AN- Remember to enjoy, review, follow, favorite, whatever.
The four boys took to the pavement on their bikes dodging cars on the busy streets, not to mention the countless people nearly hit. Some had the gall to yell vulgar language at them, preferably the old geezers.
But they didn't care. It was summer. Nobody and nothing could ruin this kind of freedom. This was the type of freedom you did have to pay for, but the kind that just came naturally to kids.
Skidding to a halt, the boys made it to the front of the church.
Richie got off his bike, threw it on the freshly mowed lawn, walked up to Stan and punched his arm again. "Honestly-", started Richie.
Stan rolled his eyes.
"Let it go, Richie!", yelled an exasperated Eddie. He grabbed his inhaler, taking a spritz. The ride must of taken the breath out of him.
"No! Why would you let my cuz come to your 'Jewfest'?", asked Richie.
"I only did it to be considerate", stated Stan. "Besides, my dad says that if I'm going to be a man, I have to be the bigger person."
"Sounds like your dad needs to grow a new pair and nail your mom some more", said Richie, lifting his hand in a failed high five attempt because of Bill.
"M-meet us around Ma-ma-main Street", Bill informed Stan. "W-we need to ch-check the Barrens before i-i-it gets d-dark."
"Sure thing", said Stan. He didn't seem very enthusiastic about spending the rest of the day looking for his friend's brother. It's been months since George disappeared. Shouldn't it have been clear to Bill that there was no way George might be alive? Especially if he had drowned.
Stan entered the Church to see his father waiting for him. He looked frustrated.
"You're late, Stanley", said Mr. Uris.
"I know", replied Stan, a bit too monotone.
"Let's get started", said Mr. Uris, a bit too strictly.
Back outside, Bill, Eddie and Richie had mounted back on their bikes.
"Quick! Let's go before Eddie's mom eats all the good snacks!", teased Richie.
"Dude, quit it with all the mom bashing!", yelled Eddie.
"NEVER!", said Richie, trying to impersonate Freddy Krueger.
This was one of the few times Nora found herself walking around Derry, trying to memorize the landmarks, street signs, but she could never remember when she really needed it. She wouldn't be here next year, so it really didn't matter. Aside from Richie, nobody took the time to show her around; Wentworth and Maggie were always too busy with work, yet they were kinder than her parents, anyway.
Sliding her hand into her pocket, she smiled as she felt Stan's yarmulke. For some reason, it felt right that she had it. Would she give it back to him? Who knew. She debated on it, but the thought of giving it to him vanished from her mind every time she felt it. It was something he touched, he loved...
Oh God, while feeling dumb for thinking about him, was it wrong that it also felt right?
Sure, when she was 7, all the Toziers were having a Christmas party; Richie invited his three friends.
Nora had to wear the ugliest pink dress her mother had bought, with her hair in a bun. How she despised that kind of girlish complexion. But as soon as she saw Stan, wearing a suit and tie, she forgot about herself. Even for an 8 year old he was handsome.
The minute he had gotten under the mistletoe, Nora had not so subtly rushed over and attempted to kiss him on the cheek. Stan, believing in cooties had literally spat in her face and ran away.
Later it was clear to her that Stan did not like the idea of celebrating Christmas and caused any shenanigan he could to prove to his mother that he wanted to go home.
It worked.
(HONK!)
Without really thinking about it, Nora fell backwards to avoid being hit by the blue car that quick turned the corner and had sped down the alleyway. It took her a moment to be thankful she was unscathed.
Quickly she composed herself and stared down the smoke filled back way. Trying to needlessly swat the smoke from the gas guzzler out of her face, she noticed Henry Bowers and his goons degrading another kid.
"Get the fuck out of my town!", yelled Henry, before he threw God knows what at the boy lying in a heap of packaged goods.
After another loud honk and bang, the car was gone leaving another cloud, mixed with dirt and smoke.
Hesitant, Nora approached the frightened kid. He didn't seem to notice her, for he kept his eyes glued to the huge wooden door that leads into a freezer, no doubt.
