Shine *Richie X OC*

C.10

We met up with everyone, and Bev gave me a knowing smirk. I rolled my eyes at her, but Richie dropped my hand.

I turned to ask him what was wrong, only to see him steal a marching band member's horn, and attempt to play.

"Rich- Richie, no. Richie, no, give him back his- oh my God, Richie." I sighed, giving up trying to reason with him, and ended up laughing.

The guy ended up taking back his horn and Eddie showed up with two ice cream cones and handed one to Richie.

We turned to the others, and my focus was soon shifted to the ice cream cone in front of my face. I looked over at Richie as he waited for me.

"First lick?" He offered.

"You just wanna see me lick something." I narrowed my eyes.

"Yes. Now hurry up, it's gonna drip." He rolled his eyes and I sighed and took a long lick up one side before he took it back.

Bev stood next to me and bumped my arm with hers gently, and I looked over at her smirk.

"Before you say anything, yes," I said and she beamed.

"I knew it. What were you even worrying about in the first place?" She asked and I threw her a look.

We walked around a bit as a group, Richie with his hand on my back, and let me take a lick of ice cream whenever I wanted one.

"Dude, why do you smell like a perfume store?" Eddie asked and Stan moved in and sniffed Richie.

"You smell like a girl's bathroom." He said.

"Well, that's probably cos I took a shower in a girl's bathroom, using a girl's soap and girl's shampoo." He shrugged.

"Wa- wa- wait. What?" Bill turned to look at him, then looked at me.

"Your bathroom?" Stan looked at me and I gave an awkward smile.

"I spent the night, can we get going? I want lemonade." Richie said and walked through the group, taking me with him.

"Yeah, they're together now," Bev said and my face went red as we stood behind someone getting their lemonade.

Richie took his wallet out and passed a few dollars over. "Two lemonades please." He said and got the two huge cups and handed one to me.

We rejoined the group and walked around a bit. Eddie's watch beeped and he started taking pills out of his fannypack, and I suddenly remembered I hadn't taken my medicine today.

"Shit." I checked my bag and saw my pill bottle in there, and let out a relieved sigh, then looked around for food to see what was affordable.

I turned my head and saw Dick Hallorann coming over with a burger wrapped up in aluminum and handed it to me wordlessly, and I smiled.

"You're a lifesaver," I said and took the burger, closing my bag, smiling at him.

"We need to talk, little lady." He said and I frowned.

"About what?" I asked, hoping he didn't mean what I think he meant.

"You made contact." He said and tilted his head.

"Yes, I..." I took in a breath and sighed. "Guys, I'll be back. Don't go anywhere." I said softly and walked away with him across the street. I unwrapped the burger and took a bite.

'Sorry, but they don't know anything yet about it.' I said and he looked a little surprised at me. 'I don't get headaches as often now. How did you know It came after me?' I asked.

'I saw it.' He said and replayed the memory for me through our telepathic link. I saw flashes of what I saw that day and soon refocused my eyes on the present.

'I told It I wasn't scared, so It couldn't feed off my fear. I told It to starve.' I said and Dick let out a chuckle.

'You are one brave little lady.' He shook his head with a smile, and I gave a small smile as I bit my burger, halfway done now. 'It said it could bring back your father?' He asked.

'I said that was bull. He's dead and not coming back. He can't scare me anymore, not even from the grave.' I put on a stern face as I said it. I finished off my burger and picked up my lemonade cup from where I placed it on the ground.

"Mind holding this for me?" I asked with my real mouth, and he held it as I shook a pill from the pill bottle into my hand. I tossed it into my mouth, then took a sip of lemonade to swallow it, then put the cap back on my pills and stashed them in my bag.

"Friends of yours?" He asked as we began to walk back and I nodded. "They shine so brightly."

"I'll explain everything to them when they're ready," I promised as we made our way back, pausing a few feet from the group.

"Are you still warded?" He asked and I patted my bag.

"Twenty four seven," I said. "I don't go anywhere without this bag, and this bag goes nowhere without me."

"You may need something more permanent. It's drawing in on you." He said and I sucked in a breath, knowing exactly what he meant.

"Where's the best place?" I asked softly, gazing across the street.

"By your heart." He said and I sucked in a breath, closing my eyes. "I know, but it's for your protection, so you can protect them. We shine so we can fight." He said softly, a hand on my shoulder and I nodded.

"I'll tell your mother, ask her to help you..." he said, removing his hand.

"I'll do it myself. I'll do it right now." I said, then closed my eyes. "No. No, no, no. I'll do it after the festival." I said with a sure nod.

"That would be best. Stay safe, Briar." He touched my shoulder again before walking in a different direction, and I nearly broke down into tears.

"What what that about?" Richie came over and held me gently, and I tore my gaze from the street to his face.

"Old family friend. Just reminded me of something I had to do." I shook my head as I smiled at him, and for the first time, I lied straight to his face.

"Don't worry about it."