it · horror · derry · los perdedores · trauma · friendship · supernatural · coming of age · group dynamic · 80s
The last day of the school year, afternoon sun filtered through the branches of Derry's trees, lighting the sweaty faces of the Losers as they emptied their folders into a smoldering trash can. Richie's laughter and Eddie's huffing breaths broke the silence of the empty parking lot. They walked together, a messy tangle of backpacks and jackets, up to the front door of Bill's house. Inside, the smell of freshly baked cookies and old wood enveloped them. In his bedroom, Stanley thumbed through Bill's books, Ben and Mike shared chips on the floor, Beverly and Bill chatted on the bed, and Eddie and Richie wrestled with the console controllers. The fireplace crackled. And then, you, you crossed the threshold, and every pair of eyes turned toward you.