Pairing: Eddie Kaspbrak x Fem!Reader (IT Chapter Two)
Request from @avengxrs423: “hi!! can i request it chapter 2 (adult) eddie kaspbrak x reader (she’s not a loser). eddie brings her back to derry with him and he gets super jealous over ben and reader getting along. eddie can tell ben likes her. ends in fluff :)”
Synopsis: Eddie brings you to Derry but gets jealous when he realizes Ben likes you.
Word Count: 2.1k
You were a bit surprised when Eddie called you, breathing frantically, telling you he got in a car wreck. Scratch that, you were frozen in shock. Eddie was not the person to get distracted or take his attention off the road. He was way too analytical of everything to let that happen. That's one of the reasons he became a risk assessor.
You were as frantic as him when it came to picking him up. Although you tried to calm him over the phone, your own heart was doing flips in your chest. After making sure he could breathe properly, you asked him several times if he was okay. He insisted he was.
When you pulled up close to the scene, you were relieved to see him fine, just a few scratches and bruises.
"What the hell were you doing to get yourself in a wreck?" Your mind still spun with questions but you tried to repress most of them while you were driving.
"I got a call."
His voice was small and shaky. You figured it was from the shock he was still coming out of. He was probably terrified out of his mind when he wrecked.
"It was from an old friend. He said I have to go back."
"Go back? Where?"
"Derry."
•••
The drive there was eerily quiet. Despite his increasing anxiety, Eddie insisted he drive. It gave you time to think about what was happening and it brought up a lot of unanswered questions.
Eddie never really talked about his childhood. Every time it was brought up he would either avoid it or say he didn't remember a lot of it. You didn't let it get under your skin. Perhaps he had a traumatic experience as a child and didn't like thinking about it. Or maybe he simply didn't like himself back then. It really didn't bother you, not until now.
His fingers were constantly tapping on the leather steering wheel, his jaw clenched as he stared blankly at the road. It was starting to worry you and the tapping was beginning to become obnoxious.
"Eds," You said softly, resting your hand on the middle console, "I can drive. You look a bit anxio–"
"NO!"
You immediately drew your hand back, staring at him with wide eyes. He never yelled at you.
He cleared his throat and his cheeks reddened when he realized what happened. "I mean, no. It's okay, I can drive."
You nodded and turned your head but kept him in your peripheral. You were worried but didn't make any other move to stop him, even as he uncharacteristically swerved through traffic.
•••
You shot up at the sudden bang that pierced the calm atmosphere of the hotel room. A panicked Eddie rushed (more like stumbled) in the room, not even caring to close the door behind him. He made his way to the suitcases, peeking inside. When he noticed they were empty (You emptied the clothes since you planned to stay for a bit), he dragged them to the single dresser in your room, flinging open the drawers and slinging the clothes messily into the bags.
"Woah, Eddie," You stressed, "What are you doing?"
"We can't stay here," He spoke quickly, "IT – We can't stay. They're batshit crazy."
You pushed yourself off the bed and crouched next to him, placing your hands gently on his shoulders. It was meant to be calming, but Eddie instantly jumped at the contact. "Sorry," You mumbled but kept your hands on his shoulders in an attempt to ground him.
"Okay," He shot up, causing you to slip on your back foot and fall on your butt. "Time to go."
"Eds," You called out, scrambling up from the floor and following behind him like a lost puppy. "Eddie," You called out again, "Tell me what's happening."
Eddie yanked the bags over the lip of the door, not even flinching when they hit the frame with a loud crack.
"Eduardo, ándele! Let's go!"
"Who's that?" You immediately shot out, "What's going on?"
When you made it to the main staircase, you paused, looking down at the three people on the main floor. Their bodies were stiff and the atmosphere felt suffocatingly tense.
"'Kay, I just have to grab my toiletry bag then we can go," Eddie announced, too lost in his own mind to notice the atmosphere of the room. Only when he looked up did his eyebrows furrow in confusion. "What'd I miss?"
•••
It would be a lie to say you were happy to meet his friends at the time you did. You thought it would be an exciting and eye-opening moment to finally meet the people your husband grew up with. They influenced the person he became today. However, all that was thrown out the door when one of them claimed to see every one of them die. You were mortified to hear that come from her lips but you thought it was some sort of inside joke so you decided to laugh.
