CHAPTER FOUR
the one at the pharmacy
warnings: mentions of blood

"HOLY SHIT, WHAT happened to you?"

By the time the words had left Richie's mouth, Ashley was already stepping into the water, making her way over to Ben, while Eddie on the other hand was panicking and ranting to Richie about how 'This kid could have a disease!' Or something like that.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Ashley asked, beginning to help Ben to his feet.

"Had a meet and greet with Henry Bowers," Ben replied, "Do you guys happen to have any like, bandaids or something?"

Ash shook her head, "No. Besides, your shirt seems like, really bloody. I don't think a few bandaids will do the trick."

"The ph-ph-pharmacy isn't to far from here," Bill told the group, "They hah-have medical supplies there."

"Okay. Ben, you good with going there?" Ashley asked, turning to the kid who was now shaking standing up and holding the site of his stomach. Ben nodded, and Ash looked at the others, "And you guys?"

"Fine with me. How's he gonna get there though? We only have our bikes." Stan pointed out, and Ashley furrowed her eyebrows.

"You're right. He can ride on the back of one of our bikes?" Ashley suggested, glancing at Ben, who just shrugged and nodded in return. A smile laced Ashley's lips.

"Great!" Ash exclaimed, before helping Ben walk towards the bikes.

"Lets go then, before he bleeds out and dies or some shit, then we'll have a lot more on out hands." Richie said, to which Ashley shook her head.

"He's not gonna die, Richie! Actually, he could have some sort of disease. Or maybe an infection. You know, my mom had a friend who's dad once got an infection in his arm, and she said it almost killed him, so God knows what could happen to this kid and-"

"Eddie! You're not helping!"

♡

IT TOOK A FEW MINUTES, but soon enough, the group of kids were on their way to the pharmacy. Ben was on the back of Bill's bike, and Eddie was back to rambling to Stan and Ash.

"I think it's great that that we're helping the new kid but we also need to think to out safety," Eddie said, though neither Stan or Ash were paying much attention to that, "I mean, he's bleeding all over, and you guys know there's an AIDs epidemic right now as we speak, right? And my moms friend in New York City got it by- just by touching a dirty pole in a subway and a drop of AIDs blood got into his system through a hangnail! A hangnail!" Eddie exclaimed.

"And- and you can amputate legs and arms but- but how do you amputate a waste? How do you amputate a waste?!" He added, and Ashley let out a sigh of relief as they turned around the corner and into an alleyway that would help lead them to the pharmacy.

"You guys do know that alleys are known for dirty needles with AIDs blood in them, right? You guys do know that?" Eddie continued, and Ashley almost banged her head on the brick wall. She parked her bike next to Richie's, glancing back at Ben.

"Richie, wait here. Come on." Bill motioned for Ash, Eddie, and Stan to follow them. Stan and Eddie left their bikes on the ground, before running after Bill.

The group of four made walked into the store, and Eddie quickly made his way over to a medial supplies aisle, beginning to grab some stuff and pile it into his arms.

"Can we afford all that?" Bill asked, and Eddie turned to face the three.

"I've got a dollar." Ashley shrugged, "But that's all. Stan?"

Stanley shook his head, showing the group the two dollars he held in his hands, "That's all we got." He said, folding it back up.

"Are you kidding me?" Eddie quietly hissed.

A sigh escaped Ash's mouth, before Bill spoke up, "Wait, you have an account here, right?"

Eddie hesitated, "If my mom finds out I bought all this stuff for myself," He shook his head, "I'm spending the rest of the weekend in the emergency room getting X-rayed."

Ashley furrowed her eyebrows, shoving her hands in her pockets, "I don't know what else we could do then, because-" She began, before everyone's eyes went to a certain redhead who stood in the front of aisle, holding something behind her back.

Beverly Marsh.

"Just Bev!" Ashley said with a grin, and she got a smile from Beverly in return.

"Y-You okay?" Bill asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

"Hey, Ash. And I'm fine." Beverly replied, "What's wrong with you?"

"None of your buisness." Stan told her before anyone else could speak.

"There's a kid outside who looks like someone killed him." Eddie blurted, and Ashley was pretty sure Stan rolled his eyes so far back, she thought they would fall out.

"We need some s-s-supplies, but we don't have enough money." Bill stammered out.

"I think I can help you with that." Beverly said with a smile on her lips, "I'm gonna talk to Mr. Keene and distract him, I'll send you a signal when you can run out, okay?"

"Isn't that stealing?" Ashley whispered, trying to make sure no one could hear her, "What if we got caught? We could yet in so much trouble."

"Loosen up, Ash. Nothing too bad will happen." Beverly replied, waving her hand at the girl who bit her lip.

"Alright, whatever you say, Just Bev." Ashley muttered, and Bev gave her a grin.

"That's the spirit! Now, you four stand by the entrance, I'll give you a signal, okay?" Beverly spoke with a raised eyebrow.

