Wednesday, May 30, 1992
Hawkins, Indiana
1 AM

Mike sighed, relieved to finally be home. All the lights in the house were off, so he automatically assumed El was in the bed. Kicking his shoes off, he tossed his bag on the couch and left it there, making his way to the kitchen to get some water. The light turned on and he jumped, almost pulling out his gun.

"El! What the hell?" He exclaimed, placing a hand over his heart. She giggled.

"I'm sorry, didn't mean to scare ya." She said, grinning. He couldn't help but smile at her. She hopped up on the counter and he walked over to her, standing between her legs and wrapping his arms around her in a hug. She hugged him back, immediately sensing his sadness. "Still no luck?" She asked gently. He shook his head, his face buried in her hair.

"Nope. Two more kids have gone missing since the last." He sighed.

"That's five in the last two weeks." He nodded.

"I don't understand it. They're all around the same age, they're all good kids. They wouldn't just run off somewhere. Someone or something's taking them."

"Do you...Do you think it could be that guy you told me about?" She asked quietly. He bit his lips, those were his exact thoughts.

"It could be but... I haven't seen him again. I hope it's not, I hope the creep is long gone." She nodded. "My job is to keep people safe, and I can't even do that."

"Hey, look at me." He looked at her and she pushed his hair out of his eyes. "You're amazing at your job, Mike, don't ever doubt yourself. Just imagine if you weren't with Holly that day, he could have gotten her, and you kept her safe." He sighed but didn't say anything, he just fiddled with the ring on her finger. Deciding to change the subject, she said, "So, did you know that Bev's friends are flying out today?" He perked up a little then.

"Really?" She nodded. "Sweet, I'll be glad when I get to meet that Bill guy." She chuckled. He grabbed the cup of water he'd made and took a sip when she asked,

"What about Richie?" He coughed, the water going down the wrong pipe. She patted his back. "You okay?" He nodded, coughing one last time.

"I, um..." He hesitated, thinking about the clown that said beep beep Richie, and trying to decide whether or not to tell her about it. Finally, he said, "I didn't want to tell you, because I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal but... That clown called me Richie." She raised an eyebrow.

"He called you Richie? What did he say exactly?"

"Beep beep Richie...then he disappeared." She bit her lip.

"I have to admit, that's really creepy but... It's probably just a coinky dink right?"

"Did you really just say coinky dink?" He asked. She snorted, having just realized it herself and nodded.

"I did. Don't judge me." He chuckled and pecked her on the lips.

"Hopefully it's just a coinky dink." He joked and she rolled her eyes. "I think I'm gonna start using that from now on." She smacked his shoulder.

"Alright, let's go to bed, I can see how tired you are." She hopped off the counter and grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the stairs, using her powers to turn the lights off.

Derry, Maine
7 AM

"Richie, I swear to God, if you don't stop whining." Eddie mumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Oh, I'm sorry I'm terrified of getting on a plane that goes thousands of feet in the air and could crash any second!"

"Just take the damn NyQuil and go to sleep, it'll be over before you know it." Ben told him, handing him the tiny measuring cup, filled to the brim with the bitter liquid. They were waiting to board the plane and Richie was being a baby. Huffing, a took the cup from him and downed it like it was a shot, making a face afterwards. "Good, I bet you'll be asleep before the plane even lifts off."

And he was, snoring with his head on Eddie's shoulder, the only thing holding him up being the arm rest between them.

Three hours later, they landed and were in Hawkins, the whining continuing, but not from Richie. Now, it was Eddie because,

"I can't believe they lost my fucking luggage. This is such bullshit!" He exclaimed.

"Look, Eds, I already told you one time, I will buy you clothes." Richie said, putting his hands on his shoulders.

"That's not the point!"

"I know, this place is bullshit for losing your luggage." Stanley butted in.

"No, that's...that's not it." Eddie mumbled.

"What is it? Got some secrets in there?" Bill asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"As a matter of fact, yes, but not the kind you guys are thinking." He crossed his arms, stepping away from Richie and going up to the desk. The rest of them looked at Richie.

"You don't know what he's got in his bags?" Mike asked. Richie shook his head.

"Not a clue. He wouldn't let me help pack."

"That's probably just because you don't really pack, you just ball your clothes up and throw it in the bag." Ben said.

"True."

They stayed there for another hour and a half until they miraculously found Eddie's luggage and they were on their way to Bev's aunts house. Apparently, Bev's aunt had rented them a van and it was waiting on them with directions to her house in it.

"Well, this isn't creepy at all." Stanley mumbled to himself, as they somehow managed to get all of their belongings in the van, along with themselves.

"She's just excited, is all." Bill told him, starting the van.

"Have you ever drove a van before, Billiam?"

"Shut the fuck up, Richie."

After about twenty minutes of driving, the Losers finally arrived, and they knew for a fact it was the right house, due to the red head sitting on the front step with... another red head sitting next to her. They both stood up when Bill parked the car. He flew out of the car and ran to Bev, nearly picking her up in a hug. She laughed and hugged him back just as tight. The other red head just stood back and watched, a small smile on her face. The rest of the Losers ran up to her, and the hug between her and Bill turned into a group hug.

"I missed you guys too! But I can't breathe!" The boys instantly let her go, and she hugged them one by one, talking to them about how different and handsome they are now. Stopping at Richie, she couldn't help but stare at him.

"What, like what you see?"

"Mike what the fuck are you doing here?" The red head asked, and Mike H(Mike Hanlon will from now on be known as Mike H, and Mike Wheeler will just be Mike :D) looked at her, confused.

"Um..." She wasn't looking at him, but instead at Richie.

"This isn't Mike, Max." Bev chuckled. "This is Richie."

"Oh. Anyways, why the hell do you look so much like Mike?"

"Fuck if I know." Richie shrugged.

"This is bizarre as hell." Bev said. "Hey, where are your glasses?" She asked. He took them out of his pocket, swirling them around a bit.

"Ol' Trashmouth's got contacts now."

"Trashmouth?" Max asked, confused, and Richie grinned.

"You'll understand within the next hour. Come on, let's introduce you to my Aunt Maryanne and cousin Elizabeth."