You were wrong. Everyone looked at you like you were out of your mind, even Eddie. Immediately, you shut up and let them talk as you sat in a chair in the corner of the room.
The girl looked distraught, not at all like she was lying. The boys were taking her words very seriously. It was taking a toll on Eddie, pacing back and forth around the room.
Your head started to spin at their conversation. It was hard to comprehend, especially when two other people showed up talking about headlights and a fucking ritual of truth. Whatever that shit is.
You were only able to pick up on small things as the man spoke. Something about getting your tokens and defeating a monster? It was like you were living a movie.
When it was over, Eddie told you he was heading back up to the room with the bags. You nodded but didn't follow him, wanting to stay by yourself while you tried to wrap your head around everything. Nothing made sense right now.
"Drink?"
A deep voice brought you out of your daydream. When your vision cleared, you noticed a drink being held out to you. You followed the hand connected to the drink until you locked eyes with a man. One of Eddie's friends.
You thanked him quietly and accepted the drink, letting yourself take a decent sip before cradling it in your hands.
"So, why are you here?" The man asked you, carrying a drink in his own hands.
"I'm with Eddie."
"Bet you didn't expect to get dragged into this," He chuckled, a wide smile appearing on his face. You smiled back, your eyes widening in agreement. It felt a little bit awkward, you weren't expecting for one of Eddie's friends to interact with you but here you were. You wanted his friend to like you, it was a natural thing.
"I definitely didn't," You sighed, taking another sip of the strong drink. "Eddie never really talks about Derry. I was surprised he invited me to go with him."
The man raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Really? Ouch. So he never talks about us?"
You felt yourself heat up. Did you just out your husband? "Well, it's not like he did it on purpose or anything. From what I heard, I wouldn't want to think of what happened either."
"Yeah."
The two of you sat in silence for a while, letting everything sink in. When you broke the silence, his head quickly swiveled to face you. "So, what the heck were you guys talking about anyway? It was kind of hard to understand. Were you talking about a horror movie or something?"
The man laughed again, this time his laugh was a lot warmer. "Well, I guess I'll have to explain."
•••
Ben was actually a really nice guy. It wasn’t like you were expecting his friends to be mean but the openness and genuine kindness that Ben expresses was surprising after what happened the night before.
The other friends seemed to be engulfed in whatever was going on, including Eddie. When you got back to your room last night (mind still stirring from what Ben tried to explain to you), Eddie was already in the bed, staring at the ceiling. It was like he didn’t know you were there.
You didn’t blame him for staring off into space, heck you couldn’t even comprehend what Ben even told you! But you felt a bit worried. Eddie was always the type to talk things out (in more of a panic nonetheless) so him going completely silent was a bit uncomfortable.
Despite that, you couldn’t take it on yourself to shake him out of his daze, afraid he wouldn’t be even more scared than he was at the moment. You thought maybe letting him have his space is the best for right now.
Little did you know, that was the furthest thing from what Eddie wanted.
Eddie walked a few paces behind you and Ben as everyone walked further into the woods. Everyone was supposed to keep a lookout for the entrance of the clubhouse, but for some reason his eyes could not leave you.
Eddie could feel the sharp stings from his teeth chewing on his tongue as he watched you smile widely at his friend who was so obviously flirting with you. Although he wasn’t the best person when it came to flirting, Eddie could tell when someone liked you. And Ben definitely liked you.
He didn’t want to say anything about it even though it was getting on his last nerve. Every joke, every laugh, every playful line, it all swarmed Eddie’s head, repeating relentlessly until that was the only thing he could focus on.
You didn’t notice Eddie’s tension. You were too focused on getting along with Ben to realize that Eddie was losing his patience. It wasn’t until Eddie pulled you back that you were taken my surprise. You two were married, yes, but Eddie was still awkward with things like physical contact. Maybe it stemmed from his hypochondria. He just didn’t normally like to do things like hold hands or cuddle (at least not in public).
Yet here he was, his hands gripping yours in a firm (but still soft) hold. Eddie was giving Ben an uncharacteristic glare. He couldn’t help it. Eddiejust felt so much conflicting emotion that he did what was natural. And that was keeping you next to him, away from whatever Ben was trying to do.
You looked quickly between your husband and Ben. Ben looked as surprised as you. However, once he looked at Eddie, he turned back around and didn’t look back again. Despite his innocent exterior, the look in his eyes was anything but innocent.
