Scared; A Richie Tozier Story

03

I was undecided about going to the Quarry with the boys. I had been talking with Beverly yesterday after the pharmacy incident, and she decided she would go.

I really didn't know what I wanted to do. My mom greatly disapproved of all the boy-friends I had made, but said she'd overlook it if I stuck with Beverly. Daddy was just happy I had made some nice friends, regardless of their gender.

I was thinking about what to do as I ate breakfast with just mom this morning. Daddy was doing some in-person interviews with locals, so it was just my mother and me. I was eating oatmeal and mother was reading the newspaper like daddy usually does. 

I swing my legs and hum to myself, trying to figure out what I should do.

I mean, of course, I want to go to the quarry with them, and I'm so glad to have made such good friends, but what if I embarrass myself? I just don't want to lose the friends I've just made, and they seem like a tightly knit group who are wary of outsiders.

On the other hand, I was invited, and it'll probably be super fun.

I nod to myself, and mom looks at me funny. I giggle and decide I will go to the quarry with my new friends.

"Mom?" I say, and she looks up from the newspaper she's clearly reading for show.

"Yes, honey?" she responds, looking over at me and folding the newspaper in relief.

"Can I go to the quarry today?"I ask, smiling a huge smile and purposefully leaving out who's going although I know she'll ask.

"Well, who's going?" Bingo.

"My friends from school... and Beverly," I say the first part quietly and make sure that she knows Bev will also be there.

"Well I guess," she says sighing. I squeal and jump up from my chair, eager to get ready to go.

"Stay out of trouble though, okay honey?" she says with a concerned look on her face.

"Of course mom," I say, hugging her and then running off to my room.

I have to get dressed, which doesn't take very long. I figure it's too late to try and fit in, given they've all seen me in my "New York clothes".

I haul on a white t-shirt and pink overalls. I make sure to grab sunglasses on the way out of my room, given the sun is shining bright today. I take a quick look at myself in the bathroom mirror as I brush my teeth, and then hair.

I head down the hallway, excited to go see my friends and have a fun day. I figure I'll be there at the right time, as the boys never told us when to go. I haul my bike out of the garage, and mom sticks her head out the door.

"Have a good time!" she calls as I put on my sunglasses, "Be careful!"

I nod and wave at her as I peddle down the road. Beverly told me how to get to the quarry yesterday, and I roll over her directions in my mind as I head to the foretold "beautiful spot". 

I pull up to see the boys all hauling their shirts off. Oh. They swim in their underwear. I mean, I don't know what I expected, given I didn't bring a bathing suit either. I jump off my bike and let it fall next to all the other bikes around me.

"Hi boys," I say, untying my sneakers. If I'm weird about the underwear thing, they'll be weird about it too, and then the whole day will go downhill. 

"Hey Annalisa," Stan says, making eye contact with me. I smile at the fact that he's not gawking at me in front of me, unlike Richie. I ignore Richie and look at Stan.

"Hey Stanley," I say, as he used my full name. I never really asked if Stanley was actually his name, but by the look on his face, I assume I was correct.