.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

SHE'S TALKING AGAIN

CHAPTER ONE

i. the end of school

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THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL AT DERRY HIGH was more than satisfactory to Veronica Mills. She had already bid goodbye to the grueling homework and awful teachers. She was more than ready for summer, so prepared to escape the nightmare which was called eighth grade.

The shrill tone of the bell sounds throughout the entire school and instantly, students throw up papers and cheers fill the air. Veronica, with her wrinkled canvas backpack slung lazily on her shoulder snapped the scrunchie on her wrist as she began to walk out of the class, cringing at the pushes and shoves she was receiving. Chaos and excitement had already broken out in the halls of Derry High. Papers littering the floors and students tossing whatever trinkets they had out of their lockers. People tripping over one another in an attempt to exit the crowded halls whilst loud chatter filled their ears.

She kept her head down, squeezing through the cramped space while muttering swears under her breath. Hunching her shoulders closer together in an attempt to make herself smaller than she already was. Usually, she was rather lively. Rather outgoing and loud - more than loud, actually. But, being alone in these halls scared her. The bullies always seemed to target most when you're was alone. She found herself longing for the feeling of Richie's hand around her wrist, holding her close to make sure she didn't slip away or Bill's taller figure blocking her from away from all that scared her.

It was unintentional, the way people towered over her as she walked. She was probably the shortest girl in eighth grade, standing at the mere height of five foot. The majority of the girls in Derry stood aroundthe average height of five foot three or taller.

Veronica was pretty. There was no doubt about it, all bright blue eyes and strawberry lips. But, it was how she was and how she presented herseld which got her laughed at. Silver tracks lining her teeth which sometimes cut open the sides of her cheeks, blonde hair which was never kept tidy, and a dainty small figure which had girls her age snickering and mumbling wonders of whether or not she had gone through puberty yet. Added with the questionable words which left her mouth and boys she associated with, it was no surprise she was seen as odd. A loser, even.

Pulling at the scrunchie on her wrist once again, she snaps it harshly against her skin. It was a nasty habit she's had since she was young causing bruising and red marks around her tiny pale wrists due how frequently it was done. Lost in thought, she was pulled back to reality when she finds herself being propelled forward at an impact on her back.

She stumbles, pushing into the person in front of her's back. Quickly, she pulls away and moves the messy hair from her face and looks back to search for the source. "Watch it, Brace Face!" Greta Keene, a known bully around school shouts, storming passed Veronica with a snarl on her face, two other girls trailing behind her with smug looks on their face..

Veronica stares at the back of Gretta's head as she walks off, rolling her eyes at the fried hair on the girls head from consistent crimping. She couldn't help but wonder why Gretta had been blessed with such a pretty face but such a bitchy attitude. It just didn't make sense.

"Suck my strap on, bitch!" She breathes out, continuing to walk the crowded halls, only faster now.

She had never been fond of walking the halls of Derry High. Her friends had never been fond of the thought of leaving Veronica alone at all. It wasn't at all due to her small stature but because of the idea of the Losers resident baby (she was the youngest of all of them, born October 6th,) getting hurt, or worse, go missing.

Her eyes light up, spotting the back of her friends heads down the hallway she walked. Smiling to herself, she practically bolts towards them. Pushing through students more frantically now and squeezing herself between small crevices between two students shoulders until she was able to hear them.

"They slice the tip of his dick off!" She hears first. It was Eddie, a small boy who suffered of extreme hypochondria. He had practically shouted it to the whole school.

Exhaling sharply with an amused shake of the head, Veronica jumps between Richie and Bill, wrapping her arms around their shoulders. Her arms sat somewhat uncomfortably in the position she was in because of how tall they were compared to her. "Hey, Dickheads," She shouts out to them, the same volume as Eddie's comment. She wore a wide smile on her face - her braces scratching at the inside of her mouth.

"Well, look who decided to join the party!" Richie Tozier, Veronica's best friend since they were only four, smirks while smacking her butt.

Rolling her eyes, Veronica lifts her arm off his shoulder -- instantly feeling blood begin to rush back to it as she smacks at his glasses -- plucking them off his face and holding them away from him.

Richie and Veronica had been as thick as thieves since the day they met. Four years old in nursery at the elementary school. Back before the abandonment, back before they'd spend days curled up in her bedroom reading comics for hours -- giggling to one another and whispering their secrets. In short, their first meeting involved Richie kicking sand into Veronica's eyes for a toy shovel and Veronica attempting to 'fight' him. They both got timeouts.

She holds the large glasses in her hands, staring up at his squinted eyes. "Quit it, Tozier! Hands off," She says while containing a giggle. She really didn't care at all. This was their dynamic, it was normal. But say, anyone else were to do it, all hell would break loose for all the Losers.

Richie rolls his now smaller eyes, his arm reaching around Veronica and leaning closer to Bill in attempt to grab his glasses from the girl -- he was practically legally blind without them. "Ronnie, give them back," He groans, barely able to see where she held them. It was all a blur of melded colours.