“Eds,” You said quietly, leaning closer to his ear, “What’s going on?”
You really didn’t want to create a scene, especially in front of all his friends.
He didn’t respond, just gripping your hand tighter. Even as the sweat collected, he didn’t let go of your hand until they found the clubhouse.
You pulled Eddie away from the group for a moment, determined to find out whatever was wrong with him.
“Eddie,” You stressed, “You need to tell me what’s gotten into you. This definitely isn’t normal.”
Eddie bit his lip, scanning the situation. Even if he were to ignore it, he did not want an angry wife stomping around him.
“I just–“
Eddie struggled to find the correct words to describe what he felt. What even was it? He felt so angry but insecure at the same time. One of his good friends was shooting his shot with his wife. Was Eddie going insane? Was this all I’m his head? Surely not.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Eddie sighed, “Ben likes you.”
You let out a halfhearted laugh, not sure if he was joking or not. By the look on his face, he definitely wasn’t. “Wait. You’re serious?”
Eddie pursed his lips and looked to the side, heat beginning to blossom on his cheeks.
“Eds,” You cooed, “Ben is not trying to do anything. Besides, if he did, it wouldn’t matter anyway. I love you and only you. I swore my life to you.”
Eddie seemed to start to calm down once you finished. His shoulders dropped slightly and his breathing slowed.
You smiled at your husband, resisting the urge to roll your eyes at the whole situation. “I love you~” You cooed again, leaning in closer to his face.
Instantly, Eddie’s face lit up like Rudolph’s nose. It was sort of charming. He was still as flustered as he was when he first met you.
Eddie swallowed the rest of his insecurities and leaned forward too, leaving a short but sweet kiss on your lips.
a/n: aaand we're back! let's see if I can get y'all back into this like im getting myself back into writing it (:
thank you all for being patient with me, if youre still here reading I love you so much.
masterlist
summary
rating: m for graphic depictions of violence, gore, and adult themes
The few feet between Ali and Ben feel like miles as her feet push her forward. Ali was refusing to bother with words, knowing exactly who this man was and how desperately she had waited for him all these years. His arms part instinctively, holding her to his chest as if it were the safest place in the universe and he was determined to protect her. Although years were spent apart, the feeling of being strangers was lost on both Ali and Ben; instead being replaced by the knowledge that they had not only grown up together, but had also been a saving grace for each other.
Ali’s breathing becomes unsteady as she feels Ben’s hand slide up to her neck. She isn’t afraid of him by any means, but the realization that somewhere in her life she forgot about him makes her uneasy; guilty in more ways than one. Tears spring to her eyes and a panic she has not felt since childhood comes upon her suddenly, causing Ben to pull back and look her over quickly in search of the cause of her distress.
“Hey, what’s wrong? I know I look different, but I swear I’m not a stranger.” Ben laughs nervously, trying to lighten the mood while also allowing her a moment to breathe. His hands never leave her, part of him unwilling in the event that she might slip away from him once more.
“I tried so hard for so long to remember you, but I never could. Ben, I forgot about you and I know that sounds awful but I swear I never meant to. You were always there, right at the edge of my mind, but I could never reach you. I’m so sorry.” Her voice shakes as she speaks and Ben has the overpowering need to hold her again and reassure her that everything was perfectly okay. So, that’s exactly what he does.
His thumbs brush across her cheeks, wiping away the tears that slipped past her eyes. “It’s not your fault, Ali. I’m sure Mike will explain everything, but from what I heard you aren’t the only one who’s had some missing pieces from their memory. It’s okay, we can catch up and everything will feel like we never spent a second apart.” Her breathing is still heavy, but a small smile finds its way upon her lips. He reciprocates and there is nothing he wants more than to kiss her in that moment, but he knows that he can't. She just admitted that she had forgotten everything for the longest time, throwing something like that on her now when she was just starting to get her life back was unfair and selfish. He had waited years, a little longer would be no problem at all.
“You ready to go in?” His voice was calm and patient, letting her know that she was allowed to take as much time as she needs. She was ready now though, something deep within her telling her that she could do anything now that the piece she was missing had been found. The pair begin to walk closer to the entrance, taking comfort in the close proximity of their bodies.
