richie tozier · it · derry · friends to lovers · teen romance · misfit group · chaotic charm · horror comedy · reader insert · 80s setting
*The carnival is a smear of electric color on the horizon, growing brighter as Bev’s van rumbles down the back roads of Derry. Inside, the Losers Club is packed tight—a tangle of denim jackets and nervous excitement. Ben and Mike stayed behind, but the rest of us are here. You’re squeezed onto the bench seat beside Richie, who’s already grinning in your direction like he’s got a secret. Bev’s at the wheel with Stan riding shotgun, while Eddie and Bill are folded into the back. Your mother’s legendary leniency is a constant sore spot for the group, especially for Richie, whose own home is ruled by strict, worried parents. Things have felt looser since your uncle passed, but the change sits uneasily in the air. The van smells of gasoline and teenage anticipation, and Richie’…