What a Shitty End: A Richie and Eddie Fanfiction

Chapter 1: The Loser's Club

        The day our club was truly formed started like any other. It was me, Eddie, Bill, Bev, Ben, and Stan, we were out in the Barrens going to pop off some Black Cats that Stan had brought along. Right before we were gonna pop some off we had started hearing some not-so-far explosions. We only got to pop one of the Black Cats when it went down.

        "Ruh-Rocks," Bill said abruptly.

        "What, Bill?" Stan asked slowly.

        "Ruh-Ruh-Rocks. A-A-Ammo." Bill started picking up stones, and piling them into his pockets. We all looked at Bill like he was insane. It wasn't till Ben started picking up rocks that I put my glasses in my pocket. I don't even know why I decided to slip them into my pocket but, coincident or not Henry Bowers and his gang were on the way towards us. Obviously, we couldn't have known that they were nearing us but, somehow we all sorta just knew that danger wasn't far off.

        "What are you doing Richie?" Beverly asked me in a thin, tightened voice.

        I started to follow Bill and put rocks in my pocket. "Don't know, keed," I told her quite honestly. I looked to Eddie who didn't seem like he was doing either. He had sweat all over his forehead and he looked like he was about to have a panic attack. I wanted to go up to him. I wanted to tell him 'We're gonna be okay, Eds. So wipe that look off your face you aren't cute like that.' Then he'd give me that look and tell me, 'You know I don't like it when you call me Eds.' Then we'd all laugh it off. But I couldn't, I knew that something was coming.

        Ben looked at Beverly with a handful of rocks, he said, "Beverly, I think you should get behind us."

        Beverly just dismissed him, "Fuck that. Fuck all of that, Ben Hanscom." Beverly also started gathering rocks.

        It wasn't til she started gathering rocks that Stan had begun doing the same. I gave another glance at Eddie. I could tell that he was freaking out on the inside, even if he was trying not to. I swear I could feel his throat tightening as if it were my own. I was starting to get worried but he shook his head just enough to see the slightest movement. Eddie started picking up rocks as well.

        Like clockwork, a boy rolled out in front of them into the gravel-pit. He stood up onto one leg and limped halfway through the pit until he noticed all of us. I moved a little closer to Eddie starting to feel slightly protective.

        "Help," it wasn't til he spoke that I remembered his name, Mike Hanlon. He looked up to Bill, "Kids... big kids⎯"

        Henry was the first to burst out of the trees into the gravel pit. For the first time, he looked at us with uncertainty in his eyes, it didn't last long but it felt like we had an edge this time. For whatever reason, me, Eddie, and the gang were ready for them. Mike ran behind Bill, grinning at Bowers.

        Henry rambled on for a bit after about all of the gang, he knew all of us personally. Stuttering Bill, Four Eyes, Fat Boy, The Jew, The Nigger, and The Whore.

        Henry's gang came up from behind him. Henry stood confidently, "I got bones to pick with all of you but, I can let those go for today if you hand over that one. Buzz off you little shits."

        "He killed my dog!" Mike was terrified, his voice was almost a scream. "He said so!"

        "If you come over here, then maybe I won't kill you." He looked directly at Mike, who was trembling but did not move.

         It was Bill who would break the silence. He spoke calmly and clearly. "The B-Barrens are ours. You k-k-kids get out of h-here."

        Henry's eyes had gotten huge. He couldn't believe that these kids, Us, were standing up against him. "Well then, who's gonna make me? You?"

        "Uh-Uh-Us," Bill said confidently. Even through his stutter, Bill was strong. "We aren't t-t-taking your shit, B-B-Bowers. Get ow-ow-out."

        "You stuttering freak," Henry almost yelled while charging towards us.

        All of us had a handful of rocks except Mike and Beverly. Beverly only had one. Bill was the first to launch the attack, he threw each rock hard with fair accuracy. After Bill struck him twice, we all started hurling rocks. He was hit four more times. He looked back and shouted at his gang, "Come on, you guys! Help me!"

        Bill had a low, serious tone, "Ch-ch-charge them." He ran forward, as if he knew we would be right behind him.

        We all charged them. We pelted them with fairly good-sized stones and they tried pelting us with pebbles. We held our own, and we held it well. Victor Criss gave us the hardest time, he was a pitcher after all.

        I heard a wail as a rock hit Eddie directly on the chin, causing him to fall down. He started crying but got back up within seconds. I couldn't stand to hear Eddie crying, even though I knew he would get back up and wouldn't give in. I knew it was Victor's doing and tried pelting him with rocks. He dodged it easily and managed to get me right in the chest in the meantime. After that, something changed with Bill, him and Victor had locked eyes and for a split second Victor looked scared. At that moment, both Victor and Bill started toward each other hurling rocks at one another. Victor seemed to have the advantage, getting Bill four times but Bill continued forward looking practically unshaken. Bill had gotten Victor three times and he was out of rocks. Bill had one last rock, it was a rock made of quartz, roughly the size of a duck's egg.

        "Y-Y-You g-get ow-out of h-h-here now." Bill's voice was strong and he was now about directly in front of Victor, "or I'm g-going to spuh-puh-lit your h-head o-o-open. I m-mean ih-ih-it."

        Victor looked up at him and then ran. The other boys looked uncertain of what to do. After a few words between Henry and Bill. Henry looked scared and defeated. Moose and Belch had already dropped their rocks and it was only Henry now.

        After getting hit four more times, Henry got to his feet. He was sobbing and crying out as he ran, "I'll kill you all." He was gone.

        "You're gonna wish you didn't cross Henry, kid," Belch had said as he turned away. "Let's go, Moose."

        It was a fight that had lasted no more than four minutes but we could feel the strength of our gang. We stood there bleeding when I heard Eddie coughing and wheezing loudly. I didn't even notice Ben run towards the bushes until after.

        It was Bev and I who went straight to Eddie. I had to get his inhaler out of his pant pocket. Beverly had started holding Eddie by the waist, trying to comfort him.

        "Bite down on this, Eds." I put the inhaler up to his lips and pull the trigger as I hear him take a deep breath and finally start to calm down. I looked to his eyes and felt a rush of relief wash over me. I had never been so desperate to hear someone else breathe. 'What is wrong with me?' I realized that I had been staring into his eyes for a few seconds too long when he looked at me quizzically. 'Fuck. I cannot be doing this right now.'

        I decided to stand up and look towards the gang, then at Mike. It felt like at that moment something felt right. I felt like fate had sent us to this exact moment. I looked directly at Bill. I don't know how or why but it seemed like we both knew, that we're all together now. We all could see it in each other's eyes. This moment is where it all truly begins. We were the Loser's Club.