Standing right in front of the door was someone that they both had missed severely; even if Ali just now was remembering that she did. Ben reaches down, giving a reassuring squeeze to her hand and smiling toward the girl that had been his first official crush. “Is there a password or something?” Ali laughs beside him, Ben really was proving himself to be the master of throwing back phrases at people. It just further solidified what Ali already knew: they all meant something extraordinary to each other.
Recognition does not dawn on Beverly Marsh’s face as quickly as it did Ali’s. She turns and stares for a moment. “I’m sorry?” The wrapper crinkles in Ali’s hand as she tears it off and slowly pops the candy into her mouth. Beverly watches her and slowly, her face begins to change with a sense of recollection.
“New Kid?” His voice is hopeful as he says the nickname aloud for the first time in forever. The redhead’s eyes scan over Ali and Ben a little longer as the gears work in her head. “Ali? Ben?” Ali smiles excitedly and Ben lets out a relieved puff of air. While she nods her head, smile still beaming back at Beverly, Ben lifts his arm gently in an attempt to welcome Beverly into a hug. Bev comes forward, wrapping her arms around the both of them quickly and laughing.
“Oh my god!” The three stand there for a while, hugging in a way that feels familiar to each of them. Ali never enjoyed being touched by other people, she shied away from hugs and general contact because it always felt so wrong to her. This though, felt right. She felt comfortable for the first time in as far back as her still-hazy memory could go.
“it's been so long.” When Ben says this, it sounds less like a sad regret and more like a happy reassurance. It had been so long, but the wait was over at last.
"You guys look great!" Seperating, the trio find the source of the voice in the form of who could only be Richie Tozier. He looks down at himself and scoffs. “What the fuck happened to me?”
Once more, Ali finds herself closing the distance between herself and her old friend. Images flash before her eyes, showing her of a time when her and Richie would get into arguments, sometimes heated, that would always end in rolling eyes and smiles. He had kept her on her toes as a kid, but sometimes things like that only prove to strengthen the bond you have with someone.
Part of Ali was expecting to see someone else walk up with Richie; she doesn’t know why but the distinct recollection of his lovestruck face brings itself to the forefront of her mind and she is almost disappointed to find him alone.
“Hey Trashmouth!” They all laugh while Ali and Richie hug. The nickname definitely came easy to remember. “Are you fucking serious? I escape this shit for years just to come back and immediately get fucking ridiculed. That’s unreal, Ugly Duckling.” Ali pulls back from the hug and stares at him with shock on her face. Now that was a name she hadn’t heard in forever.
Ben almost intervenes, afraid that maybe Ali won’t receive the banter as such. It takes a moment, but the shock slowly slides into amusement. She shoves his shoulder and hugs him again; she really had missed them all.
The rest of them greet each other with warm smiles, Beverly and Ben also fall victim to Richie’s incessant need to say whatever’s on his mind, and soon it is time to go in.
With shaky hands, Ali follows the group to the entrance of the brightly lit restaurant. She falls behind a bit, trying to hide behind the rest of them as Richie continues to lighten the mood with his voice. It takes only a second for Ben to turn and notice how quiet she has gotten, and in that same second he halts his walking, waits for her to catch up, and falls into step alongside her.
Their shoulders bump as they walk and Ali finds the feeling of warmth radiating from his open palm to be immensely more inviting than the illuminated building. His knuckles graze hers gently, as though he is calling her toward him in a way. She takes the invitation as soon as he is willing to give it, slowly sliding her hand into his larger one.
Ben doesn’t look down when he feels her soft hand find his own. He simply takes it and wraps his fingers in hers, driving away the cold of her palm with the comforting heat of his body. The nervous trembling doesn’t stop, but it does subside and that is more than Ben could ever ask for.
Finally looking down, Ben catches the twinkling lights reflecting in Ali’s eyes. Smiling felt so foreign to him until today, and he feels his eyes come alight for what very well may be the thousandth time since arriving. Her own mouth curves up into the smallest of smiles as she notices him staring, and Ben can’t help but think it is the most beautiful sight he has ever seen.
