Opposite But Identical

Chapter 11: Freshmen

Mrs. Wheeler's camera clicked as she took pictures of the twins on their first day of high school.

"Okay, boys, say 'freshmen' in 3...2...1..."

"Freshmen!" Richie yelled as his twin stood next to him, arms crossed with a sour look on his face. This was usually how taking pictures of them went.

"Mom, we have to go!" Mike said, clearly annoyed, "We're going to be late. Nancy says that the high school teachers flip out if you're late."

"Fine, fine," Mrs. Wheeler surrendered, putting down her camera to give her sons hugs. "I just can't believe you two are in high school! I remember the day you were born, Richie was first, then Mike..."

"MOM!" Mike yelled, "I can't handle a story about our birth right now!"

"Yeah, no offense, but please, no," Richie said, agreeing with his twin.

Mrs. Wheeler rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay," she said, fanning her eyes as she held back tears.

As they were getting on their bikes, Mike said, "Don't do anything stupid today. Because if you do, I'll be branded as the twin brother of the weird kid who does impressions. It's embarrassing."

Richie snorted. "Yeah, sorry, Mike, but I'm pretty sure you already embarrassed yourself enough by joining the AV club. Don't be so dramatic, honestly." He rolled his eyes at his twin.

"First of all, AV club is not embarrassing! Second of all, I'm serious! This is our last four years of formal education."

"So what?" Richie put on his broadcaster voice, "Breaking news: Mike Wheeler is making a big deal out of nothing again!"

Mike shot him a dirty look. "Shut the hell up."

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The twins pulled up to Hawkins High School and put their bikes on the bike rack. Mike immediately saw Lucas, Dustin, and Will, who waved him over. "Well," Mike said to Richie, "I'll see you fourth period for history, I guess."

"Okay, Mikey. I'll see you."

They high-fived awkwardly and Mike ran over to his friends. Where are the Losers? Richie thought nervously. He didn't want to look like some sad, lonely kid on the first day of high school.

As if on cue, Beverly called out, "Hey, Trashmouth! We're over here!" Richie turned around to see his best friends and sighed with relief. Thank God. He jogged over to Bev, who was with Bill, Ben, Stan, and Mike.

"Where's Eddie?" Richie asked. The Losers shrugged. His mom probably insisted on driving him. Poor Eds.

A couple minutes later, Sonia Kaspbrak's car pulled up. Richie could hear her voice from inside. "Now, Eddie, be safe and stay away from the misbehaved children. High school is full of new experiences, and..."

"Okay, okay, I have to go, Mom!" Richie heard Eddie say to his mother.

He opened the car door, and Mrs. Kaspbrak's voice rang out, "Have a good day, Eddie Bear!"

A few upperclassmen snickered while poor Eddie's face went a dark shade of red. Eddie slammed the car door shut and tightened the straps on his backpack. He walked up to Richie and said, "Please murder me."

"Never, Eddie Bear."

Eddie shot him a look while his mother drove away.

"Lemme see your schedule," Richie said to the tinier boy.

As he compared with Eddie looking over his shoulder, he noticed that they had five classes together, including lunch. "Yes!" Richie said, "You get to spend almost all day with me, Eds!"