She was just expecting a normal summer with her friends .
Little did Caroline know that this summer would be different. This summer, they would face a horror that none of them could have imagined. As the Losers delved deeper into the darkness, they...
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Doors flung open and rowdy 6th, 7th, and 8th graders spilled out into the halls like sheep.
Books were hurled into trash cans, lockers emptied out in a frenzy, and papers strewn all over signaled that summer had officially commenced. Swept up among this madness were the members of the Losers Club.
"So, there's this church full of Jews, right? And Stan has to take this super Jewy test," Eddie said as the group made their way through the crowd.
Bill looked puzzled. "But how's it work?"
"They slice the tip of his dick off," Eddie replied.
" the fuck ?" Caroline said shacking her head
Richie laughed. "But then Stan will have nothing left!"
"That's true," Eddie agreed.
Just then, Stanley ran up to them, slightly out of breath. "Wait up, you guys!"
"Hey, Stan, what happens at the Bar Mitzvah anyways?" Bill asked. "Ed says they slice the tip of your d-dick off."
Richie grinned. "Yeah, and I think the rabbi's gonna pull down your pants, turn to the crowd, and say, 'Where's the beef?'"
Caroline punched Richie in his ribs " you could punch me on the shoulder or my cheek but noo it always has to be the ribs " he groaned
The boys laughed as Stan rolled his eyes. "At the Bar Mitzvah, I read from the Torah, and then I make a speech and suddenly, I become a man."
"I could think of funner ways to become a man," Eddie said.
"More fun, you mean," Stan corrected.
"Oh, shit," Richie said as they passed Henry Bowers and his minions: Belch Huggins, Vic Criss, and Patrick Hockstetter. Henry stood with his arms folded, while Belch and Patrick smiled malevolently. Vic merely gave a threatening stare.
"Think they'll sign my yearbook? 'Dear Richie, sorry for taking a hot, steaming dump in your backpack last March. Have a good summer.'"
As they continued, Caroline tapped bills shoulder . "Hey, guys, I need to go to the bathroom. I'll meet you later."
"Okay, Caroline," Bill said, waving.
Caroline headed to the bathroom, just as a teenage girl, Gretta Keene, stormed past them and stomped into the girl's bathroom. Another girl pointed to a stall, and with a growl, Gretta kicked the door. Inside the stall, Beverly Marsh, with her cloud of auburn hair, was smoking a cigarette. She jumped.
"Are you in there by yourself, Beaver-ly? Or do you have half the guys in the school with you, huh, slut?" Gretta sneered as Beverly put out her cigarette.
"Which is it, Gretta? Am I a slut or a little shit? Make up your mind," Beverly shot back.
"You're trash," Gretta spat. "We just wanted to remind you."
One of Gretta's friends pulled a trash bag loose from the sink and dumped it over the stall, showering Beverly with garbage.
"Well, at least now you'll smell better," Gretta laughed as she walked out.
Caroline, witnessing the scene, stepped forward. "Hey, Gretta!"
Gretta turned, startled. "It's not what it looks like, Caroline."
Caroline's eyes narrowed. "You mess with Beverly again, you mess with me.now scram " With that, she punched Gretta in the face, sending her stumbling back.
Greta and her minions stood in front of Caroline in shock " was I mumbling or would you need another punch ? I said scram ! "
And with that they hurried their asses outside the bathroom
"Let's go," Caroline said to Beverly, who was still trying to clean the trash off herself.
As they walked out of the bathroom, Beverly gave Caroline a grateful look. "Thanks, Caroline. You didn't have to do that ."
"Of course I needed to do that ," Caroline replied. "You're my best friend !"
They made their way outside, where they saw Ben Hanscom, the new kid, struggling with his bike and a display of a historic sight of Derry. Beverly approached him, tapping his shoulder. "You gonna let me go by? Or is there a secret password or something?"
Ben fumbled with his things, looking embarrassed. "Oh. Um, sorry."
"Sorry's not a password," Beverly said, watching him. "Henry and his goons are over by the west entrance, so you should be fine."
Ben nodded. "Oh, I wasn't... I mean, thanks."
Beverly noticed his headphones. "What you listening to?" She took them off his head before he could react, putting them on herself. "New Kids on the Block. Nice."
Ben's face turned red. "I don't even like them. I was just..."
Caroline, who had been watching, stepped forward with a grin. "It's okay, Ben. Everyone's got their guilty pleasures."
Beverly smiled at Caroline, then back at Ben. "Wait. You're the new kid, right? Now I get it."
"There's nothing to get," Ben muttered.
"I'm just messing with you," Beverly said, putting the headphones back on his head. "I'm Beverly Marsh."
Caroline was fixing the frizz on top of her hair " oh sorry and I'm Caroline Oaks "
"Yeah, I know that 'cause we're in the same class. Social Studies. And you are in my History class -And you.. I'm Ben. But pretty much everybody just calls me..."
"The new kid," Beverly finished for him. "Well, Ben, there are worse things to be called." She took his yearbook out of his backpack and signed it. "Stay cool, Ben from soc class." She added a couple of hearts before handing it back.
Caroline looked over her shoulder at Ben. "Hang tough, new kid on the block."
Ben laughed, feeling a little more at ease. "Please Don't Go, Girl." He smiled as Beverly and Caroline walked away together.
"See you around, Ben," Beverly called back.
"Yeah, see you," Caroline added, giving him a friendly wave.
Ben watched them go, totally smitten, as he gathered his things and headed home, a little bit happier than before.