Tags (ive been gone a while so i understand if youd like to be taken off, just message me): @stanley-barbs @bvrningdesires @floralpiper @thesmittenkitkat @daisysinadarkmedow @auggusst @isabellathedreamer @makbubblefandom @1988-fiend @alexther11 @goldenmoonbeam
let me know if you want to be added to the list!
a/n: as always, i greatly appreciate every read, like, reblog, and comment so much! feedback is always happily welcome and i hope you guys liked this chapter.
this is a side blog so i cant respond to comments (although i love to read them!!) but if yall ever wanna talk just shoot me an ask or message me! I love talking to yall <3
coming up...this meeting of the losers club has officially begun.
omg I just saw that u would write for it ch 2 sooo if i could request some bill denbrough fluff maybe right after they finally defeat pennywise?? that man owns my heart and soul
A/N: This was a pleasure to write. I did only watch IT and IT Chapter Two last month for the first time since horror movies aren’t my jam, but I totally fell in love with all of these characters, so I really hope I’ve done Bill justice at least a little in this!
When you both eventually make your way out of the water and onto the rocks to sit down and dry off, there’s a haunted look in Bill’s eyes – one that you suspect won’t be disappearing for a while to come. You suppose there’s a similar look in your own eyes, but you’re not focused on that. You’re focused on using the shallow water to try and get the blood out from your fingernails.
His hands shake as he watches you. They’ve been shaking for a while.
The others are still in the water, Mike comforting Richie as best he can, and Bev and Ben have just emerged from the depths with Richie’s glasses, shy smiles on both of their faces. Even though you’re all feeling the pain of losing Eddie and Stan, there’s a strange sense of comfort in all of you being in the same place. As similar to what used to be as you can expect nowadays.
You glance up at Bill. “And what about you?”
His eyebrows briefly knot together as he takes in your words. He knows what they mean. He’s just not sure if he’s fully able to construct an answer to them yet. If he even knows how he’s feeling right now. He settles for a small shake of his head and drops his gaze down to the rocks by his feet.
With a sigh, you give up trying to rid your fingernails of blood and stand up, carefully making your way back up to Bill without slipping. You settle down next to him and reach over to take one of his still shaking hands in your own.
His eyes meet yours again, and there’s a hint of a smile on his lips.
You’re wrapped up in your own little bubble away from the others, though they’re still there in the back of your mind. They’ve never really left you. But right now, you know that exactly what Bill needs is specific. Specific love, specific attention, specific care. There’s no hesitance in you to give that to him, and the mere notion of that helps him in opening up.
“Is this all my fault?” His voice is soft, as if he’s worried about it carrying and the others hearing it. Deep down, he knows it isn’t. But he can’t help but think it anyway. “It feels like it is. I’ve been thinking and–”
“I know what you’ve been thinking.” You cut him off, but you’re not harsh about it. Your voice stays calm, because that’s what Bill needs right now. “But you’re wrong. Everything that happened, there was no stopping it. It happened the way it was always going to. Blaming yourself… that’s just going to lead you down a path I can’t follow. And I want to follow.”
Bill lets out a soft breath of relief as you move closer to him and rest your head on his shoulder. His arm moves instinctively to wrap around you. He’d wanted to hold you like this ever since you’d stepped foot in that house. But he’d had to try and be brave – you both had. You’d both known that giving in to the fear that was creeping up on you would mean nothing but pain for the both of you in the end. Being brave was all you had, even when you were scared.
He feels like this is the first time he’s been properly allowed to relax in… twenty seven years.
“I… I always had this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that things weren’t quite right after I left Derry. I had no idea why, for all those years,” he breathes softly, eyes staring out at your friends in the water. “This is the first time I haven’t felt that feeling. It’s… nice. It’s really nice.”
hi!! Can I have a matchup for SPN, IT, and Star Wars? I’m a straight 5’5 gal. I have shoulder length dirty blonde hair, brown eyes, am pale and on the chubbyish side :)) I am shy, but when u get to know me, I’m pretty chill and quiet. I overthink and stress about everything!! I struggle with body image. I like listening to oldies like Elvis and The Beatles. Love to read, learn about true crime, and tinker around on piano. I like to cook/bake. And I love anything to do with Halloween. Thank you!
I'd ship you with Sam. He gets sad and hurt when you talk about your body image and how you feel about it. He'd be the boyfriend that supports you and calls you beautiful no matter what. Sam's feelings would never changefor you. He loves to watch you cook though, asking you to give him some tips and help him cook some meals as well. You're quiet, but he loves that about you. He loves listening to you play piano and talk about pretty much anything.
I'd ship you with Ben Hanscom. Him having had trouble with his body when he was young, and is still self-conscious as an older man, he would always give you his loving support. You both love cooking together, but he isnt much of a Baker, and is always asking you to teach him how to make certain baked goods. Ben likes to lie down in bed with you, you two reading books while holding one another close.
