Chapter Text
Bill’s POV:
It has been a year since we defeated Pennywise. There are some things that are starting to feel hazy, but the remaining Losers still remember most of the fight. Ben has moved away, and Beverly is leaving by the end of the school year.
Today, all the Losers are hanging out at the Quarry. Richie and Eddie are joking around in the water, Beverly and Mike are talking about the new school project, and Stan and I are sitting on a boulder watching the others. Stan’s birdwatching like always. He sure loved those birds. Meanwhile, I was drawing in my sketchbook. Every once in a while, I’d glance up to look at Stan’s beautiful face. The sun was hitting it just right. His brown eyes sparkled, and his blond hair looked like it was glowing. I looked away after I realized I was staring.
“Hey Eds! I bet you 10 cents that I can hold my breath for longer!” I heard Richie shout.
“Deal! But stop calling me that!” Eddie shouted back, punching Richie in the shoulder.
I rolled my eyes at their shenanigans. “That’s a recipe for disaster.” I heard Stan mutter.
“Y-yeah.” I agree. Stan looked over at me and smiled. I felt my heart flutter at the sight of his smile. I would never admit this out loud, but I was in love with Stan Uris. I already knew of the rumors that circulated Richie and how this town treated queer people, but I didn’t care. As long as I kept my feelings to myself, there would be no problems.
I looked down at my sketchbook to hide my blush.
After a few more hours, Eddie had to go home, or his mom would have a bird. Then Mike, Richie, and Beverly left laughing amongst themselves. That left me and Stan.
“I should p-pr-probably g-go home. I ha-have homework t-t-to do.” I told Stan as I packed up my things. Stan nodded and got to his feet. “Yeah, I probably should get home to,” Stan said, offering me a hand to help me up.
I took his hand eagerly. “D-do you want m-me to w-wa-halk you h-home?” I smiled at him. Stan smiled back and replied, “Sure.”
We both walked in silence for a few minutes before I broke said silence, a small blush creeping up my neck. “Hey, do y-you wanna ha-hang-hangout t-tomorrow at my h-h-house? I got a n-new ra-racing game.”
Stan thought about it for a second. “Sure. I don’t think I’m doing anything.”
I smiled to myself. We continued walking. Stan’s house was closer than mine. We parted ways, saying our goodbyes before Stan closed the door and left me out on the street alone. I stood in front of his house for a few minutes before heading home. I was excited for our hangout tomorrow. I loved being in his presence, and I didn’t care if that was a little queer.
Stan’s POV:
I crawled into my sheets, thinking about Bill. I loved being next to him. He had a cute smile and beautiful brown hair, and- no, those were weird thoughts. You didn’t think that about your best friend. Right?
I replayed the way Bill had smiled at his sketchbook when I cracked a joke about Richie being a dumbass earlier today. It was a lopsided grin, but a cute one nonetheless. I blushed into my pillow and groaned. 'Ugh, I couldn’t be in love with this stuttering mess… no, we just have a strong friendship, that’s all.' I thought to myself as I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning was Saturday. I woke up to my alarm clock and got dressed. I decided I would wear a dark blue button-up with my regular pair of khaki shorts. I made toast and washed the dishes from last night’s dinner. I followed my Saturday morning routine, and at exactly 12:30 pm, I left to bike to Bill’s house. I knocked twice on the door and waited a few seconds before Bill opened the door with a smile.
“He-hey. Come i-in.” He gestured for me to come inside his house. I followed him in and plopped down onto the couch in the living room. Bill pulled out two controllers, and we both spent the next few hours playing games.
Once it was 3:45, we decided to call the others to see who wanted to go down to the Barrens and hang out. Turned out only Richie and Eddie were available. Both Bill and I biked down to the Barrens to meet up with Richie and Eddie. When we walked down to the clubhouse, I saw Riche already waiting for us. He had a hideous bright orange Hawaiian shirt on today, and he was drawing something in the dirt with a stick.
“H-He-hey, Richie.” Bill saluted the boy with glasses.
