where we left off

1

October 1987, Derry Junior High:

Richie Tozier was intrigued by the new kid.The latest addition to the school was skinny and pale,a long nose and very curly hair.He wore polo shirts and sweatervests.The new kid had seemingly no friends and a slightly different accent to the rest of the student body.

"Hello.My name is Stanley Uris.I lived in Chicago and moved here so that my father can be the new rabbi.I like reading and math." The new kid,Stanley,had introduced himself that morning.Stanley had stared ahead while introducing himself in a monotone Illinois accent.

Stanley read books at break times and never changed in the boy's lockers,which Eddie said was "actually pretty smart,have you seen how filthy those rooms are?".

Richie and Bill were out on a hall pass and were dithering in the hallways on the way to the secretary's when Stanley rushed past,books clutched to his chest.

"Where are you going,babe? Don't run away from our relationship,girl!" Richie joked.
"Don't call me "babe" or "girl"." Stanley snapped. He looked like he had been crying.

Bill put a hand on Stanley's shoulder.

"Don't fucking touch me!" Stanley jumped at Bill's comforting hand. His voice was high pitched and confused.

Bill withdrew his hand,confusion etched into his features. Stanley walked off,leaving Bill and Richie quite confused.

Three days later,Bill,Richie and Eddie were walking home. Stanley was walking in front of them,his messenger bag clapping against his hip.Rain was battering against their coats and bags.
Stanley walked into a small cafe and sat down. The other boys followed him,they had grown quite curious over this boy.

Stanley drank some tea and payed,tipping two bucks. He ran around to the newsagent's and bought a magazine. The magazine seemed awfully girly,bright pink and shimmering. Stanley marched over to the slightly scruffier parts of town and threw the magazine into an open window.
Bill crinkled his eyebrows together when a redhead stuck her pretty face out the window and shouted down a thanks.

"What?" Mouthed Eddie.
"Is that Beverly Marsh?" Whispered Richie.

Stanley then proceeded to walk five times around a block and then down a small alleyway.

He then turned around,keys sticking out between each finger.

"I don't know what you all are trying to do,but I grew up in what was essentially a ghetto.I know how to defend myself." Stanley growled.

Richie suddenly realized that they must have looked like they were stalking Stanley.

"Ah shit. We're not trying to hurt you. We were just worried about you." Eddie said.

Stan lowered his key-studded fist slightly and eased his glare.

"Why would you worry about me."

"Hell if I know,you just seemed kinda freaked out." Richie shrugged.

"Do you want to hang out at my place?" Bill asked.

Stan's gaze softened and he put his keys back in his pocket.

"I would like that. Thank you,William."

"It's Bill. That's Richie and he's Eddie." Bill smiled.

"You guys can call me Stan."

And that evening,Stan told them about many things. His mother dying in childbirth last year,his dad's depression,the long hours Mr Uris would work and the bullies back in Chicago.

Over the course of the next few months of friendship,Stan would tell them something else. The fact that the only living Uris son was in fact called a daughter until he told his parents otherwise.

Over the next few years of friendship,many things would happen.
Beverly,Ben and Mike joined their group.
Bill and Bev started dating.
Bill and Bev broke up.
Mike started going to school with the rest of them in freshman year.
Richie,then Eddie,then Bev and finally Stan came out in sophomore year.
Bill came out in the summer of sophomore year.
Stan kissed Bill at the start of junior year and they started dating.

In 1993,The Losers Club started their senior year.Ben had asked Bev out that summer and the two were dating. Who knows what Richie and Eddie were doing.

On a fine mid-September day,Bev decided it was the Last Nice Day until summer would rolled around again. So she took them all to the quarry,which was deserted, to go swimming and eat a picnic.
As soon as Mike pulled up,she jumped out of the car and stripped down to her underwear. Bev left her dress and tights in a pile and ran up to the highest rocks. The rest followed suit,taking off shorts and t-shirts and running up to the rocks.

"Last one to swim back to shore has to clean up the picnic!" Bev screamed before throwing herself into the water.

It was Richie who lost.

As the seven friends sat on the picnic blanket and chewed sandwiches,prepared by Eddie and Mike,they laughed and chatted. They swam until the sun started setting and then retreated back to Mike's truck and watched the stars.

Stanley Uris had progressed a lost in the past six years. He had the highest grades in every class except English and P.E.,his father had a new wife and a second child. Stan had started testosterone,he had peach fuzz and his voice was deeper.

The truck bed was small. Richie and Eddie's legs were tangled,Bev was practically lying on top of Ben and Stan had laid his head on Bill's chest.

The stars were bright and beautiful.

But the losers did not realize that everything was going to change soon and that senior year was going to be one hell of a ride.

But the stars were bright and beautiful,that was enough for now.