Bloody Noses & Crack'd Crowns

Chapter 8

I DO NOT OWN THIS STORY. All credit goes to TheWeaverofWorlds on ao3

Bill had always figured at some point their luck was going to give. The universe owed them. But he hadn't expected the shift to come so soon after they had decided to befriend the Losers. If Bill had still believed in a higher power he would have been sure that they had wanted the two groups to meet, because what happened next certainly seemed to favor the new friendships. But Bill didn't believe in that. He didn't really believe in luck much, it had always been more of an errant dream than something dependable, but maybe this once something was on their side.

It started on Thursday.

Robert had called them into his office, the four boys standing before his desk like they had been called in to see the principal rather than their adoptive father. Robert took his time – fiddling with papers and trinkets, savoring their anxiety – before looking up at them.

"You are to go to the pep rally tomorrow night, and on Saturday I expect you to attend the game."

Bill couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Why?" Eddie asked.

Robert turned to him with a grin. "There isn't going to be a fight night tomorrow because of the town's pep rally for the first game of the season. I don't know why a town would be so enthusiastic over a losing team, but Butch assures me it's tradition."

"But why do we have to go?" Eddie asked.

Bill wanted to cover Eddie's mouth before he could stick his foot further into it. He couldn't fathom why Eddie was questioning this newfound freedom, it was like he wanted to stay in instead of being a normal teenager. Bill hid his frustration, continuing to stare at Robert as he spoke.

"Because, Eddie-bear, it's all to due with small town politics. Small towns like Derry don't welcome newcomers, they don't like anyone who's grandparents didn't know their own since kindergarten. These people are suspicious by nature. Now luckily we have an in, but it's only with the good working people who like to enjoy a fight now and again. The rest of this town doesn't know us from Adam, and don't have to trust their neighbors about us either. It is important that we are seen at town functions like the pep rally as a sign of good faith. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, sir."

"Will you be there?" Mike asked.

Robert's grin turned nasty. "No."

"Where will you be?" Eddie asked his breathing becoming irregular.

"Butch invited Frank, Norbert, Alvin, and me to go out to the racetracks in Lewiston."

So apparently it wasn't that important that they – the grown ups – be at the pep rally. Bill found that ironic, but couldn't help but be relieved all the same.

"So we're to go out for the evening, no strings attached? No babysitters?" Mike asked.

"That's right, Michael. You're big boys now, you should be able to handle yourselves. And if I hear from anyone that you were a nuisance you won't be let out again until you've proven you're sorry. Is that understood?"

So there would be no formal watcher, only an entire town. Bill wondered how easily four boys could disappear into the crowd, he figured pretty well. There must be a catch somewhere. Robert wouldn't just let them go. It was all too easy.

"You look constipated, Denbrough. What's going through your tiny mind?" Robert asked.

Bill flushed. "I w-wasn't expecting it is all."