Chapter 2.6:
The Five Stages Of Grief
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Maya asked, glancing around the town as they walked, "This place has changed a hell of a lot over the years."

"Yee have little faith." Richie shouted, earning looks from passing citizens.

"Well, yee have led us in the wrong direction. Three times." Maya deadpanned. Beverly let out a brief laugh, covering it by clearing her throat when Richie shot her a look.

"First of all, rude." He rose one finger, "Second of all, the food place is right there."

Maya looked to where he was pointing, sighing in relief when she saw it. "Oh, thank God. I feel like I've been walking for hours."

"That's because it's been an hour." Beverly pointed out, raising her phone to show the time. "Thanks, Richie."

"Damnit, Richie." Maya huffed, "We're late."

"That's okay. We can kindly explain that our threesome was more important." He shrugged, winking at Maya, "Right sexy pants?"

Maya scoffed, standing on her tippy toes to smack the man on the head. "Fuck off, Richie."

"Listen here-" He paused and raised his finger to point at her, "That is rude!"

"No! I will most definitely not listen-" Maya shouted, pushing his finger down. "

"Maya you can't deny that we had a threesome if it happened."

"But it didn't happen!"

"I see you're in denial. And I have to be honest, you going through the four stages of grief hurts my pride a little."

"There's five, dumbass!" Maya shook her head, laughing.

"Four!"

"Five, babe."

"Mm.. whatever." Richie mumbled, shaking his head.

"Unbelievable." Beverly muttered under her breath. Sighing deeply, she began to lead the two children trapped in an adults body to the breakfast diner.

"We have more important issues at hand, here guys." Beverly tried, but failed.

"What's more important than Maya and her four stages of grief.

"There's five!"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe the child eating clown?"

Richie paused, his mouth opening to respond with a snarky comment. He closed his mouth and put his hands on his hips.

Raising his eyebrows as he continued to try and think of a comment, he eventually shrugged and gave up. "Okay, fair enough. That's fair."

"Great. Now, let's go in." Beverly grinned sarcastically before opening the door. "Such children."

"Hey! I'm older than both of you." Richie defended, raising his hands as he shouted.

"Yet you act the youngest. Shame." Maya sighed, ducking under Beverly's arm to enter the diner.

"So mean to me!"

"Hey, guys! What took you so damn long?" Eddie asked, waving the over.

"Maya kept getting lost after our threesome." Richie smirked, jabbing her in the side.

"Wait, what? Did not!" Maya gasped, "Stop blaming the fact that you don't know your left from your right on me."

The three sat down at the square table across from the rest of the group.

"Well, it is your fault." Richie smirked, "That ass really made me lose some sense."

Mike, Eddie, Bill, Ben, and Beverly sat and watched in silent disappointment.

"That what now?" Ben asked after regaining his composure.

"Well, Maya and Beverly and me thought it'd be a good idea to have-"

Maya shoved a napkin in Richie's mouth before he could speak the ending of his sentence.

"Beep, beep, Richie." Maya shook her head, "I'm sorry for this, Mike."

"It's quite alright. We can get started now." Mike smiled kindly at her, but there was a sense of urgency behind his words that everyone could sense.

Mike explained the ritual briefly, speaking quietly. He said he would explain better and more in depth, saying that he had to show them something first. 

Maya felt her nerves increase with that.. She wasn't sure why but the fact he had to explain in private to them, suddenly aware of the people surrounding her. It made her uneasy. She shrugged off the feeling, or, tried to.

She let out a shaky breath, which attracted Beverly's attention. The woman reached over and placed her hand gently on Maya's. Beverly squeezed her hand in reassurance, smiling briefly at him

Maya looked over and smiled nervously and the woman, but she intertwined their fingers anyway.

Eddie, upon seeing this, couldn't help but smile. He was happy that Maya and Beverly and found each other again, from what he remembered, they were the cutest couple.

"Thank you." Maya whispered, only audible to Beverly. She simply smiled back and squeazed Maya's hand tighter.

A sense of relief filled the woman as she stared at Beverly. Even with this clown, Pennywise she remembered now, Maya couldn't help but feel like everything would be okay as long as she had her good luck charm, Beverly Marsh, with her.

Maya felt as if she could conquer the world with Beverly by her side. She felt like nothing could stop her.

She liked how she felt with Beverly. Beverly made her feel strong and powerful. Everything felt so... right with her.

Maya regretted letting Beverly get away so easily all those years ago. She thought that maybe if she tried just a little harder, put a little more effort into it, then maybe, just maybe they would have stayed together.

Maybe her life wouldn't have gone to complete shit. Maybe she wouldn't have gone on date after date, hooking up with them each after.

Maybe she would've settled down, gotten a job, a house, a dog. Maybe she would've been happy.

Maya shrugged that off, deciding it wasn't best to think of all the maybe's she could have had in the past and instead think of what she has now and what she can have now.

She pulled herself from her thoughts as the group stood up. Mike led first, as he was going to show them the thing he mentioned before.

Maya and Richie ended up in the back, with Ben and Beverly up front and Bill and Eddie behind them.

"Hey, um, Rich?" Maya started, biting her lip and looking away.

Richie hummed, briefly glancing over at her.

"I'm sorry." She blurted, looking up at him. Richie was much taller than her now, towering over her by at least five inches.

"For what?" He looked confused.

"For the things I said the other night.. I didn't mean any of them. I was just angry and hurt that you'd say those things about Stan. He is, er, w-was our friend."

Richie nodded, "I know you didn't, Maya. It's okay."

Maya nodded, feeling better now that she had apologized.

Silence fell upon the group as Mike led them.  Eventually, the buildings stopped and the trees started. He was leading them into the forest. Maya didn't think much of it.

"Uh, where we goin'?" Maya piped up from the back, "We're leaving the town.."

"We're almost there! Don't worry."

Maya glanced at Richie, raising her brows in a silent way to ask if he knew where they were going. Richie shook his head no, disappointing Maya.

"It should be right around here.." Mike said, walking around.

"Wait a minute! I remember this place.." Ben suddenly exclaimed, excitement shown as he looked around at the group.

He began walking around, stomping on the ground.

"Uh, whatcha doin there, bud?" Maya said slowly.

"I'm looking for the club house." He explained, continuing to stomp on the ground.

"Be caref-" Beverly started, being cut off by his yell as the ground fell through.

"I'm okay!"

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

{ Word Count: 1324 }

{ A/n: this is brought to you by the fact that i was in literally so much pain and i was shaking so bad and so cold and lightheaded and so much nausea that i thought my appendix had burst and i was gonna die because i couldn't get up to unlock the bathroom door or even have the strength to call out! :)
im okay now tho.
also hope i didnt scare you with the title. }

{ Edited: No }