Imagine being Bev’s sister, and Ben having a thing for you when you all return to Derry.
You always had a thing for Ben, who seemed only to have eyes for your sister. Haystack, as Richie called him, was always kind, sweet, smart, almost downright adorable, and you liked him best out of your sister’s friends. He tried to protect you from IT when you were young, and you realized how damn self-sacrificing he could be too. But the crush was left behind when you and Bev moved in with your Aunt outside of Derry, and you hadn’t thought of him much since.
But now, being back here - seeing the muscular man hug your sister - it came rushing back like a broken dam. It was finally your turn and you had to hide the tears that were coming to your eyes. Of course he would still only love your sister, you thought, as he wrapped his arms around you with a big grin on his face. Of course he would never look at you twice. You were still just the kid, as Richie referred to you when he stepped up to the Chinese restaurant.
But throughout the night, as Beverly looked over at Bill, and Richie and Eddie were flirting without realizing it, maybe, just maybe, he was looking at you a bit. “So what do you do?” Ben asked while everyone else was talking.
You spoke about your business. You didn’t go into fashion the way that Beverly did, but made your own path. Stepped out from under her shadow. “Didn’t get married like everyone else seemed to though,” You chuckled. “I think - I think Derry took that away from me. There’s no one in this world I trust more than the Loser’s Club. Everyone outside of it just seems ... wrong.”
“I understand that completely,” Ben said. You reached for your glass the same time that he reached for his. Your hands were so close to touching, and neither of you moved. At least not until Ben’s little finger tentatively stretched itself out and caressed your fingers. You held your breath at the touch, a billion sparks going through your body. You let go of your glass and moved your hand over to his. He let go of his own and clasped yours tightly, forgetting everyone else in the room.
