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GOOSEBUMPS CRAWLED UP Summer's arms as she stared at the house on Neibolt, twisting and turning up her forearms, causing her to full-body shiver. She was scared.
Like, come on. She was a kid, for crying out loud! She remembered Eddie's words from only fifteen minutes ago. It seemed like years. This was summer. They were supposed to be having fun, not facing imminent death. But hey, here she was, surrounded by friends all just as scared as she was.
"Bill, you can't go in there. This is crazy!" Bev stood at the forefront of the seven of them, staring up at Bill on the porch, looking like the hero of a cheesy movie. His jaw was clenched, and he looked strong and determined.
Summer felt a little wave of something wash over her. Bill Denbrough was truly something else. He was something special, and they all knew it in the back of their minds and the tips of their toes.
But that didn't mean he wasn't a complete fucking idiot.
"Look, you guys don't have to come with me," Bill began. "But what happens when another Georgie goes missing? Or another Betty? Or another Ed Corcoran? Or another Jesse?" his eyes flicked to Summer's briefly, "Or one of us? Are you just gonna pretend that it isn't happening like everyone else in this town?"
Everyone was silent.
"I can't," Bill sounded so close to tears and yet so far away from them. "I go home, and all I see is that Georgie isn't there. His clothes, his toys, his stupid stuffed animals."
Summer closed her eyes. The Lopez's had cleaned out Jesse's room so soon after he went missing, so quick to give up. She breathed.
"So walking into this house, for me," Bill continued, "is easier than walking into my own."
"Wow," Richie breathed.
"What?" Bev asked.
"He didn't stutter once."
They all began to walk onto the porch, before Stan spoke up.
"Wait," he called. "Um, shouldn't, you know, some people keep watch? You know, just in case something bad happens?"
Summer's heart went out to Stan. The boy was so afraid, and they all knew it, including him. She wanted to wrap the curly haired boy in a hug, something she would regret not doing for the rest of her life.
"W-who wants to stay out here?" Bill asked, eyeing them all. Everyone except Bev raised their hand.
Richie's eyes glossed over all of them, including Summer's pale arm raised high. "Fuck."
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The door creaked open, Summer's hand clasped tightly in Eddie's as they walked in behind Bill and Richie.
