" LIPSTICK " + STENBROUGH

[25]

hope you enjoyed the happy fluff while it lasted

aged 17

it's too damn cold, bill thinks, standing on the porch of stanley uris, blowing air into cupped hands to keep himself warm.

it's been one year since carole's party, and a lot has happened. for instance, stan and bill happened. in fact, bill stands on stan's porch now to pick him up for dinner to celebrate their one year anniversary. one year of being with stanley uris, and bill hasn't gotten used to the feeling he's left with in his stomach, of butterflies and birds and zoo animals that stampede when stan smiles. it's been one year, but no one knows. well, besides beverly and georgie, who have been incredibly good at keeping their mouths shut. how they manage to sneak around without any one else finding out is remarkable to bill denbrough, but he's grateful for it. richie, however, has a suspicion bill isn't all that straight. at least, that's what bill thinks, based on the jokes richie tells at lunch. but he doesn't mind, because he isn't straight.

bill has also began wearing makeup more regularly. right now, he's wearing some concealer. mascara coats his eyelashes, and a little bit of eyeshadow decorates his eyelid. pink lipgloss stains his lips, and highlighter shines on his cheekbones. his parents haven't put the pieces together—bill either leaves too early for them to notice, rushing out the door without saying much of a goodbye, or he brings his makeup bag to school and applies it in the bathroom before class. one would think he's going to get beat up in there, as any boy walking in would think he's gross for wearing it, but everyone in school has gotten used to it. bill denbrough, the boy who wears makeup. stan likes it, quite a lot actually. and his opinion is the only one that matters to bill.

beverly marsh is now dating benjamin hanscom. it's a relationship bill hadn't entirely seen coming, but ben asked beverly out one day, and she hasn't stopped smiling around ben since. they make an amazing couple, and bill is so happy that they're happy and in love. mike and carole have began dating as well, as before they merely made out and hooked up when they had been too drunk to consider the consequences. while bill hadn't known much about carole before she started dating mike, bill can confidently say he knows her rather well. she tags along with their group whenever they hang out, or when she can. carole's nice and always compliments bill's makeup. she also has this contagious laugh that puts even the most down people in a better mood, even just for a second.

for the first time in what feels like forever, bill is completely content with his life. he can deal with the neglectful parents and the secrets he holds close, as long as he is surrounded by the people he loves most.

on this particular chilly november evening—at 6:30 pm, exactly, when the sun is already set, and bill's face is illuminated solely by the uris' porch light—bill stands for what feels like eternity, freezing as he waits for stan to answer the door. he presses the doorbell again, in hops that maybe stan hadn't heard it earlier.

bill simultaneously regrets wearing nothing more than a pair of jeans—which he is still cuffing the hem of, because it's become a habit, one which his mother has hypocritically come to hate—and a ringer tee. he's wearing a jacket, but it isn't meant for this unexpected chill that swirls through the maine air, and he's still shivering in his spot.

the door opens, and bill is internally grateful. mrs. uris stands on the other side, a smile gracing her face as she sees it's bill. she's become familiar with bill's regular visits to her house, and has come to appreciate the boy's polite and joyous attitude, stutter and all.