I'd ship you with Poe Dameron. Similar to Ben, he loves to just hold you tight and watch you reading. Sometimes he would ask you to read to him a bit, and he would fall asleep to your voice (he finds it relaxing and mesmerizing). He doesn't care about your body image, finding you beautiful no matter what you or others think of it.
"Oh my god!" Beverly laughed loudly, clutching her stomach with one hand and the picture frame in the other. "Why have you never showed me this?"
Your entire face was heating up in embarrassment. The last thing you wanted was your fiancée to find your revealing baby photos.
"Y'know, it's not something I like to show around willy nilly," You bit your bottom lip, toe beginning to drag on the carpet beneath you. It was something else to focus on at least.
"I can't see why you wouldn't," She declared, giving you a wide smile, "You were a tiny precious child."
Beverly took a few seconds to look between the old photo and you before letting out a small giggle.
a/n: this is a little different from the usual, but I feel that it's important to understand both parts of this relationship a little more. I hope you guys enjoy 🖤
masterlist
summary
rating: m for graphic depictions of violence, gore, and adult themes
Years pass like seconds when you’re enjoying life; for Ben they had passed like an eternity.
When he went off to college and made his own way in life, away from Maine, away from where he spent half his childhood, he had made new memories. Ben lived a whole new life in entirety, yet there was always something that held him back. Unlike Ali, Ben never completely forgot what happened in his youth. While she constantly ran toward the pain that, to this day, stabs at her heart and evades her memory, Ben had held on to it; never finding himself in need of pursuing the life he had never let go of.
Things were hazy, some parts he never believed were real at all, but he remembered nonetheless. Every once in a while his hands would start dialing her number, hopelessly willing himself to go through with the call that would allow him to hear her voice, yet he could never do it. Ben knew that her past was not something he wanted her to feel the agony of reliving once more. He knew that if she wanted to dig up old relationships, she would call him; she never did though. Maybe some things were best left in the past.
Besides, things had changed exponentially for Ben. His intelligence and nack for building things had gotten him far in life. He was a distant cry from the chubby little boy that had been the subject of torment growing up. Appearances shifted, leaving him a tall and decently fit man, but inside he was always going to be the same Ben. Physical attributes only go so deep, and Ben was never entirely sure how he felt about that.
Often he found himself wondering what his friends would think of him now. Would they be proud of who he had become? Would she be proud? Ben knew that was a stupid question; of course she would be. She always had been his biggest supporter and he knew that if she were still in his life now, then she would still hold that title proudly.
On days when the thought of missing her became overwhelming, he would take out the only tangible thing he ever kept from his childhood: a beautifully drawn sketch of him when he was young. This drawing was one of the only times he was ever able to look at himself and see something worthwhile, and it was all because she had seen that in him and used her breathtaking talent to translate it on page. She had been his saving grace as a kid, and some small part of him selfishly hoped that he had been hers.
The night he received a call from Maine, a small part of his heart awoke with light, thinking in some stupid wish that it would be her. He quickly shut off the conference call he had been in and grabbed his cellphone, calming the butterflies in his stomach and answering the call.
Mike Hanlon was on the other end that night, not her. It was not necessarily a let down though. Ben missed his old friends and talk of a reunion both mortified and excited him. If this was happening, there had to be good reason. Quickly packing, he found himself on the first flight to Derry and prepared to finally see the first real friends he ever had for the first time in years.
****
The tires of his car come to a halt in the parking lot of the restaurant Mike had set as their meeting place. Ben takes a few deep breaths to try to calm his beating heart, but it does nothing as his eyes land on a woman exiting her own vehicle. He sits there, unable to move from his car as she walks toward the entrance, stopping to stare at the lights radiating within. Her hands come down to play with the zipper on her coat and Ben smiles to himself as he remembers all the times he had watched her do that growing up. At some point she had opted to start taking his hand instead when her anxieties grew too high, and they subtly begin to itch with the need to know she was protected in his grasp once more.
Ben decides then and there that nothing can keep him from entering the restaurant. Not the fear of rejection, change, or the terrifying clown that he has just started to remember more clearly. Looking down, he smiles at the bag of lollipops that he was compelled to buy at the small gas station on the side of the road near the entrance of Derry. He didn’t remember why it was so important at the time, but a flood of memories of an adorable young girl sketching in a little book with a lollipop always hanging from her mouth came back to him the moment he saw her. Turns out he had forgotten some things.
