AU: FRANKIE AND GEORGE AREN'T TAKEN BY IT.

A plethora of missing kid posters filled the wall as Lizzy Dwyer dumped her bike beside the grocery store.

Her goal was simple. Go in, get the stuff from the list and get out. Mom was impatient and wouldn't like waiting.
Lizzy had begun to feel a refreshing summer breeze on the back of her neck, a feeling she hadn't felt when her hair was longer.

The grocery shop wasn't a foreign place to her. She'd been countless times, even her and Bev had pinched some goods. The items on the list rarely changed so it was practically a routine now. Given the fact that her mother always gave her a few extra coins to get something for herself also made it harder to complain about the situation. It was almost like her own pocket money, and Lizzy always made sure to save it or spend it wisely. Shopping trips were annoying in general though, the thought of having to get up and go out early on a Saturday morning irked the dark haired girl.
Her shopping trip today went as it normally did. Summer had been going pretty slowly so far, not even trips out with Beverly could solve her boredom. She had thought about calling up some of her other friends, Bill for example, but she really couldn't be bothered.

Returning home was the same as always, her twin sister Frankie lounged on the living room couch while a random cartoon played on the tv, which she ignored while reading some teen magazine. Lizzy almost groaned at the sight, she loved her sister but her lack of enthusiasm was almost infectious so she opted to stay away from her. Debbie's voice echoed through the halls of the Dwyer household as she ranted to her friend Monica down the phone. Lizzy giggled hearing the rage within her sister's voice, knowing it was over some petty situation.
She finally got to her own rather messy yet comforting room and rolled onto the bed, her back ached and nothing could cure it better than a good nap. But Eleanor Dwyer had different plans. With a call of her daughter's name, Lizzy bounced back up and called out to her - asking what the problem was.
The loud footsteps indicated her mother was close. Her door opened to reveal a slim woman with dark hair and red acrylic nails which looked like talons at this particular moment in time. Eleanor pointed one accusing finger at her daughter, "You forgot the milk. You know I need it for my baking." Liz groaned and ran her fingers through her newly cut hair.
"Sorry, ma." Eleanor gave her a look which indicated that sorry wasn't good enough and gave her extra change to go out and get the item she'd missed. It was times like this she wished Richie Tozier was around, or any of the boys really. Summer was incredibly boring, the Denbrough family had gone on holiday - taking their sons Bill and George with them, meaning Lizzy had no company when attending church. Stan was either always bird watching or studying for his Bar Mitzvah. Eddie was kept under lock and chain by his strict mother so Lizzy didn't have high hopes for her tiny amigo either.

But Tozier had just vanished. It was only now that Lizzy realized she'd been pretty cooped up in this house. Beverly and her had stayed inside mostly all summer, both their reputations in tatters due to lies spread by Henry Bowers and the constant harassment from Greta. That still wouldn't have stopped Richie though, his lewd comment followed her where ever she went and yet now the world seemed so quiet.

Maybe another annoying shopping trip would do her good. She could stop by the Tozier household and check to make sure he was okay.
The trip began again, making small talk with the shopkeeper as she explained her forgetfulness. Lizzy was so preoccupied that it wasn't until the milk carton was in her hand that she noticed the photo at the side of it. The face that greeted her almost made her scream.

Coke-bottle glasses, dark messy hair, a cheeky yet lovable grin - all trademarks of the one and only Richie Tozier.

He was gone. According to this poster, he was one of the missing kids.

How could she let this happen? She knew for a fact he wouldn't have just ran away, not when Lizzy still remained in Derry. Yes, his parents neglected him and Lizzy hated them for that - but she was there for him. No matter what, she'd told him. The Dwyer girl knew there was an external force at play here, but what she didn't know was how to help. Every effort in this town to find the dozens upon dozens of missing kids failed, which each child being forgotten as soon as another poster was placed on top of their own. It seemed like a lost cause.

The shopkeeper was alerted when he saw her fall to her knees and weep, clutching the carton in her hands.
"Oh, that kids been missing for about a week now - we get a new stock of milk in tomorrow though so that'll probably change." Lizzy couldn't tell if it was an attempt at comforting her or making her feel worse but judging from the scowl and the way she slammed the coins on the counter, he got the feeling she wasn't appreciative of his comment.

Getting home, power walking through the streets of Derry. His poster was plastered around in certain places in town. Not as much as the other kids (Lizzy suspected due to the lack of involvement from his parents) but to her, it stuck out like a sore thumb. As if it was taunting her with the fact she'd only just realised he was gone. Lizzy decided to grab one off a wall and stuff it into her jacket just like she'd later stuff the carton into the fridge and pretend like everything was fine. The guilt was eating her alive. This was the last fragment of the boy. So she clasped it close to her heart.

Why couldn't it have been her?

It should've been her.

But this wouldn't help get Richie back and by next week, the rotation of the missing kids started once again - pushing the boy aside.
But not in Lizzy's mind. Never, in Lizzy's mind.

He lived on through the poster she hung above her dressing table, through the polaroids they'd taken together. Through the way when she closed her eyes she could see his toothy smile or hear his laugh when the wind blew. Through the love notes and poetry he'd written her, which she'd initially scoffed at - which she now greets with a warm smile and tear lined eyes.
Richie was gone, but that didn't mean Lizzy wouldn't wait for him. She'd wait for him to come back and tell her this was all just a stupid prank, that he'd never really left. Lizzy would wait on him forever if that's what it took for him to return.

He never ever did though.