully "Oh and while you were asleep me and Richie decided that I'm gonna drive for a while after we eat, do you wanna drive after that?" He asked.
"Um, I don't really drive. I mean, I can...like I have my license, but I prefer not to drive because it gives me really bad anxiety." Eddie explained embarrassed.
"Oh, that's ok, me and Richie can just drive."
"Well I can if you want me to, cause I feel bad leaving all the driving to you guys and just sitting there like an idiot." Eddie said fast starting to worry that Stan or Richie would get upset with him.
"Eddie, it's ok. Really, I don't mind driving and I don't want to make you drive if it's gonna give you anxiety." Stan assured him placing a hand on his shoulder and rubbing it. Eddie smiled at him and nodded calming down. They got their food and went to the table to eat lunch. They finished lunch, went to the bathroom, then got back in the truck and situated themselves. Richie and Eddie got in the back together and Stan drove, Stan was happy to be in control of the radio, he switched off the 80's music and switched it to his chill lo-fi playlist.
Eddie closed his eyes, laid down on his back and relaxed, listening to the soft beats in the music and tapping his finger on the floor. Richie was laid beside Eddie just inches from his face and he was just taking in the smaller boy's beauty, studying every line and freckle on his face, the way his eyebrows were neatly kept but still a bit bushy.
"You're so beautiful." Richie whispered putting his hand on Eddie's cheek softly, Eddie opened his eyes and smiled.
"So are you." Eddie leaned over and kissed Richie on the cheek, Richie smiled widely and blushed. Richie put up an emotionless self-deprecating comedian act in front of everyone, but he was such an affectionate softie for his boys. He, Eddie, and Stan were dating but never told anyone because Stan and Eddie (mostly Eddie) were afraid of what people would say, Eddie even make them promise not to tell anyone in the Losers club, it didn't make much sense to Richie because he knew that he could tell the Losers anything and they would never make fun of it or call it weird, but out of respect for his boyfriends he never brought it up.
"Hey Stan guess what?" Eddie shouted over the music
"Huh?"
"I love you!" Eddie yelled smiling
"Me too!" Richie added laughing
"I love you guys too." Stan told them blushing softly.
They rode along in silence for a couple hours, stopped to pee occasionally, and at around 5pm Stan asked Richie to take over driving. Richie got in the front with Stan and Eddie sitting in the back. They were watching Brooklyn Nine Nine on Eddie's phone, with one earbud in each boys ear. Richie could hear them laughing every so often and it made him smile.
After an hour of Richie driving he saw flashing red and blue lights behind him, then the boys heard the siren.
"Are we getting pulled over?" Eddie questioned with panic in his voice.
"FUCK! Stan I have a baggie if weed in the small front pocket of my backpack you need to shove it in your underwear!" Richie yelled turning on his signal to pull over.
"OH SHIT!" Stan exclaimed scrambling to get the weed. He grabbed the baggie and shoved it roughly in his underwear. Eddie was starting to hyperventilate so he got out his inhaler and breathed in the air, immediately feeling calmer. They cop pulled over behind them and turned off the sirens and lights.