Scared; A Richie Tozier Story

07

The simple fact that I've had two consecutive sleepovers with Richie Tozier is enough to scare the crap out of me. The fact that I woke up this morning wrapped in his arms was absolutely terrifying. I pull away from him as fast as I can, but he won't let go of me. I blush slightly as he groans and pulls me back into him. 

"Richie?" I whisper, poking him in the cheek, "Let go of me!"

Richie groans again and shoves his face back into the pillow. I sigh and pull away again. This time he lets me go and I swing my legs off the side of the bed. I rub my head. I still feel dizzy and weird after passing out yesterday. 

I can't fathom that there's some clown who practices black magic or something terrorizing us. My parents sure know how to pick a town. I turn around to look at Richie who has fallen back into a peaceful sleep. I figure that since he attempted to make breakfast for me yesterday after staying at my house, I should try to return the favor. 

I head down the stairs, looking at the pictures on the wall as I go. The pictures are all of two young people who I'm amusing are Richie's parents doing young couple-y things. There are no photos of Richie.  I think back to when he told me that his parents never really notice when he's around. I sigh and run a hand through my matted hair. He deserves so much better.

Just as I'm about to dig through the cupboards on a hunt for a pan, I hear a knock on the door. I glance in the direction of the stairs to see if Richie will answer the door given that it's his house, after all. When he doesn't come down the stairs I roll my eyes and head towards the door. 

I open the door to see Bill standing on the porch. He looks slightly surprised to see me in Richie's shirt in Richie's house but doesn't say anything and I'm glad. 

"So, w-we're going to my house to look at a m-m-map I saw at Ben Ben's the other day" Bill says quickly while glancing behind him. I nod, taking in how badly this must look and trying desperately to fix my hair so I don't look like the epitome of 'morning after'. We stand around in semi-uncomfortable silence until Bill nods to himself.

"Get r-r-ready while I go and get Ed-Eddie, I'll come b-ba-back for you two" Bill mutters the last part before turning and hurrying off the step. I take a deep breath and laugh, preparing myself to go get Richie up so we can go. 

Richie and I walk into Bill's garage to Stan taping blankets over the windows and Bill hauling out a huge map of Derry's sewer system. I shudder at the thought of the clown being right under our feet no matter where we are. He tapes the map to the wall and someone flips a big projector on. 

I sit on an old crate next to Richie and watch as Mike hauls the sliding garage door closed. Ben unzips his backpack and hauls out a small projector slide which he hands to Bill.

"What's that?" I say, pointing at the slide. 

"A map of old Derry" Eddie tells me, taking a seat in front of me and Richie. I watch as Richie kicks Eddie's seat and I giggle. Eddie turns around, irritated, and I point at Richie while trying to stifle my laughs. Bill lines the roads shown on the map of old Derry up with the sewer system. I shudder again. The clown really could be underneath us wherever we are. Everyone sits down and Bill points at the map.

"Look" he says, still pointing "That's where G-G-Georgie disappeared. There's the ironworks. And the blackspot. Everywhere IT happens is all connected by the sewers" he finishes. I nod, looking at all the marked places where IT has shown up before. 

"They all meet up at the.." Bill starts again before trailing off. 

"The Well House" I say, rubbing my hands nervously up and down my thighs.