He steels himself, grabbing a small lollipop from the bag, and exiting the car. Ali was still standing there, and Ben knew from experience that she was overthinking things. Just as he is sure she is going to turn back and leave, he does what he recalls her having done time and time again when he was young and afraid of the world; his hand feels inside his pocket for the wrapper and he pulls it out, smiling as yet another distinct memory comes to mind.
“You want a lollipop?” The smile is still on his face, and it only grows as she turns around to finally meet his eyes. He had waited so long to see her again, and now looking at her felt as though he had never grown up. There he was, a child again, looking into the eyes of the girl of his dreams.
She was different, that went without saying. Ben knew he looked exponentially different from what he used to as well. There was no amount of change that could make him unsure of who she was though. No, Ben knew that beauty anywhere. It was a kind of loveliness that was distinctly her. She is breathtaking now, but she always had been.
The years had passed like an eternity for Ben, but now time seemed to finally move again.
a/n: i appreciate every read, like, reblog, and comment so so much! feedback is always welcome and i hope you guys are enjoying this.
happy new year loves! enjoy the slow calmness while it lasts because this is gonna be a whirlwind pretty soon! love you guys so much and can't wait to see what you think ❤️
rating: m for graphic depictions of violence, gore, and adult themes
Nothing was making any sense anymore. After the incident in the bathroom, Ali was finding it difficult to know what she could believe. Obviously her eyes were playing tricks on her, but the fresh scars on her wrists that had not been there before told a different story and pleaded the validity of what she knew she had experienced.
The sharp ringing of her cellphone cuts through the air and startles her for what feels like the fiftieth time in the past few days. Picking it up, she looks at the screen to feel yet another sense of dread that she can't quite place the cause of. An unsaved number lit up the screen, Maine written in smaller letters directly underneath. When was the last time she had thought of Maine? Why was it causing her hands to shake and leaving her wondering whether or not she should pick up? The phone nearly comes to a stop before she quickly presses the button that answers the call. She lifts it shakily to her ear and takes a deep breath.
"Hello?" On the other end there is a quick sigh of relief before a voice responds. "Hey Ali, it's Mike. Um, Mike Hanlon from Derry."
Ali's knees seem to go numb beneath her and she quickly finds herself losing balance. She moves to sit on the bed and swallows down the panic stirring within her. "Oh wow, hi Mike. I...really wasn't expecting to hear from you." Michael let's out another breath and the rustling of his movements echoes into the phone. "Yeah, I've heard that quite a few times recently. Ali, something's happened and I promise to explain more later but I really just need you to come meet us the day after tomorrow."
There's a look of confusion and concern etched on her face as she processes what Mike just told her. This has to have something to do with the weird things that she was seeing; there was no way that Mike calling was a coincidence when it coincided so perfectly with everything else. Just as part of her was hesitant to pick up the call to begin with, she was also hesitant to agree to meet with him again. She knew there was no way to deny him though, not when she had all but forgotten he existed until just moments ago.
"Ali, are you still there?" Mike sounds a little nervous, maybe even desperate. There was something else that he said that was gnawing at her though. "Mike, when you say 'us,' who are you talking about?"
****
Walking up to the restaurant, Jade of the Orient, was possibly the most nerve wracking thing Ali had done in years. Stopping in front of the entrance, she plays with the zipper of her jacket and does what she does best; allows her anxiety to overcome her. This may have all been a huge mistake. Mike had clarified a little more about who exactly she would be seeing here, but the details and memories were all extremely fuzzy. It was as if there was a mist layered over her childhood that no matter how hard she tried to see past, it was far too thick.
These people had not seen her in years. She had put a lot of effort into becoming someone she could look at and love; most of which was in vain, but still, there was a stark difference between who she was and who she has become. Her black glasses still framed her face and her unruly hair still blew wildly in the wind, but that was nearly as far as the similarities ended. Would they hate her for becoming someone new? Was she even someone new; or was she still the same scared little girl that allowed the opinions and eyes of others obstruct her ability to see herself the way in which she truly was? This was without a doubt a mistake and the tug of fear instantly turns from a dull pull to a sharp stab that drives her away from the restaurant; away from them. Before she can move to turn back to her car and leave, a gentle voice carries through the wind and graces her ears; acting as a beam of light that breaks apart the mist.
