Don't Worry || Chris Chambers x Reader

First Encounter

Y/n's POV

"We're moving" 

"What? No we can't, I can't leave everything behind!"

I was thirteen at the time when my dad told me that we were moving to a small town called Castle Rock. There was no warning, by the time he told me, all our stuff was packed up and the car was already running. I couldn't tell anyone I was leaving, there wasn't any time. This was it, a blank slate-- starting from square one yet again. 

~Time skip // In Castle Rock~

"I'll get our suitcases into the house."

"Okay, whatever."

"Y/N, you know we had to move for work. Not everything is your choice anymore. Go take a walk around town, I'm busy all afternoon."

"When aren't you?"

"Shut your mouth and get moving, I don't have time for this."

I sighed, he never has time for me anymore. Nonetheless, I obeyed his instructions and wandered downtown. It was a pretty small town, not too loud-- not much happening. I decided I might as well get to know some people since my dad wasn't going to be around much. Ahead of me I saw a group of guys, maybe a few years older than me-- they looked approachable. As I neared them, they seemed more and more dangerous to be around. Now as they were merely three feet away, one of them steps forward. 

"Who the hell are you?" He asks

"I could ask you the same thing. Get out of my way." I spit back at him

He steps closer to me, with a deadpan blank expression on his face, and in an emotionless voice, he speaks to me. 

"What did you say to me you whore?"

I sighed, "Get out of my way. You and your posse of idiots are blocking the sidewalk."

Once again he takes a step forwards, clears his voice, and speaks directly into my ear. 

"Ace. Ace Merrill. I think you'd best apologize to me, that would make me feel much better."

I laugh, "Seriously? That's your name? And for the record-- I don't do apologies."

Ace throws me to the ground, "You might wanna rethink that."

"In your dreams Merrill, I'm not gonna say sorry to you" I whisper, my lungs being compressed against the concrete.

I hear a soft *click* sound from behind me. I know that sound too well. Within seconds, I could feel the cool blade against the skin on the back of my neck.

"You really should learn your manners, you wouldn't want to hurt my feelings now would you?" He hisses.

I close my eyes, bracing for the knife to go deep into my neck. "I don't back down Ace."

He sighs from behind me. "Look, I don't want to have to do this sweetheart, just tell me your name and we can all let this little encounter slide."

Small rocks from the ground begun digging into my face. "Y-Y/N."

"See that's better, things are a lot easier when we can compromise." Ace smiles. 

I dust myself off and walk away slowly. God I've barely been here for a day and I already hate Castle Rock.

Seconds after I walk away from Ace and his posse, I turn the corner and run into another group of kids and stumble back. "O-Oh sorry, I'll get out of your way." I step to the side of them and attempt to walk away.

"Are you new to Castle Rock? I've never seen you before." One of them says

"Yeah, just got in this morning. My dad kicked me out so I'm on my own for now."

"Oh, well it's nice to meet you. I'm Teddy Duchamp, this is Chris Chambers, Vern Tessio, and Gordie Lachance." He smiles

"Well it's nice to see someone is respectable around here," I say, sarcastically. "I'm Y/N."

"I'm assuming you met Ace then, huh..?" Lachance says.

"Oh yeah, he's the absolute worst." Chris adds on.

I smile softly, I liked these guys, they seemed nice which was a change; I've never known anyone like them. I begin to walk away when Chris stops me.

"Hey, if you really don't have anywhere to go then maybe you can join us?" He asks

"Actually yeah, I'd love to do that. T-Thanks."

I turn to walk with them before sharing a quick look with Vern and then follow them through the town. They led me up a small hill to a patch of trees. As I followed them up the summit of the hill, the roof of a tree house peaks over the horizon.

"This is our home base." Teddy says, motioning to the tree that the building sat atop. 

"It's gorgeous." I say in amazement, the tree house obviously built by hand

Lachance motions for me to follow him up the ladder. He pushes open the trap door and lends a hand to assist me into the room. I fall back onto a wooden chair behind me, taking in the sights of the room. The place is quite homey, low lights with soft radio in the background. On the table, a deck of cards is laid out. The light coming through the window was shining in my eyes as I combed through my hair with my hand. 

"Where are you from Y/N?" Vern says as he looks over at me emphatically.

"Doesn't matter where I'm from;" I say, "just where I am now."

"It's a nice way of thinking, god knows our lives are significantly less than ideal." Chris sympathizes. 

"Yeah..." I trail off

"Hey, Y/N you sure you're alright?" Teddy says. 

I nod and then look out the window aside me, seeing the town from high up really shows how beautiful it is. I sigh looking back at the ground, then back up at the guys who have resumed their game. I've never had friends like this before, and just knowing I belong for once is such a wonderful feeling. 

"Guys, I've gotta go before Billy comes looking for me" Vern says worriedly, half tumbling down the stairs. 

~Time Skip // 9 pm or so~

I laugh, looking over at Chris to see that he was looking back at me with a soft smile. He looks back down to his cards before making an underhand remark about Gordie. I stand up, the guys look over to me; yawning. 

"I'm going to start walking home so I can get to sleep." I say awkwardly.

"Alright, bye" Gordie says.

"Come back here tomorrow by lunch, we're doing this again." Chris smiles.

I nod, "I will."

Teddy looks up at me, a little more pink than usual; "See you."

I shut the trap door above me and walk away, the grass crunching under my feet.