"I'm tired of your stupid fucking apologies!" Emma screamed as Deidra tried grabbing her.
"Emma, I'm sorry!" The woman sobbed. "I don't know what's wrong with me!" Emma scoffed. Deep down, seeing Deidra the way she was hurt Emma. She had just discovered a needle on the kitchen counter with blood and the track marks in her arm. Emma shook the sympathetic thoughts away.
"You disgust me. You hurt me, you tell me I'm worthless and the next day, what? You're sorry? It doesn't work that way Deidra!" Emma shouted back. "Get some fucking help!" The brunette stormed out of the house. Normally she'd be crying, but she had grown numb to the never changing situation. The small girl retreated to the house next door. She knocked and waited patiently as Eddie opened the door.
"Hey Emma, we're not supposed to meet up for another half hour, are you okay?" Emma shrugged as she scratched the back of her head.
"Your mom home?" She questioned. Eddie shook his head as he stepped aside, letting her in. "Thanks." She mumbled. He nodded as he looked around outside, seeing Deidra walk outside, a mess as always. He quickly shut the door.
"Emarosa!" He heard from outside. He cringed at Deidra's almost devastated sounding voice. Emma rubbed her arms. Emma made her way to Eddie's kitchen and pointed at the Delicious Deals box. Eddie nodded, letting her grab one. She sighed as she opened it. Deidra still calling for Emma outside. The small girl shook her head. Eddie grabbed a water, taking a sip.
"You know she's using?" Emma questioned, causing Eddie to spit out his water. "Jesus, Kaspbrack."
"She's what?" Eddie asked in disbelief. Emma nodded, eating the oatmeal creme. He stared at Emma sympathetically. "Emma-" she put a hand up, to stop him from continuing. She always put on a brave face like she hated Deidra, but Eddie could truly see that she was worried about the woman's well-being.
"I hate her Eds. I fucking hate her," she mumbled. He swore her voice cracked. He joined her, sitting on the kitchen counter. She leaned her head on his shoulder as she usually did when she was upset, causing his heart to race as it usually did when she did that. "Everything sucks, Eds. I don't know what to do." She mumbled.
"Why don't you just move in with Rylee?" He questioned. Emma scoffed raising her head.
"Because Eddie, when I leave and my mom's looking for me, how easy is it for her to go to Butch to bring me back home? Plus," she paused for a moment and shook her head. "Mr. Walker, Rylee and Mavis, they have their own things to worry about. Rylee hasn't even been answering my calls. Yesterday was..." Emma trailed off, unsure if it was her place to reveal Rylee's personal life, concerning her mother. She shook her head. "I hope she's there today." Emma mumbled more to herself than to Eddie. Eddie decided to stop thinking with his head. He was tired of thinking with his head. He jumped off the counter and embraced the brunette. To his surprise she hugged him back. She hugged him even tighter. Eddie could feel his cheeks heat up. Suddenly there was a knock at his door, causing Eddie to tear away from Emma.
"Eds, are you there?" Richie called from the other side of the front door. Eddie looked back at Emma. He hated the way her eyes lit up at the sound of the Trashmouth's voice. He wished her eyes lit up at the sound of his. He mentally hung his head as he walked over to the front.
"What, Richie?" He questioned as he opened the door slightly.
"Is Em with you? I tried going over to her place first but her moms up and down the street calling her." He tippy toed, trying to peer inside. He caught a glance of the brunette and grinned. "So you gonna let me in?" Eddie sighed and stepped aside as Richie walked in.
"Hey there, doll-face." Emma rolled her eyes as she playfully shoved him.
"Is she really doing all that?" Emma questioned. Richie's smile dropped.
"Yeah, what happened?" Emma sighed.
"She's using." She mumbled. Richie adjusted his glasses.
"Em, I'm sorry, I-" He mumbled.
"I don't want to hear that, Rich. From you, from Ed's. From anyone. I don't want anyone's pity. I'm not someone to be pittied. I just-"
"Whoa, whoa, Em. I'm not sympathizing with you." Richie started. "I'm empathizing. There's a difference. I care about you, we all do. You're not a nobody to us. You're our friend." She stared, dumbfounded. She didn't know what to say. She looked over at Eddie who nodded, in agreement. Richie hated the way she saw herself. He knew that she underestimated how much she meant to their friends, to him. If only she could see her the way he saw her. He sighed as he patted the girl on the head, in reassurance that things would be okay. If he hugged her would it have been awkward? He desperately just wanted to hold her in his arms, but would she push him away? Would she have thought it would have been weird? He decided against it.
"Should we get going?" Eddie asked, breaking Richie's thoughts.
"What about my mom?" Emma asked, a slight hint of fear in her voice. Richie smiled at her.
"I'll keep look out, you ride with Eddie and if she starts coming our way, I'll distract her." Emma's eyes widened.
