LOSERS

First Meetings

(https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0psH1qIRPzTR7wjkPAe087?si=qKZt4N_fQVKdGYAeSA4laQ the playlist I made and listened too while writing this)

Richie Tozier knew for a fact people found him annoying. He didn't have very many friends because of it. His only close friend, Stanley Uris, was a grade below him. Richie was about to have his entire life turned upside down the minute summer hit. He was going to discover a lot the summer of 2019. When the bell rang Richie made his way to the meeting place he and Stan had set. "Stan the man! What is up dude!" Richie called as he approached the tall, curly haired boy. Stan looked up and rolled his eyes. "Ready for summer?"
"Hell yeah!" Richie enthusiastically replied. Stan gave him a small smile and started walking. Richie kept pace with him and cracked jokes here and there. The two boys had a great platonic love for each other. Richie remembers how they had met like it was yesterday. 7th grade, Henry Bowers and his band of hooligans we're making fun of Stan. Richie being Richie, started running his mouth. It landed him in the hospital for a few days but at least he gained a friend out of it. The two boys had been inseparable since then. "Your family going anywhere special this summer?" Richie asked breaking the comfortable silence.
"No, staying in Derry this summer. What about you?" Stan questioned. Richie shook his head in response. His family had no reason to go anywhere else but Derry. Richie of course wanted to see the world though. He hoped to move to California when he was older.

The two boys walked a little longer before they came across Henry and his gang cornering a small boy. "Scared fairy boy?" Henry taunted, getting in the boys face.
"Hey! Asshole, pick on someone your own size!" Richie called. Stan gave him a look, he was scared. Henry turned to Richie, a dark look on his face. Richie flipped him off and took off running, Henry and his gang chasing him. Stan took the opportunity to check on the boy they had been tormenting. "Are you ok?" Stan questioned has he approached him.
"Yeah. Just a little shook up is all." He answered.
"My name is Stanley Uris. What about you?"
"Eddie Kaspbrak. What about your friend? Will he be ok?" Eddie asked nervously. Stan laughed at that. "Richie will be just fine. That boy can't keep his mouth shut for more than a minute. He'll talk Bowers and his gang up so much they'll give up and let him go."
"Oh."
"Richie may be annoying as hell but when it comes to talking and getting out of shit he's great at it," Stan laughed a bit "that's actually how we became friends. He saved me from Henry and his idiots when I was in 6th grade."
Eddie smiled. "He sounds like a great friend. My friends would panic and not know what to do in that situation."
"Sounds like me. I always panic in situations like this. Who are your friends?" Stan asked curiously.
"Beverly Marsh, Bill Denbrough, Ben Hanscom, and Mike Hanlon." Eddie laughed and Stan's expression.
"I only have one friend and it's Richie Tozier." Stan replied. As if on cue Richie returned, panting aggressively. Stan and Eddie watched him attempt to catch his breath as he laughed a bit.
"I lost them." Richie panted, collapsing onto a bench. Stan sat by him, thinking.
"Richie what to you think about inviting Eddie and his friends to do our quarry trip?" Stan asked hopefully.
"Sure. The more the merrier!" Richie smiled. He was always up for a bigger audience to entertain with his jokes.
"How about we head home?" Stan remarked. Richie and Eddie nodded in agreement. The boys walked home making small talk until it was just Richie. He walked into his house, happy to have made a possible new friend. He could feel this was going to be a great summer. A very great summer.