"Henry-", began Nora. He jumped, finally looking at her. "-isn't worth sitting on a pile of shit." She offered her hand. Now he hesitated, but he took it, hoisting himself up.
"Thanks", he said, wiping his hands on his pants before picking up the bundles.
"Uh-huh."
He managed to collect them all, some of them from the basket on his bike and took them inside. A few minutes later he came back out. His eyes widened at the sight of Nora staring at him.
The two stood in silence for a few seconds just staring at each other. When he finally grabbed the handles of his bike and started to walk with it, she followed suit beside him, out of the way and onto the sidewalk headed towards the shops and attractions.
"How old are you?", she asked.
"I'm... going to be 15 soon."
"Nice bike. Can I have it?"
He looked at her as if to say get away from me.
"Relax, I'm not going to steal it. But I must say, it's nicer than my cousins's. His is a piece of shit", said Nora, smiling.
"Yeah...", he said, starting to pick up the pace.
Nora realized how she was coming off. "Okay, look I'm sorry if I sounded pushy. But what happened back there... are you okay?"
"Let's just say it's not the first time."
"Trust me, I know."
He stopped. Staring straight into her eyes, he now had a look of interest. "So, you saw that, too? It's not just me?" His voice became shaky.
"Of course not. Bowers makes a dick out of everyone", said Nora, confused as to why he appeared embarrassed and irritated.
"Yeah... Bowers. That's what I meant", he said, continuing to walk past the park, where a ton of little kids were playing. "Don't you have any friends?"
"No", said Nora. "Do you?"
She stopped, so did he, a little ahead, turning towards her. "No", he said, letting out a reluctant sigh.
She smiled. "Then I don't see why I can't just walk with you. Isn't that how friendships start? We talk about shit, run from assholes and later on we give rings to one another? Or is that just a bunch of bull?"
He laughed. "Only for girls."
"In that case, I'm glad I met you. I'm Nora Tozier."
"Mike Hanlon."
The two had gotten junk food and sat near Main Street, watching the cars pass by. While they sat, they proceeded to tell things about one another; Nora told Mike why she was in Derry, all the while not being very pleased about it, and he told her about his upbringing. He only mentioned that his parents died, but he didn't want to discuss how.
"At least they loved you, you know", said Nora, placing a gentle hand on his forearm. "I'd give anything if I had that." She rubbed her thumb against his wrist.
Mike smiled at the gesture, but uncomfortably shifted his arm so she had no choice but to let go. He quickly realized how dumb that was.
Changing the subject...
"So, your grandfather homeschools you? That's cool I guess. But if it were up to me, I'd never go to school."
"If that were true, you'd be stupid", said Mike, finishing his soft pretzel.
"Honestly, I'd rather be street smart than book smart. When am I ever going to need to know when George Lincoln signed the Declaration of Bills." She paused, and burst out laughing at the sight of his face. "I'm kidding."
He smirked. "This town isn't all bad for the most part, but it isn't all that good either."
"What do you mean?"
He once again hesitated. Their eyes met. "It's just that, something weird is going on. And I'm not sure if it's real or what, but it's something really, really bad."
"Yeah, all these missing kids. It's sad."
"Not exactly. But it has to be connected. I can't figure it out because it's not making any sense!", exclaimed Mike.
"Like what?", asked Nora, concerned.
"Well, I saw... a...", began Mike, when all of a sudden: (HONK!)
A wave of deja vu came upon Mike and Nora as the familiar blue car, consisting of the Bowers Gang, screeched to a stop, very closely in front of the friends, who quickly stood up. "Fuck!"
Henry forced a laugh from the passengers seat. "Look boys! The trashmouth's bitch, hanging with the Nigger!" He brandished his switchblade.
Mike immediately extended his left arm in front of Nora, pulling her slightly behind him.
"What should we do?", whispered Nora, secretly wishing she also had a knife.
"Run", whispered Mike. "NOW!"
Mike grabbed his bike, leaving Nora just enough room to sit behind him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. He didn't have time to enjoy the sensation of being held by a girl. For he began pedaling as fast as he could down the sidewalk heading further into town as Belch Huggins's car could be heard speeding behind them.