"You'd really do that, Rich?" She questioned. He nodded. Emma and Eddie got ready to go as Richie stood besides his bike outside, staring down the street, searching for Deidra. He signaled for the two to begin on their way. In the corner of his eye he saw Emma get on the pegs of Eddie's bike, wrapping her arms around his waist. This slightly bothered Richie but he knew it was part of his suggestion so he couldn't be too mad. He mentally sighed as he continued to keep a look out. Deidra never showed. In a sense he was glad he didn't see her. He had some words for her for all the things she did to Emma. All of the bruises and busted lips. The very thought made his blood boil. He reminded himself to calm down and when Eddie and Emma were finally out of sight, he peddled after them. Catching up to them, he realized how much it bothered him to see her holding on to Eddie. The group of three finally arrived in to town, the parade had already started. The three parked their bikes alongside four other bikes. The three approached Beverly, Ben, Mike, and Ben. Two more members were missing. Emma looked around.
"Rylee and Stan still aren't here?" She asked. Beverly shook her head with a worried look as the group of seven waited for a moment. Shortly after, Rylee and Stan arrived, also parking their bikes. Emma smiled softly at Rylee who returned the same smile.
'Are you okay?' Emma mouthed as Rylee nodded, but Emma knew better. Her eyes betrayed her. Emma thought for a second and remembered Rylee teaching her a little bit of sign.
'Talk later?' She signed. Rylee smiled, realizing she remembered. She made her hand in to a fist, bobbing it back and forth as she nodded. Emma smiled warmly. Richie nudged her.
"Hey Em, watch this. Bet I can make you laugh." He whispered as he stalked away from the group. He grabbed a tuba from one of the marching band members and begins playing it. The musician, clearly annoyed tried taking it back. Emma chuckled as the group looked at the missing persons poster of Edward Corcoran.
"Wanna go get ice cream?" Eddie asked as he pulled out some cash from his pocket. Emma nodded as she continued watching Richie make a fool of himself. Emma chuckled and nodded. Emma and Eddie walked over to the ice cream stand. Eddie ordered three ice cream cones as Emma continued to watch Richie attempt the tuba. She couldn't help but laugh and shake her head.
"Hey Em, can you grab these two? I got one for Rich too. If I didn't he'd never let me live it down." Eddie explained as he handed her the two cones. She grinned and took them happily. The tuba man yanks the tuba back from Richie, causing the Trashmouth to stumble backwards.
"What the fuck, dude?" He asked as he lifts his hands up in defense. Emma chuckled as her and Eddie arrived back to the group. Emma took a lick of one of the cones.
"What are you guys talking about?" Eddie asked, also taking a lick of his ice cream. Richie walked up to the group.
"What they always talk about." He answered as he took the second ice cream from Emma, winking at her. "Thanks babes." Emma rolled her eyes.
"I actually think it will end. For a little while at least." Ben chimed in. Rylee looked over at Emma.
"Where's mine?" Rylee joked. Emma grinned.
"I'll get you one later!"
"What do you mean Ben?" Beverly asked. Ben crosses his arms, seemingly looking for the right words. Emma continued to eat her ice cream as she leaned in with interest.
"So, I was going over all my Derry research and," Ben uncrossed his arms. "I charted out all the big events. The Ironworks explosion in 1908, the Bradley Gang in '35," Emma thought to herself, comparing the years. He crosses his arms again. Emma noticed that Ben really did do all his research. "and The Black Spot in '62 and now kids being..." Emma had a thoughtful look spread across her face. She pondered for a moment. The ice cream began melting, spilling slightly over her hand. Rylee snatches it from her and begins eating it herself. Emma didn't even noticed as she tried to come to a conclusion. "I realized this stuff seems to happen," Ben started.
"Every twenty seven years." Emma and Ben stated. There was a pregnant pause. An eerie uncomfortable silence sat between the group. This wasn't a coincidence. It was a pattern.
"I think I need to sit." Eddie mumbled. The group nodded as they walked over to a bench. Stan and Rylee sat on top of the bench as Mike Ben and Beverly took a seat on the actual seat. Bill, Richie and Eddie sat on the seats of their bikes as Emma stood with her arms crossed.
"So, lemme get this straight. It comes out from where to eat kids for, like, a year? And then what? It just goes in to hibernation?" Eddie asked. He had already finished his ice cream. Emma could sense the panic rising in his voice.
"Maybe it's like...What do you call it? Those bugs that come out every seventeen years?" Stan pondered.
"Cicadas?" Rylee answered. Stan nodded.
"My grandfather thinks this town is cursed. He says that all the bad things that happen in this town are because of one thing." Emma stared at Mike as he continued. "An evil thing that feeds off the people of Derry." Even an adult, knew something terrible, something evil was happening.
