At the young age of 16, Beverly Marsh was faced with harassment daily. She never got a break. Whether it was at school, at home, or somewhere in between, Beverly knew it was because she was a girl, and a pretty one, too. At the young age of 16, she knew that the men in her town were, in her own words, gross. She liked to think she had gotten used to it, but truthfully she couldn't stand it. There was always a little voice in the back of her head that tried to convince her it was her fault. And sometimes it succeeded.Your dress is too short Bev. You shouldn't wear anything that cuts too low, Bevvie. Bevvie? Answer me. BEVVIE! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING? GET BACK HERE AND GET CHANGED! BEV!
"Bev?"
Richie looked at her with a slightly concerned expression on his face. He sat in a desk in front of her, his torso twisted around to face her. She was sitting in her cold desk, staring out the window with a stern look, watching as a group of girls were setting up a sign for the annual homecoming dance in the courtyard, erupting in giggles and whispers as a junior on the school's baseball team walked by and winked at them. She looked accross the courtyard. A couple walked together chatting, hand in hand. She sighed.
The classroom was empty except for Beverly, Mrs. Cohen (the English teacher who was quietly grading papers), Jamie Griswold (who always stayed behind during lunchtime to read and study by herself), and now Richie Tozier. Richie spoke quietly but quickly, trying not to be a nuisance. "Hey Bev, you okay? Didn't you hear the bell ring for lunch like 10 minutes ago? The guys are wondering where you're at. I came back here to look for you." He spoke slightly louder now, being his usual self. "Good thing you're such a huge nerd or who knows where you would've ran off to." She turned to look at Richie, who looked bright-eyed and ready for a laugh. She knew he'd be sad if she didn't at least play along, so she gave him a smile. It was meant for Richie, but it somehow cheered herself up a bit.
"Oh shut up, you're the one with straight A's,"
"That's only to impress the ladies," he said while winking at Jamie Griswold. She pretended to not see him.
Beverly sighed.
"Why are boys like... like...", she struggled to find the right word. "...like that?" Richie looked at her confused but eager to help.
"What do you mean? Like what?"
"Like... like.....I don't know, like, mean?" Richie looked slightly offended, but mostly confused.
"What? Mike's not mean. Bill's not mean. Stan's like the nicest person I know! Ben's practically in love with you, why would he be mean? What about me? I'm not mean! Well, I guess most of the time. And what about Eddie?" He paused and quickly shifted his eyes in thought. "Wait, no, I take that last one back. He can be a dickhead sometimes. But you get what I'm trying to say. If all your best friends are boys, then how can you say all boys are mean?"
"Yeah, you guys ARE my friends. I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about all the others. Why do none of them talk to me unless its to bother me or be an asshole?" She sighed, looked down at her hands, and began to pick at a hangnail quietly. Richie could see she was upset.
"Bev, those guys are assholes. You don't want their attention anyway."
Beverly stayed silent for a few seconds and thought about what Richie had just said. She had never really thought about it that way before. She continued to pick at the hangnail.
"Yeah, maybe you're right," she said in a defeated tone. "I guess I just wish someone thought I was cool enough to ask to the dance."
Richie shifted his eyes in thought once more, this time with a growing smirk on his face. He stood up swiftly and then got down on one knee. Beverly watched in confusion as he lifted his hand up to her.
"Beverly Marsh!", he yelled in a comically posh British accent. Mrs. Cohen shushed him. He continued, this time in a quieter tone but still with the same accent. "Will you do me the honor of accompanying me to Derry High School's Annual Homecoming Dance?" He bowed his head, his hand still in the same position.
Wide-eyed, she looked down at him, trying to fight a smile. What an idiot, she thought. She gave in and giggled.
"Fine. But only because I know no one else would go with you. Also put your damn hand down, I'm not touching it."
YOU ARE READING
truth or dare // reddie
FanfictionIt's 1994, the losers are now freshman at Derry High, and the dance is coming up. They all make plans for the night, but none of them go exactly as they thought they would.
