The Phone Calls ☏ || reddie

Friendships and Fists

Hawkins Middle School, Hawkins, Indiana
Tuesday December 1st 1986
7:53 am

The next day, Richie went to school, keeping his promise to Eddie. He walked over to his locker, the one close to Mike's where Mike, Will, Dustin and Lucas were. None of them even acknowledged the fact he was back.

A girl walked to the locker right next to his, a girl he's never seen before.

Perfect, a new girl. A great way to make a friend.

"Hi." He said, turning to look at her.

She looked at him. Her big eyes scanning him. "Hi." She said back, quietly.

"Are you new?" He asked, she shook her head.

"No, well, yes. Tuesday was my first day. Are you new? I didn't see you here this whole week."

"No, i'm not. I was just having issues." He mumbled. "My names Richie."

"I'm Jane." She smiled. "What teacher do you have?"

"Mr. Craig what about you?"

"Mrs. Lynn." She smiled. "I'll see you later, maybe at lunch?" She asked. He smiled and nodded.

As she walked off, he thought of how proud Eddie will be as soon as he hears the news about him making a new friend, a friend that he won't have to share with Mike.

-

Derry Area Middle School, Derry, Maine
Tuesday December 1st 1986
7:53 am

Eddie walked to school with William Denbrough, or stuttering Bill as most kids call him.

"I'm l-literally screwed." Bill mumbled.

"Why?" Eddie zoned out for most the conversation.

"J-jesus, Eddie. I just t-told you."

"Yeah, sorry, I wasn't listening."

"I figured." Bill shook his head. "A-anyway, i'm screwed because I-I forgot to do that dumb h-h-homework for science." He rolled his eyes.

"Bill, really? It was one sheet of paper." Eddie sighed.

"So?"

The two entered the building, walking over to Bill's locker first because it was the closests. Bill entered his combination, pulling the lock and opening it to grab his textbooks. But they weren't in his hands long before he got shoved into the locker door.

"Well, well, well, two losers cowerding off." Henry Bowers snickered.

Patrick Hockstetter pushed Eddie as well, causing him to begin to hyperventilate.

"L-leave us alone!" Bill yelled.

"Shut up, Bill.' Eddie mumbled.

Henry only laughed as he swung his arm back and throwing it hard against Bill's glabella. Bill's vision went fuzzy as Henry kept hitting and hitting, his ears ringing as his eyelids grew heavy.

Patrick and Belch laughed, wanting to join in on the fun. Patrick grabbed Eddie's chin. Belch walked up, hitting Eddie hard in the stomach.

People were crowding around the group as blood was gushing from Bill's poor nose, and Eddie's breathing was becoming uneasy.

Soon Bill passed out, making Henry chuckle and drop him to the cold, hard, tile floor. Kicking him and laughing at the knocked out boy.

"B-Bill." Eddie wheezed out, his breathing dying as his throat began to close.

Henry walked over, taking care of Eddie. He smacked Patrick's arm away and fisted his hand around the yellow fabric of Eddie's shirt. He laughed right in his face and looking back at his goons, before-as fast as lighting- throwing his arm back and whacking Eddie across the face, making his head snapped towards his right and his breathing stop for a good minute.

His head hung, his vision became heavy, he could see a double pair of his feet hanging as his breathing was coming and going.

"Let's go boys." Henry smiled, dropping Eddie as well. "Sorry, folks, shows over." He laughed, and walked away as everyone went back to their past conversations.

Eddie looked at Bill before his eyes slowly shut.

-

132 Neibolt Street, Derry, Maine
Tuesday December 1st, 1986
4:01 pm

Eddie woke up in his bed, Stan beside him in his desk chair. He blinked a few times, recognizing the room and the memories flooding back.

"Stan?" He asked, sitting up but falling back as his stomach ached. "How did I get into my room?"

"I brought you here."

"How long was I out for?"

"Most the day. The nurse said you'd wake up then fall asleep." Stan replied, erasing whatever was in the notebook he had.

"Is Bill okay?"

"I don't know, I'm hoping. Ben took him home."

"I was really hoping the day would've been better."

"What even happened?"

"We didn't even do anything to piss him off. We were at Bill's locker and he just attacked us."

Stan sighed, sitting up in his chair. "You guys don't deserve that."

"No one does. It's dumb how no one cares. People don't try to stop him, teachers don't seem to care either."

Stan nodded. "Of course they wouldn't..." Stan looked around the room. "How's your face and stomach? The nurse said you and Bill were pretty injured."

"It's hurting." He said.

"You have a bruise on your cheek."

"Probably on my stomach-"

The phone began to ring. Eddie looked at the alarm clock that sat on his night stand.

Richie.

He slowly and gently moved off the bed, sitting on the window sill.

"Who's calling?" Stan asked.

"My friend." He picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hi Eds!" Richie exclaimed through the other end.

"You seem happy today."

"Yes I am, and you will be to!"

"Why?"

"I made a new friend today! Her name is Jane and she seems really nice!"

Eddie could tell how happy Richie was, which caused him to smile. "That's great!"

"I know! And Mike didn't even bother me today at school." Richie smirked. "How was your day?"

Eddie sighed. "Not as great as yours."

"Why?" His voice dying down from happiness.

"My friend, Bill and I got knocked up by this douchebag, Henry Bowers."

Richie gasped. "Oh my gosh! Are you guys okay?"

"I'm fine, but I don't know about Bill." Eddie glanced up at Stan who was back to focusing on his notebook.

"I'm sorry your day was bad, Eds."

"Eddie. And it's fine, it doesn't matter. But, i'll call you back, okay? My friends here."

"Okay. But promise you will."

"Promise."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye."