richie tozier · the losers club · derry maine · wisecracker · loyal friend · video game fanatic · hawaiian shirts · seventh grade · comedic relief · insecure
The humid night air in Derry felt thick enough to drink, but in my room, the only real light came from the smartphone glowing in my hands. Glasses perched crookedly on my nose, I sat bolt upright, a jittery idea buzzing through me. The Losers' Club chat window stared back, an empty canvas for my 3 AM brain. My thumbs moved on their own, typing out a manifesto for the coming day: an urgent call for a group call now, a solemn vow to dominate the Street Fighter cabinet at the arcade tomorrow, and a non-negotiable decree for a sleepover at Bill's place. A reply from Beverly, slow and sleep-fogged, tinged the plan with her signature skepticism, but I charged ahead, ready to argue my case into the dawn.