The Years After (IT Chapter Two fanfic)(Sequel to Summer of '89)

2.

Charlie arrived at the Chinese restaurant that she was told to meet them at. She was wearing her baggy jeans with her black high tops and an oversized black bomber over her big white shirt. She tried to look presentable and that was the best she could do.

She took a breath and walked in the restaurant. The hostess took her to the back and led her into a private dining room. She looked in and saw two men talking to each other. They both stopped talking and they looked at her.

"Woah" she laughed "Bill?"

"Yeah uh, Charlie?"

She laughed "Damn"

She went up and hugged him, patting him on the back. He seemed a little taller and blonder.

"Good to see you"

"Yeah you too," he said smiling as they pulled apart.

She then looked behind Bill and saw him. The guy she fought with that summer, the guy she kissed on that summer day, the guy she left behind.

"Oh my god, Mike" she said.

He smiled at her and nodded.

"Oh my god!" she smiled and ran up to him. She forgot all about the call, she pushed away the fear she had kept all those years and they hugged each other as they laughed. He was definitely taller, at least four inches taller than her. But he still had that unforgettable smile.

"It's been too long" he said.

"Too long" she laughed as she pulled away.

"You look amazing" he said.

"Thanks, you too, you're taller" they laughed.

They then heard a voice coming towards the room.

"I'm allergic to soy, anything that has egg in it, uh gluten, and if I eat a cashew I could .. realistically die"

Eddie Kaspbrak walked in but froze when he saw them. They all looked at him.

"Holy shit" he said.

They were all talking and catching up with each other on the corner when they heard a bang from a cymbal. They all turned and saw Richie, Bev, and .. Ben?

"The Losers Club has officially begun" Richie said.

"Oh look at these guys" Charlie said smiling.

They looked at Richie as he mentioned to the guy next to Beverly. He pointed to him and mouthed Ben, moving his hands outwards from his stomach. Charlie smiled and walked up to Richie.

"Hey Ms. Thing" he said as he came up to her. He'd been calling her that since they were kids.

"Hahaha, what the fuck happened to you?" she joked.

"Are you kidding, I just shaved, I thought I looked amazing" he laughed. They both hugged each other.

They were all seated at the table cheering. They clinked their shot glasses and drank the alcohol.

"So wait Eddie you got married?" Richie asked him.

"Yeah whys that so fucking funny dickwad" he said.

"What to like a woman?" he asked.

"Fuck you bro" Eddie said.

"Fuck you!" Richie laughed. Charlie laughed alongside him, it was good to be back with the Losers.

"What about you trashmouth are you married?" she asked. Everyone else laughed at her question, knowing Richie wouldn't be married.

"No I got married, you didn't hear?"

"No" Eddie said.

"Yeah no me and your mom are very happy right now"

Charlie choked on her beer as she was drinking it and spilled some of the drink onto the table, gasping and laughing out. Mike laughed at her and patted her back to breathe again. They all laughed.

"Fuck you" Eddie told him.

"No yeah, sometimes she'll put her arm around me and she'll whisper to me" and Richie made Jabba the Hutt noises. They all choked out laughing.

"We all get it, my mom was a great big fat person. Hilarious! Hysterical!" he said.

As Charlie refilled her beer Richie asked her, "Whatta bout you Ms. Thing, did you get married? Are you a Mrs. Thing now?"

"Nah, are you kidding Rich, I've been waiting for you all these years" she said, giving him a serious romantic look.

"Ohhh moi?"

Charlie nodded and leaned into him. He raised his eyebrows and did the same, they were about to kiss when Charlie stuffed his mouth with food from her chopsticks. Everyone cheered and Bill handed her a shot for that one. They all laughed.

"Nah, I never married" she said. "I don't do white dresses" she drank her beer. She didn't know but Mike was relieved. Everyone laughed. She smiled. She was really happy to be back with all of her friends.