Shine *Richie X OC*

C.1

Everybody knows everybody in a small town like Derry, so when my mom and I moved in about a week ago, everybody started talking.

The talking only increased when they found out it was just my mom and me, no dad to be seen anywhere.

Of course, I get that mysterious new neighbors are a thing people usually talk about, but it would be nice if they stopped with their theories about us.

We know we're weird. It's not as if we can help it.

As I got up on the morning of the last day of school, I put on one of my nicer shirts and a pair of short shorts with my boots. I put in my earrings and did a little makeup, then went downstairs, seeing mom with bacon, eggs, and coffee.

"Good morning, honey. How'd you sleep?" She smiled at me.

"Fine, mom. You know you can stop checking up on me." I said and swallowed the bacon piece I was chewing. "How'd you sleep?" I couldn't help but check on her.

"About as good as I could, you little hypocrite." She said and gave me a sweet smile. "Make sure you take your medicine." She reminded me after I shoved an egg yolk in my mouth to eat.

I reached to the end of the table to the prescription bottle with my name on it, unscrewed it, and took a fat white capsule out, then downed it with coffee.

"Good girl. Have a nice last day. I love you, be safe." She said as I grabbed my bag and gave her a smile. Most times, we didn't even need to say words to each other. Words were a formality to mom and me.

So I walked to school, ignoring the looks I was given and went onto my class. I took my seat and opened my notebook to jot down a thought I had last night.

'I ponder of something terrifying, cos this time there's no sound to hide behind. I find over the course of our human existence, one thing consists of consistence, and it's that we're all battling fear. Oh dear, I don't know if we know why we're here. Oh my, too deep, please stop thinking...'

I finished just as the bell rang, and basically zoned out the whole day. Last days are pointless anyway, they're just used to say goodbyes to teachers and friends for three months.

I grabbed my bag and put it on my back to walk out. Well, I'm not a sophomore anymore. Now I'm an upperclassman, a junior.

I saw four boys moving through the halls next to each other, the one with thick glasses glanced at me, and I looked away. I kept walking and saw this one bitch, Greta, go into the girl's bathroom, so I strayed away from there.

I walked out of the front doors and stood by the railing, deciding what I was gonna do with my time now that I'm free. I hadn't made any friends since no one wanted to talk to the weird new girl, so guess I've got this summer to myself now.

I saw Henry Bowers and his gang messing with those four boys, and the one who looked a weird amount like an ex-boyfriend from back home yelled at him.

"You s- s- s- s- say something, B- B- B- Billy?" Henry mocked him, stepping closer, then looked over to see a cop watching him. Then he just licked his hand and wiped it across his face, which I grimaced at.

"What are you looking at, freak?" He shot at me, and I kept quiet, just watching. When they all hopped into his car, I turned to walk back home.

Mom was home early from work, and a man was there with her.

"Ah, Briar, this is Dick Hallorann, the man I was telling you about." She smiled at me.

"Nice to meet you." I smiled politely, setting my bag down by the door.

"You, as well, little lady. Aren't you a pretty thing." He said and I smiled.

"Briar, mind fetching us some tea?" Mom asked and I nodded and went to the kitchen, getting three glasses with ice in them, and a pitcher of sweet tea.

Once I had served the tea, mom patted the chair next to her and I sat down. Dick took a long drink and sighed.

"Reminds me of home. Good tea." He nodded.

"Just one of Briar's many talents." Mom said and smoothed my hair down.

"Sharon, I haven't seen you since The Black Spot. What brings you all the way up here?" He asked.

Mom fell quiet, and I, as usual, didn't say a word. "Briar's father finally passed. It was a good time to start a new life, just the two of us." Mom put on a smile.

"I see." He said, and after a moment of silence, his face shifted. I assume mom told him the whole story through shining.

"That reminds me, Briar, do you shine?" He asked and I looked up.

"I do, only with momma, and rarely," I said and sipped my sweet tea. "It confuses me, gives me a headache when I do. To mix mental words with physical words..." I smiled and shook my head. "Suppose I just have to get used to it."

"Briar's struggling with her shining. She really only uses it to tell me she's home safe or if she wants me to pick up something for her on my way home from work." Mom said.

"Keep doing that. Times are getting dangerous round here. All these people going missing..." he sighed.

"I've warded the house, so this is a safe spot. I also make sure Briar has some warding with her." Mom said.

"I'm not sure how far wardings will go with this thing. It is an interdimensional entity, not some supernatural thing we're used to." Dick said and both mom and I nodded.

"It goes after younger ones the most." He said and took my hand. "Keep yourself safe, Briar." He said and I nodded.