Demons | Bill Denbrough

12. Salvation

It was September. The losers gathered in the grassland near the stream in which the rock war occurred.

Beverly was recalling what she saw in the deadlights. "I only remember parts, but...I thought I was dead. That's what it felt like. I saw us, saw us together, back in the cistern, but we were older... I mean our parents' ages."

"Am I still as handsome as an adult?" Richie asked, making most of the losers to chuckle.

Beverly smiled. "You grow into your looks."

"What the fuck does that mean?" Richie asked.

"What about me?" Stan questioned her.

This time, her smile faltered but hesitantly told him, "...Like now but taller."

Katherine was about to ask why she hesitated but Bill asked, "W-W-W-What were we all doing there?" Bill asked her.

"I just remembered how we felt, how scared we were, I don't think I can ever forget that."

Katherine squeezed her shoulder in comfort. "So are most of us hot as grown-ups?" she asked to try and lighten the mood causing most to laugh.

"Damn, right...Well, you were," Beverly told her with a smile and honesty.

Katherine grinned at this.

"I think I can be hotter than you," Richie said.

"Don't bet on it. I'm hot already, I get hotter. You're only at the cute stage," Katherine boasted.

Bill picked up a broken piece of glass and stood up. "Swear it," Bill began. "Swear if IT isn't dead, if IT ever comes back, we'll come back too."

Seeing as how important this was to Bill, Katherine was the first to stand then, Beverly and the rest of the boys. Bill began to cut open his own left palm, then Richie's, Eddie's, Mike's, Stan's, Ben's, Beverly's then Katherine's who didn't even flinch as the glass glided across her palm, her eyes only stayed on Bill's.

Then, she turned to Stan. "Are you okay?" she asked, sensing his nervousness.

"I swear, Katherine," was all he said.

All losers connected their bloody hands as a pact. A promise that in 27 years if IT wasn't dead, they'd come back together to end IT.

Sadly, only 7 losers would return instead of 8. A call 27 years later would make one of the losers to...

Never return to Derry.

Stan was the first to break away. "I gotta go," Stan said before looking to Bill. "I hate you." His face broke into a smile. "I'll see you later."

"Later, Stan the Man," Katherine called to the boy making him wave at her.

Eddie walked away, causing Katherine to give the boy a hug and his second inhaler, them Richie left, Mike and Ben, leaving just Katherine, Bill, and Beverly.

"You all packed for Portland?" Katherine asked the redhead, Bill gave them time to say goodbye.

"Yeah, pretty much. I'm going tomorrow morning."

"How long will you be gone?" Katherine asked.

"My aunt says I can stay for as long as I want. Just so you know, I never felt like a loser when I was with all of you." Katherine began to tear up. "Are you crying?" Beverly asked.

"Yeah, call me. I'm going to miss you," Katherine told her.

Beverly tried to hold back her own tears as the girls hugged. "I'll miss you too, Kat. It's good to know that someone actually understands me." She whispered to Katherine, "Tell Bill how you feel."

Katherine pulled back, ignoring that and saying, "I'll be at your house to say one last goodbye before you leave tomorrow. Bye, Bev."

She waved at Bill before walking away.

Bill stood up, standing beside Katherine. "Are y-y-you and Seth okay?" he asked her.

She nodded. "He's backed off a bit, yeah," she answered. "He told me and my mom what you guys did. Thanks. But if it's okay, can I still stay over at your house? I still don't feel safe sleeping in the same house though."

"You can a-a-a-always stay at my house," he told her. "Always."

Katherine smiled at him. "You're the best, Billy." She looked at the sky, seeing it was already getting dark. She began to walk away, "I should go home. Bye, Bill."

Bill stood in place for a moment, debating on whether or not he should- "Katherine," he called out, making the girl stop. He approached her. "I heard w-what you s-s-said at the p-p-park. Y-Y-Y-You need t-t-o know that I-I-I..."

He stutter was getting worse. It only got worse when he was nervous which Katherine knew.

"What's wrong, Billy? You can tell me."

He really tried to tell her but it only got harder to say, "I l-l-l-l...."

"You...what?"

Bill couldn't handle his stutter anymore and tried to speak with actions.

He pressed his lips to hers.

Katherine was in shock. If it were any other boy to kiss her, she would've pushed him away but it was Bill. Bill was the sweetest, most caring and kind guy she knows. Plus, she had a crush on him so why push him away?

She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of his lips on hers.

Bill had liked Katherine since they've had their first kiss in fourth grade. But after everything they've been through, he was now sure how he felt about her.

Bill pulled away from her. "I love you," he spoke much more clearly, his cheeks tinted pink.

Katherine's eyes met his as it felt like her heart leaped in her chest. "Really?"

Bill nodded, unable to form any more words.

She needed him, she almost lost him and it felt like a part of her died when she almost did. She loved him as a friend but there's something more she felt for him.

"I love you too," she told him with a smile.

This time, she was the one to lean in and kiss Bill but this kiss was much longer and needed.

Yes, they were young but they believed that this was love.

Katherine didn't need marijuana or drugs to get high. She felt something better the moment she kissed Bill.

Katherine pulled away with short breaths. "I gotta go," she told him as he rested his forehead against hers. "See you tomorrow?"

Bill nodded. "Yeah."

She pecked his lips one last time before saying, "Love you, see you later."

Bill watched her figure walk away, a genuine smile growing on his face. His first real smile since Georgie disappeared.

He loved her and that's all he knew from the beginning to the end of his childhood.

***

One last chapter and onto IT Chapter Two.

Merry Christmas!🎁🎅