"But it can't be one thing. We all saw something different!" Stan exclaimed in disbelief. Rylee hung her head. Emma noticed this. She didn't believe it did she? She didn't see anything, right? But Stan was wrong. Emma, Eddie and Bill all saw a clown.
"I-I saw a leper. He was, he was like a walking infection." Eddie mumbled, recalling the terrifying memory. Emma saw a clown. A fucking clown. She wasn't scared of clowns. But he did use what scared her the most. The dark.
"But you didn't," Stan started. Everyone looks at him, with concern. How could he still deny anything.
"Because it isn't real. None of this is. Not Eddie's leper. Or, or Bill seeing Georgie. Or Emma's dreams of the clown in the dark. Or Rylee seeing her mom being drowned. Or-or the woman I keep seeing." Stan stuttered. Emma stared at Rylee with wide eyes as the blonde put her head in her hands. Why didn't Rylee tell her? Why did she keep it from her? Emma looked to Richie, wondering if he saw anything himself. Instead he had a dumb goofy grin on his face with an eyebrow raised. How could he have thought any of this was funny?
"She hot?" He questioned, still wearing his grin. Emma narrowed her eyes at him and shook her head, mouthing the words 'beep, beep'. He frowned
"No, Richie, she's not hot!" Stan yelled as Richie's frown deepened. The group had never seen Stan so unnerved the way he was. "Her face is all messed up." Stan looks down as Beverly runs a hand through her hair. Emma rubbed her arms, bumps surfacing her skin. "None of this makes any sense. They're all like bad dreams." Stan finished.
"I don't think so. I know the difference between a-a bad dream and real life, okay?" Mike defended. Emma suddenly wasn't so sure about her nightmares being just nightmares because she saw him. She saw the clown in person too. She wished that's all they were but now, she was sure that it was something more.
"What'd you see? You saw something, too?" Eddie questioned Mike. Mike looked down and sighed.
"Yes. Do you guys know that burned-down house on Harris Avenue? I was inside when it burned down. Before I was rescued, my mom and dad were trapped in the next room over from me. They were pushing and pounding on the door," Mike recalled the memory. Emma could see the pain in his face. It was a terrible memory. It was terrifying and Emma knew the feeling well. " They were trying to get to me. But it was too hot. When the firemen finally found them, the skin on their hands had melted down to the bone." There was a brief silence.
"And what happened to you, Rylee?" Emma asked. She was slightly hurt that her best friend couldn't have told her what she had gone through. Rylee looked up and bit her lower lip. The groups eyes were now on her.
"My mom died yesterday six years ago," She started. "We were in a car accident and the car went over the barricade, over the water. She managed to get me out and I swam to the surface. She didn't. She drowned." She sighed. "I went for a ride by myself to the quarry and-and I saw her. She ran to me and someone was drowning her, right in front of me." Rylee then locked eyes with Emma. "I saw him Emma. He drowned her right in front of me. He tried to drown me too. I never knew that water could scare me as bad as that day, even being through what I did those years ago. I overcame that fear a long time ago." She paused. "But he brought it back. That fucker brought it back. We're all afraid of something." Rylee finished. Emma's heart ached for her friend. She hadn't seen Rylee so...scared. A fire cracker whizzed in to the air, causing the group to jump slightly.
"Got that right." Richie mumbled. For once he seemed serious. It was clear Richie hadn't seen anything but there was something he was afraid of. Richie looked at the stage behind him, causing Emma to look at the stage as well, where a clown motions a balloon animal to the group.
"Why, Rich? What are you afraid of?" Rylee asked, almost sounding like she didn't believe Richie was scared of anything. Firecrackers burst as Richie turns back around. He looks directly at Emma, readjusting his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He then looked down.
"Clowns." He answered. Emma and Richie stared at each other for a moment. Clowns? He was scared of clowns? Is that why he didn't want to believe her? He shook his head.
"Bill, Georgie. Beverly, the blood. Stan, the scary painting. Eddie, the lepper. Emma, the dark. Rylee, her mom. Ben, the headless egg boy. Me, my parents. You're the only one who hasn't seen anything yet Richie." Mike stated. Richie shook his head.
"And I don't want to see anything. I don't believe in this shit. Maybe it's just coincidence." Richie mumbled. Emma shook her head.
"You know it's not Richie. Come on. Every twenty seven years? Our biggest fears being used against us. Don't you see what's happening?" All eyes were now on Emma as she uncrossed her arms. "IT's fucking with us. IT's trying to wear us down. Trying to break us down. To make us scared of IT." She exclaimed. How could no one see what was happening.
"But why?" Beverly questioned. It seemed she asked herself more than anyone else.
"Because," Emma started. "IT wants us to end up like that." Emma pointed at the missing person's poster of Edward Corcoran.
