.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

SHE'S TALKING AGAIN

CHAPTER SEVEN

vii. newspaper bedroom

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THE SHENANIGANS IN THE WATER ended with the seven of them on the rocks of a clearing. Veronica and Beverly lounging on towels while the boys fawned over them.

Veronica bent her head back and stretched. She had an odd feeling. As if someone was watching her. Opening her eyes and turning to the side, she is met by her best friend's stare. His eyes widen and he nudged Stan who nudges Bill who nudges Eddie who then nudges Ben to stop staring.

The blonde laughs while sitting up and shaking her head. Mouthing out the word 'perv!' at them. Stan rolls his eyes while Ben blushes, Richie taking advantage of this grabs Ben's backpack and begins searching it. "News flash, Ben. Schools out for the summa'!" He says.

He pulls out a postcard and shouts out, "Who sent you this?!" while attempting to turn it over. Ben snatches it away just before Richie is able to read it.

"No one!" Ben says.

Veronica getting up from the ground, jumps over Eddie's leg and sits next to Richie, putting her chin on his shoulder. He pulls out a duo-tang and flips through the pages.

"What's with the history project?" Eddie asks while Richie shows the pages to Veronica.

"When I first moved here, I didn't really have any friends. So, I just started going to the library," Ben explains.

"You went to the library? On purpose?" Richie asks, dazed by the fact that one would do such a thing.

Veronica let out a 'pfft' noise while he passes the folder to Bill. Beverly, then jumps up.

"Hey, I wanna see!" She says, seating herself next to Bill. The group searched through the files and discussed the events which Ben had highlighted.

Stan who was attempting to listen dealt with Veronica smacking his arm.

"Quit it, Mills!" He groans while slapping her arm away and leaning into Eddie to get a better view of the files.

Veronica giggles and turns to Richie. Beginning to push at his arm. He laughs while pushing her down and pinning her arms.

"Jerk! You're so much bigger than me!" She says loudly, struggling under the taller boy. He laughs. Snorts. Causing the girl to burst out into a fit of giggles.

"Dork!" She shouts out.

The others now were pulling their clothes back on, some mounting their bikes.

"Richie! Nic! Let's go! Get your shit on!" Eddie shouts at them, pulling his shirt over his head.

"Where the fuck are we even going?" Veronica asks, scrunching up her nose unaware of the plans for Ben's. She pushes Richie off of her and sits up.

"Ben's house. Maybe if you guys were listening instead of having a good ol' foreplay match, you'd know!" Stan retorts while shaking his head.

♧

When they pulled up to Ben's house, they all toss their bikes on the front lawn. The group begins running into the house, Ben unlocking the door. Veronica and Richie the last of the group. As she runs in front of Richie, she jumped up and pulled up her shorts.

"Why're you hiking your shorts up? Are you tryna' impress someone?" Richie laughs while walking past her and smacking her butt.

"Maybe I am!" Veronica giggles out and runs through Ben's front door. This, leaving Richie with a pang of jealously in his chest.

♧

Entering Ben's room, the Club begins spreading across as they stare at the wall which was covered in newspapers.

"Woah, woah, woah! Wow!" Riches stares at the wall whilst walking in, pushing up his glasses.

"Cool, huh?" Ben smiles, happily.

"I mean, I guess! Your wall might as well be covered in newspaper wallpaper," Veronica teases with while walking up to one article.

"No! No! Nothing cool, there's nothing cool," Richie chimes in.

"Oh, this is cool! Right here. Wait, no. That's not cool," He adds, pointing to a photo.

"What's that?" Stan asks, pointing to a file pinned up on Ben's wall.

"Oh, that? That's the charter for Derry Township," Ben replies, while walking over to Stan.

"Nerd alert," Richie laughs, nudging Ben's arm.

"Beep beep, Richie. Like you're any better, Mr. 'I need to start my training' Tozier," Veronica mumbles while brushing past them and to Bill.

"No, actually, it's really interesting,"Ben says, pointing to the file.

"Derry started as a beaver catching camp," He adds.

"Still is! Am I right boys?" Richie laughs out loudly while raising his hand for a high five.

"Beep fucking beep, Richie!" Veronica repeats from across the room while holding onto Bill's shoulders so she can watch as he flips through a book.

Stan rolls his eyes at Richie's comment while Eddie smiles graciously at Veronica in a way of saying, 'Thank you for shutting him up'.

"Ninety-one people signed the charter that made Derry, but, later that winter they all disappeared without a trace," Ben continues to explain while shaking his head, unfazed by Richie's comments.

"The entire camp?" Eddie asks, nervousness lacing his words as he looks at the wall more closely now.

"They're rumours of Indians, but, no sign of an attack. Everybody just thought it was a plague or something. But, it's like, one day, everybody just woke up and left. The only clue was a trail of bloody clothes leading to the well house," Ben goes on.

"Jesus, who knew Derry could have unsolved mysteries," Eddie mumbles, looking down at his shuffling feet.

"W-where was the well house?" Bill asks as him and Veronica walk over to the group who crowded the wall.

"I-I don't know. Somewhere in town, I guess. Why?" Ben shrugs.

"Nothing," Bill nods, the others brushing it off. Leaving Veronica rolling her eyes.
Liar.