Chapter Text
As he left the set, Bill’s phone began to abruptly start to ring. As much as he wanted to deny it— he felt as if he was required to take all calls. Who was it, anyway? It seemed the city in which it was coming from rung a bell, but who lived in Maine anyway? It might’ve just been a scam call. Something in his gut encouraged him to answer it, though. So he
”Is this Bill Denbrough?” The voice asked. Bill furrowed his eyebrows. “U—uh, y-yes.” He responded, chewing his lip. “Bill, it’s me. Mike.” Mike? Who was that? “Mike who?”
”Mike Hanlon.” And suddenly, it seemed as if millions of memories returned to his head. That made much more sense… Mike. Mike Hanlon. From where he grew up. Derry, Maine.
“Oh my god, shit— s-sorry Mike.” Bill’s face lit up. “It’s been so long, shit.” He could quietly hear Mike clear his throat. “You need to come home.” Mike said, completely serious. “Why?” Bill asked, tapping on his legs.
“Just, come to the local Hibachi place tomorrow night, will you?” Was it something that urgent? Really? “Um, yeah, yeah. I will.”
Within the nick of time— he was saying goodbye to his life in LA and hello to the small town of Derry, Maine. He had flown into Bangor, rented a car, and then drove down to Derry.
Of course, as he was driving, his car had to break down. Bill had luckily pulled off of the road just in time before the back of his car practically exploded. Immediately, he got out of the car and attempted to open the hood. Bill was not a car expert. He knew that, but it was worth the try.
The battery died. Shit. He had no backup battery at all, so basically he was stuck on the side of the road until some miracle came.
Leaning against the car, Bill noticed that another car had pulled over. Maybe to help him? Or maybe that car had somehow broken down, too.
The man in the car slammed his door shut and started to walk towards Bill. He looked awfully familiar, but Bill payed no mind to it.
“Hey, is your car okay?” The man asked softly, furrowing his eyebrows.
“Unfortunately not. It’s a rental. I’m trying to get to Derry but, it seemed the car didn’t want that.” Bill responded, laughing a bit.
“Oh, shit. I’m heading to Derry too.” The other man responded. “Ah, well I’ve got an extra battery in my car.” Bill took a deep breath. “Thank fuck. I was going to freak if I couldn’t make it.”
Bill eagerly watched as the man walked towards his car and quickly came back, hauling over a giant car battery. “What did you say your name was again?” He asked, glancing at Bill. “I didn’t say but, uh, Bill Denbrough. I’m a writer.”
“Holy fucking hell. Bill? It’s me, Stanley. Stanley Uris.” Stan said suddenly, taken aback. “Oh my god, Stan?” Stan immediately wrapped his arms around Bill, holding him very close.
Ah yes, Stanley Uris. His total childhood and teenage dream crush. His bisexual awakening. And ever since Stanley Uris, Bill Denbrough’s bi panic has got relatively… well, worse. And here he was right in front of him, holding him tight.
“I missed you so much, Stan,” Bill muttered. He didn’t want to let go of Stan. Ever. “I missed you too.”
When they finally let go, it was oddly silent. Stanley went to the hood of the car, inspecting it just as Bill had attempted to do. “Where’s the battery?” He asked, finally breaking the silence. “I dunno. I’m not a car whiz, and I’m sure Stan the Man isn’t either.” Bill joked. Stan shook his head in response, laughing.
“This is a BMW right? ‘Cause I don’t know shit about german cars.” Bill quietly nodded in response.
“Well… you could come with me?” Stan suggested, looking directly at Bill. Bill’s face got heated at the question. It was probably the only option, even though Bill knew he could get his car towed. But he could also do both…
“Yes, of course. But, uh, we may have to get my car towed.” Bill smiled, heading directly towards Stan’s car. He was an eager (bisexual) little shit for sure.
In Stanley’s car— to Bill’s surprise, it wasn’t quiet at all. They both learned of each other’s jobs and past girlfriends… maybe boyfriends, and their current living situation.