“Hey-o, Billy boy!” Richie greeted with one of his voices. He saluted back and asked, “So, what are we doing this foine day?”
Bill shrugged. “I d-don't know, w-we sh-sh-should w-wait for E-Ed-Eddie to a-arrive.”
Richie nodded. I noticed a small sparkle in his eyes at the mention of Eddie. I thought nothing of it.
I heard a rustling behind me and saw Eddie emerge from the bushes, a board game under one of his arms.
“Hey guys! I brought a board game in case we didn't have any plans.” Eddie said as he flicked a dead leaf off his shoulder.
We all nodded. And sat at the picnic table near the shore of the quarry that Ben had made out of makeshift wooden boards from the dump. It was still impressive what that kid could make out of practically nothing.
The game Eddie had brought was Clue. We all sat around the table, deducing who killed the host with what weapon and in what room. I was Professor Plum, Bill was Col. Mustard, Eddie was Ms. Peacock, and Richie was Mr. Green. Every time Riche rolled badly, he would blame it on Eddie for playing as Ms. Peacock because she kept seducing Mr. Green, and that was why he only moved a couple of spaces. And every time, Eddie would flip Richie off and defend Ms. Peacock.
By the end of the game, Bill ended up winning with his great detective skills by guessing that it was Miss Scarlet in the Kitchen with the Rope. I playfully smacked him for not letting me guess before he ended the game. Bill smiled widely, and I felt my heart flutter again.
'No, push those thoughts away.' I thought to myself and gently shook my head to clear my thoughts. I ran my hand through my hair and glanced at Bill who was now laughing at something Richie said. I smiled to myself at how good Bill looked.
We decided to play two more rounds before it got dark, and we all had to head home.
I walked my bike in serene silence next to Bill. We finally stopped in front of my house. I propped my bike up on its kickstand next to the side of my house and walked to the porch. Before going in, I turned around to thank Bill.
“Hey, thanks for letting me hang out with you. It was really fun.” I smiled at him. Bill smiled back and pulled me into an unexpected hug. After a second of shock, I hugged him back, breathing in the smells of the fruity shampoo Bill liked to use. I felt safe in his embrace and would trade anything in the world to feel this forever. But good things never last long, and we pulled away.
“N-no problem, St-Stan. I’m gl-gla-had that we a-are fr-friends.” Bill smiled and picked up his bike from the floor where he had dropped it to hug me. “See y-ya later!” he waved goodbye, and I watched him walk away.
I turned to my door and opened it to be greeted by the smell of baked potatoes wafting in from the kitchen. 'My favorite.' My stomach dropped at what that entailed.
We never had baked potatoes unless it was a special occasion or something bad was about to happen.
I cautiously walked towards the kitchen to find my mom finishing up dinner. My father was nowhere to be found.
“H-hello, mom. How was work today?” I asked, looking around tentatively.
“Oh, it was okay, nothing interesting happened. Just the same old customers.” My mom’s tone had a hint of sadness in it.
I nodded. Then jumped in my seat as a deep booming voice behind me spoke. “So, have fun with your friends, Stanley?”
I turned my head around slowly. I saw my father standing in the doorway that led to the hallway. His arms were neatly folded over his chest in a way that meant business. I shiver shot through my body like a missile.
“Y-yeah, I did.” I watched my father closely to figure out what he was going to say next.
“Was it better than meeting me at the synagogue to help re-shelve the books and organize the closets like you promised?” I paled at the mention of the promise I had made my dad three days ago to help him organize things. I had completely forgotten.
“I’m sorry, Dad, I completely forgot. It won’t ever happen a-” I was cut off when my dad stepped forward and slapped me. My eyes watered as I reached my hand up and touched the stinging spot on my face.
“You'd better be sorry. And stop trying to make excuses for yourself. It’ll only end in pain and regret. Now go stand up so that you can fully receive your punishment.” I stood up.
That night, I cried myself to sleep, like I would on any other night that my father took his anger out on me. 'I should have remembered. I deserve this pain. I should have remembered. This was my own fault.' I told myself over and over.