"Got it." Bill replied, while the other three nodded.

A grin fell on Beverly Marsh's lips, and she turned on her heels, before walking over to Mr. Keene.

♡

"I LIKE YOUR glasses, Mr. Keene." Beverly smiled at the older man, "You look just like Clark Kent."

Ashley focused on the two in silence, waiting for the supposed signal Beverly was supposed to be giving them, a small frown on her lips.

"I don't know about that."

"Can I try them?" Beverly asked, and that's when Ashley's attention went elsewhere. She glanced back at the boys, who were also looking at Beverly.

Ash glanced back at the two at the sound of a noise clattering, only to be greeted with what seemed like Beverly apologizing. Keene bent down to pick up what had fallen, and Beverly turned to the group, mouthing 'go'.

That's what they did. Well, they stumbled out, Eddie knocking into something on his way out, before the four bolted.

Once out of the pharmacy, the group walked over to where Richie and Ben sat, Richie groaning.

"God, finally. You guys took forever in there." Richie complained.

"He didn't bother you too much, right? Ben isn't it?" Stan questioned, an eyebrow raised, and Richie fake pouted.

Ben let out a nervous laugh, but shook his head.

"That was actually the most rebellious thing I've ever done. I feel like I can do anything now." Ashley rambled.

"What was oh so rebellious that you did?" Richie asked.

"We may or may not have stole this stuff. But we didn't have enough money, okay? Can you two shut up now, I'm trying to help Ben over here." Eddie replied for Ashley, who rolled her eyes.

"Go crazy with that, Shortstack." Ashley muttered, sitting against the brick wall next to where Stanley stood.

"Just- suck the wound." Richie said, waving his hand, to which Eddie rolled his eyes.

"I need to focus right now."

Great, more old married couple bickering. Seriously, she wasn't surprised the two weren't already in a relationship or something. Then again, her and Eddie's fake girlfriend act had yet to drop, but also yet to have been brought up again.

She mentally shook her bead, looking back over at Ben but still not listening to the other fours conversation. And holy fuck that's a lot of blood-

A voice other than Richie, Eddie, or Stan's rang in her ears, and she glanced up at none other than Beverly. A smile fell on her lips.

"Are you alright? That looks like it hurts." Bev asked Ben.

"Oh, no I'm good. I just fell." Ben lied, but said lie wasn't kept for too long.

"Yeah, right into Henry Bowers." Richie blurted out, and got a glare from Bill in return.

"Shut it, Ruh-Richie."

"Why?" Richie inquired, "It's the truth!"

Ben looked to the side, but Beverly just smiled and took a step foward, "You sure they got...The Right Stuff to fix you up?" She empathised the right stuff, which confused Ash, but she kept quiet. While Ben on the other hand, smiled and blushed.

So someone has a crush.

Ashley grinned to herself, and Bill stuttered out some reply to Beverly, which she didn't hear.

"Sure. Maybe I'll see you around." Beverly said to Bill.

"Yeah, w-we were thinking about going to the quh-quh-quarry tomorrow.." Bill informed her, "If- if you wanna..come."

All eyes were on the two, and Ashley was pretty sure they already knew this.

"Good to know. Thanks." Beverly replied, before beginning to walk away, waving the group goodbye.

"Bye, Just Bev." Ashley mumbled.

The second Beverly was out of sight, Stanley scolded Richie, "Nice going bringing up Bowers in front of her."

"Yeah, dude you heard what she did." Eddie added, and Ashley rolled her eyes.

"She did nothing, you idi-" She began, but Ben interrupted her with a question.

"What'd she do?"

"More like who'd she do," Richie joked, "From what I hear the lost is longer than my wang!"

Stanley rolled his eyes, "That's not saying much..." He muttered, and Ashley shot Richie a glare.

"Yeah, nothing at all, huh, Stan?" She hissed.

"They're juh-juh-just rumors," Bill defended Beverly.

"Yeah, leave her alone." Ashley huffed in annoyance, crossing her arms.

"Wow, mood change much, Ashley? Anyway, Bill had her back in third grade. They kissed in the school play! The reviews said you couldn't fake that sort of passion!" Richie told them.

Huh, so if her assumptions were correct, Ben wouldn't be the only one with a romantic interest in Beverly.

Ashley got a quick glimpse of Ben, before looking back at Richie, who was back to talking.

"Now," Richie clapped his hands, "pip-pip and tally-ho, my good fellows!" He exclaimed in a fake British accent, "I do believe this chap requires pur upmost attention! Get in there, Dr. K, come on, fix him up!" He added, gently shoving Eddie towards Ben.

"Why don't you shit the fuck up, Einstein, because I know what I'm doing and I don't what you doing the British guy with me right now." Eddie said, getting down on his knees and getting back to wait had been doing before.

"Suck the wound! Get in there!"