𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫

𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚊𝚐 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚌𝚛𝚎 ~ 𝚋.𝚍.

pairing: (aged up)bill denbrough x (aged up)(fem)reader

warnings: AU, mild cursing, underage drug use

word count: 1715

song preference: 1979, the smashing pumpkins

requested? [yes] [no]

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1988, Maine

"The sky is red."

How unusual. The sun was setting below the rim of the horizon, illuminating the dry stalks of Maine corn that grew abundantly along the highway. The little van passed farm after endless farm, each growing the same boring and bland vegetable. The stalks waved and blew in the cool October breeze, their crackling brown leaves fluttering in the gusts like waving hands. Now the plants were tinged red, the tinted sunlight bleeding within the leaves and splattering across the flat and desolate pavement.

The sky had never been so vividly tinted before. It was like a lens had been flipped over the world and now everything was morphed and bent in the lucid lighting.

[Name] stared out the window in the back of her best friend's van with wide and bright eyes. Her hair floated about her face gently, the acrid air tinged with the smell of old cigarettes twisting and tugging her locks with every bump of the van. [Name] turned her face to Bill, head slightly tilted as though she was inquiring an answer from him. "Weird, huh?"

He nodded in agreement, watching as she reached forward and cranked the handle that pulled the window up, as though she was worried that the scarlet hues painting the skies would bleed into the car.

[Name] pulled her knees to her chest, tucking her chin between them like the sun resting between the peaks of two mountains. Her intelligent eyes still pierced Bill's, persistently enough that he averted his gaze to the corn to try and hide the rosy smear on his cheekbones.

"I guess so," he replied, running his thin fingers through the brown hair that stuck up like he'd been shocked. Bill glanced back at [Name], cautiously as though to not startle the peaceful quiet simmering in the van. She had always been attentive and observant in Bill's mind, with large intelligent eyes and a perky attitude. She stepped lightly and with caution, treading anywhere she went as though she could grow wings and fly off at any moment.

Bill's best friend Stan held a fondness for birds. He enjoyed watching them and studying their habits, but no matter how birdlike [Name] was, girls were an oddity that both Bill and Stan struck out on every time. They were flighty and particular, as picky as human beings come. Bill had to choose his words carefully, or everything he had worked so hard for would blow up in his face.

In the driver's seat sat Eddie, and Stan next to him. The van making its way down the flat plains of Maine was borrowed from Eddie's mother, who made him promise not to be too reckless with it. Everyone was surprised that Eddie was allowed to drive only three months after he had gotten his license, but no one complained. The van was large enough to fit multiple people— perfect for their longer adventures that bikes could only take them so far on.

Eddie hesitantly turned the radio down, fearing if he were to let go of the wheel for too long the car would veer off the road and plunge them into a ditch of certain death. He looked into the review mirror and asked, "Hey, guys? I'm gonna pull over, do you guys want anything?"

"Perfect, man, 'cause I gotta pee," Richie spoke up from beside Bill, picking up an empty box of cigarettes he had left on the ground. "Can we get more of these, too? Except not the mint-flavored kind, those taste like aromatic candles and shit."