Laughing at the exchange, Bill flicks the side of Veronica's head, snatching the glasses out of her hand and placing them on his face. "J-Jesus, Richie. You're b-b-blind," He comments, taking them off his face and passing it towards Eddie as Richie looks around the three blobs which were his friends.

"Right? How'd they get that fucking bad, Rich?" Veronica asks, leaning into Richie's side and looking up at his squinted eyes again before squeezing his cheeks and puckering his lips. "Aw, look at the confused angel," She laughs, Richie grimaces, pulling away from her and scrunching up his nose.

Eddie takes them, putting them onto his face and instantly taking them off with an exaggerated gasp. "Oh, God. I think that ruined my eyes," He says, passing them back to Veronica who quickly placed them back onto Richie's face.

"There you go," She laughs, poking his cheek roughly.

Glaring at them and taking them off. "You guys are assholes," Richie mutters. Wiping the lenses on his Hawaiian print shirt. "Your bitch asses got them all smudged and dirty!" He goes on, placing them back on his face.

They're all pushed forward, Stan joining the group by shoving himself between Richie and Eddie. "Guys," He greets as the group begins to spread out more comfortably for space.

"Hey, Stan," Bill starts, looking to Stan with a curious look "What happens at the Bar Mitzvah anyways? -- It says they slice the tip of your d-d-dick off," He asks, bringing up the past conversation as Veronica tilts her head curiously.

"Yeah, I think the rabbi's gonna pull down your pants, turn to the crowd and say 'Where's the meat?'" Richie chimes in while all of them, except Stan, lets out loud laughs.

Stan closes his eyes for a moment in annoyance, opening them again and shaking his head. "At the Bar Mitzvah, I read from the Torah, make a speech and suddenly I become a man," Stan explains slowly as if he were explaining to a child. Though, you could tell he doesn't really understand how he becomes a man through simply reading.

"I can think of funner ways to become a man," Richie replies, nudging Stan with a smirk.

Veronica shakes her head at his response. "You sound stupid," She kicks his leg with her foot.

Taking a breath of exasperation, Stan sighs. 'Funner'' isn't even a word, Richie!" He explains, shaking his head again.

Richie rolls his eyes. "Uh, yeah. It is?" He scoffs, looking to Bill, then Veronica, then Eddie. All of them staring at him with raised eyebrows.

"I-I-It... It isn't a word, Rich," Bill laughs while Veronica snorts, mouthing the word 'Stupid-head!' and looking to Eddie who grimaces at Richie's idiocy.

Just then, the group begins to pass the Bowers Gang, a group of older kids who were notorious for bullying the unfortunate teens of Derry. They're already staring back at the five kids approaching them. Smirks on their faces as they stare back at them, looking Veronica up and down while licking their lips.

Out of instinct Bill grabs Veronica's arm, pulling her closer to him, shielding her away from them and their stares with his body while Richie closes in on her, giving them no chance of even getting to her unless the grab at the two boys and push them away.

"Lookin' fine as always, Veronica!" Henry hollers as they hurry down the hallway quickly to move farther from them. Their preening eyes follow them, staring at the girl's backside.

Richie taking in a deep breath and clenching his jaw. Bill looking back at them and glaring harshly while Stan rolls his eyes, a fist forming. Eddie furrowing his eyebrows angrily. Veronica was the baby of the group, the boys were constantly fussing over her wellbeing. The thought of what obscenities the Bowers Gang imagined about the girl making them sick.

Veronica lets out an uncomfortable groan. "Suck a strap-on!" She grumbles while holding onto Richie's arm tightly.

Being close to Richie was a lifeline for Veronica. She relied so much on him, especially after her parents left. She needed him. He was her best friend and the thought of ever losing him made her scared out of her wits. She couldn't stand the thought of losing anyone anymore, the thought of being anymore lonely than she is now drove her mad.

The boys let out a laugh at the Mill's girl infamous comment, she always seemed to say it. "Think they'll sign my yearbook?" Richie asks whilst adjusting his glasses which sat on the tip of his nose, attempting to lighten the mood. "Dear Richie, sorry for taking a hot steamy dump in your backpack last month, have a great summer!" He imagines, a grin on his face.

Veronica lets out a breathy laugh. "As if, can pigs fly? I don't think so," She retorts, dragging out the I in a sing-song voice.

As they enter the stairwell, Greta comes up the stairs and shoves into Stan in a huff. A look of anger in her face, eyes dark and dull. Stan looks back at her head and glares into her.

"Someone's a moody ass bitch today!" Veronica shouts out while rolling her eyes, looking back at Greta's messily curled... Crimped? She couldn't tell, hair.

"Richie, I think she's getting worse," Eddie groans while smacking Stans arm with a laugh after. "All she does is swear!" He adds.

