Yellow Dress//Bill Denbrough

N i n e

I just realized that the Halloween chapter of the first book is also Chapter Nine... I swear to God that it wasn't intentional... but hey, we love parallelism. Very slight mature content. Also: lots of rights!!!🧚‍♀️

Beverly decides to continue the Molly Ringwald theme for Halloween this year, going as Sam from Pretty in Pink.

While helping her go thrift shopping for costume pieces, Carn almost bursts into tears at a Jack-o-lantern onesie. Needless to say, Beverly buys it.

They wait pretty last minute to do their shopping, but the two girls manage to pull off their costumes really well- Carn especially, who is doing something simple and sweet.

Carnation is on pins and needles as her mother meticulously pulled her hair into a braided bun Halloween evening. She longs to tell her the truth, but she still can't get it out. She can't risk ruining the relationship she's had with her mother. Until the past year in Derry, Carn's mother had probably been her closest companion.

"Hey... Mama?" she lifts her head, but her mom tenderly presses it back down to keep braiding and wrapping.

"Yes, my darling?"

How could I let her down like this? No, I'll tell her later.

"Thank you for doing my hair," she smiles, though she's facing towards the wall.

"You're welcome. I'm just about done. Hairspray?"

Carn hands her the aerosol can, which she sprays on her flaxen hair.

"Beautiful. Have a great time trick or treating!"

"Um, actually... Bill and I are going to hand out candy this year. I mean, the rest of our friends are going out, but we decided that we're probably too old."

She looks startled. "Oh? And what about 'I'm never too old to trick or treat?'"

"I guess that just, you know, changed."

Oh, how she hates lying to her mother. The real reason why she and Bill are handing out candy was so they could interact with the kids, get some practice, really.

"Okay! Well, have a great time, and take lots of photos. You're still sleeping over Clara's, right?"

She nods. Another lie. Like last Halloween, she'll be staying over at Bill's.

Carn's mother hands her a few bags, one with her costume and the other her overnight bag.

"Happy Halloween, mama," she kisses her cheek before walking to Bill's.

When Carn reaches the house, she's unsurprised to see that she was the last one there.

"Thank fuck you're here. Bill's being a drama queen and won't come out of his room. Another year in a row," Richie rolls his eyes.

"Nice to see you, too. And I'm sure he's only not coming out because we want our costumes to be a surprise."

"Couple costumes again?" Stan raises his eyebrows, before adding, "Even though you weren't even a couple yet last Halloween."

Carn ignores the sarcastic comment. "Wait until you guys see. I think its going to be really cute. And look at you guys! My... five Ghostbusters."

"I told you guys there were five of us, but none of you dicks believed me," Eddie scolds Richie, Mike, Ben, and Stan.

"Eddie, it's fine," Clara laughs.

"It's not that big of a deal," Ben agrees.

"Fine," he grumbles, letting Stan wrap a calming arm around him.