"So you think, IT's responsible for the missing kids?" Bill asked. He seemed quiet for too long. Emma thought for a moment. Realizing Bill was possibly thinking about George. She sighed.
"I don't think it Bill, I know it." She said regretfully. He sighed and nodded.
"Okay. Then we'll meet at my place in a couple days. My dad and mom will be at work. Ben do you think you can bring that slide of Derry?" Bill asked. Ben nodded. "Good, so we'll regroup at my place." The group nodded and said their goodbyes to each other before parting ways. Emma rode on Eddie's pegs again as Richie followed the two.
"So, Emma, you know that I'll be your protector right?" Richie joked. Emma rolled her eyes as she always did when Richie would poke fun at her.
"Sure, Rich. This is totally a situation to be joking about." She answered dryly. "You're gonna protect me from a shape-shifting clown, are you?" Richie pouted. He suddenly regretted telling them he was scared of clowns.
"Damn it, Rich, why did you even follow us? Your house is back that way isn't it?" Eddie complained as Emma hopped off the pegs. She waved and retreated in to her house to avoid the bickering of the two. She had a lot on her mind. The boys entered Eddie's house. Mrs. Kaspbrack still wasn't home.
"What's the problem, Eds? I always come over here, dude." Richie shrugged. "What, you want to be alone with Em or something?" Eddie felt his face get hot. Not from embarrassment but from frustration. He pursed his lips together. It built up for so long he felt like steam was coming out of his ears.
"Yes!" Eddie exclaimed throwing his arms in the air. "Yes, Rich! I want to be alone with Emma for just a second!" He yelled. Richie's eyes widened with surprise. Yeah, he would always poke fun at Eddie but Eddie never seriously got this upset. Eddie plopped down on his couch, his head now in his hands.
"Why?" Richie asked dumb founded. Eddie scoffed as he lifted his head up to look at his friend in disbelief.
"The same reason you want to be alone with Emma." Eddie answered dryly. His heart raced. He could feel it beating against his chest. The small boy opened his fanny pack, grabbing his inhaler. He put it to his mouth and breathed the cold mist in. He looked at Richie who was a stuttering mess.
"I-I don't- I don't-" Eddie shook his head. "What are you even saying?" Richie asked, avoiding the accusation.
"I like Emma, okay, Rich? I like Emma a lot, and I've been trying to tell her for a long time but I never can. Every time I try, well.." He motioned his hand at the four eyed boy. Richie stayed quiet. A part of what Eddie was saying hurt him. Richie stayed quiet as Eddie continued. "You can just stop the fucking act already Rich. I know you like her too. Bill did too until he found out I liked her." Eddie pursed his lips again and shook his head before continuing. "But it's different man, it's different I tell you. I always blame you for ruining my moments to telling her but at the same time it's because I know..." the small boy trailed off. His heart rate slowed but he could feel it slightly breaking to pieces. "I know I can't compare to you, Rich. Emma doesn't like me. I'd just make a fool of myself. She likes you." Richie took a seat next to Eddie with a long sigh.
"She doesn't like me, Eds." Richie mumbled. Eddie chuckled.
"God, you are oblivious, aren't you?" Richie looked at the smaller boy with a raised eyebrow. "She does. With you, she's different. She lights up different. She looks at you different. She smiles different." Eddie responded sadly. "The way she looks at you, I wish she looked at me that way." He mumbled. Richie threw an arm over Eddie's shoulder, bringing him closer.
"Eds, she doesn't like me. I'm pretty sure she actually likes you. She's always calling me a doofus and she's always calling you cute. But I'm sorry man, I'm sorry I'm always flirting with her in front of you. I'll stop. You should really tell her how you feel. You never know. She might surprise you." Richie stated. There was a hint of sadness in his voice.
"So, you're admitting you like her?" Eddie asked, looking up at the glum looking Trashmouth. A small, sad smile tugged at his lips.
"I don't like her, man. You know I flirt with everyone." Eddie shook his head disapprovingly. He could see right through Richie.
"You fucking suck at lying." Richie shrugged. The two sat on the couch in silence. Richie still had his arm thrown over Eddie's shoulder. The only thing Richie felt was a slight pain in his chest. Emma could never like someone like him. Someone who made jokes in the most serious situations, someone who basically constantly threw themselves at her. Someone like him. She could never. His best friend liked her and she probably liked Eddie too, and that's what hurt Richie the most.
A/N:: AHHHH EDDIE FINALLY TOLD RICHIE. Does it make you guys mad how oblivious Richie is, because it makes me mad and I'm the one writing this lol. Oh geezzzz well I reaaaally hope this chapter was slightly enjoyable. I promise we're getting to the good stuff! Please let me know how I'm doing, I appreciate all and any feedback! Thanks for being the best readers :D