“I think your life is a lot more interesting than mine,” Stan commented, laughing as they pulled into the hibachi place. “Success is weird, Stan. I don’t think it’s for you.” Bill replied lightheartedly. “Oh, yeah totally not. It’s too much shit for me anyway.” He got out of the car and slammed the door rather loudly. Of course it wasn’t angrily. Stanley Uris wasn’t an overly angry person. Bill got out as well, heading towards the door. He held the door for Stan as they both went inside.
They were greeted by the warm smile of no other but Mike Hanlon. “Guys!” Mike exclaimed, gladly hugging both of his childhood friends. “So good to see you,” Stan said, taking turns also hugging Mike tightly.
“Where’s the others?” Bill asked, looking around. “We’ll look at these guys!” Someone he recognized— oh, yes— Eddie exclaimed suddenly, motioning towards what Stan and Bill both recognized as Richie, Beverly and… Ben? Shit. They all looked so different, yet just the same at the same time. Richie motioned to Ben, showing some way that the male standing next to him was in fact Ben, as he’d lost a LOT of weight.
And suddenly, they were clinking shot glasses and cheering for the reunion of the losers.
Within a flash— it was almost over. Their joking and messing around had almost ended once the fortune cookies were passed around. Richie took one first, of course, and eagerly opened it to see the fortune.
“Can anyone tell me what dickwad thought it’d be “inspiring” to write “Guess” on a fortune cookie?” He joked, waving the rectangular piece of paper around. “Probably you.” Eddie remarked.
“But— no, I got one too.” He eventually replied, sliding his on the table. His read the word “Cut,” which easily confused everyone. “I think he’s messing with us,” Mike muttered under his breath.
“He?” Stan practically choked out. I held my fortune up, with the word “It” on it, and Ben slipped his that read “Couldn’t.”
“What?” Richie said bluntly, shuffling the papers around like puzzle pieces. “Couldn’t cut it, guess?” Eddie placed the papers in a different order.
“Wait!” Mike suddenly exclaimed, glancing towards Beverly— who was clutching something in her hand, obviously very upset.
She slowly held up her fortune, which read ”The Losers” in bold text. Placing it down, Mike read it clearly out loud.
“Guess… the Losers… couldn’t— cut it.” Bill darted his eyes around the room, when suddenly, he felt a sharp pain on his arm. “Fuck,” Richie groaned, blood spewing down his arm. And it seemed everyone’s arm was spewing with blood, because everyone was grunting in pain now. Bill’s lower arm was almost covered with blood, and as much as he tried to stop the bleeding, the blood escaped the pressure of his hand.
“Shit, shit!” Eddie exclaimed, rushing around the room.
“What the hell is going on?” Stan and Ben yelled in unison. “It’s him. It’s It. Pennywise!”
Suddenly, everyone stood still. One of the fortune cookies began cracking open slowly. It bursted into pieces, suddenly revealing a gross, detached eyeball that was moving directly towards Richie.
“THIS EYEBALL IS FUCKING LOOKING AT ME!” He yelled, backing up against the wall. Suddenly three of the other fortune cookies were exploding, revealing even more disgusting creatures that ran towards the rest of the group. Beverly backed up where Richie had been beforehand— that was, before he had rolled himself over to the other side of the room.
Bill held onto Stan tightly, shoving his face instinctively into the crook of his neck.
As Eddie was nearly attacked, or maybe killed, Richie yelped a rather loud “Eddie!” Before Mike began yelling— smashing a chair harshly onto the table.
“It’s not real!” He yelled to the group, but also if he was speaking to the what-ever-the-fuck-they-were creatures.
That’s when the waitress walked in, staring blankly at the sight of Mike violently smashing a chair into the rather fragile table.
He stopped almost immediately when she came in, and Richie simply mouthed “Check?” She quickly nodded, rushing out of the room.