Strange as IT Seems

Chapter 18: Unexpected Turns

"So, today's the day huh?" Richie asks as he and Bill walk their bikes to school. Georgie is already ahead of the boys, ready for a new day, while the members of the Loser's Club want to take their sweet time getting there.

"Y-Yeah, the day my cousin comes into our lives."

"What time will she be there specifically?" the trash-mouth asks.

"H-How the... h-hell should I know?" Billy asks. "And you're...you're not going to h-hit on her, it will just scare her back to my grandparents' farm."

"Well since you didn't tell me if she's hot or not, I have to come and find out for myself!" Richie insists as they turn into the schoolyard.

"Y-You're not getting near her!" Bill snaps, surprising even himself how protective he's becoming over a relative he barely knows. It's probably because he knows Mia is hiding from her abusive father and maybe his knowledge of Beverly's experiences with abuse has made him more sensitive to the situation.

"Whoa Dude, take a chill pill," Richie says defensively. The two wheel their bikes over to the rack. Bill begins to help his little brother lock up his own bicycle before turning to respond.

"She... she has enough problems to d-deal with without you trying to get into her pants!"

Beverly and Eddie approach the meeting spot, immediately sensing that they are walking into a typical argument.

"What's he saying this time?" Bev asks.

"He... he wants to know when my cousin gets here so he can hit on her."

"It's only if she's hot!"

"God, you never quit, do you?" Eddie asks, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

"Hey, my needs should not be discouraged just because you want to stay a virgin."

"They can be if your needs end up sending Bill's cousin running," Bev says rolling her eyes.

"And my virginity is none of your business!" Eddie hisses in pure embarrassment. No topic was safe from the trash-mouth.

"What's that?" Richie taunts, pretending to be hard of hearing to poke his best friend's buttons. "Were you saying that you're as pure as the driven snow?"

"Shut the f*** up Richie!" Ed growls, a little louder this time.

"A mama's boy is never going to get laid, no matter how hard you try."

"I'm not a mama's boy."

"Please, when did you stop breastfeeding? It was 8 right?"

"Shut the f*** up!"

"I'm more likely to go to hook up at prom because I won't bring my mommy as a chaperone!"

"AT LEAST MY DICK IS BIGGER THAN YOURS!" the hypochondriac blurts out.

The outburst is heard clear across the yard, and what makes it even worse is that Will Byers and Mike Wheeler pull up on their bikes. The two boys look at the Loser's Club with confusion but are trying not to laugh. The mortification is enhanced further when some girls who are standing nearby begin to laugh loudly.

Richie turns bright red and turns to belt Eddie in the gut. So much for being best friends. This punch in the stomach causes the smaller of the two to crumple to the ground before recovering enough to leap on Richie, taking them both to the dirt. The two begin to pound the snot out of each other, screaming obscenities and causing an even bigger scene than before.

Bev and Bill are quick to try to break it up, lest they get caught by any teachers or draw an even bigger crowd. They did not need a repeat of what happened on their first day.