Eddie prompt his bike against a small Birch out in the school yard and looked up at the school.
He let out a deep exhale, nervous but yet excited about the school year.
He left his bike and trotted up the stairs and into the large building, where kids stood in front of their lockers, having their own conversions.
Finally Eddie spotted Stanley and Ben and walked over to them.
"Hey, guys!" Eddie raised his voice and waved.
Ben saw Eddie first and smiled, Stan following.
"Hey, Eddie!" Ben greeted the asthmatic boy once they met.
"Hey Ben, hey Stan." Eddie greeted back. "Do you guys know where the others are?" Eddie questioned.
Stan and Ben both shook their heads.
"No, but they should get here soon." Ben reassured Eddie.
Eddie felt slight disappointment at that. Not so much that Bill or Beverly wasn't there yet, but that Richie wasn't there yet.
Eddie didn't know why, but during the summer of 89, Eddie had grown extremely fond of Richie. He couldn't understand it though. Why Richie of all people? Richie was always making dumb jokes and getting himself into trouble, always wearing those dumb Hawaiian shirts which Eddie found strangely attractive, and his coke glasses that would make his eyes seem huge and bug like.
But no, Eddie had liked all that about Richie for some reason.
"Hello? Earth to Eddie?" Stan grabbed Eddie's attention back. "Beverly and Bill are here." Stan told Eddie, who turned to his right to meet the dark brown eyes of Bill, and the gorgeous hazel eyes of Beverly, a sweet flowery scent flowing from her.
"Hey Bev, Bill." Eddie greeted with a warm smile which the other two losers returned kindly.
"Hey Ed's, how you been?" Beverly asked with a warm smile that could just about make anyone's heart melt.
"Good." Eddie smiled back.
"I ruh-ruh-really missed you g-guys." Bill told them, also giving them a warm smile.
"So did I. It's great seeing you all again." Ben replied. "But where's Richie?"
"Probably somewhere disappointing Jesus." Stan scoffed, resulting in the small group of kids to laugh, even Eddie.
Suddenly the bell rang for first-period and all the losers disassociated again, except for Ben and Stan, who had first block together.
Eddie already knew what his first period was, it was Gym.
-
Eddie sat on the blue bleachers of the gymnasium, bored and fiddling with his inhaler since he wasn't allowed to participate in any physical activity.
He let out a deep sigh, wondering where in the Hell Richie was, since both him and Eddie also had first block together.
Suddenly Eddie heard footsteps making their way towards him, and he looked up to meet Greta's dark blue eyes.
"Still not allowed to participate in P.E?" Greta asked sarcastically, making a pouty face.
"No..." Eddie looked back down at his inhaler, hoping that Greta would leave him alone. She didn't.
"Y'know you don't actually have asthma, right?" She asked, a smart grin on her face.
Eddie met eyes with her again, confused.
"What are you-Yes I do." Eddie retorted back at Greta, who just scoffed.
"No you don't, your inhaler? It's the same as your pills - placebos - it's bullshit." And as she blew one more bubble with her gum and popped it, she walked away.
Eddie once again looked back down at his inhaler. Could Greta be right? Was his inhaler also bullshit? Just like his pills?
-
Eddie walked into his second period with Bill, noticing they were one of the first ones there so they still could pick the good seats.
They decided to pick the seats at the back.
"Have you seen Richie?" Eddie asked Bill as he sat down into his seat.
"No, he's puh-probably just luh-luh-late." Bill reassured Eddie, also taking a seat.
As the minutes passed, more and more students filled the classroom until all the seats were filled, except for one.
"Good morning, class." The teacher interrupted the class. "I'm Ms. Roster, and I hope to have a fun school year with you all!"
Eddie rolled his eyes, this is what every teacher said at the beginning of the year with fake enthusiasm in their voice.
"Now I'm going to take attendance, please raise your hand if I call your name."
"Jeremy."
"Here."
"Mike."
Mike raised his hand.
"Patricia."
Patricia raised her hand.
"Edward."
Eddie raised his hand.
"William."
Bill also raised his hand, telling the teacher that he preferred to be called Bill.
"Sydney."
A girl with short ginger hair raised her hand.
"Richard."
There was silence.
"Richard?" Ms. Roster called out again, and then ultimately scribbling something on her paper.
Where is he?! Eddie thought.
-
"And that's-" The teacher was explaining how to do an assignment when suddenly the door opened and Richie ran in, panting.
Ms. Roster whipped her head around from the chalkboard and stared at Richie, who was walking over to where Eddie and Bill sat.
"Richie where was you?!" Eddie shouted quietly to Richie who had just sat down.
"Sorry Ed's, I got a bit caught up fucking your mom!" Richie grinned, but Eddie just rolled his eyes and let out a deep exhale.
While Richie turned to Bill, Eddie would occasionally cast quick glances at his friend and admire his features.
His messy black hair, his nerdy coke glasses, and his white Hawaiian shirt.
"What'cha looking at, Ed's?" Richie suddenly said, grabbing Eddie's attention. Richie had a big dorky grin on his face.
"Nuh-nothing..!" Eddie quickly looked away, blushing, and embarrassed that Richie had caught him looking.
"Lawdy, Miss Clawdy, come here! This yer' chile be lookin'!" Richie said in his Pickaninny Voice. "Lawks-a-mussy, I doan know what thisyere-"
"Beep beep, Richie." Eddie said, trying to contain his laughter.
