homesick | reddie

chapter two: crosswalk

• richie tozier's point of view •

as i slowly peddle around the corner of the school gymnasium, i begin to notice the sound of laughter. i glance up and see kids walking with other kids in their 'trendy' clothes and expensive shoes, must be nice.

"trashmouth!" i hear someone call from behind.

i whip my head around to see mike and stan walking on the other side of the street. stan nudges mike with his shoulder and gives him a quick glare before turning to me and smiling.

stan has been my best friend since diapers. he was my neighbor before the bank took my house. we used to run around in my backyard with nothing but our tighty-whities, chasing each other with the hose. when we became homeless, stan invited me to move in with him but my parents wouldn't allow it.

still, we remained best friends. he's introduced me to a few of his other friends, mike, beverly, ben, and eddie. they're the closest things i have to a normal kid's life. i stop peddling and walk with my bike across the street, towards stan and mike.

"hey, losers." i say with a grin.

"hey, richie." stan replies, also with a big smile.

"check out my new watch!" mike rolls up his sleeve and reveals the shiny, gold wristwatch.
the sun reflects off the glass, blinding me.

i stare at it, envious of his pride. i want a watch. i mean, not a watch specifically, i just want something cool to flaunt around. all i have are clothes from 4 years ago. stan notices me staring and motions to mike to put the watch away. i snap out of my unrealistic thoughts, and glance up at the both of them. i sharply inhale through my nose, uncomfortable with the awkward silence.

"yep. great watch, mike." i say, exhaling.

"i- um... i'm-" mike starts, but is interrupted by the screeching tires of henry bowers' car. it pulls up next to us, slowly, as the windows roll down.

"hey, tozier. want a ride?" he motions for me to get in.

"no, thanks, i'm walking with mi..." i trail off, realizing the consequences of saying 'no.'

henry reaches over and opens the passenger side's door from his seat.

"stan, can you lock up my bike, please?" i say, handing him the bike and bike lock. he nods with a worried look in his eyes. i shrug and turn around, facing henry. i slide into the seat and gently close the door, avoiding being scolded for 'slamming' it.

"hi, honey. how are you lately?" he stares me down and a mischievous grin grows on his lips.

"i- uh.. i've been... alright..." i say in a whisper voice, not on purpose, just out of instinct.

"now, now. i've told you this, before-" he cuts himself off and grabs my face, pulling me towards him.

"LOOK AT ME!" he screams from his gut, spit catapulting onto my cheeks. my eyes widen with fear and i gulp hard. tears begin to leak and run down my face, onto his hands.

"oh, baby... no need to cry... i just need a lot from you. i'm sorry." he wipes my tears and i flinch at the gesture.

"i-it's okay." i pull away and buckle up my seat belt.

he switches his foot from the brake to the gas and the car accelerates. as we turn the corner, i see stan and mike meet up with ben and beverly. i sigh to myself, wishing i could be with them.

he parks the car and i open the door, grabbing my backpack. i walk around the car, being suddenly blocked by henry. i look down, afraid, as his arms reach out to me. his cold, boney fingers caress my face and form a sudden grip. my developing jawline rests in the center of his palms as he pulls my face closer to his.

our lips connect, my body is trembling in fear, fear that stan is watching- or anyone for that matter. but if stan sees, he'll get angry and try to fight henry which will end with his lifeless body lying in the school parking lot.

henry bites down on my bottom lip, licking it, then forces his tongue into my mouth. his toxic fluids are trickling down my throat as his tongue swirls all over the inside of my mouth. he pulls away, giving me one last peck and winks as he walks towards the school.

i wipe my mouth and spit on the ground, disgusted, not just with him but myself for allowing this. i see mike and stan by the bike rack, meeting up with ben. i jog across the road, not looking for cars.

"hey!" i hear a familiar voice call. i turn my head to the side and find eddie, about to walk on the crosswalk.

"huh?" i ask, confused.

"richie, you have to use the crosswalk when you cross the road- and look both ways! come over here, i'll show you." he says, gesturing for me to go over to him.

"oh, but i'm already to the other side." i say, excusing myself.

"i don't care, you could've been hit. you need to learn a lesson." he says very matter-of-factly.

i scoff and roll my eyes, jogging back across the road. when i reach the crosswalk, he smiles and motions for me to walk across it. i shake my head in refusal. he takes my hand and starts to walk forward. i reluctantly walk with him, subconsciously enjoying my hand in his. when we reach the other side, he applauds and hops up and down, letting go of my hand.

"yay for richie!" he says with more applause.

"yay for eddie!" i mockingly applaud.

eddie crosses his arms and turns the other way. he wraps his fingers around his backpack straps and walks toward the losers, his hips swaying just a bit in each step. i follow, sliding my thumbs into my front pant pockets. they have a meaningless conversation about some kid in their class who has a stutter while stan ignores them and just stares at my extremely forced smile. the school bell rings and we head inside. our group breaks up one by one as everyone begins to walk to homeroom, leaving just eddie and i.

"who do you have for homeroom, again?" eddie inquires.

"i haven't ever told you." i say, turning a corner and him following.

"why not?" he says, furrowing his eyebrows.

"it's never come up in conversation. usually, we only see each other when stan, mike, and ben are around and that's the way we met. you and i don't typically converse." i reply, with a smile.

"huh. i guess you're right. you talk with big words." he giggles as he spoke.

"i do?"

"mhm." he says with a nod.

"i didn't know that..." i respond, trailing off into my own thoughts. i mindlessly continue to walk to my homeroom, eddie following. he's a curious one, that boy. when we arrive, i find myself shaking to the core in fear. my eyes begin to water, making my vision blurry. i'm now looking at the silhouette of the one person i didn't want eddie to meet.