Clowns, Losers and Placebos [ It 2017 - Eddie Kaspbrak ]

Chapter Five - Tim Harrison

12th September, 1988

The rest of that week had passed in a haze, and Max was rather grateful that it had. Standing up to Henry Bowers, no matter how brave and slightly foolish the gesture had been, had solidified Max's reputation throughout Derry High School. Students glared or laughed, and sometimes both, at him as he roamed the corridors, and he tried not to care too much. He liked to imagine that they secretly respected him for his stance against Bowers, but he knew enough about Derry now to know that no one would ever acknowledge him for his actions.

It was a thankless action, but that didn't bother Max too much.

It had also solidified his spot in what Richie had officially christened 'The Losers' Club' following the fight, and Max couldn't be happier with the way things had worked out. He was on good terms with all of them now, though Eddie seemed rather nervous around him for a reason that Max couldn't quite figure out. He wondered if it had anything to do with the superhero argument.

They'd been planning to meet over the weekend, at a place they called the Quarry, but the plan had fallen through. Eddie hadn't been allowed out for whatever reason, Stanley was attending his cousin's bar mitzvah and Bill had to look after his younger brother, George, while his parents went out for the day. Max was slightly disappointed, but he figured that there'd be other opportunities for them to all get together.

He strode into school rather confidently for a Monday morning, and rather early too; only a few students were there before him and none of them paid him much, if any, attention. It suited him fine. He made his way through the corridors that were slowly but surely becoming familiar to him, opening his locker when he arrived at it and retrieving the textbook he'd need for Maths after homeroom.

He jolted backward when the sound of a door slamming echoed from down the hall. He shoved the textbook deep into his backpack and slammed his locker shut, glancing up and down the corridor. One or two students were turning a corner back towards the playground, oblivious to his sudden behaviour. An older teacher, with silvery grey hair and a worn face much like his father's, locked the door to one of the classrooms and met Max's glance. His eyes glinted with curiosity, and he approached quickly.

"Little early to be wandering the school, Max." The teacher regarded him, towering over Max rather like the way a boot did an ant.

"Just left home early." Max nodded at the man as he slid his bag over his shoulders, eyeing past him to spot Eddie heading towards the staircase. He made to move forward, nodding again at the teacher more apologetically. "Excuse me."

"Just be careful, little Maxxie." The teacher smiled down at him as Max passed.

Max hurried away from his locker, dashing along the corridor and calling out to the other boy. "Eddie!"

Eddie turned at his call, and a huge smile broke out on his face that made Max feel giddy. "Morning, Max. How was your weekend?"

"Good. Quiet, but good." They fell into line, quickly ascending the steps onto the second floor. "Sucks that it didn't all happen on Saturday, but I guess it's whatever."

"Sorry about that." Eddie apologised, a light pink colour coming through on his cheeks. He pointed at Max's cheek. "Is your bruise doing alright?"

The bruise was healing slowly, but it wasn't the violent dark purple colour it had been most of last week, so Max was feeling a little better about the whole ordeal. It had been a light green colour all of yesterday, but was now a pale yellowy hue that was far less noticeable. Max's chest was healing a lot slower, and it sent a slight ache through his body if Max pressed his chest too hard.