Richie shrugs, wrapping a loose arm around Veronica. "That's Ronnie," He says while squeezing her cheek.

She rolls her eyes. "I guess, you got me there!" She looks to Eddie, winking.

♧

"Best. Feeling. Ever." Stan enunciates while they dump the contents on their backpacks into the trash bins outside.

Richie pushes his glasses back up his nose. "Yeah? Try tickling your pickle for the first time," He nods at Stan while zipping up his empty backpack.

Stan rolls his eyes, ignoring Richie's comment as he zips up his backpack. "Hey, what do you guys wanna do tomorrow?" Eddie asks, slipping on his black bag and squinting under the bright sun.

"I start my training," Richie answers, shrugging. Veronica shaking her head while swallowing her spit. She knew exactly what he was talking about.

"W-What training?" Eddie scrunches up his nose.

"Street Fighter," Richie responds a-matter-of-a-factly.

Eddie squints again. "That's how you wanna spend your summer? Inside of an arcade?" Eddie goes on, confused.

Richie's eyes light up at the 'perfect' comeback. "Beats spending it inside of your mother! Oh!" He shouts out while turning to Stan with his hand up for a high-five.

"That wasn't funny, Dumbass. Anyways, seriously, Rich. Let's do something tomorrow," Veronica pipes up while Stan grabs Richie's hand which hung up in the air and pushed it down.

"How about we go to the Quarry?" Stan suggests, nodding in agreement with Veronica.

"Guys, we have the b-b-barrens," Bill stutters out, looking between his three friends.

"Right," Stan nods, voice short - forgetting their already made plans.

Eddie's gaze falls onto a police car which was parked in front of the school and a lady who wore a dress, standing hopefully. Watching as each child exited the school. He frowns. "Betty Ripsom's mom," He eyes her, the group following his gaze.

"Is she really expecting to see her coming out of school?" Stan asks, looking to Eddie who shrugged.

"She's desperate. A Mother can hope, right?" Veronica tilts her head at the woman while biting the inside of her cheek. "I mean, my mom left so I wouldn't know but... I'd like to think that she'd care if I went missing," She trails off, quietly. No one except Richie hearing her, considering he was right next to her and so close.

He brushes her arm comfortingly, Veronica looking to him and smiling softly at the contact. Mouthing to him, 'Thanks'.

Eddie shrugs. "I don't know, as if Betty Ripsom's been hiding in Home Ec. for the past few weeks" He adds in.

"Think they'll actually find her?" Stan questions, no one in particular.

Puckering up her lips, Veronica sighs before responding. "Wish I could say yes, but I doubt it," Veronica leans onto Richie's arm, her head falling against it.

"Sure, in a ditch! All decomposed with worms and maggots smelling like Eddie's mom's underwear" Richie says while gesturing to Eddie.

"Shut up! That's frickin' disgusting," Eddie breathes out, eyes wide at the comment.

"S-she's not dead, she's missing," Bill speaks out while touching Richie's shoulder.

Richie nods while adjusting his glasses, again. "Sorry Bill, she's missing." He corrects himself while Bill begins to walk off.

"You know, the barrens aren't that bad! Who doesn't love splashing around in shitty water!" Richie says before he gets pulled back by his bag by Patrick Hockstetter. Falling right into Stan causing them both to fall to the ground.

"Nice frisbee, Flamer." Hockstetter grabs Stan's kippah off his head. As Belch burps into Eddie's ear, he gags.

"Give it back!" Stan attempts to grab at it but Patrick and tosses it into a passing school bus' window.

"Oh, go fuck yourself, Hockste-" Veronica begins, yelping at the sudden slap on her butt and is pulled into Victor Criss. The rest begins to walk off, Victor quickly shoving the girl into Richie and walks off too.

Bill follows after them, angrily. "You s-suck Bowers!" He shouts out, staring at the back of their heads.

"Shut up, Bill!" Richie whispers nervously, looking to Veronica and cupping her cheeks, checking her face. "You okay?" He asks. She nods in response grabbing his hand and inching closer to Bill who breathed heavily, seething.

"You, s-s-say something? B-B-B-B-Billy?" Henry mocks. "You got a free ride this year cause of your little brother, but rides over Denbrough," He walks towards them and stops abruptly in front of Bill. He looks up, Eddie and Veronica follow his stare curiously. His father, the chief of Derry's police watching him with a pointed brow.

Henry pauses, faltering for a moment. "This summers gonna be a hurt train, for you and your faggot friends," Henry threatens as he places his hand on his tongue and licks it before putting it to Bill's face. They then retreat to Belch's car and climb in before speeding off.

Eddie and Veronica stare at each other while scrunching up their noses. "Wish he'd go missing," Richie speaks up.

"He's probably the one doing it" Eddie responds while biting his lip.

"You really think so?" Veronica tilts her head, looking to Eddie.

He shrugs. "Probably,".

Leaving the five of them staring at where the car was parked. Wondering when they'll finally be left alone and safe.