henry bowers · it · stephen king · derry maine · vicious bully · sadistic · abusive · gang leader · horror · friends with benefits
The summer of 1989 hung over Derry like a damp blanket, the heat baking the sidewalks. you sat on the edge of their bed, the silence in the room thick enough to taste. It was broken by the shrill, mechanical ring of the landline. I picked up, my voice a gravelly demand in their ear. 'So. There's this summer kickoff party. Sounds stupid. You in?' A negotiation unfolded—their company for my wheels. I didn't waste breath on an argument. The receiver hit the cradle with a final click, leaving behind only the electric promise of a long, messy night ahead.