𝘜𝘴 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘴 • 𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘭𝘰𝘯¹

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆

Carla walked around deciding she needed to get away from the boys. Even after the Bowers gang had moved on, the boys' teasing still echoed in her ears. She needed a break.

She cut down a side walkway and nearly collided with a girl whose short, fiery orange hair was impossible to miss. The girl looked up from her sketchpad, startled then smiled.

"Hi," Carla said, recognizing her.

"Oh..I'm Beverly. Nice to meet you." Beverly Marsh's voice was warm but carried that familiar edge of wariness. She was shocked nevertheless to see a girl talking to her without making some snarky comment.

"I'm Carla," she replied. "And don't worry..I don't buy those stupid rumors about you." Carla gave a little shrug. "Heard them all, though."

Beverly laughed nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah...those rumors."

They turned the corner together and froze. A boy blocked the path. Doing something with his bike and holding stuff "Um excuse me?" Carla said politely.

The boy looked up, startled. "Oh sorry."

"Sorry's not enough," Beverly said with a mock frown. The boy dropped his art in surprise; it clattered on the pavement. Carla knelt to help him pick it up. "Here..let me," she said, handing it back.

He blinked at her. "Thanks." Beverly folded her arms. "Henry and his goons are at the west entrance. You should get going."

The boy glanced nervously down the corridor. "Oh—thanks. I—"

"You want to avoid them as much as possible," Carla added.

The boy's cheeks went pink. "Oh no I wasn't—"

"Everyone knows he's looking for you," Carla interrupted gently. He swallowed "What are you listening to?" Beverly asked, lifting his headphones.

"Ah..New Kids on the Block,"Bev chuckles,

The boy opened his mouth to explain, then paused as Beverly tilted her head. "Wait...you're the new kid, right?"

Beverly held up a hand. "Now I get it." She stared at him "There's nothing to get..?" He furrows his brows.

"Im just messing with you" She then gives him his headphones back "I'm Beverly Marsh." Carla added with a smile, "And I'm Carla Kay Jane."

The boy nodded rapidly. "Oh yeah. I know that..we're in the same class..social studies. I'm Ben... but everyone pretty much calls me—'"

"The new kid," Carla and Beverly finished together.

"Well Ben there are worse things to be called." As Ben fumbled in his backpack, Carla spotted a blank page in his notebook. She plucked it out. "Let us sign this."

Beverly clicked her pen and wrote her name in neat, confident letters. She passed the notebook to Carla, who scrawled hers more quickly but legibly.

"Stay cool, Ben from social studies," Beverly said, handing it back "We'll see you later..bye!" Carla waved as they turned away.

Ben watched them go, then waved slowly. "Uh yeah. Bye, Beverly and Carla."

-

At Eddie's House

"Take everything but the Delicious Deals..my mom loves them," Eddie told the group as they rummaged through the pantry.

"Alright, okay," Carla replied, grabbing a few snacks.

"Hey!" Eddie hissed, leaning in. "First you say the Barrens, now you're saying the sewer? I mean what if we get caught?"