"You want a lollipop?" The voice halts every movement she was making and any that she was even considering. It takes her back to a time she swore that she had forgotten about long ago, yet standing here now she wonders how she could have ever allowed it to slip away.
****
It felt like yesterday, sitting on the steps of school and waiting patiently for Beverly to make her way out the front doors. It was the last day of the school year and Ali had decided to forego her last class, opting instead to sit outside and draw her newest interest. A boy named Ben Hanscom had recently started attending school here and Beverly had introduced him to her friend not long after she ran into him in the hall. He was extremely adorable and honestly interesting to talk to; much smarter than most of the other kids that went here anyway. He was quiet and really liked to read, something she found comfort in when all the rest of the school appeared far too loud.
Kids started filtering out around her, and it wasn’t long before shouts could be heard in the yard. Looking up, Ali saw Henry Bowers tormenting a group of kids that she had had a few interactions with in the past. They all shared a common habit of constantly being picked on by Bowers, Greta, and the awful group that followed the two leaders around. Greta was nowhere in sight, giving Ali a chance to breathe for once, until the commotion in front of her got a little more physical and Ali felt as though it was only right to help out the group of boys who had done the same for her on a few previous occasions.
“You have some big balls beating up on people who are smaller than you, Bowers!” Ali stood tall against the boy and his friends, staring him down as much as her smaller stature could. Henry looked back at her for a moment with shock on his face, but that lasted for only the briefest of moments before it turned into a sneer. He threw glances at his gang and erupted into laughter.
“Oh yeah you ugly fucking bitch? I bet you would love to see my balls. Too bad that easy friend of yours is the only one who can get any action. You’d know, right? I’m sure you try all the time but no one’s willing to sleep with a fucking four eyed piece of shit like you!” The sting of tears sparks within her at his words, but she refuses to let them spill; there were few things she was not willing to do in order to ensure that Bowers was not granted the satisfaction of successfully hurting someone else.
Straightening the glasses on her face, Ali looks back at him with a twinkle in her eye that Bill, Richie, Eddie, and Stan had all come to learn meant she was about to say something that would end the argument. “I can’t do anything about needing to wear glasses, but you can do something about that ugly ass mullet on your head. Seems to me like we’re both ugly, but you’re the dumbass that’s choosing to look like that.” Bowers’ eyes come alight with anger and Richie hollers about a murder having taken place. Bill, knowing that she won’t back down just as much as Henry will refuse to, starts to make a commotion that gets the attention of the police officers standing off to the side. Henry quickly looks behind Ali and makes eye contact with the officers, he reaches down and pulls the sketchbook out of her hand, ripping a few pages and throwing it to the floor before turning and motioning for his gang to follow behind him.
“Thanks for the help.” Stan nods to you and the rest of the boys offer up a smile as they turn and start running off, Richie still screaming about the look on Henry’s face. Ali also smiles, but that fades quickly when Beverly comes up behind her smelling slightly like garbage and leans down to pick up the book and torn drawings.
“Everything alright?” Ali sighs and faces Bev, shrugging and brushing off a stray piece of trash from her shoulder. “Just about alright as it usually is.” The two girls make their way back to the stairs to grab the rest of Ali’s stuff, only to find the way blocked by the new kid, Ben.
“Is there a password or something?” Beverly smiles and laughs as Ben fumbles with his stuff nervously. It was abundantly clear that the poor kid had already fallen victim to, not only the typical pains of being new at school, but also the all too common sting of being an easy target for bullying.
When it is clear that Beverly is messing with him, he returns the laugh. Ali giggles as well, picking up her backpack once he has moved a bit, and reaching in to find something that she hoped would make everyone’s day a little sweeter. Passing one to Beverly and then unwrapping her own, she steps forward and smiles at Ben, holding out her hand.
“You want a lollipop?”
****
Turning around, the face that had eluded her for years finally became clear
Tags: (im tagging everyone who has interacted with the previous posts about this story, but if you don’t want to be tagged please just send me a message, I completely understand!)
a/n: i appreciate every read, like, reblog, and comment so so much! feedback is always welcome and i hope you guys are enjoying this. the next chapter will HEAVILY involve ben, i promise!!
