it chapter two | reader insert [✔]

four | a lost friend

T.W- this chapter contains talk of self-harm and suicide. Please be mindful if this may trigger you :)

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Bill gripped your hand in his shaky one as you were practically led out of the store. Eddie was muttering something about the clown, but you felt like you were going to faint, and couldn't find it in your to really listen.

"Are you okay?" A small voice whispered in your ear, and you looked up to meet Bill's eyes.

"I-I guess." You whispered back, voice breaking. He simply pursed his lips, before turning to listen to the other's conversations. You did the same.

Beverly had just asked for Stan's number, and she was pulling her phone out of her handbag.

"Hey Richie." It was a small voice that spoke up, but that didn't mean it didn't terrify you to your core. You turned as Bill did, and your eyes landed on an innocent looking little boy.

When your eyes landed on Richie, he had a terrified look on his face, and he looked as if he had just seen a ghost.

"Hey Richie." The boy repeated, and you almost gasped. Not this again.

"How'd you- how'd you know my name?" Richie asked, attempting to keep his voice level. The boy just smiled.

"The fun's just beginning. Right?"

You blinked at his words, feeling them vibrate around your insides and remind you that yes, this was far from over. You felt Bill's hand tighten around yours.

"What- What he said, is it..." Eddie stuttered out, moving himself behind the group.

"Listen. You think this is funny? You think this is some sort of game, huh?" Richie began exclaiming, voice getting louder as he spoke. He grabbed the boys shoulders. "Well, fuck you, alright?!" He practically screamed.

"Rich-" Bill tried, but was interrupted by Richie again.

"Fuck you! I'm not afraid of you!" He continued screaming at the boy, who was now staring at him, terrified.

"'The fun's just beginning'. The line from your act? I'm a fan." The kid gently explained, stepping backwards cautiously. You couldn't see Richie's face from your angle, but you doubted it was anything other then embarrassed as he spoke up again.

"Are those your parents?"

"Yeah."

Two bustling adults around your age came running over, and you watched with a face full of cringe as Richie tried his best to apologize to the unhappy couple, who were pulling their son away in a huff.

"Jesus, Richie, you don't remember a line from your own show?" Mike asked you turned and began filing out of the restaurant.

"I don't write my own material." He grumbled, and Eddie gasped somewhere behind you.

"I fucking knew it! I fucking knew it!"

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"Hello, Mrs. Uris. My name's Beverly Marsh. I apologize for calling, but I'm an old friend of your husband's." Beverly explained softly through the phone as she spoke to Stanley's wife.

The group of you were waiting out the front of the restaurant, in the practically empty carpark. It was cold and dark, and you wished you hadn't of worn a short-sleeved white shirt and jeans. Or at least packed a sweater- maybe you did, but you weren't sure you should run to your car just to grab it. Not alone, at least.

Richie and Eddie were arguing with Mike somewhere behind you, and you were standing beside Bev as she held the phone, which was on speaker for you all to hear. You heard Stanley's wife sigh tearfully through the phone.