A New Chapter

Chapter 1

It was a year after the traumatic events with Pennywise had taken place and the losers were finally able to live their everyday life without any fears or worries creeping up on them. The group had bonded more over this past year than ever before, adding new members to the group only brought the members closer together. As Ben began searching for the latch on the clubhouse door, the other losers began dropping their bikes to the floor (all except Stan who neatly balanced his against a nearby tree).

"It's around here somewhere." Ben fumbled, now on his hands and knees trying to find the string. "Ah found it guys, come on." The group made their way down the ladder and began filling out the clubhouse. "I'm never going to get used to this." Eddie gasped, grabbing his inhaler when breathing in the fresh dust from above which Richie kicked in as he stumbled down. "It's so dirty, we could easily catch something down here or even worse get bitten by something." Begrudgingly seating himself on the hammock, refusing to sit on any of the wooden slates Ben had neatly placed around the hideout.

"Oh come on Ed's, lighten up. " Richie smiled, heading towards Eddie and eyeing up the hammock. The others were already prepared for the two to bicker over who occupies the hammock. "Move over Ed's, i'm tired after all that exercise." Gesturing his hands to scootch Eddie to the side.

"No way asshole. I got here first, 10 minutes each remember. And stop calling me Ed's i hate it" Eddie pouted and laid his whole body out on the hammock, preventing Richie from budging on. "You love the nickname really Ed's, now come on quit being a baby and move over." Before replying Richie lifted Eddie's legs in the air and perched himself on the other end of the hammock then laying Eddie's feet on his stomach. "See we can both fit you big baby."

"Shut up." Eddie grunted, shoving his dirty shoe into Richie's face. Annoyed, the boy removed his friends shoes and tossed them across the other side nearly hitting Stan.

"Can you two just shut up for two seconds." Stan mumbled, rolling his eyes in the corner. Beginning to pass around the shower caps all but Richie and Eddie complied to wear them. "You sure you don't want one Eddie, you just said how dirty it was down here. Plus all the spiders getting stuck in your hair." Leaning his hand out with the shower cap in Eddie's direction.

"No Stan it's fine, i'm not a baby." Eddie blushed, being called this really got under his skin and 'mamma's boy' which many of the group members often teased him of being. "I'll be fine."

"Awwwww, our baby is growing up so fast." Richie chuckled, tickling Eddie's legs playfully. Eddie began to kick Richie making the hammock swing. "Guys, i didn't properly secure the hammock yet so be careful." Ben remarked, worried for their safety and the structure of the hideout. "In other words stop being morons you two" Beverly chimed in. Beginning to light her cigarette next to Bill and Ben.

"Ugh fine, you guys are such pussy's honestly." Richie mumbled under his breath, as both he and Eddie folded their arms sulking. "So whats the plan Bill, any games in mind?" Mike chipped in, trying to shift the conversation and mood.

"W..well i thought w..we could p...play t..truth or d..are? "Stan suggested, the group had once played this before but got cut off by the bell at school during the end of their break. "You g...guys in?" The group soon agreed, all except Richie who simply nodded along, and sat closer together to start the game. "S...so who w..wants to s..start?"

"I'll go." Beverly said, knowing some of the boys will be too shy to start. "I pick truth." The boys insisted on her placing her hands over her ears as they began to discuss what her truth should be. However, before they could do so Richie soon piked up and tapped Beverly's shoulder for attention. "Bev, we got a truth bomb for you. Well i have one for you because no doubt these losers will be too scared to ask you a real personal truth." The others simply rolled their eyes and grunted with annoyance. Technically Richie wasn't wrong, both Bill and Ben would be too shy to ask and Eddie, Mike and Stan were terrible at games like this. "Who do you like most in this group, huh Bev?" The group fell in silence, curiosity filled them all.

Knowing her situation with Ben and Bill, Beverly pondered over her answer. "Why you Rich, of course it has to be you darling." Beverly smirked, rubbing the top of his head in mockery. "That's not the truth you little liar." Richie chuckled, but allowed this one to slide. "Who next?" Mike remarked. "Do you want to pick Bev?"

Agreeing to Mike, Bev eyed all the boys up. She couldn't pick Ben or Bill, that was too mean. As revenge she picked Richie instead. "Rich your up. Truth or Dare." Hesitating for a second the boy didn't respond, but soon decided to pick Dare. "Why young Bev i choose a dare. As i am so brave and daring anyway." The losers rolled their eyes once again as Richie covered his ears.

"What are we going to dare him to do?" Mike uttered, trying to keep his voice as low as possible. The members began racing through ideas. "Something harsh, trashmouth deserves a taste of his own medicine." Stan muttered. "Oh i have an idea, Bev perked up raising her finger to the air." Without hesitation the boys simply agreed, not yet knowing her idea but trusting her either way. Eddie flicked Richie's cheek to get the boys attention.

"Ow Ed's." Richie grumbled, flicking the boy back the two nearly got into a fight again before Bill broke them up. "Go on then whats my dare. Don't worry guys i can take it." Richie smirked, raising his chest to the air.

"Your dare is to tell us who your current crush is. And if you don't have one, who you would choose to go out with in our school." Beverly smiled, she knew Richie barely talked about this stuff. Usually joking about Mike, Ben and Bills touchy feely talk about romance. "Come on spit it out."

"Bev that's more of a truth than a dare. Cheater." Richie hesitated. "Yeah but i'm daring you to tell us. " Beverly quickly remarked. "That's so cheating, you can't bend the rules like that!" Richie snapped back. The other losers agreed with Bev of course, purely out of spite and wanting to tease Richie some more. "I'm surrounded by a bunch of rule breakers!" Richie flung his arms in the air as the others were waiting for an answer. " You're so not getting an answer guys." Richie chuckled.

"Who's being the baby now dickwad." Eddie smirked, nudging Richie teasing him some more. The group never got the chance to see Richie in this state and they were soaking it all in. "Come on Ed's gimme a break." Richie exhaled." Sighing in response Eddie soon rejected Richie. " Not a chance, after all your teasing!"

Knowing he couldn't reveal the actual answer Richie soon perked up. "Why it is embarrasing to say but iv'e had a huge crush on your mum for ages Ed's. Please set us up on a date, i think iv'e properly fallen for her." Richie chuckled, winking at Eddie and smirking at the rest of the group.

"You suck at this game Richie." Stan moaned, folding his arms and legs. "I knew you wouldn't tell us." "Stan the man calm down, it was more a truth than dare anyway remember!" Richie shrugged, hoping he was all in the clear.

"Okay, okay i'll allow this one to slide. Only because i love you so much." Bev smiled, handing Richie a cigarette. "Oh why thankyou Miss B."

The group soon began to grow bored of the game and it began to get dark outside, they soon began to pack their bags and head back towards their bikes. Mike, Stan and Ben rode off together and Bill escorted Bev back to hers. Leaving Richie and Eddie to bike back together.

"Why didn't you answer the question Rich?" Eddie pestered.

"Awwww, if only i did." Richie laughed, brushing his questioning off and sped off in front of him. The two began to head back towards Eddie's when they came across a familiar car.