Walking Buddies // IT // Hiatus

eleven

It was the Fourth of July and the crew was going to watch the parade. Stan waited outside of Lacey's house as she came out in a patriotic dress along with some black sneakers.

"Wow. I never knew our colors could look so good on a person." He commented.

Lacey felt heat rise to her cheeks but she played through it.

"Come on." She linked her arm in his and the two walked and talked the entire trip downtown.

"You know how you said you saw a clown?" Stan's words stopped Lacey from walking and turned to stare at him.

"Yeah?"

"Could you... you know... tell me about it?" Lacey looked at him questionably. Why did he want to know?

"I don't know." She hesitated.

"It's okay. You don't have to. I think it's better to talk it out than just keep it to yourself." He hung his head and stared at his shoes.

Lacey stared at the boy. He really cared didn't he. She smiled slightly.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him to a bench. He stared at her as she faced him and took a deep breath.

"I've seen it. Twice already. I don't know what it is. It looks like a clown. Really horrifying. I just, I don't know. The first time I saw it was when I came home, from when we helped Ben to fix him up." She didn't want to lie to him, but she knew that some things needed to be kept to herself.

"It was in the corner of my bedroom. He offered me a balloon but I refused. The next time I saw him was when I was on my way home. Only that time, I thought it was Henry Bowers."

Stanley stared at her and listened to every word she told him. Like a good friend.

"He said some stuff and after I ran, it took back its normal form. That's when I ran to Bill's house. I didn't know it. But I did. Stanley, that thing. Whatever it is. I'm scared. I really am."

He grabbed her hands and wiped away tears she didn't know she had let fall down her face.

"Can I tell you something?" He asked.

"Of course. Anything."

"I saw someone. A woman. Her face was all messed up and she came out of a painting. I had never been so scared in my life. I ran. I ran."

Lacey pulled him into her and hugged him tightly. She knew he needed her and she let him cry for a bit before they both calmed down.

"Damnit Stanley. We're going to see the rest of the gang and we're both here crying." She giggled.

He smiled. Her laugh brought his mood up instantly whenever he heard it. Even when they weren't friends. He'd hear her laughter in class or whenever she was near and he couldn't help but feel happier.

"Yeah. We should probably head to the parade." He stared at her, admiring how she looked even though she was just done crying.

"Thank you Stan. Really." She hugged him again and leaned her head into his neck.

"Anything for you." He whispered. But she didn't hear him.

"Let's go. I kinda want some ice cream." She stood up and held her hand out for his. He smiled and took it. Together they walked to find their losers and enjoy their day.

Finally they met up with everyone and Beverly noticed her best friend holding hands with Stanley again. Beverly looked at Lacey who just blushed and smiled at her.

"I'm gonna get ice cream." Eddie announced.

"I want some too! I'll go with you!" Lacey turned to Stanley, "do you want any?"

"No, I'm okay." He politely declined. She squeezed his hand and followed Eddie into an ice cream shop.

"Three vanilla cones please." Eddie told the guy at the counter who nodded and started making the ice cream.

"Three?" Lacey asked.

"Richie. He's going to want one. And I don't want him taking mine." The guy handed the ice cream cones to the two and Eddie paid.

Before Lacey could walk out the door Eddie stopped her.

"So what's going on with you and Stanley?" He asked licking his ice cream.

"What?"

"You heard me. You two hold hands all the time. Plus you're always together. I'm assuming something is going on between you two. Everyone can see it." Lacey blushed and smiled to herself.

"I don't know.." she shrugged. She really didn't know, they've never talked about anything they do.

"Do you like him?"

"Yeah. I do." She spoke lightly.

"You should tell him. Like ASAP." Eddie exited the shop and Lacey followed behind him.

"What the hell is he doing?" Lacey asked Eddie as she saw Richie playing with some poor guy's instrument.

"Who knows."

"Hey what the fuck!?" Richie yelled as the guy took the instrument back and walked away before Richie could try to do something again.

He walked up to the two with ice cream and Eddie handed Richie his.

"What are they talking about?" Eddie asked.

"What they always talk about." Richie licked his ice cream and Lacey made her way and stood next to Stanley.

"Hey that looks good." Stanley grabbed her hand and pulled the ice cream to his lips.

"It tastes good too." He smiled at her.

Lacey stared at him. 'He said he didn't want any.' She thought to herself. She smiled slightly even if he took her food and wiped away some ice cream left on the tip of his nose.

She then turned her attention back to the group who was focused on Ben.

"So I was going over all my Derry research, and I charted out all the big events. The iron works explosion in 1908, the Bradley gang in '35, and the black spot in '62 and now kids being," He paused, "I realized everything's been happening every-"

"27 Years." Bill and Ben said in unison.

They looked at each other and everyone agreed to find a place in the town square to find a place to sit and talk.