Chapter Text
Richie had a good idea of how long had passed since that night.
He and Ruth watched Hannah and Tim grow up, as they stayed the same. Hannah's 18th birthday rolled around faster than Richie would have liked.
She could see him now, Miss Holiday has explained, she had touched the Book. The woman had also allowed Tim to touch it, just briefly, so he could see them too.
Whenever Richie tried to think about that night, he would get a headache. He didn't normally feel pain, but when the migraines came on, they hurt. A lot.
He knew he went crazy, he knew he had hurt innocent people. (The girl from that physics class - Gloria - threw that paper at the girl because she wanted to ask her out on a date. And Richie had put a pen through her hand.)
What he didn't fully remember, though, was how he practically worshipped five dark gods.
Ruth had told him that he had helped ‘build a portal’ for them to pass through, so they had a tangible form on Earth and not the hellscape they came from. Luckily, Hannah (who apparently had a connection with their sister?) was there to put a stop to them, and to Richie.
Pete, Steph and Grace were there as well. Grace was passed out on the wooden floor.
Richie thought he would never be able to talk or communicate, in any way, with Pete again. But when the three nerds embraced, he thought, for a moment, that everything was okay, that he was alive.
Peter had told him and Ruth about graduation, going to university, anything they had missed, really.
But Pete had to leave, eventually.
Everybody had to leave the ghosts at some point, even Hannah and Tim. The two had graduated a while ago, and Richie was proud of them.
Richie and Ruth were destined to roam the halls of Hatchetfield High forever, others were destined to move on with their lives.
The only person who hadn't left (yet) was Miss Holiday, the schools counsellor.
He and Ruth sat in her office.
“So, how are you two today?”
“We are good!” Ruth answered for him. “Just bored, there's nothing to do.”
“You say this every time, Ruth,” Richie said.
“Yeah! Well, it's the truth!” She waved her hands, dramatically, “I know you feel the same way.”
Richie hummed, not disagreeing.
“You've been watchin’ the rehearsals for the school production?”
“Yeah, but it's awful,” she sighed, “I mean, a musical, where the audience decides the names of the main characters? What kind of idiots came up with that idea?”
“Isn't it based off the Trail To Oregon game?” Richie asked.
“Well, yeah,” Ruth groaned, “but it's a terrible idea, who knows what the audience will say. And, in rehearsals, the cast either gets their names completely wrong or just forgets it! Amateurs.” she folded her arms, slouching in her chair.o
“I think it's a fun idea,” Miss Holiday smiled, “I bet it is a great experience to perform.”
“Well, I wouldn't know, wou-”
“How's Duke?” Richie interrupted Ruth, who looked very offended.
“He’s doin' good,” her smiled turned sad. Apparently, they two had been close, but Duke had been in a freak accident a while ago which caused amnesia. He remembered everything, but her. Richie didn't know if amnesia worked that way, but he's not a neuroscientist.
“Hannah's doin’ good too,” she said, switching topics, “she and her sister made it to California last night.”
Richie and Ruth shared a proud, happy look.
“They're just settlin’ in,” her warm smile returned, it was very comforting.
The three began to talk about nothing for a while, Miss Holiday even let slip that there was even a new teacher starting tomorrow. She even told them that Grace had started going to therapy! Thank god.
“So, how's that program of yours going?” She asked the two sitting opposite her.
“Amazing!” Ruth said, “bullyings the lowest it's been since Max died!” She proudly grinned.
The two ghosts had come up with a plan. They would do their best to put an end to bullying, without hurting people. They would just scare them half to death instead, using their ghost abilities. They even managed to help some students revise for their assignments, somehow, without them realising that they were there. It worked quite well, rumours spread of the school being haunted really quickly. Ruth had joked about calling whatever they were doing the ‘Nerd Protection Program’, the name stuck.
There was knock at the door, a small head peered through, a freshman.
“It's okay, Sammy, come in,” the counsellor said to the kid at the door. When they opened the door fully, the two ghosts sneaked out. The door closed behind them.
The two found an empty science classroom, and Richie logged onto the computer. He pressed play on his chosen animé, Ruth watched it with him.
The lights flickered off to signal that the school was closed. Then, they turned back on. The school was open again.
Richie turned the computer off as soon as the door began to creak open. Students began to fill up the class, taking up the once empty seats. Richie and Ruth placed themselves at an empty desk at the back.
A tall and lanky teacher came in, readjusting his glasses. His brown hair went to the shoulders of his knitted sweater.
Both Richie and Ruth's eyes went wide. “Pete,” they said in unison. He looked almost exactly like his brother.
Peter smiled at them, the exact same smile from when Richie first met him. He focused his attention from the ghosts to his class. In a voice somewhat deeper than before, and without cracks, he said, “alright, then! My name's Mr Spankoffski and I will be your chemistry teacher for the year…”